KR100395533B1 - Printer having updating function corresponding to changed file information of detachable recording medium method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A printer having an update function according to a change in stored file information of a mounted recording medium is disclosed. The printer reads information on the files stored when the removable recording medium is mounted, creates a file list from the reading information on the files stored on the recording medium, and stores the file list in the memory. When the information on the files stored in the recording medium is requested from the host PC and the file information of the recording medium is changed, the file list stored in the memory is updated with the file list of the changed recording medium. In this case, when the file information of the recording medium is changed, the update process displays a message for instructing the user whether the update is to be progressed. When the update progress command is input by the user, the update process rewrites the file list and stores it in the memory. When the printer finishes updating the file list in memory, the printer briefly outputs the updated file list on printing paper. As a result, the user can print the changed files at the time of printing without any confusion.

Description

Printer having updating function corresponding to changed file information of detachable recording medium method for controlling the same}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly, to a printer capable of mounting a removable recording medium used as a recording medium of a photographing apparatus such as a digital camera, and a control method thereof.

In general, a printer refers to a device capable of printing printing data transmitted from a personal computer on printing paper. And recently released printers can print image data at a higher resolution than printers that print text, so that a clear image is obtained as if the film was developed.

In order to print an image stored in a digital camera using such a printer, a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a "PC") is generally used. At this time, the digital camera and the PC can be connected to each other with a cable, and the PC can control the printing to be performed by accessing the file stored in the digital camera. The image file stored in the digital camera can be stored in the PC and printed as needed. Can be.

On the other hand, the card storage unit is provided so that the removable recording medium, such as smart SMC 200 (hereinafter referred to as "SMC") used as a storage medium of the digital camera in the printer, and the printer is installed on the PC Methods have been proposed to control the data stored on the record carrier directly.

When the recording medium is mounted in the receiving unit as shown in FIG. 1A (S12), the printer reads information on the stored files from the mounted recording medium, creates a file list (S14), and stores the file list in the internal memory. (S16). In addition, since the printer cannot display an image, index printing is performed so that the user can view the list stored in the memory (S18).

During index printing, the photo printer outputs an index, a file name, and an image as shown in FIG. 2 based on a file list stored in an internal memory.

In such a conventional printer, a function is provided so that a user can add or delete a file to a recording medium through a host PC.

FIG. 1B is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a delete command (S24) in a printer to a delete request (S22) for a specific file # 1 stored in a recording medium from a PC.

However, if a file is deleted through a delete operation as shown in FIG. Although the operation is performed, when the selected file of the recording medium is accessed, an error occurs because the file # 1 has already been deleted, thereby ejecting the fed print paper (S34).

This error occurs when the printer does not update the list of files stored in the memory until the user detaches the recording medium or issues an index printing command. Therefore, when the information on the recording medium is changed by the host PC, the printer itself This is because the file list and the information of the actual image file stored in the recording medium do not correspond to each other.

This inconsistency leads to confusion when the user chooses to print a file based on index printing, i.e., through a list in the printer itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printer and a control method thereof having a file list update function according to a file information change of a mounted recording medium in order to solve the above problems.

1A, 1B and 1C are flowcharts for describing a printing operation according to a list of files stored and a file information change for a recording medium mounted in a conventional printer;

2 is a view showing an output result according to the index printing operation of the printer,

3 is a block diagram of a printer according to the present invention;

4 is a flowchart illustrating an update process according to file information change of a recording medium mounted in the printer shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a brief file list output result according to file information change in the process of FIG. 4.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

10: OPE (Operating Panel) 20: Memory

30: frit part 40: LCD

50: sensor unit 60: card interface

70: PC interface 80: control unit

100: printer 200: smart media card (SMC)

210: SMC driver 220: printer driver

300: host PC

The printer of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises a first interface for performing recording / reading of the files stored in the removable recording medium; A memory for storing a list of files stored on the recording medium; A PC interface for interfacing data with a host PC; And reading information about the files stored in the recording medium, creating a list of the files stored in the recording medium and controlling them to be stored in the memory, and changing information on the files stored in the recording medium from the host PC. And a controller for controlling the file list stored in the memory to be updated when the requested content of the recording medium is changed.

The printer may further include a display configured to display a message for instructing the user to perform a file list update of the memory from the user. When the contents of the files stored in the recording medium are changed, the message is displayed on the display. Control to be displayed.

In addition, the controller controls the print file to be output on the updated file list of the memory. At this time, only the file name and addition status of the changed file are simply printed.

The printer control method of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises the steps of: reading information on files stored when the removable recording medium is mounted; Creating a file list from the read information of the files stored in the recording medium; Storing the file list in a memory; And updating a list of files stored in the memory when information on the files stored in the recording medium is requested from the host PC to change the file information of the recording medium.

