JP4720867B2 - Image display system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display system.

  There is an image display system having an image display device such as an image appreciation device or a mobile phone. In addition, digital camera image information is used in various forms such as storage, printing, processing, and transmission by peripheral devices.

  For example, in the case of printing, it is common to capture a digital camera image and print it on a personal computer in which printer driver software for the printer to be used is installed. In addition, if the printer has a function of expanding a compressed image, printing can be performed by directly inserting a memory card storing the compressed image into a card slot of the printer. In addition, in order to perform color matching between the digital camera and the printer, it has been proposed to send image information to the printer with a command from the digital camera.

  Further, FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-307927 shows that “a photographed image is converted into digital image data and stored in the storage means 103, and at the same time, an output that can be connected to the digital still video camera by the color reproduction characteristic recording means 107. When the color reproduction characteristics corresponding to the device are stored in the storage unit 103 and image data captured by the output device is output, or when the image data stored in the storage unit 103 is reproduced and output, the reproduction correction unit 107 to 109, referring to the color reproduction characteristics of the output device stored in the storage unit 103, digital image data obtained by correcting the captured image data, or image data stored in the storage unit 103 is reproduced and converted. And supplying the corrected digital image data to the output device ".

  Further, FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-173833 shows that “a signal line is set between the camera 10 and the printer 12 by the IrDA infrared communication interfaces 16 and 18”, “image data is converted into print data”. "Transfer conversion software to be transmitted from the printer 12 to the camera 10 when necessary" and "The camera 10 stores this conversion software in a flash memory for storing photographed image data, and uses this conversion software. It is proposed that image data is converted into print data and transmitted to the printer 12 via the infrared interfaces 16 and 17.

  On the other hand, FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-191226 shows that “printing and outputting an image captured by the digital camera 101 includes print data conversion software such as the digital camera 101 k and image data by infrared 105 from the infrared I / F 103. The print data conversion software and image data transmitted and signed by the infrared ray 105 are received via the infrared I / F 104 of the printer 102, and “the received print data conversion software is activated on the printer 102. It has also been proposed that the received image data is converted into print data by this print data conversion software.

However, in the image display system, conversion of original image data into image data suitable for image display of an image display device such as an image appreciation device or a mobile phone has not been considered.
JP-A-9-307927 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-173833 JP-A-10-191226

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image display system that performs image processing on image data suitable for image display of an image display device such as an image appreciation device or a mobile phone.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is connected to a first server, an image database provided in the first server, and the first server via a network, and is stored in the image database. A display device for displaying image data; an applet storage unit provided in the first server and having an applet for image processing of image data stored in an image database to be displayed on the display device; and a first via a network. The second server connected to the server, and the applet processes the resolution of the image data stored in the image database displayed on the display device to a resolution suitable for the image display of the display device And periodically accessing the second server from the first server, and the applet of the second server was upgraded at that time , To provide an image display system for transmitting an applet from the second server to upgrade to the first server.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is connected to a first server, an image database provided in the first server, and the first server via a network, and is stored in the image database. A display device for displaying image data; an applet storage unit provided in the first server and having an applet for image processing of image data stored in an image database to be displayed on the display device; and a first via a network. servers in the server and a second server connected, applet, have row image processing for processing the image quality of the image data stored in the image database to be displayed on the display device, the first If the applet of the second server is upgraded at that time, the second server is periodically accessed. Image display system and transmits the applet to the upgrade to et the first server.

  According to the present invention, in an image display system, original image data can be converted into image data suitable for image display of an image display device such as an image appreciation device or a mobile phone.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and includes a digital camera 1 and a printer 2.

  The digital camera 1 is controlled by the control / processing unit 3, and various operations can be performed with the operation unit 5 while looking at the menu of the LCD display unit 4. The display data sent from the control / processing unit 3 is held in the buffer of the LCD display unit 4, and the same display is displayed on the LCD display unit 4 unless the display image data in the buffer is rewritten by the control / processing unit 3. Is continued. In operation, a shooting mode, a playback mode, a print mode, and the like are selected from the initial menu of the LCD display unit 4.

  When the shooting mode is selected, the subject image is repeatedly converted into an electronic image signal by the imaging unit 6 having a lens and an image sensor of about 3 million images. Until the shutter release is performed by the operation unit 5, the image capturing unit 6 performs decimation readout by the control from the control / processing unit 3, which is converted into decimation image data by the A / D conversion unit of the image capturing unit. It is sent to the processing unit 3. The control / processing unit 3 converts the thinned image data into display image data by performing interpolation, color balance adjustment, and the like, and sends the display image data to the buffer of the LCD display unit 4. Since the imaging unit 6 repeatedly performs imaging, the thinned image data is also repeatedly sent to the control / processing unit 3, and the buffer of the LCD display unit is successively rewritten with new display image data. Thus, an image repeatedly picked up by the image pickup unit 6 is monitored as a moving image by the LCD display unit 4, and the LCD display unit 4 functions as an electronic viewfinder of the digital camera 1.

