JP3991050B2 - Imaging apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that converts a light image of a subject into an electric video signal, and converts the electric video signal into a digital video signal, and a control method thereof.

  Conventionally, in order to print a captured image with a digital imaging device such as a digital camera, the image data is once downloaded to a computer such as a personal computer and connected to the computer using an application for printing the image. To output to the printer.

  In the above technique, a user searches for image list information and file names based on information displayed on a display by an application on a computer, and performs printing by selecting output data.

  In the prior art described above, in order to print a digital image taken by an imaging device such as a digital camera, it is necessary to pass through a computer. Therefore, a user who wants to print and view a captured image must start and operate an application for downloading a digital image stored in the imaging apparatus and an application for printing out. Also, it was possible to print out only with a printer connected to the computer.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and when transferring captured video data to an external printing apparatus, automatically recognizes the external apparatus and generates data in a format that can be interpreted by the external apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging apparatus that enables output and a control method thereof.

  In order to solve this problem, for example, the present invention has the following configuration.

An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit; a storage unit for storing video data obtained by imaging with the imaging unit; an interface for performing bidirectional communication with an external printer; and an operation unit.
A plurality of conversion means for converting the video data stored in the storage means into different transfer data;
Input means for inputting from the operation unit a print instruction for video data stored in the storage means and selection of a print condition indicating whether to print one video on one recording medium or a plurality of videos on one recording medium When,
An identification means for identifying the type of the external printer connected to the interface when a print instruction is given by the input means;
A selection unit that selects one of the plurality of conversion units according to the identification result of the identification unit;
Conversion means selected by said selection means, thus the printing condition, the carry out a conversion of the video data, and output means for outputting the converted image data to the external printer via the interface.

  According to the present invention, when transferring captured video data to an external printing apparatus, the external apparatus can be automatically recognized, and data in a format that can be interpreted by the external apparatus can be generated and output. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The present invention relates to a communication protocol management module in which a digital imaging device includes a CPU, a memory, a storage device, and an interface for communicating with a printing device, and performs identification of a connected printer and management of a protocol, storage This is realized by a configuration in which a module for creating a list of image data and a printer control code generation module operate.

  By using the above system, a search operation that has been conventionally performed on a display of a computer can be performed on paper using a printing apparatus.

  The user selects an image to be printed from the printed image list, and instructs the printer directly from the digital imaging apparatus to perform printing.

  The above embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration in an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the configuration example of the imaging and printing system of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the imaging apparatus main body 10 is an imaging system 10-a, CPU-10d, memory 10-e, user interface component group 10-i, and interface. 10-h, an internal device interface 10-j, an external device interface 10-k, and an external storage device 10-l. Each module is connected by a system bus 10-b and a local bus 10-c. Yes.

  The user interface component group 10-i includes a display unit (liquid crystal display unit) for displaying captured images and simple messages, a shutter button to be pressed when shooting, and a printing button. Various buttons such as a print button and a button for selecting a menu item displayed on the display unit are provided.

  The imaging apparatus main body 10 can communicate with the printing apparatus 11 through an external device interface 10-k. The memory 10-e includes a module 10-f that manages a communication protocol with the printing apparatus 11, a module 10-m that creates an image list of image data stored in the external storage device 10-1, and a printer control code. Generation module 10-g, a system management module 10-n for managing the entire imaging system 10, and an image list buffer 10-o are allocated.

  The printer control code generation module 10-g includes a printer type management table 20 shown in FIG. The printer type management table 20 manages printer type logical names 20-a, printer horizontal and vertical resolution capabilities 20-b, 20-c, and driver programs 20-d thereof.

  In the above configuration, by pressing a shutter button provided in the UI component group 10-i, video data captured by the imaging unit 10-a is stored as a file in the external storage device 10-1 as digital image data. The In this embodiment, when storing in the external storage device 10-1, image data obtained by photographing is compressed and stored in the JPEG format.

