Image processing system, digital camera, and printing apparatus

• US 6,115,137 A
• Filed: 12/03/1997
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ozawa, Isamu, Ohtsuka, Kuniaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sealey, Lance W.
• Application Number:
  US08/984,304
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 395/106, 395/114, 395/101, 358/501, 358/502, 358/296, 358/1.1, 358/1.6, 358/1.14, 382/237, 348/231, 348/211-213
• US Class Current: 358/1.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0034 Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

In order to print an image sensed by a digital camera using a printing apparatus for forming an image on a print medium, image data corresponding to the sensed image is converted into print data, and the converted data is transmitted to the printing apparatus, thereby providing an image processing system which can print an image sensed by the digital camera using the printing apparatus without the intervention of any computer, and a digital camera and printing apparatus suitable for the image processing system.

Claims

1. An image processing system having a digital camera for sensing an image and generating image data, and a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of print data,

wherein said digital camera comprises:

data conversion means for converting the image data into the print data; and

first communication means for directly communicating with said printing apparatus without passing through a personal computer, and

said printing apparatus comprises;

second communication means for directly communicating with said digital camera.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second communication means make a radio communication.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second communication means make an infrared ray communication.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on IrDA.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on ASK.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said data conversion means converts the image data into the print data by executing data conversion software.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera further comprises a memory for storing data conversion software for converting image data sensed by said digital camera into print data.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera further comprises setting means for setting image quality of an image to be printed.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said digital camera further comprises display means for displaying an image sensed by said digital camera, and

the image quality is set using a menu displayed on said display means.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera further comprises image variable-magnification means for performing variable-magnification processing of image data, and

said data conversion means converts the image data subjected to the variable-magnification processing into the print data.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera further comprises setting means for setting a size of a print medium on which an image is formed on the basis of image data, and

said data conversion means performs variable-magnification processing in correspondence with the set size of the print medium.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said setting means sets the size of the print medium on the basis of information obtained via a communication with said printing apparatus.

13. An image processing system having a digital camera for sensing an image and generating image data, and a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of print data,

wherein said digital camera comprises:

first communication means for communicating with said printing apparatus; and

execution means for executing software received by said first communication means,

said printing apparatus comprises;

second communication means for communicating with said digital camera; and

storage means for storing data conversion software for converting the image data into the print data, and

said printing apparatus transmits the data conversion software to said digital camera.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said execution means transmits, to said printing apparatus, print data obtained by converting the image data into the print data by executing the received data conversion software.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein said first and second communication means make a radio communication.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein said first and second communication means make an infrared ray communication.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on IrDA.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on ASK.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein said digital camera further comprises a memory for storing the data conversion software.

20. The system according to claim 13, wherein said digital camera further comprises setting means for setting image quality of an image to be printed.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said digital camera further comprises display means for displaying an image sensed by said digital camera, and

the image quality is set using a menu displayed on said display means.

22. The system according to claim 13, wherein said digital camera further comprises image variable-magnification means for performing variable-magnification processing of image data, and

the data conversion software converts the image data subjected to the variable-magnification processing into the print data.

23. The system according to claim 13, wherein said digital camera further comprises setting means for setting a size of a print medium on which an image is formed on the basis of image data, and

the data conversion software performs variable-magnification processing in correspondence with the set size of the print medium.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said setting means sets the size of the print medium on the basis of information obtained via a communication with said printing apparatus.

25. An image processing system having a digital camera for sensing an image and generating image data, and a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of print data,

wherein said digital camera comprises:

first communication means for directly communicating with said printing apparatus without passing through a personal computer and an information processing apparatus; and

execution means for executing software received by said first communication means,

said printing apparatus comprises;

second communication means for directly communicating with said digital camera, and

said digital camera receives data conversion software for converting the image data into the print data from said information processing apparatus.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said execution means transmits, to said printing apparatus, print data obtained by converting the image data into the print data by executing the received data conversion software.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein said information processing apparatus comprises a personal computer.

28. The system according to claim 25, wherein said first and second communication means make a radio communication.

29. The system according to claim 25, wherein said first and second communication means make an infrared ray communication.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on IrDA.

31. The system according to claim 29, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on ASK.

32. The system according to claim 25, wherein said digital camera further comprises a memory for storing the data conversion software.

33. The system according to claim 25, wherein said digital camera further comprises setting means for setting image quality of an image to be printed.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein said digital camera further comprises display means for displaying an image sensed by said digital camera, and

the image quality is set using a menu displayed on said display means.

