JP2003067147A - Profile information providing method and server device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce work of a user for profile processing. SOLUTION: Various profiles 22 is preregistered in a profile DB 30, and when a retrieving condition is inputted to a PC 12 by the user when the user uses profile providing service by making access to a profile server 14 by operating the PC 12, a profile server 16 retrieves a profile 22 for satisfying the retrieving condition from the profiles 22 registered in the profile DB 30, and embeds the retrieved profile 22 (or link information 42) in image data 28 or transmits the profile to the PC 12 side. When the profile 22 for satisfying the retrieving condition is not registered in the profile DB 30, the profile server 16 retrieves a profile 22 for satisfying the retrieving condition from the profiles 22 disclosed by a maker server 14 and the profiles 22 existing in the PC 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a profile information providing method and a server device, and in particular, it is used in image conversion for outputting image data from an output device in a terminal device by information communication via a network. The present invention relates to a profile information providing method for providing profile information and a server device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in input devices such as scanners and digital cameras, and output devices such as monitors and printers, each device expresses a color image by a unique method. In order to achieve color consistency, the computer prepares device profile information (hereinafter referred to as “profile”) indicating characteristics for each device such as an ICC profile, and refers to this profile to refer to color data between devices. It's converting. For example, in order to print image data taken by a digital camera with a printer, refer to the profile of the digital camera and the profile of the printer,
Image data is color converted from RGB to CMYK. In addition,
In the following, performing the color conversion processing by referring to the profile in this way is referred to as “profile processing”.

Generally, in application software capable of profile processing, when displaying image data on a monitor or outputting from a printer, a corresponding input device and output device profile are respectively selected and the selected profile is used. Profile processing.

There is also application software that embeds a profile (or link information to the profile) in the image data so that the image data can be expressed in an appropriate color each time, and performs profile processing using the embedded profile. .

[0005]

However, according to the prior art, it is impossible to perform the profile processing or the profile embedding processing in the image data when the necessary profile is not present on the computer. For this reason, the user asks the device manufacturer to send the profile of the required device, or finds the site that publishes the required profile from the sites that publish the various profiles on the network. It was troublesome because the required profile had to be obtained and installed in the own computer by some method such as downloading the required profile to the own computer.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a profile information providing method and a server device capable of reducing the work of a user involved in profile processing.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 performs image conversion for outputting image data from an output device in a terminal device by information communication via a network. A profile information providing method for providing profile information used in the case of registering a plurality of profile information in advance, and receiving the image data and the information indicating the search condition of the profile information via the network. , Searching profile information corresponding to the received search condition from a plurality of pre-registered profile information, and embedding the searched profile information or the link information indicating the position of the searched profile information in the received image data , Is characterized.

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the search condition of the image data and the profile information is accepted from the terminal device via the network, the search condition is corresponded from the pre-registered profile information. Profile information (that is, the search condition is satisfied) is searched.
Then, the profile information searched for in the received image data, or the link information indicating its position (for example, URL
Or file path) is embedded. That is, since the user only inputs the search condition for searching the necessary profile information, the necessary profile information is automatically searched and the necessary profile information or the link information is embedded in the image data. The user does not need to perform a complicated acquisition work as in the past. Further, since the profile information or the link information is embedded in the image data, it is not necessary to search the profile information each time the image data of the image data is converted, and the image conversion is performed by using the appropriate profile information at any time to monitor or It can be output (displayed in the case of a monitor) from an output device such as a printer.

It is to be noted that, as described in claim 2, image data in which the profile information or the link information is embedded may be transmitted to the terminal device, or as described in claim 3. In addition, the image data may be image-converted and transmitted based on the profile information embedded in the image data or the profile information at the position indicated by the link information embedded in the image data.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 is a profile information providing method for providing profile information used in image conversion for outputting image data from an output device in a terminal device by information communication via a network. In addition, when a plurality of profile information is registered in advance and information indicating a search condition of the profile information is received via the network, the received search is performed from the plurality of pre-registered profile information. The profile information corresponding to the condition is searched, and the searched profile information or the link information indicating the position where the searched profile information is located is transmitted to the terminal device.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when the search condition is accepted from the terminal device via the network,
Profile information corresponding to the search condition (that is, satisfying the search condition) is searched from the profile information registered in advance, and the searched profile information or link information indicating its position (for example, URL or file path) ) Is transmitted to the terminal device. That is, the user can automatically search for the required profile information and obtain the searched profile information or link information only by inputting search conditions for searching the required profile information. The profile information can be obtained more easily. When link information is obtained using this obtained profile information, the image data is converted into image data using the profile information at the position indicated by the link information and output from an output device such as a monitor or printer (in the case of a monitor Can be displayed), and an appropriate output result can be obtained.

