Patent Publication Number: US-2004041923-A1

Title: Wireless communication apparatus, printing system, and network printing system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a wireless LAN communication apparatus for receiving image data sent from an imaging apparatus that obtains the image data by photography and enables transmission of the image data to a wireless LAN communication network. The present invention also relates to a printing system connected to the wireless LAN communication apparatus via a wired communication line, and to a network printing system comprising the wireless LAN communication apparatus and the printing system.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] Recently, a digital camera having a communication function for sending and receiving image data obtained by photography has been proposed. A user of such a digital camera can send image data obtained by photography to his/her friend by attaching the image data to an E-mail message. Furthermore, the user can send the image data from the digital camera to an image server that stores and manages the image data. Consequently, the user can use a network printing system that stores the image data in the image server. The user can also use the network printing system for viewing images, generating a photograph album, carrying out desired image processing on the image data, and placing a printing order regarding the image data with a laboratory connected to the image server, by accessing the image server from a personal computer or the like.  
       [0005] Meanwhile, wireless LAN communication equipment is being installed in busy places such as a railroad station, a bus stop, a municipal office, a bank, a convenience store, a fast food restaurant, and a downtown area, or in an Internet café. A coverage area surrounding the place in which the wireless LAN communication equipment is installed is called a hot spot. By moving to the coverage area of the hot spot, a user can carry out data communication with the wireless LAN communication equipment or surf the Internet while using a personal computer or the like having a wireless LAN communication function.  
       [0006] A digital camera having a function of communicating with wireless LAN communication equipment has also been proposed. By movement of a user of such a digital camera to a hot spot, image data obtained by the digital camera can be sent via the wireless LAN communication equipment, by being attached to an E-mail message, or to the image server of the network printing system described above.  
       [0007] A data rate of a wireless LAN communication network is substantially high, such as 11 Mbps or more. Therefore, even if the size of data is comparatively large as in the case of image data, the data can be sent in a short time.  
       [0008] Meanwhile, the data are transmitted from the wireless LAN communication equipment to the image server or the like via a wired communication line having a comparatively high speed, such as an ADSL.  
       [0009] An ADSL has a data rate of up to 8 Mbps. However, this rate is for downloading, and a data rate for uploading is up to 1 Mbps. Furthermore, those rates are maximal rates, and the rates can be as low as 100 kbps, depending on a situation such as a distance from a telephone exchange.  
       [0010] The data rate for the image data obtained by the digital camera is the data rate for uploading. Therefore, even if the data rate between the digital camera and the wireless LAN communication equipment is 11 Mbps, the data rate between the image server and the wireless LAN communication equipment is only 1 Mbps at most. For this reason, a user of the digital camera for sending the image data can actually only send the image data at the data rate of the communication line connected to the wireless LAN communication equipment, although the user uses the high-speed infrastructure such as the wireless LAN. As a result, transfer of the image data becomes a time-consuming operation. Especially, in the case where a plurality of digital cameras send image data to the same wireless LAN communication equipment at the same time, the data rate becomes much slower.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011] The present invention has been conceived based on consideration of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is therefore to enable transfer of image data at a data rate of a wireless LAN communication network, regardless of a data rate of a communication line connected to the wireless LAN communication equipment.  
       [0012] A wireless LAN communication apparatus of the present invention comprises:  
       [0013] wireless LAN communication means for carrying out data communication via a wireless LAN communication network with an imaging apparatus having communication means for sending image data obtained by photography to the wireless LAN communication network; and  
       [0014] temporary storage means for temporarily storing the image data sent from the imaging apparatus; wherein the wireless LAN communication equipment is connected via a wired communication line to a printing system for carrying out printing processing on the image data.  
       [0015] The communication means of the imaging apparatus is used for data communication via the wireless LAN communication network. A data rate thereof is assumed to be 8˜11 Mbps or more and a communication charge therefor is assumed to be fixed.  
       [0016] The wireless LAN communication means supports a standard of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), for example. More specifically, standards such as IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11b are preferably used. The standard IEEE 802.11b is a mainstream standard having a data rate of up to 11 Mbps, and uses a 2.4 GHz spectrum. The standard IEEE 802.11a uses a 5.0 GHz spectrum and has a data rate of up to 54 Mbps. A standard IEEE 802.11g using a 2.4 GHz spectrum and having a data rate of up to 54 Mbps has also been proposed.  
