MXPA01002080A

MXPA01002080A - Image print system

Info

Publication number: MXPA01002080A
Application number: MXPA/A/2001/002080A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Ihara Yoshi; Kitamura Yoshio; Narushima Toshio; Niioka Makoto; Kawamura Yuji
Original assignee: Sony Corporation
Priority date: 1999-07-05
Filing date: 2001-02-27
Publication date: 2001-12-04

Abstract

An image print system produces precise hard copy of digital image data displayed on the television screen. The image print system comprises image processing means (13) for processing an external input image signal and generating image data;image output means (13) for sending a printer (5) the generated image data contained in a packet compliant with the IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 standard;and print control means (23) for controlling to print the image data contained in the packet delivered from the image output means (13) to the printer (5).

Description

"IMAGE PRINTING SYSTEM" TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and an image processing method, a printing apparatus, a printing method, an image printing system, an image printing method and a medium storing programs. for image processing and printing, all for use in a system in which the printing apparatus is connected by a digital serial bus bar type interface that meets, for example, IEEE 1394 standards (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ), prints images.

ANTECEDENTS OF THE TECHNIQUE The IEEE 1394 standards (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) define the physical and electrical standards of the connectors designed to be used in various devices to connect the devices to one another. Once a device that has an interface that complies with IEEE 1394 standards physically connects to another device that has this interface, it can achieve plug-in - hot and game and similar, achieving high-speed transfer of digital data and automatic adjustment of the connection between the devices. This is the reason why the IEEE 1394 standards have been adopted as standard serial interface standards in industries. The STBs (Top Boxes), television receivers, printing devices are known, each having an interface that complies with the IEEE 1394 standards mentioned above. A method for transmitting Iso packets that comply with IEEE 1394 standards each containing luminance signals and color difference signals, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 10-126426. A printing apparatus that complies with IEEE 1394 standards is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 10-285246. However, neither one of the television receivers nor an STB has been connected to a printer apparatus through interfaces that comply with the IEEE 1394 standards so that the printing apparatus can print the image that is being presented by the television receiver. Up to now, to print the image presented by means of a television receiver by means of a printing apparatus, an interface capable of receiving the signals of NTSC (Committee of the National Television System), that is, the analog signals, from the television receiver or an STB, is incorporated into the printing apparatus, and the analog signals are transferred to the printing apparatus, which prints the image that is being presented by the television receiver. The analog signals transferred to the printing apparatus have been generated by converting the digital signals into the television receiver or the STB. The analog signals, generated in this way, deteriorate in quality, rendering the printing apparatus incapable of printing fine and similar characters. To allow the printing apparatus to print the image presented by the television receiver, many printing parameters are set in the television receiver or the STB in most cases. The burden of the process on the television receiver or the STB inevitably grows. The applicant proposed the techniques described in Japanese Patent Application Number 11-191026, Japanese Patent Application Number 11-233252, Japanese Patent Application Number 11-248067 and Japanese Patent Application Number 11-345470, based on the which priority is claimed to the present request, to the IEEE 1394 Trade Association, for the purpose of standardization. The Commercial Association IEEE - 1394 discloses these techniques in the form of the following (drafts): • Version of the Specification of the AV / C Printer Subunit 1.0 Draft 0.97: 60 (Disconnection Cycle 2Q00 AVWG to be Joined on 24- May 25, 2000) • Specification Version of AV / C Printer Subunit 1.0 Draft 0.7: 5 (1Q00 TA QM AV-WG on January 18, 2000) • AV / C Printer Subunit Specification Version 1.0 Draft 0.5: 145 (3Q99 TA QM AVWG that meets on July 28-30, 1999) COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method which serve to print fine images represented by digital image data presented by television receivers. Another object of this invention is to provide a printing apparatus which serve to print fine images represented by digital image data, which are presented by television receivers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an image printing apparatus and a method of printing images that serve to print fine images represented by digital image data, which are presented by television receivers. Still another object of the present invention is to provide media storage programs for printing fine images represented by digital image data, which are presented by television receivers. To achieve the objects described above, an image processing apparatus according to the invention comprises: an image processing means for processing an input image signal externally, in order to generate the image data; and an image output means for sending a package to a printing apparatus, which operates according to the package with the predetermined digital series bus bar system. The image output means sends a capture command which is contained in the packet and which designates the transmission of the desired immobile image data, based on the image data. The image output means also describes, in the capture command, the data of the type of image that represents the format of the immobile image data.

An image processing apparatus in accordance with this invention is characterized in the following respects. An input image signal is processed externally, thereby generating the image data. The data of the image is inserted in a package towards a printing apparatus that operates according to a predetermined digital series bus bar system. A capture command that designates the transmission of the immobile image data generated from the image data is inserted into the package. The image type data representing a data format of the still image is described in the capture command. The package is then sent to a printing device. A printing apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises an image input means, an image conversion means, and a printing medium. The image input means receives the data of the image of a prescribed format, which is contained in a package that operates in accordance with a predetermined digital series bus bar system. The image conversion means converts the format of the input of the image data into the image input means in a format for printing. The printing medium prints the immobile image data based on the image data of the converted format by means of the image conversion medium. The package contains a capture command that designates the transmission of the immobile image data, and the data of the type of image representing the format of the immobile image data is described in the capture command. The image conversion means converts the format according to the image type data described in the capture command. A printing method according to the invention is characterized in the following respects. A package is received, which works in accordance with the predetermined digital series bus bar system and contains the image data and a capture command that designates the transmission of the immobile image data, based on the image data . The format of the data of the received image is converted into a format for printing, in accordance with the data of the type of image described in the capture command and which represents the format of the data of the immobile image received. The image data of the motionless image, based on the image data of the converted format, it is printed later. An image printing system according to the invention comprises the image processing apparatus and a printing apparatus. The image processing apparatus comprises an image processing means for processing an input image signal externally, in order to generate the image data, and the image output means for sending a package to a printing apparatus , which works according to the package with the predetermined digital series bus bar system and which contains the data of the image generated by the image processing means. The image output means sends the packet after being inserted in the packet, a capture command that designates the transmission of the immobile image data generated from the image data and that describes, in the capture command, the data of the type of image that represents a data format of the immobile image. The printing apparatus comprises an image input means for receiving the image data of a prescribed format, which is contained in a package that operates in accordance with a predetermined digital series bus bar system, an image conversion medium. for converting the input format of the image data into an image input medium to a format for printing, and a printing medium for printing the image data of the still image based on the image data of the format converted by means of image conversion. The image conversion means converts the format according to the data of the type of image described in the capture command.