  On the other hand, the printing apparatus 11 includes a CPU 11-a, a memory 11-d, a printer control system 11-i, a controller 11-h, and an external device interface 11-e. They are connected by a bus 11-c. The memory 11-d has a module 11-f for managing a communication protocol with the image pickup apparatus 10, a print buffer 11-j for storing a printer control code transferred from the image pickup apparatus, and a module for interpreting the code. 11-g is assigned.

  In this embodiment, the system management module 10-n in the memory 10-e always manages messages from the imaging system 10-a, the internal device interface 10-j, the external device interface 10-k, and the user interface 10-h. is doing. In addition, the communication protocol management module 10-f manages signals input / output to / from the external device interface 10-k, that is, communication with the printing apparatus 11.

  The communication system between the imaging apparatus main body 10 and the external device 11 in the present embodiment can be configured by either wired or wireless.

  In order for the imaging apparatus body 10 and the printing apparatus 11 to communicate, it is first necessary to establish a communication path. During this time, communication is performed using a communication protocol management module 10-f in the memory 10-e on the imaging apparatus 10 side, and This is achieved by the communication protocol interpretation module 11-f in the memory 11-d on the printing apparatus 11 side. The operation and processing for generating an image list using the protocol during this period will be described with reference to FIGS.

  2 is an explanatory diagram of the above-described printer type management table, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a protocol between the imaging apparatus and the printing apparatus, and processing of both apparatuses, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a list data structure in the memory of the imaging apparatus. It is.

  When the print button in the UI component group 10-i is pressed, this process starts.

  First, both the imaging device 10 and the printing device 11 perform the negotiation P32 shown in FIG. 3 for establishing communication between both devices by the communication protocol interpretation module (10-f, 11-g), and the imaging device 10 starts direct print communication. At step S30-a, the printer control code generation module 10-g is started. Similarly, the printing apparatus 31 enters the print communication start state S31-a and starts the printer control code interpretation module 11-g.

  When the printing apparatus 11 enters the communication start state S31-a, it transmits the printer type to the imaging apparatus 10 using the communication protocol management module 11-g (P33).

  The imaging apparatus 10 receives the printer type by the communication protocol management module 10-f (S30-b), and uses the printer type management table 20 to determine a program for generating a printer control code. In this embodiment, since the three types a101, a202, and b101 are registered in the printer type management table 20 of the imaging apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2, the printer type communicated from the printing apparatus 11 is determined (S30-c, S30-). d, S30-e), and processing (S30-f, S30-g, S30-h) matching the printer type is performed. If the printer type received from the printing apparatus 31 is not registered in the printer type table 20, the printer control code generation module 10-g on the imaging apparatus 10 side is terminated (S30-k), and communication protocol management is performed. Communication with the printing apparatus is terminated by the module 10-f (S30-l). At this time, an error message is displayed on the display unit of the UI component group 10-i.

  On the other hand, in the imaging device 10, the captured images are accumulated in the external storage device 10-1. The printer control code generation module 10-g that has executed the print code generation program that matches the printer type displays a menu message inquiring in what mode the UI component group 10-i is to print, and what data Is transferred to the printing apparatus 11 or waits for data input. When the user of the imaging apparatus 10 selects list printing using the UI component 10-i, the system management module 10-n receives this image list creation message (S30-m), and proceeds to step S30-n to store the memory. The image list creation module 10-m in 10-e is activated.

  In the image list creation module 10-m, a list having a size corresponding to the resolution capability (20-b, 20-c in FIG. 2) obtained using the printer type management table 20 at the initial communication with the printing apparatus 11. In order to create an image for use, each of the image data stored in the external storage device 10-l is loaded, and the data is interpolated or thinned out to the determined image size. As shown by 40 in FIG. A list structure is generated together with the generated image width 42 and height 43, and the structure is sequentially stored in the list buffer 10-o in the memory 10-e.

