JP5115157B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention has storage means capable of storing data, generates a file list for managing file information relating to image files stored in an external storage medium in the storage means, and generates an image file based on the file list. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that executes processing relating to formation.

  Conventionally, in a printer, an external storage medium such as a memory card can be connected, and an image is formed using an image file stored in the external storage medium.

  In such a printer, when it is detected that an external storage medium is connected, a file list including file information such as a file name and a file creation date is created for the image file stored in the external storage medium. Are stored in a memory in the printer (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the file list, for example, file information is arranged in accordance with the order (ascending order or descending order) of ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) codes of image file names and stored in the memory.

  In the printer, for example, a storage area is provided in the memory in which a file list for storing file information of up to 999 image files can be continuously stored during operation of the printer.

  The printer recognizes an image file using a file list and performs various processes related to the image forming process.

JP 2007-125802 A

  In recent years, the storage capacity of external storage media has increased, and the number of image files that can be stored in external storage media has increased. For this reason, some external storage media can store, for example, 999 or more image files.

  In a conventional printer, for example, when there are 999 or more image files, a file list including file information of up to 999 image files from the image file read at the head is created and stored in the memory. It is like that. For this reason, file information for image files after 999 is not stored in the file list.

  The printer uses the file list to perform various processes related to the image forming process, for example, to display the image file to be imaged and allow the user to select it. Therefore, an image file that does not contain file information in the file list With respect to the above, there arises a problem that the user cannot select and image formation or the like cannot be performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that enables an image file stored in an external storage medium to be appropriately used for various processes in an image forming apparatus.

  To achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention has storage means capable of storing data, and manages file information related to image files stored in an external storage medium in the storage means. An image forming apparatus that generates a file list to be executed and executes processing related to image formation of the image file based on the file list, wherein the storage means includes a file name and a path corresponding to the first or less image file A first file tree indicating a hierarchical structure of names; a first file list for managing first file information including a first pointer in the first file tree of file names for the image files within the first number; And a hierarchy of file names and path names corresponding to more image files than the first number. A second file tree indicating a structure and a second file list for managing second file information including a second pointer in the second file tree of file names for the image files greater than the first number. First file information acquisition means for acquiring third file information including file names and path names of more than the first number of image files from the external storage medium. The first file tree generation means for generating the second file tree in the second storage area based on the path name and the file name, and the file name and path name in the third file information corresponding to the file name and path name. Generating the second file information by replacing the file name of the image file with the second pointer in the second file tree; First file list storage means for storing the second file list including two file information in the second storage area; reception means for receiving selection of the image file within the first number from a user; and the received image First file name pointer acquisition means for acquiring the second pointer in the second file tree of the file name corresponding to the file, and the second file information associated with the acquired second pointer in the second file list A second file information acquisition unit that acquires the path name and file name from the second file tree based on the second pointer, and the acquired path name and file name acquisition unit. Second file tree generation means for generating a first file tree in the first storage area based on a file name; Generating the first file information by replacing the second pointer of the second file information with the first pointer in the first file tree of the file name of the corresponding image file, and including the first file information Second file list storage means for storing the first file list in the first storage area.

  The image forming apparatus may further include a deleting unit that deletes the second file tree and the second file list. Further, in the image forming apparatus, the first file tree generation unit arranges the path name and the file name in the order of the ASCII code in each hierarchy of the second file tree, and acquires the first file name pointer. The means may obtain the second pointer in the second file tree in accordance with the order of the ASCII code of the path name and the file name.

  The image forming apparatus further includes a display unit configured to display a plurality of image file sets including a plurality of image files within the first number based on the second file tree and the second file list, and the receiving unit Alternatively, an image file set may be selected from the plurality of displayed image file sets to accept selection of an image file belonging to the image file set.

  In the image forming apparatus, a sequential path name / file name acquisition unit that sequentially acquires a file name and a path name of an image file stored in the external storage medium, and a file name by the sequential path name / file name acquisition unit And a determination means for determining whether or not the number of image files from which path names have been acquired exceeds the first number, and the first file tree based on the path names and the file names until it is determined that the number exceeds the first number. And third file information for acquiring the third file information from the image file corresponding to the path name and the file name until it is determined to exceed the third file tree generation means for generating the file name in the first storage area The acquisition unit and the file name and path name in the third file information until the determination is made that the number exceeds the corresponding image file A third file list that generates the first file information replaced with the first pointer in the first file tree of a file name and stores the first file list including the first file information in the first storage area Storage means, and when it is determined that the number exceeds, the first file information acquisition means, the first file tree generation means, and the first file list storage means execute respective operations. You may make it do.