35. The system according to claim 25, wherein said digital camera further comprises image variable-magnification means for performing variable-magnification processing of image data, and

the data conversion software converts the image data subjected to the variable-magnification processing into the print data.

36. The system according to claim 25, wherein said digital camera further comprises setting means for setting a size of a print medium on which an image is formed on the basis of image data, and

the data conversion software performs variable-magnification processing in correspondence with the set size of the print medium.

37. The system according to claim 36, wherein said setting means sets the size of the print medium on the basis of information obtained via a communication with said printing apparatus.

38. An image processing system having a digital camera for sensing an image and generating image data, and a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of print data,

wherein said digital camera comprises:

first communication means for directly communicating with said printing apparatus without passing through a personal computer,

said printing apparatus comprises;

second communication means for directly communicating with said digital camera; and

data conversion means for converting the image data into the print data, and

said printing apparatus starts said data conversion means and converts the received image data into print data upon receiving image data from said digital camera.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein said first and second communication means make a radio communication.

40. The system according to claim 38, wherein said first and second communication means make an infrared ray communication.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on IrDA.

42. The system according to claim 40, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on ASK.

43. The system according to claim 38, wherein said first and second communication means make a serial wired communication.

44. The system according to claim 43, wherein the serial wired communication is based on a Universal Serial Bus scheme.

45. The system according to claim 43, wherein the serial wired communication is based on an IEEE1394 scheme.

46. The system according to claim 38, wherein said data conversion means converts the image data into the print data by executing data conversion software.

47. The system according to claim 38, wherein said digital camera further comprises setting means for setting image quality of an image to be printed.

48. The system according to claim 47, wherein said digital camera further comprises display means for displaying an image sensed by said digital camera, and

the image quality is set using a menu displayed on said display means.

49. The system according to claim 38, wherein said printing apparatus comprises an ink-jet printer.

50. An image processing system having a digital camera for sensing an image and generating image data, and a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of print data,

wherein said digital camera comprises:

storage means for storing data conversion software for converting the image data into the print data; and

first communication means for communicating with said printing apparatus,

said printing apparatus comprises;

second communication means for communicating with said digital camera; and

execution means for executing software received by said second communication means, and

said digital camera transmits the image data and the data conversion software to said printing apparatus.

51. The system according to claim 50, wherein upon receiving the image data and data conversion software from said digital camera, said execution means starts the received data conversion software to convert the received image data into the print data.

52. The system according to claim 50, wherein said first and second communication means make a radio communication.

53. The system according to claim 50, wherein said first and second communication means make an infrared ray communication.

54. The system according to claim 53, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on IrDA.

55. The system according to claim 53, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on ASK.

56. The system according to claim 50, wherein said first and second communication means make a serial wired communication.

57. The system according to claim 56, wherein the serial wired communication is based on a Universal Serial Bus scheme.

58. The system according to claim 56, wherein the serial wired communication is based on an IEEE1394 scheme.

59. The system according to claim 50, wherein said digital camera further comprises setting means for setting image quality of an image to be printed.

60. The system according to claim 59, wherein said digital camera further comprises display means for displaying an image sensed by said digital camera, and

the image quality is set using a menu displayed on said display means.

61. The system according to claim 50, wherein said printing apparatus comprises an ink-jet printer.

62. An image processing system having a digital camera for sensing an image and generating image data, and a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of print data,

wherein said digital camera comprises:

first communication means for communicating with said printing apparatus,

said printing apparatus comprises;

second communication means for communicating with said digital camera and an information processing apparatus; and

execution means for executing software received by said second communication means, and

said execution means receives data conversion software for converting image data generated by said digital camera into print data from said information processing apparatus, starts the received data conversion software upon receiving image data from said digital camera, and converts the received image data into print data.

63. The system according to claim 62, wherein said first and second communication means make a radio communication.

64. The system according to claim 62, wherein said first and second communication means make an infrared ray communication.

65. The system according to claim 64, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on IrDA.

66. The system according to claim 64, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on ASK.

67. The system according to claim 62, wherein said first and second communication means make a serial wired communication.

68. The system according to claim 67, wherein the serial wired communication is based on a Universal Serial Bus scheme.

69. The system according to claim 67, wherein the serial wired communication is based on an IEEE1394 scheme.

70. The system according to claim 62, wherein said digital camera further comprises setting means for setting image quality of an image to be printed.

