JP2005038133A - Input terminal, printing system, and print output sequence control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input terminal, a printing system and a print output sequence control method for executing a print output according to an order of photographed dates and times of photograph. <P>SOLUTION: This printing system is provided with the input terminal 10, a print server 30, and a plurality of printers 50. The input terminal 10 is provided with a means for reading out image data from a digital camera C and a medium M, a means for analyzing each of the image data to extract photographed-date-and-time specified information, a means for rearranging a plurality of image data according to the order of the photographed dates and times referring to the photographed-date-and-time specified information, and a means for transmitting the plurality of image data to the print server according to the order of the photographed dates and times. The print server is provided with an order control part 31 for preparing an printing order to print-output the transmitted image data, and for conducting processing to distribute the image data to the plurality of printers, and a print control part 32 for reading the image data in after the print order is registered, to be outputted to the prescribed printer in an assigned printing condition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an input terminal that reads image data from a digital camera or a recording medium and transmits the image data to a printer control apparatus, a print system including the input terminal, and a print output order control method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At amusement parks and sightseeing spots, for example, a photographer is stationed at the entrance of the Ferris wheel, taking pictures of the passengers, and selling them with pictures printed when the Ferris wheel goes around and the passengers get off. As you can see, there are services that take and sell commemorative photos of visitors. The photos sold by this service must be printed out between the time when the customer gets on the Ferris wheel and the time they get off, so a printing system that outputs a large amount of prints in a short time is required. In response to such a request, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-331453 proposes a printing system in which a plurality of digital copying apparatuses and the like are connected to increase the output speed.
[0003]
The print system described in the above publication will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, in the conventional print system, a plurality of input terminals for capturing image data of a photograph taken near the cameraman are installed. The image data to be printed is input to 10 and print conditions such as the number of prints and the print size are input. Then, the image data of the captured image input to the input terminal 10 and the print condition information are transmitted to the print server 30 via a communication network N such as a LAN (Local Area Network). A plurality of printers 50 are connected to the print server 30 and the print status of each printer 50 is managed.
[0004]
When image data to be printed and information on print conditions are received from the input terminal 10, the print server 30 generates print output instruction information (hereinafter referred to as print order) that is distributed to each printer 50 based on the print conditions. Then, print orders are distributed according to the print status of each printer 50, and each printer 50 outputs a print P corresponding to the print order.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-331453 (page 4-9, FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Here, since the print output is performed in the print server 30 according to the transmission order of the image data from the input terminal 10, for example, the digital camera C and the input terminal 10 are connected via a communication network, and the digital camera C takes a picture. When the image data is input to the input terminal 10 and transmitted to the print server 30 each time, the order of photographing and the order of print output coincide with each other.
[0007]
However, when the digital camera C and the input terminal 10 are not connected via a communication network, the digital camera C and the media M are connected to the input terminal 10, but reading is performed every time a photograph is taken. Then work efficiency is bad. Therefore, a method is generally used in which a certain amount of image data is stored in the digital camera C or the media M and then read together by the input terminal 10. In this case, the images are read in the digital camera C or the media M in any order. Since the order of transfer to the print server 30 changes depending on whether data is recorded or in what order image data is read by the input terminal 10, the order of photography and the order of print output may not match. Arise.
[0008]
For example, as shown in FIG. 15, when the input terminal 10 reads the image data in an order different from the imaging order (the numerical values recorded at the top of each file in the figure represent the imaging date and time (imaging time)). In this example, the image data is read while the shooting time is changing.) The input terminal 10 transmits the image data to the print server 30 in the order of reading, and the print server 30 receives the order of the image data. Since the print order is created and the print order is distributed to a plurality of printers, the print output is in an order irrelevant to the shooting date and time.
[0009]
Here, in a system in which a plurality of print requests are not complicated, there is no problem even if the order of print output is slightly shifted, but a system that is required to quickly print a photograph taken and provide it to the customer on the spot (for example, It is important to print out in the order of shooting date and time in the sightseeing spot photography system), and if the shooting order and the print output order shift, the correspondence between the print P and the customer who provides the print P cannot be achieved. Therefore, it is necessary to hand over the print while comparing the image on the print with the customer, and the system cannot be operated smoothly.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a main object thereof is to provide an input terminal, a print system, and a print output order control method capable of performing print output in order of photographing date and time of photographs. is there.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an input terminal of the present invention reads a plurality of image data to be printed, and transmits the plurality of image data to a printer control device. Means for reading image data, means for specifying date and time information on which a photograph as a basis of the image data was taken based on the read image data, and referring to the date and time information, the plurality of image data It comprises at least means for rearranging in order of photographing date and time, and means for transmitting the plurality of image data to the printer control device in order of date of photographing.
