JP4497539B2 - Printing condition judgment method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing condition determination method, and more particularly, to a printing condition determination method that uses a network image search apparatus so that the same printing condition can be applied to an image that is similar to an image that has been printed once.

  With the development of computers, documents are often handled in electronic form throughout the life cycle of creation, distribution and storage. For the purpose of sharing and distribution in the office, it is rare to be done on a paper basis from the creation stage, and it is often output to a paper medium for the first time in the distribution stage. For documents such as conference materials and lecture materials, paper distribution is still common from the viewpoint of ensuring the convenience of browsing. Although all participants may have a computer or PDA and can share and view an electronic document as it is, it is difficult to view it freely like a paper medium. Even if a document is distributed in electronic form, it is often the case that it is printed individually with a printer at hand if you look closely. As described above, the output request from the electronic medium to the paper medium is expected to continue for a while.

  When outputting to a paper medium, setting a printing condition is always a problem. Advances in technology have complicated and diversified printer functions. Depending on the nature of the document, there is a need for the user to use that function properly. Typical printing conditions for the printer include the following. (1) Type of paper such as A4 or B4, (2) Vertical / horizontal of paper, (3) Color or black and white, (4) Number of pages to be packed on one paper, such as 2 pages / sheet, (5) Duplex printing or single-sided printing; (6) Number of copies; (7) Presence / absence of punch / staple; (8) Which printer in the office to use.

  If printing is performed with these settings set incorrectly, a printing result different from the expected shape can be obtained. In particular, when there are many copies, paper resources are wasted. Since the copier has a similar print setting function, the same situation occurs when the document to be printed is not an electronic medium but a copy from paper material. In order to handle such a large number of setting items easily, depending on the printer driver, the settings to be used are usually collected and assigned with a name and icon. Some are devised so that they can be called. Regardless of the operation to be performed in order to obtain a required print style, an appropriate print condition is set by selecting a pre-registered icon according to the style of the printed material to be obtained. However, even if a document has a certain format, the user is still responsible for the style in which the document is printed.

  A similar image search technique is known in which a plurality of images are stored and managed in a database that can be searched according to their feature amounts, and an image similar to a specific image is selected. As an example of applying this, in photo printing, data for searching once printed photos, printing conditions, and image processing conditions are recorded, and these are used for reprinting and printed under the same printing conditions. There is a technology that makes it possible to obtain a photograph. The following are some examples of the prior art relating to the printing condition setting and the like.

  The “information processing apparatus” disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an apparatus that identifies the type of an input document and automatically executes document processing suitable for the document. The user does not need to specify how to process the document. A document feature extraction unit extracts document features from the document image. The extracted document feature is compared with the document type feature information from the document feature database to identify the document type. In response to the document type identification result, a processing method suitable for the document is transmitted from the processing selection database to the processing selection unit, and predetermined document processing is executed.

  The “print system” disclosed in Patent Document 2 is a system for reprinting to match the color and density with the image of the previous print. Image data after image processing before being converted into an output format corresponding to a predetermined recording medium, image processing conditions for each image when an output image reproducing a captured image of the film is created, and image processing conditions or Image search data for specifying image data after image processing and compressed image data obtained by further compressing the image data are stored as image reproduction information. An image search is performed in response to an instruction to reorder images. It is determined whether or not there is a change in the image processing conditions between when the output image reproducing the captured image is created and when the order is reordered. If there is no change, an image is output using the stored image data after image processing. If there is a change, the image is read again from the photographic film. The read image is subjected to image processing by changing image processing conditions, and an image is output.

  The “image search apparatus” disclosed in Patent Document 3 is an apparatus that receives a search request image via a network, searches for images with similar feature amounts based on the feature amounts, and transmits search results. The image storage device receives the search request image via the request receiving unit. The feature amount is calculated by the feature amount calculation means. The feature amount storage unit stores the feature amount of the image of the external image storage device. The image search means refers to the feature quantity that has already been stored and searches for a feature quantity similar to the calculated feature quantity and its identification information. Based on this identification information, the image data read from the image storage device is transmitted.

