JPH11143803A - Electronic camera apparatus, electronic device, transmission system, electronic camera apparatus controlling method and electronic device controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply and surely transmit image data picked up by an electronic camera apparatus to a desired opposite side terminal. SOLUTION: A digital camera 1 makes picked up image data correspond to electronic mail address data inputted by a key input part 35 to store the data in a flush memory 31 and the image data and its electronic mail address data are transferred to a personal computer 2 form an I/O(input/output) port 37 and an infrared for communication part 38. In addition, the computer 2 receives the image data and its electronic mail address data transferred from the camera 1 by an I/O(input/output) port 43 and an infrared ray communication part 45 and transmits the received image data to the terminal of an opposite side through a communication line and a computer network based on the received electronic mail address data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electronic camera device,
The present invention relates to an electronic device, a transmission system, a control method of an electronic camera device, and a control method of an electronic device, and more particularly, to a function of transmitting image data as electronic mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a personal computer (Person
al Computer) and workstations (Work station)
For example, there is an electronic camera device such as a digital camera (electronic still camera) for transferring image data.

On the other hand, electronic mail (hereinafter, e-mail) has conventionally been used as a system for transmitting and receiving data such as characters, voices, and images between terminals such as personal computers and workstations via a computer network.
l: electronic mail). In this e-mail service, it is necessary to set e-mail address data of a transmission destination when a created e-mail is transmitted from a terminal.

Conventionally, when such a destination address is set in a terminal, an address file in which the e-mail address data is stored in association with name data and search item data is opened, and a desired e-mail address is read from the file. mai
l Select and specify address data, or
Mail address data was manually input by key operation.

[0005]

However, such a conventional address setting function has the following problems.

That is, since the e-mail address data is relatively long character string data in which alphabets, numbers, symbols, etc. are mixed, when the address file is opened and address data is selected from the address file,
There is a problem that it is difficult to find desired address data, it takes time to select and specify, and when inputting address data manually, key operations are cumbersome and input errors easily occur. Therefore, image data captured by a digital camera is transferred to a personal computer, and e
Even in the case of sending image data by -mail, the transmission operation was very troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an electronic camera apparatus and an electronic apparatus capable of easily and reliably transmitting image data captured by an electronic camera apparatus to a desired destination terminal. It is an object to provide a transmission system, a control method of an electronic camera device, and a control method of an electronic device.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Image capturing means for capturing an image of a subject, input means for inputting destination address data indicating a destination of the image data to image data captured by the image capturing means, and an image captured by the image capturing means Storage means for storing data and destination address data input by the input means in association with each other; output means for outputting image data and the destination address data stored in the storage means to the outside; It is characterized by having.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the destination address data of the destination terminal is input to the image data of the subject imaged by the imaging means by the input means, and the image data and the image data are stored in the storage means. Destination address data is stored in association with the destination address data. The output means outputs the image data stored in the storage means and the destination address data thereof to the outside.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, a step of capturing an image of a subject, a step of inputting destination address data, and storing the captured image data and the input destination address data in storage means. Steps to
Outputting the image data and its destination address data stored in the storage means to the outside.

According to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, the destination address data of the destination terminal is input to the image data of the imaged subject, and the storage means associates the image data with the destination address data. It is also stored. Then, the image data and the destination address data stored in the storage means are output to the outside.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to directly input the destination address data of the image data in the electronic camera device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electronic camera device according to the first aspect, further comprising a destination address data file for storing destination address data, wherein the input unit captures an image by the imaging unit. The destination address data of the image data may be selectively input from the destination address data file.

According to the present invention, the destination address data is stored in the destination address data file,
The input means selects and inputs destination address data for the image data from the destination address data file.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily input the destination address data for the image data.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera device according to the first aspect, the output means may be configured to transfer the image data and its destination address data to an external device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the output means transfers the image data and the destination address data stored in the storage means to an external device.

Therefore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the electronic camera device can transfer the image data and the destination address data thereof to an external device such as a personal computer.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera device according to the third aspect, when the output means transfers the image data and its destination address data to an external device, the destination address data is transferred to the external device. The configuration may further include a setting unit for setting whether to transfer the image data together with the image data.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the setting means sets whether the data to be transferred to the external device is only the image data, or the image data and its destination address data.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to arbitrarily select whether to transfer only the image data to the external device or to transfer the image data and its destination address data to the external device. If it is not necessary to transfer the destination address data associated with the image data to the external device, only the image data can be transferred to the external device, and the amount of data transferred to the external device can be reduced. It becomes possible.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera device according to the first aspect, the output means is configured to transmit the image data to a destination terminal based on the destination address data. You may.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the output means transmits the image data to the destination terminal based on the destination address data.

Therefore, according to the fifth aspect of the invention, it is possible to directly transmit image data of the subject from the electronic camera device that has photographed the subject to the destination terminal.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera device according to the first aspect, there is further provided a selecting means for selecting desired image data from a plurality of image data stored in the storage means. The output means may be configured to output the image data selected by the selection means and the destination address data to the outside.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the selecting means selects the image data to be output to the outside from the image data stored in the storage means, and the output means selects the selected image data and The destination address data is output to the outside.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 6, it is possible to select image data to be output to the outside by using image data stored in the storage means in the electronic camera device, thereby improving operability. Electronic camera device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera device according to the first aspect, selection of selecting desired destination address data from a plurality of destination address data stored in the storage means. The output means may be configured to output the destination address data selected by the selection means and the image data to the outside.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the selection means selects desired destination address data from the destination address data stored in the storage means, and the output means selects the selected transmission address data. The destination address data and the image data associated with the destination address data are output to the outside.

Therefore, according to the present invention, desired destination address data is selected by using destination address data stored in the storage means in the electronic camera device, and the selected destination address data is selected. The image data associated with the destination address data can be output to the outside, so that the electronic camera device has high operability.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera device according to the first aspect, image data not output to the outside by the output unit from among the plurality of image data stored in the storage unit. The output means may be configured to output the image data selected by the selection means and the destination address data to the outside.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the image data not output to the outside is selected from the image data stored in the storage means by the selection means, and the output means selects the selected image data. The data and its destination address data are output to the outside.

Therefore, according to the invention of claim 8, it is possible to output only image data that has not been output to the outside and the destination address data thereof,
The practicality is improved.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera device according to the first aspect, the input unit further includes a unit for inputting title data and / or memo data for the image data, and the storage unit. Stores the image data and its destination address data in association with the title data and / or memo data input by the input unit, and the output unit stores the image stored in the storage unit. The data and its destination address data, title data and / or memo data may be output to the outside.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the transmission destination address data, the title data and / or memo data for the image data of the subject photographed by the imaging means are inputted by the input means, and the data is stored in the storage means. Stores the image data and its destination address data, title data, and / or memo data in association with each other. The output means outputs the image data stored in the storage means and its destination address data, title data and / or memo data to the outside.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it becomes possible to add title data and / or memo data of image data to image data in addition to destination address data. Then, the destination address data, title data and / or memo data can be output to the outside.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image capturing means for capturing an image of a subject, a setting means for setting destination address data indicating a destination, an instruction means for instructing image capturing by the image capturing means, Output means for outputting, to the outside, image data picked up by the image pickup means and destination address data set in the setting means when image pickup by the image pickup means is instructed by the means. Features.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when an instruction to shoot a subject is issued by the indicating means, the output means sets the image data of the subject imaged by the imaging means and the setting means based on the shooting instruction. Outputs the destination address data set in (1) to the outside.

Therefore, according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the image data of the subject and the destination address data thereof are output to the outside together with the photographing of the subject by the imaging means, the image data of the subject photographed immediately is obtained. Can be output to the outside, the number of operations required to output the image data of the subject and the destination address data thereof is small, and the convenience is high.

The invention according to claim 11 is a receiving means for receiving image data and its destination address data, a storage means for storing the image data received by the receiving means and its destination address data, and Transmitting means for transmitting the image data stored in the storage means to the destination terminal based on the destination address data stored in the means.

According to the eleventh aspect, the image data received by the receiving means and the destination address data thereof are stored in the storage means in association with each other. Then, the transmission means transmits the image data stored in the storage means to the destination terminal based on the destination address data.

The invention according to claim 22 is a step of receiving image data and its destination address data, storing the received image data and its destination address data in storage means, and storing the image data and destination address data in storage means. Transmitting the image data stored in the storage means to the destination terminal based on the destination address data having
It is characterized by having.

According to the twenty-second aspect, the received image data is stored in the storage means in association with the destination address data. Then, the image data stored in the storage means is transmitted to the destination terminal based on the destination address data associated with the image data.

Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to transmit the received image data to the destination terminal corresponding to the destination address data of the received image data.

As in the twelfth aspect, the first aspect is
2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit for selecting desired image data from a plurality of image data stored in the storage unit, wherein the transmission unit is configured to transmit the image data selected by the selection unit. The image data selected by the selection means may be transmitted to the destination terminal based on the destination address data.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the selecting means selects one of the image data stored in the storing means.
The image data to be transmitted to the destination terminal is selected, and the transmission means outputs the image data to the destination terminal based on the destination address data stored in association with the selected image data.

Therefore, according to the twelfth aspect of the invention, it is possible to select image data to be transmitted to the destination terminal by using image data stored in the storage means in the electronic device. It becomes a highly reliable electronic device.

As in the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the first aspect
1. The electronic device according to 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects image data that has not been transmitted to the destination terminal by the transmission unit from the plurality of image data stored in the storage unit, wherein the transmission unit includes: The image data selected by the selecting means may be transmitted to the destination terminal based on the destination address data of the image data selected by the selecting means.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the selecting means selects one of the image data stored in the storing means.
Image data that has not been sent to the destination terminal is selected,
The transmitting means transmits the image data to the destination terminal based on the destination address data stored in association with the selected image data.

Therefore, according to the thirteenth aspect, only image data not transmitted to the destination terminal can be transmitted to the destination terminal, and the practicality is improved.

As in the fourteenth aspect, the first aspect
The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect completion of reception of the image data and the destination address data by the reception unit, wherein the transmission unit detects the completion of reception by the detection unit. The image data stored in the storage unit may be transmitted to the destination terminal based on the destination address data stored in the storage unit.

According to the fourteenth aspect, when the detecting means detects the completion of the reception of the image data and the destination address data by the receiving means, the transmitting means deletes the image data stored in the storage means. , Based on the destination address data.

Therefore, according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, upon completion of the reception of the image data and the destination address data, based on the destination address data,
The image data can be transmitted to the destination terminal.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device according to the fourteenth aspect, the transmitting means may be configured to transmit image data that has not been transmitted to the destination terminal by the transmitting means. .