       [0017] The wireless LAN communication apparatus of the present invention is preferably installed in a busy place such as a railroad station, a bus stop, a municipal office, a bank, a convenience store, a fast food restaurant, and a downtown area, or in an Internet café, for example. It is preferable for the wireless LAN communication apparatus to enable communication with the imaging apparatus while the imaging apparatus is moving, by using a roaming function.  
       [0018] WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is preferably adopted for the data communication between the wireless LAN communication apparatus of the present invention and the imaging apparatus. WEP is used for improving security by setting an encryption key to a wireless packet. If WEP is adopted, communication becomes possible only in the case where the WEP set by the communication means of the imaging apparatus agrees with the WEP set by the wireless LAN communication means.  
       [0019] The printing system refers to a system comprising an E-mail server for sending an E-mail message attached with the image data, an image server for storing the image data, and a mini-laboratory connected to the image server and used for generating printed matter from the image data, for example.  
       [0020] The printed matter refers to a print, a photograph album, or a postcard. The printed matter also refers to a T-shirt having an image printed thereon, or a recording medium such as a CD-R recorded with the image data, for example.  
       [0021] A printing system of the present invention comprises:  
       [0022] an image server connected to at least one wireless LAN communication apparatus of the present invention via the wired communication line, for storing the image data sent from the wireless LAN communication apparatus or apparatuses; and  
       [0023] a mini-laboratory for generating printed matter based on the image data stored in the image server.  
       [0024] A network printing system of the present invention comprises at least one wireless LAN communication apparatus of the present invention and at least one printing system of the present invention.  
       [0025] According to the present invention, the image data obtained by the imaging apparatus are sent to the wireless LAN communication apparatus via the wireless LAN communication network, and stored in the temporary storage means of the wireless LAN communication apparatus. Thereafter, the image data are sent to the printing system via the wired communication line. Therefore, the image data sent from the imaging apparatus are not sent immediately to the printing system. Consequently, the data rate of communication between the imaging apparatus and the wireless LAN communication apparatus is not affected by the data rate of the wired communication line. For this reason, the image data can be sent at a high speed and in a short time from the imaging apparatus to the wireless LAN communication apparatus, according to the data rate of the wireless LAN communication network. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0026]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital camera used in an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0027]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of the digital camera in the embodiment;  
     [0028]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network printing system in the embodiment;  
     [0029]FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing procedures carried out at the time of photography with the digital camera;  
     [0030]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing procedures carried out at the time of transfer of selected image data;  
     [0031]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing procedures carried out after reception of the selected image data in a broadband town; and  
     [0032]FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing procedures carried out after reception of the selected image data in a broadband satellite. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0033] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital camera used in the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a digital camera  2  comprises imaging means  21 , control means  22 , a frame memory  23 , input means  24 , compression and decompression means  25 , display means  26 , a transfer confirmation button  27 , a data memory  28 , and a communication interface  29 . The imaging means  21  obtains image data sets S 0  representing images of subjects by photography thereof. The control means  22  controls the entire digital camera  2 . The control means  22  also controls recording, transmission, and display of the image data sets S 0 , and generates order information C describing the content of an order regarding the image data sets S 0 . The frame memory  23  stores the image data sets S 0  for display thereof. The input means  24  comprises a release button, a communication button, a transmission button, a cruciform key, and number keys for inputting a phone number. The compression and decompression means  25  compresses the image data sets S 0  according to a format such as JPEG, and decompresses the compressed image data sets. The display means  26  comprises a liquid crystal display monitor or the like for displaying various kinds of information such as the image data sets S 0 . The transfer confirmation button  27  is used at the time of photography of each of the image data sets S 0 , for confirming an intention of transfer thereof to a destination that will be explained later with which a printing order is placed. The data memory  28  stores the image data sets S 0  and selected image data sets S 1 . The communication interface  29  is used for connecting a communication chip  4  for communication with wireless LAN communication equipment, at the time of sending the selected image data sets S 1  as will be explained later.  
     [0034] The communication chip  4  comprises communication means  41  for carrying out data communication via a wireless LAN with the wireless LAN communication equipment in a network printing system  1  that will be explained later, authentication information storage means  42  for storing authentication information N that is necessary for communicating with the wireless LAN communication equipment and information on the digital camera  2 , and destination storage means  43  for storing the URL of the destination of the selected image data sets S 1 .  
