JPH10336574A - Digital still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To retain required image data, even after the transmission of data to a DB server in the digital camera by which an image is sent to the DB server. SOLUTION: The digital camera converts an electric image signal of an object obtained by an image-pickup element 29 into digital image data and records the data to memories 32, 33. Then a transmission means 20 transmits the image data to an external storage means. Furthermore, the digital camera is provided with a setting means 27 that sets the propriety of the erasure of the image data and with a control means 28 that erases the image data recorded in the memories 32, 33, based on the setting by the setting means 27 after the transmission of the image data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a CCD (Charge Cou).
The present invention relates to a digital camera that records image data obtained by an image pickup device such as a pled device) in a memory such as a flash memory card. It relates to a digital camera for transmitting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital camera records photographed image data in an IC card memory or a built-in memory. Since the storage capacity of the memory is limited, the number of recordable images is also limited. Therefore, in order to enable a large number of images to be captured, in a conventional digital camera, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-30326, if the free space of the memory becomes smaller than a set amount, a data modem is required. And a mobile phone or the like to add a code determined for each user to the image data and send it to a large-capacity externally provided database server (hereinafter abbreviated as “DB server”). Was erased from the memory.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional digital camera, when the free space in the IC card memory or the like becomes small, the image data is forcibly transmitted to an external storage means such as a DB server and the like. Since the image data is deleted due to, for example, the completion of the transmission, the digital camera cannot display the image and cannot show or confirm the image to a person.
In addition, when image data is damaged or cannot be accessed due to an accident such as a DB server, there is a problem that necessary image data cannot be obtained.

[0004] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and comprises a DB
It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera capable of retaining necessary image data even after transmission to a server.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an electric image signal of a subject obtained by an image sensor is converted into digital image data and recorded in a memory. A digital camera for transmitting the image data to an external storage unit by a transmission unit, wherein the setting unit sets whether or not the image data can be erased, and the image data is stored in the memory based on the setting by the setting unit after the image data is transmitted. Control means for erasing the image data.

With such a configuration, the digital camera records the image data of the photographed subject in a memory such as a flash memory card. The user sets the stored image data, which needs to be kept, so as not to be deleted by setting means such as a deletion permission / prohibition setting button. In response to a transmission instruction or the like from the user, the digital camera transmits image data to an external storage unit such as a DB server on the Internet using a transmission unit such as a mobile phone. Thereafter, for example, when the free space of the memory becomes insufficient, the digital camera deletes the erasable image data by the control means, so that a large number of images can be shot. In addition, since the external storage means can be accessed from a personal computer or the like via the Internet or the like, it is also possible to download image data recorded in the external storage means.

Further, in the second configuration of the present invention, the first
In the configuration of (1), when the image data is written to the memory, when the free space of the memory is insufficient, the transmitted image data which is set to be erasable is used when the image data is older. It is deleted in order.

According to such a configuration, even if the image data is erasable, the digital camera does not delete the image data immediately after transmission from the external storage means, but deletes the data when the free space of the memory is insufficient. Until that time, it remains in the digital camera, so that image display and the like can be performed.

Further, in the third structure of the present invention, the first
In the above configuration or the above second configuration, the transmitting means has a wireless transmitting section provided in the same housing.

According to such a configuration, the digital camera is integrated with the transmitting means such as a mobile phone in the same housing. Therefore, it can be used as a mobile phone. Also, image data can be transmitted directly without connecting to a separate mobile phone or the like from the digital camera.

Further, in the fourth configuration of the present invention, the third configuration
In the above configuration, the control unit monitors the free space of the memory, and transmits the image data when the remaining number of recordable images becomes smaller than a predetermined value.

According to such a configuration, when the free space of the memory is reduced by photographing, the digital camera automatically transmits the image data to the external storage unit by the transmission unit. As a result, the digital camera can erase the erasable image data from the memory, and can continue shooting.

Further, in a fifth configuration of the present invention, the first
In any one of the above configurations to the fourth configuration, a plurality of the external storage units are provided, and the control unit measures a communication speed with the external storage unit, and based on the communication speed, stores the image data. Is selected.

According to such a configuration, for example, the digital camera measures the communication speed with a certain external storage means at the start of communication, and determines whether the communication speed is not slow.
When the communication speed is high, the image data is transmitted to the external storage means. On the other hand, when the communication speed is low due to communication congestion or the like, communication is performed with another external storage unit such as a sub DB server, and the communication speed is measured. When the communication speed with the external storage means is high, image data is transmitted to the external storage means. If both are slow, transmission is stopped.

