KR20040103713A - Print service system and method for color revision of do digital image capturing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A printing service system for the color correction of a digital input device and a method therefor are provided to produce a print in which an error is little in an actually photographed color and service the made print to a consumer by accessing the printing service system through a web service whenever it is necessary for a color profile of a digital camera, applying an accessed color to an image requested by the consumer, and printing the image with the color. CONSTITUTION: A producer input device(12) detects a color error value according to each digital input device, and registers a color profile together with an intrinsic identification number of each digital input device. A profile relay service device(14) supports the registration, retrieval and update of the color profile according to each digital input device. A printing service device(13) supports the update of the color profile. When the printing service of a picked-up image is requested, the printing service device retrieves and receives a corresponding color profile from the profile relay service device on the basis of an intrinsic identification number of a corresponding digital input device which picks up the image, and applies the received color profile to a printing process.

Description

Print service system and method for color correction of digital input device {Print service system and method for color revision of do digital image capturing device}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing service system for color correction of a digital input device, a method and a computer readable recording medium recording a program for realizing the method. A printing service system for printing services in a color close to color, and a method thereof and a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing the method.

Recently, the market share of digital cameras is increasing rapidly compared to film cameras. In particular, unlike film cameras, after shooting, the result can be confirmed immediately after shooting, there is an advantage that can reduce the cost required for the purchase, development of the film. However, sometimes it is necessary to print photographs taken with a digital camera on paper, in which case most users send their files to a service provider that offers printing services online or to a print shop near you. You need to go to and deliver the file and get the print service.

However, unlike the method of printing the image formed on the film by using a printer, the color distribution of the digital image is very different according to the characteristics of each input device, that is, the image pickup device of the digital camera. Depending on the characteristics of the printer that prints to the printer, you often get prints of colors that are very different from the actual colors.

The technologies related to online printing services up to now are all related to the transmission of data and the method of delivering prints to consumers who requested printing services. However, online printing inevitably requires a process of color correction related to the processing of digital images, but until now, there is a problem in that there is no printing service that properly reflects color characteristics of input devices.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the problems described above, by accessing the color profile of a specific digital camera whenever necessary through a web service to apply it to the image requested by the consumer, the color at the time of the actual shooting And a printing service system for color correction of a digital input device for producing a print in the form of the least error and serving the consumer, and a method and a computer readable recording medium recording a program for realizing the method. The purpose is to provide.

1 is a configuration diagram of a print service system for color correction of a digital input device according to the present invention.

2 is a configuration diagram of a print service device of a print service system for color correction of a digital input device according to the present invention;

3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a profile brokerage service device of a printing service system for color correction of a digital input device according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a class diagram of the profile brokerage service device of FIG. 3. FIG.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a print service method for color correction of a digital input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a profile brokerage service method of a print service method for color correction of a digital input device according to the present invention; FIG.

7 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a profile brokerage service method for a plurality of callers according to the present invention;

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

11: user input device 12: producer input device

13: print service device 14: profile brokerage service device

The present invention for achieving the above object, in the printing service system for color correction of the digital input device, by detecting the color error value for each digital input device, and the color profile with a unique identification number of each digital input device Profile registration means for registering; Profile intermediation means for supporting registration, retrieval and update of color profiles for each digital input device; And updating the color profile and retrieving and downloading the corresponding color profile from the profile intermediary means based on a unique identification number of the corresponding digital input apparatus which captured the image when requesting a print service of the captured image. Characterized in that it comprises a printing service means applied to.

The present invention also provides a printing service system for color correction of a digital input device, comprising: profile generation means for generating a color profile by detecting a color error value for each digital input device for more accurate color correction; Profile transmission and registration means for transmitting the generated color profile to a profile intermediary service device through a network for registration (including updating); Profile retrieval and download means for retrieving and downloading a corresponding color profile from the profile brokerage service device based on a unique identification number of the corresponding digital input apparatus which captured the image when requesting a print service of the captured image; Profile application means for applying the downloaded corresponding color profile to a printing process; And image output means for outputting an image in which color correction is performed based on the profile applying means.

