Printing system including a printing apparatus for printing image data transmitted from an image pickup apparatus identified by an approved ID information

• US 7,443,420 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Maeda, Masamine
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHIPKEY, JASON T
• Application Number:
  US10/745,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20040135892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,772 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.2, 348/211.2, 348/207.99, 348/231.3, 348/231.6, 348/374, 348/376, 358/1.15, 235/375, 235/492
• US Class Current: 348/207.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0013 Arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus H04N2201/0074; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A printing system is constructed of an image transmitting apparatus that has a non-contact ID tag permitting non-contact reading and transmits image data by a different communication method from that for the non-contact ID tag, and a printing apparatus that receives the image data transmitted from the image transmitting apparatus, prints an image based on the image data, reads ID information regarding the image transmitting apparatus from the non-contact ID tag, and outputs a printing, which is generated by a printing unit, on the basis of the ID information.

Claims

1. A printing system comprising:

an image pickup apparatus that has a non-contact ID tag permitting non-contact reading and transmits image data which is picked up by an image pickup unit and recorded on a recording medium, by a different communication method from that for the non-contact ID tag; and

a printing apparatus including a reading unit for reading ID information identifying the image pickup apparatus from the non-contact ID tag of the image pickup apparatus, an image receiving unit for receiving image data transmitted by the image pickup apparatus, a printing unit for printing an image based on the image data received by the image receiving unit, an output unit for outputting printings generated by the printing unit, a retaining unit for retaining the ID information identifying the image pickup apparatus that transmits the image data so that the ID information is associated with printings generated by the printing unit, and a control unit for performing an approval on the basis of ID information newly read by said reading unit from the non-contact ID tag of the image pickup apparatus and the ID information retained by said retaining unit in response to the ID information being newly read by said reading unit from the non-contact ID tag of the image pickup apparatus after said printing unit generates the printings and for controlling the output unit on the basis of the ID information retained by the retaining unit so as to output the printings printed based on the image data transmitted from the image pickup apparatus identified by the approved ID information.

2. A printing system comprising:

an image transmitting apparatus having a non-contact ID tag permitting non-contact reading and image transmitting means for transmitting image data by a different communication method from that for the non-contact ID tag; and

a printing apparatus including reading means for reading ID information identifying the image transmitting apparatus from the non-contact ID tag of the image transmitting apparatus, image receiving means for receiving image data transmitted by said image transmitting apparatus, printing means for printing an image based on the image data received by said image receiving means, output means for outputting printings generated by said printing means, retaining means for retaining the ID information identifying the image transmitting apparatus that transmits the image data so that the ID information is associated with printings generated by the printing means, and control means for performing an approval on the basis of ID information newly read by said reading means from the non-contact ID tag of the image transmitting apparatus and the ID information retained by said retaining means in response to the ID information being newly read by said reading means from the non-contact ID tag of the image transmitting apparatus after said printing means generates the printings and for controlling said output means on the basis of the ID information retained by said retaining means so as to output the printings printed based on the image data transmitted from said image transmitting apparatus identified by the approved ID information.

3. A printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus prints images related to image data transmitted from a plurality of said image transmitting apparatuses, and said output means retains printings related to image data transmitted from the plurality of said image transmitting apparatuses so that the printings are associated with ID information of each of the plurality of said image transmitting apparatuses.

4. A printing system according to claim 3, wherein said output means selects a printing corresponding to the approved ID information from among printings related to image data transmitted from the plurality of said image transmitting apparatuses, and then outputs the selected printing.

5. A printing system according to claim 3, wherein the printing apparatus comprises a memory for storing ID information regarding the plurality of the image transmitting apparatuses read by the reading means before starting to print images related to image data transmitted from the plurality of image transmitting apparatuses.

6. A printing system according to claim 5, wherein the printing apparatus is capable of reading ID information regarding another image transmitting apparatus by the reading means and storing, in the memory, the read ID information as information that indicates waiting for printing, while the printing apparatus is printing an image based on image data transmitted from one of the plurality of image transmitting apparatuses.

7. A printing system according to claim 6, wherein, after completion of printing of an image based on image data from the one image transmitting apparatus, the printing apparatus immediately starts printing of an image based on image data transmitted from the another image transmitting apparatus.

8. A printing system according to claim 7, wherein, after completion of printing of an image based on image data from the one image transmitting apparatus, the printing apparatus transmits a command requesting the transmission of image data from the another image transmitting apparatus on the basis of the information on waiting for printing that is stored in the memory, and starts printing of an image based on image data transmitted in response to the transmission request command.

9. An image processing apparatus for receiving and processing image data from an image transmitting apparatus having a non-contact ID tag permitting non-contact reading and transmitting means for transmitting image data by a different communication method from that for the non-contact ID tag, said image processing apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading ID information identifying said image transmitting apparatus from the non-contact ID tag of said image transmitting apparatus;

communicating means for receiving image data transmitted by said image transmitting apparatus;

printing means for printing an image based on the image data received by said communicating means;

retaining means for retaining the ID information identifying the image transmitting apparatus that transmits the image data so that the ID information is associated with printings generated by the printing means;

output means for outputting printings generated by said printing means; and

control means for performing an approval on the basis of ID information newly read by said reading means from the non-contact ID tag of the image transmitting apparatus and the ID information retained by said retaining means in response to the ID information being newly read by said reading means from the non-contact ID tag of the image transmitting apparatus after said printing means generates the printings and for controlling said output means on the basis of the ID information retained by said retaining means so as to output the printings printed based on the image data transmitted from said image transmitting apparatus identified by the approved ID information.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the printing apparatus prints images related to image data transmitted from a plurality of said image transmitting apparatuses, and said output means retains printings related to image data transmitted from the plurality of said image transmitting apparatuses so that the printings are associated with ID information of each of the plurality of said image transmitting apparatuses.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said output means selects a printing corresponding to the approved ID information from among printings related to image data transmitted from the plurality of said image transmitting apparatuses, and then outputs the selected printing.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a controlling means for storing, in a memory, ID information regarding the plurality of the image transmitting apparatuses read by the reading means before starting to print images related to image data transmitted from the plurality of the image transmitting apparatuses.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controlling means is capable of storing ID information regarding the another image transmitting apparatus read by the reading means in the memory as information that indicates waiting for printing, while an image based on image data transmitted from one of the plurality of the image transmitting apparatuses is being printed.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the controlling means controls the printing means so that, after completion of printing of the image based on the image data from the one image transmitting apparatus, the printing means immediately starts printing an image based on image data transmitted from the another image transmitting apparatus.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the controlling means controls the communication means so that, after completion of printing of an image based on image data from the one image transmitting apparatus, a command requesting the transmission of image data is sent to the another image transmitting apparatus on the basis of the information on waiting for printing that is stored in the memory, and also controls the printing means to start printing of an image based on image data transmitted from the another image transmitting apparatus in response to the transmission request command.