JP6115208B2 - Image output system, image output server, and image output method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output system, an image output server, and an image output method, and more particularly to image quality adjustment when image data is output.

  Image processing used in a camera image output device requires adjustment of image quality suitable for a subject to be photographed. In particular, the need for a multi-function device having a media print function is much higher than that of a single function device for copying and printing. Therefore, not only the image quality adjustment based on the shooting mode information attached to the camera image, but also the reliability of the shooting mode information is determined from the shot image, and the result is reflected to easily correct the image quality adjustment, making it more suitable for shooting. A technique for achieving a suitable output image quality is already known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  If the reliability of the shooting mode information is determined and used for image quality adjustment as in Patent Document 1, the output image quality can be made more appropriate. However, when the image quality is greatly changed according to the user's request, or when the content of correction changes depending on the type of shooting target even in the same shooting scene, the conventional shooting scene information and the image characteristic information indicate the image quality desired by the user. Cannot be corrected. For example, if the subject is a document manuscript and the image quality is greatly corrected to improve the visibility of the manuscript information, or the content of the correction depends on the manuscript type of the document to be photographed, such as a text manuscript or a text / photo mixed manuscript Is the case where In such a case, there is a problem that “the user's image quality adjustment work is complicated” because the user himself / herself has to correct detailed image quality adjustment items.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and in an image processing device of an image data output device by camera photographing, it is easier than ever to perform image quality adjustment work for adjusting the image quality desired by the user. The purpose is to

In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides an image output system including a server that manages an image quality adjustment value for outputting image data with an appropriate image quality, and a client device that receives the image quality adjustment value from the server. And the server includes an image output adjustment in which the image quality adjustment value, an evaluation value for the image quality adjustment value, and an extraction condition for extracting an appropriate image quality adjustment value from the plurality of image quality adjustment values are associated with each other. Image output adjustment database management means for managing the database, and first extraction for searching the image output adjustment database based on the extraction condition received from the client device and extracting the image quality adjustment value that matches the extraction condition A first image adjustment value extracting means for performing processing, and an adjustment including the evaluation value for the image quality adjustment value used for printing the image data. Comprising an adjustment value evaluation data receiving means for receiving a value evaluation data from the client device, and an image output adjusting database update means for updating the image output adjusting database based on the adjustment value evaluation data, the client device, Image data acquisition means for acquiring the image data, extraction condition acquisition means for acquiring the extraction condition, image quality adjustment value presentation means for presenting the image quality adjustment value extracted by the server, and the presented image quality adjustment value An image output system comprising: a print command unit that instructs to print the image data on the basis of; and an adjustment value evaluation data generation unit that generates the adjustment value evaluation data.

Furthermore, in the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problem, an image quality adjustment value for outputting image data with an appropriate image quality, an evaluation value for the image quality adjustment value, and an appropriate value among the plurality of image quality adjustment values An image output adjustment database management unit that manages an image output adjustment database that associates an extraction condition for extracting an image quality adjustment value, and searches the image output adjustment database based on the extraction condition received from a client device. A first image adjustment value extracting unit that performs a first extraction process for extracting the image quality adjustment value that matches the extraction condition; an image quality adjustment value transmitting unit that transmits the extracted image quality adjustment value to the client device; adjustment value received adjustment value evaluation data including the evaluation value for the image quality adjustment values used to print the image data from the client device A value data receiving means, image outputting server characterized by having an image output adjusting database update means for updating the image output adjusting database based on the adjustment value evaluation data is provided.

Furthermore, in the present invention, in order to solve the above problem, an image quality adjustment value including a print condition of image data, an evaluation value for the image quality adjustment value, and an appropriate image quality among a plurality of the image quality adjustment values. An extraction condition for extracting the adjustment value to the server, and based on the extraction condition, the image quality adjustment value that matches the extraction condition is transmitted to the server at the extraction condition, the image quality adjustment value, and The image quality adjustment value is extracted from the image output adjustment database associated with the evaluation value, the extracted image quality adjustment value is transmitted to the client device, and the image is subjected to the condition based on the extracted image quality adjustment value. Printing the data, sending adjustment value evaluation data including the evaluation value for the image quality adjustment value used for printing the image data to the server, and Image output method and updates the image output adjusting database based on the data is provided.