- - An image printing method according to the invention is characterized in the following respects. An input image signal is processed externally, in order to generate the image data. In data the generated image is inserted in a package that works according to a predetermined digital series bus bar system. A transmission designating the capture command of the immobile image data generated from the image data is inserted into the package. The image type data representing a data format of the still image is described in the capture command. The package is then transmitted. In addition, the package that works in accordance with the predetermined digital series bus bar system and that is contacted with the image data and the capture command is received. The format of the data of the received image is converted into a format for printing, in accordance with the data of the type of image described in the capture command and which represents the format of the data of the immobile image received. The data of the immobile image based on the image data of the converted format is then printed. A storage medium according to the invention stores the image processing program. The program describes the steps of processing one - external input image signal, in order to generate the image data; insert the data of the image generated in a package that works according to the predetermined digital series bus bar system; inserting, in the package, a transmission designating the capture command, of the data of the immobile image generated from the image data and describing, in the capture command, the data of the type of image representing a data format of the still image; and output the package to an apparatus or printing. Another storage medium according to the present invention stores an image processing program. The program describes the steps of receiving a package that works according to the default digital series busbar system and that contains the image data and a capture command; converting the format of the data of the received image into a format for printing, in accordance with the data of the type of image described in the capture command and representing the format of the data of the received immobile image; and printing the data of the image of the immobile image based on the image data of the converted format.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS - Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an image printing system in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a functional diagram of the STB and the printing apparatus, both provided in the image printing system according to the invention; Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an asynchronous packet transferred between the STB and the printing apparatus; Figure 4 is a diagram representing the data section of the asynchronous packet; Figure 5 is a timing chart that explains how the asynchronous packet is transmitted from a data conversion section to a data entry section; Figure 6 is a diagram explaining the type of image of an immobile image; Figure 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the data of an asynchronous packet containing a capture command; Figure 8 is a diagram explaining the names of the image types, which are stored in the image_format_specifiers; Figure 9 is a diagram showing other names of other types of image, which are stored in the image format specifiers; - - Figure 10 is a diagram explaining the sequence for transmitting the data of the still image format of the YCC4: 2: 2 pixel that is transmitted, one point after the other to an apparatus i pre-cursor; Figure 11 is a diagram explaining the sequence of transmitting the data of the still image of the YCC4: 2: 0 pixel format, which is transmitted, one point after the other, to a printing apparatus; Figure 12 is a diagram explaining the sequence of transmitting the data of the still image of the YCC4: 2: 2 pixel format that is transmitted, one line after the other, to a printing apparatus-; Figure 13 is a diagram explaining the sequence of transmitting the data of the still image of the YCC4: 2: 0 pixel format that is transmitted, one line after the other, to a printing apparatus; Figure 14 is a diagram explaining the manner in which an immobile image of 480_422_4 x 3 is transmitted, one point after another; Figure 15 is a diagram for explaining the manner in which an immobile image of 480_420_4 x 3 is transmitted, one point after another; Figure 16 is a diagram explaining the manner in which an immobile image of 480_422_4 x 3 is transmitted, one line after another; Figure 17 is a diagram explaining the manner in which an immobile image of 480_420_4 x 3 is transmitted, one line after another; Figure 18 is a flow chart explaining the sequence of processes carried out by the printing apparatus for printing an image in the image printing system according to the present invention; Figure 19 is a diagram for explaining the manner in which the CPU provided in STB operates to cause the printing apparatus to print the image being presented by the television receiver; Figure 20 is a diagram for explaining the process sequence of the CPU of the STB that it carries out to cause the printing apparatus to print the image that the television receiver is presenting; and Figure 21 is a diagram explaining the manner in which an asynchronous package is transferred between the STB and the printing apparatus, in order to cause the printing apparatus to print an immobile image.

BEST WAY TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION - The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings. An image printing system according to the present invention has, for example, the structure shown in Figure 1. The image printing system 1 comprises an antenna 1, a STB (Top Box) 3, a television receiver 4, and a printing apparatus 5. The antenna 2 receives the signals representing the films and broadcasts by the use of, for example, communication satellites. The STB 3 carries out specific processes in the data of the movable image that the antenna 2 has received. The television receiver 4 presents the still images and images. The printing apparatus 5 prints the images presented by the television receiver 4. During operation, the antenna 2 receives a video signal representing a film and outputs the video signal to the STB 3. The video signal it receives antenna 2 consists of image signals of many channels, which are superimposed one on the other. The video signal is the data of the movie that has been compressed by, for example, the MPEG (Movie Expert Group) system and encrypted using a prescribed encryption system.

