JP2002024060A - File storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a file storage device avoid that the same image file is redundantly stored when the image file is stored. SOLUTION: Whether or not the selected image file is the previously stored image file is judged based on a list of media IDs and a list of photographed date and time information recorded in a main memory (steps 104, 108), when it is the previously stored image file, a storage processing is inhibited (a step 112) and when it is not the previously stored image file, control is performed so as to perform the storage processing (steps 114, 118).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a file storage device, and more particularly, to a file storage device for recording images taken by a digital camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the rapid spread of digital cameras, the need for a file storage device for storing digital images taken by a digital camera has been increasing. As such a file storage device, a stand-alone file storage device that can be connected to a monitor screen of a TV or the like to print a digital image captured by a digital camera and to perform various image processing has been proposed.

This file storage device includes a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD), a PC card, an MO, a HiF
D (trade name; manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.), digital images read from recording media such as magneto-optical disks and smart media are displayed on a monitor screen such as a TV, and image processing is performed. Is output to a connected printer and printed out, and various processes can be performed without using a personal computer.

[0004] In recent years, a file storage device that is connected to a personal computer via an interface such as SCSI or USB to output a file recorded in the file storage device to the personal computer or to record an image input from the personal computer. Has also been proposed.

The name of an image file photographed by a digital camera is, for example, DSC00001. JPE
G, DSC00002. JPEG, DSC00003.
JPEG,... DSCxxxx. In most cases, simple numbers are assigned in the order of photographing, such as JPEG (where x is an arbitrary positive integer). For this reason, image files recorded on a plurality of recording media often have the same file name even though they are image files representing different images.

[0006] The file storage device is a device for storing image files from a plurality of recording media collectively. Therefore, when image files having the same file name are input, appropriate numbers are prevented from being duplicated. It is configured to change the number and save it.

[0007]

However, the above-described file storage device has the following problems. For example, when all the image files recorded in a certain recording medium are stored in the file storage device, the recording medium is once taken out of the file storage device, newly stored in an image file, and then re-entered in the file storage device. However, the file storage device stores both the already saved image file and the new image file. At this time, in the file storage device, since the files having the same number are appropriately changed and stored so that the numbers are not duplicated, even if the original image file is actually the same, it is stored with a different number.

That is, since the previously saved image file and the newly saved image file are saved without confirming whether they are the same image file at the time of saving, the same image file is double-saved with different file names. There is a problem. The same applies to the case where the recording medium is taken out, and nothing is recorded, and is again inserted into the file storage device to issue a storage instruction.

Further, when the same image file is stored twice, the file name is appropriately changed and stored so as not to duplicate the file name, so that different file names are given even if the original image file is the same. Therefore, it is difficult to determine from the list of saved file names whether or not the source image file is the same image file.

[0010] It is not preferable to store a plurality of image files in which the same image file is stored, since the memory capacity is excessively used for the redundantly stored image files. Therefore, conventionally, a user opens an image file, checks whether there is an image file representing the same image, and deletes the image file if there is an image file representing the same image.
This prevents unnecessary use of memory capacity.

However, this work requires a user to check each image file one by one, which makes the operation complicated and puts a heavy burden on the user. In particular, a large-capacity file storage device can store an enormous number of image files, so that when the number of stored image data becomes enormous, a great burden is imposed on the user.

For this reason, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-12341 discloses that when a file is saved from a storage medium to the destination, a date and a time are obtained from a built-in real-time clock, and a unique file is obtained by using these. A technique for creating a name and storing the name in a file storage device has been proposed.

According to this technique, a file name is created based on the date information unique to the image file information and stored in the file storage device. Therefore, unless the image file is the same, the file name does not become the same. Therefore, if the file name is the same, it is the same image file, so if the image file is duplicated and saved, it is only necessary to search for the file with the same file name, so the search amount can be reduced. It is possible.

However, even in this technique, it takes time and effort for the user to search for and delete the duplicated file, so that the operation becomes complicated when the image data amount becomes enormous, and the user is not burdened. Inevitable.

[0015] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a file storage device capable of avoiding redundant storage of the same image file when storing the image file.

