JP3798124B2 - Print output system, print output method, digital still camera, printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print output system for image files taken with an imaging apparatus such as a digital still camera (hereinafter referred to as DSC).
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the widespread use of DSC for image file print output systems, it has been demanded that an individual can easily print out, or that a print output service can be used as easily and inexpensively as a silver halide film camera.
[0003]
A conventional image file print output system will be described below.
FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional image file print output system. In FIG. 2A, 1 is a DSC that shoots a subject by digital signal processing, 2 is a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) that captures a video signal captured by DSC 1, and 3 is connected to the personal computer 2 and connected from the DSC 1 This is a printer that prints out the captured image signal.
[0004]
FIG. 2B shows a block diagram of a conventional DSC. In FIG. 2B, reference numeral 4 denotes an image pickup unit for picking up image data input from the lens, and 5 denotes a recording medium for recording image data picked up by the image pickup unit 4, such as a compact flash card or a floppy disk. . Reference numeral 6 denotes a reproduction unit that reproduces image data recorded on the recording medium 5, and reference numeral 7 denotes a display unit that displays an image captured by the imaging unit 4 and an image reproduced by the reproduction unit 6.
[0005]
FIG. 2C is a block diagram of a conventional printer. In FIG. 2C, 8 is a communication control unit for performing data communication with the personal computer 2, 9 is a memory serving as storage means for storing data from the personal computer 2, and 10 is a printing unit for printing image data stored in the memory 9. It is.
[0006]
The operation of the conventional image file print output system configured as described above will be described below.
[0007]
First, a desired subject is photographed by DSC1. The captured image is converted into an image file by the imaging unit 4 as shown in FIG. 2 (b), added with a file name and other information, and recorded on the recording medium 5. At the time of reproduction, the image file recorded on the recording medium 5 can be reproduced by the reproduction unit 6 and displayed on the display unit 7 to confirm the image.
[0008]
Next, in order to print out the recorded image data, it is necessary to transfer the image file to the personal computer 2 as shown in FIG. The application program for digital image of the personal computer 2 is activated, the image data is taken in from the DSC 1, and the image is confirmed on the monitor screen of the personal computer 2. The personal computer 2 controls the connected printer 3 to transfer the print image data to the printer 3. The printer 3 prints with the printing unit 10 while storing the image data from the personal computer 2 in the memory 9 through the communication control unit 8.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional configuration, in order to print out an image captured by the DSC 1, it is necessary to transfer the image data to the personal computer 2 and display the image on the monitor with the image application software of the personal computer 2 for confirmation. When the personal computer 2 is not possessed, print output cannot be performed, and even if the personal computer 2 is possessed, many operations and time are required for print output, which is very complicated.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and to provide an image file print output system capable of easily printing desired image data without using a personal computer.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, a print output system of the present invention is displayed on a reproduction unit that reproduces image data recorded in a built-in memory , a display unit that displays image data reproduced on the reproduction unit, and a display unit. A digital still camera having an operation unit for selecting image data to be printed from the image data, and a digital still camera connected to the digital still camera via a cable, and print output of the image data recorded in the built-in memory and the image data selected by the operation unit A reading unit comprising a reading unit for reading an information file, an analysis unit for analyzing the print output information file read by the reading unit, and a printing unit for printing the image data read by the reading unit. When the means reads the print output information file from the digital still camera via the cable Analyzer analyzes the print output information file read by the reading means, reading means reads the image data stored in the internal memory in accordance with the results analyzed by the analyzing unit via a cable, the printing unit is read-out means The image data read out in (1) is configured to be printed.
[0012]
With this configuration, you can easily print the desired image file without using a personal computer and without writing information such as the name of the image file on a separate medium such as paper when requesting print output from a vendor. The print output system can be obtained.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reproduction unit for reproducing image data recorded in a built-in memory , a display unit for displaying image data reproduced by the reproduction unit, and image data displayed on the display unit. A digital still camera having an operation unit for selecting image data to be printed from, a digital still camera connected to the digital still camera via a cable, and image data recorded in a built-in memory and a print output information file of the image data selected by the operation unit The reading unit includes a reading unit, an analysis unit that analyzes the print output information file read by the reading unit, and a printer that prints the image data read by the reading unit. When the output information file is read from the digital still camera via the cable, the analysis unit uses the reading means. Analyzes were Desa see printout information file, reading means reads the image data stored in the internal memory in accordance with the results analyzed by the analyzing unit via a cable, the printing unit is read by reading means image data is obtained by characterized by being configured to print a has the effect that it is possible to print output image data captured by the image pickup device without through the personal computer in the printing device.
