JP5246195B2 - Portable information terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information terminal that generates print data from image data.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been provided an image color reduction device that can perform color reduction processing of an original image while preventing image degradation (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-300412

  However, since the amount of memory used when performing color reduction processing of the original image is not considered, in an environment where the memory capacity of the portable information terminal or the like is small, the larger the number of colors of the original image, the more the memory In many cases, the capacity is insufficient, and the color reduction processing of the original image cannot be continued, and it is difficult to create reduced-color print data.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a portable information terminal capable of generating print data of a two-tone monochrome image from a multi-valued color image even with a small memory capacity. It is an issue to provide.

The invention according to claim 1 made to solve this problem is a portable information terminal that generates print data from image data, the image data and a memory in which the print data is expanded, and the memory is controlled And when the multi-valued color image is read as the image data, the processor executes the following processes (1) to (4), and (1) a limit remaining amount of the memory verify, (2) the said color image based on the limit amount of remaining memory that the confirmed size of the print data is the maximum that can be maximally used when deployed to limit remaining amount of the memory Determining the number of colors; (3) generating a color-reduced image by expanding the color image to a limit that falls within the limit remaining amount of the memory by color thinning to reduce the determined maximum number of colors; Subtractive image The black and white image of two gradations deployed to the limit remaining amount of the memory by binarization to generate as the print data, and wherein the.

Further, the invention is a portable information a terminal, the print data the maximum number of colors and color depth of the largest maximum possible use in generating the reduced-color image according to claim 1 according to claim 2 The table includes a table stored in association with the required capacity of the memory used to indicate the size of the memory, and when the processor executes the process (2), the following (2-A) to (2- Execute the process of C), and (2-A) identify the closest capacity to the limit remaining capacity of the memory within the range not exceeding the limit remaining capacity of the memory from the required capacity of the memory stored in the table (2-B) specifying the number of colors corresponding to the specified required capacity of the memory from the table; and (2-C) specifying the specified number of colors, the color image being the limit remaining in the memory . maximum fullest potential used when deployed on the amount Determining a number of colors, characterized in that.

The invention according to claim 3 is the portable information terminal according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising output means controlled by the processor, wherein the processor executes the processing of (2). In doing so, the following processes (2-a) to (2-b) are executed. (2-a) When the determined number of colors is two, the processes after (3) are stopped, (2-b) The output means outputs a message indicating that the limit remaining amount of the memory is insufficient.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the portable information terminal according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising an input unit that transmits information relating to the size change of the print data to the processor. It is characterized by that.

That is, in the portable information terminal of the present invention, when a multi-valued color image is read as image data, the processor (1) checks the limit remaining amount of the memory, and (2) print data size and its check and a color image on the basis of the limit remaining amount of memory has been determines the maximum number of colors that can be maximally used when deployed to limit remaining amount of the memory, (3) the maximum number of colors that are determined The color image is expanded to the limit that can be accommodated in the limit remaining amount of the memory by the color thinning to be reduced, and a reduced color image is generated. (4) By binarizing the reduced color image, 2 expanded to the limit remaining amount of the memory. A monochrome image of gradation is generated as the print data, and the color is reduced in two steps by color reduction based on the number of colors determined in consideration of the remaining amount of memory and color reduction by binarization. Because of the small memory capacity Also, it is possible to generate the print data of two gradations of black and white image from the multi-level color image.

Further, in the portable information terminal of the present invention, the processor, when a color image is expanded to the limit amount of remaining memory based on the above (2) the size of the print data and limit remaining amount of the check memory in determining the number of colors the maximum possible maximum use, (2-a) closest to the limit remaining amount of memory in the range not exceeding the limit remaining amount of memory from the required capacity of the memory stored in the table (2-B) specifies the number of colors corresponding to the required capacity of the specified memory from the table, and (2-C) sets the specified number of colors as the limit remaining amount of the memory in the color image. since determining the maximum number of colors that can be maximally used when deployed, it is possible to adjust the color number according to the table in the first color reduction.