71. The system according to claim 70, wherein said digital camera further comprises display means for displaying an image sensed by said digital camera, and

the image quality is set using a menu displayed on said display means.

72. The system according to claim 62, wherein said printing apparatus comprises an ink-jet printer.

73. The system according to claim 62, wherein said information processing apparatus comprises a personal computer.

74. An image processing system having a digital camera for sensing an image and generating image data, and a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of print data,

wherein said digital camera comprises:

first additional information generation means for generating additional information of the image data;

first communication means for directly communicating with said printing apparatus without passing through a personal computer; and

data conversion means for converting the image data into the print data,

said printing apparatus comprises;

second communication means for directly communicating with said digital camera and an information processing apparatus; and

second additional information generation means for generation additional information of the print data received from said digital camera,

said digital camera converts the image data into the print data using said data conversion means and transmits the print data alone or the print data and additional information to said printing apparatus,

wherein when print data and additional information are received from said digital camera, said printing apparatus prints an image represented by the received print data on the print medium, and prints the received additional information on a region outside the image printed region.

75. The system according to claim 74, wherein when said printing apparatus receives the print data alone, said printing apparatus generates additional information using said second additional information generation means, prints an image represented by the received print data on the print medium, and prints the additional information generated by said second additional information generation means on a region outside the image printed region.

76. The system according to claim 74, wherein said first and second communication means make a radio communication.

77. The system according to claim 74, wherein said first and second communication means make an infrared ray communication.

78. The system according to claim 77, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on IrDA.

79. The system according to claim 77, wherein the infrared ray communication is based on ASK.

80. The system according to claim 74, wherein said first and second communication means make a serial wired communication.

81. The system according to claim 80, wherein the serial wired communication is based on a Universal Serial Bus scheme.

82. The system according to claim 80, wherein the serial wired communication is based on an IEEE1394 scheme.

83. The system according to claim 74, wherein said data conversion means converts the image data into the print data by executing data conversion software.

84. The system according to claim 74, wherein said digital camera further comprises setting means for setting image quality of an image to be printed.

85. The system according to claim 84, wherein said digital camera further comprises display means for displaying an image sensed by said digital camera, and

the image quality is set using a menu displayed on said display means.

86. The system according to claim 74, wherein said printing apparatus comprises an ink-jet printer.

87. The system according to claim 74, wherein the additional information includes date data indicating an image sensing date of the image.

88. The system according to claim 74, wherein the additional information includes a name of said digital camera or said printing apparatus.

89. The system according to claim 74, wherein the additional information is transmitted as a character code from said digital camera to said printing apparatus.

90. A digital camera for an image processing system having a digital camera for sensing an image and generating image data, and a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of print data, comprising:

communication means for directly communicating with said printing apparatus without passing through a personal computer,

wherein the image data is transmitted to said printing apparatus via said communication means.

91. A printing apparatus for an image processing system having a digital camera for sensing an image and generating image data, and a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of print data, comprising:

communication means for directly communicating with said digital camera without passing through a personal computer; and

data conversion means for converting image data received by said communication means into print data,

wherein when the image data is received from said digital camera via said communication means, said data conversion means is started.

92. A printing apparatus for an image processing system having a digital camera for sensing an image and generating image data, and a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of print data, comprising:

communication means for communicating with said digital camera; and

execution means for executing software received by said communication means,

wherein upon receiving image data and data conversion software from said digital camera, said execution means starts the received data conversion software, and converts the received image data into print data.

93. A digital camera for an image processing system having a digital camera for sensing an image and generating image data, and a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of print data, comprising:

data conversion means for converting the image data into the print data; and

communication means for transmitting the print data directly to said printing apparatus without passing through a personal computer.

94. A printing apparatus for an image processing system having a digital camera for sensing an image and generating image data, and a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of print data, comprising:

communication means for communicating with said digital camera and an information processing apparatus; and

execution means for executing software received by said communication means,

wherein said execution means receives data conversion software from said information processing apparatus, and upon receiving image data from said digital camera, said execution means starts the received data conversion software to convert the received image data into print data.

95. A printing apparatus for an image processing system having a digital camera for sensing an image and generating image data, and a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of print data, comprising:

communication means for directly communicating with said digital camera without passing through a personal computer; and

additional information generation menas for generating additional information of the print data received from said digital camera,

wherein when print data and additional information are received from said digital camera, said printing apparatus prints an image represented by the received print data on the print medium, and prints the received additional information on a region outside the image printed region.

