JP2005143070A - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide flexibility in the order of images printed on a mark sheet and to easily specify an image file desired by a user based on an image selection sheet.
A range specifying process 67 stores specified range information 69 from a control panel 9 and refers to an image information list 41 in accordance with the information. Only the main ID belonging to the designated range is picked up from the image information list 41, and a serial number is newly assigned as an image sub ID. An image information sublist 49 in which the image sub ID and the image main ID are associated with each other is created. When a sort selection instruction for reversing the main ID assignment order is output from the control panel 9 to the controller 11, the controller 11 performs a sort process for changing the ascending order to the descending order or the descending order to the ascending order, The main ID assignment order assigned to the image file information 41 is reversed.
[Selection] Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of selecting an image file using an image selection sheet and printing the selected image file.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a photo selection method has been proposed for the purpose of facilitating selection of a photo to be printed from a digital film. In this proposal, when a mark sheet of a predetermined format is set in the image scanner, various information placed on the mark sheet including a check box for a thumbnail image painted by the user is read by the image scanner. This read information is analyzed by the controller. Based on the analysis result and various commands given from the user to the controller, the printer executes a predetermined printing operation (Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-51283 A

  In a digital still camera (hereinafter, referred to as a digital camera), file names are assigned to captured images in the order of ASCII codes. Therefore, if the number of images taken with a digital camera becomes enormous, the number of thumbnail images stored in a card-type memory (memory card) loaded in the digital camera will increase accordingly. Become.

  When these thumbnail images are printed on a mark sheet, printing is usually performed according to the ASCII code order of the file names in the card type memory. Therefore, the thumbnail image with the latest shooting time has a later printing order. .

  However, there are cases where the user is more interested in a new image at a shooting time than an image at an old shooting time and desires to print a new image at a shooting time. Therefore, if the printing order of the thumbnail images is simply determined according to the order of the file names assigned in the ASCII code order, the amount of captured images may be enormous such as extending over a plurality of pages. , It becomes unusable. That is, there is a possibility that a large amount of thumbnail images that the user does not want to print is printed at the tip of the mark sheet, and that a thumbnail image that is desired to be printed is printed after the mark sheet.

  By the way, the mark sheet is printed with a thumbnail image and a mark for selecting the thumbnail image, but does not include information for directly specifying the image file stored in the card type memory. Therefore, it is necessary to specify the image file selected by the user based on the print position on the mark sheet. If the position of the thumbnail image printed on the mark sheet is always constant, the image file can be specified based on the position of the marked thumbnail image. However, in this case, the image printing order on the mark sheet is fixed, and as described above, the old thumbnail image is always printed at the head of the mark sheet, and the usability is lowered.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of easily specifying an image file desired by a user based on an image selection sheet. There is. One object of the present invention is to provide image processing that can give flexibility to the order of images printed on an image selection sheet and that can specify an image file desired by a user based on the image selection sheet. An apparatus and an image processing method are provided.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention acquires information about an image file from a data source, generates a management table for identifying and managing the image file, and a data source based on the management table A sheet output processing unit that prints and outputs an image selection sheet for selecting an image file stored in the image file, reads a sheet image from the output image selection sheet, and based on the sheet image and the management table, the user A sheet reading processing unit that identifies the image file selected by the image data processing unit, and a print processing unit that acquires the identified image file from the data source, generates print data, and causes the printing to be performed. Information about the print order of the image file to be printed on the selected sheet is displayed along with the image file. Printed on the sheet-option to output.

  Examples of the data source include an imaging device such as a digital camera, a storage medium attached to the imaging device, a storage device and a server that store moving image data and still image data, and the like. The image selection sheet is printed including, for example, an image of each image file stored in the data source, a mark entry field for selecting each image, and information on the print order of each image file. .

The information about the print order of the image file is information for clearly indicating what rule the image file is printed on the image selection sheet. Or it is the information which shows a part. Information relating to the printing order of image files can be called information relating to image arrangement rules (arrangement rule information), for example. Examples of the information regarding the printing order of the image file include “ascending order” or “descending order”.
Here, the order of the image files to be printed on the image selection sheet can be designated by the printing order designation means. The print order designating unit can be realized by, for example, a user interface provided in the image processing apparatus, and can be manually designated by the user.

  Includes details of the placement rules, such as what code system to follow, what part of the information to focus on, such as “ascending order of ASCII code” and “descending order of ASCII code” There is no need. That is, it is not necessary to print on the image selection sheet up to information on a known part or a fixed part in the arrangement rules of the image file. Therefore, for example, the information related to the print order of the image file can be paraphrased as information that clearly indicates a variable or unknown part of the image arrangement rule. However, all information regarding the arrangement of the image files may be printed on the image selection sheet.

  In the present invention, in order to print the information related to the printing order of the image file printed on the image selection sheet on the image selection sheet, the image file is arranged based on what rule by reading the sheet image of the image selection sheet. You can easily grasp what is happening. Therefore, whether the image file is printed in ascending order of ASCII codes or conversely, whether the image file is printed in descending order of ASCII codes, the sheet reading processing means is based on the sheet image and the management table. Can specify an image file desired to be printed.

  The sheet reading processing unit can also specify the image file selected by the user based on the management table generation rule and the information related to the printing order read from the sheet image.

  The management table generation rule is information that defines the management order of image files. For example, the management table generation rule is information indicating that image files are managed in time order or ascending or descending order of sequential file names. When the management table generation rule is constant, the user can specify the desired image file by searching the management table based on the information related to the print order of the image file. However, if the management table generation rule can change, it is difficult to specify the image file desired by the user only with information about the print order of the image files. Therefore, the sheet reading processing unit specifies the image file desired by the user by searching the management table based on the management table generation rule and the information related to the print order of the image file.

