JP4561860B2 - Image printing sales apparatus and program thereof. - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image printing and selling apparatus that prints and sells image data supplied from an image recording apparatus such as a digital camera and a mobile phone with a camera, and a program thereof.

  In recent years, an image printing / sales apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a print vendor) arranged on a street corner or in a building, which can read and edit images from a recording medium such as a memory card that records images, and prints images for a fee. Image data recorded by an image recording apparatus such as a digital camera or a cellular phone can be easily printed. It is also possible to capture an image from the image recording apparatus to a print vendor via a data communication cable or via a server using a communication line. That is, in the image printing and selling apparatus, the image data recorded by the image recording apparatus is fetched, an input screen for various print designation information is displayed on the display device, and the image, print style, number of sheets, etc. to be printed are displayed from the displayed screen. When inputted, the inputted image data is photo-printed based on the inputted designation information.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image print sales apparatus that can select a desired image to be printed, specify a print size, and specify an image quality at home using a customer-owned terminal device.

JP 2001-148068 A

  However, when a plurality of image data is arranged and printed on a single print sheet by a print vendor and the image size of the image data to be printed is small, there is a problem that the finished image does not have high image quality.

  An object of the present invention is to restrict printing of image data when the print vendor arranges and prints a plurality of image data on a single print sheet and the image data size to be printed is small. Is displayed in association with the image data.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 is an image data capturing unit that captures image data, an image data display unit that displays the image data captured by the image data capturing unit, and the image data. A division number information input unit for inputting division number information to be arranged on one sheet of print paper, and a predetermined number in which the image size of the image data is stored in association with the division number information input by the division number information input unit The image data display means associates printing restriction information indicating that printing is restricted for the image data determined to be less than the predetermined size with the image data. And a display means for displaying on the screen.

  Furthermore, a program for causing the computer of the terminal device to function as each means shown in the invention described in claim 1 is provided (invention described in claim 4).

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image print sales apparatus according to the first aspect, the division number information input by the division number information input means is displayed so as to be selectable, and the user is allowed to select the division number information. It is characterized by inputting.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image print sales apparatus according to the first aspect, the display means displays the image data displayed on the image data display means as the print restriction information in gray. And

  According to the present invention, when a print vendor arranges and prints a plurality of image data on one print paper, and the image size of the image data to be printed is small, printing of the image data is restricted. Printing restriction information indicating that the image data can be displayed in association with the image data.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the present invention and the appearance of a print vendor 1 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the print vendor 1 is provided with an operation panel 11a, a display panel 12a, a terminal connection unit 14a, a money slot 15a, a money return port 15b, a printed material outlet 16a, and recording medium insertion ports 18a to 18d. It has been.

  The print vendor 1, for example, is installed in a photo shop or a street corner, and is an image recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a mobile phone) that records image data such as a digital camera, a camera-equipped mobile phone, a PC (Personal Computer), and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants). A description will be given by taking the telephone 2 as an example.) The designated image among the image data input via the communication cable 3 or the recording medium inserted into the recording medium insertion openings 18a to 18d is displayed. This is an image printing and sales apparatus that prints and outputs a specified number of photos in a specified style.

  FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the print vendor 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the print vendor 1 includes a CPU 10, an input device 11, a display device 12, a RAM 13, a transmission control unit 14, a money transfer device 15, a printing device 16, a recording device 17, a recording medium connection unit 18, and the like. Each part is connected by a bus 19.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 reads a system program stored in the recording device 17, develops it in a work area formed in the RAM 13, and controls each unit according to the system program. Further, the CPU 10 reads out various processing programs including a print sales processing program stored in the recording device 17 and develops them in a work memory, and executes various processing including a print sales processing described later, and the like. Is stored in the work area of the RAM 13. Then, the processing result stored in the work area is stored in a specified storage destination in the recording device 17.