According to the fifteenth aspect, the transmitting means transmits only the image data not transmitted to the destination terminal to the destination terminal.

Therefore, according to the present invention, only the image data not transmitted to the destination terminal is transmitted to the destination terminal, and the image data once transmitted to the destination terminal is again transmitted to the destination terminal. Therefore, only the untransmitted image data can be transmitted, and the load of the electronic device on transmitting the image data can be reduced.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device according to the eleventh aspect, the receiving means receives title data and / or memo data together with the image data and its destination address data, and stores the title data and / or memo data. Means are
The image data and the destination address data, title data and / or memo data received by the receiving unit are stored, and the transmitting unit stores the image data and the memo data based on the destination address data stored in the storage unit. The image data, title data and / or memo data stored in the storage means may be transmitted to the destination terminal.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the image data and its destination address data, the title data and / or memo data of the image data are received by the receiving means, and the storage means stores Image data,
The transmission destination address data, title data and / or memo data are stored in association with each other. Then, the transmitting unit transmits the image data stored in the storage unit, title data of the image data, and / or memo data to the destination terminal based on the destination address data.

Therefore, according to the sixteenth aspect, image data, title data of the image data, and / or memo data can be transmitted to the destination terminal based on the destination address data. .

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device according to the eleventh aspect, there is provided input means for inputting transmission data, wherein the transmission means is based on transmission destination address data stored in the storage means. The image data stored in the storage means and the transmission data input by the input means may be transmitted to the destination terminal.

According to the seventeenth aspect, transmission data is input by the input means, and the transmission means converts the image data stored in the storage means and the transmission data input by the input means to the destination address data. Is transmitted to the destination terminal based on.

Therefore, according to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, transmission data such as a message can be added to image data to be transmitted to the destination terminal in the electronic device, thereby improving practicality.

The invention according to claim 18 is a transmission system comprising an electronic camera device and an electronic device, wherein the electronic camera device has an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject, and an image picked up by the image pickup means. Input means for inputting destination address data indicating a destination of the image data with respect to the data, associating the image data imaged by the imaging means with the destination address data input by the input means; And an output unit for outputting image data and its destination address data stored in the first storage unit to the outside. Receiving means for receiving the output image data and its destination address data; image data and its destination address received by the receiving means Second storage means for storing a over data,
Transmitting means for transmitting image data stored in the second storage means to a destination terminal based on destination address data stored in the second storage means. I do.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera device, the destination address data of the image data is input by the input means to the image data of the subject imaged by the imaging means, and the first storage is performed. The image data and its destination address data are stored in association with the means. Then, the output means outputs the image data and the destination address data stored in the first storage means to the outside. In the electronic device, the receiving unit receives the image data output from the output unit of the electronic camera device and the destination address data, and stores the image data and the destination address data in the second storage unit. . Then, the transmission means transmits the image data stored in the second storage means to the destination terminal based on the destination address data.

Therefore, according to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the destination address data used when the electronic device transmits the image data received from the electronic camera device to the destination terminal is directly input on the electronic camera device side. It becomes possible.

As in the nineteenth aspect, the first aspect
9. The transmission system according to 8, wherein the electronic camera device and the electronic device may be configured to perform data communication by wireless communication.

As in the invention of the twentieth aspect, the first aspect
9. The transmission system according to claim 9, wherein the wireless communication is infrared communication.

Therefore, claim 19 and claim 20
According to the invention described above, data such as image data can be transmitted and received even when the electronic camera device and the electronic device are at remote positions.

[0069]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration will be described.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera 1 (electronic still camera) to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, the digital camera 1 is provided with an imaging lens 11 (dotted line) on the back side of the main casing 1a in the figure. On the front side of the main body casing 1a in the figure, a display unit 12 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided.
It is possible to display the image of the subject captured through the imaging lens 11 at the time of shooting, and to reproduce and display the image captured after shooting. On the right side of the display unit 12,
Shooting mode, playback mode,
A mode changeover switch 13 for instructing switching between the communication mode and the data input mode is provided.

A power switch 14 for instructing ON / OFF switching of the power by a slide operation to the left and right is provided on the upper surface side of the main body casing 1a in the figure, and an image capturing is instructed, and selection contents are determined in each mode. , An effect key 16 for instructing to cancel the selection in each mode, and image data to be reproduced and displayed on the display unit 12 from a plurality of image data stored in a memory (a flash memory 31 described later). A "+" key 17a and a "-" key 17b are provided for selection and designation, and selection of setting conditions in each mode.

Further, on the upper surface side of the main body casing 1a in the figure, image data, control data, and the like are connected via a communication cable (not shown) to an external device (a personal computer 2 described later in the present embodiment). A serial input / output terminal 18 for transmitting / receiving image data, control data, etc., is provided on the back side of the main body casing 1a in FIG. (Dotted line) is provided. A communication cable such as RS-232C (serial type) can be connected to the serial input / output terminal 18.

It should be noted that the digital camera 1 is
1 comprises a camera unit and a main unit, wherein the camera unit is rotatably or detachably disposed with respect to the main unit, and the position of the imaging lens 11 can be variously rotated or moved with respect to the main unit. The configuration may be any.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the digital camera 1 shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, a digital camera 1 includes a display unit 12 shown in FIG.
D20, amplifier 21, A / D converter 22, drive circuit 2
3, timing generator 24, signal generator 25, VRAM 26, D / A converter 27, amplifier 2
8, a DRAM 29, a compression / decompression circuit 30, a flash memory 31, a CG 32, a ROM 33, a RAM 34, a key input unit 35, a CPU 36, an I / O port 37, and an infrared communication unit 38.

CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 20
Is composed of a pixel surface in which a large number of elements (pixels) each having a transfer electrode superimposed on a light receiving unit such as a photodiode are arranged in a plane, and an output unit that converts charges accumulated in each pixel into a voltage signal and outputs the voltage signal. Be composed. Light incident through the imaging lens 11 is received by the pixel surface, and charges proportional to the amount of received light are accumulated in each pixel. The accumulated charge of each pixel is sequentially read out as an image signal (analog signal) for each pixel by the output unit in accordance with the drive signal supplied from the drive circuit 23, amplified by the amplifier 21, and converted into an A / D converter. 22.

A / D (Analog to Digital) converter 22
Converts the imaging signal input from the CCD 20 via the amplifier 21 from an analog signal to a digital signal, and supplies the digital signal to the timing generator 24.

The driving circuit 23 controls the CCD 2 based on the timing signal supplied from the timing generator 24.
The drive control is performed on the exposure timing and readout timing of 0. In addition, the timing generator 24
A timing signal for controlling the drive circuit 23 is generated based on the video capture signal input from the control unit 6.

The signal generator 25 performs color arithmetic processing on the image pickup signal (digital signal) supplied via the timing generator 24, and generates an image composed of a luminance signal (Y data) and a color signal (C data). Data is generated, and this image data is output to the DRAM 29.
Further, the signal generator 25 generates a video signal (digital signal) by adding a synchronization signal to the image data supplied from the DRAM 29 by the CPU 36, temporarily stores the video signal in the VRAM 26, and thereafter stores the video signal (digital signal) stored in the VRAM 26. Is output to the display unit 12 via the D / A converter 27 and the amplifier 28.

VRAM (Video Random Access Memory)
Reference numeral 26 denotes a video memory for temporarily storing a video signal (display data) generated by the signal generator 25.

D / A (Digital to Analog) converter 27
Converts a video signal (display data) supplied from the VRAM 26 from a digital signal into an analog signal by the signal generator 25, and outputs the converted signal to the display unit 1 via the amplifier 28.
Output to 2.

The display section 12 is constituted by a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays an image on a display screen based on a video signal (display data) input via a D / A converter 27 and an amplifier 28.

A DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memor)
y) 29 is a semiconductor memory for temporarily storing imaged image data supplied from the signal generator 25 or image data read from the flash memory 31 by the CPU 36 and decompressed by a compression / decompression circuit 30 described later. It is.

The compression / decompression circuit 30 compresses the image data stored in the DRAM 29 by encoding. Specifically, for example, DCT (8 × 8 pixels) by a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) algorithm according to a predetermined encoding method for image data, that is, a type of an image to be handled (in this case, a still image), is used. Discrete Cos
ine Transform: Performs compression processing (encoding processing) by discrete cosine transformation, quantization, and Huffman coding, and outputs the compressed image data to the flash memory 31.
The compression / decompression circuit 30 decodes and decompresses the compressed image data stored in the flash memory 31 and outputs the decoded data to the DRAM 29.

The flash memory 31 is a semiconductor memory for storing a plurality of image data compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 30. FIG. 3 shows this flash memory 31.
Is a diagram showing a memory configuration of the flash memory 31. As shown in FIG.
A plurality of data, date data, title data, e-mail address data, and memo data are stored in association with each other.

Page No. The data is numerical data indicating the storage order assigned to the image data in the storage order in the flash memory 31. For example, the image data initially stored in the flash memory 31 has a page number. The data “1” is stored in the image data stored next, and the page No. Data “2” is allocated.

The date data is data indicating the shooting date and time of the image data, and the title data is the title of the image data (for example, “entrance ceremony”, “at Kyoto”, etc.) or the title of the transmitted mail. Data.

The e-mail address data is a transmission indicating the address information of the destination terminal when the created mail is transmitted to the destination terminal via the computer network in a terminal such as a personal computer connectable to a computer network. This is destination address data.

The memo data is a memo for image data,
Alternatively, it is data indicating a memo for the destination.

The date data, title data,
The e-mail address data and memo data are input by a user in a data input process (see FIGS. 8 and 9) described later, and are stored in the flash memory 31 in association with desired image data.

Returning to FIG. 2, CG (Character Generato
r) 32 is a memory for storing, for example, character data such as Japanese (kana and kanji), alphanumeric characters and symbols for operation guidance, which are displayed on the display unit 12.

A ROM (Read Only Memory) 33 controls each part of the digital camera 1 which is executed by the CPU 36, such as a data input process (see FIGS. 8 and 9) and a communication process (see FIG. 10) described later. Various control programs are stored. These various control programs are executed by the CPU 36
Are stored in the form of readable program code.

The ROM 33 stores a character data storage table 34a (see FIG. 4), which will be described later, which is necessary for inputting character data in the data input process (see FIGS. 8 and 9). This table 34a is read by the CPU 36 at the time of data input processing,
Expands to 4.