[0012]
Further, the input terminal of the present invention reads a plurality of image data to be printed, and a means for reading the plurality of image data from a digital camera or a recording medium in the input terminal for transmitting the plurality of image data to a printer control apparatus. And, based on the read image data, a means for specifying date and time information when the photograph that is the basis of the image data was taken, and print order information that determines the order of print creation based on the date and time information, The apparatus includes at least means for associating the print order information with each of the plurality of image data, and means for transmitting the plurality of image data associated with the print order information to the printer control apparatus.
[0013]
In the present invention, it is preferable that the means for specifying the date / time information specifies the date / time information based on a file name given to the image data or information recorded in a header area of the image data. .
[0014]
The printing system of the present invention includes at least an input terminal that reads a plurality of image data to be printed, a printer that prints out the plurality of image data, and a printer control device that controls the print output of the printer. In the printing system, means for reading the plurality of image data from a digital camera or a recording medium, means for specifying date and time information when the photograph that is the basis of the image data is taken based on the read image data, Means for rearranging the plurality of image data in order of photographing date and time with reference to date and time information, and means for transmitting the plurality of image data to the printer control device in order of photographing date and time, and the printer control device Creates a print based on the image data transmitted from the input terminal Means for creating a plurality of print orders, means for allocating the plurality of print orders to the plurality of printers, and means for controlling print output of the printer based on the print orders. .
[0015]
The printing system of the present invention includes at least an input terminal that reads a plurality of image data to be printed, a printer that prints out the plurality of image data, and a printer control device that controls the print output of the printer. In the printing system, the input terminal specifies means for reading the plurality of image data from a digital camera or a recording medium, and specifies date and time information when the photograph that is the basis of the image data is taken based on the read image data Means for creating print order information for determining a print creation order based on the date and time information, associating the print order information with each of the plurality of image data, and the print order information associated with the print order information Means for transmitting a plurality of image data to the printer control device, and less The printer control device is configured to read the print order information from the image data transmitted from the input terminal and refer to the print order information, and based on the image data in the order of early print creation order. Means for creating a plurality of print orders for creating prints, means for distributing the plurality of print orders to the plurality of printers, and means for controlling print output of the printer based on the print orders It is to be prepared.
[0016]
The print output order control method of the present invention includes an input terminal that reads a plurality of image data to be printed, a printer that prints out the plurality of image data, and a printer control device that controls the print output of the printer. A method for controlling a print output order in a printing system comprising at least a step of reading the image data from the digital camera or the recording medium at the input terminal, and based on the image data Identifying the date and time information when the photograph was taken, referring to the date and time information, rearranging the image data in order of the shooting date and time, and transmitting the plurality of image data to the printer control device in order of the shooting date and time Performing at least the step of performing the input at the printer control device. A step of creating a plurality of print orders for creating a print based on the image data in the order of transmission from the terminal; a step of distributing the plurality of print orders to the plurality of printers; At least the step of controlling the print output of the printer.
[0017]
The print output order control method of the present invention includes an input terminal that reads a plurality of image data to be printed, a printer that prints out the plurality of image data, and a printer control device that controls the print output of the printer. A method for controlling a print output order in a printing system comprising at least a step of reading the image data from the digital camera or the recording medium at the input terminal, and based on the image data Identifying the date and time information when the photograph was taken, creating print order information that determines the order of print creation based on the date and time information, and associating the print order information with each of the plurality of image data; and The plurality of image data associated with the print order information Transmitting to the printer control device at least, and reading the print order information from the image data transmitted from the input terminal at the printer control device, and referring to the print order information to print Creating a plurality of print orders for creating prints based on the image data in order of creation order; allocating the plurality of print orders to the plurality of printers; and based on the print orders, At least the step of controlling the print output of the printer.