  When a plurality of image selection sheets are output, the sheet reading processing unit specifies the image file selected by the user based on the information related to the printing order read from the sheet image and the page order of each image selection sheet. To do.

  When the print target on the image selection sheet is enormous, it is divided into a plurality of image selection sheets and printed. The user can mark only the image selection sheet on which a desired image is printed, and cause the sheet reading processing unit to read the sheet image. For example, the sheet reading processing unit specifies the image file based on the page number and the information related to the printing order of the image file. Thus, for example, the image file can be specified by reading only the selected image selection sheet without taking the trouble of reading a plurality of image selection sheets in page order.

  It is sufficient that at least a part of the image file is printed on the image selection sheet. That is, it is not necessary for the entire image file to be printed. For example, even when only the central portion of the image file is extracted and printed on the image selection sheet, the user can designate an image file desired to be printed based on the partial image.

  Meta information of the image file may be printed on the image selection sheet. Examples of the meta information include a file name of an image file, a comment and a title associated with the image file, and the like. For example, meta information such as comments and titles manually associated with the image file by the user, such as “athletic meet” and “touring”, can also be called message information. By printing such meta information on the image selection sheet, the user can specify an image file desired to be printed. For example, in the case where a photograph at the time of event execution is circulated to event participants such as weddings, it may be desired to print all image files related to the event without omission rather than the contents of individual images. In such a case, the entire series of image files grouped by the meta information can be selected based on the meta information. The meta information may be printed on the image selection sheet together with the image file, or only the meta information may be printed on the image selection sheet.

  In addition, this invention can also be grasped | ascertained from the following viewpoints. For example, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is connected to a data source having a plurality of image files each having an attribute value, and storage means for storing identification information and attribute values for specifying the plurality of image files, respectively. , Input means for inputting a range of attribute values of an image file to be listed, and extracting identification information of an image file having an attribute value belonging to the input attribute value range from the stored identification information A mark entry field for accessing the image file to be listed based on the extracted identification information and selecting summary information of the image file to be listed and an image file to be printed Mark sheet printing means for printing a mark sheet representing the above, and the mark sheet is read and the mark entered in the mark entry column is read. Conversion means for converting the image into identification information of the corresponding image file, and image printing for accessing the image file to be printed based on the converted identification information and printing the image of the image file to be printed Means.

  In addition, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is connected to the data source, stores the identification information for specifying each of the plurality of image files, and the first order as the list-up order according to the user's request. A designation means for designating either one of the order and a second order opposite to the order; and, based on the identification information, accessing the image file to be listed, and summarizing the image file according to the listing order A mark entry field for selecting information and an image file to be printed is arranged, a mark sheet printing means for printing a mark sheet having a mark indicating the designated list-up order, the mark sheet is read, and the mark Conversion means for converting the mark and the order mark entered in the entry field into identification information of the corresponding image file; Based on the converted identification information by accessing the print target image files, comprising an image printing unit that prints an image of the image file to be printed, the.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is connected to a data source having a plurality of image files each having an attribute value, and stores storage information for storing identification information for specifying each of the plurality of image files. Based on the identification information, the image file is accessed and summary information of the image file, a mark entry field for selecting an image file to be printed, and a mark representing a checksum created based on the image file Mark sheet printing means for printing the mark sheet information including: the mark sheet is read and stored based on the mark written in the stored mark entry field and the mark representing the checksum Conversion means for converting to the identification information of the image file to be processed, and based on the converted identification information, An image printing means for accessing an image file to be printed and printing an image of the image file to be printed, and a mark representing at least identification information and a checksum displayed on the printed mark sheet, even after the power is turned off Means for holding in a non-volatile memory so as not to be erased, so that even if another image file is added to the data source after printing the mark sheet, a desired image file is used using the mark sheet. Can be printed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, as will be described later, a composite printer that can change the order of images printed on a mark sheet according to a user's request and can easily specify an image file selected on the mark sheet. An apparatus is disclosed.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image processing apparatus configured as a composite printer apparatus.
The composite printer apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 displays an image scanner 3 for reading a plurality of images, a printer 5 for outputting hard copies of images, and various messages, images, thumbnail images thereof, and the like ( (Liquid crystal) display 7, a control panel 9 having a plurality of operation buttons to be pressed to input various commands by a user, and a controller 11 for controlling each part of the composite printer device 1.

  The composite printer apparatus 1 refers to an external storage medium 13 (typically, for example, a card-type memory (that is, a memory card, which is the same hereinafter) used in the digital camera 15, or a digital camera 15 or the like. The same) and can be connected. The composite printer apparatus 1 has a function of reading image data from the external storage medium 13 and printing it by the printer 5 and a function of storing the image data read by the image scanner 3 in the external storage medium 13.

  The digital camera 15, the external storage medium 13 built in the digital camera 15, or the external storage medium 13 that is removed from the digital camera 15 and connected to the composite printer device 1 corresponds to an example of “data source”. .

  The image scanner 3 designates a main scan for reading an image of a specified area on the original sheet at a predetermined high resolution and an area of the original to be read in the main scan as an operation mode when reading an image on the original sheet. And a pre-scan that reads an image of the entire area of the original sheet at a predetermined low resolution before the main scan is executed. In the prescan, image data having a size much smaller than the image data obtained in the main scan is read as, for example, an image of an A4 size original as small size image data such as 160 dots × 120 dots.

  In addition to the above-described units, the composite printer 1 further includes an encoder, a decoder, a line buffer, a pre-scan page buffer, a thumbnail temporary buffer, an external storage medium I / F (external storage medium interface; hereinafter). , The same), a code data buffer (both not shown), and the like.

