Patent Publication Number: US-2010123913-A1

Title: Image print system and image print device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to an image print system and so on for printing desired image data held by recording medium and so on. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Currently, an image print system which reads an image data from a recording medium and so on held by a user and prints a desired image data is invented. These kinds of image print systems are described in the patent document 1 and the patent document 2. 
     In the patent document 1, it reads an image data from a recording medium and so on and stores it in an image database. Next, it reads an image data corresponding to each client in a client database from the image database and reads a frame data from a frame database. Then, it synthesizes the image data and the frame data and prints. This will allow a user to print easily a desired image data from a recording medium and so on held by a user. 
     Moreover, in the patent document 2, it synthesizes characters of the imaging date, when it prints an image of the image file supporting Exif (Registered trademark) (Exchangeable Image File Format) which is standardized format containing imaging date information and so on. In addition, hereinafter, information of a digital image data standardized by a predetermined format such as Exif (Registered trademark) is described as standardized information. 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2005-123936
 
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2004-317594
 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     However, recently, the productization of these kinds of image print systems gets active, and improvement of user&#39;s satisfaction and differentiation from other companies are demanded. Especially, when it prints an image of an image file (BMP file, GIF file and so on) not supporting Exif (Registered trademark), there was a problem that it can not acquire imaging date information and can not synthesize characters of imaging date. Moreover, even though it prints an image of an image file (JPEG file and so on) supporting Exif (Registered trademark), imaging date information and so on may have been deleted and there was a problem that it can not acquire imaging date information and can not synthesize characters of imaging date. A case that the imaging date information has been deleted is a case that the imaging date information is not setup in the information of Exif (Registered trademark) from the start or a case even though the imaging date information is setup in the information of Exif (Registered trademark), when the data is processed on PC, the data is saved without leaving imaging date information or the data is saved in the different file format. 
     The present invention was achieved in view of the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide an image print system which provides service safely and certainly and improves user&#39;s satisfaction. Especially, when a user asks to assign a date on a print object, the object is to provide an image print system which assigns a date certainly. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     In order to achieve foregoing objects, a first invention is an image print system wherein an image print device prints desired image data held by recording medium, and said image print device comprising: a portion acquiring imaging date/time information of standardized information associated with said image data; and a portion acquiring file creation date/time information or file update date/time information associated with said image data from an administrative area of a storage part of said image print device or an administrative area of said recording medium, when said imaging date/time information was blank. The standardized information is information of a digital image data standardized by Exif (Registered trademark) and so on. That the imaging date/time information is blank not only means what is called null value but also contains all data such as default value different from an original imaging date/time. Moreover, the case that the imaging date/time information is blank also contains the case targeting an image data associated with an image file not supporting standardized information (=an image data not storing imaging date/time information) and not being able to acquire the imaging date/time information. 
     Further, it is preferable that said image print device comprises: a portion holding year/month/date of said imaging date/time information as date information when said imaging date/time information was not blank, or holding year/month/date of said file creation date/time information or said file update date/time information as said date information when said imaging date/time information was blank; and a portion assigning said held date information to said image data and printing. 
     A second invention is an image print device printing desired image data held by a recording medium comprising: a portion acquiring imaging date/time information of standardized information associated with said image data; and a portion acquiring file creation date/time information or file update date/time information associated with said image data from an administrative area of a storage part or an administrative area of said recording medium when said imaging date/time information was blank. 
     EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention can provide an image print system which provides service safely and certainly and improves user&#39;s satisfaction. Especially, when a user asks to assign a date on a print object, the present invention can provide an image print system which assigns a date certainly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  Diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image print system  1 . 
         FIG. 2  Outer perspective view of the image print device  3 . 
         FIG. 3  Hardware configuration diagram of the image print device  3 . 
         FIG. 4  Flowchart showing an operation of the image print device  3 . 
         FIG. 5  Diagram showing an example of a selection screen of date assignment. 
         FIG. 6  Diagram showing a part of data embedded in an image data of JPEG format as standardized information. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1 : Image print system 
           3 : Image print device 
           5 : Recording medium 
           7 : Print object 
           11 : Monitor 
           12 : Recording medium insert opening 
           13 : Coin insert opening 
           14 : Bill insert opening 
           15 : Return lever 
           16 : Return opening 
           17 : Receipt takeout opening 
           18 : Print object takeout opening 
           19 : Speaker 
           20 : Maintenance key 
           31 : Control part 
           33 : Storage part 
           35 : Input part 
           37 : Recording medium input/output part 
           39 : Display part 
           41 : Print part 
           43 : Accounting part 
           45 : Bus 
       
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image print system  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is an example of an image print system  1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image print system  1  comprises an image print device  3 , a recording medium  5 , a print object  7  and so on. 