  The operation processing procedure (step S30-n) of the image list creation module 10-m will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  List printing is to record a plurality of photographed images already stored in the external storage device 10-1 on a single recording sheet. For that purpose, there is a problem of how many dots each of the vertical and horizontal images are generated from the individual video data stored in the external storage device 10-1. In order to make the video size of each frame printed in the list constant regardless of the connected printer, the number of vertical and horizontal dots of the image to be generated must be determined according to the resolution of each printer.

  First, in step S41, it is determined which printer is connected with the previously selected printer control code module. Therefore, one frame of vertical and horizontal dots is selected according to the resolution of the printer. Determine the number. If the resolution of the connected printer is high, the number of vertical and horizontal dots will increase. Conversely, if output to a low resolution printer, the number of vertical and horizontal dots will decrease.

  In step S42, one video data is read from the external storage device 10-1 and decoded. In step S43, the read and decoded video data is interpolated or thinned out so that the number of vertical and horizontal dots determined previously is obtained.

  In general, a CCD used in a digital imaging device or the like has about 300,000 or 400,000 pixels at most, and video data obtained by photographing is about 640 × 480 dots. On the other hand, recent printers have a high resolution of 720 dpi or the like, and thus become very small as they are. Therefore, in reality, interpolation processing is performed rather than thinning. Since the interpolation process itself is known, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  When one frame of image data for list printing is generated in this way, data in the format shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the image list buffer 10-o.

  Then, in step S45, the processes in and after step S42 are repeated until it is determined that the generation of the list printing data for all the stored images has been completed.

  Upon receiving the image data 44 and the file name 41 from the list data generated by the image list creation module 10-m, the printer control code generation module 10-g uses the already selected program to convert the image data and file name to the printer. Is converted into a code that can be interpreted (S30-o).

  The printing apparatus 11 receives the print code from the imaging apparatus 10 through the communication protocol management module 11-f (S31-c). The code received at this time is temporarily stored in the print buffer 11-j in the memory 11-d through the external device interface 11-e. The printing apparatus 11 loads the stored code into the CPU 11-a to interpret the code (S31-d), and performs printing (S31-e) by the printer controller 11-h and the printer control system 11-i. When finished, the printing module is terminated (S31-f). Then, the communication protocol management module 11-f on the printing apparatus 11 side detects that there is no transmission from the imaging apparatus 10 due to timeout (S31-g), and ends the communication (S31-h).

  If no image list creation message is received in step S30-m and an image file is directly selected (S30-i), the imaging apparatus 10 generates a print code using the selected program and sends it to the printing apparatus 11. On the other hand, the print code is transmitted by the protocol P34.

  The process of step S30-m will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S51, the variable i is initialized with “1”. Next, the i-th photographed video is read from the external storage device 10-1, thinned out appropriately, and displayed on the display unit provided in the UI component group 10-i.

  The operator sees this captured image and operates various buttons provided in the UI component group 10-i to perform either printing or frame advance or frame return operation. .

  If a frame advance instruction is received, the process proceeds from step S53 to step S54, the variable i is incremented by “1”, and the process returns to step S52. As a result, the next frame (captured video) is displayed on the display unit.

  On the other hand, if there is a frame return instruction, the process proceeds from step S55 to step S54, the variable i is decremented by "1", and the process returns to step S52.

  As described above, when the operator finds a video to be printed, a print instruction is issued. In this case, the process proceeds from step S57 to step S58, and the i-th video selected at that time is to be printed with a certain size (larger than the size of one frame when the list is printed). The number of vertical and horizontal dots is determined according to the resolution of the printer connected at that time. Next, the process proceeds to step S59, where interpolation processing is performed so that the number of vertical and horizontal dots is the same, the video data generated in step S60 is stored in the image list buffer 10-o, and the present process ends.

  In the image list printing process described above, a plurality of captured video data is stored in the buffer 10-o. However, in the case of printing only one frame, one print data is stored in the buffer 10-o. .