The television receiver 4 presents a film represented by the film data of the NTSC system (Committee of the National Television System), which has been supplied to the receiver 4 through the STB 3. The television receiver 4 can be a receiver of the television. high definition television (HDTV). If so, the television receiver 4 presents a film when it receives, from STB 3, the data of the film that works in accordance with the HD (High Definition) standards. In addition, the STB 3 controls the display mode of the television receiver 4, whereby the receiver 4 can present still images and other data such as the text data. As shown in Figure 2, the STB 3 comprises a demodulation section 11, a decoding section 12, a data conversion section 13, a demultiplication section 14, an image memory 15, an MPEG processing section 16. , and a decoding memory 17. The STB 3 further comprises an NTSC encoding section 18, a presentation control section 19, a presentation memory 20, an operation input section 21, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 23. The demodulation section 11 demodulates the video signal received by the antenna 2. The decoding section 12 decodes the data of the film. The data conversion section 13 converts the data that works in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standards. The demultiplication section 14 performs a process such as the process of extracting the data from the film of a prescribed channel. The MPEG 16 processing section decodes the data. The NTSC coding section 18 converts the data into one that can be presented by the television receiver 4. The operation input section 21 receives the instructions made by the user. CPU 23 controls the other components of STB 3. In STB 3, the demodulation section 11, the decoding section 12, the data conversion section 13, the demultiplication section 14, the MPEG processing section 16, the operation input section 21, the RAM 22, and the CPU 23 are connected with a busbar. Using the busbar, the CPU 23 controls the other components of STB 3. The demodulation section 11 receives the video signal from the antenna 2. The video signal is an analog signal representing, for example, a stream of films. The demodulation section 11 carries out the demodulation and the A / D conversion (Analog-to-Digital) in the video signal supplied from the antenna 2, thus generating the data of the digital film. The data of the film generated in this way is sent to the decoding section 12. The demodulation section 11 receives a control signal, likewise, which is supplied from the CPU 23 through the busbar. In accordance with the control signal, the demodulation section 11 carries out the demodulation and the A / D conversion. The decoding section 12 decodes the data of the supplied film from the demodulation section 11. More precisely, the decoding section 12 receives the data of the film that has been encrypted. Section 12 then decrypts the movie data in accordance with the encryption algorithm prepared to decrypt the movie data. The decoding section 12 sends the data of the film thus decrypted to the data conversion section 13. The section 12 receives a control signal from the CPU 23 through the busbar. The decoding section 12 uses, for example, the decryption key contained in this control signal, to decrypt the data of the film. The data conversion section 13 comprises an interface that works according to, for example, the IEEE 1394 standards. The data conversion section 13 carries out the processing of the signal that works in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standards, in the data of the film supplied from the decoding section 12, in accordance with the control signal supplied to the CPU 23. The data conversion section 13 generates a data packet that works in accordance with IEEE 1394 containing the data input of the movie or the image data immobile. The data conversion section 13 generates an isochronous data packet, in order to transmit the continuous data in time, such as the data of the movie. To transmit the static data, such as the immobile data, the commands or connection adjustment data, the section 13 generates an asynchronous packet 100 of the type shown in Figure 3. The asynchronous packet 100 shown in Figure 3 has a section of spindle 101 and a data section 102. Spindle section 101 operating in accordance with IEEE 1394 standards. Spindle section 101 contains a destination ID (target_ID), a transaction label (ti: transaction tag), a retry code (rt: a retry code), a transaction code (tcode: transaction code), priority (priority pri), a source ID (source_ID), a traversing_address, a data field length ( data_length), an extended transaction code (extended_tcode: extended transaction code), a CRC spindle (spindle_CRC; Head field CRC). The destination ID is the ID of the side that receives the package, that is, the ID of the printing device - - . The source ID is the ID of the side that transmits the packet, that is, the ID of the STB 3. The destination_ displacement designates a memory address on the side that receives the packet. The CRC head designates the CRC of the head section 101. The data section 102 contains a data field and a data CRC (data_CRC). The data field is provided to store the data that is in accordance with FCP (Function Control Protocol) and the AV / C protocol. The CRC data designates the CRC for the data section 102. As shown in Figure 4, the data field contains a CTS (Command Transaction Apparatus), a command type (command type), a subunit type (subunit_type), and a subunit ID (subunit_ID). The CTS is the information that works according to the FCP. The subunit type designates the type of subunit that is provided on the receiving side of the packet. The subunit ID is the ID of the subunit that is provided on the receiving side of the packet. The subunit of the receiver side of the package is the input section of the data 31 of the printing apparatus 5. The type of the receiver side of the package is represented as "00010" in the case of the printing apparatus 5. The data field contains an operation code and operands [0] to [n], which follow the subunit ID. He - Operation code indicates the class of the operation to be carried out in operands [0] to [n]. In the data field, the data of the immobile image to be transmitted to the printing apparatus 5 and the AV / C command to be supplied to the printing apparatus 5 is stored. The command stored in the data field is one included in a command device called "AV / C knob", which is used to control the printing apparatus 5. The CTS classifies the FCP. If the packet to be transmitted is a command, the value of which is "0000", the AV / C command defined by the digital interface control set AV / C of IEEE 1394 is stored in the data section 102. The The data conversion section 13 transmits the isosynchronous packets at regular intervals in order to send an asynchronous packet to the external device. If the asynchronous packet 100 contains the data of the still image to be printed by the printing apparatus 5, the data conversion section 13 transmits the packet 100 at a cycle frequency of 125 microseconds as illustrated in FIG. data conversion section 13 first transmits a cycle initiation packet 111, that is, the asynchronous packet 100 containing, in its header_section 101, the cycle time data (cycle_time_time) indicating the start or start of the cycle ( initiation or beginning cycle). The 1 data conversion section 13 then transmits, within a prescribed time slot, a command pack 112 whose data section 102 contains a capture command designating the transmission of the immobile image data. Then, the data conversion section 13 transmits the data packet 113 containing the data of the motionless image in its data section 102, to the printing apparatus 5 that has received the capture command. During this time, the data conversion section 13 sends the data of the stationary image to the printing apparatus 5, in accordance with the asynchronous arbitration, that is, section 13 sends the asynchronous packet 100 containing the data of the stationary image. during receipt of a response from the printing apparatus 5, thereby transmitting the data of the motionless image to the printing apparatus 5. For more specific processing, the data conversion section 13 performs the processes in the transaction layer, the link layer and the physical layer under the control of a serial bus that conforms to the IEEE 1394 standards. Therefore, the data conversion section 13 adjusts the connection with the printing apparatus 5 in accordance with a signal of control supplied from the CPU 23. In addition, section 13 generates an asynchronous packet 100 containing the immobile image data and an overload, that is, the control data. In this way, section 13 transmits an asynchronous packet 100 during each cycle to the printing apparatus 5 that is connected in which it works in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standards. To allow the television receiver 4 to present the data of the film it has received. STB 3, without processing the data in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standards, the data conversion section 13 sends the data of the supplied film from the decoding section 12, to the demultiplication section 14, in accordance with the signal of control supplied from the CPU 23. The demultiplication section 14 selects the channel designated by the CPU 23, from the channels superimposed on the data of the film supplied from the data conversion section 13. Only the data of the channel film selected is sent from section 14 to the MPEG processing section 16. Under control of the CPU "23, the demultiplication section 14 stores in the image memory 15 the data of the still image, which has been admitted from the MPEG processing section 16 and which consists of the luminance data and the color difference data. Under control of the CPU 23, likewise, the section 14 sends the data of the motionless image to the data conversion section 13. Controlled by the control signal from the CPU 23, the MPEG processing section 16 performs a process that works according to MPEG of decoding the data of the supplied film of the demultiplication section 14, generating the data of the non-compressed film. The data of the uncompressed film, generated in this way, is sent to the NTSC coding section 18. That is, the MPEG processing section 16 converts each of the frames making up the film to the image data consisting of the Article of the luminance data (Y) and the data items in the color difference (Cr, Cb). (Next, this image data will be called the "YCC image data"). In the conversion process, the MPEG processing section 16 uses the decoding memory 17 as a work storage area. Namely, the data items of the movie or frames, which are to be decoded, are stored in the decoding memory 17. The MPEG processing section 16 generates the data of the YCC image, wherein the luminance data item And, the article of the color difference data Cr and the article of the color difference data Cb have a sampling frequency ratio of 4: 2: 2. In other words, the data of the YCC image has a pixel format, wherein the magnitude of each of the articles of the color difference data is half the magnitude of the article of the luminance data Y, both in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction. In addition, the MPEG processing section 16 generates the data of the YCC image by reducing the magnitude of the color difference data items Cr and Cb to half the magnitude of the luminance data item Y both in the vertical direction and in the vertical direction. the horizontal direction. The data of the YCC image therefore has a pixel format of 4: 2: 0 if each line numbered with odd numbers does not contain the article of the color difference data Cb. If each line with even numbers does not contain the article of the color difference data Cr, the data of the YCC image has a pixel format of 4: 0: 2. The format of 4: 2: 0 will be referred to below as the format representative. The MPEG 16 processing section can generate not only the data of the YCC image which has the pixel format of 4: 2: 2 or 4: 2: 0, but also the data of the YCC image which has the pixel format of 4: 4: 4 where neither the article of color difference data Cr nor the article of color difference data Cb is reduced in magnitude.

