JP2004314607A - Printing device and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device which gives a priority to the processing speed over the image quality and forms printing data when printing an image which does not require high quality even if it is not clearly indicated. <P>SOLUTION: The device is composed of a priority order decision section 203, print data formation section 204, and printing section 205. The priority order decision section 203 determines which has a priority between the image quality when printed and the processing speed of the image data, based on the print contents descriptive data including layout instruction information of the image to be printed. The print data formation section 204 forms print data including an image, based on the print contents descriptive data, decision made by the priority order decision section 203, and the image data. The printing section 205 prints the print data formed by the print data formation section 204. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method for printing image data obtained by a digital camera or the like.

  Conventionally, when printing image data obtained by a digital camera on a home printer, a user transfers the image data to a personal computer (PC), selects an image to be printed by using an application of the PC, After processing, the image data is sent from the PC to the printer, and the image data is printed.

  However, with the spread of digital cameras in recent years, systems capable of printing more easily have been considered. For example, a system in which a digital camera and a printer are directly connected without using a PC, image data obtained by the digital camera is directly transmitted to the printer, and the printer prints image data directly transmitted from the digital camera. It is. In such a system (generally called a direct print system), an image to be printed, which is mounted on a digital camera or a printer, is displayed so that a user can easily select an image to be printed. A liquid crystal screen is used. Also, a method is used in which a printer creates an index print in which a plurality of thumbnail images are arranged as shown in FIG. In this case, the user views the index print and selects an image to be printed. FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of print data of an index print image. By the way, most of the image data obtained by the digital camera is an Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) format file that includes the image data of the main image and the image data of the thumbnail image having a lower resolution than the main image in one file. Yes, when creating an index print, the printer acquires only the image data of the thumbnail image of the Exif file. Since the amount of image data of the thumbnail image is smaller than the image data of the main image, the time required for creating an index print can be reduced by obtaining only the image data of the thumbnail image by the printer (thumbnail image). (For example, see Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, as another mode for easily enjoying an image based on image data obtained by a digital camera, there is a mode in which an image is displayed on a television display in a home. For example, some recent digital televisions have a memory card slot, and when a memory card storing image data obtained by a digital camera is inserted into the memory card slot, the digital television is The image data recorded on the card is read, and an image based on the image data is displayed on a display.

  An application that handles image data obtained by a digital camera is built in an AV (Audio-Visual) device such as a digital television. Then, a system is considered in which an AV device and a printer are directly connected to print image data based on print content description data generated by an application in the AV device. In a non-PC print system that uses an AV device other than a digital camera and a PC (hereinafter, referred to as a “host device”) as a host, the host device uses resources such as a memory for generating print data such as a PC. And the operating system (OS) of the host device differs from company to company. Therefore, it is difficult to incorporate a plurality of printer drivers corresponding to each printer into the host device.

Therefore, in the non-PC print system, the host device that instructs printing only generates print content description data using a description language that can be interpreted by the printer, but does not generate print data as in a normal PC printer driver. . The printer interprets the print content description data and generates print data. That is, the host device generates print content description data in a text format as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3A, and the printer prints a bit image as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 based on the print content description data. Generate data. In such a non-PC print system, the printer detects the location (file path) of image data (FIGS. 3B and 3C) necessary for printing and actively acquires the image data. FIGS. 2 and 3A are diagrams illustrating an example of print content description data, and FIGS. 3B and 3C are diagrams illustrating an example of image data, and FIGS. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of print data of a bit image. Further, the print content description data means data described in a print content description language.
JP 2001-197406 A

  In a direct print system in which a printer prints image data directly transferred from a digital camera, as described above, when creating an index print, the printer generates image data of a thumbnail image of an Exif file obtained by the digital camera. Use only. As described above, since the printer uses the image data of the thumbnail image instead of the image data of the main image, the time required to complete the printing of the index print is shorter than when the image data of the main image is used.

  On the other hand, in the non-PC print system, as described above, the application of the host device generates the print content description data. When creating an index print, an application generates print content description data for index print using a description language that can be interpreted by a printer. That is, print content description data indicating that a plurality of images are printed in an arranged state is generated. Then, the host device transmits the print content description data for index printing to the printer.

