JP2009153145A - Digital camera, information processor, and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image data transfer device, wherein it is not necessary to start an application, to instruct transfer, to impart a file name, and the like, for image data transfer. <P>SOLUTION: When an image data management device recognizes the connection of an image data transfer device, a command indicating the recognition is transmitted (step S42). In response to the command, the image data transfer device issues an automatic transfer start requesting command (step S43). The image data management device issues a transmission permitting command responding to the automatic transfer start requesting command, and automatic transfer is started. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image data transfer device such as a digital camera that transfers image data to an image management device such as a PC (personal computer), an image data management device that efficiently manages and stores received image data, and these image data transfers. The present invention relates to an image data management system including an apparatus and an image data management apparatus.

  Conventionally, an image recording device such as a digital camera is connected to an image storage management device capable of storing and managing image data such as a PC, and the image data in the image recording device is transferred to the image storage management device. Therefore, there is a system for storing and managing image data.

However, the above conventional techniques have the following problems.
First, the user needs to connect the digital camera to the PC, put the digital camera into a mode that allows data transfer, and in that state, on the PC, start the application for connecting to the digital camera and transferring data. was there. In addition, the application side has to specify the management method of the acquired data, for example, a file name and a folder name each time.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image data transfer apparatus that does not require activation of an application for image data transfer, transfer instruction, file name assignment, and the like, which are conventionally required.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image data management apparatus capable of automatically classifying and storing received image data under predetermined conditions.

  That is, the gist of the present invention is an image data transfer apparatus having an internal storage means for storing image data and an interface means capable of communicating with other devices, and detecting that an external device is connected to the interface means. First connection recognizing means, a transfer request issuing means for issuing a transfer request for image data to the external apparatus in which the connection is detected when the first connection recognizing means recognizes the connection of the external device, and a transfer request And an image data transfer device having data transfer means for starting the transfer of the image data.

  Another gist of the present invention is an image data transfer apparatus having an internal storage means for storing image data and an interface means capable of communicating with other equipment, wherein an external device is connected to the interface means. When a predetermined command is input from the command input unit in a state where the connection of the first connection recognition unit, the command input unit, and the external device is detected, an image data transfer request is sent to the external device. Second transfer request issuing means for issuing, data transfer means for starting transfer of image data when the transfer request is permitted, an interface capable of communicating with the external device, and detecting that the external device is connected to the interface Two connection recognition means, and a classification means for performing predetermined naming on image data transferred from an external device whose connection is recognized, and classifying the image data according to predetermined conditions Having a storage means for storing image data to be transferred resides in the image data management apparatus according to claim.

  Another gist of the present invention is an image data management system including an image data transfer device and an image data management device that are detachable from each other, wherein the image data transfer device stores (a) image data therein. A storage means, (b) a connection recognition means for recognizing a connection with the image data management apparatus, and (c) when the connection recognition means recognizes a connection with the image data apparatus in a state where a predetermined setting has been made, Transfer request issuing means for issuing a transfer request for image data to the data management apparatus; and (d) a data transfer means for starting transfer of image data upon receiving a transfer permission command corresponding to the transfer request from the image data management apparatus. And the image data management device receives (a) a transfer request from the image data transfer device, and (b) a transfer permission command. Classification means for receiving the image data transferred by the image data transfer device corresponding to the received image, giving a predetermined name to the received image data, and classifying the received image data under a predetermined condition; and (c) transferring the image data The present invention resides in an image data management system having storage means for storing.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a storage medium for storing a program that can be executed by the apparatus. The apparatus that executes the program is replaced with the image data transfer apparatus and the image data management apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention. Or it exists in the storage medium characterized by functioning as an image data monitoring system.

  As described above, according to the image data management system of the present invention, image data transfer from the image data holding device to the image data management / storing device, file name assignment, image data management are automated, The procedure for management and storage can be greatly simplified.