Controlled by the supplied control signal of the CPU 23, which represents the compression ratio and the like, the MPEG processing section 16 carries out a coding process that works according to MPEG in the data of the film supplied from the section NTSC encoding 18. The data of the film is compressed in this way both in time and space by generating the data of the compressed film. The data of the compressed film is sent to the demultiplication section 14. In this process, the MPEG processing section 16 stores the data of the film in the decoding memory 17, in units of frames to be encoded. The NTSC encoding section 18 encodes the data of the admitted movie from the MPEG processing section 16, generating the data of the NTSC movie that can be presented by the television receiver 4. The data of the NTSC movie is sent from the receiver of the NTSC. television 4. The presentation control section 19 processes the image of the NTSC movie supplied from the NTSC encoding section 18, thereby causing the television receiver 4 to present the image of the NTSC movie. When necessary, the presentation control section 19 stores the data that is going to - processed by section 18, towards the display memory 20. More specifically, the display control section 19 performs a control operation, thereby changing the image size to an NTSC image size defined by 720 x 480 pixels or an HD image size (High Definition) defined by 1920 x 1080 pixels. During this time, the presentation control section 19 uses either the 16 bit information used in the pixel format of 4: 2: 2, ie the sampling ratio of the article Y of the luminance data, the article Cr of the . color difference data and the Cd article of the color difference data, or the information used in the pixel format of 4: 2: 0, that is, the sampling ratio of the article Y of the luminance data, the article Cr of color difference data and the color difference data item Cb. The data of the film processed in this way is sent to the television receiver 4. In addition, the presentation control section 19 can generate the image data of another type of image data shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 6, the data of the image of this type defines an image size (pixel_x, pixel_y), a scanning mode (interlaced / progressive), a pixel format, an elongation ratio of the screen, an elongation ratio of the pixel and a size of the image. In the data of the image of Figure 6, the pixel_y can be of 720 pixels, the format of the image can be 4: 2: 2 and the ratio of elongation of the screen is of 16: 9, which defines a type of image of 720_422_16 x 9. The presentation control section 19 can generate the image data of the type 720_422_16 x 9 and the image data of the type 720_420_16 x 9, likewise, both used in digital television broadcasting in the States United. In addition, the presentation control section 19 can generate the image data of the type 576_422_4 x 3 and the image data of the type 522_420_4 x 3, which are image types of the P7AL system (Alternation of Phase by Line). The operation input section 21 generates and an operation input signal and sends it to the CPU 23 when the user operates a button which is provided in STB 3. More precisely, the section 21 generates a signal of operation input that stops the image that the television receiver 4 is presenting and causes the printing apparatus 5 to print the still image identical to that film. In response to the operation input signal supplied from the operation input section 21, the CPU 23 generates a control signal that controls the components of STB 3. To make the television receiver 4 present the image represented by the signal of video that has received antenna 2, the CPU 23 supplies the control signal to the demodulation section-11, the decoding section 12, the data conversion section 13, the demultiplication section 14 and the MPEG processing section 16. The control signals control the sections 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16, whereby the data of the film is demodulated and decrypted, the channel is selected for the data, and the data is decoded in accordance with the MPEG standards. To acquire a picture or image of the film in the form of the image data of the still image, in response to the operation input signal from the operation input section 21, the CPU 23 generates a control signal. The control signal causes the image memory 15 to store the immobile image data that has been stored in the display 20 at the time the operation input signal is supported. In addition, the CPU 23 controls the data conversion section 13 and the demultiplication section 14 during receipt of the operation input signal which - 2 - instructs the printing apparatus 5 to print the image represented by the immobile image data. The data of the immobile image stored in the memory of the image 15, which is the data of the YCC image consisting of an article Y of the luminance image and the items Cr and Cb of the color difference data, is sent from this way to the printing apparatus 5 through the data conversion section 13 which is an interface circuit operating in accordance with IEEE 1394. In order to transmit the immobile image data to the printing apparatus 5, the conversion section of the data 13 transmits, under the control of CPU 23, the asynchronous packet 100 containing this capture command as shown in Figure 7 after the subunit ID shown in Figure 4. The capture command which designates the receipt of the data of the still image is transmitted in this way to the printing apparatus 5. As shown in Figure 7, the capture command contains an operation code (opeccode), which is a capture command (CAPTURE) represented as a hexadecimal value XX? 6. Contained in the capture command, after the operation code are the operands [0] to [32]. The operand [0] is a subfunction. The operand [1] consists of five upper bits that define a subunit_type source and three lower bits that define the - 0 source of the_ID subunit. The operand [2] is a plug_source. The operand [3] is a current state. The operand [4] is a dest plug. The operands [5] to [16] define print_work_ID. The operands [17] to [20] define data_size. The operands [21] and [22] define image_size_x. The operands [23] and [24] define image_size_y. The operands [25] and [26] is the specifier of the image_format. The operands [27] to [29] define "reserved". The operand [30] is the Next image. The operands [31] and [32] define Next page. The type_subununity source is the data that represents the type of subunit that is provided in STB 3 and that transmits the asynchronous packet 100. The subunit of source_ID is the ID of the subunit that transmits the asynchronous packet 100. The source plug is the number of the plug assigned to the subunit that transmits the asynchronous packets. Dest_enchufe is the number of the plug assigned to the subunit that receives the asynchronous package 100. Print_work_ID is the ID of the job to print a motionless image. The data_size represents the amount of the data that is transmitted from STB 3 to the printing apparatus 5 to print the immobile image. Image_size_x describes the number of pixels placed in the x direction, which corresponds to the type of image shown in Figure 6.

- Image_size_and describes the number of pixels placed in the y-direction, which corresponds to the type of image. Imagen_formato_especificador is the name of the type of the image. The data consisting of any desired number of bits is reserved and is used to multiply the number of bits that constitute the capture command by a multiple of 4. Once "reserve" is set, the package that works according to IEEE 1394 can be transmitted in data units each composed of an appropriate number of bits. As shown in Figure 8, image_specifier_format contains the name of the image type represented as a hexadecimal value. "Plump" is the name of the type of the image that designates an immobile image that is transmitted, one point after the other, from the data conversion section 13 to the printing apparatus 5. "Lining" is the name of the type of the image which designates the data of the immobile image that is transmitted, one line after another line, from the data conversion section 13 to the printing apparatus 5. Image_specifier_format may contain the name of an image type that is represented as the hexadecimal value ( Value, Sub-value) as shown in Figure 9 and that does not contain information about the number of pixels, unlike the type of image shown in Figure 8. If this is the case, the number of pixels printed by the printing apparatus 5 is defined by x_size_size described in the operands [21] and [22] and the size_size and described in the operands [23] and [24]. If the most significant bit of the image_format_specifier describes a hexadecimal value "00" (implying: untreated sRGB), it indicates that the data of the image should be transmitted as the RGB data to the printing apparatus 5. If the most significant bit and the least significant bit of the format specifier of the image describes a hexadecimal value "00" and a hexadecimal value "00" (Type: untreated sRGB), respectively, indicate that the RGB data should be transmitted in the order of: R, G, B, R, G, B. If the least significant bit of the specifier of the image format describes a hexadecimal value "00" and the hexadecimal value "01" (Type: untreated sRGB, quadruple), it indicates that the RGB data must to be transmitted, in the order of: R, G, B, O, R, G, B, 0, ... That is, if the most significant bit describes "00", the data "00" is transmitted after B and before R, a 4-byte RGB data consisting of R, G, B and 0 will be transmitted as a unit of the data. Furthermore, if the most significant bit of the image_format_specifier describes a hexadecimal value "01" (implying: YCC not treated), it indicates that the data of the image must be transmitted with the YCC data to the printing apparatus 5. If the most significant bit and the least significant bit of the image format specifier describe a hexadecimal value "01" and a hexadecimal value "OX" (X is an undefined number) (Type: YCC4: 2: 2 untreated / pixel), respectively, indicate that the data of the pixel format of 4: 2: 2 must be transmitted, one point after another (stubby). If the least significant bit describes a hexagonal value "IX" (Type: YCC4: 2: 2 untreated / line), it means that the data of the pixel format of 4: 2: 2 must be transmitted, one line after another (cover) . If the least significant bit describes an "8X" hexadecimal value (Type: YCC4: 2: 2 untreated / stubby), it means that the data of the pixel format, where the article Y, of the luminance data, the article Cr of the The color difference data and the Cb item of the color difference data have a sampling frequency ratio of 4: 2: 0 and must be transmitted, one point after the other. If the least significant bit describes a hexadecimal value "9X" (Type: YCC4: 2: 0 untreated / line), it means that the data of the pixel format of 4: 2: 0 must be transmitted, one line after the other ( cover) . The most significant bit and the least significant bit of the spec_format_image can describe a hexadecimal value "01" (meaning: YCC untreated) and any of the hexadecimal values "XO" to "XC", respectively. In this case, a pixel ratio (pixel ratio 1.00 x 1.00, pixel ratio 1.19 x 1.00 or pixel ratio 0.89 x 1.00), a color space ITU-R (Radiocommunication Sector-International Telecommunication Union) BT.709 -2, ITU-RBT .601-4 or ITU-R BT.1203, and the sequence of point (stubby) or line sequence (lining) will be designated, transmitting in this way the data of the image. If the least significant bit of the image format specifier describes any of the hexadecimal values "X0" to "X4", it means that the data of the interlaced image must be transmitted. If the least significant bit describes any of the hexadecimal values "X8" to "XC", it means that the data of the progressive image must be transmitted. If the least significant bit describes any of the hexadecimal values "X0" to "X2" and "X8" to "XA", it means that the data that works according to ITU-R BT.709-2 must be transmitted. If the least significant bit describes "X2" or "XB", it means that the data that works according to ITU-R BT.601-4 must be transmitted. If the least significant bit describes "X4" or "XC", it means that the data that works according to ITU-R-BT.1203 (PAL system) must be transmitted.