The RAM (Random Access Memory) 34
When various control processes are executed by the CPU 36, a work area for temporarily storing various data to be processed is formed. The RAM 34 stores the data in the RAM 34 by the CPU 36 at the time of data input processing (see FIGS. 8 and 9) described later.
The character data storage table 34a (see FIG. 4) read from the OM 33 is developed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a character data storage table 34a developed in the RAM 34. In the character data storage table 34a shown in the figure, hiragana (Japanese), alphabets, numerals,
Character data such as symbols are stored in association with coordinate data (Xn, Yn).

In a data input process described later (see FIGS. 8 and 9), the user presses the "+" key 17a, the "-" key 17b, and the shutter key 15 to operate.
It is possible to select and set arbitrary character data one by one from each character data stored in the character data storage table 34a, and to input arbitrary character data. This allows the user to store the date data, title data, e-mail stored in association with the image data.
Address data and memo data can be input.

The key input unit 35 includes the mode changeover switch 13, the power switch 14, the shutter key 15,
It is composed of an effect key 16, a "+" key 17a, and a "-" key 17b, and outputs various operation signals to the CPU 36 in accordance with the pressing operation and the sliding operation of each key.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 36
Is a central processing unit that controls each part of the digital camera 1 according to various control programs stored in the ROM 33. Specifically, when the mode changeover switch 13 is slid and the data input mode is designated, the CPU 36 performs a data input process described later (see FIGS. 8 and 9).
Execute

In this data input processing, the CPU 36
Indicates that each image data stored in the flash memory 31 is sequentially switched and displayed on the display unit 12 in response to the pressing operation of the “+” key 17a or the “−” key 17b, and the pressing operation of the shutter key 15 At that time, the image data displayed on the display unit 12 is determined as image data to which additional data such as address data is associated. Then
The CPU 36 operates the "+" key 17a or the "-" key 1
7b, the character data storage table 34
a (see FIG. 4), the corresponding character data is sequentially read out one character at a time, displayed on the display unit 12, and the shutter key 1
By performing the pressing operation of No. 5, the process of setting the character data currently displayed on the display unit 12 at that time as one character of the input data is repeatedly performed, and the date data, the title data,
Create e-mail address data, memo data, etc.,
The data is stored in the flash memory 31 as additional data of the designated image data.

When the mode changeover switch 13 is slid and the communication mode is designated, the CPU 36
The communication processing described below (see FIG. 10) is executed. In this communication processing, the CPU 36 sequentially switches and displays each image data stored in the flash memory 31 on the display unit 12 and determines image data to be transferred to the personal computer 2 described later based on a key operation. If the additional data is set in the one or more image data designated to be transferred, it is determined based on a key operation whether or not the additional data is to be transferred together with the image data. The infrared communication unit 38 reads out only one or more pieces of image data designated to be transferred or the image data and its additional data from the flash memory 31.
From the personal computer 2 by infrared pulses.

When the shutter key 15 is pressed in the photographing mode, the CPU 36 executes a photographing process and outputs a video capture signal to the timing generator 24. The timing generator 24 generates a timing signal based on the video capture signal and outputs it to the drive circuit 23. The drive circuit 23 controls the exposure timing and readout timing of the CCD 20 based on the timing signal, and Captures an image signal. The A / D converter 22 converts the captured image signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, and the signal generator 25 performs color arithmetic processing on the image signal to generate image data and stores the image data in the DRAM 29. . Then, the CPU 36 transfers the image data stored in the DRAM 29 to the compression / decompression circuit 30 to perform a compression process, and then stores the compressed image data in a new page No. Flash memory 31 associated with data
To be stored.

On the other hand, when the reproduction mode is designated by the slide operation of the mode changeover switch 13, the CPU 36
The image data stored in the flash memory 31 in response to the pressing operation of the “+” key 17a or the “−” key 17b is stored in the page No. The data is sequentially read out in the data order (ascending order when the “+” key 17a is pressed, descending order when the “−” key 17b is pressed), and read out in order from the compression / decompression circuit 3.
After that, the image data is stored in the DRAM 29. After that, the CPU 36
The image data stored in the AM 29 is transferred to the signal generator 25. The signal generator 25 generates a video signal (display data) by, for example, adding a synchronization signal to the input image data. The image is output to the display unit 12 via the converter 27 and the amplifier 28, and the image is reproduced and displayed on the display screen.

At this time, if additional data such as date data, title data, e-mail address data, and memo data is associated with the reproduced and displayed image data, the CPU The image is read from the flash memory 31 and displayed on the display unit 12 together with the image.

The I / O (Input / Output) port 37 is
Serial data exchanged between the digital camera 1 and an external device connected via the serial input / output terminal 18 and the communication cable (image data and pages stored in the flash memory 31 in association with the image data) No. data, date data, title data, em
This is an interface for controlling input / output of aile address data, memo data, control data, and the like.

The infrared communication unit 38 communicates, for example, IrDA (Infrared Dat) between the digital camera 1 and an external device.
a Association) is an infrared interface for performing infrared communication of the image data, page No. Transmission / reception control of data, date data, title data, e-mail address data, memo data, control data, and the like is performed.

More specifically, the infrared communication section 38 includes a modulation section for modulating transmission data to be transmitted to an external device having an infrared communication function into an infrared signal, and an infrared window 19 for converting the modulated infrared signal to an infrared pulse. A transmitting LED for transmitting to the external device through the infrared device, a photodiode for receiving an infrared signal transmitted by the infrared pulse from the external device via the infrared window 19, and demodulating the received infrared signal as reception data. And a demodulation unit that performs the demodulation. The above is the configuration of the digital camera 1.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a personal computer 2 to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, a personal computer 2 includes an input unit 4
1, RAM 42, I / O port 43, compression / decompression circuit 4
4, an infrared communication unit 45, a CPU 46, a display unit 47, a storage device 48, and a communication unit 50. Each unit is connected by a bus 51.

The personal computer 2 can be connected to a computer network or the Internet via a communication line by a communication section 50, and can be connected to a destination terminal via the computer network by e-mail.
Or send or receive W
Using an information search service such as WW (World Wide Web), data search such as browsing a homepage can be performed.

The input unit 41 includes a key input unit and a mouse. The key input unit has function keys, numerical keys, character keys, and other keys.
Various operation signals corresponding to each key input operation by the user are output to the CPU 46. The mouse is a pointing device for selecting icons and operation menus displayed on the display unit 47 and for selecting and specifying a desired image in a mail transmission process (see FIG. 13) described later. A signal or the like is output to the CPU 46.

The RAM 42 forms a memory area for temporarily storing various data to be processed when various control processes are executed by the CPU 46. FIG.
2 is a diagram illustrating a memory configuration of FIG. In FIG.
The AM 42 includes a transmission data memory 42a, an address file memory 42b, and a work memory 42c.

The transmission data memory 42a forms a memory area for temporarily storing transmission data (mail) created by the user in a mail transmission process (see FIG. 13) described later.

The address file memory 42b stores the address read from the storage medium 49 via the storage device 48 by the CPU 46 at the time of an address file editing process (see FIG. 12) and a mail transmission process (see FIG. 13) described later. File data and address file editing processing (FIG. 12)
), A memory area for temporarily storing image data transferred from an external device (the digital camera 1 in the present embodiment) and its additional data (address-related data described later) is formed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a storage configuration of address file data in address file memory 42b. As shown in the figure, the address file data is composed of a plurality of address-related data. Each address-related data is composed of image data and a storage No. set in association with the image data. It consists of data, date data, title data, e-mail address data, and memo data.

The storage No. The data is numerical data indicating a storage order assigned to each address-related data.
The date data is data indicating the shooting date and time of the image data and the storage date and time of the address-related data.

Note that the title data, e-mail address data, and memo data have been described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The work memory 42c forms a memory area for temporarily storing various data to be processed when various control processes are executed.

The I / O port 43 is an interface for controlling input / output of serial data exchanged between the personal computer 2 and an external device connected via the serial input / output terminal 43a and the communication cable. The serial input / output terminal 43a has, for example, RS
A communication cable such as -232C (serial type) can be connected.

The compression / decompression circuit 44 receives an I / O signal from an external device.
Image data transferred to the personal computer 2 via the O port 43, the infrared communication unit 45, or the communication unit 50, or image data read from the storage medium 49 via the storage device 48 by the CPU 46 is subjected to compression processing. If the image data has been encoded, the image data is converted into a predetermined encoding method (for example, JPEG or the like) based on an instruction from the CPU 46.
And expands the data in the RAM 42. Also,
Conversely, based on an instruction from the CPU 46, the image data expanded in the RAM 42 is compressed by a predetermined encoding method. The compressed image data is stored in a predetermined area of the storage medium 49 by the CPU 46 via the storage device 48, or the I / O port 43 or the infrared communication unit 4
5, or transmitted to an external device via the communication unit 50.

The infrared communication section 45 is an infrared interface for performing, for example, IrDA infrared communication between the personal computer 2 and an external device, and has the same configuration as the infrared communication section 38 of the digital camera 1 described above. Therefore, the description is omitted.

The CPU 46 is a central processing unit that controls each part of the personal computer 2 in accordance with various control programs and application programs stored in the storage medium 49. Specifically, when an instruction to shift to the address file editing process is given from the input unit 41, the CPU 46 executes an address file editing process (FIG.
2).

In the address file editing process, the CP
U46 is a communication for taking in address-related data to be newly added to the address file data from an external device (the digital camera 1 in the present embodiment) when it is instructed to shift to the capture mode by a key operation. Execute the process. Then, the image data and its additional data transferred from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 2 are stored in a new storage No. The data is stored in the address file memory 42b in association with the data, and is added to the address file data as new address-related data.

Further, when instructed to perform mail transmission by the input unit 41, the CPU 46 executes a mail transmission process (see FIG. 13) described later. In this mail transmission processing, the CPU 46 selects the address-related data having the e-mail address from the address file memory 42b, and stores the storage No. In the ascending order of data, image data and title data associated with the image data, e
-Mail address data, memo data, etc. are displayed on the display unit 47.
In the list. When one of the images is selected and designated by the mouse, e-mail address data corresponding to the designated image is read out from the address file memory 42b, and based on the e-mail address data, The designated image data and the title data, date data, memo data, and mail corresponding to the image data are transmitted to the destination terminal via the communication unit 50, the communication line, and the computer network.

The display section 47 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tub).
e) and a liquid crystal display.
The display data (for example, image data) read out from the RAM 42 and inputted by 6 is displayed on the display screen.

The storage device 48 has a storage medium 49 for storing programs, data, and the like. The storage medium 49 is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. Various control programs such as an address file editing process (see FIG. 12) and a mail transmission process (see FIG. 13) described later are stored in the storage medium 49 by the CPU.
It is stored in the form of a program code that can be read by 46. The storage medium 49 stores the address file data created and edited by the address file editing process (see FIG. 12).