In the profile providing method, in order to deal with the case where the profile information corresponding to the search condition is not registered, the profile information corresponding to the search condition is set as described in claim 5. Further, it is preferable that the search can be performed from at least one of profile information disclosed on the network by another device connected via the network and profile information held on the terminal device. As a result, the user can receive the required profile information without being aware of where the required profile is.

In the profile providing method, as described in claim 6, profile information indicating characteristics of the input device of the image data, profile information indicating characteristics of the output device, and image processing performed on the image data. It suffices to provide at least one of profile information indicating

The profile providing method can be realized as an apparatus on the network by the following server apparatus. Specifically, in order to realize the profile providing method according to claim 1, as described in claim 7, image data is output from an output device in a terminal device by information communication via a network. A server device that provides profile information to be used for image conversion in order to store image data and information indicating search conditions for the profile information via the network. Receiving means for accepting, searching means for searching profile information corresponding to the search condition accepted by the receiving means from a plurality of profile information stored in the storing means, profile information searched by the searching means, or The link information indicating the storage location of the searched profile information is received Having a embedding means for embedding the image data received by the unit.

As described in claim 8,
It is preferable to further include a transmitting unit that transmits the image data in which the profile information or the link information is embedded by the embedding unit to the terminal device. Also, profile information embedded in the image data by the embedding means as described in claim 9,
Alternatively, based on profile information at a position indicated by link information embedded in the image data, image conversion means for converting the image data, and image data converted by the image conversion means toward the terminal device. It is preferable to further include a transmitting means for transmitting.

Further, in order to realize the profile providing method according to claim 4, as described in claim 10, the image data is output from the output device in the terminal device by the information communication via the network. A server device that provides profile information used when performing image conversion in order to perform image conversion, a storage unit that stores a plurality of profile information, and a receiving unit that receives information indicating a search condition of the profile information via the network. Search means for searching profile information corresponding to the search condition received by the receiving means from among a plurality of profile information stored in the storage means, profile information searched by the searching means, or the searched profile Link information indicating the location of information to the terminal device Only and a transmission means for transmitting.

Further, in the server device, as described in claim 11, in addition to the profile information stored in the storage device, the search device uses another device connected via the network. The profile information corresponding to the search condition may be searched for from at least one of the profile information published on the network and the profile information held by the terminal device.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an example of an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Overall Configuration] FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a network system to which the present invention is applied. Figure 1
In the network system 10 shown in FIG. 1, a computer (PC) PC operated by a general user is used as a terminal device.
12 and a maker server 14 that is managed by a device maker and publishes a device profile,
A profile server 16 as a server device of the present invention that provides a profile providing service is connected to a network 18 such as the Internet via connection means (not shown) such as a modem, a router, and a TA (Terminal Adapter). There is. The PC 12, the maker server 14, and the profile server 16 are the network 1
8 can communicate with each other.

Here, in this embodiment, the PC 12 performs WWW by mutual communication via the network 18.
The (World Wide Web) client, the maker server 14, and the profile server 16 function as a WWW server.

More specifically, the PC 12 has a WWW (World
Wide Web) browser is installed and this W
By launching a WW browser, the network 18
Via the manufacturer server 14 and the profile server 16
Can be accessed at will. At this time, the access position (the data including the position of the maker server 14 or the profile server 16 of the access destination and the position of the information in the server) is designated by a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

When the maker server 14 and the profile server 16 receive an access request from the PC 12, the maker server 14 and the profile server 16 transmit the data at the position designated by the URL to the access source device via the network 18. At this time, the data is generally HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).
ocol) is sent. The PC 12 receives the data transmitted via the network 18 and sends it to the WWW.
The data received by the browser is analyzed and the PC
The web data (home page or web page) is displayed on the monitor provided in 12.

