Image printing apparatus

• US 20030002898A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kimura, Takeo
• Granted Patent: US 6,722,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0049 providing a visual indication to the user, e.g. using a lamp H04N1/00408 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0043 Point to multipoint H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio

Abstract

At least one printer is connected to an image source such as a digital camera via a network. When the printer receives a notification from the image source to switch a first image displayed on a display device to a second image, the printer displays an identifier of the second image according to the notification, and lights up an LED on a print button provided on the printer. When a period in which the printer is permitted to print the displayed image reaches a set time before a timeout, the LED on the print button is flashed. When the timeout is reached, the LED is turned off. When the print button is depressed, the printer sends a request for an image to the image source, receives image data for the image sent from the image source, and prints the image. When the print button is depressed to confirm a decision to print a displayed image while the printer is printing another image, the print decision is stored in a storage device in the printer, and the printer retrieves and executes the stored print decision after the ongoing printing operation is completed.

Claims

1. A recording apparatus comprising:

a request device that requests data from a data source;

a recording device that records data received from the data source;

a display device that performs a first display in accordance with a signal from the data source, the first display indicating that requesting data by the request device is acceptable; and

a control device that controls the display device in accordance with a predetermined time period in which requesting data by the request device is acceptable.

2. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time period is counted by a counting device, and the control device controls the display device in accordance with counting of the predetermined time period.

3. A recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control device controls the display device depending on whether the predetermined time reaches a timeout.

4. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display device performs a second display after performing the first display and before the end of the predetermined time period in which requesting data by the request device is acceptable.

5. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the request device comprises a storing device that stores an instruction for requesting the second data, and requests second data from the data source after the first data is received from the data source.

6. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the request device comprises a receiving device that receives a list of the data, and requests the data included in the list.

7. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording device comprises a storing device that stores the data received from the data source, and a selecting device that selects between recording the data and storing the data.

8. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording device comprises a storing device that stores the data, and a judging device that judges whether or not the data is allowed to be stored.

9. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording device receives the data divided in segments, and the display device receives the signal while the recording device is receiving the data divided in segments.

10. A control program comprising:

a requesting step of requesting data from a data source;

a recording step of recording data received from the data source;

a first controlling step of controlling a display in accordance with a signal from the data source, the first display indicating that requesting data by the request device is acceptable; and

a second controlling step of controlling the display device in accordance with a predetermined time period in which requesting data by the request device is acceptable.

11. A control program according to claim 10, further comprising a step of counting the predetermined time period by a counting device, wherein the control device controls the display device in accordance with counting of the predetermined time period.

12. A control program according to claim 11, wherein the control device controls the display device depending on whether the predetermined time reaches a timeout.

13. A control program according to claim 10, wherein the first controlling step controls the display to perform a second display after performing the first display in accordance with the signal and before the end of the predetermined time period in which requesting data by the request device is acceptable.

14. A control program according to claim 10, wherein the requesting step stores an instruction for requesting second data, and requests the second data from the data source after the first data is received from the data source.

15. A control program according to claim 10, wherein the recording step receives the data divided in segments, and the first controlling step receives the signal while the recording step is receiving the data divided in segments.

17. A print control system according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined time period is counted by a counting device, and the control device controls the display device in accordance with counting of the predetermined time period.

18. A print control system according to claim 17, wherein the control device controls the display device depending on whether the predetermined time reaches a timeout.

19. A print control system according to claim 16, wherein the display device performs a second display after performing the first display and before the end of the predetermined time period in which requesting data by the request device is acceptable.

20. A recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the request device comprises a storing device for storing an instruction for requesting second data, and requests second data from the data source after the first data is received from the data source.

16. A print control system for controlling at least one recording apparatus connected to a data source via a network, the system comprising:

a request device that requests data from the data source;

a recording device that records data received from the data source;

a display device that performs a first display in accordance with a signal from the data source, the first display indicating that requesting data by the request device is acceptable; and

a control device that controls the display device in accordance with a predetermined time period in which requesting data by the request device is acceptable.