The storage medium 49 may be provided fixedly to the storage device 48, or may be detachably mounted to the storage device 48.

The communication unit 50 performs data communication when connecting a computer network to the personal computer 2 via a communication line or when transmitting and receiving e-mail with a destination terminal via the computer network. It is a communication modem that performs control. The above is the configuration of the personal computer 2.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the data input process executed by the CPU 36 of the digital camera 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In the CPU 36, when the mode changeover switch 13 is slid and the data input mode is designated,
The program related to the data input process stored in the ROM 33 is read, and the process is started.

First, the CPU 36 performs initial processing such as developing a character data storage table 34a (see FIG. 4) stored in the ROM 33 in a predetermined area of the RAM 34 (step S1), and then e-mail A process of designating image data to be associated with additional data such as address data is performed.

That is, the CPU 36 first selects a page No. from the image data of, for example, 64 sheets stored in the flash memory 31. After the image data of data “1” is read and subjected to decompression processing by the compression / decompression circuit 30, the signal is converted into a video signal by adding a synchronization signal by the signal generator 25 and output to the display unit 12.
The image data is reproduced and displayed on the display screen (step S
2).

Next, the CPU 36 sets the shutter key 1
It is determined whether or not 5 has been pressed (step S3).
If the shutter key 15 has not been pressed, it is then determined whether the "+" key 17a or the "-" key 17b has been pressed (step S4).

Then, the CPU 36 operates the both keys 17.
If it is determined that neither the button 17a nor the button 17b has been pressed, the process returns to the step S3, and the keys 17a, 1
7b is determined to be pressed, and if the “+” key 17a is pressed according to the pressed key, the next page No. 7b is pressed. Data of the image data, for example, the page number of the image data currently reproduced and displayed on the display unit 12. If the data is "1",
Page No. The image data of the data “2” is read out from the flash memory 31 and reproduced and displayed on the display unit 12. When the “−” key 17b is pressed, the immediately preceding page No. After the image data of the data is read from the flash memory 31 and reproduced and displayed on the display unit 12 (step S5), the process returns to step S3.

With such a control configuration, the user can sequentially switch and display a plurality of image data stored in the flash memory 31 of the digital camera 1 on the display unit 12 while simultaneously displaying e-mail address data and the like. Desired image data to be associated with the additional data can be searched.

On the other hand, if the CPU 36 determines in step S3 that the shutter key 15 has been pressed, the CPU 36 adds the image data displayed on the display unit 12 at the time when the shutter key 15 is pressed, to the additional data. The data is determined as the image data to be associated (step S6).

Next, the CPU 36 determines in steps S7 to S
In 10, the date data, title data, e-ma
It is determined which of the il address data and the memo data is to be set (steps S7 to S10),
If none of the data is set, the process proceeds to step S22. In addition, the CPU 36 determines, among the above data,
If it is determined that any of the data settings is to be performed, the process proceeds to the specified data setting mode (steps S11 to S11).
S14) The data setting process is performed by the processes shown in steps S15 to S21 described below.

That is, the CPU 36 first sets the RAM 3
The character data "A" at the coordinates (X1, Y1) is read from the character data storage table 34a (see FIG. 4) and displayed on the display unit 12 (step S15).

Next, the CPU 36 sets the shutter key 1
It is determined whether or not 5 has been pressed (step S1).
6) If the shutter key 15 is not pressed, then the "+" key 17a or the "-" key 17
b is pressed or not (step S1).
7).

Then, the CPU 36 operates the both keys 17
If it is determined that neither the button 17a nor the button 17b has been pressed, the process returns to the step S16.
If it is determined that any one of 17b has been pressed,
When the "+" key 17a is pressed according to the pressed key, the X of the coordinates (Xn, Yn) of the display character is displayed.
The value of the coordinate is incremented (+1), and the coordinate (X
n + 1, Yn), for example, in the character data storage table 34a shown in FIG.
Is displayed as "A" (coordinates (X1, Y
1)), the character data "i" (coordinates (X2,
Y1)) is displayed on the display unit 12, and when the "-" key 17b is pressed, the coordinates (Xn) of the display character are displayed.
, Yn) is incremented (+1), and character data at the coordinates (Xn, Yn + 1), for example,
The character data currently displayed on the display unit 12 is “A”.
If it is (coordinates (X1, Y1)), the character data "?" (Coordinates (X1, Y2)) is switched and displayed on the display unit 12 (step S18), and the process returns to step S16.

Then, the CPU 36 proceeds to step S1.
If it is determined in step 6 that the shutter key 15 has been pressed, the character data displayed on the display unit 12 when the shutter key 15 is pressed is determined as one character of the input data (step S19). . Thereafter, the CPU 36 determines again whether or not the shutter key 15 has been pressed to instruct to end the data setting process (step S20). If the data setting process is to be continued, the process returns to step S16. , Set the next character of the input data.

In addition, the CPU 36 determines in step S20
When it is instructed to end the data setting process in the step S7, the set input data is transferred to the above steps S7 to S10.
Is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 34 as the data specified in (i.e., one of date data, title data, e-mail address data, and memo data) (step S21), and the process returns to step S7.

The ROM 33 of the digital camera 1 stores a Japanese FEP (Front End Processor), and it is also possible to convert the input data from hiragana to kanji and katakana.

By adopting such a control structure, the user can input the "+" key 17a or the "-" key 17b.
In response to the pressing operation, the corresponding character data is sequentially read out one by one from the character data storage table 34a (see FIG. 4) of the RAM 34 and displayed on the display unit 12, and displayed at that time by the pressing operation of the shutter key 15. The process of setting the character data displayed on the section 12 as one character of the input data is repeatedly performed to create and set date data, title data, e-mail address data, memo data, and the like.

On the other hand, the CPU 36 executes the processing in steps S7 to S7.
If it is determined in S10 that none of the data settings is made, then it is determined whether or not an instruction to end the data input processing has been given (step S22). Return to S2.

Further, the CPU 36 sets the effect key 16
Is pressed to indicate that the data input process is to be terminated, the data setting process (steps S15 to S15) is performed.
21), date data, title data, e-mail address data,
The memo data is stored in the image data designation process (step S2).
After storing the data in the flash memory 31 in association with the image data designated in the steps S6 to S6) (step S23),
The data input processing ends. The above is the operation procedure of the data input process executed by the CPU 36 of the digital camera 1.

In the data input process, when the image data to be associated with the additional data such as date data, title data, e-mail address data, and memo data is designated by the processes shown in steps S2 to S6, When the image data to which the additional data is set is reproduced and displayed on the display unit 12, the set additional data is displayed together with the image data. And CPU3
6, when it is instructed to input data to the image data for which the additional data has already been set, it is determined that the additional data is to be added or the additional data is changed, and the process is described after step S7. Perform processing.

In the data input process, the digital camera 1 is provided with a character data storage table 34a.
Pressing the "+" key 17a, the "-" key 17b, and the shutter key 15 creates date data, title data, e-mail address data, and memo data.
Although the case of setting is described, each of the data is, for example, the serial input / output terminal 18a of the digital camera 1.
A keyboard is connected to the device for inputting and setting, and character data created by an external device (for example, a personal computer) connectable to the serial input / output terminal 18a via a communication cable is fetched by communication processing. The configuration may be such that the fetched character data is set as each of the data.

Further, for example, character data is obtained from character images picked up by the digital camera 1 by character recognition processing, and the character data is set as the data. A method may be used in which an input function is provided, character data is obtained by character recognition processing from characters input by pen input or the like, and the character data is set as the data.

Further, in the e-mail address setting mode, an e-mail address data file in which e-mail address data is set in advance is stored in an RA file.
Instead of storing the data in M34 or the like and performing the processing of steps S15 to S21, the e-mail address data of the image data may be set from the e-mail address data file stored in the RAM 34 or the like. In this case, the setting of the e-mail address data for the image of the subject photographed by the digital camera 1 can be easily performed.

Further, in the e-mail address setting mode, the e-mail address set in steps S15 to S21 is set.
-Mail address data is stored in e-mail
In the e-mail address data file stored in the RAM 34 or the like, instead of performing the processes of steps S15 to S21 in the e-mail address setting mode of other image data stored in the e-mail address data file, E-mail address data may be set. In this case, the same e-mai
Setting of 1 address data is easy and operability is improved.

In the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the desired image data is selected from the image data stored in the flash memory 31, and the additional data is added to the selected image data. Although the configuration is such that the input is set, it may be configured as described below.

After the photographing is completed, the additional data is input and set for the captured image. Further, the additional data is input and set in advance, and the additional data is automatically associated with the image data captured when the image is taken in this state.

Further, the additional data can be collectively input and set for all image data or a plurality of image data stored in the flash memory 31, that is, one additional data (particularly, em
(aile address data). Further, a configuration is provided in which a plurality of additional data (particularly, e-mail address data) can be input and set for one image data selected from the image data stored in the flash memory 31.

Next, communication processing executed by the CPU 36 of the digital camera 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the CPU 36, when the mode changeover switch 13 is slid and the communication mode is designated, the communication form of the data communication performed between the digital camera 1 and the external device (the personal computer 2 in the present embodiment). A program related to the communication process corresponding to (1) is read from the ROM 33 and the process is started.

The following communication processing uses the infrared communication section 38 to associate the image data stored in the flash memory 31 of the digital camera 1 with the image data and the image data by infrared communication with the personal computer 2. Date data, title data, and em stored
This is a description of a case where aile address data, memo data, and the like are transferred to the personal computer 2.

First, the CPU 36 performs initial processing such as initialization (step S31). After that, CPU3
6 sets and establishes various communication conditions such as a transfer speed, a pulse width, and a modulation method for performing data transfer with a partner device that performs infrared communication in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol (step S32), and then sets a transfer image. The mode shifts to the designated mode (step S33).

In this transfer image designation mode, the CPU 3
First, in steps S34 to S38, steps S2 to S3 of the data input processing (see FIGS. 8 and 9) are performed.
6 is performed, and a plurality of image data stored in the flash memory 31 are stored in the “+” key 17.
In response to the pressing operation of the "a" or "-" key 17b, the display unit 12 is sequentially switched and displayed, and the image data to be transferred to the personal computer 2 is designated by the pressing operation of the shutter key 15.