If a program for executing a predetermined process is designated by the access source PC 12, the profile server 16 uses a CGI (Common Gateway Interchange).
face) is used to execute the program, and the data of the processing result is transmitted to the access source PC 12 and displayed on the monitor. Also, through this CGI, the user can
It is also possible to transmit data and various instructions input by operating the operation input device 12A (described later) included in the PC 12 from the PC 12 to the profile server 16 of the access destination. That is, CGI enables interactive provision of web data.

[Configuration of Each Device] Next, the configuration of each device will be described. The PC 12 includes a keyboard for inputting various information, an operation input device 12A such as a mouse, a monitor 12B for displaying various menu screens and processing results, and a printer 12C for printing various information. There is. Since the hardware configuration of the PC 12 is a general one, detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

Further, the PC 12 is read from the recording medium 20 such as a CD-ROM by a reading means such as a CD-ROM driver (generally provided in the PC).
The device profile information (hereinafter, referred to as “profile”) 22 included in the device can be read and installed. Generally, the profile 22 of an output device such as a monitor or printer is a PC
Installed at 12 to enable the device. Further, the PC 12 can be connected to various input devices such as the digital camera 24 and the scanner 26 to input the image data 28.

The profile 22 and the image data 28
May be read out from another device connected to the network 18 via the network 18 to be installed or input. The image data 28 is a CD
-Read from a recording medium such as a ROM and input, or P
It goes without saying that it may be created using application software (not shown) installed in C12.

The maker server 14 includes a CPU, a RAM,
A general server device having a ROM or the like can be used. In the following, a detailed description of the hardware configuration of the maker server 14 will be omitted, and only the part relating to the present invention will be described. The maker server 14 stores a profile 22 of a device manufactured by a device maker that manages the maker server 14, and the profile 22 has accessed the maker server 14 via the network 18. Can be referenced by other devices (ie profile 2 on network 18)
2 is released). In addition, in each maker server 14,
At least one of a profile of an input device such as a digital camera (hereinafter referred to as “input profile”) 22A and a profile of an output device such as a monitor or a printer (hereinafter referred to as “output profile”) 22B may be stored. .

The profile server 16 includes a CPU and R
A general server device equipped with AM, ROM, etc. can be used. In the following, a detailed description of the hardware configuration of the profile server 16 will be omitted, and only the part related to the present invention will be described.

The profile server 16 is provided with a large-capacity database (hereinafter referred to as "profile DB") 30 as a storage means of the present invention.
B30 includes various (various) profiles 22 prepared by the administrator of the profile server 16, specifically, the input profile 22A and the output profile 22.
Not only B, but also a profile indicating image processing to be performed on image data (hereinafter referred to as "processing profile") 22C
Is registered. Note that the image processing indicated by the processing profile 22C includes, for example, a filter that gives a special effect to an image by performing an operation between each pixel of image data such as blurring processing, sharpness processing, and mosaic processing, with surrounding pixels. Processing, and color conversion processing for converting a color image into a black and white or sepia image.

The internal memory (not shown) of the profile server 16 stores various web data such as a home page for providing the profile providing service and data of various programs related to the profile providing service. The profile server 16 is C
The PU appropriately reads and executes these programs, and utilizes hardware resources to construct each function for providing a profile providing service as shown in FIG.

That is, the profile server 16 has
As shown in FIG. 2, a transmitting / receiving unit 32 as a receiving unit and a transmitting unit of the present invention that transmits / receives data via a network 18, a searching unit 34 as a searching unit of the present invention that searches for an appropriate profile 22, As embedding means of the present invention, which embeds the searched profile 22 itself (entity file) or link information (information indicating a URL, a local file path, etc.) to the searched profile 22 in the image data 28 stored in the memory 36. Profile information embedding unit 38 and a profile embedded in the image data 28 (entity file or link information)
Image conversion unit 40 as an image conversion unit of the present invention for converting (profile) the image data with reference to
And are built.