     [0035] The imaging means  21  comprises a lens, a zoom mechanism, a shutter, and a CCD chip. The imaging means  21  obtains the image data sets S 0  representing the images of the subjects by photographing the subjects with use of the shutter.  
     [0036] The control means  22  is connected to a memory  22 A comprising a ROM that stores an operation program and a RAM that acts as storage means which is a work area for execution of the program.  
     [0037] A user of the digital camera  2  as a photographer presses the transfer confirmation button  27  during display on the display means  26  of one of the image data sets S 0  immediately after photography thereof, in the case where the user wishes to place a printing order regarding the displayed image data set. In this manner, the image data set S 0  recorded in the frame memory  23  immediately after photography is stored as one of the selected image data sets S 1  in the data memory  28 . The printing order refers not only to outputting a print but also recording the selected image data sets S in a recording medium such as a CD-R and storage thereof in an image server of the network printing system.  
     [0038] By pressing the transfer confirmation button  27 , the user can set the content of the printing order regarding the selected image data set S 1  by using the input means  24 . For example, the selected image data set S 1  can be printed and stored in the image server of the network printing system or recorded in a recording medium such as a CD-R. In the case of printing, the user inputs a print size, a quantity, and the type of printing (such as postcard generation or album printing) by using the input means  24 . After the content of the printing order has been set, the order information C describing the content of the printing order is generated by the control means  22  and, stored in the data memory  28  together with the selected image data set S 1 . The content of the order can be input in an order content input screen displayed on the display means  26 . The order information C may be generated as a file for each of the selected image data sets S 1 . Alternatively, only one file for the order information C may be generated so that the content of a printing order can be added thereto whenever the selected image data sets S 1  are specified.  
     [0039] The data memory  28  comprises a first storage area  28 A for storing the selected image data sets S 1  and a second storage area  28 B for storing the remaining image data sets S 0  whose printing is not carried out, and a temporary storage area  28 C for storing the image data sets S 0  regarding which the user has not decided to place a printing order or to store in the digital camera  2 .  
     [0040] The selected image data sets S 1  confirmed by pressing the transfer confirmation button  27  are stored in the first storage area  28 A, and the image data sets S 0  whose storage in the digital camera  2  has been decided are stored in the second storage area  28 B. The image data sets S 0  whose printing has not been decided by the user are stored in the temporary storage area  28 C. The user instructs storage of the image data sets S 0  in the second storage area  28 B or in the temporary storage area  28 C by using the input means  24 .  
     [0041] The communication means  41  of the communication chip  4  is used for data communication with the wireless LAN communication equipment in the network printing system via the wireless LAN, and has a data rate of 8˜11 Mbps or more. The communication means  41  supports the IEEE 802.11b standard, as in the case of the wireless LAN communication equipment.  
     [0042] The authentication information storage means  42  stores the authentication information N that is needed by the communication means  41  for communication with the wireless LAN communication equipment, and the information on the digital camera  2 .  
     [0043] The authentication information N adopts ESS-ID corresponding to the MAC address of each piece of the wireless LAN communication equipment. ESS-ID is the ID adopted by the international wireless LAN standard IEEE 802.11, and is necessary for establishing a connection to a fixed communication partner. The communication means  41  and the wireless LAN communication equipment have the same ESS-ID. ESS-ID is case sensitive, and comprises 32 1-byte characters or less. The authentication information N also adopts WEP for encryption. The same WEP is used for the wireless LAN communication equipment.  
     [0044] The information on the digital camera  2  refers to a model name thereof. The information may also include a photography condition at the time of photography of the image data sets S 0 . By sending the information including the model name and the photography condition to the network printing system together with the selected image data sets S 1 , image processing according to the model of the digital camera  2  and according to the photography condition can be carried out on the selected image data sets S 1  in a mini-laboratory or the like installed in a DPE store  14  of the network printing system.  
     [0045] The destination storage means  43  stores the URL of the destination to which the selected image data sets S 1  are sent. More specifically, the URL of the DPE store in the network printing system is stored in the destination storage means  43 . The URL stored in the destination storage means  43  is referred to when the selected image data sets S 1  are sent to the destination.  