  In the above description, the video to be printed is displayed each time. However, if the list is printed before that, the file name for each frame is also printed. May be displayed. In this case, in the flowchart of FIG. 7, instead of displaying one frame of video in step S52, the i-th file name stored in the external storage device 10-1 may be displayed. As a result, the display unit only needs to be able to display several characters, so that the cost can be reduced.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of a printed list image.

<Second Embodiment>
In the system of the embodiment, after receiving the list creation message from the user, the list is created based on the image data. Also good. In such an embodiment system, when the system receives a list creation message, it is realized by searching the list data and generating print data.

<Third Embodiment>
In the above system, after receiving a list message from the user, the list is sequentially created based on the image data. However, an embodiment in which the once created list table data is saved as a file is also possible. In such a case, the system is realized by directly specifying the list data.

  As described above, according to the first to third embodiments, the digital imaging device can directly connect and control the printing device to print the captured image. In addition, since it is possible to provide a search means similar to the print environment using a computer, it is possible to realize a shooting, search, and print environment that takes advantage of portability, which is a characteristic unique to the imaging apparatus.

<Fourth Embodiment>
In the first to third embodiments described above, the video captured by the imaging apparatus is output to an externally connected printer. However, the present invention is not limited to the printer.

  In the fourth embodiment, an example will be described in which output can be made to either a printer device or a facsimile device as an external device. That is, when a printer device is connected, printing is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and if it is a facsimile device, facsimile transmission is performed.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the camera of the fourth embodiment.

  In FIG. 8, a subject imaging unit 111, a data holding unit 112, a communication unit 113, and a CPU 116 are connected to each other via a bus 114. The CPU 16 has a format conversion unit 115 and a format selection unit 117 inside, and performs format conversion of image data. A command input unit 118 is connected to the CPU 116 and receives various commands from the camera user and passes them to the CPU 116.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an external device (printer or facsimile apparatus) as an image processing apparatus that receives image data from the camera. In FIG. 9, in addition to the original function 22 of the external device, a device information holding unit 23 for holding device information (including format information) to be described later relating to the external device is added. The communication unit 24 is a function originally possessed by the external device, but is also used for transmitting device information. The CPU 25 is originally held by an external device.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the camera. The flow of processing will be described assuming that the image data captured by the imaging unit 111 is stored in the data storage unit 112 (for example, a memory card or a hard disk).

  In step S1, it is determined whether there is a data transmission request from the command input unit 118 from the user of the camera. A data transmission command from the user is input from the command input unit 118 and sent to the CPU 116. If a data transmission command is input from the user, the process proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2, communication is performed with the connected external device, and device information is acquired from the external device. The CPU 116 transmits a device information transmission request to the external device through the bus 114 and the communication unit 113. The CPU 125 of the external device that has received the device information transmission request from the camera via the communication unit 124 reads out its own device information and format information from the device information holding unit 123 and transmits it to the camera through the communication unit 124. The apparatus information includes the type of apparatus such as a printer or a facsimile as shown in FIG. 11, and image format information such as a page description language, an image data format standard name, and a facsimile communication standard name.

  FIG. 11 shows the case where the external apparatus is a printer, and when the apparatus is a facsimile apparatus, information as shown in FIG. 12 is transmitted.

  That is, it is composed of information indicating whether the apparatus is a printer or a facsimile apparatus, a model name thereof, and information indicating a data format for communication.

  In the case of FIG. 11, the data to be transmitted indicates that it is necessary to transfer the data described in the page description language of lipsIII or lipsIV, and in the case of FIG. 12, the data is in the MH and MR coding formats. Indicates that it is necessary to transfer.

  In step S3, the apparatus information acquired in step S2 is read into the format selection unit 117 via the bus 114, and the format of image data to be transmitted is determined. If the external device can process a plurality of formats in the device information obtained in step S2, a plurality of format names are described, and the most suitable format is selected from them. The user selects one of the “image quality” and “transfer speed” in advance as a format selection criterion. If there is only one format name in the device information, that format is adopted. In step S3, if the external device is a printer, it is determined that it should be converted into a printer description language that can be processed by the printer. If the external device is a facsimile, it is determined that it should be converted into data that can be processed by facsimile. Will be.

