Abstract:
A utility program continuously monitors a data acquisition section into which an auxiliary recording medium is removably inserted, thus detecting an auxiliary recording medium connected to the data acquisition section (S 10  to S 40 ). When the auxiliary recording medium is inserted into the data acquisition section, the utility program identifies an identifier of a data file recorded in the auxiliary recording medium (S 50  and S 60 ). The utility program starts an application program which has been related to the identifier beforehand (S 70  and S 80 ). Therefore, no complicated operations are required until the time an application program for processing a data file recorded on an auxiliary recording medium is started.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a program starter system and a program startup control method, which are applied to a data processing system whose core resides in a computer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a program starter system which activates a specific application program when a recording medium is inserted into a data acquisition section, as well as to a corresponding program startup control method. 
     2. Related Art 
     In accordance with a recent improvement in the performance of a digital camera, increasing demand exists for upgrading from a film camera to a digital camera. The user of a digital camera loads photographed images into a personal computer and can appreciate the images on a monitor. So long as an image loaded into a personal computer is printed through use of a printer, the user can appreciate a photographed image on paper, as in the case of a conventional chemically-developed photograph. In a case where images photographed by a digital camera are printed through use of a printer, image data recorded on a recording medium, such as a memory card, are loaded into a personal computer and are printed by means of activation of an image editing application program. 
     Typical procedures for printing image data will now be described. 
     First, a predetermined image editing application program is started by a personal computer. A recording medium is inserted into a data acquisition section, such as a card reader, connected to the personal computer. An image file recorded on the recording medium is loaded into a storage device of the personal computer by means of designating a directory. The user directs printing of the image file through use of an image editing application program, thereby invoking a printer driver. The user sets paper size, the type of paper, and print quality on a setting screen of the printer driver, wherewith a printing operation is commenced. So long as an extension of an image data file has been related to an image editing application program beforehand, the image editing application program can be invoked without involvement of a necessity for specifying an image editing application program every time. 
     As mentioned above, during operations for printing, through use of a printer connected to a personal computer, the image that has been photographed by a digital camera, the user must enter commands to the personal computer step by step. Such complicated input operations are responsible for making some users reluctant to use a digital camera. Consequently, there is a desire for embodying means which enables easy printing of an image photographed by a digital camera with involvement of only a few procedures. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention has been conceived in light of such a demand and is aimed at providing a program starter system which facilitates processing of the data recorded on a recording medium, as well as a corresponding program startup control method. 
     In a program starter system according to the present invention, a data acquisition section is removably connected to an auxiliary recording medium and reads data stored in the auxiliary recording medium. Monitoring means monitors the data acquisition section and detects the auxiliary recording medium connected to the data acquisition section. Determination means determines an identifier of a data file recorded in the detected auxiliary recording medium. Starting means starts an application program which has already been related to the identifier. Thus, no operation is needed from the time a recording medium is connected to a data acquisition section until the time an application program for processing a data file recorded on the recording medium is started. Consequently, the program starter system according to the present invention facilitates processing of the data recorded on the auxiliary recording medium. 
     Preferably, the monitoring means monitors the data acquisition section at predetermined intervals while the data acquisition section is being energized. Therefore, a specific application program can be started substantially simultaneously with connection of a recording medium to a data acquisition section. 
     Preferably, the starting means relates an identifier of an image data file with an application program which displays, on a display unit and in the form of a list, thumbnail image data belonging to an image data file recorded in the auxiliary recording medium. When an auxiliary recording medium having an image data file recorded thereon is connected to a data acquisition section, details of the image data file recorded on the auxiliary recording medium are displayed in the form of a list on a display unit. Therefore, the user can readily ascertain details of the data recorded on the auxiliary recording medium. 
     Preferably, the starting means relates an identifier of an image data file with an application program which sets print conditions with regard to image data recorded in the auxiliary recording medium. When an auxiliary recording medium having an image data file recorded thereon is connected to a data acquisition section, print conditions can be set with respect to image data. Accordingly, the user can readily print the image data recorded on the auxiliary recording medium. 