     [0046] The URLs of a plurality of destinations may be stored in the destination storage means  43  so that the user can select one of the destinations to which the selected image data sets S 1  are sent.  
     [0047]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the network printing system. The network printing system  1  in FIG. 3 is used for providing printing services regarding the selected image data sets S 1  that were obtained by the digital camera  2  and selected for printing.  
     [0048] As shown in FIG. 3, the network printing system  1  comprises a broadband town  1 A, a broadband hot spot  1 B, and a broadband satellite  1 C. The network printing system  1  may comprise a plurality of broadband hot spots  1 B and broadband satellites  1 C.  
     [0049] The broadband town  1 A comprises a large-capacity image server  11 A for storing the selected image data sets S 1 , and a mini-laboratory  12 A connected to the image server  11 A via a wired LAN for generating prints P based on the selected image data sets S 1  and for recording the selected image data sets S 1  in a recording medium such as a CD-R. The image server  11 A and the mini-laboratory  12 A are also connected to a plurality of pieces of wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A via a communication line such as an ADSL. The broadband town  1 A is installed in an area where the DPE store  14  can provide the printing services.  
     [0050] The image server  11 A and the mini-laboratory  12 A are installed in the DPE store  14  that runs the network printing system  1 .  
     [0051] The mini-laboratory  12 A reads the selected image data sets S 1  stored in the image server  11 A according to the content of the printing order described in the order information C sent from the digital camera  2  as will be explained later, and generates the prints P. The mini-laboratory  12 A also records the selected image data sets S 1  read from the image server  11 A in a recording medium such as a CD-R or a DVD-R. Therefore, the mini-laboratory  12 A comprises image processing means for carrying out image processing on the selected image data sets S 1 , a printer, and a media drive.  
     [0052] The wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A is installed at locations within the service provision area of the DPE store  14 . For example, the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A is installed in busy places such as a railroad station, a bus stop, a municipal office, a bank, a convenience store, a fast food restaurant, and a downtown area, or in an Internet café. The wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A is connected to a memory  18 A for temporarily storing the selected image data sets S 1  before transmission thereof to the image server  11 A.  
     [0053] The wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A may comprise Airstation WLA-L 11 G manufactured by MELCO INC., for example. The wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A enables communication.via a wireless LAN communication network, and supports the IEEE 802.11b standard. The wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A realizes communication at a data rate of 11 Mbps. Since the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A has been Wi-Fi (the standard for Wireless Fidelity) certified, the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A enables communication with various Wi-Fi certified products. The wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A also enables communication via the wireless LAN within a range of 50 m in an office having only a small number of obstacles, a range of 25 m in an office having a large number of obstacles, and a range of 160 m outside, along a line of sight. Furthermore, since the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A can deal with roaming, communication can be carried out even if the user of the digital camera  2  is moving. Moreover, the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A has a multi-channel (14 channels) function for reducing a network load, and a function of MAC address registration and a security function using WEP.  
     [0054] A MAC address is a physical address specific to each piece of network equipment. The first 3 bytes of a MAC address represent a vendor code and is assigned and managed by IEEE. The remaining 3 bytes represent a user code, and is assigned and managed by each manufacturer of the network equipment as numbers specific thereto. No two MAC addresses are the same. A unique physical address is assigned by the 6-byte data. Since each of the MAC addresses is represented by the 6-byte data, up to 1.7 million pieces of network equipment can theoretically be recognized by Wi-Fi.  
     [0055] As an infrastructure of the wireless LAN, Speed Net provided by Tokyo Electric Power Company can be used, for example. Speed Net can provide a service of data transfer at almost the same rate as an ADSL with a fixed charge therefor, by using an optical fiber network and radio antennas installed on utility poles of the company. Speed Net enables wireless LAN communication in a range of 50˜300 m from each of the radio antennas. In this case, by installing each piece of the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A in a place where one of the radio antennas is located, the network printing system  1  can be configured with use of the infrastructure of Speed Net.  
     [0056] A communication service by using a wireless LAN provided by Mobile Internet Services Inc. (MIS) may also be used as the infrastructure for the wireless LAN in this embodiment.  
