Patent Publication Number: US-2003227649-A1

Title: Printer and printing method for printing an image of high quality

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a printer and a printing method for printing an image of high quality.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] When printing an original of a print medium, which is a picture, writing and so forth, the original is copied by a copying machine or the like. In another way, the original is scanned by a scanner and a scanned image is printed by using a printer.  
       [0005] However, in the case using the copying machine and the scanner, image quality deteriorates when the original is copied or scanned. Thus, there arises a problem in that it is impossible to obtain a high-quality print.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a printer in which an original of a print medium is printed in a large size and in a high-quality state.  
       [0007] It is a second object of the present invention to provide a printing method by which an original of a print medium is easily printed in a high-quality state.  
       [0008] In order to achieve the above and other objects, the printer according to the present invention comprises a reading device, an image-data obtaining device, and a printing device. From a print medium having original identification information for identifying an original, the reading device reads the original identification information. The image-data obtaining device obtains image data corresponding to the original identification information. The printing device performs printing on the basis of the obtained image data. The image-data obtaining device obtains the image data from an image server storing the image data. Alternatively, the image-data obtaining device may obtain the image data from a storage medium of a printer storing the image data periodically transferred from the image server.  
       [0009] In the printing method according to the present invention, original identification information is read first from a print medium having the original identification information for identifying an original. And then, image data corresponding to the original identification information is obtained. Successively, printing is carried out on the basis of the obtained image data.  
       [0010] According to the printer of the present invention, it is possible to easily obtain a print of high image quality without regard to a print size.  
       [0011] According to the printing method of the present invention, it is possible to easily print a picture of the print medium in a high-quality state. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0012] The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     [0013]FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a structure of a printer and an image server according to the present invention;  
     [0014]FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the printer;  
     [0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer;  
     [0016]FIG. 4 is an illustration showing a picture used for inputting order data; and  
     [0017]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process sequence executed at a user side. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)  
     [0018]FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a structure of a printer  2  and an image server  3  according to the present invention. The printer  2  is placed at a side of a user  4 . The image server  3  is placed at a side of an image supplier  5 , who is a publisher and so forth.  
     [0019] As to a magazine  6 , a picture and writing are printed on each page thereof. In addition, a bar code  6   a  is printed. The bar code  6   a  includes supplier data, title data, page-identification data, picture-identification data of the pictures printed on the respective pages, and so forth. Incidentally, when plural pictures are printed on each page, the picture-identification data of the respective pictures are provided. Moreover, a picture-identification number corresponding to each picture is printed under the picture concerned.  
     [0020] The printer  2  possesses a copy mode for copying and a print mode for printing. In addition to these modes, the printer  2  possesses a data reading function for the bar code and an order-data producing function, such as shown in FIG. 2. Further, the printer  2  possesses a color printing function besides a monochrome copying function. The printer  2  is able to connect with the image server  3  via the internet  7 . In view of this, the printer  2  is provided with a data reading section  11 , an order-data producing section  12 , a data communicating section  13 , a system controller  14 , an operating section  15 , an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)  16 , a monochrome printing section  17 , a color printing section  18 , and an image-data memory  19 . The system controller  14  controls the respective sections to copy the picture. In addition, the controller  14  controls to write the order data.  
     [0021] Such as shown in FIG. 3, the printer  2  is provided with an openable lid  2   a,  a scanner  2   b,  a print tray  2   c,  a copy tray  2   d,  and so forth to produce a print  20  having any size of A 3 , A 4 , and so forth. Recording papers of various sizes are set in the printer  2  to select the corresponding recording paper in accordance with the designated size. Meanwhile, the operating section  15  is provided with a paper-size designation key, a copy-number designation key, a copy-density designation key, a scale designation key, and a power-supply key. In addition, the operating section  15  is provided with a read key  15   a.    
     [0022] Upon pressing the read key  15   a  under the print mode, the data reading section  11  recognizes the bar code  6   a  on the base of readout data drawn by a read head  11   a,  such as shown in FIG. 2. Successively, the data reading section  11  decodes the bar code  6   a.  The page identification data is transferred to the order-data producing section  12  in which an order-data input picture  21  is produced on the basis of the page identification data. The order-data input picture  21  is sent to the LCD  16 . From the operating section  15 , the order data is inputted in accordance with a key, operation. The order data is transferred to the order-data producing section  12 . The order-data input picture  21  is displayed on the LCD  21 .  
     [0023]FIG. 4 shows an example of the order-data input picture  21  constituted of a data display area  22 , an order-data confirmation area  23 , and an orderer identification area  24 . The data display area  22  includes display regions  22   a  and  22   b  of the page identification data and the picture identification data. A page identification number is indicated in the display region  22   a,  and a picture identification number is indicated in the display region  22   b.  Incidentally, the display region  22   b  of the picture identification data is provided with a number changing button. By operating the number changing button, it is possible to change the number in accordance with the operation thereof.  
     [0024] Within the order-data confirmation area  23 , are displayed a determination button  23   a  and a cancel button  23   b  to determine or cancel the data inputted through the data display area  22 .  
     [0025] Within the orderer identification area  24 , are displayed orderer identification data including orderer ID, an orderer name, a telephone number of the orderer, and so forth, which are inputted in advance. Before user registration, one of a name, an address and a telephone number for identifying a person is used as the orderer identification data. Alternatively, a combination of the name, the address and the telephone number may be used as the orderer identification data. Incidentally, the orderer identification data is inputted through the operating section  15 . Meanwhile, after the user registration, an orderer-ID number is used.  