  When the shutter release button of the operation unit 5 is pressed, the readout of the imaging unit 6 becomes the all-pixel readout by the control from the control / processing unit 3, which is A / D converted and sent to the control / processing unit 3. The digital data in this state is called raw data because it is raw data output from the image sensor of the imaging unit 6. The raw data is sent to the buffer 7 and temporarily stored. When the storage of the raw data is completed, the reading of the imaging unit 6 returns to the thinning-out reading, and the moving image monitoring by the LCD display unit 4 is resumed.

  The raw data in the buffer 7 is appropriately read out by the control / processing unit 3 and subjected to interpolation, color balance adjustment, etc., then sent to the compression / decompression unit 8, converted into compressed image data, and returned to the buffer 7. And temporarily stored. The compressed image data in the buffer 7 is appropriately read out by the control / processing unit 3 and written as an image file in a storage medium 10 such as a memory card inserted in the storage medium slot 9 in a replaceable manner.

  The buffer 7 has a capacity of about 10 Raw data images, and can store up to 10 images according to the operation of the shutter release button. The raw data in the buffer 7 is appropriately read out, converted into compressed image data, returned, and further read out appropriately and written in the storage medium 10. The Raw data that has been confirmed to be converted into compressed image data or the compressed image data that has been confirmed to be written to the storage medium 10 can be erased from the buffer 7 or overwritten. Therefore, as long as extreme continuous shooting is not performed, a free space for a plurality of images is normally secured in the buffer 7, and new raw data can be taken in at any time without waiting time. The digital camera 1 further includes an applet storage unit 11 and an input / output unit 12, which will be described later in connection with the configuration of the printer 2.

  When the playback mode is selected, thumbnail data is read from the image file in the storage medium 10 by the control / processing unit 3 and displayed on the LCD display unit 4. When one of the thumbnails is selected by the operation unit 5, the compressed image data is read from the selected image file, and is sent to the compression / expansion unit 8 for expansion. The decompressed image data is subjected to appropriate thinning processing, and then sent from the control / processing unit 3 to the LCD display unit 4 for display.

  The printer 2 is controlled by the control / processing unit 13, and various operations can be performed with the operation unit 15 while viewing the menu of the LCD display unit 14. The display data sent from the control / processing unit 13 is held in the buffer of the LCD display unit 14, and the same display is displayed on the LCD display unit 14 unless the display image data in the buffer is rewritten by the control / processing unit 13. Will continue. The print output unit 16 performs printing on the output paper based on the print data stored in the output buffer 17.

Note that the printer 2 does not have a decompression function for compressed image data. Therefore, it is necessary to input the decompressed and converted print data to the input / output unit 18. The printer driver applet storage unit 19 stores a printer driver applet that is application software for converting the decompressed compressed image into print data dedicated to the printer 2 and delivering it to the printer 2. The printer driver applet is sent in advance from the input / output unit 18 to the input / output unit 12 of the digital camera 1 via the cable 20 and stored in the applet storage unit 11.
The printer driver applet displays a menu dedicated to the printer 2 for specifying the paper type, paper size, image size, image quality, color setting, number of prints, etc. for the printer 2 and printing for selecting the item. A menu applet is also included.

  When the target image is selected and printed by the operation unit 5 of the digital camera 1 in accordance with the control / processing unit 3 functioning by the print menu applet attached to the printer driver applet of the applet storage unit 11 in the print mode, the image is compressed. The target image is read from the storage medium 10 and decompressed by the compression / decompression unit 8. The expanded target image is converted into print data dedicated to the printer 2 by the control / processing unit 3 functioning by the printer driver applet in the applet storage unit 11, and the input / output unit of the printer 2 from the input / output unit 12 through the cable 20. 18 is passed on. The transferred print data is sent to the output buffer 17 by the control / processing unit 13, and the print output unit 16 executes printing based on this.

  As described above, the printer driver applet is stored in the printer driver applet storage unit 19 of the printer 2, sent to the digital camera 1 and stored in the applet storage unit 11. It is possible to receive image data in the form of print data dedicated to 2. Therefore, the digital camera 1 can be directly connected to the printer 2 by the functions of the expansion / compression unit 8 and the applet of the applet storage unit 11 without receiving print data via a personal computer in which the driver software of the printer 2 is installed. Printing can be performed.

  In the color matching applet storage unit 21 of the printer 2, application software necessary for the digital camera 1 to write information on the color and brightness of the image data to be printed into a predetermined position of the image file on the storage medium 10 as a print command. A color matching applet is stored. This is for color matching of image information between the digital camera 1 and the printer 2.

  This printer driver applet is sent in advance from the input / output unit 18 to the input / output unit 12 of the digital camera 1 via the cable 20 and stored in the applet storage unit 11.

  When the color matching applet stored in the applet storage unit 11 writes a captured image as an image file in the storage medium 10 of the storage medium slot 9, the color and brightness information of the image data is also displayed as a print command. Written to an image file.

  The print command of the image file stored in the storage medium 10 is used to convert the image read from the storage medium 10 and expanded into print data dedicated to the printer 2 in the print mode. The print data is color matching. Is transferred from the input / output unit 12 to the input / output unit 18 as data in the form of The print command of the image file stored in the storage medium 10 is used by the printer when printing is performed by a type of printer capable of printing by inserting the storage medium 10.