  However, the printer that has received the print content description data indicating that such a plurality of images are to be printed in an arrayed state is explicitly indicated as being print content description data for index printing. If not, the same processing as in normal photo printing is performed. That is, the printer does not acquire the image data of the thumbnail image of the Exif file, but acquires the image data of the main image from the host device. Further, if the printer has a high image quality processing function, the image quality processing is performed on the image data as usual. As described above, since the printer acquires many image data of the main image having a very large data amount and performs the high-quality processing if the printer has a high-quality processing function, the printing of the index print is completed. It takes a lot of time to complete.

  The general purpose of performing index printing is to obtain a list display of a plurality of images, and it is often sufficient to know what is shown or what its file name is. That is, high quality printing such as ordinary photo printing is not so required. Therefore, for the print content description data for index print generated by the application of the host device, if the print process for index print, which is different from the normal photo print process, is performed, the print time can be reduced.

  For that purpose, it is only necessary to know that the print content description data transmitted by the host device is the print content description data for index printing. As a method of realizing this, a method of transmitting a command indicating that the host device has transmitted the print content description data for index printing to the printer can be considered. However, in such a case, the host device and the printer must be able to understand such a command in common. If the host device and the printer are of the same maker, each company's own command can be defined and the above-mentioned state can be realized. However, if the host device and the printer are of different manufacturers, To realize the state, it is necessary to standardize the command. Unless the command is standardized, if the print content description data is not explicitly indicated to be for index printing, the printer will use the main image with a very large data amount for all the images displayed in the list. Acquire image data and generate print data. Therefore, it takes a lot of time to print the index print.

  In printing in a non-PC print system, when printing an image other than an index print, the printer acquires image data of a main image having a very large data amount regardless of the number of pixels of the image at the time of printing. To generate print data. For example, when the number of pixels of the original image data is 1600 pixels × 1200 pixels and the number of pixels in a bit image at the time of printing the image is 160 pixels × 120 pixels, the number of pixels is smaller than a predetermined number of pixels. When printing an image, most pixels of the original image data will be truncated. Further, since the printing area is small, it is not particularly required to print an image with high image quality. This is because in the above case, humans cannot determine whether the printed image is a high-quality image or a low-quality image. When printing an image with high image quality is not required, the printer may generate print data from the image data of the thumbnail image, but the image data of the main image having a very large data amount. And print data is generated. Therefore, much time is required for printing.

  As described above, even when an image is not required to be printed with high image quality, such as when printing an index print or printing an image with a smaller number of pixels than a predetermined number of pixels, a non-PC In printing in a print system, a printer acquires image data of a main image having a very large data amount and generates print data unless an explicit instruction is given. Therefore, much time is required for printing.

  In view of the above problem, the present invention gives priority to the processing speed over the image quality when the image quality of the image to be printed may be any quality, even when not explicitly specified. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that generates print data by performing printing.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus that prints an image using image data, based on print content description data including layout instruction information of the image when printed. Priority order determining means for determining which of the image quality at the time of printing and the processing speed of the image data should be prioritized; the print content description data; and the priority order determining means. Print data generating means for generating print data including the image based on the determined image data and the image data, and printing means for printing the print data generated by the print data generating means. Features.

  For example, (1) when a plurality of the images exist in the same page and the print content description data indicates that a plurality of the images are arranged and printed, It is determined that the processing speed for the image data should be given priority over the image quality of each of the images, and the print data generation unit generates the print data with priority given to the processing speed over the image quality. Also, (2) the plurality of images exist in the same page, the print content description data indicates that the plurality of images are arranged and printed, and each image has a pixel number equal to or less than a predetermined number of pixels. If the print data generation means indicates that the image data is to be printed, the priority order determination means determines that the processing speed for the image data should be given priority over the image quality of each image when printed, and the print data generation means Generates the print data with priority given to processing speed over image quality. Further, (3) the plurality of images exist in the same page, the print content description data indicates that the plurality of images are arranged and printed, and each of the images is a pixel having a predetermined number of pixels or less. Indicates that the image data is to be printed, and when the plurality of images do not overlap, the priority order determination unit gives priority to the processing speed for the image data over the image quality of each image when printed. The print data generation unit generates the print data with priority given to processing speed over image quality. Further, (4) when the print content description data indicates that the image is to be printed with a number of pixels equal to or less than a predetermined number of pixels, the priority order determining unit may set the image quality to be lower than the image quality at the time of printing. And determining that the processing speed for the image data should be prioritized, and the print data generation unit generates the print data with priority given to the processing speed over the image quality.