  Further, since image data is automatically classified and stored / managed based on incidental information related to the data such as the shooting date and time, the image data can be easily retrieved after transfer.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Configuration of image data management system)
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an apparatus configuration capable of implementing an image data management system according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 301 denotes a computer main body which is a general-purpose personal computer, 302 is a display connected to the computer main body 301, 303 is a mouse which is a typical pointing device, 304 is a mouse button, and 305 is a keyboard. Further, reference numeral 307 denotes a digital camera that can be connected to the computer main body 301, which is connected by a general-purpose interface capable of transferring data such as a bidirectional serial interface 306 or USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of hardware and software and their mutual relationship according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, 509 is hardware, 505 is an operating system (OS) operating on the hardware 509, and 504 is application software operating on the OS 505. In FIG. 2, the hardware 509 and the OS 505 are naturally included as structural requirements, but those not directly necessary for describing the present embodiment are not shown. Examples of such configuration requirements (not shown) include a CPU and memory as hardware, and a memory management system as an OS.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 515 denotes a hard disk for storing files and data, and reference numeral 508 denotes a file system constituting the OS, which has a function that allows application software to input and output files without directly controlling the hardware. Reference numeral 514 denotes a disk I / O interface for the file system 508 to read from and write to the hard disk 515. Reference numeral 507 denotes a drawing management system constituting the OS, which has a function that allows re-application software to perform drawing without directly controlling the hardware.

  Reference numeral 513 denotes a video interface for the drawing management system 507 to draw on the display 302. Reference numeral 506 denotes an input device management system constituting the OS, which has a function that allows application software to receive user input without directly controlling the hardware. This includes a USB host system that becomes a host when a USB device is used.

  Reference numeral 510 denotes a keyboard interface for the input device management system 506 to receive input from the keyboard 305, and mouse interface 512 denotes a mouse interface for the input device management system 506 to receive input from the mouse 303. Further, the digital camera 307 is connected to a 516 bidirectional serial interface or a USB interface, and can exchange image data and the like through a 506 input device management system. The 521 input / output device command monitoring system monitors a command issued from an external device such as a camera, and performs a process associated with the command, which is preset according to the type of the command.

  Reference numeral 501 denotes a digital camera host application, and reference numeral 502 denotes data management means for managing image data by creation date, shooting date, keyword, and the like. Reference numeral 503 denotes data display means for displaying managed image data. Reference numeral 520 denotes data registration means for automatically determining the attribute of newly registered data and registering the data in the application.

  In this system, the digital camera host application 501 performs data transfer with the digital camera. The transferred image data is stored in the hard disk 515 of the computer main body 301 by the data registration means 520.

(Configuration of digital camera)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera 307. In FIG. 3, components that are naturally included as constituent requirements but are not directly necessary for describing the embodiment of the present invention are not shown.

  In FIG. 3, an imaging unit 401 includes a lens, a CCD, and an image processing device, and outputs a captured image as image data (for example, JPEG data). In addition, thumbnail image data that is a reduced image of the captured image is also generated. In the digital camera in this system, in addition to taking an image, audio can be recorded and output by the recording unit 402 as recorded data (for example, WAVE format data).

  The auxiliary storage device 403 is for storing data from the imaging unit 401 and the recording unit 402 as a file. In this embodiment, a compact flash memory card is used as a removable recording medium. Reference numeral 404 denotes an interface for connecting the digital camera and the computer, and is connected using the USB interface and the USB cable in FIG. The control unit 405 is for controlling the entire operation of the digital camera 307.

  Reference numeral 406 denotes a transfer button. In this embodiment, when this button is pressed, automatic image data transfer to the computer main body 301 serving as an image management apparatus is started. Reference numeral 407 denotes a display unit which displays image data from the imaging unit on a display screen such as a liquid crystal panel provided in the digital camera, and displays a menu for setting the digital camera.

  FIG. 4 shows an external view of the digital camera 307 in the present embodiment. Reference numeral 3071 denotes a menu button. When this button is pressed, a menu for performing various camera settings is displayed on the display screen 3070. The user can change the setting of the digital camera 307 by operating the operation button 3072. When the transfer button 406 is pressed while the camera is connected to the computer main body 301, automatic transfer described later is started.