The “image processing apparatus” disclosed in Patent Document 4 is a network image search system in which functions are distributed and the apparatus is simplified and lightened. The client device receives an image from the document management server that stores the image. The received image is transmitted to the image search server. The client device requests authentication from the document management server. Based on the authentication result, a list of images is read from the document management server. The user selects a predetermined image from the image list. The selected image is transmitted to the image search server together with the registration request or the search request.
JP 2001-318941 A JP 2002-277985 A JP 2004-139210 A JP 2004-258718 A

  However, in the conventional printing condition determination method, it is necessary to check the printing condition every time a document or image is printed out, and an error is likely to occur in the setting. There is a conventional technology that specifies printing conditions that correspond to exactly the same photographic images, and prints by processing under the same conditions as the first time. However, when printing documents and images in the office, the exact same images are printed. It is rare. Rather, it is important to search for similar examples on the assumption that they are different. Computers and printers used by users for printing are often connected to a network, and it is desirable that the image search database and printing conditions can be shared between them. Further, when similar image search is used for print condition setting, it is necessary to be able to determine whether or not to additionally register print conditions using a new image as a key when executing printing.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described conventional problems so that printing conditions can be easily set when a document or image is printed by a printer.

(1) the first invention, by entering the print target image, the retrieval request and the print target image, and sends the image search device via a network, in the image retrieval apparatus, an image feature quantity from the image to be printed calculates said performing an image search based on the image characteristic amount, and obtains the print condition parameters associated with the images similar to the printed image, and based on the said printing condition parameters, the printed image A print condition determination method for executing print processing for a user, which receives a user's print condition parameter, and if there is a difference from the print condition parameter of the search result, notifies the user of that and sets any print condition parameter. A printing condition determination method that allows a user to select whether to use .
(2) In the second invention, a means for inputting a print target image, a means for transmitting the print target image and a search request to an image search device via a network, and the image search device calculated from the print target image Means for obtaining a print condition parameter associated with an image similar to the print target image, which is a result of performing an image search based on an image feature amount; and using the print condition parameter, A printing condition determination apparatus comprising a printing unit that executes printing processing for a user, and notifies the user when there is a difference between the means for receiving the printing condition parameter of the user and the printing condition parameter of the search result. And a printing condition determination apparatus characterized in that the printing condition determination means includes a printing means parameter and means for allowing a user to select which printing condition parameter to use.
(3) A third invention is a computer program describing a processing procedure for causing a computer to execute the printing condition determination method of the first invention.
(4) A fourth invention is a computer-readable recording medium storing the computer program of the third invention.

By using the printing condition determination method as described above, printing processing can be performed based on the similarity of images. Further, when printing a document / image, the print parameters can be registered in the image search device in a searchable form. Furthermore, printing condition setting can be automated, and more appropriate conditions can be selected. The printing condition specified by the user, notifies that differ from the conditions at the time of printing a similar image, Ru can prompt confirmation of validity of the printing conditions to the user.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  Embodiment 1 of the present invention inputs a print target image, transmits the print target image and a search request to the image search device via the network, and calculates an image feature amount from the print target image by the image search device. Print that performs an image search based on the image feature amount, obtains a print condition parameter associated with an image similar to the print target image, and executes print processing on the print target image using the print condition parameter This is a condition determination method.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an image processing system for executing a printing condition determination method in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1A, an image processing apparatus C is a computer that requests printing, and is an image search client. The image search device S is a device that searches for similar images based on image feature amounts. The printers P1 and P2 are devices that print specified images under specified conditions. The network T is a communication path such as a LAN or the Internet.

  The image processing apparatus C is a client computer and incorporates a printing condition determination apparatus. The user can operate the image processing apparatus C via the mouse or the keyboard while confirming the display output on the screen. Further, the image processing apparatus C may be a Web application that operates on a Web server. In that case, an access from a user using another client computer is accepted, and information constituting the screen is transmitted as HTML and image data.

  The image search device S can receive an image registration request and a search request through a network using a predetermined protocol, and can return a processing result in the form of a response to the request. The image processing apparatus C operates as a client for this registration request or search request.