At this time, if additional data is set in the image data reproduced and displayed on the display unit 12 in response to the pressing operation of the "+" key 17a or the "-" key 17b, the additional data is also used. Display unit 1 together with the image data
2 is displayed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of image data reproduced and displayed on the display unit 12 and its additional data. FIG. 11 shows “Hanako Suzuki (name data)” as title data and “hana” as e-mail address data.
11 is a screen display example when image data (captured image of Mr. Hanako Suzuki) in which "co-suzuki@OOO.co.or.jp" is set as additional data is reproduced and displayed on the display unit 12. Incidentally, FIG. In the screen display example, the numerical value "1"
8 ″ is the page number data of this image data.

When the additional data is displayed on the display unit 12 together with the image data, the additional data may be displayed on an image by superimposing the additional data on a plate in order to make the additional data easier to see. It is.

Next, in step S39, the CPU 36 determines whether or not there is any other image data to be transferred based on the key operation (step S39), the effect key 16 is pressed, and the image data to be transferred is still present. If it is determined that the image data is present, the process returns to step S35, and the process of specifying the image data to be transferred is continued.

The CPU 36 operates the shutter key 15
Is pressed, and it is determined that there is no other image data to be transferred. Then, if additional data is set in the image data for the one or more image data designated for transfer, the additional data is added. A message asking whether to transfer the data together with the image data is displayed on the display unit 12 (step S40), and whether to transfer the additional data is determined based on a key operation (step S41).

Then, the CPU 36 sets the shutter key 1
5 is pressed to instruct that the additional data be transferred together with the image data, the one or more image data designated to be transferred and the additional data are read out from the flash memory 31 and transmitted to the infrared communication unit 38. Output,
After the data is transferred from the infrared communication unit 38 to the personal computer 2 by an infrared pulse (step S4).
2) The process proceeds to step S44.

The CPU 36 determines in step S41
In this case, when the effect key 16 is pressed to instruct to transfer only the image data, only the one or more image data designated to be transferred is read out from the flash memory 31 and output to the infrared communication unit 38. Then, the image data is transferred from the infrared communication section 38 to the personal computer 2 by an infrared pulse (step S43).

After transmitting the transfer completion signal to the personal computer 2 (step S4).
4) It is determined whether or not a reception completion signal has been received from the personal computer 2 (step S45). When the reception completion signal has been received, the communication processing ends.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, the image data to be transferred is selected and designated one by one. However, the image data and additional data stored in the flash memory 31 are all transferred at once. Image data and additional data that include e-mail address data in the additional data, or the e-mail address data is included in the additional data and the image data is not transferred. The image data and the additional data may be transferred collectively.

The e-mail address data file in which the e-mail address data is set is stored in the RAM 3
4 and the like, and, instead of performing the processing of steps S34 to S39, select and specify desired e-mail address data from the e-mail address data file stored in the RAM 34 or the like, and associate it with the e-mail address data. The obtained image data may be transferred to the personal computer 2. In this case, the same e-ma
The image data associated with the il address data can be transferred to the personal computer 2 in a lump. The above is the operation procedure of the communication processing executed by the CPU 36 of the digital camera 1.

Next, the CPU of the personal computer 2
The address file editing process executed in 46 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
When instructed by the input unit 41 to shift to the address file editing process, the CPU 46 reads a program related to the address file editing process from the storage medium 49 via the storage device 48, and starts the process.

First, the CPU 46 performs initial processing such as initialization (step T1), reads out the address file data stored in a predetermined area of the storage medium 49, and develops it in the address file memory 42b of the RAM 42. The contents are displayed in a list on the display unit 47 (step T2).

Next, the CPU 46 determines the editing mode based on the key operation (step T3), and shifts to one of the editing modes instructed by the key operation.

In the above-mentioned step T3, when it is instructed by the key operation to shift to the capture mode, the CPU 46 shifts to the capture mode (step T3).
4) A communication process for taking in address-related data to be newly added to the address file data from an external device (the digital camera 1 in the present embodiment) is executed.

The communication processing described below uses the infrared communication unit 45 to communicate with the digital camera 1 by infrared communication. The digital camera 1 transmits image data and date data set in association with the image data. In this case, title data, e-mail address data, memo data, and the like are taken into the personal computer 2 as address-related data to be newly added.

First, the CPU 46 sets and establishes various communication conditions such as a transfer speed, a pulse width, and a modulation method for performing data transfer with the digital camera 1 according to a predetermined communication protocol (step T5). The state shifts to the reception standby state (step T6).

Thereafter, the CPU 46 sets the infrared communication unit 45
In step T, it is determined whether or not data has been received.
7) If not received, the process proceeds to step T10. If the CPU 46 determines that the data has been received, the CPU 46 determines whether the received data (the image data transferred from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 2 by the communication processing (see FIG. 10) and the additional data thereof) has been received. After the image data is transferred to the compression / decompression circuit 44 and subjected to decompression processing (step T8), the received data is stored in a new storage No. The data is stored in the address file memory 42b of the RAM 42 in association with the data, and is added to the address file data as new address-related data (step T9).

After that, the CPU 46 sets the digital camera 1
Then, it is determined whether or not a transfer completion signal has been received (step T10). If no transfer completion signal has been received, the process returns to step T7. If the CPU 46 determines that the transfer completion signal has been received, the CPU 46 transmits the reception completion signal to the digital camera 1 (step T11), and then proceeds to step T11.
Move to 18.

With this control configuration, in the capture mode, one or more address-related data to be added to the address file data can be transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 2 by infrared communication.
Can be captured.

On the other hand, if the instruction to shift to the creation mode is made by a key operation in step T3, the CPU 46 shifts to the creation mode (step T12).
The personal computer 2 executes processing for creating address-related data to be newly added to the address file data.

That is, the CPU 46 sets the image data created by the image editing software (application software) in the personal computer 2 or the image data fetched from an external device such as the digital camera 1 and the e input from the input unit 41. -Mail Create address-related data based on the address data, the memo data, and the name data and search item data of the transmission partner (step T13). Then, the created address-related data is stored in a new storage No. After being stored in the address file memory 42b in association with the data and added to the address file data as new address-related data (step T14), the process proceeds to step T18.

On the other hand, if an instruction to shift to the sort mode (rearrangement mode) is made by a key operation in step T3, the CPU 46 shifts to the sort mode (step T15), and the address file memory 42.
With respect to the address file data expanded in b, the reordering processing of each address-related data is executed.

That is, if the address-related data is e-mail address data, for example, the address-related data is specified in accordance with a specified sorting rule such as the order of the Japanese syllabary of the name data of the other party. , Ie, the storage N of each address related data
o. After rearranging the data values (step T16), the process proceeds to step T18.

If an instruction to shift to an editing mode other than the capture mode, the creation mode, and the sort mode is issued by a key operation in step T3, the CPU 46 shifts to the specified editing mode, and the editing mode is changed. The process is executed (Step T17). Editing processes other than the capture mode, the creation mode, and the sort mode include a process of changing the contents of each address-related data, a deletion process, and the like.

Then, in step T18, the CPU 46 determines whether or not to end the address file editing process based on a key input (step T18). Return to T3. When instructed to end the process, the CPU 46 stores the address file data developed in the address file memory 42b of the RAM 42 in a predetermined area of the storage medium 49 via the storage device 48 (step T19), the address file editing process ends. The above is the CPU of the personal computer 2
46 is an operation procedure of an address file editing process executed by the CPU 46;

Next, the CPU of the personal computer 2
FIG. 13 shows the mail transmission process executed in 46.
This will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. CPU 46
Then, when an instruction to shift to the mail transmission processing is given from the input unit 41, a program relating to the mail transmission processing is read from the storage medium 49 via the storage device 48, and the processing is started.

First, the CPU 46 reads out the address file data stored in a predetermined area of the storage medium 49 and performs initial processing such as developing it in the address file memory 42b of the RAM 42 (step T21). The mode shifts to the designated mode (step T22). In the transmission image designation mode, the CPU 46 first selects address-related data having an e-mail address from the address file data expanded in the address file memory 42b (step T23). And
For the selected address-related data, the storage N
o. In the ascending order of the data, the image data and the title data, memo data, e-m associated with the image data
A list of the aile address data and the like is displayed on the display unit 47 (step T24).

Then, the CPU 46 determines whether or not any of the images listed on the display unit 47 has been selected and designated by a mouse or the like provided in the input unit 41 (step T25). If the selection has not been made, the process returns to step T24.

When the CPU 46 determines that one of the images has been selected and designated by the mouse or the like, the CPU 46 reads out e-mail address data corresponding to the selected and designated image from the address file memory 42b to acquire the image. The image data is temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the work memory 42c (step T26), and the selected image data and the title data, date data, and memo data corresponding to the image data are read out from the address file memory 42b and transmitted. The data is temporarily stored in the data memory 42a (step T27).

Then, the CPU 46 shifts to the transmission data creation mode (Step T28), and transmits the e-ma
The input data 41 of the user (input data)
(Step T29) based on the key input from
The created mail is temporarily stored in the transmission data memory 42a (step T30).

Next, the CPU 46 sets the work memory 42
c, read out the e-mail address data stored in the transmission data memory 42a, and read out the designated image data and the title data, date data, memo data, and mail corresponding to the image data. The read e-mail address data,
The designated image data and the title data, date data, memo data, and mail corresponding to the image data are transferred to the communication unit 50.

In the communication section 50, the personal computer 2 is connected to the computer network via a communication line by an access code set in advance under the control of the CPU 46, and the designated image data and the image data transferred by the CPU 46 are transferred. E, title data, date data, memo data, and e-mail
-Send to the destination terminal based on the mail address data (step T31).

Next, the CPU 46 determines whether or not there is any other image data to be transmitted based on a key input by the user (step T32). If the effect key 16 is pressed, there is still image data to be transmitted. If it is determined, the process returns to step T24, and the designation processing of the image data is continued.

Further, the CPU 46 operates the shutter key 15
Is pressed, and if it is determined that there is no other image data to be transmitted, the mail transmission processing ends in response to the end of the transmission of the mail in the communication unit 50. The above is the operation procedure of the mail transmission process executed by the CPU 46 of the personal computer 2.

With such a configuration, for example, with respect to image data captured by the digital camera 1 together with a friend who has become acquainted with a travel destination, the e-mail address data of the other party is associated with the image data on the spot and the digital data is used. The data is stored in the camera, and after returning from the trip, the captured image data and the e-mail address data are transferred to the personal computer 2, and the image data is simply selected and designated on the personal computer 2 to transfer the image data. It becomes possible to transmit.

The above-described mail transmission processing (FIG. 13)
In, after selecting and specifying an image, the mode shifts to a transmission data creation mode, and in this transmission data creation mode, a mail created based on a key input (e-mail to be sent)
il content data) is attached to the specified image data and transmitted. However, after selecting and specifying an image, the image data corresponding to the specified image data and the image data are immediately transferred without shifting to the transmission data creation mode. It may be configured to transmit title data, date data, memo data, and the like.