  Further, for example, when the priority order determining means determines that the processing speed for the image data should be given priority over the image quality of the image when printed, (A) the image having a high resolution When data and the low-resolution image data are present, the print data generation unit generates the print data using the low-resolution image data. Alternatively, (B) the print data generating unit generates the print data without performing some of the steps when processing the image data. Or (C) when the image data is JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format image data, the print data generating means decodes only the DC (Direct Current) component of the image data and converts the print data into Generate.

  As described above, when printing an image that is not required to be printed with high image quality, the printing apparatus of the present invention gives priority to the generation speed of print data even when not explicitly instructed. As a result, the printing time is reduced. It should be noted that the printing apparatus according to the present invention can determine the image quality of an image to be printed and the processing speed of the image data by itself without depending on the maker of a host device that provides print content description data to the printing apparatus. Decide which should be prioritized. Therefore, regardless of the manufacturer of the host device, when it is not required to print an image with high image quality, the printing time is reduced.

  Further, the present invention can be realized as a printing method that includes the characteristic constituent units of the printing apparatus of the present invention as steps, or as a program including those steps. Then, the program can be distributed via a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a transmission medium such as a communication network.

  The present invention is directed to a printing method for generating print data with priority given to processing speed over image quality, regardless of the quality of the image when printed, even when not explicitly specified. An apparatus can be provided.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration of the non-PC print system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a non-PC print system according to the present embodiment. The non-PC print system according to the present embodiment includes a digital television 100 as a non-PC host device and a printer 200.

  The digital television 100 is a device that receives and displays a digital broadcast, and is a device that instructs a printer 200 to print an image, and includes a memory card slot 101, a memory card I / F (Interface) unit 102, , An application program execution unit 103, a broadcast data I / F unit 104, an encoded information development unit 105, a drawing engine unit 106, a video RAM (Random Access Memory) unit 107, a display image processing unit 108, The display unit 109 includes a display unit 109, a print content generation unit 110, and a data I / F unit 111.

  The memory card slot 101 is a component into which a memory card 112 described later is inserted. The memory card I / F unit 102 can access the image data recorded on the memory card 112 when the memory card 112 storing the image data obtained by the digital camera is inserted into the memory card slot 101. It is a component.

  The application program execution unit 103 is a component unit on which a plurality of application programs are mounted and executes each application program. The application program is, for example, a program for realizing a viewer function of displaying image data recorded on the memory card 112 by the image display unit 109 and a function of printing.

  The broadcast data I / F unit 104 is a component that performs predetermined processing on broadcast data received by an antenna, a cable, or the like (not shown), and outputs the processed broadcast data to the encoded information expanding unit 105. For example, the broadcast data I / F unit 104 converts the broadcast data into data in MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) format, data in Broadcast Markup Language (BML) format, data in eXtensible HyperText Markup Language (XHTML) format, and the like. And outputs it to the encoded information expanding unit 105. The encoded information expanding unit 105 is a component that performs processes such as a process of extracting encoded information conforming to the format of input data and a process of extracting image data. The data processed by the encoded information expanding unit 105 is sent to the application program executing unit 103 and the drawing engine unit 106.

  The rendering engine unit 106 is a component that renders display data transmitted from the application program execution unit 103 and the encoded information development unit 105 in the video RAM unit 107. The video RAM unit 107 is a memory having a data recording area. The data drawn in the video RAM unit 107 is sent to the display image processing unit 108. The display image processing unit 108 is a component that performs predetermined processing on input image data and supplies the processed image data to the image display unit 109. The image display unit 109 is a display device such as a CRT, an LCD, a PDP, and a projector, and displays an image based on the image data processed by the display image processing unit.

  The print content generation unit 110 is a component that generates print content description data in a print content description language that can be interpreted by the printer 200, based on data output from the application program execution unit 103. When receiving a user's print instruction from an input interface such as a remote controller (not shown) of the digital television 100, the application program execution unit 103 transmits data necessary to generate print content description data to the print content generation unit. Send to 110. The print content generation unit 110 generates print content description data based on data from the application program execution unit 103. Further, print content generation section 110 in the present embodiment uses XHTML-Print as a description language for generating print content description data. An example of the print content description data generated by the print content generation unit 110 will be described later with reference to FIGS. The print content generation unit 110 sends the generated print content description data to the data I / F unit 111. The data I / F unit 111 is a component that transmits and receives data to and from the printer 200.