  FIG. 2 is a main flowchart of the digital camera 1 in the embodiment as described above. The main flow starts from step S1 when the power switch is turned on or when the printer connection interrupt is generated by connecting the digital camera 1 to the printer 2 by the cable 20. In step S2, whether or not a printer is connected is checked. If it is connected, printer information for specifying the printer is input from the printer 2 to the digital camera 1 in step S3.

  In step S4, it is checked whether a printer driver applet corresponding to the printer specified by the printer information has already been input to the applet storage unit 11. If input has been completed, the printer driver applet is designated in step S5. This is to determine which printer driver applet corresponding to a plurality of printers is to be used when stored in the applet storage unit 11.

  In step S 6, it is checked whether the applet in the printer driver applet storage unit 19 is new for the digital camera 1 based on the printer information. When step S6 is reached via step S5, it is determined whether or not a printer driver applet that has been upgraded with respect to the printer driver applet already stored in the applet storage unit 11 is stored in the printer driver applet storage unit 19. It becomes a check. On the other hand, if there is no corresponding printer driver applet in the applet storage unit 11 in step S4, step S5 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S6. In this case, the result of the check in step S6 is usually YES. In any case, if a new applet is stored in the printer driver applet storage unit 19 for the digital camera 1, the process proceeds to step S7, where the new printer driver applet is input and stored in the applet storage unit 11. If no new applet is stored in the printer driver applet storage unit 19 for the digital camera 1 in step S6, step S7 is skipped.

  As described above, step S6 and step S7 are not only performed when the printer driver applet related to the printer 2 is not stored in the applet storage unit 11 at all, but also in the applet storage unit 11 that the printer driver applet corresponding to the printer 2 has already been stored. Even if stored, if the printer driver applet of the printer 2 has been upgraded, the applet storage 11 can be rewritten and updated. This update is performed as necessary every time the flow starts from step S1 due to power-on or printer connection interruption.

  In step S8, it is checked whether the applet in the color matching applet storage unit 21 is new to the digital camera 1 based on the printer information. If a new applet has been stored in the color matching applet storage unit 21 for the digital camera 1, the process proceeds to step S 9, where the new color matching applet is input and stored in the applet storage unit 11. If no new applet is stored in the color matching applet storage unit 19 for the digital camera 1 in step S8, step S9 is skipped. Similar to steps S6 and S7, steps S8 and S9 also have a function of rewriting the applet memory 11 and updating it if the color matching applet of the printer 2 has been upgraded.

  In the above embodiment, the color matching applet is based on a common standard, the new version also covers the functions of the old version, and one of a plurality of input color matching applets needs to be selected according to the printer. It was configured as no. However, when a printer-specific color matching applet is adopted, the above-described embodiment is changed, and a step similar to step S4 and step S5 is also provided before step S8 for the color matching applet.

  The erasure mode selection process in step S10 is a process for selecting the conditions in advance because the applet is erased from the applet storage unit 11 under a predetermined condition, so that many unnecessary applets are not stored in the applet storage unit. Is for. The predetermined condition is used or expired, details of which will be described later.

  The applet erasure process in step S11 is a process for erasing unnecessary applets in accordance with the erasure mode set in step S10. Here, the applet is erased when the time limit expires. Details thereof will be described later.

  In step S12, step S13, and step S14, the print mode, shooting mode, and playback mode interrupts are enabled, respectively. In step S15, the main flow enters a standby state.

  If the printer is not connected in step S2, the process after step S3 cannot be performed for the time being, so that the process proceeds to step S16, the printer connection interrupt is enabled, and the process proceeds to step S11. As a result, when the printer is connected after the power is turned on, a printer connection interrupt is generated, and the flow starts from step S1 and step S3 and subsequent steps can be executed.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when a shooting mode interrupt is issued in the above embodiment. When a shooting mode is selected by the operation unit 5, a shooting mode interrupt is issued, and the flow starts in step S21 and waits for a release in step S22. When the release is performed, the image is captured and compressed in step S23, and is written into the image file.

  In step S24, it is checked whether or not a color matching applet is stored in the applet storage unit. If it is stored, color matching data using information relating to the color and brightness of the image data photographed in step S25 as print commands is obtained. Written to an image file. In step S26, the image file in which the compressed image information and the print command are written is written in the storage medium 10. Then, the flow returns to step S22 and waits for the next release. If the color matching applet is not stored in the applet storage unit 11 in step S24, step S25 is skipped and the image file in which the image information is written is written in the storage medium 10.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when a print mode interrupt is issued in the above embodiment. When the print mode is selected on the operation unit 5, a print mode interrupt is generated, and the flow starts in step S31. In step S32, it is checked whether a printer corresponding to direct connection to the digital camera 1 is connected. That is, the printer driver applet of the connected printer is stored in the applet storage unit 11, and it is checked whether the printer 2 can execute printing based on the print data output from the digital camera 1.

  If a compatible printer is connected, a printer driver applet corresponding to the printer is read from the applet storage unit 11, and the control / processing unit 3 functions based on the menu applet included therein, and a dedicated menu for the printer 2. Is displayed on the LCD display unit 4. In step S34, an image to be printed is selected according to the menu display. In step S35, menu selection processing is performed according to the menu display, and the paper type, paper size, image size, image quality, color setting, number of prints, and the like are designated.