  In the image forming apparatus, a second path name / file name acquisition unit that acquires a file name and a path name of an image file based on the first file tree, and the external storage using the file name and the path name. You may make it have an image file acquisition means which acquires the said image file from a medium, and an image formation means which forms an image based on the said image file.

  In order to achieve the above object, a file list creation method according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit capable of storing data, and the storage unit stores a file related to an image file stored in an external storage medium. A file list creation method by an image forming apparatus for creating a file list for managing information and executing a process related to image formation of the image file based on the file list, the file corresponding to an image file within a first number A first file for managing first file information including a first file tree indicating a hierarchical structure of names and path names, and a first pointer in the first file tree of file names for the image files within the first number A first storage area reserved for storing the list, and more image files than the first number. A second file tree for managing second file information including a second file tree indicating a hierarchical structure of file names and path names, and second pointers in the second file tree of file names for the image files greater than the first number. A second storage area for temporarily storing a two-file list, wherein the first file information acquisition unit of the image forming apparatus stores more than the first number of image files from the external storage medium. A first file information acquisition step for acquiring third file information including a name and a path name; and a first file tree generation unit of the image forming apparatus that extracts the second file tree based on the path name and the file name. A first file tree generating step for generating in the second storage area; and a first file list storing means of the image forming apparatus. Generating the second file information by replacing the file name and path name in the file information with the second pointer in the second file tree of the file name of the corresponding image file, and including the second file information A first file list storing step of storing a second file list in the second storage area; a receiving step of receiving a selection of the image files within the first number from a user by a receiving means of the image forming apparatus; and the image A first file name pointer obtaining unit for obtaining a second pointer in a second file tree of a file name corresponding to the received image file; and a first file name pointer obtaining unit of the image forming apparatus; Before the second file information acquisition means is associated with the acquired second pointer A second file information acquisition step for acquiring the second file information from the second file list, and a first path name / file name acquisition means of the image forming apparatus, based on the second pointer, A first path name / file name acquisition step for acquiring a path name and a file name from the tree, and a second file tree generation unit of the image forming apparatus generates a first file tree based on the acquired path name and file name. The second file tree generation step for generating in the first storage area and the second file list storage means of the image forming apparatus use the second pointer of the second file information as the file name of the corresponding image file. The first file information replaced with a first pointer in the first file tree is generated and includes the first file information The serial first file list and a second file list storing step of storing in said first storage area.

  In order to achieve the above object, a file list creation program according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit capable of storing data, and the storage unit stores a file related to an image file stored in an external storage medium. Generating a file list for managing information, and causing a computer included in an image forming apparatus that executes processing related to image formation of the image file based on the file list to generate a file list including file information related to the image file A file list creation program, wherein the storage means includes a first file tree indicating a hierarchical structure of file names and path names corresponding to a first number of image files, and the first number of the image files. A first file containing a first pointer in the first file tree of the file name A first file list for managing information, a first storage area reserved for storing information, and a second file tree showing a hierarchical structure of file names and path names corresponding to more than the first number of image files And a second file list for temporarily storing a second file list for managing second file information including a second pointer in the second file tree of file names for the image files greater than the first number. A first file information acquisition means for acquiring third file information including file names and path names of more than the first number of image files from the external storage medium; First file tree generation means for generating the second file tree in the second storage area based on the file name and the file name; and the third file information The second file information is generated by replacing the file name and path name in Step 2 with the second pointer in the second file tree of the file name of the corresponding image file, and includes the second file information. First file list storage means for storing a file list in the second storage area; reception means for receiving selection of the image file within the first number from a user; and a file name corresponding to the received image file. First file name pointer acquisition means for acquiring the second pointer in a two-file tree, and second file information acquisition for acquiring the second file information associated with the acquired second pointer from the second file list And a path name and file from the second file tree based on the second pointer. First path name / file name acquisition means for acquiring a file name; second file tree generation means for generating a first file tree in the first storage area based on the acquired path name and file name; The first file information is generated by replacing the second pointer of the two file information with the first pointer in the first file tree of the file name of the corresponding image file, and includes the first file information. It functions as a second file list storage means for storing the file list in the first storage area.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all the elements and combinations described in the embodiments are essential for the solution of the invention. Is not limited.

  First, a printer as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the multi function device 1, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12 as an example of a storage unit, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) 13, , An input interface unit (input I / F unit) 14, a display interface unit (display I / F unit) 15, a scanner function unit 16, a printer function unit 17 as an example of an image forming unit, and a memory card interface unit A (memory card I / F unit) 18 and a communication interface unit (communication I / F unit) 19 are connected via a bus 20. Here, the CPU 10, the ROM 11, the RAM 12, and the like correspond to a computer.

  The ROM 11 stores a program such as a boot program. In the present embodiment, the ROM 11 stores programs for file list creation processing and image formation processing described later.