  Since the present invention proposes a set of image quality adjustment values suitable for printing the image data, a person (user) who wants to print can easily print the image data without performing complicated image quality adjustment work. Can do.

  In addition, since the evaluation for the image quality adjustment value used for printing is fed back to the server, the image quality adjustment value becomes more appropriate.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration example which concerns on the Example form of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of a client apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of image data. It is a figure which shows an example of extraction conditions (input dependence information). It is a figure which shows an example of image attached information. It is a figure which shows an example of output apparatus information. It is a figure which shows an example of imaging | photography environment and subject original information. It is a figure which shows an example (1 record) of an image output adjustment database. It is a figure which shows the record extracted from the image output adjustment database. It is a figure which shows the record containing the image quality adjustment value shown to a user. It is a figure which shows the processing flow for performing one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the candidate list of the image quality adjustment value displayed on the operation / display part. It is a figure which shows the printing image displayed on the operation / display part. It is a figure which shows the manual setting screen displayed on the operation / display part. It is a figure which shows the evaluation value input screen displayed on the operation / display part. It is a figure which shows printing history data. It is a figure which shows the initial value of an image quality adjustment value set.

  Before describing an embodiment of the present invention, an outline of an image output system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The client apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a multifunction machine in which functions such as a copying machine, a printer, an image scanner, and a facsimile are integrated. The client device 1 and the server 2 are connected by communication means such as the Internet 4 so that data can be transmitted and received.

  The client device 1 and the server 2 perform the following processing.

(1) The client device 1 reads image data from the user's digital camera 3.

(2) The client device 1 accepts input of input-dependent information (for example, the user's digital camera model name, output device name, shooting environment, etc.). The input dependent information may be input from the user's digital camera 3 or may be input from an input panel or the like provided in the client device 1.

(3) The client device 1 transmits the input dependency information to the server 2 via the Internet 4.

(4) The server 2 uses the received input dependency information as an extraction condition, searches a database stored in the server based on the extraction condition, and sets three image quality adjustment values that are optimal for adjusting the image quality of the image data. Extract it and send it to the client device 1.

(6) The client device 1 displays the output image created by the received three image quality adjustment values on the display monitor. The user selects the optimum one from the three output images.

(7) The client device 1 prints image data based on the selected image quality adjustment value.

(8) The user inputs an evaluation for the selected image quality adjustment value from the operation panel of the client device 1.

(9) The client device 1 associates the selected image quality adjustment value with its evaluation and transmits it to the server 2.

(10) The server 2 stores the received image quality adjustment value and its evaluation in a database.

  Since the server 2 searches for the recommended image quality adjustment value in this way, the image quality adjustment work becomes easier than ever. The above is the outline of the present invention.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the “input dependency information” is an “extraction condition” for searching the database, the term “input dependency information” will be replaced with the term “extraction condition”. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing hardware used in this embodiment. The client apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a multifunction machine in which functions such as a copier, a printer, an image scanner, and a facsimile are combined. Note that the client device 1 is not limited to a multifunction peripheral, and may be another device as long as it can output an image.

  The client device 1 also includes a computer that includes a storage device that stores information, an input device that receives input of information, an output device that outputs information, and a processing device that performs processing commands and control on these devices. . Further, the client device 1 has a built-in printing device (however, the printing device may be outside the client device 1 and the client device 1 may issue a print command to the printing device through a communication connection). The server 2 in FIG. 1 is a computer including a storage device that stores information, an input device that receives input of information, an output device that outputs information, and a processing device that performs processing instructions, control, and the like on these devices.

  Next, functional configurations of the client device 1 and the server 2 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the client device 1 and the server 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the client device 1 includes an extraction condition input processing unit 100, an image quality adjustment value acquisition processing unit 110, an image quality adjustment value selection processing unit 120, an image quality adjustment value evaluation processing unit 130, an output device information storage unit 140, an operation / A display unit 150 is provided. The server 2 includes an image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 and a database update processing unit 230.