In the portable information terminal of the present invention, the processor can use the maximum (2) color image that can be used when it is expanded in the memory based on the size of the print data and the remaining amount of the confirmed memory. When determining the number of colors, (2-a) if the determined number of colors is two, the processing after (3) is stopped, and (2-b) the limit remaining amount of the memory is insufficient. Since the output means outputs a message indicating that there is a limit, it is possible to avoid in advance that color reduction is performed when the limit remaining amount of the memory is small.

  In addition, since the portable information terminal according to the present invention includes an input unit that transmits information related to the size change of the print data to the processor, a medium on which the generated print data is printed is reduced in two steps. Can be adapted to any size.

It is a figure showing the flowchart of the program for producing monochrome print data with the portable information terminal which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the information system containing the portable information terminal. A plurality of tables of the portable information terminal, in which the relationship between the required memory capacity and the number of bits usable for each pixel is arranged for each size of a medium (cut sheet) for printing monochrome print data. FIG. It is a figure showing the flowchart for performing the determination process of the color reduction number in the portable information terminal.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the information system 1 including the portable information terminal 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the information system 1 includes the portable printer 11, the portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment, the network I, and each server 201, 301-connected to the network I. 303,...

  The portable printer 11 includes a control device 12, a communication module 13, a printing unit 14, a storage device 15, a ROM 16, a RAM 17, a power key 18, and the like. The control device 12 is a microcontroller that controls the above-described components and the like, and executes various control programs. The communication module 13 is a device for communicating with the portable information terminal 101 that is a host terminal, and uses, for example, each communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), IrDA (infrared), and USB. The printing unit 14 performs printing on a cut sheet (for example, A4 size) based on a printer command (print command, print data, or the like). The storage device 15 uses FLASH / ROM or the like, and stores contents to be printed on cut sheets. The ROM 16 stores various control programs and the like. The RAM 17 provides a work area when each control program is executed by the control device 12. As the power key 18, a push button or the like is used.

A portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment is a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone, a PDA, or a smartphone, and includes a control device 102, a communication module 103, an input device 104, an output device 105, and a network communication device 106. A storage device 107, a ROM 108, a RAM 109, and the like. The control device 102 is a microcontroller that controls each of the above components and executes various control programs. The communication module 103 is a device for communicating with the portable printer 11 and is, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark).
, IrDA (infrared), USB and other communication standards are used. The input device 104 is various operation buttons and the like provided on the keypad. The output device 105 is a liquid crystal display and has a size of about 3 inches. The network communication device 106 is a device for connecting to the network I. As the storage device 107, a FLASH / ROM of about 256 MB is used. The ROM 108 stores various control programs and the like. The RAM 109 provides a work area when each control program is executed by the control device 102. Note that a description of a configuration for realizing a voice call function using a mobile phone / smartphone is omitted.

  Network I is the Internet. The search server 201 is a search site on the Web incorporating a search engine that functions on the network I. Each of the servers 301 to 303 is a public server on the Web provided by the network I. Each of the servers 301 to 303, ... stores Web contents (documents, images, etc.) that can be browsed via the network I.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a program for creating monochrome print data in portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment. According to FIG. 1, in order to create monochrome print data with the portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment, first, in S11, the control device 102 determines whether or not a multi-valued color image has been read. To do. This determination is made based on an input signal from the network communication device 106.

  In order to read a multi-value color image into the portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment, for example, a user searches for a desired multi-value color image with the search server 201 on the Internet, which is the network I, Based on the search result, an operation of reading from any of the servers 301 to 303 on the Internet as the network I is performed.

  Here, when the multi-valued color image is not read (S11: NO), the control device 102 ends this program. On the other hand, if a multi-value color image is being read (S11: YES), the control apparatus 102 proceeds to S12.

  In S12, a remaining memory check process is performed. In this process, the control device 102 checks the remaining amount (memory remaining amount) of the unused area in the storage device 107. At this time, the control device 102 excludes the memory area necessary for performing calculation for data creation, and checks the remaining amount (memory remaining amount) of the unused area in the storage device 107. Thereafter, the control device 102 proceeds to S13.