  The RAM 12 is used as an area for storing programs and data, or as a work area for storing data used for processing by the CPU 10. In the present embodiment, the RAM 12 includes a universal pool 12a (second storage area), a file list pool 12b (first storage area), and a file tree pool 12c (first storage area).

  The file list pool 12b has a storage capacity capable of storing a file list FL (first file list) for storing file information of a predetermined number (first number, for example, 999) of image files. This is a storage area in which the file list FL can be stored continuously during operation.

  The file tree pool 12c has a storage capacity capable of storing a file tree FT (first file tree) indicating a hierarchical structure of a predetermined number (first number, for example, 999) of file names and path names, and a printer. This is a storage area in which the file tree FT can be stored continuously during the operation of 1.

  The universal pool 12a includes a temporary file list TFL (second file list) that stores file information for a number of images (for example, 9990) larger than the first number that can be stored in the file list FL, and a file tree. A temporary file tree TFT (second file tree) indicating a hierarchical structure of file names and path names corresponding to the number of images (for example, 9990) more than the first number that can be stored in the FT. This is a storage area having a storage capacity that can be temporarily stored in the temporary file list TFL and the temporary file tree TFT. In the present embodiment, the universal pool 12a and the temporary file list TFL are temporarily stored so that they can be used for other processes, such as image file storage and editing, except during the file list creation process described later. It is necessary to release the storage area used for storage with the file tree TFT.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of file information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The file information FI includes a full path file name field 31, a file creation date field 32, a file creation time field 33, a PIF association flag field 34, and an image check information field 35.

  The full path file name field 31 stores a full path file name of the corresponding image file (that is, all path names and file names from the root directory) or a pointer indicating information from which the full path file name can be acquired. . The file information FI differs in the information stored in the full path file name field 31 depending on the situation. For example, if the file information FI (third file information) is extracted from the memory card 2 onto the RAM 12, If the full path file name is stored and the file information FI (first file information) in the file list FL is stored, a pointer to the item information structure IS (see FIG. 3B) of the file name of the file tree FT is stored. If the file information FI (second file information) is in the temporary file list TFT, a pointer to the item information structure IS (see FIG. 3B) of the file name of the temporary file tree FT is stored. Here, each directory and file of the path name in the full path file name is referred to as an item, and the item name is referred to as an item name. For example, if there is an image file having a full path file name “a: ¥ b ¥ c.jpg”, each of “a:”, “b”, and “c.jpg” is an item name.

  The file creation date field 32 stores the date when the corresponding image file was created. The file creation time field 33 stores the time when the corresponding image file was created. The PIF association flag field 34 stores a flag indicating whether or not there is a PIF (PRINT Image Framer) file associated with the corresponding image file. The image check information field 35 stores information indicating the state of the image in the image file, for example, information about a determination result such as whether the image has been checked, whether it is a normal image, or an abnormal image.

  Next, the structure of the file tree FT will be described. Since the temporary file tree TFT has the same structure, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a file tree according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  When three image files “a: ¥ b ¥ c.jpg”, “a: ¥ b ¥ d.jpg”, and “a: ¥ b ¥ e.jpg” exist, the file tree FL is shown in FIG. It is generated as a structure as shown in 3A. That is, the directory “b” is connected to the lower side of the directory “a:”, and the files “e.jpg”, “d.jpg”, and “c.jpg” are connected to the lower side thereof. In the present embodiment, items in the same hierarchy having the same parent are arranged in descending order of ASCII codes. Therefore, the full path file name can be acquired in descending order of the ASCII code by tracing the file tree FT.

  FIG. 3B shows an example of an item information structure constituting the file tree FL.

  The item information structure IS has an item name field 51, a parent structure pointer 52, a child structure pointer 53, and a next structure pointer 54. The file tree FL stores an item information structure IS corresponding to each item.

  The item name field 51 stores a corresponding item name or a pointer to a storage area in which the item name is stored. The parent structure pointer 52 stores a pointer to the item information structure IS of the parent (upper) item. The child structure pointer 53 stores a pointer to the item information structure IS of an item that is a child (lower level). The next structure pointer 54 stores a pointer (next structure pointer) to the item information structure IS of items in the same hierarchy having the same parent and in the next order (descending order of ASCII code). The Therefore, by tracing the next structure pointer, the item name can be acquired in the descending order of the ASCII code. The full path file name can be acquired by tracing the parent structure pointer of each item information structure IS in order from the item information structure IS of the file name.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the EEPROM 13 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and stores various information that needs to be stored even when the printer 1 is not powered on.