[0018]
As described above, in the input terminal according to the present invention, when image data is read from a digital camera or a medium, shooting date / time information is specified by referring to a file name, header information, etc. from each image data, and the date / time information is referred to. The image data is rearranged in the order of photography and sent to the print server, or print order information that determines the print creation order based on the date and time information is created and associated with the image data, and the print order information is associated. Since the image data is transmitted to the print server, the order of photography and the order of print output can be matched, and the print system can be operated smoothly.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in the prior art, in a system in which image data is read from a digital camera or media, transferred to a printer control device, and distributed to a plurality of printers by the printer control device, the image data is transferred from the input terminal to the print server. Are output in the order in which they are sent, so if the recording order of the image data on the digital camera or media or the reading order of the image data on the input terminal is not in the order of shooting date and time, Cannot be matched.
[0020]
In addition, when recording image data of a photograph taken with a digital camera, a file name may be automatically created using the shooting date and time with the digital camera. However, it is possible to match the order of shooting with the order of print output.For example, when reading image data from multiple digital cameras or changing the file name once assigned, And the order of print output do not match.
[0021]
Therefore, in the present invention, input image data of a photograph taken, print conditions such as the number of prints, print size, image processing conditions, and the like are input, and the input image data is transmitted to the print server, and the input image data is printed. In a printing system comprising a printer control device (print server) that creates a print order for output and distributes the print order to each printer, and a plurality of printers connected to the print server, the input terminal is connected to a digital Means for reading image data from a camera or media, means for specifying shooting date / time information with reference to file name and header information of each image data, and arranging a plurality of image data in order of shooting date / time with reference to date / time information And means for transmitting a plurality of image data to the print server in order of shooting date and time. The print server creates a print order for printing out the transferred image data, and distributes the image data to a plurality of printers. When the print order is registered, it captures the image data. By providing at least a print control unit that outputs to a predetermined printer under specified print conditions, the creation of a print based on a previously photographed photograph is performed after the creation of a print based on the photograph photographed later Problems can be prevented, and print output can be performed in order of shooting date and time. This effect is especially true when a photographer takes a picture at a tourist spot such as an amusement park or a tourist spot, creates a photo print in a short time, and provides it to the customer (so-called tourist spot photo system), or a photographer takes a picture at the customer's site. It appears prominently in a system (so-called business trip photography system) that takes a photograph and creates a photo print in a short time and provides it to a customer.
[0022]
【Example】
In order to describe the above-described embodiment of the present invention in more detail, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
[Example 1]
First, an input terminal, a print system, and a print output control method according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an input terminal according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a control according to the present embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an apparatus (print server). FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a status management table stored in the print server of the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an order management table. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the input terminal and the print server of this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the print output order control method of this embodiment. FIG. It is a figure which shows this print output order control method typically. 9 and 10 are diagrams schematically showing another configuration of the printing system of the present embodiment.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 1, the print system 100 of this embodiment includes an input terminal 10, a printer control device (print server 30), and a printer 50. The input terminal 10 and the print server 30 are connected to each other via a communication network N (wired, wireless, infrared, etc., regardless of the form) such as the Internet or a LAN, and a printer 50 is connected to the print server 30. Yes. In FIG. 1, two input terminals 10, two print servers 30, and a configuration in which four printers 50 are connected to each print server 30 are illustrated. And the installation location is not particularly limited.
[0025]
The input terminal 10 inputs image data to be printed and various print conditions such as the number of prints, print size, and image processing conditions. As shown in FIG. 2, the input terminal 10 is connected to the digital camera C or connected to the digital camera. A connection unit 11 for connecting a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a medium M) detachably attached to C, an operation unit 12 for inputting various print conditions, and a display unit 13 are provided. The input terminal 10 includes a communication unit 14 such as a network interface card (hereinafter referred to as NIC; Network Interface Card) and a modem, and prints input image data and print condition information via the communication network N. Send to server 30.