96. The apparatus according to claim 95, wherein when the print data alone is received from said digital camera, said printing apparatus generates additional information using said additional information generation means, prints an image represented by the received print data on the print medium, and prints the additional information generated by said additional information generation means on the region outside the image printed region.

97. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

converting image data corresponding to an image sensed by a digital camera into print data for a printing apparatus for forming an image on a print medium, so as to print the image by the printing apparatus; and

transmitting the converted print data directly to the printing apparatus without passing through a personal computer.

98. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a digital camera, data conversion software transmitted from a printing apparatus for forming an image on a print medium;

converting image data generated by the digital camera into print data for the printing apparatus using the data conversion software; and

transmitting the converted print data to the printing apparatus.

99. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a digital camera, data conversion software transmitted from an information processing apparatus;

converting image data generated by the digital camera into print data for a printing apparatus using the data conversion software; and

transmitting the converted print data to the printing apparatus.

100. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a printing apparatus, data conversion software and image data generated by a digital camera, which are transmitted from the digital camera; and

converting the received image data into print data for forming an image on a print medium using the received data conversion software.

101. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a printing apparatus, data conversion software transmitted from an information processing apparatus and image data generated by a digital camera; and

converting the received image data into print data for forming an image on a print medium using the received data conversion software.

102. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

generating additional information corresponding to image data generated by a digital camera;

converting the image data into print data for a printing apparatus;

transmitting the converted print data and the additional information directly to the printing apparatus without passing through a personal computer; and

printing an image represented by the print data on a print medium and the additional information on a region outside the image printed region using the printing apparatus.

103. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

converting image data generated by a digital camera into print data for a printing apparatus;

transmitting the converted print data directly to the printing apparatus without passing through a personal computer;

generating additional information corresponding to the received print data by the printing apparatus; and

printing an image represented by the print data on a print medium and the additional information on a region outside the image printed region using the printing apparatus.

104. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program code, for executing image processing, said product including:

conversion process procedure codes for converting image data corresponding to an image sensed by a digital camera into print data for a printing apparatus for forming an image on a print medium, so as to print the image by the printing apparatus; and

transmission process procedure codes for transmitting the converted print data to the printing apparatus.

105. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program code, for executing image processing, said product including:

reception process procedure codes for receiving, by a digital camera, data conversion software transmitted from a printing apparatus for forming an image on a print medium;

conversion process procedure codes for converting image data generated by the digital camera into print data for the printing apparatus using the data conversion software; and

transmission process procedure codes for transmitting the converted print data to the printing apparatus.

106. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program code, for executing image processing, said product including:

reception process procedure codes for receiving, by a digital camera, data conversion software transmitted from an information processing apparatus;

conversion process procedure codes for converting image data generated by the digital camera into print data for a printing apparatus using the data conversion software; and

transmission process procedure codes for transmitting the converted print data to the printing apparatus.

107. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program code, for executing image processing, said product including:

reception process procedure codes for receiving, by a printing apparatus, data conversion software and image data generated by a digital camera, which are transmitted from the digital camera; and

conversion process procedure codes for converting the received image data into print data for forming an image on a print medium using the received data conversion software.

108. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program code, for executing image processing, said product including:

first reception process procedure codes for receiving, by a printing apparatus, data conversion software transmitted from an information processing apparatus;

second reception process procedure codes for receiving, by the printing apparatus, image data generated by and transmitted from a digital camera; and

conversion process procedure codes for converting the received image data into print data for forming an image on a print medium using the received data conversion software.

109. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program code, for executing image processing, said product including:

generation process procedure codes for generating additional information corresponding to image data generated by a digital camera;

conversion process procedure codes for converting the image data into print data for a printing apparatus;

transmission process procedure codes for transmitting the converted print data and the additional information directly to the printing apparatus without passing through a personal computer; and

print process procedure codes for printing an image represented by the print data on a print medium and the additional information on a region outside the image printed region using the printing apparatus.

110. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program code, for executing image processing, said product including:

conversion process procedure codes for converting image data generated by a digital camera into print data for a printing apparatus;

transmission process procedure codes for transmitting the converted print data directly to the printing apparatus without passing through a personal computer;

generation process procedure codes for generating additional information corresponding to the received print data by the printing apparatus; and

print process procedure codes for printing an image represented by the print data on a print medium and the additional information on a region outside the image printed region using the printing apparatus.