JP4618447B2 - Printer and printer print condition setting method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer and a printing condition setting method for the printer, and more particularly, to a printer in which an external storage medium such as a memory card is mounted and can be printed according to the printing condition setting information read from the external storage medium. The present invention relates to a printing condition setting method.

  The present invention also relates to a printer capable of printing in accordance with print condition setting information set in a peripheral device such as a digital still camera (hereinafter referred to as “digital camera”) connected via a communication interface, and such a printer. The present invention relates to a printing condition setting method.

  In recent years, so-called stand-alone printers (sometimes referred to as “direct printers”) that can print on printing paper alone without requiring connection to a host device typified by a personal computer or the like have become widespread. ing.

  This stand-alone printer typically reads data to be printed from a memory card attached to the card interface and prints it. Therefore, for example, a user who does not have a personal computer or the like can print image data captured in a digital camera and stored in a memory card directly by this stand-alone printer without using a personal computer or the like. It becomes possible.

  In addition, a stand-alone printer that directly reads image data from a digital camera and prints it by connecting to the digital camera via a communication interface such as a USB without attaching or removing a memory card has appeared.

  As described above, since the stand-alone printer does not need to be connected to the host device, print instructions and various print condition settings that have been conventionally performed on the host device, such as print paper type, print paper size, number of copies, An operation panel (user interface device) for setting print conditions such as print quality and layout is provided in the main body.

  Although the stand-alone printer is designed so that the user can set various printing conditions by using the operation panel, it can only be set within the range of setting contents incorporated in advance in the control device in the main body. For example, regarding layout settings, only layouts that are considered to be highly versatile, such as postcard printing, sticker printing, and index printing, are defined, and printing may be performed according to a layout for a specific application. could not.

  For this reason, when a printing condition file designating a layout for a specific application is stored in advance in a memory card and printing is to be performed according to a layout that is not pre-installed in the control device in the main body, A stand-alone printer that reads the print condition file and can set it as a print condition has also been proposed.

  However, the operation panel of a stand-alone printer has only a display / selection function necessary and sufficient to achieve the original purpose of setting various printing conditions. In such an operation panel, a plurality of printing condition files are provided. In the operation of selecting a desired printing condition file from the memory card storing the image and setting it as the printing condition, there is a problem that it is very inconvenient. On the other hand, it was difficult to provide a highly functional operation panel from the viewpoint of keeping the manufacturing cost low.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to propose a method capable of easily selecting a desired printing condition file from a memory card storing a plurality of printing condition files, and a printer including a user interface device that realizes such a method. It is said.

  The present invention also proposes a method for easily selecting a desired printing condition file by a peripheral device connected via a communication interface and setting it as a printing condition, and a printer having a function for realizing such a method. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention according to the first aspect reads the script from an external storage medium (for example, a memory card) that stores a script (printing condition setting information) for setting a plurality of printing conditions. At this time, a script specifying a print specification (for example, paper size) supported by itself is registered in the internal memory, and only a script that matches the print specification set on the user interface is presented. It is characterized by that.

  That is, the present invention provides an external interface to which a storage medium for storing a plurality of printing condition setting information can be attached and detached, storage means for storing hardware specification data, and printing condition setting information from a storage medium attached to the external interface. Reading means for reading each of the information, and registration means for interpreting each of the printing condition setting information read by the reading means and registering predetermined printing condition setting information according to hardware specification data stored in the storage means; , Setting means for selecting specific printing condition setting information from the registered predetermined printing condition setting information, and generating image data based on the print target data in accordance with the selected specific printing condition setting information And generating means for printing on the print medium based on the generated image data. A printing unit, a printer, characterized in that it comprises a.

  Here, the registration unit registers predetermined print condition setting information based on a print medium size value designated by the print condition setting information and a printable print medium size value indicated by the hardware specification data. It is characterized by.

  In addition, the setting unit accepts a printing condition setting by a user input operation, and presents the printing condition setting information corresponding to the accepted printing condition setting from the registered predetermined printing condition setting information to the user. It is characterized by doing.