[0026]
The input terminal 10 also has information (date and time) for identifying the date and time (particularly the time) when the photograph used as the basis of the image data is taken based on the image data input from the digital camera C and the medium M. It may be information representing itself, or may be information associated with the date and time (hereinafter referred to as “photographing date and time information”). Rearrangement means 16 for rearranging image data in order of shooting date and time, and image data and print condition information are transmitted by the communication unit 14 in the order rearranged by the rearrangement means 16. In the case of the digital camera C in which the file name of the image data is created using the shooting date and time, the shooting date and time information is a predetermined part of the file name (for example, a predetermined number before the file name extension, etc. ), Or when shooting date / time information is recorded in the header area of the image data, it may be specified with reference to the information in the header area. Further, when the association information between the image data and the shooting date / time information is recorded, the information may be specified with reference to the information.
[0027]
The print server 30 manages image data to be printed, controls a plurality of printers 50 connected to the print server 30, and performs a process of assigning print orders to the printers 50.
[0028]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the print server 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the print server 30 includes, for example, an order control unit 31, a print control unit 32, an input unit 33, a display unit 34, an I / F (Interface) 35, a communication unit 36, A program memory 37, a print memory 38, and an image memory 39 are provided.
[0029]
The order control unit 31 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, and manages print target image data and print orders. The order control unit 31 reads out various programs such as an order distribution processing program from the program memory 37 in addition to a program for performing print output, develops it in a RAM (Random Access Memory) (not shown), and cooperates with the program. Centrally control processing operations. Further, the order control unit 31 generates a print order to be distributed to each printer 50 based on the print condition information, and distributes the print order according to a predetermined rule (for example, in order of printer request time).
[0030]
The print control unit 32 includes a CPU and the like, and controls the print output of the printer 50 and reads various programs such as an order distribution processing program from the program memory 38 in addition to a program for performing the print output. The processing operation is integrated and controlled in cooperation with the program. At the time of print output, when the print order is stored in the order management table 38b, the print order is read out, the image data to be printed is acquired from the print folder 39c, subjected to image processing, and then each printer according to the print order. The processed image data is transmitted to 50 and printed out.
[0031]
The input unit 33 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operated key to the order control unit 31 or the print control unit 32.
[0032]
The display unit 34 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays various operation screens and various display information such as processing results by the order control unit 31 and the print control unit 32.
[0033]
The I / F 35 is an interface for connecting to the printer 50, and is configured to be able to apply a standard such as SCSI (Small Computer System Interface).
[0034]
The communication unit 36 includes a NIC, a modem, and the like, and transmits / receives information to / from an external device on the communication network N. For example, print conditions and the like are received from the input terminal 10 together with image data to be printed.
[0035]
The program memory 37 is composed of a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory, and stores an order distribution processing program, data processed by each program, and the like in addition to a program related to print output.
[0036]
The print memory 38 includes a RAM, a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The print memory 38 internally stores a status management table 38a for managing the current print status and error occurrence status of the printer 50 and an order management table 38b for managing print orders distributed to each printer. ing.
[0037]
The status management table 38a is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, and includes information for identifying each printer 50 (for example, a printer number such as A to D) and the current print status of the printer 50 (for example, “ “Printing” and “Waiting for order”) are stored in association with each other. The status management table 38a only needs to record information that can determine whether at least each of the printers 50 can print out. The form of the stored information is not limited to the configuration shown in the figure.
[0038]
The order management table 38b is configured as shown in FIG. 5, for example, and stores the printer number of each printer 50 and the print order assigned to the printer in association with each other. The print order includes an image file name to be printed (for example, “1234.img”), the number of prints (for example, “1 sheet”), a print condition (for example, print size “L size”), and the like. The order management table 38b is not limited to the configuration shown in the figure, and the print order may include an image processing condition, a print paper condition, and the like.
[0039]
The image memory 39 is a memory for managing image data, and includes a RAM and a ROM. The image memory 39 includes a spool folder 39a that temporarily stores image data transmitted from the input terminal 10, a backup folder 39b that stores image data for backup, and a print folder 39c that stores image data to be printed. Is stored inside.
[0040]
Further, the printer 50 is configured to include means for printing out the image data transmitted from the print server 30. Note that the printing method of the printer 50 may be any method that realizes photographic image quality, and may be any method such as an inkjet method or an electrophotographic method.
[0041]
Next, a procedure for printing out image data of a photograph taken by the digital camera C using the print system 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to an operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 6 and a flowchart of FIG.