The memory card 112 is a portable recording medium on which image data obtained by a digital camera is recorded.
Next, the printer 200 according to the present embodiment will be described. The printer 200 is a device that generates print data based on print content description data from the digital TV 100, which is a non-PC host device, and outputs the print data to paper, and includes a data I / F unit 201 and a content interpretation unit. The printing apparatus includes a unit 202, a priority determination unit 203, a print data generation unit 204, and a printing unit 205.

  The data I / F unit 201 is a component that transmits and receives data to and from the digital television 100. When print data description data is received from the digital television 100, the data I / F unit 201 sends the print content description data to the content interpretation unit 202. Communication between the digital television 100 and the printer 200 is performed by the data I / F unit 111 and the data I / F unit 201 of the digital television 100. The data I / F unit 111 and the data I / F unit 201 are connected by an Ethernet (R) (Ethernet (R)), an IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 1394) bus, a USB (Universal Serial Bus), or the like. And exchanges data in a format compatible with the connected bus.

  The content interpreting unit 202 is a component that sequentially interprets print content description data described in a print content description language called XHTML-Print and determines a layout of the print data. Note that the content interpreting unit 202 can exchange data with the priority order determining unit 203.

  When the content interpreting unit 202 interprets the layout instruction information of the image to be printed included in the print content description data by the content interpreting unit 202, based on the interpretation result obtained by the content interpreting unit 202, This is a configuration unit that determines which of the image quality at the time of printing and the processing speed of the image data should be given priority. Note that, as shown in FIG. 1, the priority order determination unit 203 has a content determination unit 203a and an image determination unit 203b. By detecting whether the print content description data is intended for index printing, the content determination unit 203a gives priority to either the image quality of the image to be printed or the processing speed of the image data. Decide what you want. The image determination unit 203b determines which of the image quality of the image to be printed and the processing speed of the image data should be given priority by detecting the number of pixels of the image to be printed.

  When the content interpreting unit 202 determines the layout of the print data, it sends the layout to the print data generating unit 204. If the priority determining unit 203 determines which of the image quality of the image to be printed and the processing speed of the image data should be given priority, the content interpreting unit 202 performs the processing by the priority determining unit 203. The determined data is also sent to the print data generation unit 204.

  The print data generation unit 204 is a component that generates print data based on the interpretation result obtained by the content interpretation unit 202. If the print content description data includes an item related to image printing, the print data generation unit 204 generates an image file including the image data based on the interpretation result obtained by the content interpretation unit 202. Is detected, and image data is acquired based on the detection result. For example, when the image data exists in the memory card 112, the print data generation unit 204 converts the image data from the memory card 112 inserted into the memory card slot 101 of the digital television 100 via the memory card I / F unit 102. get. Further, the print data generation unit 204 performs image processing such as image quality improvement processing on the acquired image data. Here, the image quality improvement processing means, for example, processing such as noise removal, gain control, contrast conversion, color balance, saturation correction, color adjustment, and sharpness. Then, the print data generation unit 204 finally generates print data of a bit image to be output to the printing unit 205. An example of the print data generated by the print data generation unit 204 will be described later with reference to FIGS. The printing unit 205 is a component that outputs the print data of the bit image generated by the print data generation unit 204 to paper.

  Next, an example of the print content description data generated by the print content generation unit 110 and an example of the print data generated by the print data generation unit 204 based on the print content description data will be described with reference to FIGS. Will be explained.

  FIGS. 2 and 3A are views showing an example of print content description data described in a print content description language. FIG. 2 shows that <td> <img src = “aaaa0001.jpg” width = ”160” height = ”120” /> </ td> to <td> <img src = ”aaaa0005.jpg” width = ”160” As shown up to height = ”120” /> </ td>, <img> tags indicating the arrangement of images are arranged and described as one element of the table, so that each image is arranged for index printing. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating print content description data indicating that the content is content. FIG. 3A shows <object data = ”./ mobile1.jpg” type = ”image / jpeg” width = ”120” height = ”160”> and <object data = ”./ mobile2.jpg” type = “Image / jpeg” width = “120” height = “160”> is a diagram showing print content description data describing the arrangement of an image using an <object> tag. FIGS. 3B and 3C are images specified in the print content description data shown in FIG.