  The input device 11 is composed of an operation panel 11a composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and the like. Various types of screens according to various selection screens displayed on the display device 12 are displayed on the display screen according to instructions of display signals input from the CPU 10. Displays operation buttons. The LCD display screen is covered with a pressure-sensitive (resistive film pressure) touch panel configured with transparent electrodes arranged in a grid, and the XY coordinates of the force point pressed with a finger or a touch pen are expressed as voltage values. The detected position signal is output to the CPU 10 as an operation signal.

  The display device 12 is configured by a display panel 12a made of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and in accordance with an instruction of a display signal input from the CPU 10, on the screen of the display panel 12a, a print selection screen, an image selection method designation screen, Various screens such as a print image selection screen are displayed.

  A RAM (Random ACCESS Memory) 13 forms a work area for temporarily storing a system program executed by the CPU 10, various processing programs, data being processed in each processing, processing results, and the like.

  The transmission control unit 14 transmits / receives data to / from an image recording apparatus such as the mobile phone 2 through the communication cable 3 inserted into the terminal connection unit 14 a and outputs received data to the CPU 10.

  The money transfer device 15 calculates a fee based on the print style and the number of prints designated from the mobile phone 2. Also, the amount or forgery inserted from the money insertion slot 15a is determined, a return amount is calculated based on the fee and the insertion amount, and the change corresponding to the return amount is returned from the money return slot 15b. Also, the calculated fee, input amount, and return amount data are output to the CPU 10.

  The printing device 16 includes one or a plurality of printers, and is a photosensitive material (printing paper, sticker) with a light beam modulated in accordance with image data input via the transmission control unit 14 or the recording medium connection unit 18. A latent image is recorded by scanning exposure, and the exposed photosensitive material is subjected to wet development processing and drying processing, and is output to the print receiving port 16a as a finished print. The printing device 16 also includes a receipt printing sheet for printing a receipt.

  The recording device 17 stores in advance various processing programs such as a system program corresponding to the print vendor 1, a print sales processing program, various data, and the like. The recording device 17 includes a magnetic and optical recording medium, Or it is the structure containing the recording medium which CPU10 can read, such as a semiconductor memory. This recording medium includes a portable medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) and a memory card, and a fixed medium such as a hard disk. In addition, the print vendor 1 is configured to include a communication control unit including a modem, a TA (Terminal Adapter), a router, and the like, and a part or all of programs, data, and the like stored in a recording medium are transferred from a server or client to a WAN (Wide The data may be received via a network such as an area network (LAN) or a local area network (LAN), and the recording medium may be a recording medium of a server or a client built on the network.

  For example, the recording medium connection unit 18 may be inserted into each insertion slot of a flash memory card insertion slot 18a, a smart media card insertion slot 18b, a memory stick insertion slot 18c, and a floppy disk insertion slot 18d. This is an interface for inputting / outputting data to / from a portable recording medium. The recording medium is not limited to the above-described one, and for example, an SD card (Secure Digital memory card), PC card, MO (magneto-optic), or the like may be mounted.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3 shows a print sales process executed by the CPU 10.

  First, the work area of the RAM 13 is initialized (step S1), and when a start screen is displayed on the display device 12 (step S2), the process waits until the start is instructed by the input device 11. When start is instructed by the input device 11 (step S3; YES), a print selection screen is displayed on the display device 12 (step S4).

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a print selection screen displayed on the display device 12 in step S4 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the print selection screen prints image data recorded on a recording medium (here, a memory card) inserted into any of the recording medium insertion openings 18a to 18d. ”And“ Print from mobile phone ”for printing image data transmitted from the mobile phone 2 via the communication cable 3 can be selected.

