Printing method, broadcast data generation device, reception device and printing device

A broadcast data generation device that generates broadcast data including image data that can be printed comprising:

• a image data generating unit operable to generate image data;
• a print control information generation unit operable to generate print control information that is information to control printing of the generated image data;
• and
• a conversion unit operable to associate the generated image data with the print control information and to convert the image data and the print control information into the broadcast data.

A program for a broadcast data generation device that generates broadcast data including image data that can be printed, the program including:

• a image data generating step for generating image data;
• a print control information generation step for generating print control information that is information to control printing of the generated image data;
• and
• a conversion step for associating the generated image data with the print control information and for converting the image data and the print control information into the broadcast data.

A reception device that receives image data distributed from outside and outputs the image data to a printing device comprising:

• a image data acquisition unit operable to acquire first image data of a first image quality standard;
• a degradation unit operable to convert the first image data into a second image data of a second image quality standard that is inferior to the first image quality standard;
• and
• an output unit operable to output the converted second image data to the printing device.

A program for a reception device that receives image data distributed from outside and outputs the image data to a printing device, the program including:

• a image data acquisition step for acquiring first image data of a first image quality standard;
• a degradation step for converting the acquired first image data into a second image data of a second image quality standard that is inferior to the first image quality standard;
• and
• an output step for outputting the converted second image data to the printing device.

A printing device that prints image data transferred from an external device comprising:

• a image data acquisition unit operable to acquire first image data of a first image quality standard transferred from the external device;
• a degradation unit operable to convert the acquired first image data into a second image data of a second image quality standard that is inferior to the first image quality standard;
• and
• a print unit operable to print the converted second image data.

A program for a printing device that prints image data transferred from an external device, the program including:

• a image data acquisition step for acquiring first image data of a first image quality standard transferred from the external device;
• a degradation step for converting the converted first image data into a second image data of a second image quality standard that is inferior to the first image quality standard;
• and
• a print step for printing the converted second image data.