  The encoder compresses and converts bitmap image data into code data of a predetermined format (for example, JPEG image data). The decoder decompresses and converts code data of a predetermined format (for example, JPEG format image data) into original bitmap format image data.

The line buffer temporarily stores image data for one line or a predetermined plurality of lines output from the image scanner 3 when the image scanner 3 reads a document image. The prescan page buffer temporarily stores image data of a small size (for example, 160 dots × 120 dots) read by the prescan of the image scanner 3. The temporary thumbnail buffer is a thumbnail image of a target image when an image is read from the external storage medium 13 and printed by the printer 5 or when image data read by the image scanner 3 is stored in the external storage medium 13. Data is temporarily stored. When the image data read by the image scanner 3 is stored in the external storage medium 13, the code data buffer reads the image from the encoder (for example, JPEG format data) output from the encoder or the image from the external storage medium 13 and prints the image data. In the case of printing at 5, the code data (eg, JPEG format data) read from the external storage medium 13 is temporarily stored for a predetermined unit transfer amount.
The external storage medium interface is connected to the external storage medium 13 and performs data communication with the external storage medium 13.

  As commands that can be input from the control panel 9, for example, a command for designating a region to be scanned from a document image read by prescan, and image data read by the image scanner 3 are stored in the external storage medium 13. For example, a command for designating a target image when stored, and a command for designating a target image when image data is read from the external storage medium 13 and printed by the printer 5 are included.

  Further, there are at least two types of operations performed by the composite printer apparatus 1 when image data read by the image scanner 3 is stored in the external storage medium 13, one of which is one from a cut sheet document. Each of the images is read into the external storage medium 13 and another type is an operation of successively reading a plurality of images from the photographic film strip original and writing them into the external storage medium 13. In the following description, it is assumed that image data is stored in the external storage medium 13 in the EXIF (abbreviation of “Exchangeable Image File Format”, the same applies hereinafter) file format in any of the above operations. However, the format of the EXIF file is only one example, and the principle of the present invention can be applied when other formats are adopted.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of a mark sheet 17 that is an example of an image selection sheet.
The mark sheet 17 shown in FIG. 2 includes a plurality of areas as described below, that is, a first guide field 19, a checksum display field 21, a plurality of thumbnail image display fields 23, a second guide field 25, and a third guide. It is divided into a column 27. Here, the checksum displayed in the checksum display field 21 is a calculated value for testing the accuracy of the data. For all bytes in a chunk of data, arithmetic operations and logic are continuously performed. It is a value obtained by performing an operation. This is one of the methods for detecting an error that occurs when data is transferred, when data is written to the disk, or when data is read from the disk.

  The first guide column 19 is a column set to guide the user how to select a desired image, and is arranged at the top of the mark sheet 17.

  In the checksum display column 21, the checksum value of the entire image data on which the thumbnail image is printed on the mark sheet 17 is printed by being symbolized by a graphic such as a black square. It is possible to determine whether or not the external storage medium 13 and the mark sheet 17 are compatible by comparing the printed checksum value with the checksum value calculated on the printer 5 side. Also, identification information indicating a correspondence relationship with an image history file, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 6, can be printed in a manner readable by the scanner 3 in the checksum display field 21 or another field. Further, as in the embodiment described later, information indicating the print order of images on the mark sheet 17 can be symbolized and printed in the checksum display field 21 or in another field.

  Examples of the identification information include the date and time when the mark sheet 17 is issued (or the image history file generation date and time), a serial number, and the like. By adopting the identification information (that is, identification information indicating the correspondence between each mark sheet 17 and each image history file (shown in FIG. 6)), the user can determine which image history is the mark sheet 17 that the user intends to use. The mark sheet 17 can be used without being conscious of whether it corresponds to a file.

  The plurality of thumbnail image display fields 23 are arranged below the first guide field 19, and a predetermined number of thumbnail images 29 are displayed in each thumbnail image display field 23 (here, illustrated and described). For convenience, reference numeral 29 is attached to only one thumbnail image). Each thumbnail image 29 can be printed with a mark portion 31, a serial number 33, and a recording date and time 35 in association with each other. When the user paints the mark portion 31 associated with each thumbnail image 29 with a pencil, a pen, or the like, image data (main image data) corresponding to the thumbnail image 29 is selected. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the user has selected the second, fifth, and seventh image data.

The second guide column 25 is a column that is set to guide the user how to specify the printing paper, and is arranged below each thumbnail image display column 23.
Adjacent to the second guide column 25, a mark portion 37 used when the user selects a desired printing paper and a plurality of (printing) paper type information 39 are printed. The user can designate the printing paper by painting the mark portion 37 corresponding to the type of printing paper desired by the user with a pen or the like.

  The third guide column 27 is a column set to guide the user how to start printing using the marked mark sheet 17, and is arranged below the mark sheet 17. When there is a lot of image data recorded on the external storage medium 13, it is difficult to print all the thumbnail images 29 on one mark sheet 17. In this case, a plurality of mark sheets 17 are discharged from the printer 5, and each mark sheet 17 is given a page number for distinguishing it from the other mark sheets 17.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the image information list 41 generated and stored in the controller 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  An image information list 41 shown in FIG. 3 is image management information (or an image management table) for the printer 5 to manage image data recorded on the external storage medium 13. The image information list 41 includes an identification code ( The ID of the image (in this embodiment, a number) and image file information associated with each identification code (ID). Each image data stored in the external storage medium 13 is associated with an identification code that is uniquely determined in the external storage medium 13.

