Abstract:
The present invention provides a printer comprising an image data reception device which receives print image data and print condition image data including an image of a print condition code corresponding to a print condition when the print image data is printed, a print condition setting device which sets the print condition by analyzing the print condition image data and a print device which prints the print image data based on the print condition set by the print condition setting device, so that the functions of a printer can be fully utilized without restrictions on the model, etc. of a shooting device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a printer, a print system, and a print condition setting program, and more specifically to a printer, etc. which is directly connected to a shooting device and performs a printing process.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Recently, the technology for printing image data shot by a digital camera, etc. with a shooting device such as a digital camera, etc. connected to a printer without storing the data in a personal computer (PC), etc. has become widespread. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2003-9056 discloses a digital camera having a display unit for displaying an image, a recording medium for recording the image data, an image data selection device for selecting desired image data from the recording medium, and an output method specification device for outputting the selected image data in predetermined output specifications.  
         [0005]     Using a device for performing a printing process with a shooting device directly connected to a printer as described above, a method for setting a print condition is proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2003-175657 discloses a printer for selecting a desired print condition file from a memory card storing a plurality of print condition files and setting a print condition based on the print condition file and the hardware specifications of a printer. Additionally, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2004-15234 discloses a print device for setting a print condition by notifying a digital camera of the function of the printer in a script described in a text format when an image stored in a digital camera is printed with the digital camera directly connected to the printer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Conventionally, in a device for performing a printing process with a shooting device directly connected to a printer, a print condition is set in a predetermined sequence between the shooting device and the printer, and it is necessary to reserve the compatibility between various models of shooting devices and the connected printer. Therefore, the setting items (print conditions) in a printing process are restricted to common items to various shooting devices and printers, and the functions of a printer cannot be fully utilized.  
         [0007]     When a memory card is lost in the printer disclosed by Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2003-175657, there has been the problem that print conditions cannot be set.  
         [0008]     The present invention has been developed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims at providing a printer, a print system, and a print condition setting program capable of easily setting a complicated print condition independent of the model, etc. of a shooting device.  
         [0009]     To attain the above-mentioned objective, the printer according to the first aspect of the present invention includes: an image data reception device which receives print image data and print condition image data including an image of a print condition code corresponding to a print condition when the print image data is printed; a print condition setting device which sets the print condition by analyzing the print condition image data; and a print device which prints the print image data based on the print condition set by the print condition setting device.  
         [0010]     With the printer according to the first aspect, a complicated print condition can be set only by receiving print condition image data together with print image data. When a printing process is performed with a shooting device directly connected to a printer, the complicated print condition can be easily set without restrictions on the model, etc. of a shooting device.  
         [0011]     The printer according to the second aspect of the present invention is based on the first aspect, and the print device prints a print condition code table describing a print condition of the print image data and a print condition code corresponding to the print condition.  
         [0012]     With the printer according to the second aspect, a print condition can be set without fail even when a print condition code table required to set a print condition code is lost, etc.  
         [0013]     The printer according to the third aspect of the present invention is based on the first or second aspect, and the print condition image data is at least one of a one-dimensional bar code, a two-dimensional bar code, a character, a picture, and a mark which can be analyzed by the print condition setting device.  
         [0014]     The printer according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is based on the first to third aspects, and the print condition is at least one of a type of print service, a print size, a type of template applied to the print image data, a rotation direction, a type of printing paper, a number of printed copies, and coordinates indicating a trimming position.  
         [0015]     The print system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention includes: a shooting device which shoots an image; a printer which prints print image data shot by the shooting device; and a print condition code table on which a print condition when the print image data is printed and a print condition code corresponding to the print condition are printed. With the configuration, the shooting device comprises: a print condition image data generation device which generates print condition image data including an image of a print condition code when the print condition code printed on the print condition code table is shot; and a transmission device which transmits the print condition image data to the printer; and the printer comprises: an image data reception device which receives the print image data and the print condition image data; a print condition setting device which sets the print condition by analyzing the print condition image data; and a print device which prints the print image data according to the print condition set by the print condition setting device.  
         [0016]     With the print system according to the fifth aspect, a complicated print condition can be easily set only by transmitting an image of a print condition code shot by a shooting device to a printer. Since the printer according to the present invention can set a print condition independent of the type, etc. of a connected shooting device, the functions of a printer can be fully utilized.  