  The extraction condition input processing unit 100 acquires image data from the digital camera 3 and acquires output device information from the output device information storage unit 140 of the client device 1. Further, the photographing environment and the like are acquired from the operation / display unit 150 provided in the client device 1. The extraction condition input processing unit 100 generates input dependency information (extraction conditions) based on the acquired information, and transmits it to the server 2.

  The image quality adjustment value acquisition processing unit 110 receives the image quality adjustment value set extracted by the image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 of the server 2. The image quality adjustment value selection processing unit 120 displays the received image quality adjustment value set on the operation / display unit 150 and presents the image quality adjustment value set and its print image to the user. The image quality adjustment value selection processing unit 120 accepts selection of the image quality adjustment value set and issues a print command to the printing apparatus. The image quality adjustment value evaluation processing unit 130 displays information prompting the user to input an evaluation value of the image quality adjustment value set used for printing on the operation / display unit 150, and receives the evaluation value from the user. Then, the evaluation value is transmitted to the server 2.

  The image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 receives the extraction condition from the client device 1 and searches the image output adjustment database based on the extraction condition to extract a predetermined image quality adjustment value set. Then, the extracted image quality adjustment value set is transmitted to the client device 1. The database update processing unit 230 receives the evaluation value of the image quality adjustment value set used for printing from the client device 1, and updates the contents of the image output adjustment database based on the evaluation value.

  Next, data used in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is image data that is taken using the digital camera 3 and stored in the storage medium of the digital camera 3. This image is a photograph of paper on which a document created by a word processor is printed. The photographed paper is slightly trapezoidal because it was photographed at an angle, but this is corrected by a later image quality adjustment process and output as a rectangular paper. Further, this image data is transferred from the digital camera 3 to the client device 1, and details thereof will be described later.

  FIG. 4 shows a specific example of extraction conditions. This extraction condition is for the client device 1 to obtain an image quality adjustment value from the server 2. That is, the server searches for the image quality adjustment value that optimizes the printing of the image data based on this extraction condition, which will be described in detail later.

  The extraction conditions have four configurations, and include image attachment information, output device information, shooting environment, and subject document information. The image attached information is information related to the input device such as the camera device name and resolution. The output device information is information related to the performance and specifications of the output device, and is information on the name of the output device and the type of image processing that can be performed by the output device. The shooting environment is information about surroundings of a document that is a subject. The subject document information is information on the subject. The extraction condition is mainly information that causes a change in image quality adjustment value for image processing.

  FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the image attached information included in the above-described extraction condition. This image attached information includes information (camera device name and photographing resolution) attached to the camera image (image data). Since the dynamic range of the image differs depending on the camera device, the camera device name becomes a factor that requires the image quality adjustment value to be changed for histogram adjustment. Further, since the photographing resolution mainly affects the resolution of the subject, it becomes a factor that the image quality adjustment value for sharpness correction must be changed.

  FIG. 6 shows a specific example of the output device information included in the above extraction condition. The device name is the name of the output device. Scaling correction (scaling correction processing) is a function necessary for upsampling, and is a function for sharpening an edge during image enlargement processing when printing a low-pixel-number camera image with a high-resolution plotter. The document area detection has a trapezoidal shape when a document is photographed with a camera. At that time, the document area is detected, trapezoidal correction is performed, and the document area is trimmed. Image area separation is a function for performing filter processing and gradation processing suitable for each of characters and photographs. The color processing is a function for performing saturation conversion and color conversion from RGB to CMYK.

  FIG. 7 shows a specific example of the shooting environment and subject document information included in the extraction conditions described above. Specific examples of shooting environment information include "desktop shooting" where a document is placed on a desk for shooting, "boardwriting" for blackboards used in meetings and classes, "monitor shooting" for digital display devices such as LCD monitors, etc. There is. This is a factor that changes the image quality adjustment because the characteristics and characteristics of the image differ depending on the shooting environment. Specific examples of document subject information include document attributes, background attributes, document type information, and color information. This is a factor that changes the adjustment value of image processing because the image quality required by the user for the image quality of the output image differs depending on the document type.