  In step S4, the image data is converted into the format determined in step S3. The original image data held in the data holding unit 112 is read into the format conversion unit 115 via the bus 114 and converted into a target format. In this embodiment, the format conversion is performed by software using the CPU 116. However, the format conversion unit 115 can be configured by hardware, and the format conversion can be performed by hardware.

  In step S5, the image data subjected to the format conversion in step S4 is sent to the communication unit 113 through the bus 114, and is transmitted to the external device through the communication unit 113. When the transmission is completed, the communication unit 113 reports the completion of transmission to the CPU 116. Receiving the report, the CPU 116 displays on the display panel (not shown) that the transmission has been completed.

  In the above embodiment, a passive device such as a printer or a facsimile is used as an example of an external device to which image data is transmitted. However, image format determination is performed based on acquisition of device information from the external device. By using an active device such as a PC as an external device and using a desired format for device information sent from the PC to the camera, the image data in the specified format can be used. To the PC. As a result, the user can obtain the image data captured by the camera in the desired image format without being conscious of the image data format of the camera.

  When the external apparatus 121 is a facsimile apparatus, it is necessary to make a call to a destination to be transmitted.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the external device 121, which is a facsimile machine, makes a call to a partner and transfers the call to the external device 121 after the connection is established. Of course, if the facsimile apparatus is provided with an external storage device such as a hard disk device, it may be transferred in advance and then called.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the format of the image data can be automatically converted according to the image data captured by the camera in accordance with the external device. Therefore, it is necessary to perform the format conversion using a PC or the like. Disappears. In addition, since an image format that can be processed by the external device is automatically selected, the user need not be aware of the image format.

  Also, according to the fourth embodiment, image data in a format that can be processed by the camera can be sent to the camera.

<Fifth Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 13, reference numeral 210 denotes an imaging device, 220 denotes a printing device that prints video data imaged and processed by the imaging device 210, and 230 denotes a transmission path that connects the imaging device 10 and the printing device 20.

  In the imaging apparatus 210, 211 is an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject, 212 is a camera signal processing unit that processes a video signal captured by the imaging unit 211 and outputs video data, and 213 stores the video data and will be described later. A memory 214 for storing model data, a CPU 214 converts the video data in the memory 213 into a format indicated by the model data, generates and outputs printing data in a format that can be printed by the printing apparatus 220, and controls the whole The image processing unit 215 includes an input unit that performs an operation of selecting and specifying model data to the image processing unit 214, 216 a display unit that displays necessary data, and 217 the transmission data 230. Is the interface to send to.

  In the printing apparatus 220, reference numeral 221 denotes an interface that receives the print data through the transmission path 230, and 222 denotes a printing unit that prints the print data on a sheet.

  The template data is format data for printing photographed video data, and is composed of an output position of the photographed video and other modification information.

  FIG. 17 shows a display example using template data. In the figure, 300 and 301 are decoration information, 300 is character string data, and 301 is line figure data. Reference numeral 302 denotes data indicating an area indicating the insertion position of the photographed video, and a broken line indicating the boundary is not actually printed.

  The model data in the memory 213 stores data representing the above format. The model data area in the memory 213 has a structure as shown in FIG. 18, for example.

  In the embodiment, since a plurality of template data is stored, it is necessary to uniquely identify each of the template data. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the model data is composed of the model number and model format data.

  As shown in the figure, the format data is provided with delimiters 310 to 312 for each different data form, and by checking this delimiter, the format of data after that can be determined. For example, in the case of the delimiter 310 indicating character string data, the output position, font name, and actual character string (one or more character codes) follow. The line figure data is data for forming the line figure 301 of FIG.

  In addition to the template data registered in the memory 213 in advance, the template data can be created by, for example, a personal computer and downloaded to the memory 213 for registration.