(Digital camera image data transfer process)
Next, data transfer performed between the digital camera 307 and the computer main body 301 in this embodiment will be described. First, an operation from when the connection between the computer main body 301 and the digital camera 307 is established until automatic transfer is performed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the data transfer operation.

  As described above, in the image data management system according to the present embodiment, it is assumed that a general-purpose interface USB is used as an interface between the digital camera and the computer main body 301. First, when the camera and the computer main body 301 are connected using a USB cable, the input device management system 506 of the OS 505 detects the connection. The computer main body 301 recognizes that the digital camera is connected as a USB client (step S41).

  Next, the USB host included in the input device management system 506 issues a command to the digital camera that is the USB client. By receiving this command, the digital camera recognizes that it is connected to the computer main body 301 as a USB client, and enters a data transfer mode (step S42).

  When the digital camera 307 recognizes that it is connected to the computer main body 301, it checks the setting of the automatic transfer mode among the setting items held in the camera (step S43). This mode is displayed by selecting the automatic transfer setting menu screen 3080 displayed on the camera display screen 3070 shown in FIG. 6 or the menu (not shown) of the digital camera host application 501 shown in FIG. This is set on the camera setting screen 3081. In the present embodiment, as an automatic transfer mode to be set, a “transfer all images simultaneously with connection with the PC (computer main body) 301” mode (radio button 3084 or 3087). And “Transfer all images when the transfer button is pressed” mode (radio button 3085 or 3088).

  The mode setting is exclusive and only one of them can be selected. In addition to the mode selection radio buttons 3087 and 3088, the setting screen 3080 of the camera 307 is provided with a check box 3089 for setting whether or not to delete the image data stored in the camera 307. When the setting screen 3080 is closed, the settings at that time are set in the camera.

  The host application 501 controls the camera setting screen 3081 in FIG. 7 so that it can be displayed only when the camera 307 and the computer main body 301 are connected and in a communicable state. Specifically, the menu for displaying the camera setting screen is valid only when the camera 307 is connected and in a communicable state. In addition to radio buttons 3084 and 3085 for setting the automatic transfer mode, the camera setting screen 3081 includes an owner setting area 3082 for setting the camera owner name, a date and time setting area 3083 for setting the clock inside the camera 307, and a check. A box 3086 and three buttons 3090 to 3092 are provided. The check box 3086 has the same function as the check box 3089 on the setting screen 3080 on the camera side.

  When the OK button 3090 or the update button 3092 is selected by the mouse 303 or the keyboard 305 and pressed (means clicking the mouse button 304 or pressing a predetermined key such as an enter key on the keyboard; hereinafter, the same meaning is used). The values set in each area of the camera setting screen 3081 (including radio buttons and check boxes. The same meaning is used in the following description) are transferred to the camera 307 and set in the internal nonvolatile memory or the like. The

  In step S43 in FIG. 5, the digital camera 307 checks the automatic transfer mode setting. If the digital camera 307 is set to the “transfer all images simultaneously with connection to the computer main body 301” mode, the process proceeds to step S44. Process. On the other hand, if the mode is set to “transfer all images when the transfer button is pressed”, the process is terminated.

  In step S44, the digital camera 307 issues a data transfer start request command to the computer main body 301. In the computer main body 301, the input / output device command monitoring system 521 included in the OS 505 receives the input device management system 506 also included in the OS 505, and the digital camera / host application set in advance 501 is received by this command. to start. When the digital camera 307 issues a command, it waits for a command issued from the application (step S45).

  When the host application 501 activated in response to the command of the digital camera 307 is normally activated and ready for data reception, it issues a transmission permission command to the digital camera 307. When the digital camera 307 receives the transmission permission command, the digital camera 307 proceeds to step S46 and displays a message (for example, “during automatic transfer”) indicating that automatic transfer processing is being performed on the liquid crystal display screen 3070.

  In step S47, it is checked whether there is image data not yet transferred to the computer main body 301 in the camera. If there is image data that has not yet been transferred to the computer main body 301, the data is transferred to the computer main body 301 in step S48. At this time, the digital camera host application 501 activated on the computer main body 301 automatically manages and stores image data from the digital camera. Details of image data management and storage by the host application will be described later.