         [0017]     The print condition setting program according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is used to direct a computer in a printer to realize the functions of: receiving print image data; receiving print condition image data including an image of a print condition code corresponding to a print condition when the print image data is printed; setting the print condition by analyzing the print condition image data; and printing the print image data according to the set print condition.  
         [0018]     According to the present invention, a complicated print condition can be easily set only by transmitting an image of a print condition code shot by a shooting device to a printer. Since the printer according to the present invention can set a print condition independent of the type, etc. of a connected shooting device, the functions of a printer can be fully utilized. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic chart of a print system according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the internal configuration of a digital camera  12 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the internal configuration of a printer  14 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows an example of a print condition;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows an example of a print condition code; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a sequence of the printing process performed by a print system  10 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     The printer, the print system, and the print condition setting program according to the present invention are explained below by referring to the attached drawings.  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a schematic chart of a print system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A print system  10  shown in  FIG. 1  comprises a shooting device (digital camera)  12  and a printer  14 . The shooting device  12  can be a mobile telephone with a camera, etc.  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the digital camera  12  and the printer  14  are connected through respective communication I/F  16  and  18 , and image data is directly transmitted from the digital camera  12  to the printer  14 , and a printing process is performed. The method of connecting the digital camera  12  to the printer  14  can be a method using a cable interface such as a USB, an IEEE 1394, etc., and a method using a radio interface such as an IrDA, etc.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the digital camera  12  is provided with a monitor  20 , a regeneration button  22 , a release button  24 , and a cross button  26 .  
         [0029]     The monitor  20  can be used as an electronic finder for checking the angle of view when a shooting operation is performed, and a preview image of a shot image, a regenerated image read from the memory card inserted into the digital camera  12 , etc. can be displayed.  
         [0030]     The regeneration button  22  is an operation unit which changes the mode of the digital camera  12 . When a user presses the regeneration button  22 , the mode of the digital camera  12  is switched from the shooting mode in which an image is shot to the regeneration mode in which the image data shot by the digital camera  12  is read from a memory card and displayed on the monitor  20 .  
         [0031]     The cross button  26  is a multifunction operation unit capable of inputting a directive in four directions, that is, upward, downward, left, and right. The left and right keys respectively function as a one-frame reverse button and a one-frame advance button in the regeneration mode. The up and down keys function as zoom keys, etc. for adjustment of a factor in a regeneration zoom function and an electronic zoom function during shooting.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an internal configuration of the digital camera  12 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the digital camera  12  comprises a CPU  28 , an operation unit  30 , an imaging unit  32 , memory  34 , and a memory card  36 .  
         [0033]     The CPU  28  is a control unit for integrally controlling the digital camera  12 . The CPU  28  controls the operation of each circuit in the digital camera  12  according to an input directive signal from the regeneration button  22 , the release button  24 , the cross button  26 , etc.  
         [0034]     The operation unit  30  is a block including the above-mentioned operation input devices such as the regeneration button  22 , the release button  24 , the cross button  26 , etc.  
         [0035]     The imaging unit  32  is a block including an optical system and an imaging device for forming an image of a subject, a processing unit for converting the image formed by the image forming device to digital data.  
         [0036]     The memory  34  includes ROM for storing a program processed by the CPU  28 , various data required for control, etc. and RAM containing a temporary storage area storing image data obtained by the imaging unit  32 , an image process area in which image data is processed, a work area in which the CPU  28  performs various arithmetic operations, etc.  
         [0037]     The memory card  36  stores image data obtained by the imaging unit  32  in a predetermined format, and can be, for example, an xD picture card, a CompactFlash (CF) card (registered trademark), etc.  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the internal configuration of the printer  14 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the printer  14  comprises a CPU  38 , an operation unit  40 , a print unit  42 , and memory  44 .  
         [0039]     The CPU  38  is a control unit for integrally controlling the operation of each circuit in the printer  14  according to a directive signal from the digital camera  12 , etc. which is input through the operation unit  40  and the communication I/F  18 . The CPU  38  analyzed the print condition image data received from the digital camera  12 , and sets a print condition.  
         [0040]     The operation unit  40  is a block including a power button of the printer  14  and an operation input device such as a reset button, etc.  
         [0041]     The print unit  42  is a device for printing image data received from the digital camera  12  according to the print condition set by the CPU  38 .  