  Each image file information corresponds to each image data. Each piece of image file information includes an image information structure 43. The image information structure 43 is a small table in which various attribute information of image data is arranged. The image information structure 43 accesses, for example, the file name, extension name, and data in the external storage medium 13 of the image data. It consists of a full path file name, a recording date and time, a file attribute, and other attached information. Therefore, if the image information list 41 is searched using the identification code (ID) as a search key, the image information structure 43 of the image file information corresponding to the identification code (ID) can be read, and the image information structure 43 By referring to, it is possible to grasp the file name, storage location, etc. of the desired image data.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the print list information 45 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
By referring to the print list information 45 shown in FIG. 4, the image data described therein is read from the external storage medium 13, and print data is generated based on the read image data. The print list information 45 includes, for example, an identification code (printing ID) and print file information associated with the identification code (ID). Each print file information includes a print file information structure 47. It is composed of The print file information structure 47 includes a print image identification code (hereinafter referred to as “IDX”) and setting information for each file. In normal memory card (card type memory) printing, the identification code (image ID) of the image information list 41 shown in FIG. 3 is set in IDX. Therefore, by searching the image information list 45 based on the IDX of the print file information structure 47, the image data to be printed can be specified and read from the external storage medium 13. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 5, when the image information sublist 49 is prepared, a sub ID is set in IDX. The setting information for each file indicates, for example, print setting information for each file such as a hue during printing.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of an image information sublist (hereinafter abbreviated as “sublist”) 49 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
For example, the sub-list 49 shown in FIG. 5 extracts and prints only image data recorded in a specific period or date, or extracts and prints only image data stored in a specific folder. Used when The sublist 49 includes an identification code (ID) and an image file information sub ID (hereinafter abbreviated as “sub ID”). Here, the identification code (ID) itself of the sublist 49 merely indicates the order. In the sub ID, an identification code (ID) of the image information list 41 shown in FIG. 3, that is, an identification code for specifying target image data is set. When the sub list 49 is generated, the sub ID is set in the IDX of the print file information structure 47 shown in FIG. Therefore, when the sub-list 49 shown in FIG. 5 is prepared to print only a specific image data group, the ID list read from the print list information 45 shown in FIG. By extracting the sub ID of the sub-list 49 shown and searching the image information list 41 shown in FIG. 3 based on this sub-ID, it is possible to obtain information on the target image data. By interposing a sub-list 49 between the image information list 41 and the print list information 45, various conditions (period, folder name, etc.) other than printing based only on the order according to the ASCII code (ASCII sort order) are provided. ) To print an image. Also in the case of mark sheet printing, by using this sub-list 49, only images printed on the mark sheet 17 can be extracted and printed.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the image history file 51 generated in the controller 11 and recorded in the external storage medium 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
An image history file 51 shown in FIG. 6 represents a history of a recording configuration indicating what kind of image data is recorded in the external storage medium 13, and is generated as a text file, for example. In the image history file 51, information of image data recorded in the external storage medium 13 at a certain predetermined time is recorded as a full path file name. The image history file 51 is formed, for example, every time the external storage medium 13 is attached. Therefore, when the same external storage medium 13 is attached to or detached from the printer 5 a plurality of times, the plurality of image history files 51-1 to 51-51. -3 (here, for the sake of illustration and explanation, only three image history files are given a reference numeral) is stored in the external storage medium 13. In addition, when an upper limit is set for the number of saved image history files (51-1 to 51-3) and a new image history file (51-1 to 51-3) is generated exceeding the upper limit, the oldest is stored. The image history file (51-1) may be deleted. Each image history file (51-1 to 51-3) is recorded together with identification information (ID) for distinguishing from the other image history files (51-1 to 51-3). Thereby, the correspondence between the image history files (51-1 to 51-3) and the mark sheet 17 can be clarified.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data flow and a control flow when a main image is printed using the mark sheet print data in the controller 11 of the composite printer apparatus 1.

  7, in the external storage medium 13, for example, image information (hereinafter referred to as “photographed image information”) captured by the digital camera 15 is stored in a file format (hereinafter referred to as EXIF file) as described above. It is assumed that the image file is stored. The image file 55 includes file information, thumbnail images, main images, and the like. Here, the file information corresponds to each image file information (1 to n) shown in FIG. A thumbnail image is an actual image compressed in JPEG format. The main image is an actual captured image compressed in JPEG format and is also called main image data. These thumbnail images and main images are generally recorded on the external storage medium 13 in about one thousand EXIF format.

  Hereinafter, a description will be given of media connection processing (range storage), range designation processing, mark sheet output processing, processing related to user mark entry, mark sheet reading processing, and printing processing by the controller 11.

[1] (External Storage) Media Connection Processing 63 First, an external storage medium 13 such as the above-mentioned card type memory is inserted into an external storage medium insertion unit (not shown) of the composite printer apparatus 1 by the user. The external storage medium I / F 59 is connected. Thereby, the media connection processing 63 is executed in the controller 11. In this media connection process 63, the file information of all the image files 55 stored in the external storage medium 13 is transferred from the external storage medium 13 through the external storage medium I / F 59 in the order of ASCII codes of file names by the controller 11. Is read. Note that the file names are contained in a plurality of hierarchical folders.

  Next, in the controller 11, the file information, that is, the image file information (1 to n) shown in FIG. 3 is displayed in the ASCII code order (that is, the order read by the controller 11). As shown in FIG. 3, image IDs (ID1 to IDn) which are serial numbers are assigned. Then, the image information list 41 is created by associating each image ID (ID1 to IDn) with each image file information. In this case, the file names are generally assigned to the respective image file information in the order taken by the digital camera 15 (see FIG. 3). Here, as the order of ASCII codes of file names, generally, the shooting date order is applied.

  In the image information list 41, as shown in FIG. 3, image IDs are assigned to each image file information in order of shooting date and time. Therefore, a smaller number (image ID) is assigned to the older image file information.