[0042]
First, in step S <b> 101, a cameraman takes a picture with the digital camera C, connects the digital camera C to the input terminal 10, or records image data on the medium M and attaches the medium M to the input terminal 10. The input terminal 10 reads image data captured from the connected digital camera C or media M, and uses the operation unit 12 or the display unit 13 to print conditions such as the number of prints, print size, and image processing conditions. Enter. Note that image data input to the input terminal 10 is not limited to image data of a photograph taken by a cameraman, and image data of a photograph taken by a customer may be used.
[0043]
Subsequently, in step S102, the input terminal 10 uses the shooting date / time information specifying unit 15 to refer to the file name and header information of the input image data, and the shooting date / time of the photo as the basis of each image data. Identify information. Next, in step S103, the rearrangement unit 16 refers to the shooting date / time information to sort the plurality of input image data in the order of shooting date / time. In step S104, the image data is sorted in that order via the communication network N. To the print server 30.
[0044]
Here, in the conventional print system, since the input terminal 10 transmits the image data to the print server 30 in the order read from the digital camera C or the medium M, the recording order and input of the image data in the digital camera C or the medium M are input. If the reading order of the image data at the terminal 10 is different from the shooting date / time order, the print output could not be performed in the shooting date / time order. In this embodiment, however, as shown in FIG. Even when the image data is read in an order unrelated to the shooting date / time order, the image data is sent to the print server 30 after being sorted in the shooting date / time order by the input terminal 10, so the shooting date / time order matches the print output order. Can be made.
[0045]
In the print server 30, the transferred image data is temporarily stored in the spool folder 39a in association with the print condition information. The spool folder 39a is constantly monitored by the order control unit 31 of the print server 30 (step S105). When image data is stored in the spool folder 39a, the image is transferred from the spool folder 39a to the backup folder 39b in step S106. Data is transferred and saved.
[0046]
Next, in step S107, the status control table 38a is referred to by the order control unit 31, and the print status of each printer 50 is confirmed. Then, whether print output is possible is determined based on the print status (whether printing is in progress or waiting for order). If it is determined that printing is possible, the image stored in the backup folder 39b is determined in step S108. Among the data, the image data to be printed is copied and stored in the print folder 39c.
[0047]
Next, in step S109, the order control unit 31 creates a print order based on the print conditions, and sorts the print orders in order from the printer 50 waiting for printing based on the print status of the printer 50. The sorted print orders are stored in the order management table 38b and the order registration is performed.
[0048]
The order management table 38b is constantly monitored by the print control unit 32. When the print order is stored in the order management table 38b, the print order is read out by the print control unit 32 and printed in step S110. The image data file name, the printer 50 for print output, the number of prints, the print size, the image processing conditions, and other print conditions are confirmed.
[0049]
When the print order is confirmed, in step S111, the print control unit 32 obtains image data to be printed from the print folder 39c, combines frames with the obtained image, and inserts characters such as date. Perform image processing. When the image processing is completed, the processed image data is transferred to each printer 50 according to the print order in step S112, and the printer 50 performs print output in step S113.
[0050]
As described above, in this embodiment, in the print system 100 including the input terminal 10, the printer server 30, and the plurality of printers 50, the order in which the image data recorded on the digital camera C and the medium M is irrelevant to the shooting date and time. The input terminal 10 specifies the shooting date / time information by referring to the file name and header information of the image data by the shooting date / time information specifying means 15 and the sorting date / time information by the rearranging means 16. The plurality of image data are rearranged in order of photographing date and time and transferred to the print server 30. Accordingly, print output can be performed in order of shooting date and time, and the print system can be smoothly operated even when it is required to sequentially print out the taken photographs.
[0051]
In the above description, a plurality of printers 50 are connected to the print server 30 and the order control unit 31 of the print server 30 performs the process of distributing the print orders to the plurality of printers 50. A configuration in which print orders are sequentially processed may be employed.
[0052]
In the above description, the print server 30 includes the spool folder 39a, the backup folder 39b, and the print folder 39c. However, the storage location of each of these folders is not particularly limited. Can be configured, and an image print server for storing images can be provided in the communication network N, and each folder can be stored in the image print server.