  In step S36, an image file corresponding to the selected image is read from the storage medium 10, and in step S37, the compressed image data of the image file is decompressed by the compression / decompression unit 8.

  In step S38, it is checked whether or not the read image file has color matching data in which information relating to the color and brightness of the image data is used as a print command. If there is color matching data, it is read out in step S39, and color matching processing is performed on the expanded image data in step S40. In step S41, the decompressed image data subjected to the color matching process is converted into print data. If there is no color matching data in step S38, the process directly goes to step S41 to convert the expanded image data into print data. The converted print data is temporarily stored in the buffer 7.

  If the applet storage unit 11 stores an applet for converting an image to a resolution and image quality that matches the characteristics of the printer 2, the expanded image data is converted to print data in step S41. Prior to processing, the expanded image data is converted into an image having a resolution and image quality that matches the characteristics of the printer 2 and then converted into print data. This function has the meaning of preventing excessive resolution and image quality when the printer 2 is of a type that performs small size simple printing.

  In step S42, it is checked whether the image selection is completed. If the image selection is completed, the print data in the buffer 7 is output from the input / output unit 12 to the printer 2 in step S43. In step S44, an applet erasure process for erasing a used applet from the applet storage unit 11 is performed according to the mode selected in the erase mode selection process in step S10 of FIG. After the above processing, the flow returns to the main flow and enters a standby state.

  If the image selection is not completed in step S42, the process returns to step S33, and thereafter, steps S33 to S42 are repeated until the image selection is completed.

  If the corresponding printer is not connected in step S32 and printing is not possible even if the print data is output from the input / output unit 12, the process proceeds to step S46, and a notice to that effect is displayed. Furthermore, it progresses to step S47, and after performing the process for writing a printing instruction | indication in the storage medium 10 as needed, it progresses to step S45.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of the storage medium writing process in step S47 of FIG. When the flow starts from step S51, it is checked in step S52 whether a dedicated applet for performing a process for writing a print instruction in the storage medium 10 is stored in the applet storage unit 11. Such a dedicated applet is not a printer 2 but a specific printer of a type capable of performing printing by inserting a storage medium 10 taken out from a digital camera as in an embodiment described later, or an applet supply service To the digital camera 1. As the supply method, various methods such as a method using a storage medium and a method using the Internet as described later are possible. Examples of the dedicated applet include an applet for performing color matching between the printer of the type described above and a digital camera, and an applet for displaying a dedicated menu for issuing a print instruction.

  If the dedicated applet for performing the process for writing the print instruction in the storage medium 10 is not stored in the applet storage unit 11 in step S52, the process proceeds to step S53, where the print instruction is written in the storage medium 10 itself. Check if a dedicated applet for processing is stored. In this way, not only the applet storage unit 11 but also the storage medium 10 itself can be used as an applet storage unit. In this case, by inserting such a storage medium 10 into the storage medium slot 9 of the digital camera 1, The camera 1 can perform processing according to the dedicated applet. Examples of such a dedicated applet include an applet for performing color matching between a printer and a digital camera and an applet for displaying a dedicated menu for issuing a print instruction. If such a dedicated applet is stored in the storage medium 10 itself, the process proceeds to step S54, and the dedicated applet is read from the storage medium 10 by the control / processing unit 3. Then, a dedicated menu for writing a print instruction to the storage medium 10 by the read dedicated applet is displayed on the LCD display unit 4 in step S55.

  On the other hand, if a dedicated applet for performing processing for writing a print instruction in the storage medium 10 is stored in the applet storage unit 11 in step S52, the process directly proceeds to step S55, and the storage medium is operated by the dedicated applet in the applet storage unit 11. 10, a dedicated menu for writing a print instruction is displayed on the LCD display unit 4.

  In step S56, an image to be printed is selected according to the menu display. In step S57, menu selection processing is performed for designating the paper type, paper size, image size, image quality, color setting, number of prints, etc. according to the menu display. In step S58, a print instruction is written in the image file of the selected image stored in the storage medium 10. This print instruction includes not only items specified by the operation unit 5 in the menu selection process but also items automatically written based on the color matching applet. When the writing is finished, the storage medium writing process is finished in step S59, and the process proceeds to step S45 in FIG.

  If a dedicated applet for performing processing for writing a print instruction in the storage medium 10 itself is not stored in step S53, the process proceeds to step S60. In step S60, a process for writing a print instruction to the storage medium 10 is performed based on a general-purpose standard for delivering a print instruction from the digital camera to the printer. In this case, it is not possible to cope with each printer, and the print instruction is within the range according to the general-purpose standard. If the color matching standard is included in the general-purpose standard, general-purpose color matching data is also written based on this general-purpose standard.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the erase mode selection process in step S10 of FIG. When the flow starts from step S71, it is checked in step S72 whether there is a new applet input to the applet storage unit 11. If there is a new applet, the storage mode is set by default in step S73 for one of them. In step S74, it is checked whether or not the post-use erase mode is selected by the operation unit 5. If it is detected that this mode is selected within a predetermined time, the storage mode is changed to the post-use erase mode in step S75, and step S76 is performed. Proceed to If selection of the post-use erase mode is not detected within a predetermined time in step S74, the process directly proceeds to step S76 while remaining in the storage mode.