[0016]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a file storage device comprising: an image file to be saved from a recording medium on which an image file photographed by a digital camera is recorded; Storage means for storing the unique information of the saved image file, a recording medium for saving the image file, and a unique information recording means for recording in a predetermined area of at least one of the storage means,
When the unique information of the saved image file recorded in the predetermined area and the unique information of the image file to be saved do not match, control is performed such that the image file to be saved is saved in the saving unit, And control means for controlling the image file to be saved so as not to be saved in the saving means if the two match.

In the file storage device of the present invention, the unique information of the stored image file is recorded in a recording medium for storing the image file and in at least one predetermined area of the storage unit. With this configuration, when saving the image file to be saved, when the unique information of the saved image file recorded in the predetermined area matches the unique information of the image file to be saved captured by the digital camera, the file is saved. It can be seen that the same image file exists in the image files stored in the device. Therefore, when the unique information of the saved image file recorded in the predetermined area and the unique information of the image file to be saved captured by the digital camera match,
The storage unit is controlled so that the image file to be stored is not stored.

If they do not match, the same image file does not exist in the image files stored in the file storage device. Therefore, the control means controls the storage means to store the image file to be stored. Control and
The unique information recording unit is controlled so that the unique information of the image file to be stored is recorded in the predetermined area.

Thus, the image file to be saved is saved in the file saving device, and the unique information of the image file is saved in the predetermined area, and the unique information of the saved image file is saved when the next image file is saved. It will be used as information.

In the present invention, the predetermined area in which the unique information of the image file is recorded is a recording medium for storing the image file to be stored, and a storage means for storing the image file to be stored. At least one of them. When the unique information of the image file is recorded in the storage unit, the stored file can be confirmed from the unique information of the image file recorded in the storage unit without reading the recording medium, and the stored file in the file storage device can be confirmed. Image files can be easily managed.

Further, when the unique information of the image file is recorded on the recording medium, an area for recording the unique information of the image file is not required in the storage means, so that the storage capacity of the file storage means can be effectively used. it can. Of course, it may be configured to record the unique information of the image file in both.

Further, the unique information recording means creates a list of the unique information of the image file corresponding to the file name of the stored image file when the unique information of the image file photographed by the digital camera is recorded. Can be recorded. By recording in this manner, it is preferable to easily compare the unique information of the image file to be stored and the unique information of the image file recorded in the predetermined area by the unique information recording unit.

As described above, the file storage device of the present invention comprises a recording medium as a storage source of an image file to be stored captured by a digital camera, and a file storage device as a storage destination of the image file to be stored. The unique information of the saved image file is saved in at least one of the predetermined areas. If the same unique information is recorded in the predetermined area when the image file is saved, the unique information is not saved. The same image file will not be duplicated and saved. Therefore,
The storage capacity of the file storage means can be used effectively.

Further, since the same image file is not redundantly stored, it is not necessary for the user to search for and delete the redundantly stored file, thereby facilitating file management.

It should be noted that the unique information of the image file can be used as long as it specifies an individual image file such as, for example, shooting date and time information given to the image file. Furthermore, by combining a plurality of pieces of information such as an ID number of a recording medium storing an image file and a file name in the recording medium,
It may be configured to increase the identification accuracy.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the file storage device according to the first aspect, the unique information recording means stores the image file to be saved together with the unique information of the image file to be saved. Is recorded in a predetermined area of the storage unit, and the control unit matches the unique information of the recording medium recorded in the predetermined area with the unique information of the recording medium storing the image file to be stored. If not, and / or if the unique information of the saved image file does not match the unique information of the image file to be saved, the image file to be saved is saved in the saving unit. Is controlled.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the unique information of the recording medium is recorded in a predetermined area of the storage means in addition to the unique information of the file. By this, if the storage unit reads the recording medium and the unique information of the recording medium is not recorded, it can be understood that all the image files included in the recording medium are image files not stored in the storage unit. Therefore, the control unit controls the image file stored in the recording medium to be stored by the storage unit.

If the same unique information of the recording medium as the read unique information of the recording medium is recorded in the file storage device, part or all of the image file stored in the recording medium is stored in the storage means. It is when it is saved.