  Further, the setting means is characterized in that a print medium size value is accepted as a print condition setting, and print condition setting information specifying the print medium size value accepted as the print condition setting is presented.

  Furthermore, the registration unit may assign identification information to the predetermined printing condition setting information, and the setting unit may present the assigned identification information. In this case, it is preferable that the setting unit sequentially presents the assigned identification information according to the input operation of the user.

  Further, the invention of the above apparatus is also established as a method invention. More specifically, the present invention is a printing condition setting method for a printer having an external interface to which a storage medium for storing a plurality of printing condition setting information can be attached and detached, and the storage medium is attached to the external interface. A step of reading each of the printing condition setting information from the storage medium, and interpreting each of the read printing condition setting information, and a predetermined printing condition according to the hardware specification data stored in the printer A printer printing condition setting method comprising: registering setting information; and selecting specific printing condition setting information from the registered predetermined printing condition setting information.

  Furthermore, the present invention can be grasped as a program invention. More specifically, the program is executed by a printer having an external interface to which a storage medium for storing a plurality of printing condition setting information can be attached and detached, and the program is attached to the external interface. A function for reading each of the printing condition setting information from the storage medium, and interpreting each of the read printing condition setting information, and predetermined printing according to the hardware specification data stored in the printer A program for causing a printer to realize a function of registering condition setting information and a function of selecting specific printing condition setting information from the registered predetermined printing condition setting information.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer that can be connected via a communication interface to a peripheral device equipped with a storage medium for storing printing condition setting information, and includes a user interface provided with the peripheral device. Using the selected printing condition setting information, the peripheral device generates print job data based on the selected printing condition setting information, and sends the generated print job data to the printer for printing. It is characterized by realizing. In this case, it is preferable that the peripheral device presents only the printing condition setting information according to the hardware specification of the printer.

  Specifically, the present invention relates to a printer that can be connected via a communication interface to a peripheral device equipped with a storage medium for storing print condition setting information, the storage unit storing hardware specification data, and the storage Transmitting means for transmitting a print setting request including hardware specification data stored in the means to the peripheral device; and in response to the print setting request, the peripheral device stores print condition setting information stored in the storage medium. A printer comprising: a receiving unit that receives print job data generated based on the received print job; and a printing unit that performs printing on a print medium based on the received print job data.

  The present invention also provides a printing method using a printer that can be connected via a communication interface to a peripheral device equipped with a storage medium for storing printing condition setting information, the printing method being stored in a predetermined storage means. Reading hardware specification data related to hardware specifications and transmitting the hardware specification data to the peripheral device; receiving the hardware specification data; and printing condition setting information stored in the storage medium Selecting print condition setting information in accordance with the hardware specification data; generating print job data based on the selected print condition setting information; and transmitting the generated print job data to the printer And a print medium based on the transmitted print job data And performing printing is a printing method comprising a.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides a printing system including a printer and a peripheral device connected to each other via a communication interface, and the printer transmits hardware specification data stored in the storage means to the peripheral device. Transmitting means, receiving means for receiving print job data transmitted from the peripheral device in response to the hardware specification data, printing means for printing on a print medium based on the received print job data, The peripheral device receives the print setting request, reads the print condition setting information stored in the storage medium, and reads predetermined print condition setting information according to hardware specification data included in the print setting request. Input means for presenting and prompting the user to select, and printing conditions selected by the user It has the print job data generation means for generating print job data on the basis of constant information, and transmitting means for transmitting the print job data the generated to the printer, comprising: a.

  Furthermore, the present invention is a peripheral device connected to a printer via a communication interface, which receives hardware specification data from the printer, reads print condition setting information stored in the storage medium, and Input means for presenting predetermined print condition setting information according to the wear specification data and prompting the user to select, and print job data generating means for generating print job data based on the print condition setting information selected by the user; And a transmission means for transmitting the generated print job data to the printer.