  In step S76, it is checked whether or not the expiration date deletion mode has been selected by the operation unit 5. If it is detected that this mode has been selected within a predetermined time, the expiration date deletion mode is set in step S77, and the process proceeds to step S78. If selection of the term erasure mode is not detected within the predetermined time in step S76, step S77 is skipped and the process directly goes to step S78. This expiry mode is intended to remove applets that have not been used for a long time or applets that have become obsolete from the applet storage.

  As a result, for one new applet, the storage mode, the post-use erasing mode, the term erasing mode, and the erasing mode of either the post-use erasing mode or the term erasing mode are set.

  In step S78, it is checked whether or not there is another new applet input to the applet storage unit 11. If not, the process proceeds to step S79. On the other hand, if there are other new applets, the process returns to step S73. Thereafter, as long as there are other new applets, steps S73 to S78 are repeated, and an erasing mode is set for each new applet.

  In step S79, it is detected whether or not an operation for requesting the change of the set erase mode has been performed by the operation unit 5 within a predetermined time. When it is detected that the mode change is desired, the mode change process in step S80 is performed. move on. In the mode change process, a list of applets stored in the applet storage unit 11 is displayed on the LCD display unit 4, one of them is selected by the operation unit 5, and an erasure mode of the selected applet is displayed in the operation unit. 5 is performed. When the mode change process ends, the process proceeds to step S81 and proceeds to step S11 in FIG. On the other hand, if the operation of the operation unit 5 to change the set erase mode in step S79 is not detected within a predetermined time, the process directly goes to step S81.

  If there is no applet newly stored in the applet storage unit 11 in step S72, the process directly goes to step S79. Also in this case, the erasure mode can be changed as necessary for the applets already stored in the applet storage unit 11 in steps S79 and S80.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the applet erasing process in step S11 of FIG. 2 or step S44 of FIG. When the flow starts from step S91, it is checked in step S92 whether the print mode is selected. If it is not the print mode, this corresponds to the case of step S11 in FIG. 2, and the process proceeds to step S93, where it is checked whether or not the applet in the expiration date deletion mode is stored in the applet storage unit 11. Then, in step S94, it is checked whether any of them has expired. Specific examples of expiration are those in which a predetermined period has elapsed from the input date to the applet storage unit, those in which a predetermined period has elapsed since the latest use date, and those in which the predetermined period has elapsed since the applet creation date. For this purpose, the creation date, the input date to the applet storage unit, the latest use date, etc. are recorded in each applet.

  If there is an expired applet in step S94, the process proceeds to step S95 to display on the LCD display unit 4 whether or not one of the applets may be deleted, and that the deletion is OK within a predetermined time. It is checked whether or not the operation has been performed by the operation unit 5. If it is detected that the operation has been performed, the applet is deleted from the applet storage unit 11 in step S96, and the process proceeds to step S97. On the other hand, if it is not detected in step S95 that the operation unit 5 has been erased within the predetermined time, the applet is not erased and the process proceeds to step S97.

  In step S97, a check is made to see if there are other expired applets. If no other applets have expired, the process ends at step S98, and the process proceeds to step S12 in FIG. On the other hand, if there are other expired applets, the process returns to step S95, and thereafter, as long as there is an applet whose expiration has not been determined yet, steps S95 to S97 are repeated.

  In step S93, if an applet in the expiration date deletion mode is not stored in the applet storage unit 11, or if an applet expired in step S94 is not stored in the applet storage unit, the process directly goes to step S98.

  Further, if the print mode is in step S92, this corresponds to the case of step S44 in FIG. 4, so the process proceeds to step S99, and whether the applet used in the print mode is set to the delete after use mode. A check is made. If it is in the post-use erase mode, the process proceeds to step S95. The following operations are the same as those in the case of reaching step S95 through step S94. Even if step S95 is reached after step S99, the check in step S97 is received. Therefore, even if the applet is not deleted in step S96 from the viewpoint of deletion after use, if the expiration date mode is set and it is determined that the applet has expired in step S97, the process returns to step S95, and this time. Ask whether deletion is necessary from the viewpoint of expiration. In the above case, if the applet is not set to the expiration mode or is not determined to expire, the process goes from step S97 to step S98. On the other hand, if it is not in the after-use erase mode in step S99, the process directly goes to step S98.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a digital camera system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera system includes a digital camera 1 and a printer 31.
In FIG. 8, since the digital camera 1 is common to the digital camera 1 of FIG. On the other hand, the printer 31 is the type of printer mentioned in the description of FIG. 5 and can perform printing by inserting the storage medium 10 taken out from the digital camera. Also for the printer 31, the same components as those in the printer 2 in FIG.

  The printer 31 has a storage medium slot 32 into which a storage medium 10 such as a memory card taken out from the storage medium slot 9 of the digital camera can be inserted. A print instruction written by the storage medium writing process of FIG. 5 is written to the storage medium 10 together with the compressed image, and these are read by the control / processing unit 33. Specifically, the image file to be printed is read according to the read print instruction, and the compressed image data therein is sent to the decompression / conversion unit 34. The expansion / conversion unit 34 expands the compressed image data and converts it into print data dedicated to the printer 31. At this time, if there is color matching data in the image file, the command is read to perform color matching processing for processing the image. The print data is sent to the output buffer 17 by the control / processing unit 33, and the print output unit 16 executes printing based on the print data.