For this purpose, the control means compares the unique information of the image file recorded in the storage means with the unique information of the image file to be saved. If they match, it is an image file stored in the storage means, and control is performed so that the image file is not stored in the storage means. If they do not match, it means that the image file is not stored in the storage means, so that the image file is controlled to be stored in the storage means.

With this configuration, the accuracy of the determination as to whether the image file stored in the recording medium has been saved is improved. Further, when the unique information of the recording medium is not recorded, it is not necessary to check whether the image file to be saved is saved every time saving is performed, so that the processing efficiency is improved.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the file storage device according to the first aspect, the unique information recording unit stores the unique information of the image file to be saved together with the unique information of the image file to be saved. The information is recorded in a predetermined area of a recording medium, and the control unit is configured to store the unique information of the storage unit recorded in the predetermined area of the recording medium and the unique information of the storage unit in which the image file to be stored is stored. The image file to be saved is stored in the storage unit when either one of them does not match, or when the unique information of the saved image file does not match the unique information of the image file to be saved. Control as described above.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the unique information of the storage means is recorded in addition to the unique information of the image file. If the unique information of the storage means for reading the recording medium is not recorded in the recording medium, it is understood that all the image files included in the recording medium have not been previously stored in the same file storage device.

[0033] Therefore, the control means, if the storage medium reading the recording medium is not recorded with the unique information of the storage means, and a storage instruction is issued to the image file stored in the recording medium, the control means The storage means is controlled so that the file is stored. At this time, it is preferable to control the unique information recording means so that the unique information of the storage means is saved in a predetermined area of the recording medium together with the saving of the image file.

When the unique information of the storage means for reading the recording medium is recorded on the recording medium, a part or all of the image file stored on the recording medium may be stored on the file storage device. Understand.

For this reason, the control means reads the unique information of the saved image file recorded on the recording medium, compares it with the unique information of the image file to be saved, and if it matches, saves it in the file storage device. Since the image file is an image file, control is performed so that the image file is not stored in the storage unit.

If they do not match, the image file is not stored in the file storage device, so that the image file is controlled to be stored in the storage device, and the unique information of the storage device is stored in the storage medium. The unique information recording means is controlled so as to be stored in a predetermined area.

With this configuration, the accuracy of determining whether or not the image file stored on the recording medium has been stored in the file storage unit is improved. Further, when the unique information of the storage means is not recorded, it is not necessary to check whether or not the image file to be saved has been saved every time the image file is saved, so that the processing efficiency is improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a file storage device, comprising: storage means for storing an image file to be stored from a recording medium on which an image file photographed by a digital camera is recorded; A stored information recording means for recording the stored information in a predetermined area of, and when there is stored information in a predetermined area of the image file of the storage source, control to prevent the image file from being stored in the storage means, And control means for controlling the image file to be stored in the storage means when there is no stored information in a predetermined area of the image file of the storage source.

In the file storage device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention,
If there is stored information in the image file taken by the digital camera, since the image file is already stored in the storage unit of the file storage device, the control unit
The image file is controlled not to be stored in the storage unit, and the storage operation is stopped.

If there is no stored information in the image file, the image file has not been stored by the storage unit of the file storage device, and the control unit stores the image file in the storage unit. The control is performed so as to store the information, and the stored information recording unit controls the stored information to be recorded in a predetermined area of the image file of the storage source.

As described above, in the file storage device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the stored information is recorded in a predetermined area in the image file for the stored image file.
When the image file is saved, if there is saved information in the predetermined area, it is not saved, and if there is no saved information, it is saved as a new image file, so that the same image file is not redundantly saved. Therefore, the memory capacity of the file storage device can be effectively used.

Further, since the same image file is not redundantly stored, it is not necessary for the user to search for and delete the redundantly stored file.
File management becomes easy.