[0053]
In the above-described embodiment, the order control unit 31 and the print control unit 32 are provided. However, the order control unit 31 and the print control unit 32 are not necessarily configured as separate units, and may be configured as a single unit. The print server 30 includes the order control unit 31 and the print control unit 32. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the order control unit and the print control unit are configured as separate units, and the input terminal 11 The print system 200 may be configured by the order control device 60 including the order control unit, the printer control device 70 including the print control unit, and the printer 50. In the case of this configuration, the order control device 60 includes the print memory 38, the status management of the printer 50 and the management of the print order are performed, and the print order distributed by the order control device is transmitted to the printer control device 70. Is printed out.
[0054]
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the input terminal 12 may include an order control unit and a print control unit, and the input terminal 12 and the printer 50 may constitute the print system 100. In this case, in the input terminal 12, the print order is sorted by the order control unit 31, and the print output is controlled by the print control unit.
[0055]
[Example 2]
Next, an input terminal, a print system, and a print output control method according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the input terminal of this embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the input terminal and the print server of this embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the print output order control method of this embodiment.
[0056]
In the first embodiment described above, a plurality of image data is rearranged in order of photographing date and time at the input terminal 10 and transmitted to the print server 30, and the print server 30 creates print orders in the order in which the image data is received. The shooting date order and the print output order are configured to match, but the order received by the print server 30 has changed for some reason (for example, predetermined image data transmitted from the input terminal 10 is due to a communication failure or the like). For example, when received by the print server 30 with a delay, the order of shooting date and the order of print output cannot be matched. Therefore, in this embodiment, the input terminal 10 creates information (hereinafter referred to as print order information) for designating the print order based on the shooting date / time information, transmits the information in association with the image data, and the print server 30 prints the print order. The above problem is solved by creating a print order based on the information. The specific configuration and method will be described below.
[0057]
The printing system 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes the input terminal 10, the printer control device (print server 30), and the printer 50, as in the first exemplary embodiment. The input terminal 10 and the print server 30 are connected to each other via a communication network N (wired, wireless, infrared, etc., regardless of the form) such as the Internet or a LAN, and a printer 50 is connected to the print server 30. Yes. In FIG. 1, two input terminals 10, two print servers 30, and a configuration in which four printers 50 are connected to each print server 30 are illustrated. The installation location is not particularly limited, and a configuration as shown in FIGS.
[0058]
As shown in FIG. 11, the input terminal 10 includes a connection unit 11 for connecting to the digital camera C or a medium M, an operation unit 12 for inputting various print conditions, a display unit 13, a NIC, and a modem. In addition to the shooting date / time information specifying means 15 for specifying the shooting date / time information based on the image data input from the communication unit 14, the digital camera C or the media M, the print order information with reference to the specified shooting date / time information And the print order information associating means 17 associated with the image data, and the image data and the print condition information associated with the print order information are transmitted by the communication unit 14.
[0059]
The print server 30 includes, for example, an order control unit 31, a print control unit 32, an input unit 33, a display unit 34, an I / F 35, a communication unit 36, a program memory 37, and a print memory 38. The order control unit 31 reads the print order information from the image data transmitted from the input terminal 10 and then generates a print order based on the print order information. A process of distributing the print order according to the rule is performed.
[0060]
A procedure for printing out image data of a photograph taken by the digital camera C using the printing system having the above configuration will be described with reference to an operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 12 and a flowchart of FIG.
[0061]
First, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, in step S201, the cameraman takes a picture with the digital camera C, connects the digital camera C to the input terminal 10, or records the image data on the medium M to store the medium M. It is attached to the input terminal 10. The input terminal 10 reads image data captured from the connected digital camera C or media M, and uses the operation unit 12 or the display unit 13 to print conditions such as the number of prints, print size, and image processing conditions. Enter.
[0062]
Subsequently, in step S202, the input terminal 10 uses the shooting date / time information specifying unit 15 to refer to the file name and header information of the input image data, and the shooting date / time of the photo as the basis of each image data. Identify information. Next, in step S203, the print order information associating unit 17 refers to the shooting date / time information to create print order information (for example, a serial number numbered in the order of shooting date / time) that determines the order of print output. The print order information is associated with each image data (for example, written in a header area). Thereafter, a plurality of image data associated with the print order information is transferred to the print server 30 via the communication network N in step S204. In this embodiment, the print order is not created based on the order of transmission, and therefore the order of transmission may not be the order of printing.