  In S13, a process for determining the number of color reductions is performed. The control device 102 executes this process based on the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flowchart for executing the process for determining the number of color reductions in the portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment. According to FIG. 4, in order to execute the color reduction number determination process in the portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment, first, in S21, a size confirmation process is performed. In this process, for example, the control device 102 displays a message indicating that the size of a medium (cut sheet) on which monochrome print data is printed is input on the liquid crystal display as the output device 105. The user inputs a desired size from the sizes of cut sheets that can be printed by the portable printer 11 such as “A4 size”, “A5 size”, and “A6 size” via the keypad which is the input device 104. In this way, the control device 102 confirms the size of the medium (cut sheet) on which the monochrome print data is printed. The size may be set in advance to one size (for example, “A4 size”).

  Thereafter, in S22, a process for determining the required memory capacity is performed. In this process, the control device 102 determines the necessary memory capacity using the plurality of tables 110, 111, 112,... Shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plurality of tables in which the relationship between the required memory capacity (MB) and the number of bits (bits) that can be used for each pixel is arranged for each size of a medium (cut sheet) for printing monochrome print data. . 3 are stored in the ROM 108. The tables 110, 111, 112,...

  The table 110 shown in FIG. 3 is a table in which the size of the medium (cut sheet) for printing monochrome print data is “A4 size”. When the size of the medium (cut sheet) on which monochrome print data is printed is “A4 size”, it is necessary to generate print data of 2400 pixels × 3300 pixels. If 4MB is available, the number of bits that can be used for each pixel is 4 bits. If the required memory capacity is 8MB, the number of bits that can be used for each pixel is 8bit. If the required memory capacity is 16MB, it can be used for each pixel. If the required number of bits is 16 bits and the required memory capacity is 24 MB, the number of bits usable for each pixel is 24 bits,.

  A table 111 shown in FIG. 3 is a table in which the size of a medium (cut sheet) for printing monochrome print data is “A5 size”. A table 111 shown in FIG. 3 is a table in which the size of a medium (cut sheet) on which monochrome print data is printed is “A6 size”. In these tables 111 and 112, the relationship between the required memory capacity (MB) and the number of bits (bits) usable for each pixel is organized. Note that such a table is also stored in the ROM 108 for media other than “A4 size”, “A5 size”, and “A6 size” of the medium (cut sheet) for printing monochrome print data.

  That is, in S22, the control apparatus 102 uses the table of the size (cut sheet) confirmed in S21 among the tables 110, 111, 112,... Stored in the ROM 108, and uses them. From the necessary memory capacity (MB) stored in the table, a memory capacity closest to the remaining capacity of the memory is specified within a range not exceeding the remaining capacity of the storage device 107 checked in S21. For example, if the size (cut sheet) confirmed in S21 is “A4 size” and the remaining memory capacity of the storage device 107 checked in S22 is “10 MB”, the control device 102 determines that the table 110 Therefore, “8 MB” is determined as the required memory capacity. Thereafter, the control apparatus 102 proceeds to S23.

  In S23, the number of colors is specified. In this process, the control device 102 specifies the number of colors from the number of bits (bits) that can be used for each pixel corresponding to the required memory capacity (MB) determined in S22. For example, if the number of bits that can be used for each pixel corresponding to the required memory capacity (MB) determined in S22 is 4 bits, the number of colors is 16 that is the fourth power of 2 and is used for each pixel. If the number of possible bits is 8 bits, the number of colors is 256, which is 2 8, and if the number of bits usable for each pixel is 16 bits, the number of colors is 65,536, which is 2 16, If the number of bits that can be used for each pixel is 24 bits, the number of colors is 16777216 colors, which is 2 to the 24th power.

  For example, if the size (cut sheet) confirmed in S21 is “A4 size” and “8 MB” is determined as the required memory capacity in S22, the controller 102 in S23 From the table 110, 8 bits are specified as the number of bits usable for each pixel corresponding to the required memory capacity of “8 MB”, and the number of colors of 256 colors is specified by the specified 8 bits. Thereafter, the control device 102 proceeds to S14 in FIG.