  When all the image data is transferred, the process proceeds from step S47 to step S49, and the digital camera 307 sends a transfer end command to the computer main body 301. In step S410, it is determined whether to automatically delete the automatically transferred data from the auxiliary storage device 403 in the camera. This is an item set in the check box 3089 or 3086 of the camera automatic transfer setting menu screen 3080 described above or the camera setting screen 3081 activated from the application menu shown in FIG.

  As a result of checking the setting contents, if the mode is not set to automatically delete the automatically transferred image from the auxiliary storage device 403 in the digital camera, the process proceeds to step S412. If the mode is set, the process proceeds to step S411. Thus, the automatically transferred image is deleted from the auxiliary storage device 403 in the camera. Thereby, the free capacity of the auxiliary storage device in the camera is automatically recovered. In step S412, a message indicating the end of the transfer process (for example, “automatic transfer end”) is displayed on the display screen 3070 of the camera to indicate that a series of processes has ended.

  Further, the processing after step S44 in FIG. 5 is also performed by pressing a transfer button 406 provided in the digital camera body. In this case, when the transfer button 406 on the back of the camera shown in FIG. 4 is pressed, step S44 in FIG. 5 is executed, and the camera issues a data transfer start request command to the host computer main body 301, so that step S44 and subsequent steps are executed. A series of processes are performed.

(Operation of digital camera host application)
Next, the host application 501 that manages and stores images that runs on the computer main body 301 in the present embodiment will be described.

  As an operation of the image management / storage application according to the present embodiment, an operation of automatically dividing an image acquired from a camera by a folder for each shooting date or creation date and storing it will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

  For example, in response to the automatic transfer process start request command from the camera described in the automatic transfer process described above, a transmission permission command is issued to the camera (step S51), and data sent from the camera is received (step S51). Step S52). In step S53, it is determined whether the data sent is an automatic transfer end command. If it is not an automatic transfer end command, it is determined that the transmitted data is image data, and the shooting date and time is detected from the attribute information included in the image data in step S54.

  In the system according to the present embodiment, the shooting date / time is automatically included in the data as supplementary information of the image data when the image is taken by the digital camera, and the host application 501 also recognizes the position of the shooting date / time data in the data. Shall. In step S55, a folder name corresponding to the shooting date and time obtained in step S54 is determined. That is, it is checked whether a folder with a folder name corresponding to the shooting date / time exists in a preset automatic storage folder. If not, a new folder is created with a folder name according to a predetermined format. Create In the present embodiment, in the case of an image whose shooting date is June 29, 1998, the folder name is “199980629” from the numerical value representing the date.

  The folder for automatic storage is set on the option setting screen of the host application, for example. An example of the option setting screen is shown in FIG. The option setting screen 1201 has an automatic storage folder designation area 1202 for designating an automatic storage destination (folder) of received data, and a file format selection area 1203 for selecting a data format for storage. Also, an OK button 1204 and a cancel button 1205 are provided. The automatic storage folder specification area 1202 is an area for specifying an automatic storage destination by inputting it in the form of a directory or the like. A file format selection area 1203 is a pull-down menu for selecting and specifying a file format to be automatically stored. FIG. 9 shows a state where “C: ¥ MyImage” is specified as the storage destination and the JPEG format is specified as the file format.

  The contents specified in these two areas are saved in a setting file used by the host application 501 when the OK button 1204 is pressed. When the cancel button 1205 is pressed, the option setting screen 1201 is closed without changing the setting contents. When the transfer process is performed in a state where the automatic storage folder is not set, such as when the host application 501 is first started, the option setting screen 1201 is displayed before the transfer process is started, and the user may set it. Good.

  Returning to FIG. 8, in step S56, the folder found in step S55 (or newly created) is searched, and a unique file name that does not overlap with the existing file name is determined. In the present embodiment, the file name is represented by a series of numerical values starting from 8 digits of 0. When a new file is added, a numerical value representing the file name of the file to be added is already included in the folder. It is set so as to be the maximum among the numerical values representing the file name. For example, the file names in the folder “199980629” are “00000001. jpg'‘00000002. If two files “jpg” already exist, the file name of the newly added file is “00000003. jpg '. The extension (.jpg) of the file name is automatically added according to the file format specified in the file format selection area 1203 of the option setting screen 1201 shown in FIG.