     [0026] The order-data input picture  21  is checked to confirm the order contents. When the order contents are correct, the determination button  23   a  is operated to transfer the inputted order data to the data communicating section  13  to be connected with the image server  3  via the internet  7 . The inputted order data is stored in a memory of the order-data producing section  12 . In virtue of this, input of the common data is omitted when inputting the order data at the next time. The image server  3  is placed at the side of the image supplier  5  to store the original detailed image data relative to each title. The detailed image data is identified on the basis of title ID and the page identification data. Incidentally, the detailed image data is compressed in a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) style, for instance, to shorten a data transfer time. A way of compressing the data is not exclusive to JPEG, but the other well-known compressing way may be adopted.  
     [0027] Successively, an operation of the present embodiment is described bellow. When the user  4  views the magazine  6  and wants to print a certain page, the user sets the printer  2  to the print mode first. After the page to be printed has been placed on the scanner  2   b,  the user presses the read key  15   a.  Upon pressing the read key  15   a,  the data reading section  11  reads the original of the page placed on the scanner  2   b.  And then, the data reading section  11  identifies the bar code  6   a  by means of pattern recognition, for instance, to read the data of the bar code  6   a.  The read data is transferred to the order-data producing section  12  wherein the order-data input picture  21  is produced. The order-data input picture  21  is displayed on the LCD  16 . The order data is inputted through the operating section  15 , viewing the order-data input picture  21 .  
     [0028] Print order data is set beforehand in the memory of the order-data producing section  12 , such as shown in FIG. 4. After confirming the order-data input picture  21  displayed on the LCD  16 , the determination button  23   a  is operated when there is no problem. When it is hoped to change the order data, contents indicated in the respective regions  22   a  and  22   b  of the data display area  22  are changed through the operating section  15 . When changing the picture identification number indicated in the display region  22   b,  the number is advanced by operating the number-changing button to indicate the picture identification number to be desired. When the inputted data has no problem, the determination button  23   a  is operated. By the way, in the present embodiment, the picture to be printed is not displayed on the LCD  16 . The picture, however, may be displayed on the LCD  16  as a thumbnail image.  
     [0029] Upon operation of the determination button  23   a,  the inputted order data is transferred to the data communicating section  13  to be connected with the image server  3  via the internet  7 . Successively, on the basis of information regarding copyright and so forth, which are owned by the image supplier  5 , it is considered whether printing is allowed or not. When printing is allowed, the image server  3  is searched and the user receives the original detailed image data concerned. At the same time, the user may receive charge data in accordance with the original image data. The charge data is displayed on the LCD  16 . Meanwhile, the original image data is saved in the image-data memory  19 . After that, the color printing section  18  produces a color print of the designated print size on the basis of the original image data. The color print is discharged to the print tray  2   c  as a print  20 . FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a sequence of the above-described operation. In this way, it is possible to obtain a high-quality print without regard to the print size. Incidentally, the monochrome printing section  17  may produce a monochrome print. Since the read original image data is saved in the image-data memory  19 , it is possible to perform printing over and over again.  
     [0030] In the above embodiment, the data is read from the bar code of the pleased page and the original image data is obtained by connecting the printer with the image server every time. Alternatively, the read bar-code data may be memorized and stored to subsequently read the original image data all together from the image server. Moreover, the image data may be periodically downloaded from the image server to a storage medium of the printer. In this case, printing is performed on the basis of the image data stored in the storage medium of the printer.  
     [0031] In the above embodiment, the page to be printed is identified to obtain the original image data thereof, and the obtained image data is printed by the printer. However, when the obtained original image data has a data size and a designated print size exceeding a printable size of the printer, the data may be transferred to a printing shop. Also, when the obtained original image data differs in print format, the data may be transferred to the printing shop. In this case, printing is performed by printers placed at the printing shop. Such printers are able to produce a large-size print and are adaptable to various print format. Owing to this, it is possible to perform special printing relative to a large-size poster, a calendar and so forth. By the way, the printing shop may print the image on a T-shirt, a cup and so forth on the basis of the transferred image data.  
     [0032] The magazine of the above embodiment has the respective pages on which the bar code is printed. The bar code includes the supplier data, the title data, the page-identification data, the picture-identification data of the pictures printed on the respective pages, and so forth. The magazine, however, may have a single IC tag affixed on a predetermined area thereof. The IC tag stores the data of the whole pages. After the data of the IC tag has been read by a printer, a page to be printed is designated. In addition, the picture designation and so forth are carried out. In this case, is omitted the operation that the bar-code data of the page to be printed is read every time.  
     [0033] Instruction data for editing the prints may be added to the print order data. In this case, the user may add comment data concerning a comment to be printed. This comment may be printed on the front of the print or the back thereof. Further, the comment may be composed into the image to be printed. Furthermore, printing may be performed such that a manuscript comment written on the surface of the page to be printed is composed into the original image. At that time, the printer compares the scan image with the original image to automatically extract the manuscript comment. Character recognition is executed on the extracted portion to convert it into character data. A print is produced such that the converted character data is composed into the original image. Incidentally, the print may be produced such that the manuscript comment is composed as it is.  
     [0034] In the above embodiment, the picture identification data included in the bar-code data is read, and on the basis of the read data, the original image data is obtained from the connected image server. Although printing is performed in this way, identification data for identifying merchandise shown in a picture may be added to the bar-code data. The identification data for the merchandise is read, and on the basis of the read data, the merchandise is ordered to a merchandise-ordering center, where the order of the merchandise is managed.  
     [0035] Further, the bar-code data may include text identification data for identifying a text printed on the original. The printer reads the text identification data of the page to be printed, and on the basis of the read data, the original detailed text data concerned is obtained from a connected text server in which the original text data is stored. Printing is performed on the basis of the obtained original text data. Incidentally, the text data itself may be transferred to a personal computer or the like instead of printing.  
     [0036] Although the present invention has been fully described by way of the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those having skill in this field. Therefore, unless otherwise these changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as included therein.