  A key unit 21 is connected to the input I / F unit 14. The input I / F unit 14 outputs the signal from the key unit 21 as data to the CPU 10. The key unit 21 includes an upper key, a lower key, a left key, a right key, an OK key, a start key, a stop key, a numeric key, and the like (not shown) provided on the casing of the printer 1 according to the pressed key. The signal is output to the input I / F unit 14. The display I / F unit 15 includes, for example, a VRAM (Video Random Access Memory), generates image data according to a screen to be displayed under the control of the CPU 10, and displays the screen on a liquid crystal display device (LCD) 22. Let

  The scanner function unit 16 reads a document such as paper or an OHP sheet placed on a document feed tray (not shown) and generates digital image data. The printer function unit 17 forms an image on an image forming medium such as paper, an OHP sheet, cardboard, or an envelope.

  The memory card I / F unit 18 has a connector to which a memory card 2 as an example of an external storage medium can be attached and detached, and mediates data exchange between the memory card 2 and the CPU 10. Examples of the memory card 2 include a USB memory, an SD card, a smart media, and a PC card.

  The communication I / F unit 19 is connectable to a network, and mediates data exchange with other devices via the network.

  CPU10 controls operation | movement of each part 11-19. Further, the CPU 10 reads out the program stored in the ROM 11 to the RAM 12 and executes it, whereby the reception processing unit 10a, the processing execution control unit 10b, the file list processing unit 10c, the file tree processing unit 10d, and the display processing The unit 10e and the image formation control unit 10f are configured to execute various processes. Here, the first file information acquisition unit, the sequential path name / file name acquisition unit, the determination unit, the third file information acquisition unit, and the image file acquisition unit are mainly configured by the processing execution control unit 10b, and the first file tree The generation means, the first file name pointer acquisition means, the first path name / file name acquisition means, the second file tree generation means, the third file tree generation means, and the second path name / file name acquisition means mainly consist of a file The tree processing unit 10d is configured, and the first file list storage unit, the second file list storage unit, and the third file list storage unit are mainly configured by the processing execution control unit 10b and the file list processing unit 10d, and the receiving unit Is mainly constituted by the reception processing unit 10a, and the second file information acquisition means mainly performs file list processing. Is constituted by a part 10c, deleting means is mainly constituted by file list processing section 10c and the file tree processing unit 10d, a display means is configured mainly by the display processing unit 10e.

  The reception processing unit 10 a receives various instructions from the user for the key unit 21. In the present embodiment, the reception processing unit 10a receives a plurality of image files to be used (counted up) that can be used for input of instructions such as copy processing, scan processing, and printing processing, and image formation processing in the printer 1. A set (block) selection instruction and an image selection instruction for image formation are accepted.

  The process execution control unit 10b reads file information from the image file stored in the memory card 2 and controls the units 10a, 10c, 10d, 10e, and 10f. Specific processing executed by the processing execution control unit 10b will be described later.

  The file list processing unit 10c acquires the file information from the process execution control unit 10b and executes a process of registering in the file list FL or the temporary file list TFL. Further, the file list processing unit 10c acquires file information or predetermined information in the file information from the file list FL or the temporary file list in response to a command from the processing execution control unit 10b, and passes the file information to the processing execution control unit 10b. Execute the process.

  The file tree processing unit 10d receives the full path file name from the process execution control unit 10b and executes a process for generating the file tree FT or the temporary file tree TFT. Further, the file tree processing unit 10d determines whether or not there is an item information structure IS of an item corresponding to the file tree FL at that time in order from the higher-order item of the full path file name. While the processing for the lower items proceeds, if there is no corresponding item information structure IS, a new item information structure IS corresponding to the item is generated, and the item information structure IS and the connection relationship are changed. The pointer of the other item information structure IS to be changed is updated so that the new item information structure IS is connected in descending order of the ASCII code.

  For example, in the case where the file tree FT as shown in FIG. 3A is generated, when a new “a: ¥ b ¥ f.jpg” is received, the file tree shown in FIG. 3C is generated. Specifically, the file tree processing unit 10d generates an item information structure IS of “f.jpg” in the hierarchy immediately below “b”, and the item information structure IS is arranged in descending order of the ASCII code. A pointer to the new item information structure IS of “f.jpg” is stored in the child structure pointer 53 of the item information structure IS of the upper “b”, and the item information structure of “f.jpg” is stored. The IS next structure pointer 54 stores a pointer to the item information structure IS of “e.jpg”.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the file tree processing unit 10d obtains a full path file name from the file tree FT or the temporary file tree TFT in response to a command from the process execution control unit 10b, and passes it to the process execution control unit 10b. Execute.