In the above-described mail transmission process (FIG. 13), address-related data having an e-mail address is selected in step T23. For example, a modification 1 of the mail transmission process described later (FIG. 14) ), The address-related data that is untransmitted image data and has e-mail address data may be selected.

The mail transmission process may have a control configuration as shown in FIG. 14 or FIG. Hereinafter, modified examples 1 and 2 of the mail transmission process will be described.

First, a first modification of the mail transmission process shown in FIG. 14 will be described. In the first modification of the mail transmission process, when the CPU 46 is instructed to shift to the mail transmission process from the input unit 41, the CPU 46 reads a program related to the mail transmission process from the storage medium 49 via the storage device 48, and executes the process. Start.

First, the CPU 46 performs initial processing such as reading out the address file data stored in a predetermined area of the storage medium 49 and developing it in the address file memory 42b of the RAM 42 (step T41). The mode shifts to the transmission mode (step T42). In the untransmitted image transmission mode, the CPU 46 first selects untransmitted image data and e-mail from the address file data expanded in the address file memory 42b.
Address-related data having 1 address data is selected (step T43). The determination as to whether or not the image data has not been transmitted is made based on whether or not transmitted information described later is stored in association with the image data.

Then, the number (m) of the selected address-related data is temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the work memory 42c (step T44), and the n-th address-related data among the selected address-related data is stored. First, "1" is temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the work memory 42c as a designation number n for designation (step T4).
5).

Next, the e-mail address data in the n-th address related data is obtained by reading out from the address file memory 42b based on the designated number n stored in a predetermined area of the work memory 42c, and is obtained. 42c, and temporarily stores the title data, date data, memo data, and untransmitted image data in the n-th address-related data in the address file memory 42 (step T46).
b and temporarily stored in the transmission data memory 42a (step T47).

Next, the CPU 46 sets the work memory 42
c, the e-mail address data stored in the transmission data memory 42a, the title data, the date data, the memo data, and the untransmitted image data are read, and the read e-mail is read.
(1) The address data, title data, date data, memo data, and untransmitted image data are transferred to the communication unit 50.

In the communication section 50, the personal computer 2 is connected to a computer network via a communication line, and the title data transferred by the CPU 46,
Date data, memo data, and unsent image data are stored in e-
It transmits to the destination terminal based on the mail address data (step T48).

Next, data indicating that the image is a transmitted image is additionally stored in the address file data stored in a predetermined area of the storage medium 49 in association with the image data transmitted in step T48 (step T49).

Then, in step T50, it is determined whether or not "n = m", that is, all the untransmitted image data included in the address-related data selected in step T43 is associated with e. -Determine whether or not the message has been transmitted to the destination terminal based on the mail address data.

Here, if “n」 m ”and it is determined that untransmitted image data still remains,
The process proceeds to 51, where the designated number n stored in the predetermined area of the work memory 42c is incremented, and the process returns to step T46 to continue the transmission processing of the untransmitted image data in the n-th address related data.

Then, by repeating the processing of steps T46 to T51 the number of times of selection (m), the mail transmission processing ends when it is determined that “n = m” in step T50.

[0203] Modification 1 of the above-described mail transmission process
In FIG. 14, the configuration is such that the address-related data having untransmitted image data and e-mail address data is selected in step T43. For example, the address-related data having transmitted image data is automatically selected. With the configuration in which the erasing process is performed, it is not necessary to determine whether the image data is untransmitted image data, and it is possible to select all address-related data having e-mail address data.

Next, a modified example 2 of the mail transmission processing shown in FIG. 15 will be described. In the modified example 2 of the mail transmission process, the CPU 46 first communicates with the digital camera 1.
After setting and establishing various communication conditions for performing data transfer according to a predetermined communication protocol (step T61),
The operation shifts to the reception standby state (step T62).

Then, the CPU 46 controls the infrared communication unit 45.
In step T, it is determined whether or not data has been received.
63) If not, continue to monitor whether data has been received.

At this time, the above-described communication processing (see FIG. 10) is executed on the digital camera 1 side, and the plurality of image data and e-mail address data stored in the flash memory 31 of the digital camera 1 are sequentially transferred. While switching and displaying on the display unit 12, image data desired to be transmitted to the destination terminal is searched for and specified, and the image data and additional data (title data, date data, e-
mail address data and memo data), that is, address-related data is transferred to the personal computer 2.

Then, the CPU 46 determines in the step T6
3, if it is determined that data has been received, the received data (from the digital camera 1 through the communication process (FIG. 1)
0), the image data transferred to the personal computer 2 and its additional data). Data is added to the address file memory 42 of the RAM 42
b (step T64).

After that, the CPU 46 sets the digital camera 1
It is determined whether or not a transfer completion signal has been received (step T65). If no transfer completion signal has been received, the process returns to step T64. When determining that the transfer completion signal has been received, the CPU 46 transmits a reception completion signal to the digital camera 1 (step T66).

The number (m) of stored (received) image data and additional data (address-related data) stored in the address file memory 42b is stored in the work memory 42c.
Is temporarily stored in a predetermined area (step T6).
7) First, “1” is stored in a predetermined area of the work memory 42c as a designation number n for designating the n-th storage data among the stored storage data (address-related data) (step T68).

Next, it is determined whether or not the e-mail address data is included in the n-th storage data based on the designated number n stored in a predetermined area of the work memory 42c (step T69).

Here, if it is determined that the e-mail address data is included, the process shifts to step T70, where the image data included in the n-th storage data is further transmitted to the transmitted image data. , That is, whether the image data is image data that has been received in the past and has already been transmitted to the destination terminal (step T70). Here, when it is determined that the image data is not transmitted image data,
Move to step T71.

If it is determined in step T69 that e-mail address data is not included, and if it is determined in step T70 that the image data has been transmitted, the processing in steps T71 to T73 is performed. The process proceeds to Step T74 without any processing.

If it is determined in step T70 that the image data is not transmitted image data, the e-mail address data in the n-th storage data is addressed based on the designated number n stored in a predetermined area of the work memory 42c. The data is obtained by reading from the file memory 42b, temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the work memory 42c (step T71), and the title data, date data, memo data, and image data in the n-th storage data are stored in an address file. The data is read from the memory 42b and temporarily stored in the transmission data memory 42a (step T7).
2).

Next, the CPU 46 sets the work memory 42
c, and reads out the title data, date data, memo data, and image data stored in the transmission data memory 42a, and reads out the read out e-mail address data, title, The data, date data, memo data, and image data are transferred to the communication unit 50.

In the communication section 50, the personal computer 2 is connected to a computer network via a communication line, and the title data transferred by the CPU 46,
Date data, memo data, and image data are stored in e-ma
It transmits to the destination terminal based on the il address data (step T73).

Next, in step T74, it is determined whether or not “n = m”, that is, whether or not the processing in steps T69 to T73 has been performed on all the stored data stored in step T64.

Here, if “n ≠ m” and it is determined that unprocessed stored data still remains, the process shifts to step T75 to specify the designated data stored in the predetermined area of the work memory 42c. After the number n is incremented, the process returns to step T69, and the process for the n-th stored data is continued.

By repeating the processing of the above-mentioned steps T69 to T75 m times of the number of stored cases,
When it is determined in step 74 that “n = m”, the mail transmission process ends. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to select and specify image data to be transmitted as in the mail transmission processing (see FIG. 13).

[0219] In the second modification of the mail transmission process (see Fig. 15), in step T69, it is determined whether or not the stored data contains e-mail address data. If only the data including the e-mail address data is transferred on the first side, the determination processing in step T69 can be omitted.

[0220] In the second modification of the mail transmission process (see Fig. 15), it is determined in step T70 whether or not the image data in the stored data is transmitted image data. If the camera 1 is configured to transfer only stored data including untransferred (untransmitted) image data and e-mail address data (see FIG. 16 described later), the determination processing in steps T69 and T70 is omitted. Can be.

In the second modification of the mail transmission processing (see FIG. 15), the mail transmission processing is performed collectively after the reception of all the stored data is completed.
A mail transmission process may be performed each time reception of one piece of stored data is completed.

In the second modification of the mail transmission process (see FIG. 15), the communication process (see FIG. 10) described above is executed on the digital camera 1 side.
Although the image data and the additional data (address-related data) are transferred to the personal computer 2, the communication processing may have a control configuration as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, a modified example of the communication processing will be described.

First, the CPU 36 performs initial processing such as initialization (step S51). After that, CPU3
6 sets and establishes various communication conditions such as a transfer speed, a pulse width, and a modulation method for performing data transfer with a partner device that performs infrared communication according to a predetermined communication protocol (step S52), The mode shifts to the image transfer mode (step S53). In the untransferred image transfer mode, the CPU 36 first selects address-related data having untransferred image data and e-mail address data from the flash memory 31 (step S5).
4). The determination as to whether or not the image data has not been transferred is made based on whether or not transferred information described later is stored in association with the image data.

Then, one or more untransferred image data selected for transfer and its additional data (address-related data)
Is read from the flash memory 31 and the infrared communication unit 3
8 and transfer the data from the infrared communication section 38 to the personal computer 2 by infrared pulses (step S55), and then proceed to step S56.

After transmitting the transfer completion signal to the personal computer 2 (step S5).
6) It is determined whether or not a reception completion signal has been received from the personal computer 2 (step S57). When the reception completion signal is received, it indicates that the image is a transferred image in association with the image data transferred in step S55. The transferred data is additionally stored in the flash memory 31 (step S
58). The above is the operation procedure of the modified example of the communication processing executed by the CPU 36 of the digital camera 1.

A modification of the above-described communication processing (FIG. 1)
In step 6), the address-related data having the untransferred image data and the e-mail address data is selected in step S54. However, for example, the configuration is such that the transferred address-related data is automatically erased. For example, it is not necessary to determine whether or not the image data is untransferred image data, and a configuration can be adopted in which all address-related data having e-mail address data is selected.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the personal computer 2 transmits image data transferred from the digital camera 1 to the destination terminal. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which image data can be transmitted to the destination terminal by itself.

Hereinafter, this structure will be described. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a digital camera 100 having a telephone communication function. In the figure, a transmission section 39 is for transmitting an e-mail to a destination terminal via a communication line and a computer network, and is composed of a frequency conversion section and a modem. The frequency converter is
A modulated wave supplied from a modem described later is converted to a PLL (Phase
Locked Loop) performs frequency conversion by mixing with a local transmission signal of a predetermined frequency output from the synthesizer, and radiates from the antenna ATN. Next, in the above-described modem, the data supplied from the DRAM 29 (or the flash memory 31) is modulated and transmitted to the frequency conversion unit of the transmission unit 39.

