White PaperofCIPA DC-001-2003 Rev. 2.0
Digital Photo Solutions
for Imaging Devices

Published byCamera & Imaging Products Association

1.Overview
The CIPA standard “CIPA DC-001-2003 Rev. 2.0” (Hereinafter “PictBridge”) provides a
direct connect solution for image input devices and output devices by standardizing theapplication services for these devices. The first release of PictBridge focuses on the direct
print services between a digital still camera (Hereafter “DSC”) and a printer. This “WhitePaper” explains the background, the outline, and the features of PictBridge.
2.Background
The popularity of DSCs in recent years has enabled consumers to use and enjoy digital
imaging technology. However, it is not always easy for the general consumer to obtain
prints from their DSC. PC familiarity and knowledge as well as the complexity of photo
application software can often be a barrier for many of these consumers. There are someexamples of camera to printer direct connect solutions on the market by some companies
but these are limited to only a few specific models of DSCs and printers. In addition, mostof these solutions are limited to only work within a few models of a single manufacturer.
None of these proprietary solutions are widespread as a standard solution. PictBridge is asmart way to enable direct printing from any PictBridge compliant DSC to any
PictBridge compliant printer, regardless of the manufacturer.
3.Objective
The main features of PictBridge are:zThe ability to quickly print the image displayed by interacting with the DSC
zProvide a way for customers to have a very easy to use solution
zA standard that will provide for wide interoperabilityzA vender can easily adopt PictBridge
zThe specification is independent of the physical interface or transport layer protocolzAllow for future enhancements that will contribute continuing to build a digital photoculture
4.Features(1) Any DSC ÅÆ Any PrinterDirect printing is enabled between any PictBridge compliant DSC and any PictBridge
compliant printer regardless of the manufacturer.

DSC
A

Printer
B

HCDE

FIJK
M

L

G

N
Fig.1 System connection1(2) How versatile and attractive printing for DSC users is achieved
The PictBridge compliant system provides for the following features
zPrint an image displayed on the DSCzPrint two or more images selected from the display on the DSC
zAutomatic printing of images using the DPOF specification
zIndex print of all images
zPrint all images
zPrint an XHTML-Print document
Additional features using the advanced print setup
z Print part of image by specifying a clip areaz Multiple copies of a single imagez Print images with a date stampz Specify the exact size of a print
Printer status information displayed on the DSC
z Connection establishmentz Printer errorz Printing progressz End of print job
z Cable can be safely disconnected
Additional print job control
z Discontinue a print job
z Restart from recoverable errors
5. PictBridge System Architecture(1) Connection of PictBridge compliant devices
In PictBridge, the DSC is connected directly to a printer via a USB cable as shown in
Fig.2. The DSC operates as a USB “Device” and the printer works as a USB “Host”.

PrinterDSC

USB I/FUSB Device

USB Host

Fig. 2 Connection of PictBridge compliant devices(2) Communication protocol architecture
Fig.3 shows the communication protocol architecture. In PictBridge, USB is used as aphysical layer, and PTP is used as the transport layer protocol. The newly defined DPSlayer is located between PTP and the DPS application layer. The DPS layer translates
DPS operations and events into PTP operations and events, and vice versa. PictBridge
defines the interface between the DPS layer and the DPS application layer. PictBridge
does not make any changes or additions to the standard transport layer and below.