Further, since the stored information is recorded in a predetermined area in the image file, it is possible to reliably determine whether or not the information has been stored, and it is not necessary to secure a separate area only for recording the stored information. It is preferred.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the control means includes: a recording medium for storing the image file to be stored, when there is no stored information in a predetermined area of the storage source image file; It is determined whether or not there is unique information of the saved image file in at least one predetermined area of the storage unit in which the image file to be saved is stored. If not, the image file is stored in the storage unit. When it is determined that there is, the unique information of the saved image file is compared with the unique information of the image file to be saved. Means to store the image file to be stored, and control to record the unique information of the image file. It may be configured to control so as not to be stored in the stage. With this configuration, it can be determined whether or not the image file has been saved according to the type of the image file, and the confirmation processing speed is improved.

[0045]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment in which a file recording device of the present invention is applied to a file device will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, a file device 10 according to the first embodiment is roughly divided into operation buttons 1
2, mode selection button 14, display 16, control unit 18, main memory 20, memory card drive 22
And an interface (hereinafter referred to as I / F) 24 and the like. A part of the control unit 18 corresponds to the unique information recording unit and the control unit of the present invention, and
0 corresponds to the storage means of the present invention.

The file device 1 according to the first embodiment
0 is an I / F such as SCSI or USB as shown in FIG.
24, a personal computer 50, a television 52, and a printer 54
It is connected to the.

On the front of the main body of the file device 10,
As shown in FIG. 2, the slot 42 for smart media,
A PC card slot 44, a floppy disk slot 46, and a HiFD slot 48 are provided.
A data recording card such as a smart media, a PC card, a floppy disk, and a large-capacity recording medium such as a HiFD is inserted into each of these slots, and a file (data) recorded on the data recording card is read out. The file (data) recorded in the main memory 20 can be written on the data recording card.

Although not shown, the main body of the file device 10 is provided with an operation button 12, a mode selection button 14, and a display 16.

The operation buttons 12 perform necessary operations such as selection, execution, and cancellation of various functions provided in the file device 10. Here, although illustration is omitted, for example, a determination button or a cancel button for determining various menus displayed on the screen, or a cursor displayed on the display image is moved or displayed on the display image. These buttons are necessary for various operations of the file device 10, such as a cross button for selecting various displayed menus.

The mode selection button 14 is set to the I / F2
The user selects various modes set in the file device, such as a priority selection mode for determining the priority of the device connected to “0”.

Note that the priority selection mode is set for the personal computer 50.
And when the television 52 is connected to the I / F 24,
This mode determines the priority of the display device and the priority of the image processing device.

The priority of the display device is, for example, a mode in which the display device is determined according to a predetermined priority such as the television 52 in the first place and the personal computer 50 in the second place, and all connected devices. May be configured to select one of a mode in which is a display device and a mode in which the user selects a display device.

The priority of the processing device is determined by a mode in which the processing device (that is, the priority of the instruction by the processing device) is determined according to a predetermined priority in the order of the file device 10, the personal computer 50, and the printer 54. It can be configured such that one of the modes for selecting the display device is selected.

When at least one of the personal computer 50 and the printer 54 is connected to the file device 10, the control signal of the file device 10 is given priority over the control signals from the personal computer 50 and the printer 54. A priority mode, a personal computer priority mode in which the control signal from the personal computer 50 has priority over the control signal of the file device 10, and a printer priority mode in which the control signal from the printer 54 has priority over the control signal of the file device 10 are provided. It can be configured to select from among them.

The display 16 displays the current state of the file device, such as various operation modes, image quality, and the number of recordable images set in the file device 10, and displays a warning when an inconvenience occurs. For example, various information required for controlling the file device is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 18 has a CPU
26, a ROM 28, and a RAM 30. The operation buttons 12, the mode selection buttons 14,
The display 16, the main memory 20, the memory card drive 22, and the I / F 24 are connected.

The ROM 28 includes various programs for controlling each component of the file device, a priority selection program for controlling the above-described priority selection mode, a storage program for controlling the storage operation, and the like. Various programs necessary for control are stored. RAM30
Various data and control signals required for each of the programs input via the bus 40 are recorded in the.

The CPU 26 controls the file device based on various programs read from the ROM 28. The control of the CPU 26 based on the storage program will be described later.

The main memory 20 has a list of DCF objects, image files, media IDs (FIG. 4; details will be described later) input from external devices such as the personal computer 50 and the printer 54 via the I / F 24, A list of date and time information (FIG. 5A; details will be described later) is recorded based on the storage program (details will be described later).