  The display processing unit 10e displays a block selection screen for selecting a block to be counted up. The display processing unit 10e displays a screen for selecting an image for image formation.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a block selection screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  On the block selection screen 60, as shown in FIG. 4A, a plurality of block content display sections 61, 62, 63, 64 showing the contents of each block are displayed. The block content display sections 61, 62, 63, and 64 are displayed so as to be arranged in order from the top to the bottom from the block including the new image. In this embodiment, the block is a set of a maximum of 999 image files. Blocks other than the bottom include 999 images, and the bottom block includes fractional images that are not included in other blocks.

  The block content display sections 61, 62, 63, and 64 display a representative image of the corresponding block and a range of creation dates of images belonging to the block. Note that the creation date range can be acquired from the temporary file list TFL by the process execution control unit 10b by the file list processing unit 10c, and the representative image is a memory of an image belonging to the block by the process execution control unit 10b. It can be acquired from the image file in the card 2.

  The figure shows a state in which the block corresponding to the top block content display section 61 that is highlighted is selected. When the user presses the up / down button of the key unit 21, the display processing unit 10e can change the block content display units 61, 62, 63, and 64 to be reversed according to the instruction. When the OK button of the key unit 21 is pressed in a state where the block content display units 61, 62, 63, 64 are inverted, the reception processing unit 10a is changed to the inverted block content display units 61, 62, 63, 64. The selection of the corresponding block is accepted as the count-up target selection.

  The block selection screen may be as shown in FIG. 4B. That is, on the block selection screen 70, a plurality of block content display sections 71, 72, 73, 74 may be arranged side by side in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.

  The image formation control unit 10f receives the image file of the image selected by the reception processing unit 10a from the processing execution control unit 10b, and causes the printer function unit 17 to form the image of the image file on the image forming medium.

  Next, file list creation processing in the printer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of file list creation processing according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating file list creation processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The file list creation process is started when the process execution control unit 10b detects that the memory card 2 is mounted in the memory card I / F unit 18.

  When the execution of the file list creation process is started, the process execution control unit 10b is while there are other image files not yet read in the memory card 2 and the number of read files is not 1000 or more. , Steps S2 to S4 are repeatedly executed (Step S1).

  That is, the process execution control unit 10b reads one image file from the memory card 2 in a predetermined order (eg, FAT (File Allocation Table) order), and obtains file information (third file information) from the image file. (Step S2). Next, the process execution control unit 10b passes the full path file name of the file information to the file tree processing unit 10d, and causes the file tree processing unit 10d to generate the file tree FT including the structure of the full path file name in the file tree pool 12b. (Step S3). Next, the process execution control unit 10b replaces the full path file name of the file information with a pointer to the item information structure IS of the file name in the file tree FT generated by the file tree processing unit 10d, and the file information (first File information) is registered in the file list FL of the file list pool 12c by the file list processing unit 10c (step S4).

  When the process in step S1 is completed, the process execution control unit 10b determines whether the number of image files in the memory card 2 is 999 or less that can be stored in the file tree pool 12b and the file list pool 12c. If the number is 999 or less (in the case of TRUE), the process execution control unit 10b sets the ASCII information of the corresponding full path file name in ascending order to the file information in the file list FL. And the process ends (step S6).

  On the other hand, when the number of image files in the memory card 2 is not 999 or less (in the case of FALSE), the process execution control unit 10b sends the file list FL and file tree to the file list processing unit 10c and the file tree processing unit 10d. The FT is discarded (step S7).

  Next, the process execution control unit 10b repeatedly executes the processes in steps S9 to S11 while there are other image files in the memory card 2 that have not been read in step S9 (step S8).

  That is, the process execution control unit 10b reads one image file from the memory card 2 in a predetermined order (for example, FAT order), and obtains file information (third file information) from the image file (step S9). Next, the process execution control unit 10b passes the full path file name of the file information to the file tree processing unit 10d, and the file tree processing unit 10d converts the temporary file tree TFT including the full path file name of the read image file into the universal pool 12a. (Step S10). Next, the process execution control unit 10b replaces the full path file name of the file information with a pointer to the item information structure IS of the file name in the temporary file tree TFT generated by the file tree processing unit 10d, and the file information ( The second file information) is registered in the temporary file list TFL of the universal pool 12a by the file list processing unit 10c (step S11). As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the temporary pool tree TFT and the temporary file list TFL relating to the first or more image files are generated in the universal pool 12a.

  Next, the processing execution control unit 10b causes the display processing unit 10e to display a block selection screen 60 as shown in FIG. 4A, and the reception processing unit 10a receives the selection of the block to be counted up from the user (step S12).

  Upon receipt of the selection of the block, the process execution control unit 10b causes the file tree processing unit 10d to pointer to the item information structure IS of the file name corresponding to each image file belonging to the selected block (file name item pointer). Are registered in the file name item pointer list PL according to the acquired order (step S13, (1) in FIG. 6).

