Digital image-sensing apparatus and control method therefor

Abstract

A digital image sensing apparatus having a plurality of programs for connecting the apparatus to a plural types of external device. When sensed video image data is transferred to the external device, the characteristic of the external device is obtained so that the video image data can be converted into data in form receivable and interpretable by the external device. An application program is selected in accordance with the obtained characteristic, then the video image data is converted in accordance with the selected program, and the converted video image data is outputted to the external device.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A digital image-sensing apparatus comprising: 
 image sensing means for converting an optical image of an object into an electric video-image signal;    conversion means for converting the electric video-image signal into a digital video-image signal;    an interface unit for interfacing said digital image-sensing apparatus with an external printer; and    control means for controlling printing a sensed image based on the digital video-image signal by said external printer,    wherein said control means includes: 
 a CPU;  
 memory means;  
 external storage means;  
   determination means for interpreting a communication protocol for communicating with said external printer via said interface unit and discriminating type of said external printer connected to said digital image-sensing apparatus; 
 code generating means for generating codes that a printer of the type discriminated by said discriminating means can interpret;  
 sample-table generating means for generating a sample-table image signal for a sample image table of a plurality of image information stored in said digital image-sensing apparatus; and  
 transfer means for transferring the sample-table image signal to said external printer, in correspondence with a file name,  
   and wherein said control means controls said external printer to print the sample image table.    
     
     
         2 . An image sensing apparatus comprising: 
 image-sensing means for sensing an object;    communication means for performing communication with a printer;    storage means for storing control information for controlling said printer, by type of said printer; and    control means for reading the control information from said storage means in accordance with type information indicating the type of said printer, received via said communication means, and transferring the control information and image information sensed by . . . said image sensing means to said printer via said communication means.    
     
     
         3 . A printer comprising: 
 communication means for performing communication with an image sensing apparatus;    storage means for storing type information indicating type of said printer;    printing means for printing an image based on image information received via said communication means from said image sensing apparatus; and    control means for reading the type information from said storage means and transferring the type information to said image sensing apparatus via said communication means, receiving control information and the image information transferred in correspondence with transfer by said control means from said image sensing apparatus and forwarding the image information to said printing means, and controlling said printing means based on the control information.    
     
     
         4 . An image sensing apparatus comprising: 
 image sensing means for sensing an object to obtain image data;    reception means for receiving device information on an external device, transferred from said external device;    conversion means for converting the image data into data in format corresponding to the device information received by said reception means; and    transfer means for transferring the image data converted by said conversion means.    
     
     
         5 . The image sensing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said conversion means has selection means for, if the device information includes a plurality of format data, selecting one of the plurality of format data.  
     
     
         6 . The image sensing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the device information includes at least one of the format data, form data indicating a form of said external device, and description language data.  
     
     
         7 . The image sensing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said external device is an image processing device having at least one of functions, such as a printer, a facsimile apparatus or a computer.  
     
     
         8 . An image processing device having a function for processing image data transferred from an image sensing apparatus, comprising: 
 holding means for holding device information on said image processing device; and    transfer means for transferring the device information held in said holding means to said image sensing apparatus.    
     
     
         9 . The image processing device according to  claim 8 , wherein the function is one of a printer function, a facsimile function, or a computer function.  
     
     
         10 . The image processing device according to  claim 8 , wherein the device information includes at least one of format data indicating a format of image transferred from said image sensing apparatus, form data indicating a form of said image processing device, and description language data.  
     
     
         11 . An image sensing apparatus having image sensing means, storage means for storing video image data obtained by sensing by said image sensing means, an interface unit for performing bidirectional communication with an external device, and an operation unit, comprising: 
 a plurality of conversion means for converting the video image data stored in said storage means into a plurality of transfer data different from each other;    input means for inputting an output instruction to output the video image data stored in said storage means, from said operation unit;    discriminating means for discriminating said external device connected to said interface unit;    selection means for selecting any of said plurality of conversion means, in accordance with the result of discrimination by said discriminating means; and    output means for outputting the video image data, converted by said conversion means selected by said selection means, to said external device via said interface unit.    
     
     
         12 . The image sensing apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said external device is a printer or a facsimile apparatus.  
     
     
         13 . The image sensing apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising selection means for selecting to print a sensed image based on one of the video image data stored in said storage means or to print a sample image table of a plurality of sensed images based on the plurality of video image data stored in said storage means.  
     
     
         14 . An image sensing apparatus comprising: 
 image sensing means for sensing an object to obtain video image data;    storage means for storing form data indicating a format for printing based on the video image data;    image processing means for generating print data in a predetermined format having the format indicated by the form data, from the video image data; and    transfer means for transferring the print data.    
     
     
         15 . The image sensing apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the form data includes information on an area in which the video image data is inserted into the print data.  
     
     
         16 . The image sensing apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the form data includes character data and line data different from the video image data sensed by said image sensing means.  
     
     
         17 . The image sensing apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein a plural types of form data is stored in said storage means, and wherein said image sensing apparatus further comprises selection means for selecting one of the plural types of form data.  
     
     
         18 . The image sensing apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising reception means for receiving the form data, generated by an external device, and storing the form data into said storage means.