JP2007041658A - Photographic print order program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent wasteful upload of image data or production of failure print as much as possible in a photographic print order program. <P>SOLUTION: The photographic print order program is executed in a client computer CL to transmit image data for photographic print production from the client computer CL to a server computer PS through a network. It is detected according to a set condition whether image data capable of becoming the image data for photographic print production is constituted normally, and the detection result is reported. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a photo print ordering program executed in the client computer in order to transmit image data to be produced as a photo print over a network from a client computer to a server computer.

Such a photo print ordering program is incorporated in a computer (generally a personal computer) of a person who orders printing, as described in Patent Document 1 below, and the computer (client computer) via a network (generally the Internet). This is a program that connects to a server computer operated by a print shop or a print order brokerage company and transmits image data for producing a photographic print.
When image data is uploaded to the server in such a form to produce a photo print, the image data uploaded to the server may not be normally configured due to, for example, a lack of part of the data.
For example, when the image data of the digital camera is transferred to the personal computer of the print orderer via the storage medium, the electrode portion is contaminated because the handling of the storage medium is messy. This often occurs when data transfer is not successful.
If there is such an abnormality in the image data that is the subject of the photo print production, conventionally, if it is not readable at the print shop, it is notified to the print orderer. It was common to print.
JP 2003-150518 A

Therefore, there is a problem that image data that cannot be a photographic print is uploaded unnecessarily, or a failed print is produced with abnormal image data.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent wasteful uploading of image data and production of failed prints as much as possible.

According to a first aspect of the present application, in a photo print ordering program executed in the client computer for transmitting image data of a photo print production target from a client computer to a server computer via a network, the photo print production target It is configured to detect whether or not the image data that can be the image data is normally configured according to the set condition and notify the detection result.
Therefore, when the image data is not properly configured, that is, when the image data is not in the correct configuration form, it can be grasped before the image data is transmitted to the server computer. It is possible to avoid that a photographic print is not produced or that image data that produces an abnormal photographic print is erroneously transmitted.

According to a second aspect of the present application, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, in order to specify image data of a photographic print production target to be transmitted to the server computer, A thumbnail image of a candidate image is displayed on the monitor screen.
When specifying an image for photo print production from among many images, the print orderer displays the images that are candidates for the photo print production target as thumbnail images on the monitor screen, so that the print orderer can take a photo for each image. It becomes easy to determine whether or not to produce a print.
When specifying an image for photographic print production in such a form, the thumbnail image is small, so even if there is an abnormality such as missing image data, it is difficult to notice the abnormality, and there is no abnormality in the thumbnail image However, there are cases where there is an abnormality in the original image configuration, but if the print orderer looks at the thumbnail image and does not feel any abnormality, he / she orders the print as it is.
Thus, as described above, it is extremely effective to detect the presence or absence of abnormality in the configuration of the image data and display the result in some manner.

According to a third aspect of the present application, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect of the present invention, whether or not the image data of the thumbnail image is normally configured is detected according to setting conditions, and the detection is performed on the monitor screen. It is configured to display the results.
In other words, not only image data to be sent to the server computer as a photographic print production target, but also detection of whether or not the image data is normally configured for thumbnail images displayed for selecting the photographic print production target image. Then, the detection result is notified.
If the structure of the thumbnail image is not normal, there may be some abnormality in the image data of the original image that is the source of the thumbnail image, so the print orderer can be alerted. .
In addition, since the detection result can be confirmed directly on the monitor screen, an abnormal image can be accurately eliminated.

According to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to avoid sending image data that does not produce a photo print or that produces an abnormal photo print to the server computer by mistake. The production of prints can be prevented as much as possible.
Further, according to the second aspect, even when a photo print production target is specified by a thumbnail image for which it is not easy to specify an abnormal image, transmission of the abnormal image to the server computer can be accurately avoided.
According to the third aspect of the invention, even when the thumbnail image has an abnormal configuration, the print orderer is notified and alerted to the abnormal image data to the server computer. Transmission can be eliminated more accurately.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a photo print ordering program of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
This photographic print ordering program constitutes a part of a photographic print production ordering system that places a photographic print production order from home via a network (more specifically, the Internet).
In the photographic print production ordering system exemplified in the present embodiment, as shown in a schematic arrangement in FIG. 1, a person who wants to produce a photographic print (print orderer) can start from his own computer (personal computer CL). A store that connects to a print order centralized reception server PS that accepts print orders via the Internet, and requests image data, number of prints, print size, and photo print preparation necessary for photo print production. A photo print production order is made in a form in which data such as information designating (hereinafter referred to as a print shop) is transmitted.
The print order centralized reception server PS is a server computer that accepts photo print production orders from a large number of print orderers and relays the print orders to each print shop. Upon receiving requests from a large number of print shops, photo prints are received. It is operated by a print order relay company that mediates production orders.