The configuration other than the transmission unit 39 and the antenna ATN has the same configuration as that of the digital camera 1 described above, and thus the description is omitted.

The digital camera 10 shown in FIG.
In the circuit configuration of No. 0, the telephone communication function (the transmitting unit 39 and the antenna ATN) is built in the camera body, but, for example, the serial input / output terminal 18 is connected to the input / output terminal of the mobile phone. Is also good. The above is the configuration of the digital camera 100.

Next, the CPU 3 of the digital camera 100
The mail transmission process executed in step 6 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When instructed to shift to the mail transmission process from the key input unit 35, the CPU 36 executes a program relating to the mail transmission process to the R.
The data is read from the OM 33 and the processing is started.

First, the CPU 36 performs initial processing such as initialization (step S61). After that, CPU3
6 shifts to the transmission image designation mode (step S6).
2). In this transmission image designation mode, the CPU 36
First, in steps S63 to S67, steps S2 to S6 of the above-described data input processing (see FIGS. 8 and 9)
The same processing as the processing shown in FIG.
A plurality of image data stored in the "1" key 17
a, or in response to the pressing operation of the "-" key 17b, the display is switched on the display unit 12 in sequence, and the shutter key 15
The image data to be transmitted to the destination terminal is designated by the pressing operation of.

At this time, the e-mail address data is added as at least additional data to the image data displayed on the display unit 12 in response to the pressing operation of the "+" key 17a or the "-" key 17b. The display unit 12 displays additional data together with the image data.

Next, the CPU 36 determines whether or not there is any other image data to be transmitted based on the key operation (step S68), determines that the effect key 16 is pressed, and that there is still image data to be transmitted. If so, the process returns to step S64, and the process of specifying the image data to be transmitted is continued.

Further, the CPU 36 operates the shutter key 15
Is pressed, if it is determined that there is no other image data to be transmitted, the transmission unit 39 and the antenna ATN are driven to perform dial processing, thereby connecting the digital camera 100 to the computer network via the communication line. After that (step S69), the one or more image data designated to be transmitted and the title data, date data, and memo data, which are additional data, are read out from the flash memory 31, and the em-
It transmits to the destination terminal based on the aile address data (step S70).

After that, the line between the computer network and the digital camera 100 is disconnected (step S71), and the mail transmission processing ends. The above is the operation procedure of the mail transmission process executed by the CPU 36 of the digital camera 100.

With such a configuration, for example, the image data captured by the digital camera 100 together with the associates who have met at the travel destination can be used on the spot for the e-mail of the other party.
By inputting the address data, the image data can be transmitted to the destination terminal on the spot.

The mail transmission processing (FIG. 18)
A control configuration as shown in FIG. 19 or FIG. 20 may be used. Hereinafter, modified examples 1 and 2 of the mail transmission process will be described.

First, a first modification of the mail transmission process shown in FIG. 19 will be described. In the first modification of the mail transmission processing, when the CPU 36 is instructed by the key input unit 35 to shift to the mail transmission processing, the CPU 36 reads a program related to the mail transmission processing from the ROM 33 and starts the processing.

First, the CPU 36 performs initial processing such as initialization (step S81). After that, CPU3
6 shifts to the untransmitted image transmission mode (step S8)
2). In this untransmitted image transmission mode, the CPU 36
First, address-related data having untransmitted image data and e-mail address data is selected from the flash memory 31 (step S83). It should be noted that whether or not the image data has not been transmitted is determined by determining whether the transmitted information described later is associated with the image data in the flash memory 3 or not.
1 is performed based on whether or not it is stored.

After that, the CPU 36 drives the transmitting section 39 and the antenna ATN to perform dial processing, thereby connecting the digital camera 100 to the computer network via the communication line (step S8).
4) The one or more image data selected for transmission and the additional data such as title data, date data, and memo data are read out from the flash memory 31 and are read based on the e-mail address data respectively associated therewith. And transmits it to the destination terminal (step S85).

After the line between the computer network and the digital camera 100 is disconnected (step S86), the transmitted data indicating the transmitted image data is flashed in association with the image data transmitted in step S85. The mail is additionally stored in the memory 31 (step S87), and the mail transmission process ends.

[0243] Modification 1 of the above-described mail transmission process
In FIG. 19, in step S83, address-related data having untransmitted image data and e-mail address data is selected. For example, the address-related data having transmitted image data is automatically selected. With the configuration in which the erasing process is performed, it is not necessary to determine whether the image data is untransmitted image data, and it is possible to select all address-related data having e-mail address data.

With this configuration, it is not necessary to select and specify image data to be transmitted as in the above-described mail transmission processing (see FIG. 18).

Next, a modified example 2 of the mail transmission process shown in FIG. 20 will be described. In the second modification of the mail transmission process, the CPU 36 first performs an initialization process such as initialization (step S91). After that, the CPU 36
The mode shifts to the image transmission mode (step S92).

In this image transmission mode, the CPU 36
Is the e-key input from the key input unit 35 or the like by the user.
The mail address data is temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 34 (step S93).

Next, the CPU 36 determines whether or not the shutter key 15 for executing photographing has been operated (step S94). If the shutter key 15 has been operated, the CPU 20 converts the image data captured by the CCD 20 into a DR.
It is temporarily stored in the AM 29 (step S95).

Subsequently, the transmission section 39 and the antenna ATN are driven to perform dial processing, whereby the computer network and the digital camera 10 are connected via a communication line.
0 after the line is connected (step S96),
The image data captured at 95 is read from the DRAM 29 and the e-mai temporarily stored in the RAM 34 is read.
It transmits to the destination terminal based on the 1 address data (step S97).

After that, the line between the computer network and the digital camera 100 is disconnected (step S98), and the process returns to step S94 to continue the photographing process. The above is the operation procedure of the mail transmission process executed by the CPU 36 of the digital camera 100.

[0250] Modification 2 of the above-described mail transmission process
In FIG. 20, only the image data captured in steps S94 and S95 is configured to be transmitted to the destination terminal based on the e-mail address data input and set in step S93. The title data and the memo data described above may be input and set in addition to the e-mail address data, and the title data and the memo data set and input may be transmitted together with the image data in step S97.

As described above, the present invention has been specifically described based on the above embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the function of setting the destination address of the present invention is applied when data is transmitted from the personal computer 2 by e-mail has been described as an example. The scope of the invention is not limited to the data transmission by the e-mail, and it is needless to say that the invention can be applied to the data transmission by other wired or wireless communication.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera (electronic still camera) that captures still image data as an image input device. May be applied to an image input device that captures image data of a moving image.

In the present embodiment, both the digital camera 1 and the personal computer (PC) 2 are provided with an infrared communication function, and as shown in FIG. Although the case where the present invention is applied when performing data transfer to the MFP has been described as an example, the present invention also includes, for example, FIG.
The present invention is similarly applicable to a data communication mode (data transfer mode) as shown in FIGS.

FIGS. 21 (a) to 21 (d) are diagrams showing a data communication form between the digital camera 1 and the personal computer 2. FIG. FIG. 21A is a diagram showing a case where data communication is performed by infrared communication.
FIG. 21B is a diagram illustrating a case where data communication is performed via a communication cable (for example, RS-232C format), and FIG. 21C is a diagram illustrating a case where data transmission / reception is performed via a memory card. FIG. 21D is a diagram showing a case where data communication is performed via a communication line.

FIG. 21B shows that both the digital camera 1 and the personal computer (PC) 2 have I / O ports (the I / O ports 37 and I in the above embodiment).
/ O port 43), the case where the digital camera 1 and the personal computer (PC) 2 are connected via a communication cable. In the digital camera 1 and the personal computer (PC) 2 connected via this communication cable, the image data and its additional data (date data, title data, em-
Data communication such as e-mail address data and memo data) and control data are executed, and data transfer from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer (PC) 2 is realized.

FIG. 21C shows the digital camera 1
1 shows a case in which both a personal computer (PC) 2 and a personal computer (PC) 2 are provided with a card slot capable of connecting a memory card, and data is exchanged between the digital camera 1 and the personal computer (PC) 2 via the memory card. In the digital camera 1 and the personal computer (PC) 2 having the memory card slot, the digital camera 1 stores the image data and the additional data in the memory card, and the memory card is inserted into the card slot of the personal computer (PC) 2. The data transfer from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer (PC) 2 can be realized. In the case of data transfer via such a storage medium, the storage medium is not limited to a memory card, but may be another semiconductor memory, a magnetic or optical storage medium, or the like.

FIG. 21D shows the state of the digital camera 1.
Both the personal computer (PC) 2 and the personal computer (PC) 2 have a data communication function corresponding to a communication line, and the digital camera 1 and the personal computer (PC) 2 are connected via a predetermined communication line (public network, LAN, etc.). The figure shows the case of connection. The digital camera 1 and the personal computer (PC) 2 connected via this communication line execute data communication such as image data and its additional data and control data in a signal form corresponding to the communication line. Data transfer to a personal computer (PC) 2 is realized.

[0259]

According to the first and twenty-first aspects of the present invention, the electronic camera device can input destination address data of a destination terminal with respect to image data of a captured subject. Therefore, with the electronic camera device,
It is possible to directly input destination address data of image data.

According to the present invention, the destination address data is stored in the destination address data file, and the destination address data of the image data is selectively inputted from the destination address data file. It is possible to easily input the destination address data.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the output means of the electronic camera device outputs the image data and its destination address data to the external device, the image data and its destination address data are transmitted to the external device. It becomes possible to transfer.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to arbitrarily select whether to transfer only image data to an external device or to transfer image data and its destination address data to an external device. If there is no need to transfer the destination address data associated with the data to the external device, only the image data can be transferred to the external device, and the amount of data transferred to the external device can be reduced. Become.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the output means of the electronic camera device outputs the electronic camera device based on the destination address data.
Since the image data associated with the destination address data can be transmitted to the destination terminal,
Image data of the subject can be directly transmitted from the electronic camera device that has photographed the subject to the destination terminal.