  4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating an example of print data generated by the print data generation unit 204. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of print data based on the print content description data shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing bit image print data based on the print content description data shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the non-PC print system according to the present embodiment will be described. At this time, FIG. 6 is also used.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the priority order determination unit 203 of the printer 200 in the non-PC print system according to the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a flow of printing image data obtained by a digital camera (not shown) in accordance with a print instruction of the application program execution unit 103 of the digital television 100 in the non-PC print system of the present embodiment will be described.

  Now, it is assumed that a plurality of image data obtained by the digital camera are recorded on the memory card 112 as Exif format files. As described above, an Exif format file means a file including, for one image, image data of a main image and image data of a thumbnail image having a lower resolution than the main image. At this time, when the user inserts the memory card 112 into the memory card slot 101 of the digital television 100, an application program execution unit 103 having a function of giving an instruction to display image data recorded on the memory card 112 and an instruction to print the image data Starts. The user operates the application program execution unit 103 using a remote controller (not shown). The application program execution unit 103 provides a function for giving an instruction for photo-printing one piece of image data, or an instruction for reducing a plurality of pieces of image data and printing it on one piece of paper such as an index print. Has the ability to perform.

  Here, it is assumed that the user issues a print instruction to the application program execution unit 103 of the digital television 100 to create an index print. In this case, the application program execution unit 103 instructs the print content generation unit 110 to generate print content description data for index printing. The print content generation unit 110 determines, based on a print instruction from the application program execution unit 103, that a plurality of images based on a plurality of image data recorded on the memory card 112 are arranged and printed, for example, in a grid pattern. The print content description data shown is generated in a print content description language called XHTML-Print. Here, when it is instructed to output image data having a file name of, for example, AAAA0001.jpg recorded on the memory card 112 with a pixel number of 320 pixels × 240 pixels (320 pixels in the horizontal direction and 240 pixels in the vertical direction). The print content generation unit 110 uses the print content description language XHTML-Print to set the number of pixels when an image is printed as <img src = "AAAA0001.jpg" width = "320" height = "240" />. Describe. When generating print content description data for index printing, the print content generation unit 110 instructs to print images side by side with an output pixel number of, for example, 160 pixels × 120 pixels (160 pixels in the horizontal direction and 120 pixels in the vertical direction). Then, as shown in FIG. 2, an <img> tag indicating the arrangement of the image is written by specifying the number of output pixels. FIG. 2 indicates that a plurality of images are arranged and laid out by using an XHTML table element. The detailed layout can be specified by applying a cascading style sheet (CSS).

  The print content description data described in the XHTML-Print format is transmitted to the printer 200 by the data I / F unit 111 of the digital television 100, and the data I / F unit 201 of the printer 200 transmits the data from the digital television 100 to the printer 200. Receiving the print content description data of

  The data I / F unit 201 sends the received print content description data to the content interpretation unit 202. The content interpreting unit 202 sequentially interprets the print content description data described in XHTML-Print, and determines the layout of the print data based on the interpretation result. Here, since the print content description data includes the layout instruction information of the image to be printed, the priority order determination unit 203 determines the interpretation result obtained by the content interpretation unit 202, that is, the Based on the image layout, it is determined which of the image quality of the image to be printed and the processing speed of the image data should be given priority. Specifically, the priority order determination unit 203 detects whether the image to be printed is, for example, for index printing, or detects the number of pixels of the image to be printed based on the print content description data. Thus, it is determined which of the image quality at the time of printing and the processing speed of the image data should be given priority. Note that, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that Exif format image data is recorded on the memory card 112 as described above. However, the image data recorded on the memory card 112 is not limited to Exif format image data.

Next, the flow of the operation performed by the priority order determination unit 203 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.
When the result of interpretation by the content interpreting unit 202 is sent to the priority order determining unit 203, the content determining unit 203a in the priority order determining unit 203 determines whether the print content description data is content for index printing. (S1). An example of a determination method performed by the content determination unit 203a will be described later. Here, when the print content description data is the content for index printing (Yes in S1), the content determination unit 203a should give priority to the processing speed for the image data over the image quality of the image at the time of printing. The content is determined and sent to the content interpreting unit 202 (S2).