  In step S57, the input data from the digital camera is stored as a file in a storage device (eg, hard disk 515) of the computer main body 301 using the folder and file name determined by the above processing.

  With the configuration described above, transfer, management, and storage of image data are automatically performed only by connecting the digital camera 307 to the image data management system. Therefore, operations such as activation of a digital camera host application, image data transfer instruction, and file name assignment for individual received data, which have been necessary in the past, are unnecessary, which is very convenient.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, an operation when the digital camera host application 501 automatically classifies received image data into groups for each shooting date or creation date, and manages and registers them will be described.

  First, the data management method of the application 501 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, an “album” that can include a plurality of image data is constructed and managed by an album management table as shown in FIG. The album management table 700 holds album names of the respective albums 701 to 703 and pointers to item management tables for managing information on images included in the albums. The item management tables 704 to 706 are created for each album, and hold the storage location of the images included in the album and the shooting date and time. The album management table and the corresponding item management table are stored in a storage device (such as the hard disk 515) included in the image data management system.

  The display of the image data included in each album is performed by creating a window for each album on the display 302 and combining the image data included in each album with a reduced image and a shooting date and time. In FIG. 11, windows 802 and 803 corresponding to the albums 701 and 702 are displayed in the window 801 of the digital camera host application 501, and the windows 802 and 803 are described in the corresponding item management tables 704 and 705. The reduced image (thumbnail) of the image data and the shooting time are shown.

(Automatic registration to album)
Next, an operation of automatically registering image data received from the digital camera 307 in an album will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, as in the first embodiment, a transmission permission command is issued to the camera in step S91, and data sent from the camera is received in step S92. Next, it is determined whether or not the data sent in step S93 is an automatic transfer end command. If it is not an automatic transfer end command, the transmitted data is stored as image data in step S94 in an automatic storage folder designated in advance.

  The folder for automatic storage is set on the option setting screen of the host application, for example. An example of the option setting screen is shown in FIG. The option setting screen 1001 includes radio buttons 1006 and 1007 for designating whether an album is created every day or every month, an automatic storage folder designation area 1002 for designating an automatic storage destination (folder) of received data, and And a file format selection area 1003 for selecting a data format for storage. The option setting screen 1001 is provided with an OK button 1004 and a cancel button 1005.

  Radio buttons 1006 and 1007 allow mutually exclusive selection, and an album is automatically created for each shooting date when the radio button 1006 is selected and for each shooting month when the radio button 1007 is selected. The automatic storage folder designation area 1002 is an area for designating an automatic storage destination by inputting it in the form of a directory or the like. A file format selection area 1003 is a pull-down menu for selecting and specifying a file format to be automatically stored. FIG. 13 shows a state where “C: ¥ MyImage” is designated as the storage destination and the JPEG format is designated as the file format.

  The contents specified in these two areas are saved in a setting file used by the host application 501 when the OK button 1004 is pressed. When the cancel button 1005 is pressed, the option setting screen 1001 is closed without changing the setting contents. When the transfer process is performed in a state where the automatic storage folder is not set, such as when the host application 501 is first started, the option setting screen 1001 is displayed before the transfer process is started, and the user may set it. Good.

Also in this embodiment, the file name at the time of automatic storage is given according to the same rule as in the first embodiment. In other words, the files are created in order from the bottom of the number larger than the file name included in the designated folder. The same applies to the extension.
When the received data is stored, the shooting date and time is extracted from the supplementary information included in the image data in step S95.

  In step S96, an album with an album name corresponding to the shooting date and time obtained in step S95 is searched from the album management table. If the corresponding album is not included in the album management table, a new album is created. When creating a new album, the album is created in units specified by the radio buttons 1006 or 1007 on the option setting screen 1001 described above. That is, if the image data shooting date and time is 19980629 (June 29, 1998), if daily (radio button 1006) is selected, the album name “199980629” and monthly (radio button 1007) are selected. For example, an album with an album name “199806” is created. Also, when searching for a storage destination album, if the creation is set for each month, the album for that month is searched.