2DSC

Printer

DPS application

DPS application

Print
ClientStorage
ServerStorage
Client

DPS Layer

DPS Layer

Print
ServerDPS Operation& DPS EventPTP Operation& PTP EventDPS
Discovery

PTP Transport

PTP Transport

USB PhysicalUSB Physical

DPS
Discovery

Fig. 3 communication protocol architecture(3) Software components
As shown in Fig.3, PictBridge defines several software components, which include aprint Server/Client and a storage Server/Client at the DPS application layer, and DPS
discovery at the DPS layer. In PictBridge the storage client is indirectly initiated by user
operations and therefore is not visible to the user. The storage client requests image datato the storage server when the printer executes a print job upon the request of the DSC.
The operations and events of the DPS applications are executed based on a Server/Clientmodel. A DPS Operation consists of a request from a client to a server and followed by aresponse from the server to the client. A DPS Event consists of a request from a serverto the client followed by a response from the client to the server.
(4) Communication flow
Fig.4 shows an example of DPS Job flow between PictBridge devices. This figure
shows a sequential diagram for a single page print job between PictBridge compliantdevices.
1)Discovery
The DPS discovery function confirms if each device supports PictBridge. If PictBridge
is avilable in each device then control is transferred to the DPS applications. In
PictBridge, after the USB cable is connected, DPS discovery is initiated after PTP
communication is established.
2)Configure
After DPS applications start, a DPS_ConfigurePrintService operation is issued. TheDPS_ConfigurePrintService operation communicates which services each device
provides. The DSC notifies the printer that it has the storage server function and theprint client function. The printer notifies the DSC that it has the print server function
and the storage client function. Using this negotiation, connection is establishedbetween the server and the client for print and storage respectively. All DPS
operations and events are executed between these client and server combinations.
PictBridge defines a scenario where the user creates the intended print job on the DSC

3and then sends a print job to the print server, which then pulls the image files from thestorage server on the DSC.
3)GetCapability
The DSC inquires about the capability of the printer by issuing a DPS_GetCapability
operation. The capability returned from the printer will direct the UI features displayedon the DSC. The user can then select the options they want from the features presented
and initiate their print job.
4)StartJob
When the user initiates a print, the DSC issues a DPS_StartJob operation. This sends theprinter the information it needs to print what the user requested.
5)GetFile
When the printer begins to process a job it first issues a DPS_GetFileInfo operation.
This operation retrieves details of the image file. This information is used to get theactual image data by a DPS_GetFile operation. The image data is transferred andprinted.
6)Notify
After printing is finished the printer notifies the DSC of the result of the print job by
issuing a DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus event.
Step 1) through 3) are used to discover and configure PictBridge devices before the firstprint job. Steps 4) through 6) are used whenever a print job is initiated.

DSC
DPS Discovery

User

Storage
DeviceStorage
ServerPrinterDPS Discovery

DPS Discovery

Print
ClientPrint
ServerStorage
ClientPrint
DeviceDPS_ConfigurePrintService

DPS_GetCapability
Select print mode and pictures to create “Job”
DPS_StartJob

DPS_GetFileInfo
Storage Data

“File Info”
DPS_GetFile

Storage Data

“Image File”
Print Data
DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus

Fig.4 DPS Job Flow

Fig.4 DPS Job flow4

6. PictBridge logo certification“PictBridge” is a promotion name of this standard. CIPA authorizes products to use the nameand the logo of PictBridge, if the products developed using PictBridge specification and meet
all the conditions that are specified in the PictBridge logo certification guideline document.
CIPA will authorize a third party of “PictBridge” logo certification (Hereafter “the thirdparty”). Please refer to the document for the detail.
A general flow of the logo citification is as follows.
zPurchase “Logo Compliance Test Suite” approved by CIPA
zTest a product by using the tool and confirm the product passing all the test casespecified by the tool.
zSubmit an application to the third party and get an approval from CIPA.
zPay the following fee to the third party.
1. Logo license fee
2. CIPA handling fee
3. The third party handling fee

7. Information on PictBridge
In order to get the PictBridge specification, guideline documents and further information of
PictBridge are available at the following web page:
http://www.cipa.jp/pictbridge/
References
[USB]
[PTP]

Universal Serial Bus Specification, Revision 2.0, 27 April 2000.
“Photography -- Electronic still picture imaging -- Picture transfer protocol(PTP) for digital still photography devices”, ISO 15740:2005.
[XHTML-Print] XHTML-Print, Melinda Grant, Jim Bigelow, eds., W3C Recommendation.

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