JP2004025576A - Image processor, image processing method, and storage medium and program readable by computer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor which enables the automatic setting of the number of images to be output, by allowing the user to directly designate the number without the intervention of image processing devices such as a personal computer and a digital camera. <P>SOLUTION: According to the image processor, an index sheet inclusive of thumbnail images of respective image information items stored in a memory section 103 and input sections in which print designating information items of the respective image information items are input, is printed from a printer section 106, and the printed index sheet is read out. Further each image in a print designating information area is analyzed based on image information of the read-out index sheet, by a control section 101, and then the extracted print designating information item is automatically set to each image information stored in the memory section 103. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer capable of reading image information stored in a predetermined memory medium and job information for setting an output job of the image information and outputting a monochrome or color image from a printing unit. It relates to a possible storage medium and a program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when shooting with a digital camera and printing image data stored in a memory medium such as a smart media, transfer the image data to a personal computer and then output it to a printer, or use a dedicated digital camera or smart media. Output was mainly performed using a dedicated printer that can be connected to the printer.However, in addition to image data, image attribute data and print settings are stored in smart media according to a specific format, and stored when printing. A technique for printing according to the set print job setting has been developed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the prior art, in order to create a print job setting, it is necessary to input with a digital camera having poor operability or to use a personal computer. There was a problem that cost was required.
[0004]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a thumbnail image of each image information stored in a predetermined memory medium and an input for inputting print designation information of each image information. And printing the index sheet including the copy unit from the printing unit, reading the printed index sheet, analyzing the image of the print designation information area from the read index sheet image information, and storing the image in the predetermined memory medium. By automatically setting the extracted print designation information for each piece of image information, the content of the image information stored in a predetermined memory medium is confirmed, and an image processing device such as a personal computer or a digital camera is used. A convenient image processing environment that allows the user to directly specify the number of output sheets and automatically set them without any intervention. It is to provide an image processing apparatus and image processing method, and a computer-readable storage medium and a program capable of servicing the resident.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A first invention according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus capable of reading image information stored in a predetermined memory medium and job information for setting an output job of the image information and outputting a monochrome or color image from a printing unit. Index sheet output means (FIG. 1) for causing the printing unit to print an index sheet including a thumbnail image of each image information stored in the predetermined memory medium and an input unit for inputting print designation information of each image information. Printer unit 106), reading means (corresponding to the scanner unit 105 shown in FIG. 1) for reading the index sheet printed by the index sheet output means, and printing from the image information of the index sheet read by the reading means. The image of the designated information area is analyzed and stored in the predetermined memory medium. It characterized by having a setting means for automatically setting (corresponding to the control unit 101 shown in FIG. 1) the print designation information issued extract the image information.
[0006]
A second invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the print designation information includes the number of prints, output paper size, layout designation, and the like.
[0007]
A third invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the index sheet output means can output a marker for specifying a print designation information area position.
[0008]
In a fourth aspect according to the present invention, the index sheet output means includes an input section for inputting a thumbnail image of each image information stored in the predetermined memory medium and print designation information of each image information. Is printed in monochrome by the printing unit.
[0009]
A fifth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the predetermined memory medium is a memory card that can be mounted on a digital camera.
[0010]
A sixth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the memory card that can be inserted into the digital camera can store a setting file defined by DPOF.
[0011]
A seventh invention according to the present invention is directed to an image processing apparatus capable of reading image information stored in a predetermined memory medium and job information for setting an output job of the image information and outputting a monochrome or color image from a printing unit. An index sheet output step of causing the printing unit to print an index sheet including a thumbnail image of each image information stored in the predetermined memory medium and an input unit for inputting print designation information of each image information. (Steps (1) to (3) shown in FIG. 6), a reading step for reading the index sheet printed by the index sheet output step (Steps (4) and (5) shown in FIG. 6), and the reading step Analyzes the image in the print designation information area from the index sheet image information read by A setting step (steps (6) and (7) shown in FIG. 6) for automatically setting the extracted print designation information for each image information stored in the predetermined memory medium. I do.
[0012]
An eighth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the print designation information includes the number of prints, output paper size, layout designation, and the like.
[0013]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the index sheet output step, a marker for specifying a print designation information area position can be output.
[0014]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the index sheet output step, the index sheet includes a thumbnail image of each image information stored in the predetermined memory medium and an input unit for inputting print designation information of each image information. Is printed in monochrome by the printing unit.
[0015]
An eleventh invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the predetermined memory medium is a memory card that can be mounted on a digital camera.
[0016]
A twelfth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the memory card that can be inserted into the digital camera can store a setting file defined by DPOF.
[0017]
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for implementing the image processing method according to any one of the seventh to twelfth aspects.
[0018]
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for realizing the image processing method according to any one of the seventh to twelfth aspects.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a control unit which controls or manages the operation of each unit of the system, and includes, for example, a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits (including interfaces).
[0021]
An operation unit 102 is used to designate various operations to the control unit 101, and includes, for example, an LCD and various operation buttons. The memory unit 103 stores image data and data related thereto.