  In S14, a bitmap area securing process is performed. In this process, the control device 102 secures the necessary memory capacity (MB) determined in S22 in the storage device 107, and determines an empty bitmap for creating monochrome print data in S22. The storage device 107 is generated with the required memory capacity (MB). Thereafter, the control device 102 proceeds to S15.

  In S15, a first color reduction process is performed. In this processing, the control device 102 reduces the number of colors specified in S23 described above to the empty bitmap generated in the storage device 107 in S14 described above (color thinning). ) While developing. Thereafter, the control device 102 proceeds to S16.

  In S16, an editing process is performed. In this process, the control device 102 displays the color image subjected to the first color reduction processing in S15 described above on the liquid crystal display as the output device 105, and based on the user's editing operation via the keypad as the input device 104. Then, an editing operation for writing character data or the like to the color image on the bitmap subjected to the first color reduction processing in S15 is performed. Thereafter, the control apparatus 102 proceeds to S17.

  In S17, the second color reduction process is performed. In this process, the control device 102 generates monochrome print data by binarizing the color image on the bitmap that has been edited in S16. For this binarization processing, a known method such as dithering or error diffusion is used. Thereafter, the control device 102 ends this program.

  Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 1, the control device 102 transmits a print command including the monochrome print data generated in S <b> 17 to the portable printer 11 via the communication module 103. The monochrome print data generated in S17 is printed on the portable printer 11.

  As described above in detail, in the portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment, when a multi-valued color image is read as image data (S11: YES), the control device 102: (1) the storage device 107 (2) color based on the size of the medium (cut sheet) on which the portable printer 11 prints monochrome print data and the remaining memory capacity of the storage device 107 that has been confirmed. The maximum number of colors that can be used when the image is developed in the storage device 107 is determined (S13), and (3) the color image is reduced on the bitmap of the storage device 107 by color thinning to reduce the determined number of colors. To generate a color image subjected to the first subtractive color processing (S15), and (4) binarizing the color image subjected to the first subtractive color processing to binarize the storage device 107. It is generated as print data to monochrome image 2 gradation deployed above (S17).

  That is, in portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment, color reduction based on the number of colors determined in consideration of the remaining memory capacity of storage device 107 (first color reduction processing in S15) and color reduction due to binarization (in S17). By the second color reduction process, the color is reduced in two steps, so that even if the memory capacity of the storage device 107 is small, print data of a two-level monochrome image is generated from a multi-valued color image. Is possible (S11 to S17).

  In other words, compared to the case where all the data of the read multi-value color image is developed into a storage device and binarized, the portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment stores the read multi-value color image data. By reducing the number of colors once determined (S15), the required capacity (MB) of the memory for developing the read multi-valued color image data in the storage device 107 is reduced in each stage. Therefore, even in the portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment provided with the storage device 107 whose usable memory capacity is not sufficient, the memory of the storage device 107 used for developing the read multi-value color image data. Since the binarization is performed after reducing the capacity, print data to be printed in monochrome on the portable printer 11 can be stably generated without causing an error of insufficient memory (S11 to S17). Improves. Further, in the case of many color images, even if the number of colors once determined (for example, 256 colors) is reduced (S15), apparent image deterioration can be suppressed to a small extent. Even if the binarization process is further performed after the color is reduced to (256 colors) (S17), image quality deterioration of the finally generated monochrome print data can be suppressed.