  FIG. 8 shows a specific example of the image output adjustment database stored and managed in the server 2. This image output adjustment database includes a plurality of image output adjustment records in which extraction conditions and output dependency information are associated with each other. Further, the output dependency information associates an image quality adjustment value set (image quality adjustment value group) and its evaluation value. The evaluation value is a numerical value representing the user's evaluation for the image quality adjustment set.

  The image quality adjustment value set is roughly divided into two. One is an image quality adjustment standard function that can be used with all output devices, and the other is an image quality adjustment option that can only be used with specific output devices. Specific items of the standard function are histogram correction, sharpness correction, gradation processing, and inversion ON / OFF. Histogram correction is a function that adjusts the density distribution of the output camera image. The upper and lower limits of the density distribution are clipped by the upper and lower limits, and the density adjustment is performed on the data between the upper and lower limits by the γ value. Do.

  The background tracking function is a function used when the background of a character document is to be skipped. Sharpness correction is a function for adjusting the sharpness, and the intensity level can be adjusted in 10 stages, and a filter process is performed in which the sharpness increases as the number increases. The gradation processing is a function for switching the method of gradation conversion processing, and either error diffusion processing or dither processing can be selected. Inversion processing is simple inversion of data logic, and processing for subtracting input data from 255 is performed.

  Specific items of optional functions are scaling correction, document area detection, image area separation, and color processing function. The optional function can be used according to the output device information described above. If the higher-order function of the standard function is an optional function, the standard function is turned off. For example, when the optional image area separation function is available, the sharpness correction in the standard function is unnecessary and is invalidated.

  “Image area separation” can be set to ON / OFF of the image area separation function and determination adjustment for adjusting the determination level of characters and photographs. Optional function color processing: Hue adjustment and saturation adjustment are functions that can be used when the color processing of the output device information is “O: Available”. As with other functions, the effect level can be adjusted in 10 steps.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a result of searching the image output adjustment database based on the extraction condition transmitted from the client device 1. Here, it is assumed that six records (image quality adjustment value set) have been searched. The server 2 calculates the cumulative evaluation value by summing up the evaluation values of the records in which all items of the searched six image quality adjustment value sets match. The larger this cumulative evaluation value, the higher the image quality adjustment value set that many users gave.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram in which the top three image quality adjustment value sets having the largest cumulative evaluation value are extracted from the searched six image quality adjustment value sets. The image quality adjustment value set extracted here is transmitted to the client apparatus 1 as a recommended image quality adjustment value set.

  Next, the processing flow of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a processing flow for carrying out this embodiment. This flow includes extraction condition input processing, image quality adjustment value extraction processing, image quality adjustment value selection processing, and image quality adjustment value evaluation processing. Note that the information such as (1) and (2) displayed in the processing flow represents the processing order (STEP1, STEP2, etc.).

  The first process “extraction condition input process” of this flow will be described. The extraction condition input process is a process of receiving input of extraction conditions for extracting a plurality of image quality adjustment values managed in the image output adjustment database. STEP 1: The extraction condition input processing unit 100 in FIG. 2 acquires image data (FIG. 3) stored in the storage medium of the digital camera 3 from the digital camera 3. The image data may be acquired by inserting a storage medium into a storage medium insertion unit (not shown) of the client device 1 or by connecting the digital camera 3 and the client device 1 by wireless communication. May be.

  The extraction condition input processing unit 100 in FIG. 2 acquires image ancillary information (FIGS. 4 and 5) attached to the acquired image data from the image data. STEP 2: The extraction condition input processing unit 100 in FIG. 2 acquires output device information (FIGS. 4 and 6) from the output device information storage unit 140 of the client device 1.

  STEP 3: The extraction condition input processing unit 100 in FIG. 2 acquires the shooting environment (FIGS. 4 and 7) from the operation / display unit 150 provided in the client device 1. The operation / display unit 150 is a touch panel type having an information input function and a display function. However, the operation unit and the display unit may be separated like an operation unit (for example, an operation button) and a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal monitor that only displays information). A person (user) who prints image data operates the operation / display unit 150 to input a shooting environment (items such as desktop shooting and blackboard shooting) (FIG. 7).