In addition, the present invention, in the print service method for color correction of the digital input device, by detecting the color error value for each digital input device, the color profile with the unique identification number of each digital input device profile brokerage service device The first step of registering with; A second step of, upon requesting a print service of the photographed image, the print service apparatus searching and downloading the corresponding color profile from the profile brokerage service apparatus based on a unique identification number of the corresponding digital input apparatus which photographed the image; And a third step in which the print service device applies the corresponding color profile to the printing process and prints the image through color correction.

In addition, the present invention, in the print service method for color correction of the digital input device, by detecting the color error value for each digital input device, the color profile with the unique identification number of each digital input device profile brokerage service device The first step of registering with; A second step of, when the print service request of the photographed image is requested, the profile brokerage service apparatus searching for the corresponding color profile based on a unique identification number of the corresponding digital input apparatus which photographed the image; And searching the nearest print service provider according to the print receiving location transmitted when the profile brokerage service device is requested to print the on-line print service, and relating the print image and the corresponding color profile to the print service provider's device. And a third step of transmitting the information together.

The present invention may further include a fourth step in which the apparatus of the print service provider applies the corresponding color profile to the printing process to print the photographed image through color correction.

In addition, the present invention, in order to correct the color of the digital input device, the printing service system having a processor, by detecting the color error value for each digital input device, and the color profile with a unique identification number of each digital input device A first function of registering with a profile mediation service device; A second function of retrieving and downloading a corresponding color profile from the profile brokerage service device based on a unique identification number of the corresponding digital input device at which the print service device photographed the image when requesting a print service of the captured image; And a printing service apparatus, which applies the corresponding color profile to a printing process, provides a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing a third function of printing the image through color correction.

In addition, the present invention, in order to correct the color of the digital input device, the printing service system having a processor, by detecting the color error value for each digital input device, and the color profile with a unique identification number of each digital input device A first function of registering with a profile mediation service device; A second function of retrieving and downloading a corresponding color profile from the profile intermediary service device based on a unique identification number of the digital input device at which the print service device photographed the image when requesting a print service of the captured image; And a printing service apparatus, which applies the corresponding color profile to a printing process, provides a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing a third function of printing the image through color correction.

In addition, the present invention, the apparatus of the print service provider is applied to the printing process by the computer to record a program for further realizing a fourth function of printing the photographed image through color correction by applying the color profile to the printing process; Provide a record medium that can be.

Therefore, the present invention is different for each manufacturer and even if the camera produced in the same production line to print or print a digital image obtained on a paper using a digital camera that is slightly different in color reproduction characteristics according to the characteristics of the image pickup device This allows the camera producer to create and register a profile for the required color matching, or randomly generates a color matching profile by using a device and a function provided by a service provider that provides the print service by the camera owner. When the print service is directly registered and stored in the future, the print service provider may generate prints by reflecting the color characteristics of his camera, thereby generating prints of more accurate colors.

Input devices, such as digital cameras, which acquire images using imaging devices, have color errors due to the characteristics of each device. This color error is different from the color at the time of acquiring the actual image and the color of the acquired image due to the electrical and physical characteristics of the input device.In order to remove the color error and print or print on the monitor or paper, each input / output The device detects the inherent color error and stores it in the form of a color profile to apply when inputting or outputting an image to obtain a color close to the primary color.

However, digital cameras, which have been widely used in recent years and whose market share is increasing day by day, provide printing services without a separate color correction process. In most cases, outputs of different colors are obtained. This lowers the reliability of digital input devices such as digital cameras, and also acts as a factor that prevents the user from properly utilizing the performance of his own input device.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a profile brokerage service method that detects a color error of a digital image input device such as a digital camera and stores it in the form of a color profile but provides a service for storing and retrieving the color error. That is, the input device manufacturer detects the color error value of each input device produced by the input device manufacturer that produces the digital image input device with the product release and provides it with the unique identification number of each input device and the profile broker service provider. Register it using a web service.