In each print shop, for example, a photographic printing apparatus EP called a so-called digital minilab system whose external appearance is illustrated in FIG. 2 is installed, and centralized reception of print orders from a computer PO connected to the photographic printing apparatus EP and a LAN. Connect to the server PS, and if there is a print order for your print shop, download the print order image data, etc., make a photo print with the photo print device EP, and print the photo print Ship to the person.
The photographic printing apparatus EP illustrated in FIG. 2 pulls out the photographic paper stored in a roll form in the photographic paper magazine 1 and exposes and forms an image on the photographic paper with a print engine such as a laser beam exposure engine. Photographic prints are made at high speed. In this embodiment, the system is configured on the assumption that a photographic print is produced mainly by image data photographed by a digital camera. However, the photographic printing apparatus EP includes a film reading device 2. It also has the function of producing photographic prints from photographic film.
In FIG. 1, one print shop is illustrated, but actually, as described above, a large number of print shops contract with the print order relay operator operating the print order centralized reception server PS to place a print order. The company accepts print orders via the Internet.

[Photo print production order]
In order for a general user to make a photo print order as the print orderer, his / her personal computer CL has a photo print ordering program for communicating with the print order centralized reception server PS, and a web browsing program (so-called web browser). Are incorporated in advance.
The photo print ordering program is a program for connecting as a client computer to the print order centralized receiving server PS on which the web server program is operating and transmitting / receiving necessary data. It is distributed by print shops that have contracts with print order relay operators.
On the other hand, as the web browsing program, a widely distributed program can be used, but it is preferable to use a program recommended by a print order relay operator.

Hereinafter, the operation of the photo print ordering program at the time of print order will be schematically described based on the flowcharts of FIGS.
When the print orderer who operates the personal computer CL inputs an instruction to start the print ordering work in a state where the photo print ordering program is activated in the personal computer CL, the processing of FIG. 3 is started in the personal computer CL.
When the processing of FIG. 3 is started, first, the latest information on the server side is sent back to the print order central reception server PS based on the address information of the print order central reception server PS written in the setting file or the like. A communication request is transmitted (step # 1). At this time, version information of the photo print ordering program executed in the personal computer CL is also transmitted.
If there is a newer version of the photo print ordering program than the photo print ordering program executed on the personal computer CL, the print order centralized reception server PS responds to this communication request with information indicating that fact. An upper limit value of the total capacity of image data that can be transmitted in one print order process is transmitted to the personal computer CL.

The personal computer CL that has received the response from the print order centralized reception server PS (step # 2), if a newer version of the photo print ordering program exists (step # 3), the new version of the photo print order. An installation program integrated with the program is downloaded from the print order centralized reception server PS (step # 4), and the installation program is started (step # 5).
If there is no newer version of the photo print ordering program (step # 3), the process proceeds to the next process (ie, step # 6).

In step # 6, a screen for specifying image data to be produced as a photographic print to be transmitted to the print order central reception server PS as exemplified in FIG. 6 is displayed on the monitor.
In the screen display of FIG. 6, in order to specify a directory in which an image file exists, a directory specification column 11 that displays a directory structure in the personal computer CL in a tree shape, and an image that exists in the directory specified in the directory specification column 11. An image display field 12 for displaying a file as a thumbnail image as a candidate image for a photo print production target, an order button display 13 for instructing a print order of the selected image, and an operating environment of the photo print ordering program. In addition to displaying a setting button display 14 for setting, all frame selection button display 15 for designating all the images in one directory as a print order target and the operation of the photo print ordering program are stopped. The end button display 16 is displayed.
In the processing portion for displaying the screen of FIG. 6 in the photo print ordering program, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 executed when the directory is designated by the mouse or the like in the directory designation column 11 or displayed in the image display column 12. The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 executed when a thumbnail image that has been designated is designated with a mouse or the like is incorporated.

In the screen display state shown in FIG. 6, the print orderer designates the directory in which the image file exists in the directory display of the directory designation field 11 with the mouse or the like, and the “directory selection process” in FIG. 4 starts. Then, first, it is confirmed whether or not thumbnail images already exist for the images of those image files (step # 21), and a new thumbnail image is generated for an image file that does not have a thumbnail image (step # 21). Step # 22).
When thumbnail images are generated appropriately in this way, whether or not the thumbnail images for the image files in the selected directory, including newly generated thumbnail images, are properly configured is detected according to the setting conditions. However, the thumbnail image that is not normally configured is set to display an image for indicating that there is an abnormality in the thumbnail image (step # 24).
Here, the setting condition for determining whether or not the thumbnail image is normally configured is that the number of pixels of the thumbnail image is a predetermined number of pixels set in advance as the image size of the thumbnail image. If the thumbnail image to be inspected does not have a predetermined number of pixels, it is determined that the configuration of the thumbnail image is not normal.