[2] Range Specification Processing 67 Next, when the user wants to print only an (image) file in a specific range determined by, for example, a date from the image information list 41 generated and held by the controller 11, for example, The range is specified through the control panel 9 in the following procedure.

  That is, when the user operates a specific panel (not shown) on the control panel 9, it is specified from various items such as the file name, date, and time included in each image file information in the image information list 41. The specified range information (data) 69 is output from the control panel 9 to the controller 11 by designating the number of the selected specific item.

  In the range specifying process 67, specified range information (data) 69 given from the control panel 9 is stored, and the image information list 41 is referred to in accordance with the specified range information 69. Then, only the image ID (main ID) belonging to the specified range is picked up from the image information list 41, and a new serial number is assigned as the image sub ID to the image ID (main ID). Thereby, the image information sublist as shown in FIG. 5, that is, the image information sublist 49 in which the image sub ID and the image main ID are associated with each other is created.

  In the image information list 41 described above, the image ID assigned to each piece of image file information can be re-assigned. That is, when the user operates a specific panel (not shown) on the control panel 9, the controller 11 issues a sort selection instruction for reversing the image ID allocation order in the image information list 41 to the controller 11. The controller 11 that has input the sort selection instruction performs a sort process for changing the ascending order to the descending order or the descending order to the ascending order, and changes the assignment order of the image IDs assigned to the image file information 41. Reverse. This sort selection instruction is output when a mark sheet output instruction described below is output from the control panel 9 to the controller 11.

[3] Mark Sheet Output Processing 73 The mark sheet output processing 73 is performed when the user wants to print the mark sheet 17. In the mark sheet output processing 73, the user performs a mark sheet output instruction via the control panel 9. First, the sorting (that is, whether the mark sheet 17 is printed in ascending order of the image ID or the mark sheet 17 is printed in descending order of the image ID) is designated. If the image sub-list 49 shown in FIG. 5 is created, it is referred to and the number of the main ID (that is, the image ID) of the image file for which the range is designated is picked up.

  Next, the image information list 41 is referred to, and image information corresponding to the main ID is read from the image information list 41. Then, based on the read image information, the thumbnail image of the image file 55 corresponding to the image information is read from the external storage medium 13 through the external storage medium I / F 59 to the controller 11. Mark sheet print data is created based on the thumbnail image, and the mark sheet print data is output from the controller 11 to the printer 5. In the printer 5, a certain number (for example, 36) of thumbnail images are printed on one mark sheet 17. When the number of designated thumbnail images is 36 or more, the printing is performed over the mark sheet 17 of two pages (two sheets) or more.

  In the mark sheet output process 73, when the thumbnail image is read from the external storage medium 13 to the controller 11 and the mark sheet print data is output to the printer 5, the controller 11 receives the image ID from the sort selection instruction by the user. It is determined whether the allocation of the (main ID) to the image information list 41 is ascending or descending. If it is determined that the images are in ascending order, the thumbnail images are read into the controller 11 according to the order of the main ID. Then, in the controller 11, the thumbnail images are arranged in the order of reading (in the order of raster scanning), and 36 thumbnail images are arranged in the order of the main ID to create mark sheet print data. Mark sheet print data is output from the controller 11 to the printer 5.

  Contrary to the above, if it is determined that the order is descending, the thumbnail images are read into the controller 11 and arranged in order of the main ID, that is, in the reverse order. The printed mark sheet print data is output from the controller 11 to the printer 5.

  In the mark sheet output process 73, if the range is not designated by the range designation process 67, the entire image information list 41 is read, and if the sort selection instruction described above is in descending order, the one with the largest main ID is first. The mark sheet print data is created by arranging. If the sort selection instruction is in ascending order, mark sheet print data is created by arranging the items with the smallest main ID first.

[4] Regarding processing related to user mark entry 85 Next, in the printer 5, if printing is performed on the mark sheet 17 based on the mark sheet print data, an image (main image) that the user desires to print is displayed. A predetermined mark is entered in the mark entry field corresponding to the thumbnail image, only the mark sheet 87 on which the predetermined mark is entered is set in the image scanner 3, and the controller 11 is instructed to read the mark sheet via the control panel 9. As a result, the controller 11 starts a mark sheet reading process 75 as described below.

  In this case, it is not necessary for the user to set all the mark sheets 87 in the image scanner 3, and only the mark sheet 87 desired by the user is set. Here, the order in which the image scanner 3 reads the mark sheets 87 is completely free. This is because each mark sheet 87 has a page number written at a predetermined location, and an image that the user desires to print from the page number and a mark entry position where a predetermined mark is entered by the user. This is because the main ID can be calculated. This calculation method will be described in detail later.

[5] Mark Sheet Reading Process 75 In the controller 11, the ID number of the file relating to the image that the user desires to print (that is, the image number) based on the mark position read by the image scanner 3 from the mark sheet 87 and the page number of the mark sheet 87. The main ID of the image is written in IDX (that is, the print image identification code) in the print file information structure 47 prepared in advance. Note that each print file information structure 47, that is, each print file, is assigned a print ID, which is a serial number, and is shown in FIG. 4 by each print file information and each print ID. Print list information 45 is configured.

  In this way, when the main ID of the image that the user desires to print is written in the IDX of each print file information structure 47, the print list information 45 is registered in an appropriate storage area in the controller 11. If an image information sub-list 49 is prepared for the IDX of each print file information structure 47, the image sub-ID is set.

  The above-mentioned main ID of the image, that is, the ID number of the file related to the image that the user desires to print is calculated by the calculation formula (1) or (2) as described below. The setting information for each file described above is set in advance by the user. For example, the setting information for printing (print setting information) and how large the size of the printing paper is. Information (paper size information), the number of prints, print resolution, image quality, and the like.

