Method and apparatus for ordering photographic prints and printing apparatus for producing the same
AssigneeFuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
InventorHiroshi Tanaka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A digital camera loaded with a removable memory card storing image files and a print order file, in a wireless mode, sends the files to a computer via a handy phone set, and prepares a directory information file in which the files are virtually positioned in a preselected layer, so that the directory structure of the memory card can be reconstructed. The camera then accesses the handy phone set to send the files to the computer. The computer reconstructs the original directory structure and file names based on the directory information file and then prints out the image data of the image files in accordance with the print order file. The computer produces prints in the same manner as when directly reading the image data from the memory card.
Claims22
A print ordering method for causing, via a communicating device, a printing device to print images represented by image data stored in an original directory structure of a data recording medium, said data recording medium storing said image data and order information for causing said printing device to print desired image data, said print ordering method comprising:
- selecting image files designated by the order information;
- informing the communicating device of a virtual directory structure comprising the image files selected and the order information;
- and
- sending structure information for allowing the original directory structure to be reconstructed from the virtual directory structure to said communicating device together with the order information and the image data selected.
A print ordering apparatus for causing, via a communicating apparatus, a printing apparatus to print images represented by image data stored in an original directory structure of a data recording medium, said data recording medium storing said image data and order information for causing said printing apparatus to print desired image data, said print ordering apparatus comprising:
- a section configured to select image files designated by the order information;
- a section configured to inform the communicating apparatus of a virtual directory structure comprising the image files selected and the order information;
- and
- a section configured to send structure information for allowing the original directory structure to be reconstructed from the virtual directory structure to said communicating apparatus together with the order information said the image data selected.
A print ordering system comprising:
- a print ordering apparatus for ordering prints of images represented by image data stored in a data storing medium, which stores said image data in an original directory structure of a plurality of directories and order information for causing desired image data to be printed;
- a communicating apparatus;
- and
- a printing apparatus for producing prints of the desired image data in accordance with the order information received from said print ordering apparatus via said communicating apparatus,
- said print ordering apparatus comprising:
- a section configured to select image files designated by the order information;
- a section configured to inform the communicating apparatus of a virtual directory structure, which includes the image files selected and the order information, by converting a first file name of the image data to a second file name and positioning the image data designated by said second file name in a preselected layer in said virtual directory structure;
- and
- a section configured to send to said communicating apparatus the order information, the image data selected and structure information that describes said first file name and said second file name in a pair for allowing the original directory structure to be reconstructed based on the virtual directory structure,
- said printing apparatus comprising:
- a section configured to receive the image data, the order information and the structure information sent from said communicating apparatus;
- a section configured to reconstruct the original directory structure existing in said recording medium based on a description of the pair;
- and
- a section configured to produce prints of the image data designated by the order information.
A printing apparatus for receiving images represented by image data stored in an original directory structure of a data storing medium via communicating apparatus and printing said image, said printing apparatus comprising:
- a section configured to receive via the communicating apparatus the image data and order information, which causes desired image data and order information, which causes desired image data to be printed, in a virtual directory structure virtually indicating a directory construction of said image data and said order information;
- a section configured to receive structure information for reconstructing the original structure from said virtual directory structure;
- a section configured to reconstruct, based on the structure information, a directory structure of the image data and said structure information, in the data storing medium;
- and
- a section configured to print out the image data, which have the directory structure reconstructed, in accordance with the order information.
A method for communicating an image and an image directory for the image residing in a hierarchical physical original directory of a digital camera, said method comprising:
- creating a print directory;
- creating a directory file in the print directory;
- adding a set of directory information corresponding to the digital picture's location in the hierarchical physical original directory to the directory file;
- renaming the image;
- adding the image to the print directory;
- and
- communicating the print directory to a server.
A print ordering system for enabling print ordering for prints stored in a hierarchical physical original directory, said print ordering system comprising:
- a print directory;
- a directory file located in the print directory;
- an image file;
- a set of directory information in the print directory, said directory information identifying an initial location in the hierarchical physical original directory for an image file located in the print directory;
- and
- a processor configured to cause the image file to be moved between the hierarchical physical original directory and the print directory.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.