  In this specification, the term “means” does not simply mean a physical means, but also includes a case where the functions of the means are realized by software. Further, the function of one means may be realized by two or more physical means, or the functions of two or more means may be realized by one physical means.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments only. The present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist thereof.

[First Embodiment]
In this embodiment, the printer checks the paper size specified in the print condition setting file stored in the memory card, and loads only the script of the paper size supported by itself into the memory. Furthermore, only scripts corresponding to the paper size selected on the user interface are sequentially displayed and selected.

  As a result, it is possible to perform print settings that are rich in extensibility and flexibility, and in particular, a user can easily select a desired script. In addition, an extended layout can be displayed and selected sequentially in a user interface that has only a display and selection function necessary and sufficient to achieve the original purpose of the printer for setting various printing conditions. It becomes like this.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a printer according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, a liquid crystal panel 11 and various buttons 12 are provided on the upper surface of the main body of the printer 1 to form a user interface. That is, a predetermined guidance message or the like is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 11, and the user operates the button 12 in accordance with the displayed content to interactively give the printer 1 a print condition setting or a print execution instruction. Be able to. A card slot 13 as an external interface is provided on the front surface of the printer 1. The card slot 13 conforms to, for example, the PCMCIA standard, and is configured such that the memory card 2 conforming to such a standard can be attached and detached.

  Such a printer 1 is known as a stand-alone printer that does not require connection to a host device. That is, for example, when the printer 1 detects that a memory card is inserted into the card slot 13 and is inserted, a message prompting a print execution instruction is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 11, and the printer 1 waits for a print execution instruction. At this point, the user can operate the button 12 as necessary to set printing conditions and give a print execution instruction. When the printer 1 receives a print execution instruction from the user, the printer 1 reads the image data stored in the memory card 2 and prints on the printing paper. As a result, the user can use such as directly printing image data captured by a digital camera or the like without going through the host device.

  However, even a stand-alone printer may include various interfaces such as a parallel interface, a USB interface, and a network interface that enable connection to the host device.

  The memory card 2 has a built-in nonvolatile rewritable memory and is configured to be detachable from the printer 1 and the digital camera. The user captures image data in the memory card 2 by taking a picture with the digital camera with the memory card 2 attached, and then removes the memory card 2 from the digital camera and attaches it to the printer 1 to perform printing. The captured image data is stored in the memory card 2 in a file format. Further, the memory card 2 according to the present embodiment stores in advance a script (print condition setting script) for setting predetermined print conditions for the printer 1 in a file format.

  If the memory card 2 to be installed in the digital camera is, for example, “Compact Flash (registered trademark) memory”, a PC card adapter is required to be installed in the card slot 13 of the printer 1 compliant with the PCMCIA standard. Here, it is used in a broad sense including such a PC card adapter.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the printer 1 according to this embodiment. The processor 21 executes various control programs stored in the ROM 22 while using the RAM 23 that functions as a main storage device, and controls the printer 1 in an integrated manner. That is, various programs are executed by the processor 21 so that the printer 1 realizes predetermined functions in cooperation with other hardware. In this embodiment, at least a user interface function, a print setting function, a script interpretation execution function, an image generation function, a print control function, and the like are realized. The ROM 22 stores specification information supported by itself, such as monochrome / color printing, paper size, and the like.

  The user interface circuit 24 is for controlling a user interface realized by the liquid crystal panel 11 and the various buttons 12. The external interface circuit 25 is for enabling the processor 21 to access the memory card 2 mounted in the card slot 13. The external interface circuit 25 interrupts the processor 21 when the memory card 2 is inserted into the card slot 13. When detecting this interruption, the processor 21 enters a state of waiting for user input for setting printing conditions. In this printing condition setting, the user can select a printing condition prepared in advance on the printer side via the user interface, and can select a desired printing condition from a plurality of printing condition setting files stored in the memory card 2. A print condition setting file can be selected as a print condition. Upon receiving a print execution instruction after the user selects a print condition setting file via the user interface circuit 24, the processor 21 interprets the selected print condition (including selection of a print condition setting script), and Image data based on the image data is generated according to the interpretation result.