  The extraction condition input processing unit 100 in FIG. 2 acquires subject document information (FIGS. 4 and 7) from the operation / display unit 150 provided in the client device 1. That is, a person (user) who prints image data operates the operation / display unit 150 to input subject document information (items such as office documents and printed matter). The extraction condition input processing unit 100 in FIG. 2 generates an extraction condition (FIG. 4) that associates the acquired “image attached information”, “output device information”, “imaging environment”, and “subject document information”.

  STEP 4: The extraction condition input processing unit 100 in FIG. 2 transmits the generated extraction condition to the server 2.

  STEP 5: The extraction condition input processing unit 100 in FIG. 2 transmits the number of image quality adjustment value sets requested by the client device 1 to the server 2. Since the display unit of the client device 1 of the present embodiment can display three sets, it is assumed here that three sets are requested. The number of request sets is stored in the storage unit (storage device) of the client device 1, but is not limited to this. Further, the number of sets to be requested is not limited to “3”, and may be any number.

  Next, the second process “image quality adjustment value extraction process” in the above flow will be described. The image quality adjustment value extraction process is a process in which the server 2 searches the image output adjustment database based on the extraction condition and extracts a predetermined image quality adjustment value.

  STEP 6: The image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 in FIG. 2 receives the extraction condition transmitted from the client device 1. The image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 in FIG. 2 manages and stores the image output adjustment database in FIG. The image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 in FIG. 2 performs the following processing.

  As described above, the extraction condition, the image quality adjustment value, and the evaluation value are associated with the image output adjustment database. The image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 in FIG. 2 extracts records that match the extraction conditions from the image output adjustment database (FIG. 9). The image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 in FIG. 2 calculates the cumulative evaluation value by summing the evaluation values of records that match all items of the image quality adjustment set for the plurality of extracted records, and the cumulative evaluation value is large. Three records are extracted (FIG. 10).

  STEP 7: The image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 in FIG. 2 notifies (transmits) the number of image quality adjustment values to be transmitted from the server 2 to the client device 1.

  STEP 8: The image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 in FIG. 2 transmits to the client device 1 an image quality adjustment value set having the largest cumulative evaluation value among the extracted three image quality adjustment value sets.

  STEP 9: The image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 in FIG. 2 transmits the image quality adjustment value set having the second largest accumulated evaluation value to the client device 1 among the extracted three image quality adjustment value sets.

  STEP 10: The image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 in FIG. 2 transmits to the client device 1 an image quality adjustment value set having the third largest cumulative evaluation value among the extracted three image quality adjustment value sets.

  Next, the third process “image quality adjustment value selection process” in the process flow will be described.

  STEP 11: The image quality adjustment value acquisition processing unit 110 in FIG. 2 receives the three image quality adjustment values transmitted from the server 2. The image quality adjustment value selection processing unit 120 in FIG. 2 presents the image quality adjustment values to the user by displaying the three image quality adjustment value sets transmitted from the server 2 on the operation / display unit 150 (FIG. 12). The display method is preferably a list format and is preferably displayed so that the user can select with one touch (but is not limited to this). Here, it is assumed that the operation / display unit 150 displays the image quality adjustment value set in descending order of the cumulative evaluation value.

  STEP 12: The image quality adjustment value selection processing unit 120 of FIG. 2 displays an image when printed based on the image quality adjustment value set on the operation / display unit 150. For example, if the user selects the image quality adjustment value set displayed at the top (the most recommended image quality adjustment value set), the print image when printing with that image quality adjustment value set is displayed (see FIG. 13). The same processing is performed for the second image quality adjustment value set and the third image quality adjustment value set. This process is not necessarily performed for the second image quality adjustment value set and the third image quality adjustment value set. For example, when the user is satisfied with the first print image, the process may proceed to the next selection reception unit 113 as it is.

  The image quality adjustment value selection processing unit 120 in FIG. 2 performs the following processing. It is assumed that the user confirms three print images and is most satisfied with the first image quality adjustment value set, for example. The user operates the operation / display unit 150 to select the first image quality adjustment value set. This selection is performed by pressing “execute printing” in FIG. 13 displayed on the operation / display unit 150.