  In step S97, an item is added to the item management table corresponding to the album searched or created in step S96, and the path name (storage location and file name) to the file stored in step S94 and the shooting date and time are registered.

  According to the present embodiment, the entity of the received data is sequentially stored in the storage device, and by creating a table classified according to the incidental information, for example, when changing the classification criteria such as classification according to incidental information other than the date and time, Since it is only necessary to recreate the table without moving the image data, flexible management can be realized.

(Third embodiment)
Next, as a third embodiment of the present invention, the operation when the digital camera host application 501 transfers image data while maintaining the folder structure (file hierarchical structure) of the storage device in the digital camera is shown in FIG. It demonstrates using the flowchart of these.

  First, as in the first embodiment, a transmission permission command is issued to the camera in step S31, and data sent from the camera is received in step S32. Next, it is determined whether or not the data sent in step S33 is an automatic transfer end command. If it is not an automatic transfer end command, the process proceeds to step S34, and the path and file name stored in the storage device of the camera are checked. Here, it is assumed that the path and file name in the camera are stored as data supplementary information.

  Next, in step S35, a path name to be stored in the image data management system is determined. This is determined based on the setting value of the automatic storage folder setting area 1701 on the option setting screen 1700 of the digital camera host application shown in FIG. 15 and the path name and file name in the camera. The setting value of the automatic storage folder setting area 1701 and the path name in the camera below the image root folder are connected together to create.

  However, when the “ignore image root folder name” option 1703 is set on the option setting screen 1700, the set automatic storage folder name and the path name in the camera obtained by deleting the image root folder name are used. It is determined by connecting. The image root folder is a folder directly under the root (topmost) folder of the camera storage device, and images taken with the camera are set to be stored in a predetermined method only within the folder. .

  For example, if there is an image data file whose path name is “\ DC97 \ CTG_0000 \ Aut_0001.jpg” in the camera and “C: \ MyImage” is set as the automatic storage folder, the path determined in step S35 The name is “C: \ MyImage \ DC97 \ CTG_0000 \ Aut_0001.jpg”. Note that this is the case where the “ignore image root folder name” option 1703 is not set. If it is set, the path name in the camera is lower than “\ DC97” which is the image root folder. Only the part of is used, and it becomes “C: \ MyImage \ CTG_0000 \ Aut_0001.jpg”.

  The option setting screen 1700 further includes a file format selection area 1702, an OK button 1704, and a cancel button 1705. These have the same functions as 1203, 1204, and 1205 in the option setting screen 1201 shown in FIG.

  Further, a reference button 1706 is provided in the automatic storage folder setting area 1701, and by pressing this button, an automatic storage folder can be designated using a graphical interface.

  Next, in step S36, it is checked whether a file having the path name and file name determined in step S35 already exists. If the file already exists, the process proceeds to step S37 to display a warning dialog screen shown in FIG. 16 and wait for a user instruction. The warning dialog 1800 is provided with an automatic storage folder designation area 1801 having the same function as the automatic storage folder setting area 1701 on the option setting screen 1700, an OK button 1803 and a cancel button 1804 respectively corresponding to the buttons 1704 and 1705 on the same screen. It has been. Unlike the option setting screen 1700, the dialog 1800 is provided with a file name designation area 1802 for directly designating a file name.

  When the OK button 1803 is pressed, the folder name and / or file name specified in the areas 1801 and 1802 become the final folder name and file name. When the OK button 1803 or the cancel button 1804 is pressed without changing, it is considered that the overwriting to the existing file is instructed.

  In step S38, the transferred file is saved with the path name and file name obtained in step S35 or the path name and file name specified in step S37.