     [0057] A cradle  17  may also be installed near any one of the pieces of the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A, that is, within the coverage area thereof, for recharging the.digital camera  2  and for sending the selected image data sets S 1  to the corresponding piece of wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A by reading the data from the digital camera  2 . The cradle  17  comprises a terminal  17 A for recharging the digital camera  2  and for reading the selected image data sets S 1  from the data memory  28 , and communication means  17 B for communicating with the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A. The communication means  17 B has authentication information storage means and destination storage means. The cradle  17  is connected to a 100V power source in order to recharge the digital camera  2 .  
     [0058] By using the cradle  17 , even if the digital camera  2  does not have the communication chip  4 , the selected image data sets S 1  can be sent to the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A from the digital camera  2 . Especially, in the case where the cradle  17  is located at the home of the user of the digital camera  2 , and the home is within the coverage area of any one of the pieces of the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A, the selected image data sets S can be securely sent to the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A during a recharging operation that the user necessarily carries out. Since the recharging operation is necessary, if the selected image data sets S 1  are sent during the recharging operation, the user can send the selected image data sets S 1  in the recharging operation that he/she necessarily carries out daily, without carrying out a specific operation for sending the selected image data sets S 1 . Therefore, the user can be less burdened at the time of transfer of the selected image data sets S 1 .  
     [0059] The broadband hot spot  1 B comprises an image server  11 B and wireless LAN communication equipment  13 B that has the same function as the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A and is connected to the image server  11 B via a wired LAN. The capacity of the image server  11 B is smaller than that of the image server  11 A, and the image server  11 B is used for temporarily storing the selected image data sets S 1 . The broadband hot spot  1 B is also connected to the broadband town  1 A via a communication line such as an ADSL. The broadband hot spot  1 B is installed in a location remote from the service provision area of the DPE store  14  that runs the network printing system  1 . For example, if the DPE store  14  is located in Odawara, the remote location refers to a theme park such as Tokyo Disneyland or Universal Studios Japan, a sightseeing spot around Japan, a downtown area in a neighboring city, an airport, a major railroad station around Japan, a fast food restaurant, or a rest area on a highway, for example.  
     [0060] A plurality of pieces of the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 B may be used. Furthermore, the cradle  17  may be placed near the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 B, as in the case of the broadband town  1 A.  
     [0061] The broadband satellite  1 C comprises an image server  11 C, a mini-laboratory  12 C, and wireless LAN communication equipment  13 C that are networked via a wired LAN. The capacity of the image server  11 C for temporarily storing the selected image data sets S 1  is smaller than that of the image server  11 A. The mini-laboratory  12 C generates the prints P based on the selected image data sets S 1 . The wireless LAN communication equipment  13 C has almost the same function as the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A. The broadband satellite  1 C is connected to the broadband town  1 A via a communication line such as an ADSL. The broadband satellite  1 C is installed in a location away from the area wherein the DPE store  14  that runs the network printing system  1  can provide the services, as in the case of the broadband hot spot  1 B.  
     [0062] Since the broadband satellite  1 C has the mini-laboratory  12 C, the prints P can be generated immediately after reception of the selected image data sets S 1  at the remote location. However, the mini-laboratory  12 C is smaller than the mini-laboratory  12 A installed in the DPE store  14  in the broadband town  1 A. Therefore, the mini-laboratory  12 C can only generate a print of L size, for example. For this reason, the mini-laboratory  12 C has a transfer unit  15 , and the transfer unit  15  judges whether or not the printing order described by the order information C can be dealt with by the mini-laboratory  12 C. The prints Pare generated in the mini-laboratory  12 C only in the case where the printing order can be dealt with by the mini-laboratory  12 C. In the case where the mini-laboratory  12 C cannot deal with the printing order, the selected image data sets S 1  and the order information C received by the broadband satellite  1 C are sent from the transfer unit  15  to the DPE store  14  in the broadband town  1 A where the prints P are generated.  
     [0063] A plurality of pieces of the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 C may also be installed. Furthermore, the cradle  17  may be placed near the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 C, as in the case of the broadband town  1 A.  
     [0064] When the user of the digital camera  2  moves to the coverage area of the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A,  13 B, or  13 C (hereinafter referred to as the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A˜ 13 C) and the communication means  41  becomes communicable with the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A˜ 13 C, the control means  22  reads the authentication information N from the authentication information storage means  42 , and sends the authentication information N to the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A˜ 13 C via the communication means  41 . The wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A˜ 13 C judges whether or not the digital camera  2  that sent the authentication information N has been registered with the network printing system  1  run by the DPE store  14 . In the case where a result of the judgment is affirmative and the digital camera  2  has been authenticated, the control means  22  sends the selected image data sets S 1  stored in the first storage area  28 A of the data memory  28  to the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A˜ 13 C, together with the information on the digital camera  2  and the order information C, via the communication means  41 .  
