Abstract:
A printer capable of video-encoding digital images. The encoded images can be sent to, and displayed by, a television. Proofing and selection can be based on large, high resolution images on the television instead small, low quality thumbnail images on a proof sheet. Moreover, the digital images can be proofed, selected and printed out without the assistance of a personal computer.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    Personal computers often play an integral role in processing digital images. As an example, a scanner captures digital images and sends the digital images to a personal computer. Photo editing software on the personal computer is used to touch up and proof the digital images and select the images to be printed out. The selected images are sent to a printer driver, which also runs on the computer. The printer driver converts the selected images to a format for printing, and sends the formatted images to a printer.  
           [0002]    As another example, a digital camera is equipped with memory for storing captured digital images. After the memory has been filled, the digital images are transferred to a personal computer. Photo editing software is used to touch up, proof and select the digital images, and a printer driver formats the selected images and sends the formatted images to a printer.  
           [0003]    However, the personal computer does not always play an integral role in printing out digital images. For instance, the HP Photosmart P1100 printer includes a memory reader that can accommodate removable memory. In a digital camera having removable memory, the memory can be removed from the camera and plugged into the memory reader. The HP Photosmart P1100 printer can then select and print out digital images stored in the removable memory. Thus the Photosmart P1100 can print out photos directly from the memory, without the assistance of a personal computer.  
           [0004]    Eliminating the personal computer-as-middleman makes it easier to print out digital images. It also reduces cost and increases portability.  
           [0005]    Proofing and selecting the digital images, however, has its drawbacks. Typically, a proof sheet of thumbnail images is printed out, and the selection is based on the thumbnail images. The thumbnail images are small and their resolution is low. As a result, the quality of the images is difficult to evaluate. For the most part, the thumbnail images merely allow the contents of the memory to be identified.  
           [0006]    In addition, printing out a proof sheet can take several minutes. Therefore, the proofing can take a relatively long time. Moreover, paper and ink are spent to produce the proof sheet.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0007]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a printer is capable of video-encoding digital images. The encoded images can be sent to, and displayed by, a television. Proofing and selection can be based on large, high resolution images on the television instead small, low quality thumbnail images on a proof sheet. Moreover, the digital images can be proofed, selected and printed out without the assistance of a personal computer.  
           [0008]    Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is an illustration of a printer according to the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is an illustration of a home audio video network.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is an illustration of a method of proofing digital images. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 shows a printer  10  including a print engine  12  and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)  14 . The ASIC  14  can perform conventional control of the print engine  12 .  
         [0013]    The printer  10  further includes a memory card reader  16  that can read removable memory. Popular types of removable memory include, but are not limited to, “Memory Sticks,” Smart Cards” and “Compact Flashcards.” 
         [0014]    Such removable memory is commonly used in digital cameras, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other mobile devices. The memory card reader  16  can read digital images stored in the removable memory.  
         [0015]    The printer  10  can also receive digital images via an input/output (I/O) interface  18 . The digital images may be received, for example, via a USB or IEEE 1394 interface.  
         [0016]    The ASIC  14  also performs video-encoding of the digital images. The type of video-encoding depends upon the type of device on which the images are displayed. For example, the ASIC  14  could encode the digital images according to a format such as a digital video (DV) format. Such encoded images can be displayed on a digital television. The ASIC  14  could also apply color correction, sharpening, etc., to the digital images. The ASIC  14  supplies a video stream to the I/O interface  18 . A still image can be displayed by repeating the same image in the video stream.  
         [0017]    Displaying the images on the video display device allows the images to proofed and evaluated. The video display device displays the digital images at a much higher resolution and a much larger size than thumbnail images on a proof sheet. Not only can the memory content be identified, but image quality can be evaluated, and fine details can be discerned. Consequently, decisions to print can be based on image quality. Selected images can then be printed by the print enginel  2 .  
         [0018]    Using the video display device to proof and select images has other advantages over a conventional method such as printing out proof sheets of low-quality thumbnail images and selecting from the thumbnails on the proof sheets. Paper and ink are saved. The proofing is also much faster than printing out proof sheets, since the images appear on the video display device immediately.  
         [0019]    There are various ways of sequencing through the digital images (i.e., accessing, encoding and displaying the digital images) and selecting the digital images to print. For instance, the printer  10  could be provided with a control panel  20  and the ASIC  14  could control the sequencing and selection in response to buttons on the control panel  20 . The buttons would allow for manual sequencing and selection of the digital images. The digital images could be displayed one at a time. A “forward” button on the control panel  20  might cause the next digital image to be displayed, a “back” button might cause the previous image to be displayed, and a “print” button might cause the displayed (current) image to be selected and printed.  
         [0020]    In the alternative or in addition, the printer  10  may be provided with a receiver that receives a signal from a remote control. Sequencing and selection could be controlled by the remote control.  
         [0021]    The digital images could be displayed in groups of thumbnails, with each displayed thumbnail being identified by a number. The control  20  could have a keypad for keying in the number or numbers of the images to be printed.  
         [0022]    The control panel  20  could include a button for automatically sequencing through the digital images. For example, the digital images could be displayed on the video display device as a slide show. When a desirable image is displayed, the print button is pressed.  
         [0023]    Referring to FIG. 2, the printer  10  can be connected to a home audio video network  110  situated in a home entertainment center. The I/O interface  18  of the printer  10  is connected to a backbone  112  of the network  110 . Other devices connected to the backbone  112  might include a digital television  114 , a digital VCR  116 , a digital camcorder  118 , and a digital stereo  120 . A computer need not be attached. Once connected to the network  110 , the printer  10  can send video-encoded images to the digital television  114  for display.  
         [0024]    The network  110  could follow the HAVi specification, a consumer electronics industry architecture. Digital audio and video devices conforming to the HAVi standard are interoperable when connected to the network  110 . Such a network  110  would allow any of these devices to generate remote signals for commanding the printer  10  to sequence through, select and print the images.  
         [0025]    Thus, the digital images can be proofed as shown in FIG. 3. Digital images are supplied to the printer  10  ( 210 ), the digital images are video-encoded within the printer  10  ( 212 ); the encoded images are sent to the digital television  114  or other remote video display device ( 214 ); and the images displayed on the remote video display device are proofed and selected for printing ( 216 ).  
         [0026]    The printer  10  is not limited to all of the elements described above. For example, the memory card reader  16  could be eliminated, whereby the printer receives digital images only from the I/O interface  18 .  
         [0027]    The video-encoding, print engine control and image sequencing control may be performed by a single ASIC. Within the ASIC, these functions may be performed by dedicated circuits, by a single embedded processor that is programmed to performed these functions, or by a combination thereof. These functions may instead be performed by separate ASICS.  
         [0028]    The printer  10  is not limited to video-encoding in a format for a digital display device. The printer  10  could perform video-encoding in a format for an analog display device such as an analog television.  
         [0029]    The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described and illustrated above. Instead, the present invention is construed according to the claims that follow.