[0022]
The memory unit 103 includes a memory card such as a smart media used as an image storage medium of a digital camera, and an external device itself having an image data input / output I / F. In the present embodiment, smart media is used. The related data stored together with the image data includes attribute data of each image and print job settings.
[0023]
Reference numeral 104 denotes a memory input / output unit which reads image data and data related thereto from the memory unit 103 and writes the data into the memory unit 103. A scanner unit 105 optically reads a document.
[0024]
Reference numeral 106 denotes a printer unit that prints images read by the scanner unit 105 and images stored in the memory unit 103 on recording paper in accordance with information specified by the operation unit 102 and print specification information stored in the memory unit 103. It is to be printed.
[0025]
Reference numeral 107 denotes an image recognizing unit. When the scanner unit 105 reads a print job setting for the image data such as the number of prints for each image in the index print of the image data stored in the memory unit 103, the index print is performed. Automatically recognizes the print job settings written in. Index print and print job settings will be described later.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the structure of image data stored in the memory unit 103 illustrated in FIG. 1 and data related thereto.
[0027]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a memory which stores three types of data: basic information 202, additional information 203, and image information 204. The basic information 202 includes the number of images and address information where each image information is stored.
[0028]
The additional information 203 includes print designation information 205 for printing the stored image, together with additional information such as various attribute data of each image. The print designation information 205 indicates the number of prints for each image, and the designated number of images can be printed out from the printer unit 106 according to the number of prints.
[0029]
This information can be created and written by a digital camera, a personal computer, or the like, or can be written from the control unit 101 via the memory input / output unit 104. Here, only the number of prints is handled as the print designation information, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to handle more complicated print designation information such as paper size designation and layout designation.
[0030]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating index printing of image data stored in the memory unit 103 illustrated in FIG.
[0031]
In FIG. 3, index prints 301 include thumbnail images 302 of all or specified data among images stored in the memory unit 103, a print designation area 303 in which the number of prints for each image is written, and a print designation area 303. A print designation area position marker 304 indicating the position of the area is printed. The method of laying out the thumbnail image and the print designation area on the recording paper is predetermined, and when the number of images is large, index printing is performed on a plurality of recording papers.
[0032]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating details of the print designation area 303 shown in FIG.
[0033]
A print designation area shown in FIG. 4A is used to designate an image ID area 401 in which image ID information corresponding to the image data stored in the memory unit 103 is printed on a one-to-one basis, and the number of prints of the image. Are printed in the pattern area 402 (0 to 9, and numerical values from 0, 10, 20,..., 90 can be input).
[0034]
In the present embodiment, barcode data representing image ID information is printed in the image ID area, and a mark sheet pattern capable of designating "0" to "99" sheets is printed in the pattern area.
[0035]
FIG. 4B shows a case where, for example, “15” is designated as the number of images to be printed on the mark sheet pattern shown in FIG. This designation is performed by the user writing (filling) the designated number of sheets in a mark sheet pattern in the print designated area of each image on the index print with a writing instrument (for example, a pen).
[0036]
FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a completed index print result in which the number of prints of each image is written in the print designation area of the index print 301 shown in FIG. 3 and the number designation state. FIG. 5B corresponds to a completed index print result in which the number of prints of each image is written in the print designation area of the index print 301 shown in FIG. 5B. FIG. 5B is written in the print designation area of the index print 301 shown in FIG. 6 shows an example of a setting data table generated from an image ID generated by reading the print number specification of each image and the number specification information.
[0037]
The scanner unit 105 scans the filled-in index print shown in FIG. 5, specifies the position of the print designated area based on the print designated area position marker 304, and identifies the image ID and the number of prints in the print designated area by the image recognition unit. Image recognition is performed by 107.
[0038]
Then, print job setting data including a pair of the image ID and the number of prints shown in FIG. 5B is created from the recognition result. The created data is displayed on the operation unit 102, and prompts the user to confirm whether the designation of the number of sheets entered in the index print and the recognition result are correct.
[0039]
Further, when storage designation to the memory 103 is performed from the operation unit, the print job setting is automatically written to the memory unit 103, and the data of the print designation information 205 is stored in the memory 201.
[0040]
In the above embodiment, only the number of prints of each image is handled as print designation information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and more complicated print designations such as output paper size and layout designation are used. It goes without saying that it can be included.
[0041]
Further, the designation of the number of prints and the like is not limited to the mark sheet method, and may be configured to be performed by handwritten character recognition.
[0042]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to a procedure for automatically specifying the number of sheets by index printing. Note that (1) to (10) indicate each step.
[0043]
First, the control unit 101 determines whether or not an index print (IDP) instruction has been issued for the image information stored in the memory unit 103 by the operation unit 102 (1). If the index print (IDP) instruction has been issued, The image information stored in the memory unit 103 is read out to generate index print sheet image (thumbnail image) data (2).