  In the above, the color matching data contained in the image file of the storage medium 10 is sent to the digital camera 1 from the color matching applet stored in the dedicated applet storage unit 35 of the printer 31 and stored in the applet storage unit 11. This functions based on FIG. 5 and the color matching data is written in the storage medium 10 by the digital camera 1.

  As described above, since the printer 31 in the second embodiment includes the expansion / conversion unit 34, the storage medium 10 inserted in the medium slot 32 can be obtained without receiving a signal in the form of print data externally. The image file including the compressed image can be read out from the image data and the print data can be created by itself.

  In the second embodiment, the image data stored in the storage medium 10 conforms to a general-purpose file format, and the storage medium taken out from the digital camera 1 is read out even if it is inserted into any peripheral device. It has generality that can be utilized. However, when an applet for converting image data into a specific resolution and image quality that matches the characteristics of the printer 31 is delivered and stored in the applet storage unit 11 of the digital camera 1 in the dedicated applet storage unit 35 of the printer 31. Based on this applet, the control / processing unit 3 can process image data dedicated to the printer 31 and store the processed image data in the storage medium 10 via the medium slot 9. This function has a meaning of preventing image data having excessive resolution or image quality from being received when the printer 31 is of a type that performs simple printing of a small size.

  Note that various methods can be used as a method for exchanging dedicated applets in the second embodiment. First, as in the first embodiment, the applet stored in the dedicated applet storage unit 35 of the printer 31 is connected to the applet storage unit of the digital camera 1 by connecting the input / output unit 18 to the input / output unit 12 by an appropriate method. There is a method of sending to 11.

  Next, the applet stored in the dedicated applet storage unit 35 of the printer 31 is stored in the storage medium 10 inserted in the medium slot 32, and when this storage medium 10 is inserted in the medium slot 9 of the digital camera 1, There is a method of reading this out and inputting it into the applet storage unit 11. Details of the input of the applet from the storage medium 10 to the applet storage unit 11 in this case can be performed according to FIG. Specifically, “printer connection” in FIG. 2 is read as “storage medium insertion”. Further, the case where there is an applet stored in the applet storage unit 11 in this way corresponds to the case where there is a medium writing applet in step S52 of FIG.

  Further, as a third method, the applet stored in the dedicated applet storage unit 35 of the printer 31 is stored in the storage medium 10 inserted in the medium slot 32, and this storage medium 10 is stored in the medium slot 9 of the digital camera 1. There is a method in which the controller / processor 3 is made to function by directly reading out the inserted state when necessary. In this method, the applet is not stored in the applet storage medium 11. Therefore, the problem of deleting the applet from the applet storage unit 11 does not occur. This case corresponds to the case of the storage medium with an applet in step S53 of FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a digital camera system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, in which each component is connected by a network. The digital camera 1 has basically the same configuration as that of the first embodiment of FIG. 1, but the illustration is omitted except for the applet storage unit 11 and the input / output unit 12. The printer 2 has basically the same configuration as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. However, the printer driver applet storage unit 19 and the color matching applet storage unit 21 in FIG. 1 are collectively referred to as an applet storage unit 41. The illustration is omitted except for the applet storage unit 41 and the input / output unit 18. The printer 31 in FIG. 8 can also be implemented in the third embodiment. However, since it has the same meaning from the viewpoint of the third embodiment, illustration is omitted, and the printer 2 in FIG. In particular, when understood as the third embodiment, it can be considered that the applet storage unit 41 of FIG. 9 corresponds to the dedicated applet storage unit 35 of FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 are directly connected by the cable 20, but in the third embodiment, they are connected by short-range communication means 43, 44 using radio waves or infrared rays, respectively, via the home wireless LAN 42. It is. The home server 45 made up of a personal computer controls the home wireless LAN 42 via the input / output unit 46 and has an applet storage unit 47. The home server 45 receives a digital camera applet such as a printer driver applet or a color matching applet output from the applet storage unit 41 of the printer 2 to the home wireless LAN 42 and temporarily stores it in the applet storage unit 47. When the digital camera 1 communicates with the home wireless LAN 42, the digital camera applet in the applet storage unit 47 is transferred to the digital camera 1. If the digital camera 1 is in communication with the home wireless LAN when the printer 2 outputs the digital camera applet to the home wireless LAN, the applet storage unit 47 of the home server 45 as described above temporarily. The applet may be directly transferred from the printer 2 to the digital camera 1 without going through the custody.

  The home server 45 also has an input / output unit 50 for communication means 49 with the Internet 48. When applets related to various home devices connected to the home wireless LAN 42 are supplied via the Internet 48, the applets are received by the input / output unit 50 and temporarily stored in the applet storage unit 47. The data is supplied to the corresponding home device via the LAN 42 as appropriate.