  The printers P1 and P2 operate by data input from a client computer. The installation location, printing speed, quality, cost, etc. shall be different. The image processing device C, the image search device S, and the printers P1 and P2 are connected by a local area network (LAN) or the Internet.

  The communication method used in the communication between the image processing device C and the image search device S of the first embodiment is a common remote procedure call method even if the image processing device C and the image search device S have different architectures. SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is used so that communication is possible. The request receiving means of the image search device S waits for a connection from the image processing device C at a predetermined HTTP port (80 or the like) and receives a SOAP request from the image processing device C. Further, the search result is transmitted to the image processing apparatus C by the transmission means as a SOAP response. SOAP is a standard recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which uses XML to describe procedure calls and search results in an abstract manner, enabling linkage between heterogeneous systems. In the typical implementation, since HTTP is used, communication is possible even between an internal network separated by a firewall or the like and the Internet. In the first embodiment, SOAP is used, but other protocols can be used.

  FIG. 1B is a conceptual diagram of the image processing apparatus. FIG. 1C is a conceptual diagram of the printing condition determination apparatus. In FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C, the printing condition determination device 1 is a means for determining the printing conditions. The printer control unit 2 is a means for controlling the printer. The display unit 3 is a liquid crystal display capable of displaying an image. The operation unit 4 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. The overall control unit 5 is a control unit that is connected to the printing condition determination device 1, the printer control unit 2, the display unit 3, and the operation unit 4, and includes a CPU, a memory, a disk device, and the like. . The printing condition determination device is not limited to being constructed as an independent device. Equivalent functions can be implemented as functions related to document printing of a printer driver for a computer and a document management system.

  The printing condition input unit 6 is a means for a user to input printing conditions. The print image input unit 7 is a means for inputting a print target image. The image search request unit 8 is a means for obtaining an image feature amount and issuing a search request to the image search apparatus. The printing condition output unit 9 is means for presenting the printing conditions of the search result to the user. The image registration unit 10 is means for requesting registration of an image to be printed in an image database. The printing condition registration unit 11 is a means for requesting that printing conditions associated with an image to be printed be registered in the image database.

  FIG. 1D is a conceptual diagram of the image search apparatus. In FIG. 1D, the search request receiving unit 12 is means for receiving a search request from a client. The search result transmission unit 13 is means for transmitting the search result to the client. The image feature amount database 14 is a database for searching for an image using the image feature amount as a key. The feature amount calculation unit 15 is a means for calculating the feature amount of the image. The image search unit 16 is a means for searching for an image using an image feature amount as a key. The feature amount registration / deletion unit 17 is means for registering and deleting image feature amount data.

  The basic operation of the image search device S will be described. The image search device S has a function of exchanging information with other devices via a network. The search request received from the image processing device (client device) C is received by the search request receiving unit 12, and after performing the search operation, the result is returned to the client device through the search result transmitting unit 13.

  The image search unit 16 accesses the image feature quantity database 14 using the received image feature quantity as a key, and searches the image feature quantity database 14 for a feature quantity similar to the key feature quantity. The upper predetermined number of image identification information of similar feature amounts as search results is passed to the search result transmission unit 13. The search result transmission unit 13 transmits these pieces of identification information to the image processing apparatus C that is the request transmission source.

  When an image is registered, properties such as image bibliographic information can be registered along with the image. This property is stored in an external database device together with the feature amount of the image or in a form that can be extracted by the identification information of the image. When a certain image is specified as a search result, the property specified at the time of registration is output together with the identification information of the image. The feature amount may be image data itself. Normally, when an image is composed of multiple colors, it is expressed as a multidimensional numerical value (vector) that quantifies the proportion of each color or the rate of color change in each part of the image. The

  An example of feature amount calculation will be described. The colors constituting the image are divided into several groups, and the ratio of the colors belonging to each group to the entire image is calculated as a feature amount. In an image composed of three RGB planes, each pixel is represented by a set of numerical values representing the values of the respective planes. When each plane is divided into, for example, three sections, each pixel belongs to one of 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 groups. When the ratio of the number of pixels belonging to each group to the total number of pixels in the image is calculated, a vector of 27 elements is obtained. By using this as a feature amount, the distance between images can also be defined for convenience. It is possible to search for an image by calculating a feature amount from a set of images to be searched, obtaining a similar feature amount for an input image, and selecting an image that is close to that distance. Note that this feature amount example is the simplest example for conceptual explanation. The feature amount used in the present invention is not limited to this. In many cases, a composite feature amount obtained by adding a similarity based on a plurality of feature amounts and multiplying them by a certain weight is used.