  Next, the process execution control unit 10b performs the processes in steps S15 to S20 until the process for the number of files in the block, that is, the process using all item pointers in the file name item pointer list PL is completed. Run repeatedly.

  That is, the process execution control unit 10b extracts the item pointers in order (corresponding to the ascending order of the ASCII code of the full path file name) from the bottom (end) of the file name item pointer list PL (step S15, (2) in FIG. 6). The file list processing unit 10c searches the temporary file list TFL for the file information FI in which the item pointer is stored ((3) in FIG. 6), and acquires the searched file information FI (step S16, (4) of FIG.

  The process execution control unit 10b causes the file tree processing unit 10d to acquire the corresponding full path file name from the temporary file tree TFT using the item pointer (step S17, (5) in FIG. 6), and the file tree processing unit 10d. Thus, the file tree FT added with the full path file name is generated in the file tree pool 12b ((6) in FIG. 6), and the corresponding file name item pointer is acquired (step S18, (7) in FIG. 6). Next, the process execution control unit 10b updates the information in the full path file name field 31 of the file information FI to the acquired file name item pointer (step S19, (7) in FIG. 6).

  Next, the process execution control unit 10b causes the file list processing unit 10c to additionally register the updated file information FI in the file list FL (step S20, FIG. 6 (8)). In the present embodiment, if there is file information FI already registered in the file list FL, the additional file information FI is registered so as to continue next. As a result, the file information FI is arranged in the file list FL so that the full path file names follow the ascending order of the ASCII codes. Therefore, the file information FI can be acquired in ascending order or descending order of the ASCII code of the full path file name without sorting the file information FI.

  When the processing for the number of files in the block (step S14) is completed, the process execution control unit 10b uses the file list processing unit 10c and the file tree processing unit 10d to execute the temporary file list TFL and the temporary file tree TFT. Are discarded from the universal pool 12a (step S21), and the process is terminated. As a result, the free space of the storage area available for other processing in the universal pool 12a can be increased.

  As a result of the file list creation process described above, the memory card 2 has the first or more image files that can be managed by the file list FL and the file tree FT stored in the file list pool 12b and the file tree pool 12c. In some cases, the user can easily select and count up the desired image file from the first or more image files in the memory card 2, and the file list FL and the file tree FT including the selected image file can be stored in the file. They can be created in the list pool 12b and the file tree pool 12c. For this reason, an image forming process using an image file desired by the user can be executed.

  In this embodiment, when generating a temporary file tree TFT for an image file read from the memory card 2, the temporary file tree TFT is generated so that the full path file names are arranged in descending order of the ASCII code. The effect of this will be described below.

  For example, generally, an image file generated in time series by a digital camera is stored in the memory card 2 with a full path file name in ascending order of ASCII codes. For this reason, when the image file is read from the memory card 2 in the FAT order, the full path file name of the image file is relatively likely to be read in the ascending order of the ASCII code.

  When the temporary file tree TFT is arranged in descending order of the ASCII code, when an item information structure IS having a new full path file name is added, for example, an item name having a large ASCII code located at the head of each layer The comparison is made in order from (directory name, file name), and the position where the item information structures IS are arranged is determined. At this time, since the full path file name of the image file read from the memory card 2 is likely to be in the ascending order of the ASCII code as described above, it is compared with the item name having the largest ASCII code at each layer. There is a high possibility that the arrangement position of the item information structure IS will be determined. For this reason, there is an effect that the comparison process in generating the temporary file tree TFT can be reduced.

  Next, an image forming process of the printer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of image forming processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  First, it is determined whether or not the reception processing unit 10a has received a request to execute image selection from the user (step S31), and waits until the request is received.

  When receiving the request, the process execution control unit 10b causes the file list processing unit 10c to acquire a predetermined number (for example, one, four, etc.) of file information FI from the file list FL (step S32), The item pointer of the information FI is passed to the file tree processing unit 10d, and the file tree processing unit 10d acquires the full path file name of the corresponding file from the file tree FT using the item pointer (step S33).

  Next, the process execution control unit 10b specifies the corresponding image file from the memory card 2 using the acquired full path file name, acquires the image file (step S34), and displays the image corresponding to the image file. Displayed on the LCD 22 by the unit 10e (step S35).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the reception processing unit 10a has received a request to display an image of another image file from the user (step S36). If the request is received, the process execution control unit 10b determines in step S32 Then, the file information FI of another image file, for example, the subsequent file information FI is acquired, and the subsequent processing is executed. Subsequent file information FI is file information FI relating to an image file whose full path file name is in ascending order of the ASCII code, so that the image can be displayed in the order of the ASCII code by performing the subsequent processing.