  The image memory 26 is for temporarily storing the generated image data. The engine controller 27 reads the image data stored in the image memory 26 while controlling the operation of the print engine 28 and supplies the read image data to the print engine 28. The engine controller 27 is activated, for example, using a print execution command sent from the processor 21 as a trigger when print image data having a predetermined bandwidth is developed in the image memory 26. The print engine 28 includes, for example, a paper feed mechanism, a print head, and the like, and performs printing on a print medium such as paper. As the print engine 28, a printer according to the type of printer such as a laser printer or a serial printer can be appropriately used.

  The communication interface circuit 29 is for communicating with a host device typified by a personal computer, and various interfaces such as a parallel interface, a USB interface, and a network interface can be applied. The communication interface circuit 29 is preferably not limited to a personal computer, and can communicate with other peripheral devices such as a digital camera that holds data to be printed. There is a USB communication interface as such a communication interface. A mode in which the printer 1 performs printing directly from another peripheral device via a communication interface will be described in the second embodiment.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the data structure in the memory card 2 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the memory card 2 stores an image data file and a print condition setting file. Each file may be managed hierarchically. The print condition setting script is typically created and edited separately by a personal computer or the like and written to the memory card 2. Preferably, a plurality of printing condition setting scripts defining various printing conditions are stored. However, there may be a case where only one printing condition setting script is stored in the memory card 2 or a case where no script is stored.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the print condition setting script according to the present embodiment. In the figure, line numbers are given for convenience. As shown in the figure, the print condition setting script of this example is composed of a header section (1st to 14th lines) and a page section (15th to 16th lines). In the 13th line of the header section, a command for designating a paper size “3.5 × 5” (so-called L size) is described.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface according to the present embodiment. As described above, the user interface includes the liquid crystal panel 11 and the various buttons 12. The liquid crystal panel 11 has sub items 52 for each item 51 such as “printing method”, “paper type”, and “paper size”. In the figure, all the sub items 52 are displayed, but only the selected sub item 52 is displayed during operation. The printer 1 can set various printing conditions within the range of the sub-item 52 shown here. Here, although six types of sub-items are prepared in advance for the item “layout”, these are referred to as “standard layouts” and are provided by a print condition setting script and can be used as will be described later. This layout is called “extended layout”.

  The item 51 to be selected is indicated by the cursor pointer 53 displayed. The item 51 and the sub item 52 are selected by an operation using the up / down / left / right arrow buttons 12. That is, when the user operates the up arrow button or the down arrow button, the display of the cursor pointer 53 moves in the corresponding direction, and informs the user of the item 51 that is the selection target. When the user operates the left arrow button or the right arrow button in a state where any item 51 is a selection target, the display of the sub item 52 moves in the corresponding direction and is selected by the user. Inform sub-item 52. Note that the value of the printing condition parameter corresponding to the selected sub-item 52 is set by such user operation, and this is reflected in the printing condition.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the memory card is loaded in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. Such processing is realized by, for example, a memory card management program (module), and the printer 1 executes this during its operation.

  That is, as shown in the figure, the memory card management program monitors an interrupt from the external interface circuit 26 (STEP 601). An interruption occurs when a memory card is inserted into the card slot 13. When detecting the interruption, the memory card management program accesses the memory card 2 and checks whether or not the print condition setting file exists (STEP 602). At this time, the memory card management program checks the number of image data files stored in the memory card 2 and controls the user interface circuit 25 to display the current print condition parameter setting values on the liquid crystal panel 11. To control. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface immediately after the memory card 2 is inserted into the card slot 13. In this example, “full print” prepared as a standard layout for the item “layout” is selected.