The image processing apparatus C has basic functions for selecting, creating, and printing out image data. Here, image data refers to data that can be widely printed on paper as an image. It is not limited to data stored as image formats such as so-called bitmap data, JPEG, and TIFF. If document data can also be printed by an application, it is called image data. Printing conditions that can be set at the time of printing by the image processing apparatus C include the following.
(1) Paper type: B5, A4, B4, A3
(2) Paper direction: Vertical / Horizontal (3) Color printing: Color / Monochrome (4) Number of pages packed on one sheet: 1 page, 2 pages, 4 pages (5) Printers used: P1, P2 (speed) (There is a difference in quality, cost, etc.)

  The processing procedure of the printing condition determination method will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flow of processing on the image processing apparatus C is as shown in FIG. In step 1, the image processing apparatus C displays an operation screen on the display unit. In step 2, the user selects data to be printed from any image data holding means (a disk device built in the image processing apparatus C, a web page published on the Internet, etc.) on the display device. Alternatively, print target image data is created using a document / image creation application built in the image processing apparatus C. In step 3, the print target image data is input to the print condition determination device 1, and the print condition is obtained as an output. Using this, printing conditions and data are sent to the printer P1 or P2 through the printer control unit, and printing is performed in step S4.

  The processing of the printing condition determination apparatus 1 at the time of printing condition registration is as shown in FIG. In step 11, the printing condition determination apparatus 1 receives printing target image data from the printing image input unit 7. In step 12, a print condition input screen is displayed on the display unit 3, and the user is requested to input the print conditions. When the printing conditions are determined, in step 13, the printing conditions and the print target image data are sent to the image search device S through the image registration unit. In the image search device S, the feature amount of the print target image data is calculated in step 14, and is registered together with the input print condition in step 15.

  The processing of the printing condition determination apparatus 1 at the time of printing is as shown in FIG. In step 21, the printing condition determination apparatus 1 receives print target image data from the print image input unit 7. The received image data is sent to the image search device S through the image search unit 16 in step 22, and after the feature amount is calculated in step 23, the image data registered in the image search device S is checked in step 24. Among them, the most similar image data is searched, and the search result is returned in step 25. The image data returned as the search result is accompanied by a parameter indicating the printing condition used to print the image. The obtained printing conditions are output from the printing condition output unit 9 to the overall control unit 5.

  According to the first exemplary embodiment, printing is performed once by specifying a printing condition, and when the second image data similar to the first image data in which the condition is registered is printed, the same printing condition as that of the first image data is output. be able to. As an example, if the image data to be printed is a document file of a document having a cover in a standard tabular format on the first page, the printing condition “A4, portrait, 1 page / sheet, black and white using the first page as a key. If the document file has the same type of cover, the same print condition can be automatically selected.

  As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the printing condition determination method includes inputting a print target image, transmitting the print target image and a search request to the image search device via the network, An image feature amount is calculated from the print target image, an image search is performed based on the image feature amount, a print condition parameter associated with an image similar to the target image is obtained, and the target image is obtained using the print condition parameter. Therefore, the printing process can be performed based on the similarity of images.

  Embodiment 2 of the present invention inputs a print target image, transmits the print target image and a search request to the image search device via the network, and calculates an image feature amount from the print target image by the image search device. An image search is performed based on the image feature amount, print condition parameters associated with an image similar to the image to be printed are acquired, and a plurality of acquired print condition parameters are presented to the user in the order of image similarity. This is a printing condition determination method for obtaining the selection and change and executing the printing process on the printing target image using the printing condition parameter as a result.