Further, in the sixth configuration of the present invention, the first
In any one of the above configurations to the fifth configuration, there is provided means for changing a compression ratio of the image data after transmitting the image data.

In such a configuration, the user sets the compression ratio by means for setting a compression ratio such as a compression ratio setting button. After transmitting the image data to the external storage means, the digital camera compresses the data by thinning out the pixels by the control means, for example, when the image data is to be kept at a high compression rate by setting,
Record in memory.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a use state of the camera system of the present embodiment. FIG. 1A is a side view of a digital camera, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the digital camera.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the digital camera has a shape similar to that of a normal mobile phone. A photographic lens 1 for capturing images on the left side of the digital camera
And a release button 5 is provided on the right side surface. Release button 5 is a two-stage switch (S1, S2)
As will be described later, the image is captured by the first-stage press (half-press), and the image is recorded by the second-stage press (full-press).

An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display section 7 displays telephone information such as telephone numbers. The LCD display unit 6 for the digital camera displays a captured image and the like. The keyboard 8 has buttons and the like used on a mobile phone,
An operation mode switching button, an image transmission button, a transmission mode setting button, a camera mode switching button, a compression ratio setting button, an erasability setting button, an up button, a down button, and the like used for camera operation are provided.

The protective cover 2 is provided to protect the LCD display units 6, 7 and the keyboard 8, and can be opened and closed by a hinge. A microphone 9 is provided on the protective cover 2 so that a call can be made when the protective cover 2 is opened. The speaker 4 outputs the received voice and the like.

The digital camera wirelessly transmits image data and the like to the relay station 11 by the antenna 3 as shown by the arrow A. As shown in FIG. 1C, the relay station 11 connects to the dial-up server 13 via the telephone line B, and connects to the DB servers 14 and 15 provided on the Internet C.
And transmits the image data. DB server 1
Reference numerals 4 and 15 are external storage means for the digital camera.

The DB servers 14 and 15 can be accessed from a personal computer (PC) 12 via a dial-up server 16 of a provider to which a user contracts, and necessary image data can be downloaded to the personal computer 12. Further, since the image data is transmitted to the print service 17 on the Internet C since the Internet C is used, the image data can be printed out and sent.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the digital camera of the present embodiment. The telephone unit 20 is a part that performs wireless communication such as a voice signal using the antenna 3 in the same manner as a normal mobile phone, and also stores image data stored in the image memories 32 and 33 as described later. 1). The telephone unit 20 is controlled by a telephone control unit 22 having a microcomputer and the like. Telephone operation unit 24
1B are buttons and the like used for a mobile phone in the keyboard 8 in FIG. 1B, and a signal is transmitted to the telephone control unit 22.

A signal control unit 21 is connected to the antenna 3, and the communication control unit 21 performs signal processing such as signal encoding / decoding. Then, the telephone control unit 22 sends an audio signal input from the microphone 9 to the communication control unit 21,
The received audio signal is output as audio through the speaker 4.

The LCD display section 7 displays various messages such as telephone numbers and reception status. The telephone control unit 22 displays a screen on the LCD display unit 7 by sending data to the display memory 23. In the telephone section 20, a telephone call can be made by inputting a telephone number using the telephone operation section 24, for example.

The telephone control unit 22 is connected to the camera control unit 28, and signals and the like are transmitted to each other. Camera control unit 2
Reference numeral 8 denotes control means for controlling the camera portion, which comprises a microcomputer, a memory for storing various flags and the like described later, and the like. Further, the camera control unit 28 also has a function of controlling communication of a data modem and image data, and transmits the image data to the DB servers 14 and 15 using the telephone unit 20.
Can be sent to

The lens 1 captures a subject image by a CCD
Image. The imaging unit 29 converts the subject image into an electric image signal by the CCD. The A / D conversion circuit 30 converts the electric image signal into digital image data. next,
The signal processing circuit 31 performs white balance, γ correction and the like of the image data. Then, the image memory 32 stores one sheet of image data.