In this embodiment, the profile D
A dedicated search program is used to search the profile 22 from B, and the profile 2 from the manufacturer server 14 is used.
In order to search for item 2, the search unit 34 is constructed using a general search engine. That is, the search unit 34 can search for an appropriate profile 22 from the profiles 22 registered in the profile DB 30 and the profiles 22 published by the maker server 14.

As the memory 36, an internal memory such as RAM, ROM, HDD provided in the profile server 16 may be used, or a dedicated memory may be provided and used. In the profile server 16, PC
When the image data 28 transmitted from 12 is received, the received image data 28 is stored in the memory 36, and the profile 22 (entity or link information) is embedded and image processing based on the profile 22 is performed. .

[Image Data] Next, the image data 28 will be described. In the present embodiment, the image data 28 includes
Input profile 22A, output profile 22B, processing profile 22C, or input profile 22
Link information (input link) 42A to A, link information (output link) 42B to output profile 22B, link information (processing link) 42 to processing profile 22C
C can be embedded as a so-called tag.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the image data 28 has a maximum of the input profile 22A or the input link 42A, the output profile 22B or the output link 42B, the processing profile 22C or the processing link 42.
3 types of C can be embedded and input profile 2
Only 2A or input link 42A is required. It is possible to embed a plurality of output profiles 22B and output links 42B, and processing profiles 22C and processing links 42C.

[Operation] Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 shows a work flow when the user uses the profile providing service, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show process flows executed by the PC 12 and the profile server 16 at this time. In addition, the work flow of FIG.
12 to access the profile server 16
It is performed according to the home page or web page displayed on the monitor 12B.

When the user uses the profile providing service, first, as shown in FIG. 4, step 100 is performed.
At, it is determined whether the image data is uploaded to the profile server 16. When uploading image data, the process proceeds to step 102, where the operation input device 12A is operated to specify the image data 28 to be uploaded to the PC 12, for example, by inputting a file name, and input an upload instruction. After that, the process proceeds to step 104. In the following, the user also inputs various instructions and information to the PC 12 by operating the operation input device 12A.

When this upload instruction is input, the PC 12 proceeds from step 200 to step 202 in FIG. 5 and transmits the upload request together with the designated image data 28 to the profile server 16. When the profile server 16 receives this upload request by the transmission / reception unit 32, the step 300 to the step 302 in FIG.
Then, the image data 28 transmitted together with the upload request is stored in the memory 36 (upload completion).

On the other hand, when the profile providing service is used without uploading the image data 28, or when the image data 28 already uploaded such as uploaded to the profile server 16 at the previous access is used, step 100 in FIG. Then, the process directly proceeds to step 104.

At step 104, information for designating a desired profile is input as a search condition, and a search instruction is input. As the search condition, for example, information for designating a device such as a maker name or model number of the digital camera that has acquired the image data 28, or information for designating image processing such as blurring processing when the image data 28 is noisy is input. Then, in the next step 106, a profile embedding method instruction designating whether to embed the actual file of the profile 22 or the link information 42 of the profile 22 in the image data 28 is input.

When the search condition and the search instruction are input, the PC 12 proceeds from step 204 to step 206 of FIG. 5 and transmits the input search condition to the profile server 16 together with the search request. The profile server 16
In response to this, step 304 to step 30 in FIG.
In step 6, the search unit 34 searches for the profile 22 corresponding to the search condition.

More specifically, first, a dedicated search program is used to search among the various profiles 22 registered in the profile DB 30 for the profile corresponding to the search condition. If no profile corresponding to the search condition is found in the profile DB 30, the search engine is used to search for the corresponding profile among the profiles 22 managed by the manufacturer server 14 connected to the network 18. . Further, the profile server 16 requests the PC 12 to transmit the information indicating the profile 22 installed in the PC 12, and in response to this request, the information is transmitted from the PC 12 and installed in the PC 12. The profile corresponding to the search condition may be searched from the existing profiles 22.

When the profile DB 30 or the maker server 14 is searched for the corresponding profile 22, the process proceeds to step 308, and the PC 12 is notified that the profile 22 corresponding to the search condition is searched (search OK).