  In the present embodiment, print setting information can be set in the information of the mark sheet 17, and when the controller 11 performs the mark sheet reading process 75, the print setting information is also interpreted. The print setting information can be set for each thumbnail image.

  In the mark sheet reading process 75, the image of the mark sheet 87 output from the image scanner 3 to the controller 11 is analyzed. When the analysis is completed, first, from the various information written in the image information list 41 shown in FIG. A checksum is created. At the same time, the created checksum and the checksum of the mark sheet 87 are compared and collated to check whether or not both checksums are the same. As a result of this check, if it is determined that the two checksums are different, a predetermined warning is notified from the composite printer apparatus 1 to the user as an error.

  On the contrary, when it is determined that both checksums are the same, the number of pages of the mark sheet 87 is determined, and the order code (page code) of the mark sheet 87 is referred to, and the ascending order described above. / Descending order is determined. The place where the mark is entered on the mark sheet 87 (the order of the thumbnail images on the mark sheet 87) is determined, and the page number of the mark sheet 87 and the order of the thumbnail images on which the predetermined mark is entered on the mark sheet 87. Or, based on the sort selection instruction data for indicating the ascending / descending order, the main ID (of the image) of the image (main image) in which the predetermined mark is written is calculated.

Here, as an example of the calculation formula of the main ID of the image in the ascending order, the following formula (1) is given.
Main ID of (main) image to be printed = (page number of mark sheet−1) × M + N (1)
In Equation (1), M represents the maximum number of frames of thumbnail images printed on one mark sheet, and N represents the relative number of the main ID desired by the user in the page. .

Further, as an example of the calculation formula of the main ID of the image in descending order, the following formula (2) is given.
Main ID of (main) image to be printed = total number of frames−number in ascending order + 1 (2)
This equation (2) is used for descending order by subtracting the ascending ID (IDup) calculated by equation (1) from the maximum value IDmax of (main) ID in the image information list 41 and adding 1. This means that an ID (IDdown) is required.

  Using the calculation formula (1) or (2), the main images (hereinafter simply referred to as “images”) of all thumbnail images corresponding to the respective columns of the mark sheet 87 in which a predetermined mark is entered by the user in the mark sheet 87. The main ID is calculated. If the main ID of the image that the user desires to print is the first of the second mark sheet 87, the main ID of the image calculated by the equation (1) is the 37th.

[6] Regarding Print Processing 79 After the print list information 45 is registered in an appropriate storage area in the controller 11 in this way, when the user outputs a print execution command to the controller 11 via the control panel 9, In the controller 11, a printing process 79 by the printer 5 is performed.

  In this print processing 79, the print list information 45 is referred to, the print file information shown in FIG. 4 is read from the print list information 45 in the order of print IDs, and the main ID written in the print file information (ie, the print ID information) IDX) refers to the image information corresponding to the main ID (IDX) in the image information list 41 shown in FIG. If the image information sub-list 49 has been created and the sub-ID is written in the IDX of the print file information, the main ID corresponding to the image sub-ID in the image information list 41 is used. Image information corresponding to the main ID (IDX) is referred to.

  Then, according to the full path file name written in the image information, the main image of the corresponding image file 55 is read from the external storage medium 13 to the controller 11 through the external storage medium I / F 59, and the main image is read according to the print setting information. Image print data is created. The main image print data is output from the controller 11 to the printer 5, whereby the main image sheet 81 is printed by the printer 5.

  FIG. 8 shows a data flow and a control flow when a main image is printed using a thumbnail image displayed on the display 7 in the controller 11 of the composite printer apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

  In FIG. 8, when the user views a thumbnail image displayed on the display 7 and then selects a main image desired to be printed, the external storage medium 13 is used instead of the mark sheet output process 73 shown in FIG. The thumbnail image in the image file stored in is read into the controller 11 and a display process 89 for displaying the read thumbnail image on the display 7 is performed. In this case, as in the mark sheet output process 73, if the user performs the sort selection instruction as described above using the control panel 9, the display process 89 can change the ascending / descending order, and the user An image selection process 91 is performed as a process for receiving a (thumbnail) image selected using the control panel 9 and creating print data (print list information) 45 of the main image based on the thumbnail image.

  FIG. 9 shows the flow of data when the main image is printed using the information related to the mark sheet 87 created in the past in the controller 11 of the composite printer apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed the flow.

  As a premise that the processing operation shown in FIG. 9 is performed, at least various information related to the mark sheet 87 is stored in the image information list 41, the image information sublist 49, or the folder created in the external storage medium 13. It is assumed that the information is stored together with (date / time) information indicating what time it was. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the folder is described as being created in an appropriate storage area in the external storage medium 13.

  The external storage medium 13 is inserted into the external storage medium insertion unit of the composite printer 1 by the user and connected to the controller 11 through the external storage medium I / F 59, whereby the processing operation shown in FIG. 9 is started. And it is preserve | saved in the folder 83 with the date information, the image information list | wrist, and image information sublist which were produced at the time of the printing of the last main image from the folder 93 created in the suitable storage area of the external storage medium 13. FIG. A checksum 95 is read into the controller 11.

  When the mark sheet 87 created by the previous printing is set in the image scanner 3 by the user, the checksum 97 is read from the mark sheet 87 by the mark sheet reading process 75. Then, a checksum matching process 99 for comparing and checking the checksum 95 and the checksum 97 is performed. If both checksums 95 and 97 match by this checksum matching process 99, the image information list, the image information sublist, etc. in the folder 93 existed at the time of the previous main image printing. The process for printing the main image as described above is executed after the determination.