Or use the profile detection device provided by the offline print service provider to detect the color profile of the input device already owned by the input device user, and register or save the registration on the server using the service provided by the profile broker. Put it. The color profile of each input device stored once registered is automatically retrieved by the print service provider and applied during the printing process when the input device user receives the print service offline or online. You will be able to receive print services.

The above objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a configuration diagram of a print service system for color correction of a digital input device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a printing service system for color correction of a digital input device according to the present invention includes a profile brokerage service device 14 of a profile brokerage service provider for searching and registering a profile purchased by an input device user. And a producer input device 12 for detecting a color error value for each digital input device and registering a color profile together with a unique identification number of each digital input device. A profile intermediary service device 14 that supports registration, retrieval, and update of color profiles for each digital input device; and a corresponding digital input device that supports updating of the color profile and that captures the image when requesting a print service of the captured image. Retrieve and download the corresponding color profile from the profile intermediary service device 14 due to the unique identification number of the It comprises a print service device 13 to be applied to the printing process.

The operation process of the print service system for color correction of the digital input device of the present invention having the above structure will be described in detail as follows.

The user of the input device using the user input device 11 may search for and confirm the profile of the input device purchased by the profile brokerage service device 14 of the profile brokerage service provider. Alternatively, a request may be made to detect a profile using a profile detection device provided by a print service provider of the print service apparatus 13 (104), and it may be registered in the profile brokerage service apparatus 14 of the profile brokerage service provider (103). .

The registered profile is used as a color profile for color correction when the image obtained by using the user input device 11 used by the input device user in the future is printed by requesting an offline or online print service provider. That is, the input device user registers the color profile used by the profile brokerage service device 14 once through the service provided by the profile brokerage service provider (101) or by using the profile registered by the input device producer for the first time. Whenever the print service is received in the future, the print service provider informs the unique identification number of the input device that the print service provider has, so that the print service provider can obtain the profile information of the corresponding input device from the profile brokerage service device 14 of the profile brokerage service provider. It is a service of a method of receiving a high quality printing service that is downloaded and applied to reproduce accurate colors (105). When an input device producer produces an input device and registers the color profile of each input device in the profile brokerage service device 14 of the profile brokerage service provider, the profile of the input device is used by an input device user who purchases the input device in the future. When the information is stored in the profile brokerage service device 14 of the profile brokerage service provider and mapped to the input device user information, and the user of the input device purchased the input device in the future is required, It is a service method that allows accurate color profile to be applied during printing process by informing unique identification number.

The print service provider downloads the profile of the input device used by the corresponding input device user from the profile brokerage service device 14 of the profile brokerage service provider by using the information delivered by the input device user who requests the print service to the user. (103).

2 is a block diagram of a print service device in a print service system for color correction of a digital input device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printing service apparatus according to the present invention includes a profile generator 211 and a profile for generating a color profile by detecting a color error value for each of the digital input apparatuses for more accurate color correction. A profile service unit 21 including a profile transmission and registration unit 212 for transmitting and registering (including updating) the color profile generated through the generation unit 211 to the profile intermediary service device 14 via a network; When requesting a print service of a photographed image, a profile search and download unit 221 for searching for and downloading a corresponding color profile from the profile brokerage service device 14 based on a unique identification number of the corresponding digital input apparatus photographing the image. , A profile for applying the corresponding color profile downloaded through the profile search and download unit 221 to the printing process. An image printing unit 22 includes an image output unit 223 for outputting an image in which color correction is performed based on the file applying unit 222 and the profile applying unit 222.

An operation process of the print service device of the present invention having the structure as described above is described in detail as follows.

The print service device 13 operated by the print service provider includes a profile service unit 21 and an image print unit 22. Among these, the profile service unit 21 includes a profile generator 211 capable of generating a profile for an input device of an input device user using the input device. In addition, the profile transmission and registration unit 212 that can transmit and register the profile for the specific input device generated in this way to the profile brokerage service device 14 of the profile brokerage service provider.

