Photography – Having wireless remote control circuit – Camera system data/mode entry
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-02
2004-08-03
Mahoney, Christopher (Department: 2851)
Photography
Having wireless remote control circuit
Camera system data/mode entry
C396S279000, C396S310000, C348S207200, C348S211200, C348S231200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06771896
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic camera and a printing system, and more specifically, to a camera capable of preparing print information of digital image information obtained through photographing, and a printing system suitable for printing of image information.
There has recently been conducted printing wherein a print is made by a color printer from digital image information obtained by using an electronic camera for photographing.
There has also been proposed a service wherein prints with high image quality are made by processing or printing, using an expensive equipment, based on the digital image information.
In consideration of the time required for preparing contents of the order in the store and confusion generated there, it has also been proposed that digital image information obtained through photographing is inputted and processed in a computer to prepare the order information in advance, and this order information is transferred to a recording medium which permits installation and removal (PC card, various memory cards and others) to be used for order receiving for prints.
However, when digital image information recorded on the recording medium that permits installation and removal is accepted on an order receiving apparatus, order receiving is repeated many times. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the recording medium or a contact of the order receiving apparatus is worn away to make accurate order receiving impossible.
When ordering prints, using the recording medium as that stated above, a user can not confirm whether the order has been correctly placed or not, which is a problem.
Therefore, it sometimes happens that a user is told to order again due to troubles in the ordering, when the user visits a store to get prints.
Further, there is no means with which a user confirms in the case of order placing how long has he or she wait until completion of prints or when prints have been completed, which has been a problem.
Further, as another embodiment of a printing system, there is considered a home printing system wherein image data obtained by an electronic camera through photographing in the user's house are inputted in a personal computer through a cord connected directly or through a recording medium such as a memory card, for example, then a print style is determined, and then a print is made by a printer connected to the personal computer. In this case, for printing image data obtained by an electronic camera through photographing, a personal computer and a printer are necessary in addition to the electronic camera. As a printer, there is available a printer which has a display function and a control function both are of a simple type and is relatively inexpensive. However, a personal computer is expensive. Therefore, it is a severe burden for a user of an electronic camera who has no personal computer to be forced to buy the personal computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an electronic camera and a printing system capable of inputting image data into a printer without dismounting a recording medium in which image data are recorded from the electronic camera.
An object is to provide a printing system requiring no personal computer.
An object is to provide a printing system capable of preparing order information simply, capable of receiving order accurately and capable of making a user to confirm the state of order receiving.
An object is to provide a printing system capable of making a user to confirm the waiting time up to completion of prints.
An object is to provide a printing system capable of making a user to confirm how internal power supply of an electronic camera lasts for the waiting time up to completion of prints.
Objects stated above can be attained by the following structure.
1. A camera having therein the following structure:
an image pickup means which receives optical images concerning a subject, then converts them into electric signals, and prepares image information;
a print information preparing means which prepares print information used for printing the image information stated above; and
a transmitting means which transmits after making the image information and the print information both stated above to be corresponded each other.
Due to Structure 1, when an electronic camera itself has a function to prepare information needed for printing images and further a transmitting means which makes image information and print information to be corresponded each other to transmit, it is possible to transmit a command for forming images to the printing system, and thereby to form desired images, without dismounting a recording medium in which image data are recorded from the electronic camera and without using another personal computer.
2. The camera further having the following structure:
a receiving means which receives image forming apparatus information representing the state of an image forming apparatus which receives the image information and print information both stated above; and
a display means which displays print information prepared and information received.
Due to Structure 2, when the state of print order receiving or the waiting time up to completion of prints, for example, is received and displayed as image forming apparatus information, a user can confirm the waiting time up to completion of prints.
3. An image forming apparatus having therein the following structure:
a receiving means which receives image information and print information used for printing, the receiving means being capable of receiving transmitting apparatus information concerning the apparatus to which the image information is transmitted;
an image forming means for forming images based on the image information and the print information; and
a control means for controlling the aforesaid image forming means based on the transmitting apparatus information.
Due to Structure 3, when information about the state of an electronic camera is received as transmitting apparatus information, it is possible to know the state of the electronic camera on the part of the printing system, and to prevent communication troubles caused by dead batteries of the electronic camera.
4. An image forming apparatus having therein the following structure:
a receiving means which receives image information and print information used for printing;
an order receiving information preparing means which prepares order receiving information based on the image information and the print information;
an image forming means for forming images based on the image information and the print information; and
a transmitting means which transmits the aforesaid order receiving information.
Due to Structure 4, when the state of order receiving or the waiting time up to completion of prints is outputted as the order receiving information, it is possible for a user to confirm these pieces of information. It is further possible to determine easily how the power supply lasts, from the waiting time up to completion of prints and residual life of the battery of the electronic camera.
The aforesaid objects of the invention can also be attained by the following preferable structures.
5. A printing system equipped with an electronic camera which prepares digital image information and with a printing apparatus which receives order information from the electronic camera to conduct printing, wherein the electronic camera to conduct printing, wherein the electronic camera is equipped with a print information providing means which generates order information by providing print information corresponded to the digital image information and with a transmitting-receiving means which conducts transmission and receiving of data, while the printing apparatus is equipped with a receiving means which receives order information from the electronic camera, a printing means which makes prints based on the received order information, a display means which displays information, and a control means which generates order receiving
Hayashida Takaichi
Kimizuka Keita
Nemoto Chie
Shoji Madoka
Tamura Tomoaki
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Konica Corporation
Mahoney Christopher
LandOfFree
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