  When “print from memory card” is selected from the print selection screen (step S5; NO), the process proceeds to another process (step S6). When “print from mobile phone” is selected from the print selection screen (step S5; YES), the transmission control unit 14 initializes the serial transfer setting for connecting the print vendor 1 and the mobile phone 2 to maximize the transfer rate. Thus, the optimum setting for transferring data is performed (step S7). At this time, since the transfer settings may differ depending on the model of the mobile phone 2, a transfer setting file for each model of the mobile phone 2 is prepared in advance in the recording device 17 of the print vendor 1, and the mobile phone 2 is obtained from the file. It is desirable to perform transfer settings according to the model. Further, when the transfer setting file of the model of the mobile phone 2 to communicate does not exist in the print vendor 1, it is desirable to acquire the transfer setting from the mobile phone 2 and store it in the recording device 17. Next, an image selection method designation screen is displayed on the display device 12 (step S8).

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the image selection method designation screen displayed on the display device 12 in step S8 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, on the image selection method designation screen, image data to be transferred to the print vendor 1 among image data recorded in the mobile phone 2 is selected according to the shooting date that is supplementary information of the image data. Any one of “Select by shooting date” and “Select by file name” can be selected by selecting a file name which is incidental information of image data.

  When “select by file name” is selected from the image selection method designation screen (step S9; NO), a file list process (see FIG. 6) described later is executed (step S10). On the other hand, when “select by shooting date” is selected (step S9; YES), an image header analysis process (see FIG. 7) described later is executed (step S11).

FIG. 6 shows file list processing.
A transfer request for the file name list of the image data recorded in the storage unit or recording medium of the mobile phone 2 is transmitted to the mobile phone 2 via the transmission control unit 14, and the file name list from the mobile phone 2 is updated. When the file name list is captured by receiving (step S101), the captured file name list is stored in the RAM 13 (step S102) and displayed on the display device 12 (step S103).

  When a file name is selected and specified from the displayed file name list by the input device 11 (step S104; YES), the number of selected files is calculated, and the file No. is sequentially added to each file name in the file name list from 1. Is given (step S105). Next, the transfer request for the image data of the selected file name is transmitted to the mobile phone 2 via the transmission control unit 14 one by one, and the image data is transferred and captured (step S106). The stored image data is stored in the RAM 13, and the thumbnail image is displayed on the transfer screen of the display device 12 (step S107). On this transfer screen, “Transferring” is displayed during image data transfer, and the images are displayed as thumbnails after transfer, so the user can check whether image data is currently being transferred and whether the transfer has been completed. can do. If the end of transfer is not instructed by the input device 11 (step S108; NO), the number of image data transfers is counted (step S109), and if the number of transfers does not reach the number of selected files (step S110; NO). File No. Is incremented (step S111), and steps S106 to S111 are repeatedly executed. When the end of image data transfer is instructed by the input device 11 in step S108 (step S108; NO), or when the transfer count exceeds the number of selected files (step S110; YES), step S24 in FIG. Migrate to

FIG. 7 shows image header analysis processing.
A transfer request for the file name list of the image data recorded in the storage unit or recording medium of the mobile phone 2 is transmitted to the mobile phone 2 via the transmission control unit 14, and the file name list from the mobile phone 2 is updated. When the file name list is captured by receiving (step S121), the captured file name list is stored in the RAM 13 (step S122). Next, the number of files in the file name list is calculated, and a file No. is added to each file name. Are assigned in order from 1 (step S123).

  Subsequently, the file No. is transmitted to the mobile phone 2 via the transmission control unit 14. When a transfer request for header data associated with image data is transmitted one file at a time, and the header data is transferred and captured (step S124), the captured header data is sequentially stored in the RAM 13 (step S124). S125). If the shooting date data is not acquired from the data stored in the RAM 13 (step S126; NO), it is determined whether or not the header data END has been transferred (step S127). If the header data END has not been transferred (step S127). Step S127; NO), Steps S125 to S127 are repeatedly executed until all the header data is fetched. If the shooting date data is not acquired from the data stored in the RAM 13 (step S126; NO) and the header data END is transferred, it is determined that there is no shooting date data (step S128), and the process proceeds to step S129. When the shooting date data is acquired from the data stored in the RAM 13 (step S126; YES), or when there is no shooting date data, the file No. Matching data is created by associating the file name with the shooting date data (step S129). When there is no shooting date data, data indicating none is associated with the file name. If the end of transfer is not instructed from the input device 11 (step S130; NO), the number of transfers is counted (step S131). If the number of transfers is less than the number of files (step S132), the file NO. Is incremented (step S133), and steps S124 to S133 are repeatedly executed. If the end of transfer is instructed in step S130, or if the transfer count exceeds the number of files (step S132; YES), the process proceeds to step S12 in FIG.