The memory card drive 22 includes the control unit 1
8 writes an image file or data to the memory card 32 based on a write signal from the control unit 18 or a DCF object, an image file, image data, and compressed image data stored in the memory card 32 based on a read signal from the control unit 18. Is read and recorded in the main memory 20.

Here, various types of recording media such as smart media, floppy disk (FD), high-capacity recording media such as MO and HiFD, and magneto-optical disks are collectively referred to as a memory card 32. Therefore, the memory card drive 22 is provided corresponding to the type of the memory card 32 that the file device 10 can read and write.

Here, a control routine performed by the CPU 26 based on the storage program read from the ROM 28 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, a case where a smart media is mounted as the memory card 32 will be described.

First, when it is determined in step 100 that the smart media has been mounted, the process proceeds to step 102,
A media ID (for example, 00... 10) previously assigned to the smart media as the unique information of the smart media.
Read 0).

In the next step 104, the main memory 2
It is determined whether or not a media ID that matches the read media ID exists in the list of media IDs recorded in “0” (for example, FIG. 4). FIG. 4 shows an example of a list of previously read media IDs. Here, for simplicity of description, the media IDs are described in a decimal system. However, actually, the media IDs are recorded in a byte base number such as 16 bytes. Have been.

If it is determined that the smart media exists, the flow proceeds to step 106 because the smart media has been read before, and the corresponding media ID (for example, 00...) Is read.
.. 100), a list of the shooting date and time information of the saved image file recorded (eg, FIG. 5A) is read, and the process proceeds to step 108.

In step 108, it is determined whether an image file in the smart media has been selected for storage. If not selected, no saving operation is performed, so this routine is terminated.
Then, it is determined whether or not the list read in step 106 contains shooting date and time information that matches the shooting date and time information of the selected image file.

If it is determined that there is matching shooting date and time information in the list, it is determined that the selected image file is an image file that has been saved before, and therefore, step 1
At 12, the storage of the selected image file is prohibited, the process returns to step 108, and the above-described processing is repeated. At this time, a configuration may be adopted in which a warning is issued if the image file has been saved once.

If it is determined that there is no matching shooting date / time information in the list, the selected image file is an image file that has never been saved, and Perform the save process and record the shooting date and time information in the list,
Returning to step 108, the above processing is repeated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 104 that there is no media ID that matches the read media ID in the list of media IDs recorded in the main memory 20, it is determined that the previously read media ID has not been read. Since there is no smart media, the process proceeds to step 116 to determine whether the image file in the smart media has been selected for storage.

If not selected, no saving operation is performed, so this routine is terminated. If selected, the process goes to step 118 to perform the saving process of the selected image file and to list shooting date and time information. And returns to step 108 to repeat the above-described processing.

As described above, in the file device of the first embodiment, the media ID recorded in the main memory 20
, And determines whether the selected image file is a previously saved image file based on the list of shooting date and time information, and if the image file is a previously saved image file, prohibits the saving process and saves the previously saved image file. If the image file is not an image file, the storage process is controlled so that the same image file can be prevented from being redundantly stored.

In the above example, the case where the shooting date / time information is listed in correspondence with the media ID has been described. However, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to configure so as to judge whether or not a file is a previously saved file from a list of information and a set. In this case, the determination accuracy of the image file is further improved.

As an application example of the first embodiment, instead of a list of shooting date / time information, shooting date / time information of the last saved image file is recorded, and one or more image files are selected for storage. In this case, the image file photographed after the photographing date and time information is saved, and the image file before the photographing date and time information is controlled not to be saved.

With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the amount of information to be recorded for determining whether the data has been stored before. Therefore, the algorithm for the determination can be simplified, which is preferable. Further, in this case, instead of the shooting date / time information of the last saved image file, a set of the file name of the last selected image file and the shooting date / time information may be stored. Note that this configuration is particularly effective in determining how much a single memory card on which an image has been photographed over time has been stored.

(Second Embodiment) The file device 10 according to the second embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the file device according to the first embodiment described above. explain.