- If the most significant bit of image_specifier_format describes a hexadecimal value "10" (meaning: DCF object), it means that the data of the image must be transmitted to the printing apparatus 5 in the format (DCF: design rule for camera format) designated through the digital camera. If the most significant data and the least significant data of the image format specifier describe a hexadecimal value "10" and a hexadecimal value "00" (Type: Exif2.1), respectively, they mean that the data of the Exif type of the interlaced image must be transmitted, whose part of image contains a head of the JPEG type that represents the condition of photographing and the like. If the least significant bit describes hexadecimal values "01" (Type: JFIF (JPEG File Interplay Format), it means that the data of type JFIF must be transmitted to the printing apparatus 5. If the least significant bit describes hexadecimal values "02" ( Type: TIFF (File Format of the Label Image), means that the data of type TIFF must be transmitted to the printing apparatus 5. If the least significant bit describes "OF" (Type JPEG (Group of Joint Photographic Coding Experts)) , means that the JPEG type data must be transmitted to the printing apparatus 5.

In addition, if the most significant bit of the image_format_specifier describes any of the hexadecimal values "80" to "8F", it means that the data must be transmitted in any format other than those previously mentioned. In this case, the data is transmitted in the format designated by any of the hexadecimal values "00" to "FF". A hexadecimal value "FE" (Meaning: Special Meaning) can be set in the most significant bit of the image format specifier and either a hexadecimal value "00" (Type: Unity Plug defined) or a hexadecimal value of " 01"(It does not matter) can be adjusted in the least significant bit of the image_format_specifier. The data conversion section 13 transmits the asynchronous packet 100 containing the capture command. After receiving ACK (recognition) from the printing apparatus- 5, section 13 transmits an asynchronous packet 100 containing the data of the immobile image, to the printing apparatus 5. The rule of transmitting the data of the immobile image is shown in Figures 10 to 13. Figure 10 shows the sequence of transmitting. the data of the still image of YCC 4: 2: 2 is - - transmitted the format of the pixel, one point after another (stubby), to the printing apparatus 5. Figure 11 shows the sequence of transmitting the data of the still image of YCC 4: 2: 0 the pixel format is processed, a point after the other (plump), to a printing apparatus 5. Figure 12 shows the sequence of transmitting the data of the stationary image of YCC 4: 2: 2, the format of the pixel is transmitted, one line after another (lining) , to a printing apparatus 5. Figure 13 shows the sequence of transmitting the data of the stationary image of YCC 4: 2: 0, the format of the pixel is transmitted, one line after the other (lining), to a printing apparatus 5. In Figures 10 to 13, Y-i (Lj) indicates that the luminance data Y for the pixel #i contained in the line #j. The value i (used to designate a pixel of the luminance data Y is an integer that varies from 1 to N, while the value j is an integer that varies from 1 to M. Cbj_ (Lj) indicates that the data Cb of the color difference for the pixel #i contained in the line #j The value i used to designate a pixel of the color difference data Cb is 1, 3, 5 ... or Nl, while the value j is an integer that varies from 1 to M for the YCC 4: 2: 2, the pixel format and an integer 1, 3, 5 ... Nl for the pixel format YCC4: 2: 0. Cr-j_ (Lj ) indicates the color difference data Cr for the pixel # i contained in the line # J. The value i used to designate a pixel of the color difference data Cr is 1, 3, 5 ... or Nl, while the value j is an integer that varies from 1 to M for the YCC pixel format 4: 2: 2 and an integer 1, 3, 5 ... Nl for the format of the YCC 4: 2: 0 pixel. N indicates the total number of pixels that exist on a line, M indicates the total number of lines that exist n in a line. The data conversion section 13 transmits the pixel data as will be described with reference to Figure 14, in order to transmit the data of the motionless image contained in the asynchronous packet 100, one point after another (stubby), towards the printing apparatus 5. Note that the type of image of this immobile image data is 480_422_4 x 3 as shown in Figure 8. The still image data represents pixels, of which those placed on a line (x direction) are assign with pixels # 1 to # 720 and those placed in a column (address and) are assigned with lines # 1 to # 480. To be more specific, the data conversion section 13 first transmits an address offset (offset_address) and then the luminance data item Y1 (Ll), the luminance data item Y2 (Ll), the data item of the color difference Cbl (Ll) and the article of color difference data Crl (Ll) related to pixel # 1. Then, section 13 transmits the other pixels # 2 to # 720 contained in line # 1. Then, section 13 transmits the luminance data items and the color difference data items that are related to pixels # 1 to # 720 of line # 480. In this way, the data conversion section 13 ends up transmitting the data representing an immobile image, to the printing apparatus 5. The data conversion section 13 can transmit an immobile image data of the image type of 480_420_4 x 3 as shown in FIG. shown in Figure 15. In this case, the data conversion section 13 transmits the luminance data items Yl (Ll), Y2 (Ll), Yl (L2) and Y2 (L2), all related to the pixel # 1 of line # 1 after it has transmitted an address offset (address offset). Then, section 13 transmits the items of color difference data Cbl (Ll) and Crl (Ll) and the luminance data items Y3 (Ll) and Y4 (Ll), all related to pixel # 1. Then, section 13 transmits the pixel data items that represent the other pixels # 2 to # 720 contained in line # 480. In this way, the data conversion section 13 ends up transmitting the data representing an immobile image to the printing apparatus 5.

The data conversion section 13 can transmit an immobile image data of the image type of 480_422_4 x 3, contained in an asynchronous packet 100, line after another line. For this purpose, the data conversion section 13 transmits the luminance data items Yl (Ll), Y2 (Ll), Y3 (Ll), Y4 (Ll), and Y 720 (Ll), all related to the line # 1, after it has transmitted an address shift (address shift), as illustrated in Figure 16. Then, section 13 transmits the items of color difference data Cbl (Ll), Crl (Ll), Cb720 (Ll) and Cr720 (Ll), all related to line # 0. In addition, section 13 transmits the luminance data items and the color difference data items, related to line # 2 and following, thereby transmitting the item of color difference data Cr720 (L480). The data conversion section 13 then ends transmitting the data representing an immobile image. The data conversion section 13 can transmit a data of the still image of the image type of 480_420_4 x 3, contained in an asynchronous packet 100, line after another line. As shown in Figure 17, the data conversion section 13 transmits luminance data items Yl (Ll) to Y720 (Ll) related to line # 1. Next, the section - - 13 transmits the luminance data items Yl (L2) to Y720 (L2) related to line # 2. In addition, section 13 transmits the color difference data items Cbl (Ll), Crl (Ll), Cb720 (Ll) and Cr719 (Ll), all being related to line # 1. In this way, section 13 transmits the pixel data of lines # 1 and # 12. Then, section 13 transmits the color difference data items related to line # 3 and following, thereby transmitting the items of color difference data Cb 719 (L479) to Cr719 (L479). The data conversion section 13 therefore ends up transmitting the data representing an immobile image. As shown in Figure 2, the printing apparatus 5 comprises a data entry section 31, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 32, a print engine 33, a RAM 34 and a CPU 35. The input section of data 31 receives the data from the still image from STB 3. ROM 32 stores a print control program. The printing engine 33 is designed to print the image data in the printing medium. The CPU 35 controls the other components of the printing apparatus 5. The data entry section 31 comprises, for example, an interface circuit operating in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standards. Under the control of a control signal supplied from the CPU 35, section 31 carries out the processing of the signal that works in accordance with IEEE 1394 in the immobile image data that is contained in the asynchronous packet 100 transmitted from STB 3. To be more specific, the input section of data 31 performs the processes in the transaction layer, the link layer and the physical layer, under the control of a serial bus that operates in accordance with IEEE 1394 standards. The still image contained in the asynchronous packet 1Q0 is thus sent from the input section 31 to the CPU 35. The data input section 31 can be mechanically connected to STB 3 by, for example, an optical cable. In this case, the data conversion section 13 of the STB 3 is connected to the printing apparatus 5 so that the asynchronous packet 100 can be transmitted between the printing apparatus 5 and the data conversion section 13. The printing engine 33 comprises a medium retention / feeding mechanism, a printhead and a printer head drive. The print engine 33 prints the still image on the print medium under the control of the CPU 35. The CPU 35 generates a control signal which controls the data input section 31 and the print engine 33. During this time, the CPU 35 operates in accordance with the print control program stored in the ROM 32 and controls the content of the ROM 32, using a RAM 34 as the work storage area. In this way, the CPU 35 operates in accordance with the print control program by which a sequence of operations is carried out as shown in the flow chart of Figure 18. As shown in Figure 18, in FIG. Step ST1, the data entry section 31 of the printing apparatus 5 receives a package that has been generated that works in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standards. The data entry section 31 performs several processes in the transaction layer, the link layer and the physical layer that works in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standards. In this way, section 31 extracts a data from the immobile image, that is, the YCC image data consisting of the data items of the luminance Y and the items of color difference data Cr and Cb, from the package. In Step ST2, the CPU 35 performs screen downloading so that everything on the screen of the television receiver 4 can be printed.