[0014]
The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention, a second step of the internal memory to play with the first step of recording the image data, the image data reproducing unit is recorded in the internal memory of a digital still camera, A third step in which the display unit of the digital still camera displays the image data reproduced by the reproduction unit, and the operation unit of the digital still camera selects image data to be printed from the image data displayed on the display unit. The fourth step, the reading means of the printer, the fifth step of reading out the print output information file of the image data selected by the operation section from the digital still camera via the cable, and the analysis section of the printer are the reading means. a sixth step of analyzing the read print output information file, reading means, according to the result of the analysis by the analysis unit , The image data recorded in the internal memory and a seventh step of reading through the cable, the printing portion of the printer, the print output method and a eighth step of printing the image data read by the reading unit is there.
[0015]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a digital still camera connected to a printer by a cable, a reproduction unit that reproduces image data recorded in a built-in memory , and image data reproduced by the reproduction unit are displayed. A display unit and an operation unit for selecting image data to be printed from the image data displayed on the display unit, and when the printer reads out the print output information file of the image data selected by the operation unit via the cable The print output information file read via the cable is analyzed, and the image data recorded in the built-in memory is read via the cable according to the analysis result of the print output information file. It is.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a printer connected to a digital still camera with a cable, the image data recorded in the built-in memory of the digital still camera and the image data recorded in the built-in memory are selected. Reading means for reading out the print output information file of the image data via the cable, an analysis section for analyzing the print output information file read by the reading means, and a printing section for printing the image data read by the reading means When the reading unit reads the print output information file from the digital still camera via the cable, the analysis unit analyzes the print output information file read by the reading unit, and the reading unit is analyzed by the analysis unit. It reads out the image data stored in the internal memory in accordance with the result, sign Parts are characterized by being configured to print the image data read by the reading means.
[0016]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1A is a configuration diagram of an image file print output system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 11 denotes a DSC that is an imaging apparatus that captures a subject, and reference numeral 12 denotes an image captured by the DSC 11. A printer 13, which is a printing apparatus that prints data, is a recording medium that records image data with the DSC 11, and includes, for example, a compact flash card or a floppy disk. The recording medium 13 is preferably detachable from the DSC 11 and the printer 12 from the viewpoint of the transfer speed of the image file and the print output information file.
[0017]
FIG. 1B shows a block diagram of the DSC in this embodiment. In FIG. 1B, 14 is an imaging unit that processes image data input from the lens, 13 is a recording medium that records image data captured by the imaging unit 14, and 16 is image data recorded on the recording medium 13. A playback unit for playback, 17 is a display unit for displaying images taken by the imaging unit 14 and images played back by the playback unit 16, and 18 is an operation for registering information of desired image data from the played back image data. Part.
[0018]
FIG. 1C is a block diagram of the printer in this embodiment. In FIG. 1C, 13 is a recording medium that can be attached to and detached from the printer 12, 20 is a reading unit that is a reading unit that reads image data from the recording medium 13, and 21 is a print output information file that is read by the reading unit 20. An analysis unit 22 is a memory that stores image data to be printed from the image data read by the read unit 20, and a print unit 23 that prints the image data stored in the memory 22.
[0019]
The operation of the image file print output system of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
[0020]
First, a desired subject is photographed by the DSC 11. The captured image is converted into an image file by the imaging unit 14, added with a file name and other information, and recorded on the recording medium 13. Here, the image data recorded on the recording medium 13 can be reproduced by the reproduction unit 16 and the image can be confirmed on the display unit 17. By selecting and operating the image data to be printed out on the operation unit 18, The print request information is registered in the recording medium 13.
