Print system and handy phone

• US 6,701,845 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION & NIKON TECHNOLOGIES INC.
• Inventors: Ohmura, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Nolan, Jr., Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US09/809,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 101/484, 355/39, 400/76, 400/70, 400/61
• US Class Current: 101/484
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1806 Receiving job control commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1817 Buffers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1819 for a same print job
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32776 using an interactive, user-operated device, e.g. a computer terminal, mobile telephone H04N1/32782, H04N1/32784 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 : Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera

Abstract

A print system receives an image file and a print order file from a customer, the image file having an image data area and an order data area. The print system copies information of the received print order file into the order data area of the received image file. The print system produces a print of the image data in the image file according to the information in the order data area of the image file. The print system has a printer capable of producing a print of a predetermined image data provided by a third party as well as that of the image data of the customer. The print system delivers to the customer the print ordered by the customer as well as the print of the predetermined image data. The print system selects a group of orders among all the orders in accordance with the destination of delivery for controlling the printer to give priority to the group of orders in producing the prints. The print system forbids the printer to produce the print of the image data of the same customer until a predetermined time. The order from the customer is made through a handy phone capable of controlling a digital camera through a wireless system.

Claims

1. A print system comprising:

a first receiver that receives an image file and a print order file from a customer, the image file having an image data area and an order data area;

a first controller that copies information of the received print order file into the order data area of the received image file; and

a printer that produces a print of the image data in the image file according to the information in the order data area of the image file.

2. The print system according to claim 1, further comprising a file format changer that changes the received image file into a new image file having an image data area and an order data area wherein the first controller copies information of the received print order file into the new image file and the printer produces a print of the image data in the new image file.

3. The print system according to claim 1, further comprising a second receiver that receives from the customer a request for information of status of the print system and a second controller that transmits the requested information to the customer.

4. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the printer is capable of further producing a print of a predetermined image data provided by a third party, and wherein the print system delivers to the customer the print ordered by the customer as well as the print of the predetermined image data.

5. The print system according to claim 1, further comprising a managing center and a laboratory having a printer, wherein the receiver is installed in the managing center and capable of receiving from the customer a first type of information including an image data and a print order data and a second type of information including an image data without an order of the print, and wherein the managing center further comprises a storage capable of storing a plurality of image data from both the types of information and a transmitter that automatically transmits the image data from the first type of information to the laboratory.

6. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver receives a plurality of orders from customers to produce prints of image data, each order designating destination of delivery, and wherein the print system further comprises a second controller that selects a group of orders among all the orders in accordance with the destination of delivery for controlling the printer to give priority to the group of orders in producing the prints.

7. The print system according to claim 1, further comprising a managing center, a plurality of laboratories and a delivery system, wherein the first receiver is installed in the managing center, and wherein the managing center further comprises a selector that selects one of the plurality of laboratories in accordance with the schedule of the delivery system and the first controller that transmits the image data and the print order data to the selected laboratory, the printer being installed in the laboratory.

8. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the print order file includes an identification of the customer, and wherein the print system further comprises a second controller that forbids the printer to produce the prints until orders from the same customer becomes a predetermined number on the basis of the identification in the print order data.

9. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the print order file includes an identification of the customer, and wherein the print system further comprises a second controller that forbids the printer to produce the print of the image data of a predetermined customer until a predetermined time on the basis of the identification in the print order data.

10. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the print order file includes an identification of the customer, and wherein the print system further comprises:

a storage that stores the image data and the print order data;

a second receiver that receives a print execution data, the print execution data including an identification of a customer of the print order; and

a second controller that forbids the printer to produce the prints until the second receiver receives the print execution data from the same customer as that of the print order data on the basis of the identification in the print order data and the print execution data.

11. The print system according to claim 1, further comprising a handy phone with a wireless system capable of communication with a digital camera, wherein the first receiver receives the image file and the print order file from the customer by way of the handy phone, the image file being originated by the digital camera.

12. The print system according to claim 11, wherein the digital camera is of a plurality of modes including a photography mode, and wherein the handy phone comprises a second receiver that receives information relating to the mode of the digital camera though the wireless system and a second controller that makes it possible for the handy phone to control the digital camera in taking a photograph through the wireless system if the second receiver receives information relating to the photography mode.

13. The print system according to claim 11, wherein the digital camera is of a plurality of modes including a playback mode, and wherein the handy phone comprises a second receiver that receives information relating to the mode of the digital camera though the wireless system and a third receiver that receives a digital image from the digital camera through the wireless system if the second receiver receives information relating to the playback mode, the digital image being received by the first receiver in the print system.