In the next step, that is, Step ST3, the CPU 35 performs the tracking process on the immobile image data that has been subjected to screen download in Step ST2. That is, the CPU 35 converts the data of the motionless image into the data of the dot image that was transferred to the printing engine 33. In Step ST4, the CPU 35 enlarges or reduces the data of the still image that has been submitted. to the process in Step ST3. More precisely, the CPU 35 changes the size of the still image to be printed, in accordance with the value that the user has designated. In Step ST5, the CPU 35 adjusts the colors for the data of the motionless image that has undergone the enlargement / reduction process performed in Step ST4. The data of the still image consisting of the items of the luminance data and the articles of the color difference data is thus converted into the printing data consisting of the items of the data R (Red), G (Green ) B (Blue). A pixel value for which the color space is designated in the Y format (ITU-R, BT.601-4) and a pixel value for which the color space is designated by RGB have the relationship described then : Y'dOlYCC = 0-299 * R'RGB + 0.587 * G'RGB + 0.144 * B'RGB Crt6oiYCC = 0-7l3 R, RGB -? '601YCC) = 0-500 * R, RGB -0.419 * G, RGB -0.081 * B, RGB Cbr601YCC = 0.564 * (B'RGB - Y'dOlYCC) = 0.169 * R'RGB -0.331 * G'RGB + 0.500 + B'RGB These equations can be expressed as follows, in an annotation of 8 bit: Y'dOlYCC Sbit = (219.0 * Y'601YC) + 16.0 Cb'60lYCC_8bit = (224.0 * Cb'60i? Cc) + 128.0 Cr'601YCC_8bit = (224.0 * Cr'60? Ycc) + 128.0 The value of 8 bit is transmitted as the image data from STB 3 to the printing apparatus 5. In Step ST5, the 8 bit YCC value becomes the RGB data. A pixel value for which a color space is designated in the Y format (ITU-R, BT.709-2) and a pixel value for which the color space is designated by RGB have the relationship to be described below: Y'709YCC = 0.2126 * R'RGB + 0.7152 * G'RGB + 0.0722 * B'RGB Cb'709YCC = 0.5389 * (B'RGB - Y'709YCC) Cr'709YCC = 0.6350 * (R'RGB - Y'709YCC) These equations are expressed as follows, in an 8-bit annotation: Y'709YCC_8bit = (219.0 * Y'7o9YC> + 16- ° Cb'709YCC 8bit = (224.0 * Cb '709YCC) + 1 8.0 Cr'709YCC_8bit = (224.0 * Cr '709? CC) + 128.0 The 8-bit value is transmitted as the image data from STB 3 to the printing apparatus 5. In step ST5, the YCC value of 8-bit becomes the RGB data In step ST6, the CPU 35 adjusts the print data consisting of the R, G and B data items adjusted in terms of color to the cyano, magenta and yellow data items. relation of the articles of cyan, magenta and amari data For each point, it is determined in this way. Then, the process is carried out in Step ST7. In Step ST8, the CPU 35 sends the print data submitted to the dither process in Step ST7, to the print engine 33. The print engine 33 is driven, printing the motionless image on a printing medium. The manner in which the CPU 23 operates to cause the printing apparatus 5 to print the image represented by the image data received by STB 3 in the image printing system 1 described above will be described, with reference to Figures 19 and 20. As shown in the flow graph of the Figure 20, in Step ST11, the CPU 23 of STB 3 receives an operation input signal generated as the - - user presses a button in STB 3 to freeze the movie presented by the television set 4. In response to the operation input signal, the CPU 23 controls the presentation control section 19, which causes the NTSC encoding section 18 to stop sending the SI movie data (FIG. 19) to the receiver. 4. As a result, the television receiver 4 presents an immobile image. In the next step, that is, Step ST12, the CPU 35 selects the data of the still image representing the frame that is presenting the television receiver 4. When an operation input signal is admitted giving instructions to the printing apparatus 5 to print the image stationary, the CPU 23 controls the presentation control section 19, the MPEG processing section 16 and the demultiplication section 14 so that the immobile image data (ie, the frame data) stored in the presentation memory 20 can be read in the image memory 15. In other words, the CPU 23 stores the data of the motionless image consisting of an article Y of the luminance data and the data items Cr and Cb of color difference to the memory 15. In Step ST13, the CPU 35 controls the data conversion section 13, whereby STB 3 and the apparatus - printer are connected in a mode that works in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standards. That is, upon receipt of a control signal supplied by the CPU 23 to connect STB 3 and the printing apparatus 5, the data conversion section 13 generates a control packet, thereby confirming that a plug is provided between the section 13 and the data input section 31 of the printing apparatus 5. During this time, the data conversion section 13 transmits a control packet (S2) containing the data representing the transmission receiver plug to the data input section 31. The data input section 31 recognizes the data representing the transmitter plug and transmits a control pack S2 containing the data representing a plug receiver that achieves the asynchronous connection with the data conversion section 13. The data conversion section 13 recognizes the data representing the receiving socket of the data entry section 31 inco printed on the printing apparatus 5. On the other hand, the data entry section 31 recognizes the transmitter plug of the data conversion section 13 that is provided in STB 3. In the next step, ie, Step ST14, the CPU 23 requests data items that represent the size, address, position and number of copies, in the - - still image to be printed by the printing apparatus 5. In Step ST15, the CPU 23 controls the demultiplexing section 14 and the sequence of operations is carried out so that the immobile image data can be sent to the printing apparatus 5. In this way, the controlled data conversion section 13 and the demultiplexing section 14 cooperate, generating a data packet (S2) containing the data of the immobile image stored in the image memory 15. The data (S2) is transmitted from the STB 3 to the printing apparatus 5. The printing apparatus 5 receives a plurality of data packets, each containing the data representing the receiving plug. If the apparatus 5 determines from this data packet that it has received all the data of the still image, print the image represented by the data of the immobile image in the designated size, as the CPU 35 carries out the sequence of operations shown in Figure 18. The manner in which the printing apparatus 5 prints the still image will be described as the asynchronous package 100 is transferred between the STB 3 and the printing apparatus 5, with reference to Figure 21.