     [0065] The operation of this embodiment will be explained next. Procedures carried out in the digital camera  2  at the time of photography will be explained first. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the procedures. The imaging means  21  photographs one of the subjects, and obtains one of the image data sets S 0  that is stored in the frame memory  23  (Step S 1 ). The image data set S 0  is displayed on the display means  26  (Step S 2 ).  
     [0066] Whether or not the user has pressed the transfer confirmation button  27  is then judged (Step S 3 ). If a result at Step S 3  is affirmative, the image data set S 0  becomes the selected image data set S 1  to be used for printing, and the order information C is generated based on the order content input by the user from the input means  24  (Step S 4 ). The selected image data set S 1  and the order information C are then stored in the first storage area  28 A in the data memory  28  (Step S 5 ) to end the process.  
     [0067] If the result at Step S 3  is negative, whether the user has input an instruction from the input means  24  is judged for storing the image data set S 0  in the digital camera  2  (Step S 6 ). If a result at Step S 6  is affirmative, the image data set S 0  is stored in the second storage area  28 B of the data memory  28  (Step S 7 ) to end the process.  
     [0068] If the result at Step S 6  is negative, it is judged that the user has not decided to print the image data set S 0  or to store the image data set S 0  in the digital camera  2 . Therefore, the image data set S 0  is stored in the temporary storage area  28 C of the data memory  28  (Step S 8 ) to end the process.  
     [0069] Procedures carried out at the time of sending the selected image data sets S 1  from the digital camera  2  will be explained next. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the procedures. At the time of transfer of the selected image data sets S 1  from the digital camera  2 , the same procedures are carried out in the broadband town  1 A, the broadband hot spot  1 B, or in the broadband satellite C. Therefore, the procedures carried out at the time of sending the selected image data sets S 1  from the digital camera  2  to the broadband town  1 A will be explained.  
     [0070] In the explanations below, it is assumed that the authentication information N necessary for communication with the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A has been obtained for the digital camera  2  and stored in the authentication information storage means  42 . At the same time, it is also assumed that the selected image data sets S 1  and the order information C therefor have already been generated and stored in the first storage area  28 A in the data memory  28 . Therefore, the selected image data sets S 1  are ready to be transferred.  
     [0071] In the digital camera  2 , the control means  22  is always monitoring whether or not the communication means  41  in the communication chip  4  is within the coverage area of the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A in the broadband town  1 A (Step S 11 ). If a result at Step S 11  is affirmative, the control means  22  reads the authentication information N stored in the authentication information storage means  42 , and sends the authentication information N to the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A from the communication means  41  (Step S 12 ).  
     [0072] In the case where the selected image data sets S 1  are sent in a state where the digital camera  2  is set on the cradle  17 , the authentication information N stored in the authentication information storage means in the communication means  17 B is read and sent to the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A corresponding to the cradle  17  when the user sets the digital camera  2  on the cradle  17 .  
     [0073] The authentication information N is received by the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A (Step S 13 ). In the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A, whether or not the digital camera  2  which sent the authentication information N thereto has been registered with the network printing system  1  run by the DPE store  14  is judged, based on the authentication information N (Step S 14 ). If a result at Step S 14  is negative and the digital camera  2  was not authenticated, the communication cannot be established, and the process ends. In the case where the digital camera  2  has been authenticated and the result at Step S 14  is thus affirmative, information representing the successful authentication is sent to the digital camera  2  (Step S 15 ).  
     [0074] The digital camera  2  receives the information (Step S 16 ). The control means  22  then reads the order information C and the selected image data sets S 1  from the first storage area  28 A of the data memory  28 , and sends the order information C and the selected image data sets S 1  to the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A for transfer thereof to the URL of the destination stored in the destination storage means  43  (Step S 17 ). The selected image data sets S 1  are sent to the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A in ascending order of photography date, for example.  