  The basic procedure of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. The processing of the printing condition determination apparatus 1 at the time of image printing is partially different. The processing procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the print target image data is input in step 31, the printing condition determination device 1 transmits it to the image search device S in step 32. In the image search device S, the feature amount is calculated in step 33, the similar image is searched for in step 34, the print condition is obtained, and the search result is transmitted to the print condition determination device 1 in step 35. Here, the search result has a plurality of results in the order of similarity. In the second embodiment, instead of automatically selecting the printing condition with the highest degree of similarity, a set of upper predetermined number of printing conditions is presented as a list on the display unit in step 36. In step 37, the user uses the operation unit 4 to select a desired set of printing conditions. Alternatively, the user may be able to perform printing by designating new printing conditions.

  According to the printing condition determination method of the second embodiment, when a plurality of image data that are similar to each other or the same image data are printed under a plurality of printing conditions and the printing conditions are registered, a plurality of pieces that are considered to be appropriate. The printing conditions can be presented to the user. In addition, the user can finally confirm the printing conditions.

  Embodiment 3 of the present invention inputs a print target image, transmits the print target image and a search request to the image search device via the network, and calculates an image feature amount from the print target image in the image search device. An image search is performed based on the image feature amount to obtain a print condition parameter associated with an image similar to the target image, and there is a difference between the user print condition parameter and the print condition parameter of the search result. In this case, the user is notified of the fact, and the user is allowed to select which print condition parameter is to be used, and the print condition determination method for executing the print process on the print target image using the resulting print condition parameter. It is.

  The basic procedure of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. The processing of the printing condition determination apparatus 1 is different. In the third embodiment, when printing an image, the printing condition determination apparatus 1 displays a printing condition input screen on the display unit before printing, as in the case of a normal printer driver. The user performs a print start operation by changing the print condition using the operation unit or selecting to accept the displayed condition as it is.

  The processing procedure of the printing condition determination method will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The process until the search result is obtained is the same as in the first and second embodiments. The printing condition determination apparatus 1 performs an image search based on the printing target image data, and obtains a printing condition that was previously used for printing similar image data. In step 46, it is checked whether there is a difference between the printing condition obtained by the search and the printing condition specified at the start of printing. Here, if there is no difference between the printing condition obtained by the search and the printing condition designated at the start of printing, the printing condition determination apparatus 1 outputs the printing condition and printing is performed.

  If the print condition obtained by the search is different from the print condition specified at the start of printing, in step 47, the print condition determining apparatus 1 displays a print condition selection screen on the display unit. On the print condition selection screen, the print condition specified by the user and the print condition obtained by the search are presented, and it is possible to select which one to use. In step 48, when the user selects a desired printing condition using the operation unit, the printing condition determination apparatus 1 outputs the printing condition and printing is performed.

  According to the printing condition determination method of the third embodiment, the printing condition determination apparatus 1 can be used to inspect the printing condition designation mistake by the user, and it is expected to reduce the condition setting error.

  Embodiment 4 of the present invention inputs a print target image, transmits the print target image and a search request to the image search apparatus via the network, and calculates an image feature amount from the print target image by the image search apparatus. An image search is performed based on the image feature amount, print condition parameters associated with an image similar to the target image are acquired, and if the print target image and the search result are not similar, a print condition registration confirmation screen Is displayed, and the user selects whether or not to newly register the print condition. When new registration is selected, the print condition determination for registering the print target image in the image search apparatus together with the specified print condition is displayed. Is the method.

  The basic procedure of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. The operation of the printing condition determination apparatus 1 is partially different. The processing procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When an image to be printed is input in step 50, the printing condition determination apparatus 1 requests the image search apparatus S to search for an image in step 51. After the feature amount is calculated in step 52, the most similar image data is searched from the image data registered in the image search device S in step 53, and the search result is returned in step 54. The The printing condition determination apparatus 1 obtains a printing condition when a similar image has been printed before. In step 55, the similarity between the print target image data and the search result is determined. If the similarity is smaller than a predetermined value (not similar) in step 56, a print condition registration confirmation screen is displayed in step 57. indicate. On the print condition registration confirmation screen, the user is prompted to select whether or not to newly register print conditions using the print target image data itself as a key. The user makes a selection using the operation unit. If new registration is selected in step 58, the printing condition determination apparatus 1 displays a printing condition input screen in step 59, and print target image data together with the designated printing condition to the image search apparatus. sign up.