The reason why the print service provider needs a function that can generate color profiles by detecting the color error of the input device even after the release of the input device is the color detected after long use compared to the color error detected by the input device producer at the time of product release. The error value may be changed due to the change of the electrical characteristics of the input device, and thus to detect the change and to correct the color again. That is, the initial profile is updated with the latest accurate profile. The updated profile is registered in the profile brokerage service device 14 of the profile brokerage service provider as described above, and other print service providers are freely downloaded according to the input device user's request in order to respond to the customer's print service request. It is. Among the systems constituting the service system of the print service provider, the image print unit 22 performs a function of printing an image file requested by an input device user on photo paper. However, the image printing unit 22 is connected to the profile brokerage service device 14 which is operated by the profile brokerage service provider online unlike the existing silver salt printing film printing device or the general digital printing device to provide necessary profile information. It has a built-in device that downloads and automatically corrects colors.

The online profile search and download function of the online method is performed by the profile search and download unit 221, and the downloaded profile is applied to the image file requested by the actual input device user by the profile application unit 222 to correct the color. The printing process is completed by the image output unit 223 which prints an image file in which color correction is finally performed.

3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a profile brokerage service device in a printing service system for color correction of a digital input device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the profile brokerage service device according to the present invention manages and stores information on a profile brokerage service provider and colors each digital input device to a digital input device producer, a digital input device user, or a print service provider. It supports the registration, retrieval and updating of profiles, and has information about the color profile, information about users and producers as attribute values, name of user of digital input device, address information, imaging device related information of digital input device, It is characterized in that the data structure of production time related information, producer related information, profile generation history related information.

An operation process of the profile brokerage service apparatus of the present invention having the structure as described above is described in detail as follows.

The configuration of the profile brokerage service device 14 operated by the profile brokerage service provider is shown.

The service user manager 141 manages or stores information about a profile brokerage service user who uses the profile brokerage service, which performs the same role as the customer information manager for future billing functions.

As described above, the profile registration unit 142 provides a function for the input device producer, the input device user, and the print service provider to register or update a profile for a specific input device. This function performs the function of an interface connecting the profile information management unit 143 and service users necessary for registering, updating and retrieving a profile online. That is, it performs a communication interface function for internal functions.

The profile information storage unit 144 serves as a database for storing profile information of all input devices registered and managed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a class diagram of the profile brokerage service device of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 illustrates a class diagram by abstracting a data structure of profile information, user information, etc. of the profile brokerage service device 14. will be.

As shown in FIG. 4, the profile root class 41 has information on the color space used by the input device, the date and time the profile was created, the user or producer who created the profile, and the like. .

The user root class 42 abstracts information related to an input device user and has information such as a name and an address of the input device user as an attribute value.

Input Device Root class 43 is an abstracted class for storing information related to an input device. Information related to an image pickup device of an input device, information related to a production time of an input device, information related to a producer of an input device, and input Profile creation history related information of the device as an attribute value.

The Profile Info class 44 inherits a plurality of attributes of the three types of classes and has information on all of them. That is, all information related to the profile of a specific input device is taken as an attribute.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a print service method for color correction of a digital input device according to the present invention. The profile brokerage service device 14 operated by the profile brokerage service provider and the print service device 13 of the print service provider are shown in FIG. And a service flow diagram of a profile brokerage service based on the image obtained from the input device producer and the input device.

As shown in FIG. 5, first, when an input device user requests a print service from an offline print service provider, the input device user sends an image file to be printed to the profile brokerage service device 14 of the profile brokerage service provider. A unique identification number of the input device used to acquire the registered unique identification number or image file is notified together (501).

Then, the print service operator inputs the input device user identification number notified by the input device user or the input device unique identification number used by the input device user using the print service device 13 held by the input service user. The image file requested for the print service is also input to the print service apparatus (502). The download process of the profile is automatically performed by using the online access and search request transmission of the print service system used by the print service provider, and the corresponding profile download function.