Upon receipt of the search OK notification from the profile server 16, the PC 12 proceeds from step 208 to step 210 in FIG. 5, and if the user inputs or has input a method instruction for embedding, step 21 is executed.
Go to 2. In step 212, the profile server 1
Profile 2 to the image data 28 uploaded to 6
2 (entity file) or whether to embed the link information 42, and when embedding it in the uploaded image data 28, the process proceeds to step 214, and the profile server 16 is provided with the information designating the embedding method instructed by the user. , Send embedding request.

Upon receiving the embedding request, the profile server 16 receives steps 310 to 31 in FIG.
2, the profile information embedding unit 38 follows the designated embedding method with respect to the image data 28 stored in the memory 36 by the upload described above.
The profile 22 (entity file) retrieved in step 306 or its link information 42 is embedded. When embedding the profile 22 (substantial file), it is advisable to embed it according to a general standard such as an ICC profile in order to enhance versatility.

On the other hand, when the image is not embedded in the uploaded image data, the memory of the PC 12 or the HD
It is determined that the profile is embedded in the image data saved on the PC 12 side, such as D, and the process proceeds from step 212 to step 216 in FIG.
An upload request is sent with the information that specifies the embedding method specified by the user. When the profile server 16 receives the upload request,
From step 310 to step 314, the transmitter / receiver 32 specifies that the profile 22 (entity file) is to be embedded according to the specified embedding method. When the embedding of the link information 42 is designated, the link information 42 is stored in the PC 1
Send to 2. The PC 12 receives the profile 22 (entity file) or the link information 42 transmitted in step 218 and saves it in the memory or HDD.

As described above, the user uses the profile providing service, as shown in FIG.
When the user's own (processing target) image data 28 is uploaded to the profile server 16 side, the desired profile 22 is a profile managed by the profile server 16 registered in the profile DB 30,
The profile 22 or the link information 42 to the profile 22 searched as shown in FIGS. 7B to 7D is searched for in the profile installed in the PC 12, and is added to the uploaded image data 28. Can be embedded.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, if the image data 28 of the user (processing target) is not on the profile server 16 and is on the PC 12 side, the searched profile 22 or the profile 22 is displayed. The link information 42 can be provided. This allows the PC
If application software capable of embedding a profile is installed in 12, the profile 22 or link information 42 provided as shown in FIGS. It can be embedded in the (target) image data 28.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8B, if only the profile 22 is embedded in the image data 28, regardless of the URL or path of the profile 22,
Profile processing of the image data 28 can be performed,
By embedding the link information 42 as shown in (C) of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, it is possible to prevent the data size of the image data from becoming larger than when the profile 22 is embedded. Further, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8D, the image data 28 can include the profile 22 and the link information 42 in a mixed manner.

For devices that are not frequently replaced, such as the monitor 12B and printer 12C of the PC 12, the profile can be registered for each user, and when the user accesses the profile server 16 from the PC 12, Each user is identified by inputting a user ID, etc., and the profile of a device such as a monitor or printer registered for the user 2
2 or its link information 42 by default is image data 2
8 may be embedded.

Thereafter, when the user wants to add or change the profile 22 or the link information 42 to the image data 28, steps 108 to 110 of FIG. 4 are performed.
Then, the user inputs the addition / change instruction to the PC 12, returns to step 104, inputs the information designating the profile to be added or changed as the search condition, and inputs the search instruction. When the addition / change instruction is input, the PC 12 makes an affirmative decision in step 220 of FIG.
Then, the information specifying the profile to be added or changed, which is input as the search condition, is sent to the profile server 16 together with the search request.
This is performed by the C12 and the profile server 16. Thereby, the new profile 22 or the link information 42 can be added to the image data 28, or the profile 22 or the link information 42 embedded in the image data 28 can be changed to another profile 22 or the link information 42.

Next, a case will be described in which the image data 28 uploaded to the profile server 16 and having the profile 22 or its link information 42 embedded therein is displayed on a monitor or printed out. As for the image data 28 on the PC 12 side, the desired profile 22 or its link information 4 is sent from the profile server 16.
After downloading 2, by using the profile processing application software installed in the PC 12 without using the profile providing service, the image data 28 can be displayed on the monitor 12B or output to the printer 12C. Since it is good, the description is omitted here.