In the processing shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, once the main image is printed on the main image sheet 81, and the composite printer apparatus 1 is turned off, the various lists created for printing the main image are displayed. Since all information is lost, the same process must be repeated from the beginning in order to perform the same process again. Even if each list information described above is stored in an appropriate storage area in the composite printer apparatus 1 in association with a checksum or the like, the external storage medium 13 is loaded in the digital camera 15, If a new image is added by the photographing operation of the digital camera 15, the checksum becomes a different value, so that each of the above list information cannot be used. However, since it is desirable from the viewpoint of resource saving and the environment that the mark sheet 17 once created using valuable printing paper and ink should be reused, if possible, from the viewpoint of resource saving and the environment, the composite printer apparatus Even if a new image is recorded in the external storage medium 13 after the power of 1 is turned off or by the photographing operation of the digital camera 15, there is a demand to use various data created previously.
Therefore, the processing is performed by the method as shown in FIG.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The second embodiment corresponds to a modification of the first embodiment. The first embodiment discloses a configuration for printing thumbnail images on the mark sheet 17 in the order desired by the user, such as ascending order or descending order of ASCII codes. In the present embodiment, specific processing for specifying an image file marked on the mark sheet 17 will be described.

  FIG. 10 shows a schematic configuration of the mark sheet 17 according to the present embodiment. On this mark sheet 17, an image arrangement rule display field 22 is printed next to the checksum display field 21. In the image arrangement rule display field 22, information relating to the printing order of thumbnail images to be printed on the mark sheet 17, that is, a rule relating to the arrangement (arrangement) of the images is symbolized and printed. The image arrangement rule display column 22 is not necessarily provided next to the checksum display column 21 and may be provided at another location on the mark sheet 17.

  The image arrangement rule printed in the display field 22 may be a part of the rule for arranging the thumbnail images such as “ascending order” or “descending order”, for example. That is, when the rule of the image printing order is “arrange the file names in ascending order of ASCII codes”, the information printed on the mark sheet 17 may be simply “ascending order”, and “file names in ASCII codes”. Details such as “are omitted. This is because image placement rules other than the image placement rules printed on the mark sheet 17 are known to the controller 11.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing executed by the mark sheet output processing 73. First, it is determined whether or not to print the mark sheet 17 based on a user instruction (S1). When the user instructs to output the mark sheet 17 (S1: YES), the image information list 41 is read (S2), and a checksum for verification is calculated (S3). Next, an image arrangement rule is acquired based on the sort selection instruction data (S4).

  Then, the thumbnail image data of each image file acquired from the external storage medium 13, the calculated checksum, a part of the image arrangement rule (for example, “ascending order” or “descending order”), the serial number 33, Print data for the mark sheet 17 is generated based on the information such as the recording date 35 (S5). The printer 5 performs printing based on the print data and outputs the mark sheet 17 (S6). When a large number of thumbnail images are output, if the mark sheet 17 is composed of a plurality of sheets, printing is performed until all the mark sheets 17 are printed (S7).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing executed by the mark sheet reading processing 75. The user causes the scanner 3 to read the completed mark sheet (reference numeral 87 in FIG. 7 and the like, but unified with reference numeral 17 for convenience of description) (S11).

  The controller 11 analyzes the content of the sheet image read from the mark sheet 17 (S12), and grasps the checksum printed on the mark sheet 17. Then, the controller 11 calculates a checksum based on the image information list 41 (S13), and checks whether or not the calculated checksum matches the checksum printed on the mark sheet 17 (S14). .

  If both checksums match (S14: YES), the controller 11 analyzes and acquires the image arrangement rule printed on the mark sheet 17 (S15). Then, the image file selected by the user is identified by referring to the image information list 41 on the basis of the image arrangement rule specified on the mark sheet 17 and the position of the image marked by the user, and the print list Information 45 is generated (S16). Specific examples for specifying the ID of the image file have already been described together with the equations (1) and (2).

  For example, it is printed that the thumbnail images are arranged on the mark sheet 17 in “ascending order”, and the third printed thumbnail image of the first mark sheet 17 is selected. The controller 11 detects the third corresponding image file in the ascending order of the ASCII code from the image information list 41 and registers this image file in the print list information 45. Here, it is assumed that the generation rule of the image information list 41, that is, the rule in which the ID is assigned to the image file is fixed to either “ascending order” or “descending order”.

  On the other hand, if the checksum on the mark sheet 17 and the checksum calculated from the image information list 41 do not match (S14: NO), the mark sheet 17 does not correspond to the external storage medium 13, and error processing is performed ( S17). In the error processing, for example, a message such as “Please replace the external storage medium” is notified to the user.

In this embodiment, a part of the rules that define the printing order of thumbnail images (partial image arrangement rules) is printed on the mark sheet 17. Therefore, based on the image arrangement rule read from the mark sheet 17 and the image information list 41, the image file that the user desires to print can be easily specified. Therefore, even when the latest image is arranged at the top and printed, the image file selected by the user can be specified accurately, and the usability is improved. The image arrangement rule is an arrangement order of images printed on the mark sheet 17 and is a part of the configuration of the mark sheet 17 itself. Therefore, it can be said that an image file can be easily specified by printing a part of the configuration of the mark sheet itself on the mark sheet 17.
Note that the image arrangement rule may be acquired at the same time as the checksum is acquired from the mark sheet 17.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an outline of the mark reading process according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The feature of this embodiment is that the image file is specified in consideration of not only the image arrangement rule printed on the mark sheet 17 but also the generation rule of the image information list 41.

  In FIG. 13, S21 to S25 and S28 correspond to S11 to S15 and S17 in FIG.

  In this embodiment, after analyzing the image arrangement rule printed on the mark sheet 17 (S25), the generation rule (ID allocation order) of the image information list 41 is acquired (S26). The generation rule of the image information list 41 is a rule indicating in what order (ascending order or descending order) the image files are managed. In this embodiment, the image file selected by the user is specified by referring to the image information list 41 based on the image arrangement rule obtained from the mark sheet 17 and the generation rule of the image information list 41 (S27). ).