Subsequently, using the downloaded profile of the corresponding input device, the print service device 13 performs a color correction process on the image file requested by the input device user (503), and finally the image file that has undergone the color correction process on paper. Print 504.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a profile brokerage service method of a print service method for color correction of a digital input device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, first, a profile service brokerage service system operated by a profile brokerage service provider receives a service request from a print service system operated by a print service provider (601). That is, the print service device 13 operated by the print service provider requests a profile search and download online, and receives the identification number of the corresponding input device user or the identification number of the input device.

At this time, the print service device 13 receives the unique identification number of the input device user or the unique identification number of the input device. The profile brokerage service device 14 performs the authentication process for the corresponding print service provider by using the functions of the service user management unit 141 and the profile information management unit 143 which it manages (602), and checks whether the authentication is successful. If the authentication is successful, the profile stored in the profile information storage unit 144 is searched through the profile manager 143 using the transmitted identification number (604).

Subsequently, it is checked whether the profile information exists (605), if a profile of the corresponding input device exists, the profile is transmitted to the service system of the requesting print service provider (606), and the service history is stored in a log (607). Terminate the service for the request.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a profile brokerage service method for a plurality of printers according to the present invention, in which a profile brokerage service provider is affiliated with a plurality of print service providers and prints regardless of a print receiving area of an input device user. An embodiment of a service capable of providing a service is shown. That is, the profile brokerage service provider not only provides a registration, search and extraction service for the profile of the input device but also provides an online printing service.

As shown in FIG. 7, an input device user of the user input device 71 transmits an image file acquired by his or her input device using an online print service provided by a profile brokerage service provider and requests a print service (701). ). The profile brokerage service device 72 of the profile brokerage service provider corresponds to the print service device 73 of the print service provider at the closest position according to the print receipt location transmitted when the input device user requests the online print service. A profile of the user input device 71 used by the user and an image file requesting printing and other requests of the input device user are transmitted together (702). The print service apparatus 73 of the print service provider automatically prints the prints, and the user of the input device pays the service fee for them and collects the prints (703).

The method of the present invention as described above may be implemented as a program and stored in a computer-readable recording medium (CD-ROM, RAM, ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, etc.). Since this process can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art will not be described in more detail.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various substitutions, modifications, and changes are possible in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be clear to those of ordinary knowledge.

As described above, the present invention accesses a color profile of a specific digital camera through a web service whenever necessary and applies it to an image requested by a consumer, thereby printing the print in the form having the least error with the color at the time of actual shooting. It is effective to produce and service to consumers.

Claims (13)