     Preferably, the starting means relates an identifier of an image data file with an application program which displays, on a display unit and in the form of a list, thumbnail image data belonging to an image data file recorded in the auxiliary recording medium and which sets printing conditions with regard to primary image data belonging to the image data file recorded in the auxiliary recording medium. Accordingly, when an auxiliary recording medium having image data files recorded thereon is connected to a data acquisition section, details of the image data files recorded on the auxiliary recording medium are displayed in the form of a list by virtue of thumbnail image data, and print conditions can be collectively set with regard to primary image data. Consequently, the user can readily set print conditions without involvement of a necessity of opening image data files recorded on the auxiliary recording medium one by one. 
     Preferably, the starting means relates an identifier of an image data file with an application program which copies an image data file recorded on the auxiliary recording medium to another auxiliary recording medium. When an auxiliary recording medium having an image data file recorded thereon is connected to a data acquisition section, the image data file recorded on the auxiliary recording medium can be copied to another auxiliary recording medium. Consequently, the user can readily copy the image data file recorded on the auxiliary recording medium to another auxiliary recording medium. 
     Preferably, under the program startup control method according to the present invention, the data acquisition section is monitored, and a recording medium connected to the data acquisition section is detected. Further, an identifier of a data file recorded in the detected auxiliary recording medium is determined, to thereby start an application program which has already been related to the identifier. Thus, no operation is needed from the time a recording medium is connected to a data acquisition section until the time an application program for processing a data file recorded on the recording medium is started. Consequently, the program startup control method according to the present invention facilitates processing of the data recorded on the auxiliary recording medium. 
     Preferably, during the monitor and detection step, the data acquisition section is monitored at predetermined intervals while the data acquisition section is being energized. Therefore, a specific application program can be started substantially simultaneously with connection of a recording medium to a data acquisition section. 
     Preferably, during the starting step, an identifier of an image data file is related with an application program which displays, on a display unit and in the form of a list, thumbnail image data belonging to an image data file recorded in the auxiliary recording medium. When an auxiliary recording medium having an image data file recorded thereon is connected to a data acquisition section, details of the image data file recorded on the auxiliary recording medium are displayed in the form of a list on a display unit. Therefore, the user can readily ascertain details of the data recorded on the auxiliary recording medium. 
     Preferably, during the starting step, an identifier of an image data file is related with an application program which sets print conditions with regard to image data recorded in the auxiliary recording medium. When an auxiliary recording medium having an image data file recorded thereon is connected to a data acquisition section, print conditions can be set with respect to image data. Accordingly, the user can readily print the image data recorded on the auxiliary recording medium. 
     Preferably, during the starting step, an identifier of an image data file is related with an application program which displays, on a display unit and in the form of a list, thumbnail image data belonging to an image data file recorded in the auxiliary recording medium and which sets print conditions with regard to primary image data belonging to the image data file recorded in the auxiliary recording medium. Accordingly, when an auxiliary recording medium having image data files recorded thereon is connected to a data acquisition section, details of the image data files recorded on the auxiliary recording medium are displayed in the form of a list by virtue of thumbnail image data, and print conditions can be collectively set with regard to primary image data. Consequently, the user can readily set print conditions without involvement of a necessity of opening image data files recorded on the auxiliary recording medium one by one. 
     Preferably, during the starting step, an identifier of an image data file is related with an application program which copies an image data file recorded on the auxiliary recording medium to another auxiliary recording medium. When an auxiliary recording medium having an image data file recorded thereon is connected to a data acquisition section, the image data file recorded on the auxiliary recording medium can be copied to another auxiliary recording medium. Consequently, the user can readily copy the image data file recorded on the auxiliary recording medium to another auxiliary recording medium. 
     The present invention also provides a printer for use in the foregoing program starter system or for use with the foregoing program startup control method, the printer comprising the data acquisition section. Since the printer has a data acquisition section, when a recording medium is inserted into the data acquisition section of the printer, the program starter system activates an application program for processing a data file recorded on the recording medium. Consequently, in a case where a system is configured such that a printer has a reader for reading, for example, a memory card which is removably attached to a digital camera and such that a host computer starts an application program for processing an image file, there can be embodied a program starter system which facilitates starting of an application program for processing an image file and printing of the image file through use of the application program. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a program startup control method for use with a print system according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a print system according to one embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of a print system according to one embodiment; and 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a program starter control system for use with a print system according to one embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinbelow by reference to the drawings. 