     The image print device  3  is placed at various stores and comprises an insert opening which supports various recording media  5 , and a print device which prints an image data. In addition, the print device may be placed at a point distant from the image print device  3  and be connected by network such as LAN (Local Area Network). 
     A user has the recording medium  5  and an image data is recorded in it. The recording medium  5  is, for example, SD (§SD \ Secure Digital (Registered trademark)) memory card, multimedia card (M \ MULTIMEDIACARD (Registered trademark)), memory stick (MEMORY STICK (Registered trademark)), Compact Flash (Registered trademark), smart media (Smart Media (Registered trademark)), xD-picture card (§xD \ xD-Picture Card (Registered trademark)), miniSD (§SD \ Secure Digital (Registered trademark)) card, memory stick Duo (MEMORY STICK DUO (Registered trademark)), CD (CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW), USB thumb drive and so on. The recording medium  5  is inserted into the insert opening of the image print device  3  and the image print device  3  reads an image data. 
     The print object  7  is printed by the print device equipped in the image print device  3 . 
     Next, the outer configuration of the image print device  3  will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is the outer perspective view of the image print device  3 . 
       FIG. 2  is one example of the image print device  3 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a monitor  11  such as a touch screen monitor is installed at the front face of the upper stage part of the image print device  3 . The monitor  11  displays an operation guide, an operation condition, a read image and so on and performs input through the touch screen. 
     Moreover, a recording medium insert opening  12  is installed below the monitor  11 . LED (not shown here) corresponding to each insert opening may be installed. 
     A money insert opening (a coin insert opening  13  and a bill insert opening  14 ), a return lever  15 , a return opening  16 , a receipt takeout opening  17 , a print object take out opening  18 , a speaker  19 , a maintenance key  20 , a door open/close key  21  and so on are installed at the lower stage part of the image print device  3 . 
     A user pays the fare by inserting coins into the coin insert opening  13  or inserting bills into the bill insert opening  14 . When change is given, it is ejected from the return opening  16 . Moreover, when the order is canceled or coins are jammed, it is ejected from the return opening  16  by turning the return lever  15 . After the fare is collected, a receipt on which collected amount of fare and order contents are printed is ejected from the receipt takeout opening  17 . 
     Moreover, a user receives the print object  7  ejected from the print object takeout opening  18  after instructing to execute printing. 
     The speaker  19  plays a voice, BGM, sound effect and so on while waiting or operating. 
     The maintenance key  20  is the key which switches a normal operation mode being able to receive a user&#39;s operation and an administrative mode where an administrator performs setting or maintenance of the image print system  1 . 
     The door open/close key  21  is the key which opens and closes the door of the image print device  3 . 
     Moreover, it is hardly recognized clearly from the outside, a computer including a control part which controls each component of the image print device  3 , a power supply box which converts voltage, an uninterruptible power supply system which prevents a breakage of a CPU and a hard disk and so on of the control part in case of power outage and so on are installed in the chassis of the image print device  3 . 
     Next, the hardware configuration of the image print device  3  will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  is the hardware configuration diagram of the image print device  3 . 
     The image print device  3  comprises a control part  31 , a storage part  33 , a input part  35 , a recording medium input/output part  37 , a display part  39 , a print part  41 , an accounting part  43  and so on that are connected through a bus  45 . 
     The control part  31  comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit) which executes a program, ROM (Read Only Memory) which stores a program instruction or a data, RAM (Random Access Memory) and so on. The control part  31  controls whole operation of the image print device  3 . 
     The storage part  33  is HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and stores programs and data and so on that are required for the operation of the image print device  3 . A program code is read by the control part  31  on demand, transferred to the RAM, read to the CPU and performed as various means. 
     The input part  35  is a touch panel and equips a touch pen and so on. Moreover, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse may be equipped for the administrator. 
     The recording medium input/output part  37  is a slot or a drive comprising the insert opening corresponding to the recording medium  5 . The slot or the drive is configured conforming to the specification of each recording medium  5 . Moreover, each insert opening may equip LED (Light Emitting Diode) and the control part  31  may control lighting, blinking and so on of the LED. 
     The display part  39  is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel and has a logic circuit and so on such as a video adaptor to realize the video function of the computer cooperating with the display device. 
     The print part  41  is a print device such as color digital photo printer and prints the image data by instruction from the control part  31 . 
     The accounting part  43  receives the insertion of coins and bills and prints a receipt. 
     Next, the detail of the process of the image print device  3  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing an operation of the image print device  3 . 