The user uploads the profile 22 or the image data 28 in which the link information 42 is embedded to the monitor 1 by uploading it to the profile server 16 as described above.
If it is desired to display in 2B, the process proceeds from step 112 of FIG. 4 to step 114, and it is confirmed whether or not the profile 22 of the monitor 12B or the link information 42 is embedded in the image data 28, and the profile 22 or the link information of the monitor 12B is displayed. Is not embedded in the image data 28, the process proceeds from step 114 to step 110 in FIG.
Input an addition / change instruction to the PC 12. Then, returning to step 104, information such as the manufacturer name and model number of the monitor 12B is input as a search condition and a search instruction is input.

In response to this, the PC 12 makes an affirmative decision in step 220 of FIG.
4, the information such as the manufacturer name and model number of the monitor 12B input as the search condition is transmitted to the profile server 16 together with the search request, and thereafter, the same processing as above is performed by the PC 1
2 and the profile server 16. Thus, when the image data 28 does not have the profile of the monitor 12B, the profile 22 of the monitor 12B can be searched for in the image data 28 and the profile 22 or the link information 42 thereof can be additionally embedded.

If the profile 22 of the monitor 12B is embedded in the image data 28, step 1 of FIG.
From 12 to step 114 and step 116, the user inputs a monitor display instruction to the PC 12. PC12
When the monitor display instruction is input, step 2 in FIG.
From 22 to step 224, the monitor display image rendering request is transmitted to the profile server 16.

When the profile server 16 receives the monitor display image rendering request, the step 3 in FIG.
From step 16 to step 318, the image transformation unit 40 uses the profile 22 if the profile 22 is embedded in the image data 28. If the link information is embedded, the URL indicated by the link information or By performing the conversion process (profile process) with reference to the profile 22 at the position of the path, the image data 28 is rendered according to the monitor 12B.

Specifically, the input profile 22A (or the input link 42A) and the output profile (monitor 12
B) 22B (or output link 42B), the image data 28 is color-converted to ensure color consistency between the input device and the output device (monitor 12B), and the processing profile 22C (or processing link 4).
2C) is embedded, the image data 28 is subjected to image processing instructed by the processing profile 22C (or the processing profile 22C at the URL or path position indicated by the processing link 42C) and displayed on the monitor 12B. Image data (rendered image data) rendered to do so is generated. Then, in the next step 320,
The rendering image data generated from the transmitting / receiving unit 32 is set to P
Send to C12.

At step 226 of FIG. 5, the PC 12 receives this rendering image data transmitted from the profile server 16 and displays it on the monitor 12B. Thus, the user can confirm the rendered image data thus displayed on the monitor 12B in step 118 after inputting the monitor display instruction in step 116 of FIG. 4 described above.

The user can confirm that the image is a desired image from the rendered image data displayed on the monitor 12B, and upload the image data 28 to the profile server 16 and the image data 28 in which the profile 22 or the link information 42 is embedded. If the user wants to output to the printer 12C, go to step 122 from step 120 of FIG.
It is confirmed whether the profile 22 or the link information 42 of the printer 12C is embedded in the image data 28. If the profile 22 or the link information of the printer 12C is not embedded in the image data 28, the process proceeds from step 122 to step 110 to input the addition / change instruction to the PC 12. Then, returning to step 104, information such as the manufacturer name and model number of the printer 12C is input as a search condition and a search instruction is input.

In response to this, the PC 12 makes an affirmative decision in step 220 of FIG.
4, the information such as the manufacturer name and model number of the printer 12C input as the search condition is sent to the profile server 16 together with the search request, and thereafter, the same processing as above is performed by the PC.
12 and profile server 16. Thus, when the image data 28 does not have the profile of the printer 12C, the profile 22 of the printer 12C can be searched for in the image data 28 and the profile 22 or the link information 42 thereof can be additionally embedded.

When the profile 22 of the printer 12C is embedded in the image data 28, the process proceeds from step 120 to step 122 and step 124 in FIG. 4, and the user inputs the printer output to the PC 12. PC12
When the printer output instruction is input, the process proceeds from step 228 to step 230 in FIG. 5 and transmits the printer output image rendering request to the profile server 16.