  In this embodiment, in addition to the image arrangement rule printed on the mark sheet 17, the generation rule of the image information list 41 is considered. Therefore, even when the image files managed in the image information list 41 are rearranged, the image file selected on the mark sheet 17 can be accurately and easily specified. For example, assume that the image information list 41 is sorted in descending order before the mark sheet 17 is output (the latest image is arranged at the beginning of the sheet), and then the image information list 41 is sorted in ascending order. When the mark sheet 17 is read in this state, the image file can be identified by rereading the image information list 41 managed in ascending order in descending order.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a mark sheet 17A according to the fourth embodiment. A feature of this embodiment is that the file name 29A of the image file is printed on the mark sheet 17A instead of the thumbnail image 29. Also in this embodiment, the rules indicating the order of file names are printed in the display field 22.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a mark sheet 17B according to the fifth embodiment. The feature of the present embodiment is that a thumbnail image or a part 29B of the main image is printed on the mark sheet 17B instead of the thumbnail image 29, and the user performs hand marking as indicated by reference numeral M instead of the mark portion 31. It is in the point which made it possible.

  For example, the user can roughly estimate what kind of image the image is just by printing the image by cutting out the central portion of the image. Further, it may be easier to grasp the characteristics of an image when printing only the main part of the image than when printing the entire image. In a normal case, since the subject that the user wants to photograph is often located at the center of the image, only the thumbnail image or the center of the main image is printed. In this case, the image in the extracted range can be enlarged or reduced for printing.

  Further, for example, by marking a desired image with a pencil or the like, an image file to be printed can be designated. Therefore, the usability is improved as compared with the case where the small mark portion 31 is marked.

  FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a mark sheet 17C according to the sixth embodiment. A feature of this embodiment is that meta information 29C of an image file is printed on the mark sheet 17C instead of the thumbnail image 29.

  As meta information to be printed instead of images, for example, “Athletic meet”, “Employee trip”, “Drive”, “Wedding”, “Private”, “Work”, “Play”, etc. Message information such as comments and titles manually associated with the file can be listed. Such a message may be the name of an event or the category name to which the event belongs. As a method of manually associating meta information, for example, a method of inputting characters via the user interface of the digital camera 15 or the composite printer apparatus 1, or a user selects a desired message from comments and titles prepared in advance. And the like.

  As described above, by printing the meta information on the mark sheet 17C instead of or together with the image, the user can more easily select an image file desired to be printed. For example, based on the name of the event where the image was taken, the category to which the event belongs, etc., the user can grasp the desired image at a glance and can easily find and select the relevant image file. , Usability increases.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but this is an example for explaining the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The present invention can be implemented in various other forms.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image processing apparatus that is an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and is configured as a composite printer apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows typically the structure of the mark sheet which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an image information list generated and stored in the controller of the composite printer apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the print list information which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the image information sublist which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an image history file generated in a controller of a composite printer apparatus and recorded in a card type memory (external storage medium) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data flow and a control flow when a main image is printed using mark sheet print data in a controller of a composite printer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data flow and a control flow when a main image is printed using a thumbnail image displayed on a display in a controller of a composite printer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data flow and a control flow when a main image is printed using a mark sheet created in the past in the controller of the composite printer device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The schematic block diagram of the mark sheet which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention. The flowchart which shows the outline | summary of a mark sheet output process. The flowchart which shows the outline | summary of a mark sheet reading process. 10 is a flowchart showing an outline of a mark sheet reading process according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The schematic block diagram of the mark sheet which concerns on 4th Example of this invention. The schematic block diagram of the mark sheet which concerns on 5th Example of this invention. The schematic block diagram of the mark sheet which concerns on 6th Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Composite printer apparatus, 3 ... Scanner, 5 ... Printer, 7 ... Display, 9 ... Control panel, 11 ... Controller, 13 ... External storage medium, 15 ... Digital camera, 17 ... Mark sheet, 21 ... Checksum display column, 22 ... Image arrangement rule display field, 41 ... Image information list

Claims (7)

Management table generating means for acquiring information about the image file from the data source and generating a management table for identifying and managing the image file;
Sheet output processing means for printing out an image selection sheet for selecting the image file stored in the data source based on the management table;
Sheet reading processing means for reading a sheet image from the output image selection sheet and identifying an image file selected by a user based on the sheet image and the management table;
Print processing means for acquiring the specified image file from the data source, generating print data, and printing the print data;
With
The image processing apparatus characterized in that the sheet output processing means prints information related to the print order of the image file printed on the image selection sheet on the image selection sheet together with the image file.   2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the sheet reading processing unit specifies an image file selected by the user based on a generation rule of the management table and information on the printing order read from the sheet image. Processing equipment.   When the image selection sheet is output over a plurality of sheets, the sheet reading processing means, based on the information about the print order of the image file read from the sheet image and the page order of the image selection sheet, The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image file selected by a user is specified.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the image file is printed on the image selection sheet.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein meta information of the image file is printed on the image selection sheet.   2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing order designating unit for designating a printing order of the image file, wherein the image file is printed on the image selection sheet based on the printing order designated by the printing order designating unit. The image processing apparatus described. Obtaining information about an image file from a data source and generating a management table for identifying and managing the image file;
Printing an image selection sheet for selecting the image file stored in the data source based on the management table;
Reading a sheet image from the output image selection sheet and identifying an image file selected by the user based on the sheet image;
Obtaining the specified image file from the data source to generate print data, and printing the print data;
Including
An image processing method in which information relating to a printing order of the image file printed on the image selection sheet is printed on the image selection sheet together with the image file.

Images