  When the printing condition setting file is stored in the memory card 2, the memory card management program selects one printing condition setting file and reads it through the external interface circuit 26 (STEP 603). Next, the memory card management program analyzes the script that is the content of the print condition setting file (STEP 604), and checks whether the paper size specified there is a paper size supported by itself (step 604). (STEP605). Specifically, the memory card management program refers to the value of “HdPhysicalPaperSize” described in the header section in the print condition setting script. As a result, if the memory card management program determines that the script is supported, it registers the print condition setting script in a predetermined area in the RAM 23 (STEP 606). For example, when the script specifies the paper size “A3”, if the printer does not support printing on such paper, the script is not registered. When registering the script, the memory card management program assigns an identification number to the printing condition script. This identification number is used to identify the user on the user interface. The memory card management program performs the above processing (STEPs 602 to 606) for all the print condition setting files stored in the memory card 2. The memory card management program waits until the memory card 2 is removed after completing the above processing for all the print condition setting files stored in the memory card 2 (STEP 607). Then, when the memory card 2 is removed, the memory card management program returns to the processing of STEP 601 and monitors the mounting of the memory card 2.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining user interface display / selection processing in the printer according to the present embodiment. Such processing is realized by, for example, a user interface program (module), and the printer 1 executes this during its operation.

  As described above, when the memory card 2 is inserted into the card slot 13, the user interface program displays the contents of the current setting value of the printing condition parameter on the user interface (STEP 801; for example, FIG. 7). In this state, the user can set printing conditions by operating the up / down / left / right arrow buttons 12. When the user presses either the left arrow key or the right arrow key (STEP 802, Yes), the user interface program moves the display of the sub-item 52 in the item 51 and selects the corresponding parameter (STEP 803). However, when selecting a layout, processing described later is performed to select a standard layout and an extended layout.

  On the other hand, when the user presses either the up arrow key or the down arrow key (YES in STEP 804), the user interface program moves the display of the item 51 (STEP 805).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining processing at the time of layout selection in the printer according to the present embodiment. When the left and right arrow buttons are operated by the user at the time of layout selection, the user interface program checks whether the setting is a standard layout setting or an extended layout setting (STEP 901). When the standard layout is set, the user interface program moves the highlight display to the sub-item 52 in the item 51 and selects a parameter corresponding to the highlight (STEP 902).

  On the other hand, if the standard layout is not set, that is, if the selection is made outside the sub-items 52 at both ends, the user interface program checks whether a script is registered in a predetermined area on the RAM 23 (STEP 903). ). If the user interface program determines that the script is not registered, it can display and select only the standard layout, and therefore the process proceeds to STEP 902. In this case, the sub-item 52 on the opposite side is displayed just as if the sub-item 52 to be selected is completed. On the other hand, when determining that the script is registered, the user interface program performs the following processing for displaying / selecting the extended layout.

  That is, the user interface program selects one registered script (STEP 904). Next, the user interface program compares the paper size specified by the selected script with the paper size selected on the user interface, and checks whether they match (STEP 905). .

  If it is determined that they do not match, the user interface program returns to STEP 904, selects one next script, and performs the same check. Since the user interface program registers only the supported paper sizes, the matching script can be finally selected by sequentially performing this check. If it is determined in STEP 904 that the paper sizes match, the identification number assigned to the script is displayed on the user interface (STEP 906). For example, when A4 size is selected as the paper size on the user interface, only scripts that specify the layout for A4 size among the scripts stored in the memory card 2 are sequentially displayed.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the user interface at this time. In the figure, it is shown that the display areas of the item 51 “photo selection” and “number of sheets” are used as the display areas 101a and 101b for the extended layout. That is, this figure shows a state where a script with “UL” indicating an extended layout display and an identification number “001” is selected. When the user further presses the right (left) arrow button in this state, the user interface program similarly selects a script and displays its identification number.