     [0075] The wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A receives the selected image data sets S 1  and the order information C (Step S 18 ), and temporarily stores the selected image data sets S 1  and the order information C in the memory  18 A (Step S 19 ). The wireless LAN communication equipment  13  A then transfers the selected image data sets S 1  and the order information C that were temporarily stored in the memory  18 A to the image server  11 A according to the URL of the destination (Step S 20 ). The selected image data sets S 1  and the order information C are stored in the image server  11 A (Step S 21 ).  
     [0076] Meanwhile, in the digital camera  2 , whether all the selected image data sets S 1  that were stored in the first storage area  28 A of the data memory  28  have been sent is judged (Step S 22 ). If a result at Step S 22  is affirmative, the process ends. The selected image data sets S 1  that have been sent are deleted in order of transmission from the first storage area  28 A. If the result at Step S 22  is negative, whether or not the communication means  41  is within the coverage area of the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A is judged, in consideration of a possibility of the user being on the move (Step S 23 ). If a result at Step S 23  is affirmative, the process returns to Step S 17  and transmission of the selected image data sets S 1  is continued. If the result at Step S 23  is negative, unsent image information is generated representing the fact that some of the selected image data sets S 1  have not been sent and still stored in the first storage area  28 A, and the unsent image information is stored in the first storage area  28 A of the data memory  28  (Step S 24 ). The process then goes back to Step S 11 . When the unsent image information is generated, the user may be notified of the fact that some of the selected image data sets S 1  still remain in the first storage area  28 A by a sound such as beeping, for example.  
     [0077] The user of the digital camera  2  can confirm whether or not the unsent image information is stored in the first storage area  28 A of the data memory  28 . In the case of presence of the unsent image information, the user can understand the fact that not all the selected image data sets S 1  have been sent. In this case, the user moves to the coverage area of the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A to send the selected image data sets S 1  that have not been sent.  
     [0078] In the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A, whether all the selected image data sets S 1  that were stored in the first storage area  28 A have been received is judged (Step S 25 ). If a result at Step S 25  is affirmative, an E-mail message is sent to the digital camera  2  for notifying completion of the transmission of the selected image data sets S 1  (Step S 26 ), to end the process. If the result at Step S 25  is negative, the process goes back to Step S 18  for continuing reception of the selected image data sets S 1 .  
     [0079] The user can understand the fact that the selected image data sets S 1  have securely been sent to the image server  11 A via the broadband town  1 A by viewing the E-mail message.  
     [0080] Procedures carried out in the network printing system  1  after reception of the selected image data sets S 1  will be explained next. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the procedures carried out in the broadband town  1 A. In this embodiment, the user of the digital camera  2  is assumed to have described printing of the selected image data sets S 1  as the content of the printing order in the order in formation C. In the case where the selected image data sets S 1  have been sent to the broadband hot spot  1 B, the selected image data sets S 1  are temporarily stored in the image server  11 B therein, and sent to the image server  11 A in the broadband town  1 A, based on the URL of the destination.  
     [0081] The image server  11 A is regularly accessed by the mini-laboratory  12 A, and the mini-laboratory  12 A judges whether or not the selected image data sets S 1  have been newly stored in the image server  11 A (Step S 31 ). In the case where the selected image data sets s 1  have been newly stored, a result at Step S 31  becomes affirmative, and the mini-laboratory  12 A reads the order information C sent together with the selected image data sets S 1  (Step S 32 ).  
     [0082] The selected image data sets S 1  are read from the image server  11 A according to the content of the printing order described in the order information C, and printed after necessary image processing is carried out thereon (Step S 33 ). More specifically, the selected image data sets S are printed according to the size, the quantity, and the type of printing described in the order content. After completion of the printing, an E-mail message and an order reception number issued by the DPE store  14  are sent to the user of the digital camera  2  for notifying the completion of printing (Step S 34 ) to end the process.  
     [0083] The user is informed of the completion of printing of the selected image data sets S 1  by viewing the E-mail message, and visits the DPE store  14  for reception of the prints P. At this time, the user is authenticated by the order reception number received together with the E-mail message, and the prints P are provided to the user. In the case where the prints P are to be delivered to a place registered in advance (such as the address of the user) according to an agreement between the DPE store  14  and the user, the prints P are delivered thereto.  