A printing service system for color correction of a digital input device, Profile registration means for detecting a color error value for each digital input device and registering a color profile with a unique identification number of each digital input device; Profile intermediation means for supporting registration, retrieval and update of color profiles for each digital input device; And The color profile is updated and the color profile is retrieved and downloaded from the profile intermediation means based on a unique identification number of the corresponding digital input apparatus which captured the image when requesting a print service of the captured image. Print Services Applicable Print service system for color correction of a digital input device comprising a. The method of claim 1, The printing service means, A profile generator for generating a color profile by detecting a color error value for each digital input device for more accurate color correction; A profile transmission and registration unit for registering (including updating) the generated color profile by transmitting it to the profile mediation means through a network; A profile retrieval and download unit for retrieving and downloading the corresponding color profile from the profile intermediation means due to a unique identification number of the corresponding digital input apparatus which captured the image when requesting a print service of the captured image; A profile applying unit for applying the downloaded corresponding color profile to a printing process; And An image output unit for outputting an image that has been color corrected based on the profile application unit Print service system for color correction of a digital input device comprising a. A printing service system for color correction of a digital input device, Profile generation means for generating a color profile by detecting the color error value for each digital input device for more accurate color correction; Profile transmission and registration means for transmitting the generated color profile to a profile intermediary service device through a network for registration (including updating); Profile retrieval and download means for retrieving and downloading a corresponding color profile from the profile brokerage service device based on a unique identification number of the corresponding digital input apparatus which captured the image when requesting a print service of the captured image; Profile application means for applying the downloaded corresponding color profile to a printing process; And Image output means for outputting an image with color correction based on the profile application means Print service system for color correction of a digital input device comprising a. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The color profile is, A printing service system for color correction of a digital input device, characterized in that the profile corrects color errors due to the characteristics of the image pickup device of each digital input device so as to obtain a color close to the primary color when applied to image input and output. The method of claim 4, wherein The profile mediation means, It manages and stores information about profile brokerage service providers, and supports registration, retrieval and updating of color profiles for certain digital input devices to digital input device producers, digital input device users, and printing service providers. It has information about users and producers as attribute values, and data structure of user name, address information, image pickup device information, production time information, producer information, profile creation history information of digital input device. A print service system for color correction of digital input devices. In the printing service method for color correction of a digital input device, Detecting a color error value of each digital input device and registering a color profile with a unique identification number of each digital input device in a profile brokerage service device; A second step of, upon requesting a print service of the photographed image, the print service apparatus searching and downloading the corresponding color profile from the profile brokerage service apparatus based on a unique identification number of the corresponding digital input apparatus which photographed the image; And A third step in which the printing service apparatus applies the corresponding color profile to a printing process and prints the image through color correction Print service method for color correction of a digital input device comprising a. In the printing service method for color correction of a digital input device, Detecting a color error value of each digital input device and registering a color profile with a unique identification number of each digital input device in a profile brokerage service device; A second step of, when the print service request of the captured image is requested, the profile brokerage service apparatus searching for the corresponding color profile based on a unique identification number of the corresponding digital input apparatus which captured the image; And The profile intermediary service device searches for the nearest print service provider according to the print receiving location transmitted together with the on-line print service request, and the image captured by the print service provider's device, the corresponding color profile, and print service related information. Third step to send it together Print service method for color correction of a digital input device comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein A fourth step in which the apparatus of the print service provider applies the corresponding color profile to a printing process and prints the photographed image through color correction; Print service method for color correction of a digital input device further comprising. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, The color profile is, A printing service method for color correction of a digital input device, characterized in that the profile corrects color errors caused by the characteristics of the image pickup device of each digital input device so as to obtain a color close to the primary color when applied to image input and output. The method of claim 9, The profile mediation service device, It manages and stores information about profile brokerage service providers, and supports registration, retrieval and updating of color profiles for certain digital input devices to digital input device producers, digital input device users, and printing service providers. It has information about users and producers as attribute values, and data structure of user name, address information, image pickup device information, production time information, producer information, profile creation history information of digital input device. Print service method for color correction of a digital input device, characterized in that. In the printing service system having a processor for color correction of the digital input device, A first function of detecting a color error value of each digital input device and registering a color profile with a unique identification number of each digital input device to a profile brokerage service device; A second function of retrieving and downloading a corresponding color profile from the profile brokerage service device based on a unique identification number of the corresponding digital input device at which the print service device photographed the image when requesting a print service of the captured image; And A third function that the print service device applies the corresponding color profile to a printing process and prints the image through color correction A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing this. In the printing service system having a processor for color correction of the digital input device, A first function of detecting a color error value of each digital input device and registering a color profile with a unique identification number of each digital input device to a profile brokerage service device; A second function of retrieving and downloading a corresponding color profile from the profile brokerage service device based on a unique identification number of the corresponding digital input device at which the print service device photographed the image when requesting a print service of the captured image; And A third function that the print service device applies the corresponding color profile to a printing process and prints the image through color correction A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing this. The method of claim 12, A fourth function of printing the photographed image through color correction by the apparatus of the print service provider applying the corresponding color profile to a printing process A computer-readable recording medium that records a program for further realization.