  By the above processing, for example, when an image file is stored in the auxiliary storage device 403 in the digital camera 307 in the folder structure as shown in FIG. 17A, as shown in FIG. The folder structure under the image root folder “\ DC97” in the auxiliary storage device 403 of the camera is copied as it is into the folder (C: \ MyImage) of the image data management system designated in the storage folder designation area 1701. Note that the folder structure shown in FIG. 17B is the case where the “ignore image root folder name” option 1703 is not set on the option setting screen 1700, and when this option is set, FIG. As shown in c), the folder structure below the image root folder “\ DC97” is copied as it is into the folder designated in the automatic storage folder designation area 1701.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, as a means for setting whether to automatically delete image data in the camera after transfer, an automatic transfer setting menu screen 3080 displayed on the camera display screen 3070 shown in FIG. The camera setting screen 3081 started from the application menu shown in FIG. 7 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the setting menu of the automatic deletion mode is provided on the option setting screen 1201 of the application shown in FIG. May be issued by issuing a delete command to the digital camera. FIG. 18 shows an option setting screen 1300 in which an automatic deletion option check box 1301 is provided on the option setting screen 1201. Since the components other than the automatic deletion option 1301 are the same as those in the option setting screen 1201, overlapping description is avoided.

  When issuing a delete command from the host application 501 to the digital camera 307, the step of determining whether the received data is an automatic transfer end command (step S53 in FIG. 8, step S93 in FIG. After confirming the reception of the automatic transfer end command in step S33) in FIG. 14, a command for automatically deleting the transferred image data is issued to the camera before the processing ends. In this case, as the operation of the camera, in step S410 in FIG. 5, the command transferred from the host computer main body 301 is examined to determine whether or not the automatic deletion in step 8 is performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the USB is used as the interface for connecting the digital camera 307 and the computer main body 301 has been described. However, any other interface such as an infrared interface or IEEE1394 can be used. . However, in order to perform automatic transfer, the computer main body (actually the operating system) needs to be able to recognize the camera connection. If the connection is not automatically recognized, it is necessary to at least give an instruction to perform an operation for checking whether or not the camera is connected, such as starting a digital camera application.

  Also, the format and path name of image data, rules for describing file names, transfer protocols, the type and location of the device that stores the image data (direct connection or network connection, etc.) are arbitrary.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a digital camera is used as a photographing unit has been described. However, the device need not be a camera itself, and any device that can hold and transfer image data can be used. There may be.

  Note that the present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and a printer), and a device (for example, a copying machine and a facsimile device) including a single device You may apply to.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or CPU) of the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  When the present invention is applied to the above storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above (shown in any of FIGS. 5, 8, 12, and 14). become.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of an external appearance of the image data management system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the image data management system which concerns on this invention. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera used in an image data management system according to the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example of an external appearance of the digital camera used for the image data management system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the automatic transfer operation | movement which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of the digital camera used for the image data management system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a camera setting screen which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the host application which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting screen of the host application which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data management method of the host application which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the image data display method of the host application which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the host application which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting screen of the host application which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the host application which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting screen of the host application which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a warning screen which the host application which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention displays. It is a figure explaining the hierarchical structure of the image data in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting screen of the automatic deletion mode which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Claims (28)