Upon receiving the printer output image rendering request, the profile server 16 proceeds from step 322 to step 324 in FIG. 6 and, if the profile 22 is embedded in the image data 28 by the image conversion unit 40, the profile 22 is output. If the link information is embedded using 22, the URL indicated by the link information
The profile processing is performed by referring to the profile 22 at the position of the path or path, and the image data 28 is transferred to the printer 12C.
Render according to.

Specifically, the input profile 22A (or the input link 42A) and the output profile (printer 1
2C profile) 22B (or output link 42B)
According to the above, the color conversion of the image data 28 is performed to achieve color consistency between the input device and the output device (monitor 12B), and when the processing profile 22C (or the processing link 42C) is embedded, the processing is performed. Image data that has been subjected to image processing instructed by the profile 22C (or the processing profile 22C located at the URL or path indicated by the processing link 42C) and rendered by the printer 12C (rendered image data). To generate. Then, the next step 326
Then, the rendering image data generated from the transmitting / receiving unit 32 is transmitted to the PC 12.

The PC 12 receives the rendering image data transmitted from the profile server 16 in step 226 of FIG. 5, and the printer driver (PC 12
Pre-installed on) via printer 12
Transfer to C. As a result, the printer 12C prints an image that has been color-converted according to the printer 12C on paper and outputs the image.

Then, the user confirms the image displayed on the monitor or the image printed out until the desired result is obtained.
Returning to step 108 from step 126 in FIG. 4, the work described above is repeated to change the profile 22, and monitor display and print output are performed to confirm the result. When the desired result is obtained, step 12
From 6 to step 128, an end instruction is input to the PC 12 to end the use of the profile providing service. When the end instruction is input, the PC 12 proceeds from step 234 to step 236 in FIG.
Send a save request.

In response to the storage request, the profile server 16 proceeds from step 328 to step 330 to store the uploaded image data in the state in which the profile 22 or the link information 42 is embedded. In addition, the profile server 1 with the profile 22 or the link information 42 embedded in the image data 28.
6 to PC12 (download to PC12),
The image data in which the profile 22 or the link information 42 is embedded may be saved on the PC 12 side.

As described above, the user uses the profile providing service to render using the profile 22 embedded in the image data 28 or the link information 42 thereof to display the image data on the monitor 12B or the printer. It can be output from 12C. In addition, the user can appropriately display the image data on a monitor or output to a printer by using the image data in which the profile 22 or the link information 42 stored at the end of the use of the profile providing service is embedded.

As described above, in the present embodiment,
The profile server 16 includes a profile DB 3 in advance.
Various profiles 22 are registered in 0, the user operates the PC 12 to access the profile server 14 and inputs the search condition to the PC 12 while using the profile providing service. An appropriate profile 22 satisfying the search condition is searched from the profiles 22 registered in the profile DB 30, and the searched profile 22 (or link information 42) is embedded in the image data 28 or sent to the PC 12 side. Since it is transmitted, it does not take time to obtain the profile 22 as in the conventional case.

Even if an appropriate profile 22 satisfying the search condition is not registered in the profile DB 30, the profile server 16 publishes it on the manufacturer server 14 connected to the network 18 (somewhere on the network. Profile 22 (existing),
And the profile 22 on the PC 12 operated by the user
Appropriate profile 2 that satisfies the search condition
2 can be searched. As a result, the user only needs to input the search condition and does not have to be aware of where the required profile is, and the required profile exists in the profile DB 30 of the profile server 16, the maker server 14, or the PC 12. For example, the required profile 22 (or link information 42) can be provided from the profile server 16.

When the image data is displayed on a monitor or output to a printer, the profile 22 (or link information 42) embedded in the image data is used to perform profile processing (in accordance with an output device such as a monitor or a printer). Image data is rendered), so
Appropriate display results and output results can be obtained at any time.

[0071]

As described above, the present invention has an excellent effect that the work of the user relating to the profile processing can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of a profile server.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining embedding of a profile (entity file) or link information in image data.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the work of the user when using the profile providing service.