  The home server 45 further has an image database 51. In the image database 51, image files from the digital camera 1 are transmitted and stored via the home wireless LAN 42. In this case, an image database data creation applet prepared in the applet storage unit 47 of the home server 45 is transmitted when the digital camera 1 is in communication with the home wireless LAN 42 and is stored in the applet storage unit 11 in advance. Remembered. Thus, the digital camera 1 can output an image file in a format suitable for storage in the image database 51 based on the image database data creation applet in the applet storage unit 11.

  Further, an image appreciation device 52 for viewing a digital image from the digital camera 1 on a large screen can be connected to the home wireless LAN 42 by a short-range communication means 53 using radio waves or infrared rays. The image viewing apparatus 52 includes an input / output unit 54 and an applet storage unit 55 in the same manner as the printer 2. The home server 45 receives an image viewing applet output from the applet storage unit 55 of the image viewing apparatus 52 to the home wireless LAN 42 and stores it in the applet storage unit 47. When the digital camera 1 communicates with the home wireless LAN 42, the image viewing applet stored in the applet storage unit 47 is transferred to the digital camera 1. As in the case of the printer 1, if the digital camera 1 is also in communication with the home wireless LAN when the image viewing device 52 outputs the image viewing applet to the home wireless LAN, the above-mentioned home The applet may be directly delivered from the image viewing device 52 to the digital camera 1 without being stored in the applet storage unit 47 of the server 45. In either case, the digital camera 1 stores the previously received applet in the applet storage unit 11. Accordingly, the digital camera 1 can process the image data having a format, resolution, and image quality suitable for image display in the image viewing apparatus 52 based on the image viewing applet in the applet storage unit 11 and output the image data.

  Note that the image viewing applet stored in the applet storage unit 47 of the home server 45 is also used when the image viewing apparatus 52 views the image data stored in the image database 51. In this case, the home server expands the image data in the image database 51 based on the image viewing applet stored in the applet storage unit 47, converts the image data into a format and size suitable for image display in the image viewing device 52, and outputs the data. To do.

  The printer driver applet, color matching applet, and the like stored in the applet storage unit 47 of the home server 45 are also used when the printer 2 prints the image data stored in the image database 51. In this case, the home server decompresses the compressed image data in the image database 51, converts the image data in the image database 51 into print data based on the printer driver applet, color matching applet, and the like in the applet storage unit 47, and outputs the print data.

  In the above description, the case where the digital camera 1 receives the applet and stores it in the applet storage unit 11 has been described, but it is also possible to send the applet stored in the applet storage unit 11 to the peripheral device. . For example, a system applet corresponding to a system for color matching between the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 is output from the applet storage unit 11 of the digital camera 1 and is sent to the applet storage unit 41 of the printer 2 via the home LAN 42. By sending it in, the printer 2 that was not compatible with the color matching system can be transformed to support this. Similarly, a system applet corresponding to a system for color matching between the digital camera 1 and the image viewing device 52 is output from the applet storage unit 11 of the digital camera 1 and the image viewing device 52 of the image viewing device 52 is connected via the home LAN 42. It is also possible to send it to the applet storage unit 55.

  Specifically, in the above, when command information for color matching is written at a predetermined position of the image file on the digital camera side according to the system applet and output to the printer, this command information is read on the printer side and the image file is read according to the command. A system applet for processing the image information is sent to the applet storage unit 11 of the printer 2 in advance. As a result, the printer 2 can create a print that matches the color conditions of the digital camera 1.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the digital camera 1 and peripheral devices are connected by a network via the short-range communication means 43. However, the connection with peripheral devices is not limited to this. For example, a digital camera cradle having a digital camera charging connector and an image signal connector is connected to the domestic LAN 42, and the corresponding connector provided on the digital camera 1 is charged to the cradle by placing the digital camera 1 on the cradle. It is also possible to configure so that the digital camera can be charged and the digital communication via the home LAN can be performed by contacting the connector and the image signal connector. In this case, an applet storage unit may be provided in the cradle so that applets can be exchanged with the applet storage unit 11 of the digital camera 1. Further, the control / processing unit 3 of the digital camera 1 can be made to function by accessing an applet stored in the applet storage unit of the cradle.

  Even in the connection as described above, details of the input of the applet to the applet storage unit 11 can be performed in accordance with FIG. Specifically, “printer connection” in FIG. 2 is read as “network connection”.

  In FIG. 9, various organizations such as a printer maker 59, an external server 60, and a camera maker 61 can be connected to the Internet 48 via communication means 56, 57, 58 and the like. The printer manufacturer 59 develops an applet to be provided to its printer and its peripheral devices (including a digital camera), and stores the applet in the applet storage unit 62 sequentially and makes it public on the Internet 48 from the input / output unit 63. Similarly, the camera manufacturer 61 develops an applet to be provided to its digital camera and its peripheral devices (including a printer), and sequentially stores the applet in the applet storage unit 64. Publish.

  The external server 60 periodically accesses these via the Internet 48 under contracts with the printer manufacturer 59 and the camera manufacturer 61, fetches the applet that is made public from the input / output unit 66, and stores it in the applet storage unit 67. The external server 60 further periodically sends a new applet related to the applet storage unit 67 to the applet storage unit 45 of the home server 45 via the Internet based on a contract with the home server 45. For this purpose, the external server 60 may be periodically accessed from the home server 45. As a result, the home server can obtain an applet newly provided by the printer manufacturer 59 or the camera manufacturer 61 or an upgraded applet in almost real time. The method of transferring the applet taken into the applet storage unit 47 to the digital camera 1, the printer 2, the image viewing device 52, etc. is the same as when transferring applets between household devices via the applet storage unit 47.