The file device 10 according to the second embodiment is
A list of date information of the image file stored in the smart media storing the image file to be stored, and the ID of the file device 10 storing the image file
Is saved.

The ROM 28 of the control unit 18 determines whether or not the image file has been stored before based on the list recorded in the smart media at the time of the storing process.
If the image file has not been stored before, the image file is stored in the main memory 20, and the date information of the stored image file and the ID of the file device 10 storing the image file are recorded in the smart media. Is stored. CPU26
Controls the storage operation based on the storage program.

The main memory 20 stores DCF objects and image files input from external devices such as the personal computer 50 and the printer 54 via the I / F 24.

Here, a control routine performed by the CPU 26 based on the storage program read from the ROM 28 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, if it is determined in step 200 that the smart media has been mounted, the process proceeds to step 202 and the file device 1
It is determined whether a list of device IDs 0 (for example, FIG. 7) is recorded in the currently read smart media. The device ID is information that makes it possible to identify each device, such as a serial number. FIG. 7 shows an example of a list of device IDs from which the smart media has been read before. Here, for simplicity of description, the list is described in decimal notation.
For example, it is recorded in a byte number such as 16 bytes.

If it is determined in step 202 that the device ID list is not recorded on the smart media,
Move to step 216.

If it is determined in step 202 that the list of device IDs is recorded on the smart media, the smart media has been stored in the file device 10 at least once, and the process proceeds to step 204. Then, it is determined whether or not the device ID (for example, 02... 300) of the file device 10 that is currently reading the smart media is in the smart media list.

If it is determined in step 204 that the device ID of the file device is not in the list, the process proceeds to step 216.

If it is determined in step 204 that the device ID of the file device is in the list, the smart media which has been read by the file device 10 which is currently reading the smart media has been read. The process proceeds to step 206, where a list of the shooting date and time information (for example, FIG. 8A) of the stored image file recorded corresponding to the device ID is read, and step 208 is performed.
Move to

In step 208, it is determined whether the image file in the smart media has been selected for storage. If it is not selected, the saving process is not performed, so this routine is ended. If it is selected, step 210 is executed.
Then, it is determined whether the list read in step 206 includes shooting date and time information that matches the shooting date and time information of the selected image file.

If it is determined that there is matching shooting date and time information in the list, it means that the selected image file is an image file that has been saved before, and therefore, the step 2
In step 12, the saving process is prohibited for the selected image file, the process returns to step 208, and the above process is repeated. At this time, a configuration may be adopted in which a warning is issued if the image file has been saved once.

If it is determined that there is no matching shooting date and time information in the list, the selected image file is an image file that has never been saved, and Perform the save process and record the shooting date and time information in the list,
Returning to step 208, the above processing is repeated.

On the other hand, the process proceeds to step 216 in the case where the image file in the smart media has been read before and the smart device in which the image file in the smart media has not been previously stored is read. Since the image file in the smart media is reading the smart media that has never been stored, the file device 10 does not need to prohibit the storage processing.

Therefore, in step 216, it is determined whether an image file in the smart media has been selected for storage. If it is not selected, the saving process is not performed, so this routine is terminated. If it is selected, the process proceeds to step 218 to perform the saving process of the selected image file, and the shooting date / time information is included in the list. After recording, the process returns to step 202 and the above-described processing is repeated.

As described above, in the file device of the second embodiment, based on the list of device IDs and the list of shooting date / time information recorded on the smart media, the selected image file is stored in the previously stored image file. The same image file is redundantly stored in order to judge whether it is a previously saved image file and to prohibit the saving process if it is a previously saved image file, and to perform the saving process if it is not a previously saved image file. Can be avoided.

Further, since the list of the device ID and the list of the photographing date / time information are recorded on the smart media, the selected image file can be reliably determined without being erroneously recognized as a completely different image file. .

In the above example, the case where the shooting date and time information is listed for each device ID has been described.
As shown in (B), it is also possible to determine whether or not the file is a previously saved file from a list of pairs of a file name and shooting date and time information corresponding to the device ID. In this case, the determination accuracy of the image file is further improved.

(Third Embodiment) The file device 10 according to the third embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the file device according to the above-described second embodiment. explain.