  Further, after the user operates the up (down) arrow button to move the cursor pointer 53 to “paper size” of the item 51 and operates the left (right) arrow button to select “postcard” of the sub item 52. Assume again that the extended layout is selected in the item 51 “layout”. In this case, the user interface program similarly performs the processing shown in FIG. 9 to display a script in which the layout for the postcard size is specified. Every time the left (right) arrow button is operated, the user interface program is used for the postcard size. Only scripts are displayed sequentially.

  Next, an operation example of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 9A, the memory card 2 has nine printing condition setting files (scripts), that is, scripts “B4TATE.USD” and “B4YOKO.USD” that define a B4 size layout. , "A4TATE.USD" and "A4YOKO.USD" as scripts defining the layout for A4 size, "B5TATE.USD" and "B5YOKO.USD" as scripts defining the layout for B5 size, and for postcard size Assume that “NENGA.USD”, “HIKKOSHI.USD”, and “KEKKON.USD” are stored as scripts that define the layout of On the other hand, it is assumed that the printer 1 supports paper sizes of “roll paper”, “A4”, and “postcard”.

  Now, when the user inserts the memory card 2 into the card slot 13, the printer 1 reads and interprets these print condition setting files, and as shown in FIG. Register the size script by assigning an identification number. In this state, for example, when the user selects A4 size as the paper size on the user interface and selects the layout, the display is switched as shown in FIG. When the selection is made and the layout is selected, the display is switched as shown in FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment, the processing flow has been described sequentially, but this is not particularly concerned. Therefore, as long as no contradiction occurs in the operation, the processing order may be changed or the operations may be performed in parallel.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the print condition file designating the extended layout is stored in the memory card in advance, and the printer can be set as the print condition accordingly. This makes it possible to provide a printer that is rich in expandability and flexibility.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, an extended layout is sequentially applied to a user interface that has only a display / selection function necessary and sufficient to achieve the original purpose of the printer for setting various printing conditions. It can be displayed and selected.

  In particular, in this embodiment, the printer first checks the paper size specified in the print condition setting file stored in the memory card, and only the script of the paper size supported by itself is stored in the memory. Since only scripts corresponding to the paper size selected on the user interface are sequentially displayed and selected, the user can easily select a desired script.

[Second Embodiment]
The present embodiment is characterized in that a print condition setting file of the printer 1 can be selected using a user interface of a peripheral device such as a digital camera 3 connected to the printer 1 via a communication interface such as USB. Yes. In this case, the printer 1 accesses the memory card 2 that is still attached to the digital camera 3 instead of the memory card 2 that is attached to the card slot 13, and selects the print condition setting file stored there. Then, the process proceeds to the printing process as it is.

  As a result, even if the user interface on the printer side only has a display / selection function necessary and sufficient to achieve the original purpose, the user interface on the digital camera side can be used as desired. The script can be easily selected and the printing conditions can be easily set, so that the print setting can be expanded with a high degree of expandability and flexibility, and direct printing can be realized very easily.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram for explaining the overall configuration of the printer system according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the printer 1 and the digital camera 3 are connected via a USB communication interface cable to constitute one print system. For example, among printers and digital cameras connected to each other via a USB communication interface, the printer is positioned as a “USB host” that plays a leading role in communication processing, while the digital camera is positioned as a subordinate “USB device”. .

  In this system, since the digital camera is a USB device having a subordinate role and the printer is a USB host having a leading role, the digital camera 3 cannot independently send commands to the printer 1. Therefore, the printer periodically issues and transmits an inquiry request (command) to the digital camera 3, and the digital camera 3 realizes a desired request by transmitting a command in response thereto to the printer 1. .

  As shown in the figure, the digital camera 3 has a camera controller 121 that comprehensively controls its own operation, a photographing device 122 for photographing through a finder (not shown), and obtaining image data, and photographing. A memory card 2 that stores image data obtained by the apparatus 123 and a USB device controller 123 that communicates with the printer 1 positioned as a USB host are provided.