     First, the hardware configuration of a print system using a program starter system according to one embodiment of the present invention will now be described by reference to FIG.  2 . The print system comprises a control section  10 , a monitor  20  serving as a display unit for displaying outputs from the control section  10 , a keyboard  30  for entering a command to the control section  10 , a card reader  40  serving as a data acquisition section for entering data into the control section  10 , and a printer  50  for printing outputs from the control section  10 . 
     The control section  10  serves as a personal computer comprising, as input/output devices, the monitor  20 , the keyboard  30 , the card reader  40 , and the printer  50 . A CPU (Central Processing Unit)  11  loads a program from RAM (Random Access Memory)  12 , thus executing an operating system or an application program. The RAM  12  is a readable/writable primary storage device for storing a program and data processed by the program. A magnetic disk drive  14  is a bulk storage auxiliary storage device for storing the data to be loaded into the RAM  12 . The magnetic disk drive  14  incorporates a magnetic disk which serves as another auxiliary recording medium described in claims. VRAM (Video RAM)  13  stores data to be displayed on a monitor  20 . An interface  15  interconnects the monitor  20 , the keyboard  30 , the card reader  40 , the printer  50 , and the control section  10 . The card reader  40  and the printer  50  are connected to the control section  10  by way of a universal serial bus (USB) and a hub  16 . In the present embodiment, the card reader  40  is housed in one housing, and the printer  50  is housed in another housing. Alternatively, the card reader  40  and the printer  50  may be housed in a single housing together with the hub  16 . Further, the card reader  40  and the control section  10  may be housed in a single housing. 
     The card reader  40  has a card slot  41  to which a compact flash memory card  42  serving as an auxiliary recording medium is removably connected. The data stored in the compact flash memory card  42  are read by the card reader  40 , and the thus-read data are transferred to the control section  10  by way of the hub  16 . 
     The configuration of software for use with the print system according to the present embodiment will be described by reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of software for use with a program startup control system employed in the print system. When the control section  10  is started, an operating system  22  is loaded into the RAM  12 . The operating system  22  controls the overall print system. Various programs stored in the magnetic disk drive  14 , such as a driver program  24  for controlling the card reader  40 , are invoked by the operating system  22 , and the thus-invoked programs are resident in the RAM  12 . Further, a utility program  23  constituting monitoring means and startup means is resident in the RAM  12 . 
     Various application programs  24  are stored in the magnetic disk drive  14 , and an application program  21  which provides at least the following features is stored in the magnetic disk drive  14 . 
     (1) Thumbnail image data belonging to an image data file contained in a predetermined directory are loaded into the RAM  12 , and on the basis of thumbnail image data, details of the image data file contained in the directory are displayed in the form of a table. 
     (2) With regard to an individual image data file whose details are displayed by virtue of feature (1), an operator selects print conditions. The print condition selected by the operator in connection with an individual image data file are collectively transferred to a printer driver program, as conditions for printing main image data of the image data file. 
     (3) An image data file is copied to the directory selected by the operator. 
     Respective features (1), (2), and (3) are implemented by sub-programs integrated by a single main program. As will be described later, the application program  21  is automatically started when the compact flash memory  42  having an image data file recorded t hereon is connected to the card slot  41 . Consequently, the user can readily know the nature of the image data files stored in the compact flash memory card  42 . Further, the recorded image data files can be readily printed or copied. 
     The utility program  23  is resident in the RAM  12  and inquires of the driver program  24  at predetermined intervals whether the compact flash memory card  42  is connected to the card slot  41 , thus continuously monitoring the card reader  40 . As shown in FIG. 4, within the RAM  12  reside the utility program  23 , which ensures a flag  28  which is set to an ON state when the compact flash memory card  42  is connected to the card slot  41 ; a data table  24  in which a plurality of extensions are registered as identifiers; and an application storage area  27  in which a specific application program to be started by the utility program  23  is registered. In the case of the present embodiment, the application program  21  is registered in the application storage area  27 . Further, extensions of image data files to be processed by the application program  21 ; that is, “.jpg,” “.exif,” “.jif,” “.tiff,” “.bmp,” or the like are registered in the data table  25 . The extensions to be registered in the data table  25  and the application programs to be registered in the application storage area  27  may be registered beforehand at the time of shipment from a factory. Alternatively, the extensions and application programs may be registered by an operator. 