  The image quality adjustment value selection processing unit 120 in FIG. 2 instructs the printing apparatus to print the image data based on the selected image quality adjustment value set. Note that this printing apparatus may be built in the client apparatus, or may be connected to the client apparatus 1 outside the client apparatus 1.

  The image quality adjustment value selection processing unit 120 in FIG. 2 performs the following processing. When the user is not satisfied with the three print images, the user presses “Manual Installation” (FIG. 13) displayed on the operation / display unit 150. As a result, the manual setting unit 115 displays the image quality adjustment value set on the operation / display unit 150 (FIG. 14). The image quality adjustment value selection processing unit 120 in FIG. 2 accepts the value of the image quality adjustment value input by the user. As a result, the user can print his / her favorite image.

  Next, the fourth process “image quality adjustment value evaluation process” in the process flow will be described.

  STEP 13: The image quality adjustment value evaluation processing unit 130 in FIG. 2 displays information prompting the user to input the evaluation of the image quality adjustment value set used for printing on the operation / display unit 150 (FIG. 15). Accept the entered evaluation value. The image quality adjustment value evaluation processing unit 130 in FIG. 2 generates print history data in which the image quality adjustment value set used for printing and the evaluation value are associated with each other, and stores this in the storage device. This saves the trouble of separately recording the image quality adjustment value set.

  The image quality adjustment value evaluation processing unit 130 of FIG. 2 generates adjustment value evaluation data in which the image quality adjustment value set used for printing is associated with the evaluation value (FIG. 16). The image quality adjustment value evaluation processing unit 130 in FIG. 2 transmits the generated adjustment value evaluation data to the server 2.

  STEP 14: The database update processing unit 230 in FIG. 2 receives the adjustment value evaluation data transmitted from the client device 1. The database update processing unit 230 in FIG. 2 receives the adjustment value evaluation data transmitted from the client device 1 and incorporates it into the image output adjustment database (updates the image output adjustment database). This is the end of the description of the processing flow.

  Next, a case where there is no image quality adjustment value set that matches the extraction condition in the processing of the image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 will be described. The extraction condition change processing unit 240 in FIG. 2 performs the following process (first extraction condition change process). As described above, the extraction condition includes the image attached information, the shooting environment, and the subject original. If there is no image quality adjustment value set that matches the extraction condition, the extraction condition change processing unit 240 in FIG. Is changed to image attached information and subject document (relaxation conditions are relaxed). Then, based on this condition, the image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 searches the image output adjustment database again, and if there is anything that matches the condition, it transmits it to the client device 1. The processing after the extraction is the same as the processing described above.

  Next, a case where there is no image quality adjustment value set that matches the extraction condition even in the first extraction condition change process will be described. The extraction condition change processing unit 240 in FIG. 2 performs the following process (second extraction condition change process). As described above, in the first extraction condition change process, the image attachment information and the subject document are set as the extraction condition. If there is no image quality adjustment value set that matches the extraction condition, the extraction condition change processing unit 240 extracts the extraction condition. To the subject document (relaxation of the extraction conditions). Then, based on this condition, the image quality adjustment value extraction processing unit 210 searches the image output adjustment database again, and if there is anything that matches the condition, it transmits it to the client device 1. The processing after the extraction is the same as the processing described above.

  By relaxing the extraction conditions in this way, it is possible to extract a recommended image quality adjustment value even when the extraction conditions do not completely match.

  Next, a case where there is no image quality adjustment value set that matches the extraction condition even in the second extraction condition change process will be described. The extraction condition change processing unit 240 in FIG. 2 stores the initial value of the image quality adjustment value set in the storage device (FIG. 17). The extraction condition change processing unit 240 in FIG. 2 performs the following processing. As described above, the extraction condition is set as the subject document by the second extraction condition change process, but if there is no image quality adjustment value set that matches the extraction condition, the extraction condition change processing unit 240 sets the initial value to the client device. 1 to send. As a result, the image quality adjustment value set can be transmitted to the client apparatus 1 even when the extraction conditions are not met.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 MFP 2 Server 3 Digital camera 4 Internet 100 Extraction condition input processing unit 110 Image adjustment value acquisition processing unit 120 Image adjustment value selection processing unit 130 Image adjustment value evaluation processing unit 140 Output device information storage unit 150 Operation / display unit 210 Image Adjustment value extraction processing unit 230 Database update processing unit 240 Output condition change processing unit