  The camera controller 121 controls a user interface including various operation buttons and a color liquid crystal display panel. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an example of a user interface of the digital camera 3. The user interface of the digital camera 3 includes a power button 131 for turning on / off the power, a dial switch 132 for setting modes such as a photographing mode, a reproduction mode, and a direct print mode, and a shutter button for inputting a shutter instruction. 133, a background setting button 134 for setting a background in a shooting mode, a zoom button 135 for setting a zoom magnification, a next selection key 136, a previous selection key 137, a determination key 138, and a color liquid crystal for displaying captured image data A panel 139 and the like are provided.

  The camera controller 121 drives the photographing device 122 in response to the shutter operation, executes a photographing process, writes the image data obtained thereby to the memory card 2, and also takes a memo in response to a predetermined image reference operation. Control for reading out image data from the card 2 and displaying it on the color liquid crystal panel 139. Furthermore, the camera controller 31 displays a print condition setting screen on the color liquid crystal panel 139 in response to the print setting operation, and performs control for providing an interactive operation environment.

  The USB device controller 123 has a function of communicating with the USB host controller 124 according to the USB standard as a USB storage class device. As a result, the printer 1 as a USB host can access the memory card 2 as a USB storage class device via USB communication and read / write image data (for example, a JPEG file) stored therein. It has become.

  FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram for explaining processing for setting printing conditions in the printing system according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the user first operates the user interface of the digital camera 3 to give a print setting instruction to the printer 1 ((1) in the figure). Receiving this, the printer 1 reads out its own hardware specification data stored in the ROM 22 and sends it to the digital camera 3 via the USB communication interface as a print setting request.

  When the digital camera 3 receives a print setting request from the printer 1, the digital camera 3 sequentially reads out the print condition setting file stored in the memory card 2, interprets it, and sets the print condition that conforms to the hardware specifications of the printer 1. The file is extracted and the contents are presented on the color liquid crystal panel 139. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen displayed on the color liquid crystal panel 139 of the digital camera 3. In response to this presentation, the user operates various operation buttons provided on the back of the digital camera 3 to select a desired print condition setting file ((2) in the figure). When the user selects a desired printing condition setting file and operates the enter key 138, the printing condition setting file is determined ((3) in the figure). Note that the operation of this determination key 138 is a print execution instruction to the printer 1 under the printing conditions indicated by the confirmed printing condition setting file.

  When the decision key 138 is operated and the print condition setting file is confirmed, the digital camera 3 subsequently generates a print job file (print job data) and stores it in the memory card 3 ((4) in the figure). ). A print job file is a file in which the contents of a print job are described in a predetermined format, for example, a text format. The print job file includes at least information indicating the relevance with the image file in JPEG format that is the image data to be printed, and information regarding printing conditions (for example, paper type, size, number of copies, image correction method, etc.). Preferably, information indicating the relationship with the layout definition file defining the page layout is described.

  When an instruction to execute printing is given from the digital camera 3 to the printer 1, the printer 1 mainly reads a print job file from the memory card 3 attached to the digital camera 3 as a USB storage class device (( Five)).

  The printer 1 includes an image processing unit and a color conversion binarization unit. When a print job file is received from the digital camera 3, the printer 1 interprets the print job file from path information indicating the position of the print target image data. A JPEG image file as data is read from the memory card 2 of the digital camera 3. The printer 1 processes the read JPEG image file into 8-bit RGB data for each color by the image processing unit, and converts it into image data for printing by the color conversion binarization unit. Based on the converted image data, the printer 1 realizes printing while controlling the print engine ((6) in the figure).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a user of the digital camera 3 or the like instead of the user interface of the printer 1 having only a display / selection function necessary and sufficient to achieve the original purpose of the printer. A desired print condition setting file stored in the memory card 2 can be selected using the interface.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, a print job file is generated according to the print condition setting file selected in the digital camera 3 and is sent to the printer 1 so that it can be printed directly without using a personal computer. Will be able to. In particular, in this embodiment, since the digital camera 3 transmits a reply to the printer 1 in response to an inquiry command from the printer 1, the digital camera 3 is dependent on the printer 1 during communication processing. Even if it is positioned in a simple apparatus, direct printing can be realized.