     When the compact flash memory card  42  is connected to the card slot  41 , the utility program  23  inquires of the driver program  24  about the nature of extensions of data files stored in the compact flash memory card  42 . The utility program  23  determines whether or not an extension which is not registered in the data table  25  is included in the received extensions. If all the received extensions are determined to be registered in the data table  25 , the application program  21  registered in the application storage area  27  is activated after having been loaded into the RAM  12  from the magnetic disk drive  14 . 
     A program startup control method for use with the print system according to the present embodiment will be described according to a flowchart shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The utility program  23  is resident in the RAM  12  and inquires of the driver program  24  at predetermined intervals, by way of the operating system  22 , whether or not the compact flash memory card  42  is connected to the card slot  41  (step S 10 ). In a case where a compact flash memory card  42  is not connected to the card slot  41  at the time of inquiry, the flag  28  is maintained in an OFF state (step S 20 ). In contrast, if the compact flash memory card  42  is connected to the card slot  41  at the time of inquiry, a determination is made as to whether the flag  28  is in an ON state or an OFF state (step S 30 ). If the flag  28  is in an OFF state, the flag  28  is set to an ON state (step S 40 ). In contrast, if the flag  28  is in an ON state, processing operations pertaining to steps S 10  and S 30  are iterated until the flag  28  is set to an OFF state. These processing operations (pertaining to steps S 10  to S 40 ) correspond to a data acquisition section monitoring function of the print system. The reason why processing operations pertaining to steps S 10  and S 30  are iterated until the flag  28  is set to an OFF state is to prevent overlapping activation of the application program  21 . 
     The utility program  23  inquires of the driver program  24  about the nature of the data files stored in the compact flash memory card  42 , by way of the operating system  22  (step S 50 ). Upon receipt of such an inquiry, the driver program  24  scans a table regarding volumes in the compact flash memory card  42  to the utility program  23  and transmits extensions of data files of all types stored in the compact flash memory card  42 . The utility program  23  that has received the extensions of the data files sequentially determines the received extensions whether or not an extension which is not registered in the data table  25  is included in the received extensions (step S 60 ). If all the received extensions are determined to be registered in the data table  25 , the utility program  23  inquires of the operating system  22  whether or not the application program  21  is in operation (step S 70 ). If the application program  21  is not in operation, the application program  21  is loaded into the RAM  12  from the magnetic disk drive  14  and is activated (step S 80 ). If the application program  21  has already been in operation, processing returns to step S 10  and a round of processing operations are iterated, as will be described later. The processing operations (pertaining to steps S 50  to S 80 ) correspond to a program startup function of the print system. 
     While the application program  21  is in operation, the utility program  24  inquires of the driver program  24  at predetermined intervals whether or not the compact flash memory card  42  is connected to the card slot  41  (step S 10 ). If the compact flash memory card  42  is determined to be inserted into the card slot  41 , the utility program  23  determines whether or not the flag  28  is in an ON or OFF state (step S 30 ). Unless the compact flash memory card  42  is removed from the card slot  41 , the flag  28  is maintained in an ON state, and the utility program  23  continuously iterates a loop between steps S 10  and S 30 . Consequently, there is prevented overlapping startup of the application program  21  that is already in operation. 
     Since an inquiry is made in step S 70  as to whether or not the application program  21  is already in operation, overlapping startup of the application program  21  is prevented even in a case where the application program  21  has already been started before the compact flash memory card  42  is connected to the card slot  41 . 
     It is not easy for a user who is not familiar with computer operations to grasp which application program performs a desired operation and to start the application program. In the present embodiment, the application program  21  is started only by means of the compact flash memory card  42  having image data files recorded thereon being connected to the card slot  41 . Consequently, an operation for starting a specific application program can be simplified. Particularly, the present invention obviates a necessity for specifying an application program corresponding to a data file and specifying a directory which contains the application program. By means of only the compact flash memory card  42  in which data files to be processed are recorded being connected to the card slot  41 , a desired operation can be commenced. Thus, an application program is started very easily.