In the file device 10 according to the third embodiment, the ROM 28 of the control unit 18 determines whether an Exif file and an image file of a type other than an Exif file are stored in the ROM 28 and determines whether the image file has been stored for each type. Is stored, and a storage program for storing or not storing is stored. The CPU 26 controls a save operation based on the save program. A part of the control unit 18 corresponds to the stored information recording unit and the control unit of the present invention, and the main memory 20 corresponds to the storing unit of the present invention.

Here, a control routine performed by the CPU 26 based on the storage program read from the ROM 28 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when it is determined in step 300 that the smart media is mounted, the process proceeds to step 302, and it is determined whether an image file in the smart media has been selected for storage.

If no selection is made, the saving process is not performed, so this routine is terminated. If a selection is made, the process proceeds to step 304, where the selected image file is stored in the Exif file.
Determine if it is a file.

If it is determined that the file is not an Exif file, the flow shifts to step 312 to perform a list comparison process described later. If it is determined that the file is an Exif file, the process proceeds to step 306 to read the TAG of the Exif file, and in the next step 308, determines whether a stored flag indicating that the TAG has been stored in the file device is set. I do. If the stored flag is set in the TAG, the storing process is prohibited in step 310 for the selected image file, the process returns to step 302, and the above process is repeated. At this time, a configuration may be adopted in which a warning is issued if the image file has been saved once.

If it is determined in step 308 that the stored flag is not set in the TAG, the selected image file is an image file that has never been stored. At the same time as performing the saving process, the saved flag is set in the TAG, the process returns to step 302, and the above process is repeated.

Here, the control routine of the list comparison process in step 312 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step 400, the device ID of the file device 10
To determine if the list is recorded on the currently loaded SmartMedia.

If it is determined in step 400 that the device ID list is not recorded on the smart media,
Move to step 410. Also, in step 402,
If it is determined that the list of device IDs is recorded on the smart media, at least once the file device 10
In step 402, it is determined whether or not the device ID of the file device 10 which is currently reading the smart media is in the smart media list.

When it is determined in step 402 that the device ID of the file device is not in the list, the process proceeds to step 410.

If it is determined in step 402 that the device ID of the file device is in the list, the smart media that has been read by the file device 10 that is currently reading the smart media has been read. The process proceeds to step 404 to read a list of the shooting date and time information of the stored image file recorded corresponding to the device ID, and then proceeds to step 406.

At step 406, at step 404
It is determined whether or not there is shooting date and time information that matches the shooting date and time information of the selected image file in the list read in.

If it is determined that there is matching shooting date and time information in the list, it is determined that the selected image file is an image file that has been saved before, so that step 4
In step 08, the saving process is prohibited for the selected image file, and the routine ends. In addition,
At this time, it is also possible to configure so that a warning is issued if the image file is once stored.

If it is determined that there is no matching shooting date and time information in the list, the selected image file is an image file that has never been saved, and Perform the save process and record the shooting date and time information in the list,
This routine ends.

On the other hand, the process proceeds to step 410 in the case where the image file in the smart media has been read before and the smart device in which the image file in the smart media has not been stored before is read. Since the image file in the smart media is reading the smart media that has never been stored, the file device 10 does not need to prohibit the storage processing.

Therefore, in step 410, the selected image file is saved, the shooting date and time information is recorded in the list, and the routine ends.

As described above, in the third embodiment, if the image file selected for saving is an Exif file, the image file previously saved is determined based on the presence / absence of the saved flag recorded in the TAG of the Exif file. It is determined whether the image file has been saved, and if the image file has been saved before, the saving process is prohibited, and if not, the saving process is performed. Also, Exi
If the file is not an f-file, a list is created on the smart media, and the image file is determined to be an image file that has been saved by the same processing as that of the file device of the second embodiment.

With such a configuration, even when different types of image files are stored in the smart media, it is possible to reliably prevent the same image file from being redundantly stored.

In the case of an Exif file, a flag is set in a predetermined area in the image file, so that the memory capacity of the file device is not excessively used, which is preferable. In addition, since the flag is set in the TAG, it is difficult for the user to find it, and it is possible to prevent information from being manipulated due to erroneous processing from the outside.