  Note that the present embodiment can be modified as follows. That is, the digital camera 3 may include an image processing unit and a color conversion binarization unit instead of the printer 1. In the present embodiment, the digital camera 3 is positioned as a USB device, but the present invention is not limited to this. You may comprise so that the digital camera 3 may issue a command voluntarily.

  In addition, the digital camera 3 of the present embodiment is an example of a peripheral device, and a mobile phone, a portable information terminal device, and the like can be applied thereto. Further, although JPEG is taken as an example of the data format of the image file, other data formats such as PNG format may be adopted.

  Furthermore, although the digital camera 3 sends data to the printer in the form of a print job file, it may be sent as print job data in the form of a command, for example.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily select a desired printing condition file from a memory card storing a plurality of printing condition files in the user interface of the printer.

  In addition, according to the present invention, a desired printing condition file can be easily selected from a memory card storing a plurality of printing condition files at an interface of a peripheral device such as a digital camera connected to a printer.

1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the data structure in the memory card 2 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the printing condition setting script which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing when a memory card is mounted in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining user interface display / selection processing in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention; 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing at the time of layout selection in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an overall configuration of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the user interface of the digital camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining processing for setting printing conditions in the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the print setting screen in the digital camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer 2 ... Memory card 3 ... Digital camera 11 ... Liquid crystal panel 12 ... Operation button 13 ... Card slot 21 ... Processor 22 ... ROM
23 ... RAM
24 ... User interface circuit 25 ... External interface circuit 26 ... Image memory 27 ... Engine controller 28 ... Print engine

Claims (5)

A device that connects to a printer and causes the printer to print,
Photographing means;
Storage means for storing an image photographed by the photographing means;
Receiving means for receiving printer specification information of the printer transmitted from the printer;
Display means for selectively displaying a paper size conforming to the specification information;
A user interface that accepts user input operations;
Setting means for setting printing condition setting information that defines a layout applicable to the paper size selected by the user via the user interface from among the paper sizes displayed on the display means;
An apparatus comprising: means for transmitting the set print condition to the printer so that the printer can execute printing of the image stored in the storage means based on the set print condition. An external interface to which a storage medium for storing printing condition setting information can be attached and detached;
Extracting means for extracting printing condition setting information defining a layout applicable to a paper size conforming to the specification information from a storage medium mounted on the external interface;
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets printing condition setting information selected by a user from the extracted printing condition setting information via the user interface as a printing condition. Generating means for generating print job information describing information on the image stored in the storage means and the set printing conditions;
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the generated print job information to the printer. A method of setting printing conditions in a printer connected to the apparatus using an apparatus including an imaging unit and a storage unit that stores an image captured by the imaging unit,
Receiving the printer specification information of the printer transmitted from the printer;
Displaying a paper size that conforms to the specification information in a selectable manner;
The device accepting a paper size from a user;
Setting printing condition setting information defining a layout applicable to the paper size as a printing condition;
Transmitting the set print conditions to the printer so that the printer can print the image stored in the storage unit based on the set print conditions. A printing system including a photographing device and a printer,
The imaging device
Photographing means;
Storage means for storing an image photographed by the photographing means;
Receiving means for receiving printer specification information of the printer transmitted from the printer;
Display means for selectively displaying a paper size conforming to the specification information;
A user interface that accepts user input operations;
Setting means for setting printing condition setting information that defines a layout applicable to the paper size selected by the user via the user interface from among the paper sizes displayed on the display means;
Means for transmitting the set print condition to the printer so that printing of the image stored in the storage means can be executed based on the set print condition;
The printer is
Transmitting means for transmitting own printer specification information to the photographing apparatus;
Receiving means for receiving printing conditions transmitted from the photographing apparatus;
A printing system comprising: a printing unit configured to print an image stored in the storage unit based on the received printing condition.