[0021]
The recording medium 13 can be attached to and detached from the DSC 11 and the printer 12 and is detached after being photographed by the DSC 11 and attached to the printer 12 for use. The read unit 20 reads out the print output information file registered in the recording medium 13 loaded first, and the analysis unit 21 analyzes the contents. Next, the image file is read from the recording medium according to the analysis result in the analysis unit 21 and is printed in the print unit 23 while being stored in the memory 22. Until all the image data registered in the print output information file is printed out, analysis by the analysis unit 21, reading from the recording medium 13, and printing by the print unit 23 are repeated.
[0022]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the DSC 11 that can register information on an image file to be reproduced by reproducing an image file, the printer 12 that analyzes and prints out information on the image file registered in the DSC 11, By providing the recording medium 13 that can be attached to and detached from the DSC 11 and the printer 12 and exchanges data, it is possible to print out image data without using a personal computer as in the past, and to request a print out from a printing company. In this case, a desired image file can be easily printed without describing information such as the name of the image file on a separate medium such as paper.
[0023]
In the above description, the recording medium 13 is detachable. However, the recording medium 13 is a built-in memory in the DSC 11, and each is connected by a cable or the like to transfer data.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention provides an excellent effect that desired image data can be easily printed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an image file output system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a DSC for explaining operations in the embodiment, and FIG. 1C is an explanation of operations in the embodiment. FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a conventional image file output system. FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a DSC for explaining the operation of the conventional image file output system. FIG. Block diagram of the printer for explaining the operation of the output system
11 DSC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Printer 13 Recording medium 14 Image pick-up part 16 Playback part 17 Display part 18 Operation part 20 Read part 21 Analysis part 22 Memory 23 Print part

Claims (4)

A reproduction unit that reproduces image data recorded in the built-in memory , a display unit that displays image data reproduced by the reproduction unit, and an operation unit that selects image data to be printed from the image data displayed on the display unit A digital still camera with
Read means for reading out the image data recorded in the internal memory and the print output information file of the image data selected by the operation unit, connected to the digital still camera via a cable, and the print output read out by the read means An analysis unit that analyzes an information file; and a printer that includes a printing unit that prints image data read by the reading unit;
When the reading unit reads the print output information file from the digital still camera via the cable, the analysis unit analyzes the print output information file read by the reading unit, and the reading unit is the analysis unit. The image data recorded in the built-in memory is read through the cable in accordance with the result analyzed in step (b), and the printing unit is configured to print the image data read by the reading unit. Output system. A first step in which the built-in memory of the digital still camera records image data;
A second step in which the playback unit of the digital still camera plays back the image data recorded in the built-in memory ;
A third step in which the display unit of the digital still camera displays the image data reproduced by the reproduction unit;
A fourth step in which the operation unit of the digital still camera selects image data to be printed from the image data displayed on the display unit;
A fifth step of reading out a print output information file of the image data selected by the operation unit from the digital still camera via a cable;
A sixth step in which the analysis unit of the printer analyzes the print output information file read by the reading unit;
A seventh step of reading out the image data recorded on the recording medium in the built-in memory via the cable, in accordance with the result of the analysis performed by the analysis unit;
And an eighth step in which the printing unit of the printer prints the image data read by the reading unit. In a digital still camera connected to a printer with a cable,
A playback unit for playing back image data recorded in the built-in memory of the digital still camera;
A display unit that displays image data reproduced by the reproduction unit; and an operation unit that selects image data to be printed from the image data displayed on the display unit,
When the print output information file of the image data selected by the operation unit is read by the printer via the cable, the print output information file read via the cable is analyzed and recorded in the built-in memory . A digital still camera configured to read out the image data via the cable in accordance with an analysis result of the print output information file. In printers connected to digital still cameras with cables,
Reading means for reading out image data recorded in the built-in memory of the digital still camera and a print output information file of image data selected from the image data recorded in the built-in memory via the cable; and the reading means An analysis unit for analyzing the print output information file read in step (b), and a printing unit for printing the image data read by the reading unit,
When the reading unit reads the print output information file from the digital still camera via a cable, the analysis unit analyzes the print output information file read by the reading unit, and the reading unit is the analysis unit. A printer characterized in that the image data recorded in the built-in memory is read according to the analyzed result, and the printing unit prints the image data read by the reading means.

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