  On the other hand, when the print content description data is not the content for index printing (No in S1), the image determination unit 203b determines that the number of pixels of one image printed based on the print content description data is equal to or less than the predetermined number of pixels. It is determined whether it is (S3). Here, when the number of pixels of the image is equal to or less than the predetermined number of pixels (Yes in S3), the image determination unit 203b should give priority to the processing speed for the image data over the image quality of the image at the time of printing. The content is determined and sent to the content interpreting unit 202 (S4). Then, the image determination unit 203b determines whether there is an image for which the priority order should be determined next (S5). On the other hand, if the number of pixels of the image is not equal to or smaller than the predetermined number of pixels (No in S3), the procedure is followed by a procedure (S5) for determining whether or not there is an image for which the priority should be determined next. move on.

  Here, when there is an image for which the priority order is to be determined next (Yes in S5), the process returns to the step (S3) of determining whether the number of pixels of the image is equal to or less than a predetermined number of pixels. On the other hand, when there is no next image for which the priority order should be determined (No in S5), the operation in the priority order determination unit 203 ends. In this way, for all the images to be printed based on the print content description data, it is determined which of the image quality of the image to be printed and the processing speed of the image data should be given priority.

  Next, an example of a determination method performed by the content determination unit 203a will be described. Generally, in index printing, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of small images are regularly arranged. Therefore, when it is interpreted by the content interpreting unit 202 that the print content description data indicates that images having the same number of pixels equal to or less than the predetermined number of pixels are arranged in a grid, the content determining unit 203a It is determined that the print content description data is the content for index printing, and it is determined that the processing speed for the image data should be prioritized over the image quality of the image at the time of printing (Yes in S1). For example, if the plurality of images are elements of the XHTML-Print table and the number of output pixels at the time of printing is 160 pixels × 120 pixels or less, the content determination unit 203a determines that the print content description data is for index printing. Is determined, and it is determined that the processing speed for the image data should be prioritized over the image quality of the image at the time of printing (Yes in S1). Note that the method of arranging a plurality of images in a grid pattern is not limited to the method using a table element. However, although the above-mentioned condition is satisfied, for example, the content for sticker printing divided into 16 or the like, not the print content description data for index printing but high image quality may be expected in some cases. Therefore, a condition such as "each image is different" may be added as a condition for determining that the processing speed for image data should be given priority over the image quality of the image at the time of printing. Conversely, the condition for determining that the processing speed for the image data should be given priority over the image quality of the image at the time of printing is simply the condition that a plurality of images are arranged in a grid, for example. Is also good.

  The number of pixels of 160 pixels × 120 pixels is an example of the “predetermined number of pixels”, and is not limited to this number of pixels. In other words, the "predetermined number of pixels" used by the content determination unit 203a as a determination criterion indicates that even if the original image has been subjected to a deterioration process such as reducing the number of pixels, human beings may be aware of this. This includes the number of pixels that cannot be determined. For example, the “predetermined number of pixels” may be a value such as 160 pixels × 120 pixels, 3 × 2 cm (print size) previously stored in a memory (not shown) of the printer 200 or the like. Alternatively, the number of pixels when the thumbnail image is printed without reduction may be used.

  Next, it is specified that the printing resolution of the printing unit 205 of the printer 200 is 200 dpi, the size in the horizontal direction when the image is printed is 0.4 inches, and the size in the vertical direction is 0.3 inches. Consider the case. When the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the main image is 1600, the number of pixels in the vertical direction is 1200, the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the thumbnail image is 160, and the number of pixels in the vertical direction is 120, If an image is printed at the above print resolution (200 dpi), the print size of the main image is 8 inches in the horizontal direction and 6 inches in the vertical direction, and the print size of the thumbnail image is 0.8 inches in the horizontal direction and 0.6 inches in the vertical direction. It becomes. Since the horizontal and vertical sizes of the print image are specified to be 0.4 inches and 0.3 inches, respectively, the thumbnail image is reduced. In this case, the content determination unit 203a determines that the image is an index print image.

  Now, the flow returns to the printing process. If the content interpreting unit 202 interprets the XHTML-Print, determines the layout, and determines whether to give priority to the image quality of the image to be printed or the processing speed of the image data, print data generation is performed. The unit 204 generates print data of a bit image. At this time, if the priority order determination unit 203 determines that the processing speed of the image data should be given priority over the image quality of the image at the time of printing, the image has a high image quality like normal photo printing. Without performing printing, the print data generation unit 204 speeds up the print data generation processing.