         [0042]     The memory  44  includes ROM for storing a program processed by the CPU  38 , various data required for control, etc. and RAM containing a temporary storage area storing image data received from the digital camera  12 , an image process area in which image data is processed, a work area in which the CPU  38  performs various arithmetic operations, etc. The memory  44  stores a print condition code table described later, image data of a template for combination with image data, etc.  
         [0043]     Next, the method of setting a print condition by the print system  10  is explained below by referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 4  shows an example of a print condition. On the table shown in  FIG. 4 , setting items (service, size, etc.) of a print condition and setting contents are shown, and each setting content is assigned a number. The setting items and setting contents are not limited to those in the example shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0045]     In the present embodiment, a print condition is coded using a combination of the numbers. For example, if a service is a composite print (number 3) for combining image data with a template and performing a printing process, the print size is an L size (number 1), the type of template to be combined with print image data is a template A (number 1), the rotation direction of print image data is 90 degrees (number 1), the type of printing paper is a standard type (number 1), and the number of printed copies is one (number 1), then the print condition is expressed by a sequence “311111”. Next, the “311111” is coded and a print condition code is generated.  
         [0046]      FIG. 5  shows an example of a print condition code. A print condition code table  50  shown in  FIG. 5  is a table in which a print condition  52  is associated with a print condition code (QR code)  54 . In the column of the template of the print condition  52 , an image of a template to be combined with image data is printed.  
         [0047]     The print condition code table  50  can be printed on the printer  14 . Therefore, for example, when the print condition code table  50  is lost, it can be image obtained, and the print condition can be set without fail. The print condition code table  50  can be put in a package as a printed article when the printer  14  is put for sale.  
         [0048]     In  FIG. 5 , the print condition code  54  is a QR code, but it can also be a one-dimensional bar code, a two-dimensional bar code, a character, a picture, a mark, etc. that can be analyzed by the printer  14 .  
         [0049]     Next, the printing process performed by the print system  10  is explained below by referring to  FIG. 6 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 6  is a sequence showing a printing process performed by the print system  10 .  
         [0051]     First, a user selects a desired print condition  52  from the print condition code table  50 , and the print condition code  54  corresponding to the selected print condition  52  is shot by the digital camera  12 , thereby generating print condition image data (step S 10 ). Next, the print condition image data is transmitted to the printer  14  (step S 12 ), and is stored in the memory  44  of the printer  14  (step S 14 ). Thus, a print condition image data reception completion notification is transmitted to the digital camera  12 .  
         [0052]     Next, in the digital camera  12 , a user desired image data (print image data) is read from the memory card  36  (step S 16 ), and is transmitted to the printer  14  (step S 18 ). Then, the print image data is stored in the memory  44  of the printer  14  (step S 20 ), and a print image data reception completion notification is transmitted to the digital camera  12 .  
         [0053]     Then, in the printer  14 , the print condition image data is analyzed (step S 22 ), and the print condition is set (step S 24 ). Then, according to the print condition set in step S 24 , printing the print image data is started (step S 26 ). When the printing is completed, a print completion notification is transmitted from the printer  14  to the digital camera  12 .  
         [0054]     When plural pieces of print image data are to be printed under different print conditions, the print conditions are changed by transmitting new print condition image data from the digital camera  12  to the printer  14 .  
         [0055]     According to the present embodiment, a print condition can be automatically set by the printer  14  only by shooting and transmitting the print condition code  54 . Therefore, a complicated print condition can be easily set. In addition, in the print system  10 , the digital camera  12  only shoots the print condition code  54  and transmits print condition image data and print image data. Therefore, the printer  14  according to the present invention can set the print condition independent on the model, etc. of the connected digital camera  12 , thereby fully utilizing the function of the printer  14 .  
         [0056]     According to the present embodiment, the print condition code  54  is not shot each time a printing process is performed, but the print condition code  54  is shot by the digital camera  12  in advance, and print condition image data can be stored. In this case, for example, the monitor  20  of the digital camera  12  displays print condition image data, the data is compared with the print condition code table  50 , the print condition image data corresponding to desired print condition  52  is selected and transmitted to the printer  14 , thereby setting the print condition similarly as described above.  
         [0057]     The print system  10  according to the present embodiment can be provided as a printer, or a combination of a printer and a digital camera. For example, it can also be provided as an update program for firmware of an existing printer.