  On the other hand, if the request has not been received, the reception processing unit 10a determines whether an image to be subjected to image formation has been selected (step S37). If the request has not been selected, the process proceeds to step S36. On the other hand, if selected, the process execution control unit 10b passes the image file of the selected image to the image formation control unit 10f, and the image formation control unit 10f sends the image formation data based on the image file. The image forming data is generated and transmitted to the printer function unit 17, and the printer function unit 17 forms an image on the image forming medium (step S38).

  Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be applied to various other modes.

  For example, in the above embodiment, when an image file is read from the memory card 2, the file tree FT and the file list FL are generated in the file tree pool 12b and the file list pool 12c. If there are more, the file tree FL and the file list FL are discarded, and the temporary file list TFL and the temporary file tree TFT are created in the universal pool 12a. This is based on the assumption that there are rarely more image files than the first number in the memory card 2 under normal use, and if there are less than the first number of image files, the processing takes a long time. This is because it is not necessary. However, if it can be assumed that more than one image file frequently occurs, or in a printer that can be assumed, a temporary file list TFL and a temporary file tree TFT are created from the beginning, and then the file list FL. The file tree FT may be generated.

  In the above embodiment, when generating the temporary file tree TFT for the image file read from the memory card 2, the temporary file tree TFT is generated so that the full path file names are arranged in descending order of the ASCII code. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the temporary file tree TFT may be arranged in the ascending order of the ASCII code of the full path file name.

  In the above embodiment, the memory card 2 directly connected to the printer 1 is shown as an example of the external storage medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a PC (Personal Computer), a mobile phone, a mobile terminal The storage medium may be a storage medium provided in the storage medium, or a storage medium connected to these devices. In short, any storage medium that can store a plurality of image files may be used.

FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the file information which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the file tree which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the block selection screen which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the file list creation process which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the file list creation process which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 5 is a flowchart of image forming processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1 printer, 2 memory card, 10 CPU, 11 ROM, 12 RAM, 12a universal poll, 12b file tree pool, 12c file list pool, 13 EEPROM, 14 input I / F unit, 15 display I / F unit, 16 scanner function Part, 17 printer function part, 18 memory card I / F part, 19 communication I / F part, 20 bus, 21 key part, 22 LCD, FT file tree, FL file list, TFT temporary file tree, TFL temporary file List, FI file information.

Claims (8)