JP 2004-282570 A

Claims (8)

An image output system including a server that manages image quality adjustment values for outputting image data with appropriate image quality, and a client device that receives the image quality adjustment values from the server,
The server
Image output for managing an image output adjustment database in which the image quality adjustment value, an evaluation value for the image quality adjustment value, and an extraction condition for extracting an appropriate image quality adjustment value from the plurality of image quality adjustment values are associated with each other A coordination database management means;
First image adjustment value extraction means for performing a first extraction process for searching the image output adjustment database and extracting the image quality adjustment value that matches the extraction condition based on the extraction condition received from the client device;
Adjustment value evaluation data receiving means for receiving adjustment value evaluation data including the evaluation value for the image quality adjustment value used for printing the image data from the client device ;
Image output adjustment database updating means for updating the image output adjustment database based on the adjustment value evaluation data;
With
The client device is
Image data acquisition means for acquiring the image data;
Extraction condition acquisition means for acquiring the extraction condition;
Image quality adjustment value presenting means for presenting the image quality adjustment value extracted by the server;
Print command means for instructing printing of the image data based on the presented image quality adjustment value;
Adjustment value evaluation data generating means for generating the adjustment value evaluation data;
An image output system comprising: The server
Second image adjustment value extraction means for performing a second extraction process for extracting the image quality adjustment value suitable for printing the image data from the image output adjustment database based on the evaluation value;
The image output system according to claim 1 , further comprising: The client device is
Print history data generation means for generating print history data in which the image quality adjustment value used for printing the image data and the evaluation value are associated with each other;
The image output system according to claim 1, further comprising: The extraction conditions include image attached information, shooting environment and subject manuscript,
The server
First extraction condition changing means for changing the extraction condition to image ancillary information and subject document when none of the first extraction processing matches the extraction condition;
The image output system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising: The extraction condition includes image attached information and subject manuscript,
The server
A second extraction condition changing means for changing the extraction condition to a subject document when none of the first extraction processes matches the extraction condition;
The image output system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising: The extraction condition includes a subject document,
The server
Initial value management means for managing an initial value of the image quality adjustment value;
An initial value setting means that uses the initial value as the extracted image quality adjustment value when none of the first extraction processes matches the extraction condition;
The image output system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising: Associating an image quality adjustment value for outputting image data with an appropriate image quality, an evaluation value for the image quality adjustment value, and an extraction condition for extracting the appropriate image quality adjustment value from a plurality of the image quality adjustment values Image output adjustment database management means for managing the image output adjustment database;
First image adjustment value extraction means for performing a first extraction process of searching the image output adjustment database and extracting the image quality adjustment value that matches the extraction condition based on the extraction condition received from the client device;
Image quality adjustment value transmitting means for transmitting the extracted image quality adjustment value to the client device;
Adjustment value evaluation data receiving means for receiving adjustment value evaluation data including the evaluation value for the image quality adjustment value used for printing the image data from the client device ;
Image output adjustment database updating means for updating the image output adjustment database based on the adjustment value evaluation data;
An image output server comprising: An image quality adjustment value including image data printing conditions, an evaluation value for the image quality adjustment value, and an extraction condition for extracting an appropriate image quality adjustment value from the plurality of image quality adjustment values. To
Based on the extraction condition, the image quality adjustment value that matches the extraction condition is output in the server in which the extraction condition, the image quality adjustment value, and the evaluation value for the image quality adjustment value are associated with each other. Extracted from the reconciliation database,
Sending the extracted image quality adjustment value to the client device;
Printing the image data under conditions based on the extracted image quality adjustment value;
Sending adjustment value evaluation data including the evaluation value for the image quality adjustment value used for printing the image data to the server;
Updating the image output adjustment database based on the adjustment value evaluation data
An image output method characterized by the above.

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