  The print data generation unit 204 usually refers to the location of the image file for the image to be printed, and records the image file on the memory card 112 inserted into the memory card slot 101 of the digital television 100 via the data I / F unit 201. The image data of the main image is acquired, and a high-quality process is performed as necessary to generate bit image print data. However, if it is determined that the processing speed for the image data should be given priority over the image quality of the image at the time of printing, the print data generation unit 204 speeds up the processing.

Here, some specific methods for speeding up the processing will be described.
<Method 1: Use Exif thumbnail image>
Since the print content description data is content described in XHTML-Print, the print data generation unit 204 acquires image data necessary for printing from the memory card 112.

At that time, in order to speed up the processing, the print data generation unit 204 acquires the image data of the thumbnail image from the memory card 112 instead of the main image.
An Exif-format JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) file is composed of an “Exif header section”, a “Tiff section”, and a “JPEG data section”, and the “JPEG data section” includes a JPEG main image. However, in the “Tiff section”, information of image data and data such as shooting conditions, image data of thumbnail images, and the like are stored. Therefore, the print data generation unit 204 acquires only the image data of the thumbnail image in the “Tiff section”.

  Since the image data of the thumbnail image has a smaller data amount than the image data of the main image, the image data acquisition time is very short, and the data processing time is also short. Therefore, the time required to generate the print data of the bit image is greatly reduced, and the time until printing is completed can be reduced.

  If the number of pixels of the image to be printed is smaller than the number of pixels of the thumbnail image included in the Exif file, the thumbnail image may be reduced. Conversely, even when the number of pixels of an image to be printed is larger than the number of pixels of a thumbnail image, high quality is not required for index printing, so that the thumbnail image can be enlarged and used.

  In the present embodiment, the Exif format is used as an example of the image format. However, the files to which the method can be applied include the image data of the main image and the image data of the thumbnail image in the same file. Any file can be used as long as the file is in the Exif format, and the file is not limited to the Exif format file.

<Method 2: Skip image quality improvement processing>
The print data generation unit 204 has a function of performing high-quality processing on the acquired image data. Generally, the print data generation unit 204 performs noise reduction, gain control, contrast conversion, color balance, saturation adjustment, It is assumed that high image quality processing such as color adjustment and sharpness is performed.

  By the way, when printing an image that does not require high image quality, such as when printing an index print, it is not necessary to perform the high image quality processing. Therefore, the print data generation unit 204 skips part or all of the image quality improvement processing. As a result, the image data processing time is reduced, and the print data generation time is reduced.

<Method 3: Decode only DC (Direct Current) component of JPEG image>
Next, it is assumed that the image data obtained by the print data generation unit 204 is JPEG format image data. In that case, the print data generation unit 204 decodes only the DC component of the JPEG image data and ignores the AC (Alternating Current) component. Naturally, the decoded image becomes mosaic-like and the reproducibility deteriorates, but since high image quality is not required, it is effective as a method for shortening the print data generation time.

<Method 4: No rotation processing>
It is assumed that rotation of an image is specified in the print content description data. In that case, the image is represented without performing the rotation processing. Therefore, the print data generation unit 204 does not perform the rotation process even if the rotation of the image is specified in the print content description data. Thereby, the processing time can be reduced. However, in this case, the orientation of the printed image may be different from the user's intention, and a means for asking the user to confirm that the rotation processing is not performed may be provided.

  The above-described methods for increasing the speed of print data processing may be performed independently, or may be performed by combining any or all of these methods. Furthermore, other high-speed processing methods may be combined.

  The print data of the bit image generated in this way is sent to the printing unit 205, and finally, the printing unit 205 prints the content specified by the application program execution unit 103 on paper and outputs it.

  As described above, the print content description data from the digital TV 100 as the non-PC host device does not explicitly indicate that print data should be generated with priority given to processing speed over image quality. Also, the printer 200 can determine which of the image quality and the processing speed should be prioritized. When it is determined that the processing speed should be prioritized, the processing is speeded up, and the printing time of the print target can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, the digital TV 100 is used as the non-PC host device. However, the non-PC host device may be a print content description such as an AV device such as an STB (Set Top Box) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) recorder. It only needs to be able to transmit the print content description data described in the language.