According to the invention of claim 6, the selecting means selects image data to be output to the outside from the image data stored in the storage means, and the output means selects the selected image data and Since the destination address data is output to the outside, it is possible to use the image data stored in the storage means in the electronic camera device to select the image data to be output to the outside, thereby providing an electronic device with high operability. Became a camera device.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the selecting means selects desired destination address data from the destination address data stored in the storage means, and the output means selects the selected destination address data. In order to output the destination address data and the image data associated with the destination address data to the outside, the destination address data stored in the storage unit in the electronic camera device is used to obtain the desired destination address. Data can be selected, and image data associated with the selected destination address data can be output to the outside, resulting in a highly operable electronic camera device.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the image data not output to the outside is selected from the image data stored in the storage means by the selection means, and the output means selects the selected image data. Since the data and the destination address data are output to the outside, it is possible to output only the image data and the destination address data that have not been output to the outside.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the destination address data, the title data and / or memo data for the image data of the object photographed by the imaging means are input by the input means, and the input means inputs the title data and / or memo data to the storage means Stores the image data and its destination address data, title data and / or memo data in association with each other, and outputs the image data and its destination address data and title stored in the storage unit. Since the data and / or memo data is output to the outside, it is possible to add title data and / or memo data of the image data in addition to the destination address data to the image data. , Destination address data, title data and / or memo data can be output to the outside.

[0268] According to the tenth aspect, when an instruction to shoot a subject is issued by the instruction means, the output means sets the image data of the subject imaged by the imaging means and the setting means based on the shooting instruction. Since the destination address data set in (1) is output to the outside, it is possible to output the image data of the subject immediately taken to the outside, and to output the image data of the subject and the destination address data thereof. Therefore, the number of operations required is small and the convenience is high.

According to the eleventh and twenty-second aspects of the present invention, the received image data is stored in the storage means in association with the destination address data, and the image data stored in the storage means is stored in the storage means. Since the image data is transmitted to the destination terminal based on the destination address data associated with the image data, the received image data is transmitted to the destination terminal corresponding to the destination address data of the received image data. It becomes possible.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the selecting means selects one of the image data stored in the storing means.
The image data to be transmitted to the destination terminal is selected, and the transmission unit outputs the image data to the destination terminal based on the destination address data stored in association with the selected image data. By using image data stored in the storage means in the electronic device, it is possible to select image data to be transmitted to the destination terminal, so that the electronic device has high practicality.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the selecting means selects one of the image data stored in the storing means.
Image data that has not been sent to the destination terminal is selected,
The transmitting means transmits the image data to the destination terminal based on the destination address data stored in association with the selected image data, so that only the image data not transmitted to the destination terminal is transmitted to the destination. Transmission to the terminal becomes possible, and practicality is improved.

According to the fourteenth aspect, when the detecting means detects the completion of the reception of the image data and the destination address data by the receiving means, the transmitting means deletes the image data stored in the storage means. And transmitting the image data to the destination terminal based on the destination address data upon completion of reception of the image data and the destination address data for transmission to the destination terminal based on the destination address data. It is possible to do.

According to the fifteenth aspect, only the image data not transmitted to the destination terminal is transmitted to the destination terminal, and the image data once transmitted to the destination terminal is transmitted to the destination terminal again. Therefore, only untransmitted image data can be transmitted, and the load of the electronic device on transmitting image data can be reduced.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the image data and its destination address data, the title data and / or memo data of the image data are received by the receiving means, and the image data and the memo data are stored in the storage means. The data and its destination address data, title data and / or memo data are stored in association with each other, and the transmission means transmits the image data, title data and / or memo data stored in the storage means. Since the image data, the title data of the image data, and / or the memo data are transmitted to the destination terminal based on the destination address data, it is possible to transmit the image data to the destination terminal based on the destination address data.

According to the seventeenth aspect, the transmission means transmits the image data stored in the storage means and the transmission data input by the input means to the destination terminal based on the destination address data. Therefore, transmission data such as a message can be added to the image data transmitted to the destination terminal on the electronic device side, and the practicality is improved.

According to the eighteenth aspect, the electronic camera device can directly input destination address data used when the electronic device transmits image data received from the electronic camera device to the destination terminal. It becomes possible.

According to the invention of claim 19 and claim 20, in the invention of claim 19, the electronic camera device and the electronic device exchange data by wireless communication.
In the invention described in Item 0, the electronic camera device and the electronic device transmit and receive data by infrared communication. Therefore, even when the electronic camera device and the electronic device are located at remote positions, it is possible to transmit and receive data such as image data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the digital camera 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory configuration of a flash memory 31 of FIG. 2;

4 is a diagram showing an example of a character data storage table 34a developed in a RAM 34 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a personal computer 2 to which the present invention is applied.

6 is a diagram showing a memory configuration of a RAM 42 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a storage configuration of address file data in an address file memory 42b of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (part 1) of a data input process executed by the CPU 36 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart (part 2) of a data input process executed by the CPU 36 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a communication process executed by a CPU 36 in FIG. 2;

11 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data reproduced and displayed on the display unit 12 of FIG. 2 and additional data thereof.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an address file editing process executed by the CPU 46 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a mail transmission process executed by the CPU 46 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a first modification of the mail transmission process shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a modification 2 of the mail transmission process shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a modified example of the communication process shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a digital camera 100 to which the present invention has been applied.

18 is a flowchart of a mail transmission process executed by the CPU 36 of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a first modification of the mail transmission process shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of Modification 2 of the mail transmission process shown in FIG.

21 is a diagram showing a data communication form between the digital camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 and the personal computer 2 shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 1a Main body casing 2 Personal computer 11 Imaging lens 12 Display unit 13 Mode switch 14 Power switch 15 Shutter key 16 Effect key 17a "+" key 17b "-" key 18 Serial input / output terminal 19 Infrared window 20 CCD 21 Amplifier Reference Signs List 22 A / D converter 23 Drive circuit 24 Timing generator 25 Signal generator 26 VRAM 27 D / A converter 28 Amplifier 29 DRAM 30 Compression / expansion circuit 31 Flash memory 32 CG 33 ROM 34 RAM 34a Character data storage table 35 Key input section 36 CPU 37 I / O port 38 Infrared communication unit 39 Transmission unit 41 Input unit 42 RAM 42a Transmission data memory 42b Address file memory 42c Work memory Re 43 I / O ports 43a Serial input-output terminal 44 the compression / decompression circuit 45 an infrared communication unit 46 CPU 47 display unit 48 storage unit 49 storage medium 50 communication unit 51 bus

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04L 12/58 H04L 11/20 101B H04N 5/225 H04N 5/91 J 5/91

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject, input means for inputting destination address data indicating a destination of the image data to image data picked up by the image pickup means, and said image pickup means Storage means for storing the image data imaged by the above and the destination address data input by the input means in association with each other, and outputting the image data stored in the storage means and the destination address data to the outside An electronic camera device comprising: 2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a destination address data file for storing destination address data, wherein the input unit stores destination address data of the image data with respect to the image data captured by the imaging unit. 2. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic camera device is selectively inputted from the destination address data file. 3. An electronic camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means transfers the image data and its destination address data to an external device. 4. A setting means for setting whether or not to transfer the destination address data together with the image data when the output means transfers the image data and its destination address data to an external device. The electronic camera device according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein said output means transmits said image data to a destination terminal based on said destination address data. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects desired image data from a plurality of image data stored in the storage unit, wherein the output unit transmits the image data selected by the selection unit and transmission of the image data. 2. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein the destination address data is output to the outside. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit for selecting desired destination address data from the plurality of destination address data stored in said storage unit, wherein said output unit includes a transmission unit selected by said selection unit. 2. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein the destination address data and its image data are output to the outside. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects image data that has not been output to the outside by the output unit, from among the plurality of image data stored in the storage unit. 2. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein the selected image data and its destination address data are output to the outside. 9. The input means further comprises means for inputting title data and / or memo data for the image data, and the storage means stores the image data and its destination address data, and the input means. The output unit stores the input title data and / or memo data in association with each other, and outputs the image data and its destination address data, title data, and / or memo data stored in the storage unit. 2. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic camera device outputs the signal to an external device. 10. An image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject, a setting means for setting destination address data indicating a destination, an instruction means for instructing image pickup by the image pickup means, and an instruction means for instructing image pickup by the image pickup means. An electronic camera device, comprising: output means for outputting image data captured by the image capturing means and destination address data set in the setting means to an external device when capturing is instructed. . 11. Receiving means for receiving image data and its destination address data, storage means for storing the image data and its destination address data received by said receiving means, and stored in said storage means. An electronic device, comprising: transmission means for transmitting image data stored in the storage means to a destination terminal based on transmission destination address data. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a selection unit that selects desired image data from a plurality of image data stored in the storage unit, wherein the transmission unit transmits the image data selected by the selection unit. 12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image data selected by the selection unit is transmitted to the destination terminal based on the address data. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: selecting means for selecting, from the plurality of image data stored in said storage means, image data which has not been transmitted to the destination terminal by said transmitting means. 12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the image data selected by the selection unit is transmitted to the destination terminal based on the destination address data of the image data selected by the unit. 14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detecting means for detecting completion of reception of the image data and the transmission destination address data by said receiving means, wherein said transmitting means stores said data when said detecting means detects completion of reception. 12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the image data stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the destination terminal based on the destination address data stored in the destination device. 15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said transmitting means transmits image data which has not been transmitted to the destination terminal by said transmitting means. 16. The receiving means receives title data and / or memo data together with the image data and its destination address data, and the storage means stores the image data received by the receiving means and its destination. Address data, title data and / or memo data, wherein the transmitting means, based on destination address data stored in the storing means, image data stored in the storing means; The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the title device and / or the memo data are transmitted to a destination terminal. 17. An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting transmission data; wherein said transmission means is configured to store image data stored in said storage means and said input means based on destination address data stored in said storage means. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the transmission data input by the electronic device is transmitted to a destination terminal. 18. A transmission system comprising an electronic camera device and an electronic device, wherein the electronic camera device includes: an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject; An input unit for inputting destination address data indicating a destination of image data; a first unit for storing image data captured by the imaging unit and destination address data input by the input unit in association with each other Storage means, output means for outputting the image data stored in the first storage means and the destination address data to the outside,
A receiving unit that receives the image data output from the output unit and the destination address data thereof; and a second unit that stores the image data received by the receiving unit and the destination address data thereof. And transmission means for transmitting the image data stored in the second storage means to the destination terminal based on the destination address data stored in the second storage means. A transmission system, characterized in that: 19. The electronic camera device and the electronic device,
19. The transmission system according to claim 18, wherein data communication is performed by wireless communication. 20. The transmission system according to claim 19, wherein said wireless communication is an infrared communication. 21. A step of capturing an image of a subject, a step of inputting destination address data, a step of storing the captured image data and the input destination address data in storage means, Outputting the image data and the destination address data thereof stored in the electronic camera to an external device. 22. Receiving image data and its destination address data, storing received image data and its destination address data in a storage means, and destination address data stored in the storage means. Transmitting the image data stored in the storage means to the destination terminal based on the control method.