     [0084] A printing charge may be paid directly by the user to the DPE store  14 . Alternatively, since the user pays the communication charge to a wireless service provider for communication via the wireless LAN, the user may pay the printing charge to the provider so that the printing charge can be paid to the DPE store  14  via the provider. In this case, since the wireless service provider provides a discount service of its own to the user, the provider can provide a further discount service via the DPE store  14 , such as discounting the communication charge in accordance with the use of the DPE store  14 .  
     [0085]FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing procedures carried out after the selected image data sets S 1  are received by the broadband satellite  1 C. The user is again assumed to have described printing of the selected image data sets S 1  as the content of the printing order in the order information C.  
     [0086] The case where the user sends the selected image data sets S 1  to the broadband satellite  1 C refers to the case where the user is in the place where the broadband satellite  1 C is located. Therefore, before the user visits the place, the user stores the URL of the image server  11 C of the broadband satellite  1 C in the destination storage means  43 . By selecting the image server  11 C in the broadband satellite  1 C as the destination of the selected image data sets S 1 , the selected image data sets S 1  are sent to and stored in the image server  11 C. The user can select the destination by displaying the destination on the display means  26  and then selecting the destination with use of the input means  24 .  
     [0087] The mini-laboratory  12 C regularly accesses the image server  11 C, and judges whether or not the selected image data sets S 1  have been newly stored in the image server  11 C (Step S 41 ). In the case where the selected image data sets S 1  have been newly stored and a result at Step S 41  is thus affirmative, the mini-laboratory  12 C reads the order information C received together with the selected image data sets S 1  (Step S 42 ).  
     [0088] The transfer unit  15  judges whether or not the content of the printing order described in the order information C can be dealt with by the mini-laboratory  12 C (Step S 43 ). If a result at Step S 43  is affirmative, the selected image data sets S 1  are read from the image server  11 C and printed after necessary image processing is carried out thereon, based on the content of the order described in the order information C (Step S 44 ). More specifically, the selected image data sets S 1  are printed according to the size, the quantity, and the type of printing described in the content of the order. After completion of the printing, an E-mail message notifying the completion of printing is sent to the user of the digital camera  2  together with a reception number issued by the broadband satellite  1 C (Step S 45 ) to end the process.  
     [0089] The user of the digital camera  2  is informed of the completion of printing of the selected image data sets S 1  he/she sent, by viewing the E-mail message. The user then visits the broadband satellite  1 C to receive the prints P. At this time, the user is authenticated by the reception number sent together with the E-mail message, and the user can receive the prints P. In the case where the prints P are to be delivered to the user according to the agreement between the user and the DPE store  14 , the prints P are delivered to the place (the address of the user, for example) that has been registered in advance.  
     [0090] Since the broadband satellite  1 C is installed in a theme park or the like where the user visits, the user can obtain the prints P generated from the selected image data sets S 1  immediately at the place where the user is visiting.  
     [0091] If the result at Step S 43  is negative, the order cannot be dealt with by the mini-laboratory  12 C. Therefore, the transfer unit  15  sends the selected image data sets S 1  and the order information C to the image server  11 A of the DPE store  14  (Step S 46 ). An E-mail message is sent to the user for notifying the user of the fact that the printing is carried out by the DPE store  14  regarding the selected image data sets S 1  sent by the user (Step S 47 ), to end the process.  
     [0092] The user knows that the printing is carried out by the DPE store  14  by viewing the message.  
     [0093] As has been described above, according to this embodiment, the image data sets S 0  regarding which the user decided to place the printing order are sent as the selected image data sets S 1  from the digital camera  2  to the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A˜ 13 C. The selected image data sets S 1  are temporarily stored in the memory  18 A or the image server  11 B, and sent to the image server  11 A. Therefore, at the time of sending the selected image data sets S 1  from the digital camera  2 , the data rate is affected only by a state of the wireless LAN communication network, and not by a data rate of the wired communication line connected to the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A˜ 13 C. Consequently, the selected image data sets S 1  can be sent from the digital camera  2  to the wireless LAN communication equipment  13 A˜ 13 C at a high speed and in a short time, taking advantage of the data rate of the wireless LAN communication network.  
     [0094] In the above embodiment, the communication chip  4  of the digital camera  2  has the communication means  41 , the authentication information storage means  42 , and the destination storage means  43 . However, only the communication means  41  may be installed in the communication chip  4  while the authentication information storage means  42  and the destination storage means  43  are installed in the digital camera  2 .