  In the present embodiment, the image data recorded on the memory card 112 is used. However, the location of the image data is not particularly important. For example, the image data is recorded on a DVD medium. The present invention may be applied with a DVD recorder as a host device. Alternatively, image data recorded in a memory in the host device and captured by any method including broadcasting may be used. Further, data at a communication destination connected to the host device by the communication means may be used.

Further, XHTML-Print is used as the description language of the print content description data, but the description language is not limited to this as long as the printer 200 can interpret it.
In addition, in the present specification, description of an operation related to display of broadcast data by the image display unit 109 is omitted because the operation is not directly related to the present invention.

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention gives priority to the processing speed over the image quality even when the image to be printed may be of any quality, even when it is not explicitly indicated in the print content description data. Generating print data and printing an image has the effect of reducing the time required for printing, and is useful as a printing device or the like for printing image data obtained by a digital camera or the like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a non-PC print system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of print content description data described in XHTML-Print. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of print content description data described in XHTML-Print, and the like. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing print data of a print image (index print) based on the print content description data of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating print data of a print image based on the print content description data of FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an operation in a priority order determination unit.

Explanation of reference numerals

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 digital television 101 memory card slot 102 memory card I / F unit 103 application program execution unit 104 broadcast data I / F unit 105 encoded information development unit 106 drawing engine unit 107 video RAM unit 108 display image processing unit 109 image display unit 110 Print content generation unit 111 Data I / F unit 112 Memory card 200 Printer 201 Data I / F unit 202 Content interpretation unit 203 Priority order determination unit 203a Content determination unit 203b Image determination unit 204 Print data generation unit 205 Printing unit

Claims (10)

A printing device that prints an image using image data,
Priority for determining which of the image quality of the image to be printed and the processing speed of the image data should be prioritized based on print content description data including layout instruction information of the image to be printed Ranking means;
Print data generating means for generating print data including the image based on the print content description data, the determination made by the priority order determining means, and the image data;
A printing unit that prints the print data generated by the print data generation unit. When the plurality of images are present in the same page and the print content description data indicates that the plurality of images are arranged and printed,
The priority order determining means determines that the processing speed for the image data should be given priority over the image quality of each of the images when printed,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data generation unit generates the print data with priority given to processing speed over image quality. A plurality of the images exist in the same page, the print content description data indicates that the plurality of images are arranged and printed, and each image is printed with a predetermined number of pixels or less. To indicate that
The priority order determining means determines that the processing speed for the image data should be given priority over the image quality of each of the images when printed,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data generation unit generates the print data with priority given to processing speed over image quality. A plurality of the images exist in the same page, the print content description data indicates that the plurality of images are arranged and printed, and each image is printed with a predetermined number of pixels or less. Indicating that the plurality of images do not overlap,
The priority order determining means determines that the processing speed for the image data should be given priority over the image quality of each of the images when printed,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data generation unit generates the print data with priority given to processing speed over image quality. When the print content description data indicates that the image is printed with a number of pixels equal to or less than a predetermined number of pixels,
The priority order determination unit determines that the processing speed for the image data should be given priority over the image quality of the image when printed,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data generation unit generates the print data with priority given to processing speed over image quality. When the priority order determining unit determines that the processing speed for the image data should be prioritized over the image quality of the image at the time of printing, for the image, the high-resolution image data and the low-resolution When image data exists,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data generating unit generates the print data using the low-resolution image data. When the priority determination unit determines that the processing speed for the image data should be given priority over the image quality of the image when printed,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data generation unit generates the print data without performing a part of a plurality of steps when processing the image data. When the priority determination unit determines that the processing speed for the image data should be given priority over the image quality of the image when printed,
When the image data is JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format image data,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data generation unit generates the print data by decoding only a DC (Direct Current) component of the image data. A printing method for printing an image using image data,
Priority for determining which of the image quality of the image to be printed and the processing speed of the image data should be prioritized based on print content description data including layout instruction information of the image to be printed A ranking step;
A print data generating step of generating print data including the image based on the print content description data, the determination made in the priority order determining step, and the image data;
A printing step of printing the print data generated in the print data generating step. A program for printing an image using image data,
Priority for determining which of the image quality of the image to be printed and the processing speed of the image data should be prioritized based on print content description data including layout instruction information of the image to be printed A ranking step;
A print data generating step of generating print data including the image based on the print content description data, the determination made in the priority order determining step, and the image data;
And a printing step of printing the print data generated in the print data generation step.

Images