An image data transfer device having internal storage means for storing image data and interface means capable of communicating with other devices,
First connection recognition means for detecting that an external device is connected to the interface means;
A transfer request issuing unit that issues a transfer request for the image data to the external device in which the connection is detected when the first connection recognizing unit recognizes the connection of the external device;
An image data transfer apparatus comprising: data transfer means for starting transfer of the image data when the transfer request is permitted. An image data transfer device having internal storage means for storing image data and interface means capable of communicating with other devices,
First connection recognition means for detecting that an external device is connected to the interface means;
Command input means;
A second transfer request issuing unit that issues a transfer request for the image data to the external device when a predetermined command is input from the command input unit in a state in which the connection of the external device is detected;
An image data transfer apparatus comprising: data transfer means for starting transfer of the image data when the transfer request is permitted.   3. The image data transfer apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a data deleting unit that deletes the transferred image data from the internal storage unit when the transfer of the image data is completed.   3. The image data transfer apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for recording an image.   2. The image data transfer apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising command input means for inputting a predetermined command to the apparatus.   6. The image data transfer apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising display means for displaying information for the inside of the apparatus and / or displaying for setting the inside of the apparatus using the command input means.   3. The data transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the first connection recognition unit recognizes the connection of the external device, a predetermined application is activated. An interface capable of communicating with external devices;
Second connection recognition means for detecting that the external device is connected to the interface;
Classification means for performing predetermined naming on image data transferred from an external device for which the connection has been recognized, and classifying the data under predetermined conditions;
An image data management apparatus comprising storage means for storing the transferred image data.   9. The image according to claim 8, further comprising command issuing means for issuing a predetermined command to the external device whose connection is recognized when the second connection recognition means recognizes the connection of the external device. Data management device.   When the second connection recognition means detects a command received from an external device that has recognized the connection, and the detected command is a data transfer request command that the external device has internally, to the command issuing means The image data management apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising command analysis means for instructing to transmit a transfer permission command.   9. The image data management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the classification unit classifies the image data stored in the storage unit and creates a table in which predetermined items are collected.   9. The image data management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the classification unit determines a storage location of the received image data in the storage unit from predetermined data items included in the image data.   9. The classification unit according to claim 8, wherein the classification unit groups the received image data according to a content of a predetermined data item included in the image data, and determines a storage location in the storage unit for each group. Image data management device.   9. The image data management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined naming is performed based on a predetermined data item included in the received image data.   The classification and storage in the storage means so that the classification means maintains a hierarchical relationship with the data name and other image data that the received image data had when stored in the external device. 9. The image data management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the location is determined.   9. The image data management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the second connection recognition unit recognizes the connection of the external device, a predetermined application is activated. An image data management system comprising an image data transfer device and an image data management device that are detachable from each other,
The image data transfer device is
(A) internal storage means for storing image data;
(B) connection recognition means for recognizing connection with the image data management device;
(C) a transfer request issuing unit that issues a transfer request for the image data to the image data management device when the connection recognition unit recognizes a connection with the image data device in a state where a predetermined setting is made;
(D) receiving a transfer permission command corresponding to the transfer request from the image data management device, and having a data transfer means for starting transfer of the image data,
The image data management device comprises:
(A) command issuing means for issuing the transfer permission command when receiving the transfer request from the image data transfer device;
(B) classification means for receiving the image data transferred by the image data transfer device in response to the transfer permission command, performing a predetermined naming on the received image data, and classifying the received image data according to a predetermined condition;
(C) An image data management system comprising storage means for storing the transferred image data. The image data transfer device is
(E) further comprising an input means for performing internal setting of the apparatus and / or a predetermined operation instruction to the apparatus;
When the transfer request issuing means receives an image data transfer instruction from the input means while the first connection recognition means recognizes the connection with the image data device, the transfer request issuance means The data management system according to claim 17, wherein the data management system is issued.   18. The image data management system according to claim 17, wherein the classification unit classifies the image data stored in the storage unit and creates a table in which predetermined items are collected.   18. The image data management system according to claim 17, wherein the classification unit determines a storage location of the received image data in the storage unit from predetermined data items included in the image data.   18. The classification unit according to claim 17, wherein the classifying unit groups the received image data according to a content of a predetermined data item included in the image data, and determines a storage location in the storage unit for each group. Image data management system.   18. The image data management system according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined naming is performed based on a predetermined data item included in the received image data.   In the naming and storage means, the classification means maintains a hierarchical relationship with the data name and other image data that the received image data had when stored in the internal storage means. 18. The image data management system according to claim 17, wherein the storage location is determined.   18. The image data management system according to claim 17, wherein when the connection recognition unit recognizes a connection with the image data management apparatus, a predetermined application is activated.   18. The image data management system according to claim 17, wherein when the image data management apparatus receives the transfer request command, a predetermined application is activated.   A storage medium for storing a program executable by the apparatus, wherein the apparatus executing the program functions as the image data transfer apparatus according to claim 1.   A storage medium for storing a program executable by the apparatus, wherein the apparatus executing the program functions as the image data management apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 16.   26. A storage medium storing a program executable by the apparatus, wherein the apparatus executing the program functions as the image data management system according to claim 17.

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