In the third embodiment, the flag for storing the TAG is set, but the present invention is not limited to this. The image file is stored in addition to the flag for storing. It is also possible to configure so as to record the device ID of the file device. This configuration is preferable because, when the same image file is stored in each of a plurality of file devices, the stored file device and the unsaved file device can be distinguished.

[0111] Although the configuration in which the list of the device ID and the list of the photographing date and time information used in the list comparison process in step 312 are recorded on the smart media has been described, it may be configured that the list is recorded on the file device.

In the present embodiment, a case has been described in which a flag is set for an Exif file. However, the present invention is not limited to an Exif file, and internally stores attribute information such as a DCF file or a TIFF file. It can be applied to image files that can be attached.

[0113]

As described above, according to the present invention, when saving an image file, it is possible to avoid saving the same image file more than once.

Accordingly, there is an effect that useless use of the memory capacity of the file device can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a file device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the file device according to the first embodiment is connected to an external device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control routine performed by a control unit of the file device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a media ID list.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a list of shooting date information recorded in correspondence with one media ID, and FIG. 5B is recorded in correspondence with one media ID; FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a list of a set of a file name and shooting date information that have been input;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control routine performed by a control unit of the file device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a device ID list.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a list of shooting date information recorded corresponding to one device ID;
FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a list of a set of a file name and shooting date information recorded corresponding to one device ID.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a control routine performed by a control unit of the file device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a list comparison process illustrated in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 File device 12 Operation button 14 Mode selection button 16 Display 18 Control part 20 Main memory 22 Memory card drive 24 Interface 26 CPU 28 ROM 30 RAM 32 Memory card 40 Bus 42 Smart media slot 44 Card slot 46 Floppy disk slot 48 HiFD slot 50 PC 52 TV 54 Printer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/91 J

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing an image file to be stored from a recording medium on which an image file photographed by a digital camera is recorded, and a recording medium for storing the unique information of the stored image file. And unique information recording means for recording in a predetermined area of at least one of the storage means, and the unique information of the saved image file recorded in the predetermined area does not match the unique information of the image file to be saved. Control means for controlling the image file to be stored in the storage means in the case, and controlling the image file to be stored so as not to be stored in the storage means in the case of a match. Storage device. 2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the unique information recording unit records the unique information of the storage medium storing the image file to be saved together with the unique information of the image file to be saved in a predetermined area of the storage unit. When the unique information of the recording medium recorded in the predetermined area does not match the unique information of the recording medium in which the image file to be saved is saved, and when the unique information of the saved image file is If the unique information of the image file does not match,
2. The file storage device according to claim 1, wherein control is performed such that an image file to be stored is stored in the storage unit. 3. The unique information recording unit records, in a predetermined area of a recording medium, unique information of a storage unit in which the image file is saved together with unique information of an image file to be saved. When the unique information of the storage unit recorded in a predetermined area of the recording medium does not match the unique information of the storage unit in which the image file to be saved is saved; and
In one of the cases where the unique information of the saved image file does not match the unique information of the image file to be saved, control is performed such that the image file to be saved is saved in the saving unit. The file storage device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A storage means for storing an image file to be stored from a recording medium in which an image file photographed by a digital camera is recorded, and stored information for recording stored information in a predetermined area of a storage source image file. Recording means, when there is stored information in a predetermined area of the image file of the storage source, controls the image file not to be stored in the storage means, and the stored information is stored in a predetermined area of the image file of the storage source. Control means for controlling the image file to be stored in the storage means when there is no image file. 5. A storage medium for storing an image file to be stored when there is no stored information in a predetermined area of the image file of the storage source, and wherein the image file to be stored is stored. It is determined whether or not there is unique information of the saved image file in at least one of the predetermined areas of the storage means. If it is determined that there is no unique information, control is performed so that the image file is stored in the storage means. If determined, the unique information of the saved image file is compared with the unique information of the image file to be saved, and if they do not match, control is performed so that the image file to be saved is saved in the saving means. And control so that the unique information of the image file is recorded, and when they match, control is performed so that the image file to be stored is not stored in the storage unit. File storage device according to claim 4, characterized in Rukoto.