     When a user inputs the instruction to start image print process through the input part  35 , the control part  31  displays the selection screen of the recording medium  5  on the display part  39  (S 101 ). Then, a user selects the desired recording medium  5 . Here, the control part  31  may send a signal to blink the LED of the insert opening corresponding to the selected recording medium  5  and may inform a user which insert opening a user should insert the recording medium  5  into. Hereby, this makes it easy to find an insert opening for a user and prevents the breakage of the recording medium  5  by selecting an incorrect insert opening. 
     Next, the control part  31  displays an insert screen of the recording medium  5  on the display part  39  (S 102 ) and prompts an insert of the recording medium  5 . Then a user inserts the holding recording medium  5  into the insert opening. 
     Here, various storage devices than an USB thumb drive can be connected to the insert opening (hereinafter called an USB port) of the USB thumb drive which is one of the recording medium  5 . For example, a large-capacity USB hard disk having a capacity of tens or hundreds of gigabits can also be connected. However, when it tries to read whole image data stored in such large-capacity storage device, it takes long time for read process and it might give a user annoyance. 
     Therefore, when a storage device is connected to the USB port, the control part  31  acquires the storage capacity of the connected storage device and confirms whether it is less than predetermined storage capacity. 
     If it is less than the predetermined storage capacity, the control part  31  proceeds to S 103 . 
     If it is predetermined storage capacity or more, the control part  31  displays message, which says that the process cannot be continued because the storage capacity is large, on the display part  39  and ends the process. 
     Hereby, it can avoid a situation it takes a long time for read process and it can prevent giving a user annoyance. 
     In addition, when it is a large-capacity USB hard disk, a computer recognizes it not as a removal disk but as a local disk usually. Therefore, when the image print device  3  recognizes it as a local disk, it may confirm if it is less than predetermined storage capacity. 
     Next, the control part  31  displays a selection screen of a payment method on the display part  39  (S 103 ). Then, a user selects a payment method. For example, a payment method is a cash payment, a dedicated card payment and so on. 
     Next, the control part  31  displays a selection screen of a size of the print object  7  on the display part  39  (S 104 ). Then, a user selects a size of the print object  7 . For example, a size of the print object  7  is an L size (89×127 mm), a  2 L size (127×180 mm), an A 4  size (210×297 mm), a quarter size (254×305 mm) and so on. 
     Next, the control part  31  displays a selection screen of a date assignment on the display part  39  (S 105 ). Then, a user selects “with date” or “without date”. In addition, when “with date” is selected, a date is assigned to all print objects  7 . 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen of a date assignment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a selection screen of a date assignment comprises a message display area  201 , a return button  202 , a display area  203  of an image data with date assignment, a display area  204  of an image data without date assignment, “with date” button  205 , “without date” button  206  and so on. 
     The message of “Do you add date in a print?” is displayed on the message display area  201 . 
     The return button  202  is a button indicating a user to return to the start screen. 
     The display area  203  of an image data with date assignment displays an image data of a sample with date assignment. 
     The display area  204  of an image data without date assignment displays an image data of a sample without date assignment. 
     The “with date” button  205  is a button indicating to display a date on a print. 
     The “without date” button  206  is a button indicating not to display a date on a print. 
     Next, a process of a date acquisition will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram showing a part of data embedded in an image data of JPEG format as standardized information. 
     In an image data of JPEG format taken by digital camera and so on, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a data such as imaging information is stored with each tag as standardized information. 
     In Image Description  301 , a description about the taken image is stored. 
     In Make  302 , a manufacture name of the imaging camera is stored. 
     In Model  303 , a model name of the imaging camera is stored. 
     In Date Time  304 , the date/time when the image is lastly changed is stored. Usually, it is a same value to Date Time Original  305 . 
     In Date Time Original  305 , the date/time when the original image is taken is stored. 
     In Date Time Digitized  306 , the date/time when the image is digitized after being taken is stored. 
     The other imaging condition such as an exposure time, an aperture value of a lens, a distance to an object and so on is stored. 
     When the with date button  205  shown in  FIG. 5  is selected, for example, the control part  31  acquires a data of Date Time Original  305  embedded in an image data. That is, the control part  31  acquires imaging date/time information of an image data. Then, it confirms whether the imaging date/time information is blank or not. Here, the case that the imaging date/time information is blank not only means what is called null value but also contains all data such as default value different from an original date/time. Moreover, that the imaging date/time information is blank also contains the case targeting an image data associated with image file not supporting standardized information (=an image data not storing imaging date/time information) and not being able to acquire the imaging date/time information. 
     When the imaging date/time information was not blank, it holds year/month/date of imaging date/time information as date information in the storage part  33 . 