  When the shooting date list is created by sorting the shooting date and file name matching data in order of shooting date in step S12 of FIG. 3 (step S12), a display calendar is created based on the created shooting date list. (Step S13) is displayed on the display device 12 (Step S14). When the shooting date is selected from the displayed calendar (step S15; YES), the file name corresponding to the selected shooting date is extracted from the shooting date list (step S16), and the number of extracted files is calculated. , File NO. Are assigned in order from 1 (step S17).

  Next, the transfer request for the image data with the extracted file name is transmitted to the mobile phone 2 via the transmission control unit 14 one by one, and the image data is transferred and captured (step S18). The stored image data is stored in the RAM 13, and the thumbnail image is displayed on the transfer screen of the display device 12 (step S19). If the end of transfer is not instructed by the input device 11 (step S20; NO), the number of transfers is counted (step S21). If the number of transfers is less than the number of extracted files (step S22; NO), the file NO. Is incremented (step S23), and steps S18 to S23 are repeatedly executed. If the end of the image data transfer is instructed by the input device 11 in step S20 (step S20; NO), or if the transfer count exceeds the number of extracted files (step S22; YES), a print style to be described later A selection process (see FIG. 8) is executed (step S24), and then a billing / print process is executed (see FIG. 12) (step S25). After charging / printing is completed, an end screen is displayed on the display device 12 (step S26). When it is instructed to continue printing on the end screen (step S27; YES), the process proceeds to step S8 in FIG. . When it is not instructed to continue printing (step S27; NO), the process proceeds to step S1 in FIG.

  Note that the print sales process is repeatedly executed when the power of the print vendor 1 is ON, but the process ends when the power is turned OFF.

FIG. 8 shows print style selection processing.
First, a print image selection screen is displayed on the display device 12 (step S141).
FIG. 9 shows an example of a print image selection screen.
Here, in the print vendor 1, the image of the file transferred from the mobile phone 2 is divided into four parts (the size obtained by dividing the L plate into four parts, and four images are arranged in the size of one L plate) or nine parts. Print in size (size of L plate divided into nine, 9 images are arranged in one L plate size). The user can select whether to print in 4 division sizes or 9 divisions on the print image selection screen shown in FIG. 9 by the input device 11, but in the print vendor 1, the quality of the finished image In order to achieve high image quality, printing in a four-divided size is limited only to files with an image size of a predetermined size or larger, for example, files of 640 × 480 dots or larger. That is, in the print vendor 1, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the image size is equal to or larger than a predetermined size. If the image size is smaller than the predetermined size, the print vendor 1 is restricted from performing print output with a predetermined output image size or larger. . As shown in FIG. 9, when a 4-split size is specified on the print image selection screen, an image file of 640 × 480 dots or more can be selected, displayed as a color image, and a file less than 640 × 480 dots cannot be selected. Thus, it is displayed in gray and a notification “9-division limitation” is displayed. The default setting of the print image selection screen is a four-divided size, and files less than 640 × 480 dots are displayed in gray.

  When the 4/9 division is changed from the print image selection screen (step S142; YES), the image display method is changed according to the changed number of divisions (step S143), and the print image selection screen is displayed. The For example, if 9 division is selected from a screen on which 4 division is selected, a file that is less than 640 × 480 dots is changed to a color display, and the characters “9 division limited” are deleted, and an image can be selected. Become.