14. The print system according to claim 11, wherein the handy phone comprises a second receiver that receives a digital image from the digital camera through the wireless system and a second controller that forbids the second receiver to receive the digital image while the handy phone is busy.

15. The print system according to claim 11, wherein the digital camera is of a plurality of modes, and wherein the handy phone comprises a second receiver that receives information relating to the mode of the digital camera through the wireless system and a second controller that changes the mode of the handy phone in accordance with the information received from the digital camera through the wireless system.

16. A print system comprising:

a receiver that receives an image file and a print order file from a customer;

a file format changer that changes the received image file into a new image file having an image data area and an order data area;

a controller that copies information of the received print order file into the order data area of the new image file; and

a printer that produces a print of the image data in the new image file according to the information in the order data area of the new image file.

17. The print system according to claim 16,

wherein the file format changer changes the received image file into a new image file in compliance with DPOF (Digital Print Order Format).

18. The print system according to claim 16, further comprising a managing center and a laboratory, wherein the receiver is installed in the managing center and the printer is installed in the laboratory, the managing center and the laboratory being connected through a network.

19. The print system according to claim 16, wherein the receiver and the printer are located remote from each other and in communication through a network.

20. A print system capable of receiving an image data and a print order data from a customer and producing a print of the image data in accordance with the print order data, comprising:

a managing center and a plurality of laboratories remote from the managing center;

a receiver that receives from the customer a request for information of status of the print system; and

a controller that transmits the requested information to the customer, wherein the receiver and the controller are installed in the managing center, the managing center and the laboratories being in communication through a network in preparing the information to be transmitted to the customer.

21. The print system according to claim 20,

wherein the information includes an estimation of a time taken for the customer to receive the ordered print.

22. The print system according to claim 20, further comprising a managing center and a plurality of laboratories remote from the managing center, wherein the receiver and the controller are installed in the managing center, the information including an identification of a laboratory in agreement with a condition set by the customer in the request.

23. A print system comprising:

a receiver that receives an image data and a print order data from a customer;

a printer that produces a print of the image data in accordance with the order data, the printer being capable of further producing a print of a predetermined image data provided by a third party;

a controller that delivers to the customer the print ordered by the customer as well as the print of the predetermined image data.

24. The print system according to claim 23,

wherein the predetermined image data includes an advertisement by the third party.

25. The print system according to claim 23,

further comprising a printer monitor which monitors the status of the printer,

wherein the printer determines whether or not to print the predetermined image data in response to the print monitor.

26. The print system according to claim 23,

wherein the controller controls to avoid a duplicate delivery of print of the predetermined image data to the same customer.

27. The print system according to claim 23, further comprising a counter that counts a number of sheets of the print of the predetermined image data.

28. The print system according to claim 27,

wherein the printer stops the print of the predetermined image data if the counter counts a predetermined number of sheets of the print of the predetermined image data.

29. The print system according to claim 23, further comprising a manager that bills the charge of the print of the predetermined image data.

30. The print system according to claim 23,

wherein the third party is a camera company and the predetermined image data is a photographic image taken by a digital camera produced by the camera company.

31. In a print system including a managing center and a laboratory having a printer, the managing center comprising:

a receiver capable of receiving from a customer a first type of information including an image data and a print order data and a second type of information including an image data without an order of the print;

a storage capable of storing a plurality of image data from both the types of information; and

a transmitter that automatically transmits the image data from the first type of information to the laboratory.

32. The print system according to claim 31,

further comprising a controller that adds a print request signal to the image data to be transmitted to the laboratory, the print request signal being from the print order data.

33. A print system comprising:

a receiver that receives a plurality of orders from customers to produce prints of image data, each order designating destination of delivery of the prints;

a printer that produces the prints; and

a controller that selects a group of orders among all the orders in accordance with the destination of delivery for controlling the printer to give priority to the group of orders in producing the prints.

34. The print system according to claim 33 further comprising a delivery system, wherein the controller selects orders with destinations covered by the most available schedule of the delivery system.

35. In a print system including a managing center, a plurality of laboratories and a delivery system, the managing center comprising:

a receiver that receives an image data and a print order data from a customer;

a selector that selects one of the plurality of laboratories in accordance with the schedule of the delivery system; and

a controller that transmits the image data and the print order data to the selected laboratory.