A storage unit capable of storing data; generating a file list for managing file information relating to an image file stored in an external storage medium in the storage unit; and relating to image formation of the image file based on the file list An image forming apparatus that executes processing,
The storage means
A first file tree indicating a hierarchical structure of file names and path names corresponding to image files within the first number, and a first pointer in the first file tree of file names for the image files within the first number. A first file list for managing the first file information including, a first storage area reserved for storing,
A second file tree showing a hierarchical structure of file names and path names corresponding to more image files than the first number, and second file trees in the second file tree of file names for the image files more than the first number. A second storage area for temporarily storing a second file list for managing second file information including two pointers;
First file information acquisition means for acquiring third file information including file names and path names of more than the first number of image files from the external storage medium;
First file tree generation means for generating the second file tree in the second storage area based on the path name and the file name;
Generating the second file information by replacing the file name and path name in the third file information with the second pointer in the second file tree of the file name of the corresponding image file; First file list storage means for storing the second file list including: in the second storage area;
Accepting means for accepting selection of the image file within the first number from the user;
First file name pointer acquisition means for acquiring the second pointer in the second file tree of the file name corresponding to the accepted image file;
Second file information acquisition means for acquiring the second file information associated with the acquired second pointer from the second file list;
First path name / file name acquisition means for acquiring a path name and a file name from the second file tree based on the second pointer;
Second file tree generation means for generating a first file tree in the first storage area based on the acquired path name and file name;
Generating the first file information by replacing the second pointer of the second file information with the first pointer in the first file tree of the file name of the corresponding image file, and including the first file information An image forming apparatus comprising: a second file list storage unit that stores a first file list in the first storage area. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a deleting unit that deletes the second file tree and the second file list. The first file tree generation means is configured by arranging the path name and the file name in the order of ASCII code in each hierarchy of the second file tree,
3. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the first file name pointer acquisition unit acquires the second pointer in the second file tree according to an order of the ASCII code of the path name and the file name. apparatus. Display means for displaying a plurality of image file sets composed of a plurality of image files within the first number based on the second file tree and the second file list;
4. The image receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the accepting unit accepts selection of an image file belonging to the image file set by selecting an image file set from the displayed plurality of image file sets. The image forming apparatus described in the item. Sequential path name / file name acquisition means for sequentially acquiring the file name and path name of the image file stored in the external storage medium;
Determining means for determining whether the number of image files whose file names and path names have been acquired by the sequential path name / file name acquiring means exceeds the first number;
Third file tree generation means for generating the first file tree in the first storage area based on the path name and the file name until it is determined that
Third file information acquisition means for acquiring the third file information from the image file corresponding to the path name and the file name until it is determined that
The first file information is generated by replacing the file name and path name in the third file information with the first pointer in the first file tree of the file name of the corresponding image file until it is determined that it exceeds And third file list storage means for storing the first file list including the first file information in the first storage area,
5. The first file information acquisition unit, the first file tree generation unit, and the first file list storage unit execute respective operations when it is determined that the number exceeds the maximum number. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A second path name / file name acquisition means for acquiring the file name and path name of the image file based on the first file tree;
Image file acquisition means for acquiring the image file from the external storage medium using the file name and path name;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image forming unit that forms an image based on the image file. A storage unit capable of storing data, creating a file list for managing file information relating to an image file stored in an external storage medium in the storage unit, and relating to image formation of the image file based on the file list A file list creation method by an image forming apparatus that executes processing,
A first file tree indicating a hierarchical structure of file names and path names corresponding to image files within the first number, and a first pointer in the first file tree of file names for the image files within the first number. A first file list for managing the first file information including, a first storage area reserved for storing,
A second file tree showing a hierarchical structure of file names and path names corresponding to more image files than the first number, and second file trees in the second file tree of file names for the image files more than the first number. A second storage area for temporarily storing a second file list for managing second file information including two pointers;
A first file information acquisition unit, wherein the first file information acquisition unit of the image forming apparatus acquires third file information including file names and path names of the image files greater than the first number from the external storage medium;
A first file tree generating step in which a first file tree generating means of the image forming apparatus generates the second file tree in the second storage area based on the path name and the file name;
The first file list storage unit of the image forming apparatus replaces the file name and path name in the third file information with the second pointer in the second file tree of the file name of the corresponding image file. A first file list storing step of generating second file information and storing the second file list including the second file information in the second storage area;
A receiving step in which a receiving unit of the image forming apparatus receives a selection of the image file within the first number from a user;
A first file name pointer obtaining unit, wherein a first file name pointer obtaining unit of the image forming apparatus obtains the second pointer in a second file tree of a file name corresponding to the accepted image file;
A second file information acquisition step in which a second file information acquisition unit of the image forming apparatus acquires the second file information associated with the acquired second pointer from the second file list;
A first path name / file name acquisition unit in which a first path name / file name acquisition unit of the image forming apparatus acquires a path name and a file name from the second file tree based on the second pointer;
A second file tree generation step in which a second file tree generation unit of the image forming apparatus generates a first file tree in the first storage area based on the acquired path name and file name;
The second file list storage unit of the image forming apparatus replaces the second pointer of the second file information with the first pointer in the first file tree of the file name of the corresponding image file. A file list creation method comprising: a second file list storing step of generating information and storing the first file list including the first file information in the first storage area. A storage unit capable of storing data; generating a file list for managing file information relating to an image file stored in an external storage medium in the storage unit; and relating to image formation of the image file based on the file list A file list creation program for causing a computer provided in an image forming apparatus to execute processing to generate a file list including file information relating to an image file, wherein the storage means
A first file tree indicating a hierarchical structure of file names and path names corresponding to image files within the first number, and a first pointer in the first file tree of file names for the image files within the first number. A first file list for managing the first file information including, a first storage area reserved for storing,
A second file tree showing a hierarchical structure of file names and path names corresponding to more image files than the first number, and second file trees in the second file tree of file names for the image files more than the first number. A second storage area for temporarily storing a second file list for managing second file information including two pointers;
The computer,
First file information acquisition means for acquiring third file information including file names and path names of more than the first number of image files from the external storage medium;
First file tree generation means for generating the second file tree in the second storage area based on the path name and the file name;
Generating the second file information by replacing the file name and path name in the third file information with the second pointer in the second file tree of the file name of the corresponding image file; First file list storage means for storing the second file list including: in the second storage area;
Accepting means for accepting selection of the image file within the first number from the user;
First file name pointer acquisition means for acquiring the second pointer in the second file tree of the file name corresponding to the accepted image file;
Second file information acquisition means for acquiring the second file information associated with the acquired second pointer from the second file list;
First path name / file name acquisition means for acquiring a path name and a file name from the second file tree based on the second pointer;
Second file tree generation means for generating a first file tree in the first storage area based on the acquired path name and file name;
Generating the first file information by replacing the second pointer of the second file information with the first pointer in the first file tree of the file name of the corresponding image file, and including the first file information A file list creation program that functions as second file list storage means for storing a first file list in the first storage area.

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