  After an image is selected from the print image selection screen (step S144), when the page button is pressed to select a page (step S145; YES), the page shifts to +/− in response to the pressing of the page button. (Step S146), a print image selection screen corresponding to the designated page is displayed (Step S141). If the number of transferred files is small and all can be displayed within one page of the print image selection screen, the page button is not displayed. When an image is selected from the print image selection screen and the selection end is instructed (step S147; YES), the print image is synthesized by the selected image, and a print screen is created and displayed (step S148).

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the print screen. As shown in FIG. 10, the print screen includes a print output image, a + button for designating the number of prints, a button, an image order change button, a vertical / horizontal designation area, a print paper selection area, a date print designation area. A clear number button, a charge display area, and the like are displayed.

  When an image order change is instructed from the print screen displayed on the display device 12 (step S149; YES), an image order change process described later is executed (see FIG. 11) (step S150). When print paper is selected (step S151; YES), the selected paper (standard or sticker) format is reflected in the output image (step S152), and the print screen is displayed. When the vertical / horizontal style is selected (step S153; YES), the selected vertical / horizontal style is reflected in the output image (step S154), and the print screen is displayed. If date printing is selected (YES in step S155), the presence or absence of date printing is reflected (step S156), and the print screen is displayed. When the number of prints is designated (step S157; YES), the designated number of prints is reflected on the display (step S158), and the print screen is displayed. When clearing the number of sheets is designated (step S159; YES), the number of displayed sheets is cleared (step S160), and the print screen is displayed. When setting (OK) is instructed from the print screen (step S161; YES), print designation information is generated with the set contents (step S162), and the process proceeds to step S25 in FIG.

FIG. 11 shows the image order changing process.
An image order change screen in which images to be printed are arranged and displayed in order is displayed on the display device 12 (step S171), and when rearrangement in order of shooting date is selected from this screen (step S172), the images are sorted in order of shooting date. The images are rearranged (step S173), and an image order change screen is displayed. If rearrangement in order of shooting date is not selected (step S172; NO) and an image whose order is to be changed is selected and the previous / next instruction is given (step S174; YES), the position of the selected image is changed to the previous / next position. The screen is reflected so as to come in the order according to the subsequent instruction (step S175), and the image order change screen is displayed. When a page button is pressed from the image order change screen and a page is selected (step S176; YES), the page shifts to +/− in accordance with the pressing of the page button (step S177), and according to the designated page. The image order change screen is displayed. If the number of files selected for printing is small and all images can be displayed within one page of the image order change screen, the page button is not displayed. When selection clear is instructed from the image order change screen (step S178; YES), the image order on the image order change screen is changed to the default setting that was initially displayed (step S179) and displayed. When setting is instructed from the image order change screen (step S180; YES), the process proceeds to step S148 in FIG.

FIG. 12 shows the billing / print process.
First, a charge settlement screen corresponding to the contents of the print is displayed on the display device 12 (step S181), and it waits for the money transfer device 15 to confirm that a predetermined amount has been inserted (step S182). When a predetermined amount is inserted (step S182; YES), a print processing screen for displaying the print status is displayed (step S183). Then, the printing device 16 forms an image of the image data based on the print designation information and outputs a print (step S184). When the end of printing by the printing device 16 is confirmed (step S185; YES) and a receipt is issued (step S186: YES), a receipt is issued (step 187). When the receipt issuance is not instructed (step S186; NO) or after the receipt is issued, the process proceeds to step S26 in FIG.

  As described above, according to the print vendor 1, when capturing image data from the cellular phone 2 via the communication cable 3 by serial transfer, whether to select the image data to be printed by the file name or the shooting date A selection screen is displayed on the display device 12. When the input device 11 instructs to select by file name, the mobile phone 2 is requested to transfer a file name list of image data, and when the file name list is captured, the file name list is displayed on the display device 12. Is displayed. When the file name is selected, an image data transfer request for the selected file name is made to the mobile phone 2, and printing is performed based on the image data captured by the transfer and the print designation information designated by the user. Is done.