  According to the printing condition determination method of the fourth embodiment, it is possible to prompt the user to newly register only when image data to be printed that does not have an image that is more than a certain level is input.

  Embodiment 5 of the present invention inputs a print target image, transmits the print target image and a search request to the image search apparatus via the network, and calculates an image feature amount from the print target image by the image search apparatus. Perform an image search based on the image feature and weight parameters to obtain print condition parameters associated with an image similar to the target image, and execute print processing on the target image using the print condition parameters This is a printing condition determination method.

  The basic procedure of the fifth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, unlike the procedure of the first embodiment, processing is performed using a weight table that manages the correspondence between application types and weight parameters at the time of search. The processing procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step 61, the printing condition determination apparatus 1 receives, as an input, the type of application program used for printing together with the printing condition and the print target image data. In step 62, the printing condition determination apparatus 1 searches the weight table and obtains the weight parameter associated with the used application. In step 63, the image to be printed and the weight parameter are transmitted to the image search device S. In step 64, the image search device S calculates the feature amount of the print target image. In step 65, an image search is performed using the weight parameter. In step 66, the image retrieval apparatus S returns the retrieval result together with the printing conditions.

  According to the printing condition determination method of the fifth embodiment, it is possible to perform more accurate determination by setting the weight according to the tendency of the image data handled by the printing source application. For example, if the application that executed the printing is a word processor, a search that places importance on the layout of the document is performed. With photo editing software, it is possible to perform a search that emphasizes the proportion of used colors.

  The printing condition determination method of the present invention is optimal as a method for printing many types of images under printing conditions corresponding to the type of image.

It is a conceptual diagram of the image processing system for performing the printing condition determination method in Example 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which performs the printing condition determination method in Example 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which performs the printing condition determination method in Example 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which performs the printing condition determination method in Example 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which performs the printing condition determination method in Example 4 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which performs the printing condition determination method in Example 5 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

C: Image processing device, S: Image search device, P1, P2 ... Printer, T ... Network, 1 ... Printing condition determination device, 2 ... Printer control unit, 3 ... Display unit, 4 ... operation unit, 5 ... overall control unit, 6 ... printing condition input unit, 7 ... print image input unit, 8 ... image search request unit, 9 ... Print condition output unit, 10 ... Image registration unit, 11 ... Print condition registration unit, 12 ... Search request reception unit, 13 ... Search, search result transmission unit, 14 ... Image feature amount database , 15... Feature amount calculation unit, 16... Image search unit, 17... Feature amount registration deletion unit.

Claims (4)

An image to be printed is input, the image to be printed and a search request are transmitted to an image search device via a network, the image search device calculates an image feature amount from the print target image, and the image feature amount Based on the print condition parameter, the print condition determination is performed by performing an image search based on the print condition parameter associated with the image similar to the print target image and executing the print process on the print target image. A method,
Print conditions that receive the user's print condition parameters, and if there are differences from the print condition parameters in the search results, notify the user to that effect and let the user select which print condition parameter to use Judgment method. Means for inputting a print target image; means for transmitting the print target image and a search request to an image search apparatus via a network; and image search based on an image feature amount calculated from the print target image by the image search apparatus. Means for obtaining a printing condition parameter associated with an image similar to the image to be printed, which is a result of the printing, and a printing means for executing a printing process on the image to be printed using the printing condition parameter A printing condition determination apparatus comprising:
Means for receiving the user's printing condition parameters, means for notifying the user when there is a difference from the printing condition parameters in the search results, and means for allowing the user to select which printing condition parameter to use. A printing condition determining apparatus comprising: A computer program describing a processing procedure for causing a computer to execute the printing condition determination method according to claim 1. A computer-readable recording medium storing the computer program according to claim 3.

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