As described above, when the preparation of the thumbnail images to be displayed on the monitor screen including the abnormal thumbnail images is completed, the thumbnail images are displayed in the image display column 12 of the screen display of FIG. 25), and the display state is as shown in the monitor screen display example of FIG.
FIG. 7 illustrates a case where the thumbnail image at the center of the lowermost stage is not normally configured, and shows that the thumbnail image is not normally configured in a display form in which an X mark is added to the image.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the state where the thumbnail image is displayed in the image display field 12, the print orderer performs an operation of selecting an image to be a photographic print production target.
When the print orderer designates the thumbnail image in the image display column 12 with the mouse or the like in the screen display state shown in FIG. 7, the “image selection process” in FIG. 5 is executed. It is determined whether or not the thumbnail image specified in (1) is an image that can be selected and operated (step # 31).
Here, the selectable image means an image excluding thumbnail images that are determined not to be normally configured in step # 23 in FIG. That is, when it is detected that the image data of the thumbnail image is not normally configured, the thumbnail image is excluded so as not to be a photographic print production target image.
If it is a selectable image, the selection state is switched (step # 32). That is, the thumbnail image that has not been selected as the photographic print production target is switched to the selected state, and the thumbnail image that has been selected as the photographic print production target is switched to the released state.

Further, as a result of switching the selection state, for the thumbnail image that has been selected as a photographic print production target (step # 33), the image data of the original image for the thumbnail image (photo print production target and It is detected according to the set condition whether or not the image data itself of the resulting image is normally configured (step # 34). That is, it is detected according to the set condition whether or not image data that can be image data of a photographic print production target is normally configured.
The above setting condition for detecting whether or not the image data of the original image is normally configured is that if the image file includes EXIF information, the image size information included in the image file and the actual data It is determined by whether or not the number of pixels matches and whether or not a code indicating the final position of the image data is included. If the number of pixels does not match or the final position of the image data is determined. If the code shown is not included, it is determined that the image data is not normally configured.
When it is detected that the image data is not normally configured because part of the image data is missing or the like, a dialog describing the fact is displayed on the monitor screen to notify the print orderer (step # 35). At the same time, the selection of the image as a photographic print production target is canceled (step # 36). That is, it is excluded so as not to be a photographic print production target.

When the print orderer who operates the personal computer CL completes selection of an image to be printed on the screen of FIG. 7 and operates the order button display 13 with a mouse or the like (step # 7 in FIG. 3), FIG. As a result of the above process, the image file currently selected as a photographic print production target is transmitted (uploaded) from the personal computer CL to the print order central reception server PS (step # 8).
The print order centralized reception server PS can receive the image data of the photographic print production target sent from the personal computer CL without any problem after confirming the consistency with the information such as the number of images and the data of the image size. Then, an upload completion notification is transmitted to the personal computer CL.

When the personal computer CL receives this upload completion notification (step # 9), the personal computer CL activates the web browsing program in a state in which the address information for downloading the input file for the print order conditions is designated as the access address information ( Step # 10).
Along with this, the web browsing program displays the downloaded print order condition input file on the monitor screen of the personal computer CL.
The print orderer inputs the number of prints and the print size of each image on the monitor screen.
When the input operation of the necessary print order conditions is completed, the input information is transmitted to the print order central reception server PS by the function of the web browsing program, thereby confirming the photo print production order.

[Another embodiment]
Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be listed.
(1) The above embodiment exemplifies a case where a message is displayed in a dialog as a display form of a detection result as to whether or not image data to be transmitted as a photo print production target is properly configured. However, for example, in the above embodiment, the display mode of the x mark indicating that the thumbnail image itself is abnormal may be applied to the display of the presence or absence of abnormality of the original image data to be a photographic print production target. good.
Further, as another display form, the thumbnail image is not displayed in the image display field 12 of the screen display shown in FIG. 6 or the like when the original image data to be produced as a photo print is not normally configured. The detection result may be displayed, and the display form of the detection result can be variously changed.

(2) In the above embodiment, the print order central reception server PS is illustrated as one computer, but the print order central reception server PS may be configured by a plurality of computers.
(3) In the above embodiment, the case where a photo print production order is made via a print order relay operator different from the print shop is illustrated, but the print shop itself is a server for receiving print orders. May be configured to accept print orders.
(4) The above embodiment exemplifies the case where the print order is received by the print order centralized reception server PS having the web server function. However, instead of using the standardized web server function, You may comprise so that image data etc. may be transmitted / received by communication by a protocol.
(5) In the above embodiment, the web browsing program is used for inputting the print order conditions. However, this function may be incorporated into the photo print ordering program.

Arrangement for showing an outline of print order according to an embodiment of the present invention 1 is an external perspective view of a photographic printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart concerning embodiment of this invention The flowchart concerning embodiment of this invention The flowchart concerning embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the example of a monitor screen display concerning embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the example of a monitor screen display concerning embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

Client computer CL
Server computer PS

Claims (3)

A photo print ordering program executed in the client computer for transmitting image data of a photo print production target from a client computer to a server computer via a network,
A photographic print ordering program configured to detect whether image data that can be image data to be produced as a photographic print is normally configured according to a set condition and to notify the detection result.   2. A thumbnail image of an image that is a candidate for a photographic print production target image is displayed on a monitor screen in order to specify the photographic print production target image data to be transmitted to the server computer. The listed photo print ordering program.   3. The photo print ordering program according to claim 2, wherein the photo print ordering program is configured to detect whether or not the image data of the thumbnail image is normally configured according to a set condition and display the detection result on a monitor screen.

Images