  In this case, an application for creating template data is operated on a personal computer. Then, the personal computer is connected via the interface 217, and the model data received via the interface is registered in the memory 213.

  The template creation application that operates on the personal computer simply determines the character string input, line drawing, and the pasted area of the captured video, creates the data in the format shown in FIG. As long as it has a transfer function, the contents of the download process will be described with reference to FIG.

  This process is started by operating a download switch provided in the input unit 215.

  First, in step 61, the model number sent from the personal computer is received. In step 62, it is determined whether or not the model data corresponding to the model number is already registered in the memory 213. If it is determined that it has already been registered, the process proceeds to step 63, where the data is deleted, and in step 64, the template data is received. In step 65, the received template data is registered in the template data area of the memory 213.

  Next, a printing process using the template data will be described.

  The template data stored in the memory 213 is composed of data indicating the coordinates of the area in which the video data is embedded in the print data, as described above, and data such as characters and lines other than the captured video. . In this case, it is assumed that the video data embedded in the print data is equal to or similar to the original video data. The memory 213 stores a plurality of types of such template data.

  Next, actual processing will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  The video data and model data stored in the memory 213 are provided with a video data specifier and video data specifier as identification information, respectively, and when the user selects each data, the specifier is stored in the storage area of the memory 213. As a result, the CPU of the image processing unit 214 can know which data is designated when a print command is input. Hereinafter, these specifiers are called a model data number and a video data number, respectively.

  First, the user selects a template for printing using the input unit 215. At this time, the CPU stores the model number corresponding to the model selected in step S21 in FIG. 14 in a predetermined storage area of the memory 213. Similarly, when video data is designated by the input unit 215, the video data number is stored in the corresponding storage area in step S22 of FIG. These operations may be performed any number of times before printing is actually performed. If necessary, the input unit 215 can check the template data, the contents of the video data, and the like using the display unit 216 or the like.

  When printing is designated from the input unit 215, the CPU reads out the template data number and video data number designated by the user stored in the storage area at that time. Next, the image processing unit 214 extracts the template data number and the video data corresponding to the model data number and the video data number from the memory 213, and creates printing data in a format that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus 220 using the model data. To do. In the print data creation process, an image is once created in the print output buffer area (not shown) of the memory 213 by line-by-line from the top to the bottom. Therefore, for each line, it is necessary to determine whether the image developed at the corresponding position in the line is a character or line drawing specified by the template data or the captured video data.

  The print data creation procedure compares the video embedding area data indicated by the template data specified in step S23 with the location where the print data is currently generated, and determines whether the area is where the video data is to be embedded. . When it is determined that the area where data is currently generated is an area where video should be embedded, the process proceeds to step S24, where the video data is converted into the above format and developed as print data. At this time, if the embedding area shown in the video data embedding area included in the template data is different from the size of the video data, the video data is reduced and enlarged and developed as print data.

  If it is determined in step S23 that the image data is not inserted, the process proceeds to step S25, and data such as characters and lines included in the template data is developed into print data. These processes are repeated until it is determined in step S26 that all the data has been developed. When the development of all the data is completed, the process proceeds to step S 27, and the print data is sent to the printing apparatus 220 through the interface 217, the transmission path 230, and the interface 221 and printed by the printing unit 222.

  Note that the protocol used when actually transferring to the printing apparatus 220 is selected according to the function of the printing apparatus connected at that time. Since this is the same as in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted.

  In the above embodiment, the size of the video embedded in the print data is equal to or similar to the original video data, but the shape and size of the video data to be printed can be arbitrarily changed. Can do.

  In this case, when printing is designated, the shape of the video area is calculated from the information of the video data embedding area of the template data stored in the storage area, and the print video displayed on the display unit 216 is displayed. A frame of the shape to be printed is displayed on the data. The user changes the size and position of the frame with the input unit 215 and instructs printing. By developing the video data of the area selected at that time in the same manner as in the above embodiment, the shape of the video can be made arbitrary.