[0044]
Next, an index print sheet (IDPS) is printed in monochrome from the printer unit 106 (3). Note that, in order to simplify a process of specifying a print designation information area, which will be described later, monochrome printing is also performed on an index print sheet (IDPS) together with a marker for specifying the area position.
[0045]
Next, it is determined whether or not the index print sheet (IDPS) printed by the printer unit 106 is set in the scanner unit 105 and reading is instructed (4), and is set in the scanner unit 105 and reading is instructed. If it is determined that the reading is completed, it is determined whether or not the image reading of the index print sheet (IDPS) set in the scanner unit 105 has been completed (5). If it is determined that the reading has been completed, the control is performed. The unit 101 recognizes the print specification information on the read index print sheet by activating a predetermined recognition program (6).
[0046]
Note that the recognition process may be OCR recognition, or may be recognition by reading a barcode or marker entry position.
[0047]
Next, the print designation information recognized by the control unit 101 is reflected on the print output settings (7). At this time, it is optional to add a process of displaying the read content to the user on the operation unit 101 and waiting for the confirmation instruction.
[0048]
Next, the operation unit 102 waits for a print instruction for the image data stored in the memory unit 103 (8). Each image data is output from the printer unit 106 in accordance with, for example, the output number designation in the print designation information (9).
[0049]
Then, it is determined whether or not the printing process for the designated number of sheets has been completed (10). If not completed, the process returns to step (9). If completed, the process ends. .
[0050]
Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.
[0051]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
[0052]
Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, and the like are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons and the like may also be stored.
[0053]
Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.
[0054]
The functions shown in FIG. 6 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.
[0055]
As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved by reading and executing the program code thus obtained.
[0056]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0057]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, or the like may be used. it can.
[0058]
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0059]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first to fourteenth aspects of the present invention, a thumbnail image of each image information stored in a predetermined memory medium and an input unit for inputting print designation information of each image information are provided. The printing unit prints an index sheet including the index sheet, reads the index sheet to be printed, analyzes the image of the print designation information area from the read index sheet image information, and stores each image stored in the predetermined memory medium. Since the extracted print designation information is automatically set with respect to the information, the contents of the image information stored in a predetermined memory medium are confirmed, and without using an image processing device such as a personal computer or a digital camera. It is possible to freely provide a convenient image processing environment in which the user can directly specify the number of output sheets and perform automatic setting. The effect of, or the like can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure of image data stored in a memory unit illustrated in FIG. 1 and data related thereto.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating index printing of image data stored in a memory unit illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating details of a print designation area shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a completed index print result in which the number of prints of each image is written in a print designation area of the index print shown in FIG. 3 and a number designation state.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 control unit 102 operation unit 103 memory unit 104 memory input / output unit 105 scanner unit 106 printer unit 107 image recognition unit

Claims (14)

An image processing apparatus capable of reading image information stored in a predetermined memory medium and job information for setting an output job of the image information and outputting a monochrome or color image from a printing unit,
Index sheet output means for causing the printing unit to print an index sheet including a thumbnail image of each image information stored in the predetermined memory medium and an input unit for inputting print designation information of each image information,
Reading means for reading an index sheet printed by the index sheet output means;
A setting for analyzing an image in a print designation information area from image information of an index sheet read by the reading means and automatically setting the extracted print designation information for each image information stored in the predetermined memory medium. Means,
An image processing apparatus comprising: 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print designation information includes a number of prints, an output paper size, a layout designation, and the like. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the index sheet output unit is capable of outputting a marker for specifying a print designation information area position. The index sheet output unit causes the printing unit to monochrome print an index sheet including a thumbnail image of each image information stored in the predetermined memory medium and an input unit for inputting print designation information of each image information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined memory medium is a memory card that can be mounted on a digital camera. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the memory card that can be mounted on the digital camera can store a setting file defined by DPOF. An image processing method in an image processing apparatus capable of reading image information stored in a predetermined memory medium and job information for setting an output job of the image information and outputting a monochrome or color image from a printing unit,
An index sheet output step of causing the printing unit to print an index sheet including a thumbnail image of each image information stored in the predetermined memory medium and an input unit for inputting print designation information of each image information,
A reading step of reading an index sheet printed by the index sheet output step;
A setting for analyzing an image in the print designation information area from the image information of the index sheet read in the reading step, and automatically setting the extracted print designation information for each image information stored in the predetermined memory medium. Steps and
An image processing method comprising: 8. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein the print designation information includes a number of prints, an output paper size, a layout designation, and the like. 8. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein in the index sheet output step, a marker for specifying a print designation information area position can be output. The index sheet output step includes causing the printing unit to monochrome print an index sheet including a thumbnail image of each image information stored in the predetermined memory medium and an input unit for inputting print designation information of each image information. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein: The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined memory medium is a memory card that can be mounted on a digital camera. 8. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein the memory card that can be mounted on the digital camera can store a setting file defined by DPOF. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for implementing the image processing method according to claim 7. A program for realizing the image processing method according to any one of claims 7 to 12.

Images