- As may be understood from Figure 21, the data conversion section 13 has a job of transmitting a command pack (WORK_FILT) Sil to the printing apparatus 5 before the processing data so that the printing apparatus 5 can print an immobile image. Then, the data conversion section 13 receives an answer S12 indicating that the apparatus 5 has received the command pack Sil. The data conversion section 13 transmits a control pack S13 to the printing apparatus 5. This control pack S13 designates the type and size of the printing sheet in which the printing apparatus 5 will print the immobile image. The package S13 designates the quality, the color (monochrome / color) and position, likewise, where the apparatus 5 will print the immobile image. The data conversion section 13 receives an answer S14 indicating that the printing apparatus 5 has received the control pack S13. The data conversion section 13 establishes a socket for transmitting the data of the immobile image to the data entry section 31. More precisely, the STB 3 transmits a control package S15 containing an ASSIGN command, to the section data input 31 of the printing apparatus 5. The STB 3 receives an S16 response indicating that the control pack S15 has been received by section 31. The data conversion section 13 establishes a socket for transmitting a data packet containing the data representing the still image to be printed by the printing apparatus 5. The section 13 transmits a control pack S17 to the printing apparatus 5, and receives a answer S18 showing that the printing apparatus 5 has received the command package S17. Next, the data conversion section 13 transmits a command pack S19 containing a capture command to the data entry section 31. The command pack S19 contains the data (plug_source) that designates the transmitter plug that is provided in the data conversion section 13 Upon receipt of the command pack S19, the data entry section 31 recognizes that the transmitter plug provided in section 13. The data entry section 31 transmits an S20 packet, which contains the data to establish an oAPR (Register of the Output Asynchronous Port), to the data conversion section 13. Note that the S20 packet contains the data (dest_enchufe) representing the receiver plug that is incorporated in the data entry section 31. The data entry section 31 transmits an S20 packet containing the data indicating the receiver socket that - has acknowledged the receipt of command package S19. The data conversion section 13 recognizes that the receiver socket provided in the data entry section 31. The data conversion section 13 transmits a data packet S21 to the data entry section 31. The data pack S21 contains the data of the immobile image that represents a YCC image. The data conversion section 13 divides the image of the motionless image into data items that are identical in quantity. The data items are transmitted to the data entry section 31 in the form of data packets S21. The data conversion section 13 transmits a control pack S22 to the data entry section 31.

This command package S22 contains the data about iAPR (Input Asynchronous Port Register), that is, the flow control register provided in the transmitter jack. Then, the data entry section 31 transmits an answer packet S23 to the data conversion section 13, informing section 13 that it has received the capture command. When the data conversion section 13 receives the response packet S23, it transmits a packet of - command S24 containing a SEPARATION command to disconnect the printing apparatus 5 from the STB 3. In addition, the section 13 receives an answer pack S25 from the data entry section 31. The data conversion section 13 transmits a command packet S25 containing a RELEASE command, to the data entry section 31. The section 13 receives an answer pack S26 from the data entry section 31. Next, the data conversion section 13 transmits a command pack (JOB ROW) S28 to the data entry section 31. The command packet S28 indicates that the sequence representing the job of printing the still image has been completed. The data conversion section 13 then receives an answer packet S29 from the data entry section 31. The image printing system 1 described above comprises the STB 3 which has a data conversion section that works according to IEEE 1394 and the printing apparatus 5 having a data entry section 31. The data of the still image stored in the STB 3 can therefore be transferred to the printing apparatus 5, as the data contained in the package asynchronous 100 that works in accordance with IEEE 1394. Therefore, the printing apparatus can print the still image - - represented by the data of the immobile image transferred in this way. This is due to the high-speed transmission of the digital data in the image printing system 1. In the image printing system 1, the data of the digital still image can be transmitted from the data conversion section 13 provided in the STB 3 to the data entry section 31 incorporated in the printing apparatus 5. No deterioration of the signal occurs during transmission. The printing apparatus 5 can therefore prevent a fine image. In addition, the printing apparatus 5 (Figure 19) incorporated in the image printing system 1 can adjust the image data in terms of color. In this way, a frame representing an immobile image is extracted from the data of the film representing the image presented by, for example, the television receiver 4 and consisting of an article of the luminance data and the articles of the color difference data. The frame, that is, the data of the immobile image, is transmitted, contained in the asynchronous package 100 to the printing apparatus 5. The apparatus 5 prints the immobile image represented by the data of the immobile image. In this way, the data processing carried out in STB 3, that is, the processing of the data of the image to be transmitted to the printing apparatus 5, can be done in a simple manner. In the above description, of the image printing system 1, the immobile image data that is not included, is transmitted from the STB 3 to the printing apparatus 5, as the data contained in the asynchronous package 100. Alternatively, the data can be compressed into a JPEG type data in the MPEG 16 processing section, to be contained in the asynchronous packet 100 and then transmitted. In this case, the amount of the data transferred in the image printing section 1 can be reduced, achieving data transmission and image printing at a still higher speed. In the foregoing description of the image printing system 1, the STB 3 and the printing apparatus 5 comprise in the conversion section 13 and the data entry section 31, respectively, which are the interfaces that work in accordance with IEEE 1394 However, the data conversion section 13 and the data conversion section 31 can be replaced by interfaces of any other type, such as USB interface circuits. If STB 3 and the printing apparatus 5 have USB interfaces, the packets can be transferred between STB 3 and the printing apparatus 5 in a transmission project - of digital data. This allows the printing apparatus 5 to print fine images of high quality. In addition, programs using STB 3 and the printing apparatus 5 for processing the image data may be provided in the form of a storage medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk. If this is the case, the STB 3 and the printing apparatus 5 can process the image data, once the programs stored in the storage medium are installed in STB 3, the printing apparatus 5 or the computer.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described in detail, the data of the generated image is contained in a package that works according to the predetermined digital serial bus system, and the package is sent to the printing apparatus, in the image printing apparatus and the method according to this invention. In this way, the image data can be sent in the form of digital data.

The printing apparatus can print an image as high as the images presented on the screens of television receivers. In addition, the output of the package to the printing apparatus contains a capture command and the image type data in the image printing apparatus - and the method according to the present invention. Therefore, the amount of the data that must be transmitted to and received from the printing apparatus decreases, thereby reducing the load of the data transfer. In the printing apparatus and the method according to this invention, the image data is admitted which is contained in a package that operates in accordance with the predetermined digital series bus bar system. Therefore, the image data can be admitted, as a digital data, from an image processing apparatus. The printing apparatus can therefore print an image in a cavity as high as the images presented on the screens of the television receivers. In addition, the output of the package to the printing apparatus contains a capture command and the image type data in the image printing apparatus and the method according to the present invention. In this way, the amount of the data that must be transmitted to and received from the printing apparatus decreases, thereby reducing the data transfer load. In the image printing system and the image printing method according to the present invention, the data of the generated image is contained in a package that operates according to a predetermined digital series bus bar system, and the package it is transferred between the image processing apparatus and the printing apparatus. In this way, the printing apparatus can print an image in an amount as high as the images presented on the screens of the television receivers. In addition, since the package contains a capture command and the image type data, the amount of the data that must be transmitted to and received from the recording apparatus decreases of course, thereby reducing the load of the data transfer. . A storage medium according to the invention stores a program for sending to a printing apparatus a package operating in accordance with a predetermined digital series bus bar system and containing the generated image data. If an image processing apparatus uses the program, it can send a digital image data to the printing apparatus. Therefore, the printing apparatus can print the image represented by the data of the digital image in a quality as high as the images that are presented, for example, on the screens of the television receivers. In addition, the amount of data that must be transmitted to and received from the printing apparatus decreases if the program is used.