[0063]
In the print server 30, the transferred image data is temporarily stored in the spool folder 39a in association with the print condition information. The spool folder 39a is constantly monitored by the order control unit 31 of the print server 30 (step S205). When image data is stored in the spool folder 39a, the image data is transferred from the spool folder 39a to the backup folder 39b. Saved.
[0064]
Here, in the first embodiment, since the image data is transmitted in the order of print output, when the image data is stored in the spool folder 39a, the image data is immediately transferred to the backup folder 39b. In the embodiment, since the image data is not transmitted in the print output order, in step S206, the print order information association unit 17 reads the print order information with reference to the header information of the image data and the like, and uses the print order information as the print order information. Based on this, the image data is transferred from the spool folder 39a to the backup folder 39b in step S207.
[0065]
Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, in step S208, the order control unit 31 refers to the status management table 38a, and the print status of each printer 50 is confirmed. If it is determined that printing is possible, in step S209, among the image data stored in the backup folder 39b, the image data to be printed is copied and stored in the print folder 39c. Next, in step S210, the order control unit 31 creates a print order based on the print condition, sorts the print order in order from the printer 50 waiting for printing based on the print status of the printer 50, and the sorted print order is displayed. The order is registered by being stored in the order management table 38b.
[0066]
Next, when the print order is stored in the order management table 38b, in step S211, the print order is read out by the print control unit 32, the file name of the image data to be printed, the printer 50 for print output, and the number of prints. In step S212, the print control unit 32 acquires the image data to be printed from the print folder 39c, and synthesizes the frame with the acquired image. Various image processing such as text insertion is performed. When the image processing is completed, the processed image data is transferred to each printer 50 in accordance with the print order in step S213, and the printer 50 performs print output in step S214.
[0067]
As described above, in this embodiment, in the print system 100 including the input terminal 10, the printer server 30, and the plurality of printers 50, the order in which the image data recorded on the digital camera C and the medium M is irrelevant to the shooting date and time. In this case, the input terminal 10 specifies the shooting date / time information with reference to the file name and header information of the image data by the shooting date / time information specifying unit 15 and the shooting order information association unit 17 The print order information is associated with the image data based on the date / time information and transferred to the print server 30. The print server 30 reads the print order information from the image data and creates a print order based on the print order information. Accordingly, print output can be performed in order of shooting date and time, and the print system can be smoothly operated even when it is required to sequentially print out the taken photographs.
[0068]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the input terminal, the print system, and the print output order control method of the present invention, even when image data is read from a digital camera or media in an order that is unrelated to the shooting date and time at the input terminal, Print output can be performed.
[0069]
The reason is that the input terminal specifies shooting date / time information with reference to the file name and header information of the image data read from the digital camera or media using the shooting date / time information specifying means, and uses the sorting means to specify a plurality of information. The image data is rearranged in order of shooting date and sent to the print server, or print order information for determining the print creation order is created based on the shooting date and time information, and the print order information is associated with a plurality of image data to the print server. The print server generates a print order in the order determined by the received order or the print order information, and performs print output. This is because the order of photographing and the order of print output can be matched, and the print system can be operated smoothly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an input terminal according to the first example of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a print server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a status management table written in the print memory of the print server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an order management table written in the print memory of the print server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating operations of the input terminal and the print server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a print output control method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a print output order control operation in the print system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating another configuration of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating another configuration of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an input terminal according to a second example of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating operations of the input terminal and the print server according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a print output control method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a conventional print system.
FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically illustrating a print output order control operation in a conventional print system.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 11, 12 Input terminal
11 Connection
12 Operation unit
13 Display section
14 Communication Department
15 Shooting date / time information identification means
16 Sorting means
17 Print order information association means
30 Print server
31 Order controller
32 Print controller
33 Input section
34 Display section
35 interface
36 Communication Department
37 Program memory
38 Print memory
38a Status management table
38b Order management table
39 Image memory
39a Spool folder
39b Backup folder
39c Print folder
50 printers
60 Order control device
70 Printer control device
100, 200, 300 printing system
C Digital camera
M media
N communication network
P print

Claims (9)

In an input terminal that reads a plurality of image data to be printed and transmits the plurality of image data to a printer control device,
Means for reading the plurality of image data from a digital camera or a recording medium; means for identifying date information on which a photograph as a basis of the image data is taken based on the read image data; and refer to the date information An input terminal comprising: means for rearranging the plurality of image data in order of shooting date and time; and means for transmitting the plurality of image data to the printer control device in order of shooting date and time. In an input terminal that reads a plurality of image data to be printed and transmits the plurality of image data to a printer control device,
A means for reading the plurality of image data from a digital camera or a recording medium; a means for identifying the date and time information on which a picture that is the basis of the image data is taken based on the read image data; and the date and time information Means for creating print order information for determining the order of print creation, associating the print order information with each of the plurality of image data, and the printer control device for the plurality of image data associated with the print order information. And an input terminal. The date and time information is specified by the means for specifying the date and time information based on a file name given to the image data or information recorded in a header area of the image data. Or the input terminal of 2. In a printing system comprising at least an input terminal that reads a plurality of image data to be printed, a printer that prints out the plurality of image data, and a printer control device that controls the print output of the printer,
Means for reading the plurality of image data from a digital camera or a recording medium; means for identifying date information on which a photograph as a basis of the image data is taken based on the read image data; and refer to the date information And means for rearranging the plurality of image data in order of photographing date and time, and means for transmitting the plurality of image data to the printer control device in order of photographing date and time,
The printer control device includes: a unit that creates a plurality of print orders for creating a print based on the image data transmitted from the input terminal; a unit that distributes the plurality of print orders to the plurality of printers; Means for controlling the print output of the printer based on a print order. In a printing system comprising at least an input terminal that reads a plurality of image data to be printed, a printer that prints out the plurality of image data, and a printer control device that controls the print output of the printer,
The input terminal is a unit that reads the plurality of image data from a digital camera or a recording medium, and a unit that specifies date and time information when the photograph that is the basis of the image data is taken based on the read image data; Means for creating print order information for determining a print creation order based on the date and time information, and associating the print order information with each of the plurality of image data; and the plurality of image data associated with the print order information Means for transmitting to the printer control device,
The printer control device reads the print order information from the image data transmitted from the input terminal, and creates prints based on the image data in the order of early print creation order with reference to the print order information. Means for creating a plurality of print orders for performing, a means for distributing the plurality of print orders to the plurality of printers, and a means for controlling the print output of the printer based on the print orders. Characteristic printing system. 5. The date / time information is specified based on a file name given to the image data or information recorded in a header area of the image data. Or the printing system of 6. A print output order control method in a print system comprising at least an input terminal that reads a plurality of image data to be printed, a printer that prints out the plurality of image data, and a printer control device that controls the print output of the printer There,
At the input terminal,
Reading the image data from the digital camera or the recording medium;
Based on the image data, identifying date and time information when the photograph that is the basis of the image data was taken; and
Reordering the image data in order of shooting date and time with reference to the date and time information;
Transmitting the plurality of image data to the printer control device in order of shooting date and time, at least,
In the printer control device,
Creating a plurality of print orders for creating a print based on the image data in the order of transmission from the input terminal;
Distributing the plurality of print orders to the plurality of printers;
And executing at least the step of controlling the print output of the printer based on the print order. A print output order control method in a print system comprising at least an input terminal that reads a plurality of image data to be printed, a printer that prints out the plurality of image data, and a printer control device that controls the print output of the printer There,
At the input terminal,
Reading the image data from the digital camera or the recording medium;
Based on the image data, identifying date and time information when the photograph that is the basis of the image data was taken; and
Creating print order information for determining a print creation order based on the date and time information, and associating the print order information with each of the plurality of image data;
Transmitting at least the plurality of image data associated with the print order information to the printer control device,
In the printer control device,
Reading the print order information from the image data transmitted from the input terminal;
Referring to the print order information, creating a plurality of print orders for creating prints based on the image data in order of the print creation order; and
Distributing the plurality of print orders to the plurality of printers;
And executing at least the step of controlling the print output of the printer based on the print order. The step of specifying the date / time information includes specifying the shooting date / time information based on a file name given to the image data or information recorded in a header area of the image data. The print output order control method according to 7 or 8.

Images