5 is a flowchart showing a process executed by a computer (PC) by the work of the user of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the profile server according to the work of the user of FIG.

7A is a conceptual diagram when image data is uploaded to a profile server, and FIGS. 7B to 7D are profile data and link information 42 in the image data at this time.
It is a conceptual diagram which shows the state example in which was embedded.

FIG. 8A is a computer (PC) whose image data is
2B is a conceptual diagram showing a case in which the profile 22 and the link information 42 are embedded in the image data at this time.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 network system 12 computers 12B monitor 12C printer 14 Manufacturer server 16 profile server 18 network 22 profiles 28 image data 30 profile database 42 Link information

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06T 1/00 510 G06T 1/00 510 H04N 1/46 H04N 1/46 Z F term (reference) 5B021 BB04 CC02 LG07 LG08 LL05 5B057 AA20 BA02 CE18 CH12 5B075 KK02 KK07 ND20 NK02 NK10 PP22 PP30 PQ05 UU40 5B082 AA13 EA07 GC04 5C079 HB12 LB02 NA17 PA00

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A profile information providing method for providing profile information used when an image is converted from an output device to output image data in a terminal device by information communication via a network, wherein a plurality of profile information is provided in advance. Is registered, and when the information indicating the search condition of the image data and the profile information is received via the network,
Profile information corresponding to the received search condition is searched from a plurality of profile information registered in advance, and the searched profile information or link information indicating the position where the searched profile information is located is embedded in the received image data, A profile information providing method characterized by the above. 2. The profile information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the image data in which the profile information or the link information is embedded is transmitted to the terminal device. 3. The image data of the image data is converted based on the profile information embedded in the image data or the profile information at the position indicated by the link information embedded in the image data, and is directed to the terminal device. The profile information providing method according to claim 1, characterized in that the profile information is transmitted. 4. A profile information providing method for providing profile information used when an image is converted from an output device in a terminal device by information communication through a network, the profile information providing method comprising: Is registered, and when the information indicating the search condition of the profile information is received via the network, the profile information corresponding to the received search condition is searched from the plurality of pre-registered profile information. A profile information providing method, characterized in that the searched profile information or link information indicating a position where the searched profile information is present is transmitted to the terminal device. 5. Profile information corresponding to the search condition, profile information disclosed on the network by another device connected via the network, and profile information held on the terminal device. The profile information providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein search is possible from at least one of the above. 6. At least one of profile information showing characteristics of an input device of the image data, profile information showing characteristics of an output device, and profile information showing image processing to be applied to the image data is provided. The profile information providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. A server device which provides profile information used when image conversion is performed to output image data from an output device in a terminal device by information communication via a network, and stores a plurality of profile information. Storage means, reception means for receiving information indicating search conditions for the image data and the profile information via the network, and a search received by the reception means from among a plurality of profile information stored in the storage means Searching means for searching profile information corresponding to the condition; and embedding means for embedding profile information searched by the searching means or link information indicating a storage position of the searched profile information in the image data received by the receiving means. And having Over server apparatus. 8. The server device according to claim 7, further comprising a transmission unit that transmits the image data in which the profile information or the link information is embedded by the embedding unit, toward the terminal device. . 9. An image conversion for image-converting the image data based on profile information embedded in the image data by the embedding means or profile information at a position indicated by link information embedded in the image data. 8. The server device according to claim 7, further comprising: a unit and a transmitting unit that transmits the image data converted by the image converting unit to the terminal device. 10. A server device that provides profile information used when image conversion is performed to output image data from an output device in a terminal device by information communication via a network, and stores a plurality of profile information. A storage unit, a receiving unit that receives information indicating a search condition of the profile information via the network, and a search condition that is received by the receiving unit from a plurality of profile information stored in the storage unit. A search unit that searches the profile information; and a transmission unit that transmits the profile information searched by the search unit or the link information indicating the position where the searched profile information is located to the terminal device. Server device to be used. 11. The profile information stored in the storage unit by the search unit, the profile information disclosed on the network by another device connected via the network, and the terminal device. 11. The server device according to claim 7, wherein the profile information corresponding to the search condition is also searched from at least one of the profile information held in.