  In the above embodiment, predetermined template data is prepared on the imaging device. However, an interface for connecting the computer to the imaging device is provided, and the template data is created on the computer and created through the interface. The model data may be transferred to the imaging device. This can eliminate the limitation of the type of model.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, after all the printing data has been developed, the data is transferred to the printing apparatus 220. However, all the data cannot be processed at once due to limitations of the imaging apparatus 210 and the printing apparatus 220. In this case, the transfer to the printing apparatus 220 can be performed for each amount of data that can be processed, and the expansion and transfer can be repeated a plurality of times.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, by providing the template data indicating the format to be printed on the imaging device, the video data can be directly transferred to the printing device, and not only the video data but also the template data. For example, it can be printed in a form including characters, lines, and the like.

  In addition, by making it possible to receive template data created by an external computer or the like, video data can be printed in a format with a greater degree of freedom.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to print a captured image by connecting and controlling a printing apparatus directly to the digital imaging apparatus. In addition, since it is possible to provide a search unit similar to the printing environment using a computer, it is possible to realize a shooting, searching, and printing environment that takes advantage of portability, which is a characteristic unique to the imaging apparatus.

  In addition, since the format of the image data can be automatically converted according to the external device for the image data captured by the imaging apparatus, it is not necessary to perform format conversion using a PC or the like. In addition, since an image format that can be processed by the external device is automatically selected, the user need not be aware of the image format.

  In addition, by providing template data indicating the format to be printed on the imaging device, the video data can be directly transferred to the printing device, and not only the video data but also a format including characters, lines, etc. included in the template data. Can be output.

It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration example in one Embodiment of this invention. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a printer type management table managed by the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a protocol between the imaging apparatus and the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment and a processing flow in both apparatuses. It is explanatory drawing of the data structure for lists in the imaging device memory of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of the list image printed by 1st Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a list print data creation processing procedure according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a print data creation processing procedure of one captured video in the first embodiment. It is a block diagram of the camera of a 4th embodiment. It is a block diagram of the external apparatus of 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of 4th Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the apparatus information exchanged between the camera of 4th Embodiment and an external device. It is a figure which shows the other example of the apparatus information exchanged between a camera and an external apparatus. It is a block diagram of a 5th embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process which records a model data number and a video data number in 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process which records a model data number and a video data number in 5th Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating print processing according to a fifth embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of model data in 5th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the format of the template data in 5th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the download process of model data.

Claims (2)

An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit; a storage unit for storing video data obtained by imaging with the imaging unit; an interface for performing bidirectional communication with an external printer; and an operation unit.
A plurality of conversion means for converting the video data stored in the storage means into different transfer data;
Input means for inputting from the operation unit a print instruction for video data stored in the storage means and selection of a print condition indicating whether to print one video on one recording medium or a plurality of videos on one recording medium When,
An identification means for identifying the type of the external printer connected to the interface when a print instruction is given by the input means;
A selection unit that selects one of the plurality of conversion units according to the identification result of the identification unit;
Conversion means selected by said selecting means, and output means said therefore to the print condition, to perform the conversion of the image data, and outputting the converted image data to the external printer via the interface,
An imaging apparatus comprising: An imaging apparatus control method comprising: an imaging means; a storage means for storing video data obtained by imaging with the imaging means; an interface for bidirectional communication with an external printer; and an operation unit.
A plurality of conversion steps for converting the video data stored in the storage means into different transfer data;
Input step of inputting from the operation unit a print instruction for video data stored in the storage means and selection of print conditions indicating whether one video is recorded on one recording medium or a plurality of videos is recorded on one recording medium. When,
An identification step for identifying the type of external printer connected to the interface when there is a print instruction in the input step;
In accordance with the identification result in the identification step, a selection step for selecting any of the plurality of conversion steps;
A conversion step selected in said selection step, hence to the printing condition, the carry out the conversion of the video data, further comprising an output step of outputting the converted image data to the external printer via the interface A control method for an imaging apparatus.

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