The updating may include displaying a message for instructing a user whether to proceed with an update when the file information of the recording medium is changed; Rewriting a file list of the recording medium when an update progress command is input by a user; And storing the rewritten file list in the memory.

The printer control method may further include outputting the updated file list on a printing sheet when the file list update of the memory is completed.

The printer and its control method as described above are updated with information about the changed file such as file deletion / addition of the mounted recording medium, thereby preventing the user from confusion during printing.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a block diagram of a printer 100 in accordance with the present invention.

The printer 100 includes an OPE (Operating Panel) 10, a memory unit 20, a printer unit 30, an LCD 40, a sensor unit 50, a card interface 60, a PC interface 70, and a control unit. It comprises 80.

The OPE 10 has a plurality of keys for receiving commands for operating the device, and generates a key signal according to the operation of each key and outputs the generated key signals to the controller 80.

The memory unit 20 stores a program related to the operation of the controller 80 and data generated according to the control of the controller 80.

The printer unit 30 prints the data stored in the memory unit 20 under the control of the control unit 80.

The LCD 40 displays characters according to the control operation state of the controller and the input key operation of the OPE 10 according to the display data of the controller.

The sensor unit 50 detects the printing paper and determines whether the SMC 200, which is a removable recording medium, is installed and then transmits it to the controller 80.

The card interface 60 performs a write / read operation on the SMC 200.

The PC interface 70 interfaces data with the host PC 300.

The controller 80 controls the overall system.

Hereinafter, an operation of updating the printer 100 shown in FIG. 3 when the file information of the mounted SMC 200 is changed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4.

First, when the SMC 200 including a plurality of image files is mounted as shown in FIG. 1A, the printer 100 transmits to the controller 80 that the SMC 200 is mounted in the sensor unit 50. The controller 80 accesses the SMC 200 through the card interface 60, creates a list of files stored in the SMC 200 from the read information, and stores the list in the memory unit 20. In this case, since the printer 100 cannot display an image, index printing is performed to view a list of image files stored in the SMC 200. During index printing, the printer 100 outputs an index, a file name, and an image as shown in FIG. 2 based on a file list stored in the memory unit 20.

At this time, when the user requests an additional command of a file called Test4 through the SMC 200 driver 210 of the host PC (S110), the controller 80 loads the Test4 file transmitted through the card interface 60. Access and record (200) (S120). If a file is added to the SMC, the controller compares the image stored in the SMC 200 with the image on the file list stored in the memory 20 (S130). If it is determined that a difference occurs as a result of the comparison, a message indicating content to be instructed on whether to perform the update is displayed on the LCD 40 so that the user can indicate whether to perform the update (S140). If an update progress command is input to the message through the OPE 10 from the user (S150), the controller 80 accesses the SMC 200 to create a new file list (S160). The newly created file list is stored in the memory unit 20 (S170). If the user rejects the update, no update is performed. If the file list is updated through the above process, the controller 80 outputs a brief file list as shown in FIG. 5 with respect to the changed list (S180). In the file list outputted here, only the file name and whether to add the file are printed according to the file index order stored in the memory unit.

As described above, the printer of the present invention performs an update according to a change of file information of a mounted recording medium, so that a user can print an image without crosstalk.

In addition, by printing the changed file name and addition at the time of update, separate index printing is unnecessary.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the technology to which the present invention pertains without departing from the spirit of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the field will be able to make modifications.

Claims (6)

A first interface for performing recording / reading of files stored on a removable recording medium; A memory for storing a list of files stored on the recording medium; A PC interface for interfacing data with a host PC; And Read information about the files stored in the recording medium, create a list of the files stored in the recording medium and control them to be stored in the memory, and request to change the information on the files stored in the recording medium from the host PC And a control unit which controls to update the list of files stored in the memory when the contents of the recording medium are changed, wherein the file list updating function according to the file information change of the removable recording medium is included. The method of claim 1, And a display configured to display a message for receiving an instruction from a user whether to perform a file list update of the memory. And the control unit controls to display the message on the display when the contents of the files stored in the recording medium are changed, wherein the file list updating function according to the file information of the removable recording medium is changed. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And the controller is configured to control the updated file list of the memory to be output on a printing sheet. The photo printer having a file list updating function according to a file information change of a removable recording medium. Reading information about files stored when the removable recording medium is mounted; Creating a file list from the read information of the files stored in the recording medium; Storing the file list in a memory; And And updating information about the files stored in the recording medium from the host PC and updating the file list stored in the memory when the file information of the recording medium is changed. How to update the file list according to the change of recording media file information. The method of claim 4, wherein The updating step, If a file information of the recording medium is changed, displaying a message for instructing a user whether to proceed with an update; Rewriting a file list of the recording medium when an update progress command is input by a user; And And storing the rewritten file list in the memory. The file list updating method according to the change of the mounted recording medium file information of the photo printer. The method according to claim 4 or 5, And updating the file list of the memory when the file list update of the memory is completed, on the printing paper.