     When the imaging date/time information was blank, the control part  31  acquires file creation date/time information or file update date/time information, associated with the image data. Then, it holds year/month/date of file creation date/time information or file update date/time information as date information in the storage part  33 . Here, the file creation date/time information is information of a date/time when a file associated with an image data was created in the recording medium  5  or the storage part  33 . And, the file update date/time information is information of a date/time when a file associated with an image data was lastly edited. 
     The file creation date/time information or the file update date/time information is acquired from an administrative area of the recording medium  5  or an administrative area of the storage part  33  which copies data of the recording medium  5 . Here, the administrative area is a recording area which is administered by a file system. Then, when the control part  31  accesses the administrative area of the recording medium  5  or the administrative area of the storage part  33 , it uses an input/output function provided by OS (Operating System). The control part  31  acquires the file creation date/time information or the file update date/time information, that are associated with the desired image data, by the input/output function provided by OS. 
     When the imaging date/time information was blank, for example, the control part  31  acquires the file creation date/time information from the administrative area of the recording medium  5  and holds it as date information in the storage part  33 . Moreover, for example, the control part  31  acquires the file update date/time information from the administrative area of the storage part  33  copying data of the recording medium  5  and holds it as date information in the storage part  33 . 
     By using date information held in the storage part  33 , for example, even if the imaging date/time information of the image data was blank because a clock of a camera is not set when imaging and so on, it can certainly assign date to the print object  7 . Moreover, for example, even if an image data does not support standardized information, it can certainly assign date to the print object  7 . 
     Next, the control part  31  reads an image data of the recording medium  5  through the recording medium input/output part  37  and displays a selection screen of an image on the display part  39  (S 106 ). The display method is a method displaying a list of a number of image data as thumbnails. Then, a user selects the desired image data. Moreover, the control part  31  also displays a button specifying a number of copies to print out together. Then, a user specifies the desired number of copies. 
     Next, the control part  31  displays an adjustment screen of the selected image data on the display part  39  (S 107 ). The adjustment of an image data is rotation, magnification/shrinkage, location adjustment, brightness adjustment, automatic adjustment, red-eye correction and so on of an image data. Then, a user selects various buttons on the adjustment screen and adjusts the image data. The control part  31  holds an adjusted image data in the storage part  33 . 
     In addition, it can synthesize a frame image data to the adjusted image data. 
     Next, the control part  31  displays a confirm screen of the fare on the display part  39  (S 108 ). The control part  31  calculates the fare from the specified number of copies, the size of the specified print object  7  and so on and displays the fare on the display part  39 . Then, a user confirms the fare and selects an OK button. 
     Next, the control part  31  displays a takeout screen of the recording medium  5  on the display part  39  (S 109 ) and prompts a receipt of the ejected recording medium  5 . Here, the control part  31  may have the LED of the insert opening for takeout blink and inform a user from which insert opening the recording medium  5  is ejected. Hereby, this can prevent a user forgetting the receipt of the recording medium  5 . 
     Next, the control part  31  displays a payment screen on the display part  39  (S 110 ) and prompts an insertion of a cash or an insertion of a dedicated card. Then, a user inserts cash or inserts a dedicated card. The control part  31  makes settlement of the fare through the accounting part  43 . 
     Next, the control part  31  displays a print screen on the display part  39  (S 111 ) and informs an output location of the print object  7 , a condition of an output and so on. Moreover, the control part  31  sends image data held by the storage part  33  to the print part  41  and the print part  41  prints the received image data on the print object  7 . Here, when “with date” was selected in the process of a date assignment in S 105 , the control part  31  sends an image data which is assigned date information held by the storage part  33  for the adjusted image data to the print part  41 . 
     In addition, either process of S 110  or S 111  may be performed ahead. For example, in order to avoid not printing the print object  7  however the fare is made settlement, the process of S 111  is performed ahead. 
     Moreover, for example, in the process from S 101  to S 111 , if a supply shortage of the print device is occurred, it is preferable to detect completion of refill of the supplies and continue the process. 
     As described in the above in detail, by the embodiment of the present invention, when a recording medium  5  is inserted or taken out, an LED of an insert opening is made to blink so that a user will not make an error or forget to take out the medium. Moreover, prior to an image data read process, a storage device having a storage capacity not smaller than a predetermine storage capacity, is detected and a service is terminated. This avoids a long-time read process. Furthermore, in a date acquisition process, if the imaging date/time information of the imaging data was blank, it acquires file creation date/time information or file update date/time information, which is associated with the image data, and certainly prints date on a print object  7 . 
     Preferred embodiments of the image print system and so on according to the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. It is clear that a person with ordinary skill in the art can easily conceive various modifications and changes within the technical idea disclosed herein, and it is contemplated that such modifications and changes naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention.