Image output device, image processing apparatus, image output and image processing system, and method therefore

Abstract

A digital camera transmits to a printer a command for transmitting RAW format compatibility information which is information of a RAW file format directly printable by the printer. Upon receipt of the RAW format compatibility information from the printer, the digital camera determines, on the basis of the received RAW format compatibility information and the format of a RAW file stored in a flash memory thereof, whether the RAW file can be directly printed by the printer. If the RAW file can be directly printed, the digital camera transmits the RAW file to the printer. If the RAW file cannot be directly printed, the digital camera transmits to the printer the RAW file and a development enabling parameter which enables analysis of RAW data included in the RAW file as image data. The printer prints the RAW file with the use of the development enabling parameter.

1 . An image output device connected to an image processing apparatus to exchange information therewith, the image output device comprising:
 a first acquisition unit for acquiring RAW data which is undeveloped image data stored in a first storage unit;   a first transmission unit capable of transmitting information;   a first reception unit capable of receiving information;   a display unit capable of displaying an image; and   a first control unit that causes the first transmission unit to transmit to the image processing apparatus a confirmation command for confirming compatibility information including information relating to RAW data processable by the image processing apparatus, that, when the first reception unit receives from the image processing apparatus a response result to the confirmation command, determines on the basis of the received response result whether the image processing apparatus can process the RAW data, and that causes the first transmission unit to transmit the RAW data to the image processing apparatus, when it is determined that the image processing apparatus can process the RAW data;   wherein, on the basis of the received response result and information relating to the RAW data, the first control unit determines whether the image processing apparatus can process the RAW data, and if it is determined that the image processing apparatus cannot process the RAW data, the first control unit causes the display unit to display the RAW data in a different pattern from the pattern of the data determined to be processable by the image processing apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The image output device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first acquisition unit further acquires analysis enabling information used to analyze the content of the RAW data, the analysis enabling information including at least one of a color filter arrangement which is information of an arrangement of color filters, a RAW recording format which is information of a recording format of the RAW data, a RAW compression method which is information relating to a compression method of data included in the RAW data, a RAW image size which is information of an image size of the RAW data, crop information which is information of print start coordinates and print end coordinates, and a white/black level which is information relating to a shift of numerical values of white and black; and   wherein the first control unit determines on the basis of the received response result whether the image processing apparatus can process the RAW data without the analysis enabling information, and if it is determined that the image processing apparatus cannot process the RAW data, the first control unit causes the display unit to display the RAW data in a pattern that the RAW data cannot directly be processed.   
     
     
         3 . The image output device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first control unit determines whether the image data generated from the RAW data is present, when the first control unit determines that the image processing apparatus cannot process the RAW data, and causes the display unit to display the RAW data in a pattern that the image processing apparatus cannot be performed when the image data generated from the RAW data is not present. 
     
     
         4 . The image output device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein, when the first reception unit receives from the image processing apparatus the compatibility information, which is stored as a type of the RAW data processable by the image processing apparatus, the first control unit determines, on the basis of the received compatibility information and information relating to the format of the RAW data acquired by the first acquisition unit, whether the image processing apparatus can process the RAW data.   
     
     
         5 . The image output device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first control unit causes the first transmission unit to transmit to the image processing apparatus the confirmation command including information relating to the RAW data acquired by the first acquisition unit, and   when the first reception unit receives from the image processing apparatus processing availability information, which includes information relating to RAW data processable by the image processing apparatus out of the RAW data acquired by the first acquisition unit, as the response result to the confirmation command, the first control unit determines whether the image processing apparatus can process the RAW data, on the basis of the processable RAW data based on the received processing availability information and the information relating to the RAW data acquired by the first acquisition unit.   
     
     
         6 . The image output device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display unit capable of displaying an image,   wherein the first control unit causes the display unit to display the RAW data determined to be processable by the image processing apparatus, in a pattern that a user can perform an operation of inputting a processing command which is a command for having the RAW data processed by the image processing apparatus.   
     
     
         7 . The image output device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first acquisition unit further acquires analysis enabling information used to analyze the content of the RAW data, the analysis enabling information including at least one of a color filter arrangement which is information of an arrangement of color filters, a RAW recording format which is information of a recording format of the RAW data, a RAW compression method which is information relating to a compression method of data included in the RAW data, a RAW image size which is information of an image size of the RAW data, crop information which is information of print start coordinates and print end coordinates, and a white/black level which is information relating to a shift of numerical values of white and black; and   wherein the first control unit determines on the basis of the received response result whether the image processing apparatus can process the RAW data without the analysis enabling information, and causes the first transmission unit to transmit the analysis enabling information to the image processing apparatus, when it is determined that the image processing apparatus cannot process the RAW data without the analysis enabling information.   
     
     
         8 . An image output method having a display unit capable of displaying an image and using an image output device connected to an image processing apparatus to exchange information therewith, the image output method comprising:
 (a) a step of acquiring RAW data which is undeveloped image data stored in a first storage unit;   (b) a step of transmitting to the image processing apparatus a confirmation command for confirming compatibility information including information relating to RAW data processable by the image processing apparatus;   (c) a step of determining, when a response result to the confirmation command is received from the image processing apparatus after the step (b), whether the image processing apparatus can process the RAW data, on the basis of the received response result;   (d) a step of transmitting the RAW data to the image processing apparatus, when it is determined at the step (c) that the image processing apparatus can process the RAW data; and   (e) a step of determining whether the image processing apparatus can process the RAW data, on the basis of a received response result at the step (c) and information relating to the RAW data, and   causing the display unit to display the RAW data in a different pattern from the pattern of the data determined to be processable by the image processing apparatus if it is determined that the image processing apparatus cannot process the RAW data.