  On the other hand, when the selection is made according to the shooting date, a transfer request for the file name list of the image data is made to the mobile phone 2, and when the file name list is transferred and taken in, the header data is transferred for each file name. When a request is made and the header data is transferred and captured, the shooting date data is obtained from the header data, matching data is created in association with the file name, and the matching data is sorted in order of shooting date to obtain a shooting date list. Is created, and a screen displaying the shooting date on the calendar is displayed on the display device 12. When the shooting date is selected from the calendar on the display screen, the mobile phone 2 is requested to transfer the image data of the file name corresponding to the selected shooting date, and the image data captured by the transfer and the user Printing is performed based on the designated print designation information.

  Further, according to the print vendor 1, when the image data is transferred from the mobile phone 2, the image transferred to the display device 12 is displayed, and when transfer completion is instructed during the transfer of the image data, The transfer of the image data is completed even if not all the selected image data has been captured. Further, the image size of the output print is limited according to the size of the image data.

  Therefore, since the size of the output print is limited according to the size of the image data, it is possible to output only a high-quality print.

Note that the description content in the above embodiment is a preferred example in the present embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, in the present embodiment, the data from the mobile phone 2 is supplied to the print vendor 1 via the communication cable 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, connector connection, weak wireless, infrared It is good also as a structure performed by the radio | wireless communication using etc. The transfer method may be serial transfer or parallel transfer.

  In addition, when waiting for selection input during execution of print style selection processing or the like, a request for transferring unselected image data is made to the mobile phone 2 during processing idle time, and image data is captured and transferred. The processed image data may be stored in the RAM 13 and displayed on the display device 12. As a result, the image data that has not been selected is sequentially fetched without affecting other processes, so that the transfer efficiency can be increased. In addition, when there is an image to be printed in the transferred image data, the user does not have to wait for transfer of the image data again, and convenience is improved.

  In the above embodiment, the cellular phone 2 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a digital camera, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), a digital watch, and the like. it can.

  In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of the print vendor 1 can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration in an embodiment of the present invention and an appearance of a print vendor 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a print vendor 1 in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the print sales process performed by CPU10 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a print selection screen displayed on the display device 12 in step S4 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the image selection method designation | designated screen displayed on the display apparatus 12 by step S8 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the file list process performed by CPU10 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the image header analysis process performed by CPU10 of FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing print style selection processing executed by a CPU 10 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the print image selection screen displayed on the display apparatus 12 by step S141 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the print screen displayed on the display apparatus 12 by step S148 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the image order change process performed by CPU10 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the accounting / print process performed by CPU10 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Print vendor 2 Mobile phone 3 Communication cable 10 CPU
11 Input device 12 Display device 13 RAM
14 Transmission Control Unit 15 Money Transfer Device 16 Printing Device 17 Recording Device 18 Recording Medium Connection Unit 19 Bus

Claims (4)

Image data capturing means for capturing image data;
Image data display means for displaying the image data captured by the image data capture means;
Division number information input means for inputting division number information for arranging the image data on a single print sheet;
It is determined whether or not the image size of the image data is equal to or larger than a predetermined size stored in association with the division number information input by the division number information input means. Display means for displaying, on the image data display means, print restriction information indicating that printing of the image data is restricted;
An image printing and sales apparatus comprising:   2. The image print sales apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the division number information input by the division number information input means is displayed so as to be selectable, and the user selects and inputs the division number information. The display means includes
2. The image print sales apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data displayed on the image data display means as the print restriction information is displayed in gray. The computer of the image printing sales device,
Image data capturing means for capturing image data;
Image data display means for displaying the image data captured by the image data capture means;
Division number information input means for inputting division number information for arranging the image data on a single print sheet;
It is determined whether or not the image size of the image data is equal to or larger than a predetermined size stored in association with the division number information input by the division number information input means. Display means for displaying, on the image data display means, print restriction information indicating that printing is restricted for the image data;
Program to function as.

Images