This is because the program is designed to send to the printing apparatus a package containing a capture command and the image type data. This reduces the transfer load of the data. Another storage means according to the invention stores a program for sending a package that works according to a predetermined digital series bus bar system and that contains the generated image data. If the image processing device uses the program, you can send the data of the digital image to the printing device. Therefore, the printing apparatus can print the image represented by the data of the digital image, in a quality as high as the images presented, for example, the screens of the television receivers. In addition, the amount of data that must be transferred between the image processing apparatus and the storage medium decreases, if the program is used. This is because the program is designed to send a packet containing a capture command and the image type data. The load of the transfer of the data is therefore reduced.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An image processing apparatus comprising: an image processing means for processing an input image signal externally, in order to generate the image data; and a means of outputting images to send a package to a printing apparatus, the package operating in accordance with a predetermined digital series bus bar system and containing the image data generated by the image processing means, wherein the image output means sends the packet, after inserting, in the packet, a capture command that designates the transmission of the immobile image data generated from the image data, and which describes, in the capture command, the data of the type of image representing an immobile image data format.

The image processing apparatus comprising in accordance with claim 1, wherein the image output means sends the packet to the printing apparatus, after inserting the luminance data and the color difference data in the packet. 1

3. The image processing apparatus comprising in accordance with claim 1, wherein the package operates in accordance with the predetermined digital series bus bar system which is one that operates in accordance with IEEE 1394 standards (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).

The image processing apparatus comprising in accordance with claim 3, wherein the packet is one that achieves asynchronous communication in which the commands are transmitted using FCP (Function Control Protocol).

5. An image processing method comprising the steps of: processing an input image signal externally, in order to generate the image data; insert the data of the image generated in a package that works according to a predetermined digital series bus bar system; inserting, in the package, a capture command that designates the transmission of the immobile image data generated from the image data, and describing, in the capture command, the data of the type of image representing a data format of the still image; and send the package to a printer.

6. The image processing method according to claim 5, wherein the image data composed of the luminance data and the color difference data are inserted into the package before the package is sent to the printing apparatus.

The method of image processing according to claim 5, wherein the package operating according to the predetermined digital series bus bar system is one that complies with the IEEE 1394 standards (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).

The method of image processing according to claim 7, wherein the packet is one that achieves asynchronous communication wherein the commands are transmitted using FCP (Function Control Protocol).

9. A printing apparatus comprising: an image input means for receiving the image data of a prescribed format, which is contained in a package that operates in accordance with a predetermined digital series bus bar system; an image conversion means for converting the format of the input of the image data into the image input means in a format for printing; Y - a printing means for printing the image data of the immobile image based on the image data of the converted format by the image conversion means, wherein the package containing a capture command designating the transmission of the image data motionless, and the data of the type of image representing the data format of the still image is described in the capture command, and wherein the image conversion means converts the format according to the data of the type of image described in FIG. the capture command.

10. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image input means admits the data of the composite image of the luminance data and the color difference data, and the image conversion means converts the data of the composite image of the luminance data of the difference data. of color, in the image data of the format for printing.

The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the package operating in accordance with the predetermined digital series bus bar system is one that complies with the IEEE 1394 standards (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) .

12. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the packet is one that achieves asynchronous communication wherein the commands are transmitted using FCP (Function Control Protocol).

A printing method comprising the steps of: receiving a package that operates according to a predetermined digital serial bus system and that contains the image data and a capture command that designates the transmission of the image data immobile based on the image data; converting the format of the received image data into a format for printing, in accordance with the data of the type of image described in the capture command and representing the format of the received immobile image data; And print the image data of the still image based on the image data of the converted format.

The printing method according to claim 13, wherein the data of the composite image of the luminance data and the color difference data is received and converted into the image data of the format for printing. -

15. The printing method according to claim 13, wherein the package operating in accordance with the predetermined digital series bus bar system is one that operates in accordance with IEEE 1394 standards (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).

The printing method according to claim 15, wherein the packet is one that achieves asynchronous communication in which the commands are transmitted using FCP (Function Control Protocol).

An image printing system comprising: an image processing apparatus comprising the image processing means for processing an input image signal externally, to thereby generate the image data, and a means of image output for sending a package to a printing apparatus, the package operating in accordance with a predetermined digital series bus bar system and containing the data of the image generated by the image processing means, wherein the The image output sends the packet, after inserting, towards the packet, a capture command that designates the transmission of the immobile image data generated from the image data, and which describes, in the capture command, the data of type of image that represents a format of the immobile image data; and a printing apparatus comprising an image input means for receiving the image data of a prescribed format, which is contained in a package operating in accordance with a predetermined digital series bus bar system, a conversion means for converting the format of the data of the admitted image into the image input means into a format for printing, and a printing medium for printing the image data of the still image based on the image data of the format converted by the image conversion means, wherein the image conversion means converts the format in accordance with the image type data described in the capture command.

18. The image printing system according to claim 17, wherein the image output means of the image processing apparatus sends the package to the printing apparatus, after inserting the luminance data and the color difference data. inside the package, the image input means of the printing apparatus admits the data of the composite image of the luminance data and the color difference data, and wherein the image conversion means of the printing apparatus converts the image data composed of the luminance data and the color difference data, in an image data of the format for printing.

19. The image printing system according to claim 17, wherein the package operating in accordance with a predetermined digital series bus bar system is one that operates in accordance with IEEE 1394 standards (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).

20. The image printing system according to claim 19, where the packet is one that achieves asynchronous communication where the commands are transmitted using FCP (Function Control Protocol).

21. An image printing method comprising the steps of: processing an input image signal externally, in order to generate the image data; insert the data of the generated image, in a package that works according to a predetermined digital series bus bar system; inserting, in the package, a capture command that designates the transmission of the immobile image data generated from the image data, and describing, in the capture command, the image type data representing a data format of the still image; transmit the package; receive the package that works according to the system of digital series bus bar predetermined and that contains the data of LaJmaagen and the command of capture; converting the format of the received image data into a format for printing, in accordance with the image type data described in the capture command and representing the data format of the received immobile image; and printing the image data of the still image based on the image data of the converted format.

22. The image printing method according to claim 21, wherein the data of the composite image of the luminance data and the color difference data is inserted into the package and the package is then sent, the data of the composite image of the luminance data and the color difference data is received, and the data of the composite image of the luminance data and the difference color data is converted into a format for printing.

23. The image printing method according to claim 21, wherein the package - which works in accordance with the predetermined digital series bus bar system is one that operates in accordance with IEEE 1394 standards (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).

The image printing method according to claim 21, wherein the packet is one that achieves asynchronous communication in which the commands are transmitted using FCP (Function Control Protocol).

25. A storage medium that stores an image processing program that describes the steps of: processing an input image signal externally, in order to generate the image data; insert the data of the generated image, in a package that works according to a predetermined digital series bus bar system; inserting, in the package, a capture command that designates the transmission of the immobile image data generated from the image data and describing, in the capture control, the data of the type of image representing a format of the image data still; and send the package to a printer.

26. A storage medium that stores an image processing program that describes the steps of: receiving a package that operates in accordance with a predetermined digital serial bus system and that contains the image data and the capture command; converting the data form of the received image into a format for printing in accordance with the data of the type of image described in the capture command and representing the format of the immobile image data received; and printing the image data of the still image based on the image data of the converted format.