  Further, in portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment, control device 102 has (2) the size of a medium (cut sheet) on which monochrome print data is printed by portable printer 11 and the storage device that has been confirmed. When determining the maximum number of colors that can be used when a color image is developed in the storage device 107 based on the remaining memory 107 (S13), the tables 110, 111, 112,... Based on a table of the size of a medium (cut sheet) on which monochrome print data is printed by the portable printer 11 (S21), (2-A) Required memory capacity stored in the table Among the (MB), the one closest to the remaining memory capacity of the storage device 107 is specified within a range not exceeding the remaining memory capacity of the storage device 107 (S22), and (2- ) The number of colors is specified from the table from the number of bits (bits) that can be used for each pixel corresponding to the specified required memory capacity (MB) (S23), and (2-C) the specified number of colors Is determined as the maximum number of colors that can be used when the color image is developed in the storage device 107 (S13), and is stored in the ROM 108 during the first color reduction (first color reduction processing in S15). The number of colors can be adjusted by the tables 110, 111, 112,.

  In the portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment, information for changing the size of a medium (cut sheet) on which monochrome print data is printed by the portable printer 11 is transmitted via the keypad that is the input device 104. When the user inputs the size of a cut sheet that can be printed by the portable printer 11 such as “A4 size”, “A5 size”, “A6 size”, etc., it is transmitted to the control device 102 (S21). Therefore, the monochrome print data generated in S17 is adapted to the size of the cut sheet printed by the portable printer 11, and the color reduction performed in two steps (the first color reduction process in S15 and the first color reduction in S17). 2 color reduction processing) can be performed.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.
For example, in the portable information terminal 101 according to the present embodiment, the control device 102 (2) the size of a medium (cut sheet) on which monochrome print data is printed by the portable printer 11 and the storage device that has been confirmed. When determining the maximum number of colors that can be used when a color image is developed in the storage device 107 based on the remaining memory 107 (S13), the tables 110, 111, Irrespective of 112,..., The maximum number of colors that can be used when a color image is developed in the storage device 107 may be determined. At this time, when (2-a) the determined number of colors is two, the control device 102 stops the processing after (3) above, that is, the processing after S15 in FIG. -B) If a message indicating that the remaining amount of memory in the storage device 107 is insufficient is output to the liquid crystal display as the output means, the color is reduced with the remaining amount of memory in the storage device 107 being small (first color reduction in S15). It is possible to avoid the processing and the second color reduction process in S17 in advance.

101 portable information terminal 102 control device 104 input device 105 output device 107 storage device 110 table 111 table 112 table

Claims (4)

A portable information terminal that generates print data from image data,
A memory in which the image data and the print data are expanded;
A processor for controlling the memory,
The processor executes the following processes (1) to (4) when a multi-valued color image is read as the image data:
(1) Check the limit remaining capacity of the memory,
(2) determining the maximum number of colors that can be maximally used when deployed to limit remaining amount of the color image is the memory based on the limit amount of remaining memory that the confirmed size of the print data And
(3) A color-reduced image is generated by expanding the color image to a limit that fits within a limit remaining amount of the memory by color thinning that is reduced to the determined maximum number of colors,
(4) generating a two-tone black and white image developed to the limit remaining amount of the memory as the print data by binarizing the subtractive color image;
A portable information terminal characterized by that. A portable information terminal according to claim 1,
A table in which the maximum number of colors that can be used at the maximum when generating the subtractive color image and the necessary capacity of the memory used to indicate the maximum number of colors in the size of the print data is stored Prepared,
The processor executes the following processes (2-A) to (2-C) when executing the process (2).
(2-A) Identifying the closest capacity to the limit remaining capacity of the memory within a range not exceeding the limit remaining capacity of the memory from the necessary capacity of the memory stored in the table,
(2-B) Specify the number of colors corresponding to the required capacity of the specified memory from the table,
(2-C) The specified number of colors is determined as the maximum number of colors that can be used to the maximum when the color image is expanded to the limit remaining amount of the memory.
A portable information terminal characterized by that. A portable information terminal according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein
Output means controlled by the processor;
The processor executes the following processes (2-a) to (2-b) when executing the process (2).
(2-a) When the determined number of colors is two, the processing after (3) is stopped,
(2-b) causing the output means to output a message indicating that the limit remaining amount of the memory is insufficient;
A portable information terminal characterized by that. A portable information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A portable information terminal comprising input means for transmitting information relating to the size change of the print data to the processor.

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