  An external user 69 can be connected to the Internet 48 via a communication means 68 and the like. The external user 69 has an applet storage unit 70 for storing a dedicated applet and publishes the dedicated applet on the Internet 48 from the input / output unit 71. Examples of such external users 69 include a personal mobile phone, a mobile phone network operator, a network provider, a personal computer, an image provider, and a publisher.

  For example, if the personal mobile phone is an external user 69, the applet storage unit 70 stores an incoming call waiting screen creation applet for the mobile phone, and this applet is connected via the Internet 48 and the home LAN 42. Can be configured to be sent to the applet storage unit 11 of the digital camera. In this case, the digital camera 1 reads out the image information of the storage medium 10 and decompresses it by the compression / expansion unit 8, and thins it according to the applet from the mobile phone in the applet storage unit 11 to reduce the resolution. In addition to the file size, processing such as decoration for a standby screen is performed and output from the input / output unit 12. The standby screen output from the digital camera 1 is transmitted to the mobile phone that is the external user 69 via the home LAN 42, the home server 45, and the Internet 48. If the digital camera 1 is provided with a communication function, an applet and a standby screen can be directly exchanged with a mobile phone that is the external user 69.

  As another example, when the image provider is an external user, an applet processing applet and an encryption applet are stored in the applet storage unit 70, and the applet is transmitted via the Internet 48 and the home LAN 42. It can be configured to be sent to the applet storage unit 11 of the digital camera. In this case, the digital camera 1 reads out the image information of the storage medium 10 and decompresses it by the compression / decompression unit 8, and performs digital watermark processing or encryption processing on this according to the applet from the image provider in the applet storage unit 11. Compress again. The digital watermarked or encrypted image is output from the digital camera 1 and transmitted to the image provider, which is the external user 69, via the home LAN 42, home server 45, and Internet 48. Is done. If the digital camera 1 is provided with a communication function, an applet and a processing screen can be directly exchanged with an image provider that is the external user 69. Also, if the image is confirmed to be sent to the image provider at the time of shooting, the digital watermark processing or encryption processing is performed according to the applet from the image provider in the applet storage unit 11 before storing in the storage medium 10. Are compressed and stored in the storage medium 10. In this case, the compressed image stored in the storage medium is transmitted as it is to the image provider that is the external user 69. By performing security processing such as digital watermarking and encryption supported by the image provider in this way, images can be transferred from the digital camera 1 to the external user via the Internet 48 without worrying about copyright infringement or theft. 69 can be provided to the image provider.

  The functions in the above embodiments can be realized by an application program of a computer as necessary. In that case, the computer in which the application program is installed and the peripheral devices connected as necessary have been described above. Device. Accordingly, the application program itself distributed over the Internet or the like for realizing the functions of the present invention or a recording medium such as a CD-ROM on which it is recorded is also an object of the present invention.

The block diagram of 1st embodiment in this invention. The main flowchart of the digital camera of 1st embodiment. The flowchart when shooting mode interruption is applied. The flowchart when a print mode interruption is applied. The flowchart which shows the detail of a storage medium write-in process. 10 is a flowchart showing details of an erasing mode selection process. The flowchart which shows the detail of an applet deletion process. The block diagram of 2nd embodiment in this invention. The block diagram of 3rd embodiment in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 2 Printer 8 Compression / decompression part 9 Storage medium slot 11 Applet storage part 12 Input / output part 18 Input / output part 19 Printer driver applet storage part 21 Color matching applet storage part 32 Storage medium slot 34 Expansion / conversion part 35 Dedicated applet Storage unit 42 Domestic wireless LAN
43 Short-range communication means 44 Short-range communication means 45 Domestic server 48 Internet 49 Communication means 52 Image viewing apparatus 53 Short-range communication means 56 Communication means 57 Communication means 58 Communication means 59 Printer manufacturer 60 External server 61 Camera manufacturer 68 Communication means 69 External user

Claims (2)

A first server;
An image database provided in the first server;
A display device connected to the first server via a network and displaying image data stored in the image database;
An applet storage unit provided in the first server and having an applet that performs image processing on image data stored in the image database to be displayed on the display device ;
A second server connected to the first server via the network;
The applet performs image processing for processing the resolution of image data stored in the image database to be displayed on the display device into a resolution suitable for image display on the display device;
When the second server is periodically accessed from the first server and the applet of the second server is upgraded at that time, the version is transferred from the second server to the first server. An image display system characterized by transmitting an uploaded applet . A first server;
An image database provided in the first server;
A display device connected to the first server via a network and displaying image data stored in the image database;
An applet storage unit provided in the first server and having an applet that performs image processing on image data stored in the image database to be displayed on the display device;
A second server connected to the first server via the network;
The applet have line image processing for processing the image quality of the image data stored in the image database to be displayed on said display device,
When the second server is periodically accessed from the first server and the applet of the second server is upgraded at that time, the version is transferred from the second server to the first server. An image display system characterized by transmitting an uploaded applet .