A release switch (S1, S2) and an operation mode changeover switch (SMO) are provided on the camera operation unit 27.
D), image transmission switch (SSEND), transmission mode setting switch (SSMOD), camera mode changeover switch (SR / P), compression ratio setting switch (SSCOM)
P), an erase enable / disable setting switch (SDEL), an up switch (SUP), a down switch (SDOWN), and the like. These switches are turned on / off by the respective buttons described above. The backlight 26 is L
It is provided for the CD display unit 6.

A switch (SCOV) that is turned on / off in response to opening and closing of the protective cover 2 (see FIG. 1) is provided by the camera control unit 2.
8 is connected. The switch (SCOV) turns on when the protection cover 2 is closed, and turns off when it is open. The image data stored in the image memory 32 is compressed by the camera controller 28 and recorded in a removable image memory 33 such as a flash memory card.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of data recorded in the image memory 33. For each photographed image, other data such as transmission necessity data, erasability data, storage compression ratio data, and photographing time data are recorded together with the image data.

The transmission necessity data is data indicating whether or not to transmit image data when the digital camera is connected to the DB servers 14 and 15. Once the image data has been transmitted, the digital camera sets the transmission necessity data to "transmission unnecessary", so that the image data is not retransmitted. The erasure permission / non-permission data is data indicating whether or not the image data needs to remain after transmission of the image data to the DB servers 14 and 15. The storage compression rate data is data indicating whether to compress the image data at a high compression rate when storing the image data after transmitting the image data.
The shooting time data is data representing the shooting time of the image.

The image data and the other data are recorded in the image memory 33 for each image. still,
The data stored in the image memory 32 is only the image data, and the other data such as the transmission necessity data described above is stored in a memory provided inside the camera control unit 28 in the state of a flag for one sheet or the like. You.

The processing of the digital camera according to the present embodiment will be described below. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the main routine. When the battery is loaded, the process is started, and initialization is performed in step # 10. As a result, the operation mode of the digital camera is set to the telephone mode by default.
Further, when the operation mode is switched to the camera mode, the mode is set to be the shooting mode.

Next, in step # 20, the switch (SCO
V) ON / OFF is determined. When the switch (SCOV) is on, that is, when the protection cover 2 is closed, the process proceeds to step # 30. In step # 30, the camera mode is turned off and set to the telephone mode. At this time, in order to reduce power consumption, the imaging unit 29, the A / D conversion circuit 30, the signal processing circuit 31, the image memory 32, the LCD
The power of the display unit 6, the display memory 25, and the backlight 27 is turned off.

Then, the process proceeds to a step # 40, wherein an erasure impossible flag for prohibiting the erasure of the image data stored in the image memory 32 is reset. This is because the image data is erased when the power supply to the image memory 32 is stopped. Then, the process returns to step # 20.

When the switch (SCOV) is off at step # 20, that is, when the protective cover 2 is open, the process proceeds to step # 50, where the operation mode changeover switch (S
MOD) is turned on / off. Switch (SMO
When D) is ON, the mode is switched between the telephone mode and the camera mode in step # 60, and the process proceeds to step # 70. On the other hand, when the switch (SMOD) is off, the process proceeds directly to step # 70. Thereby, the switch (S
Each time MOD) is pressed, the operation mode alternates between the telephone mode and the camera mode.

In step # 70, the image transmission switch (S
SEND) is determined. Switch (SSE
When ND) is on, the process proceeds to step # 90, where it is determined whether or not the telephone unit 20 is already in use. Telephone section 2
Image transmission 1 in step # 100 when 0 is not in use
Then, the process proceeds to a subroutine (to be described later) to transmit image data. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step # 110. When the telephone unit 20 is being used in step # 90, the process skips step # 100 and proceeds to step # 110.

In step # 70, the image transmission switch (SS
When END) is off, it is determined in step # 80 whether or not the transmission request flag is set. The transmission request flag is a flag used to determine whether to automatically perform image transmission. As will be described later, this is set when the remaining capacity of the image memory 33 is insufficient or when the image is taken in a state where the image memory 33 is not attached to the digital camera. If the transmission request flag has been set, the process proceeds to step # 90, while if the transmission request flag has not been set, the process proceeds to step # 110.

In step # 110, it is determined whether the operation mode is the camera mode. When the camera mode is not set, the process returns to step # 20. On the other hand, when the camera mode is set, the process proceeds to step # 120, where the backlight 26
Lights up. Then, in a step # 130, it is determined whether or not the transmission warning flag is set. The transmission warning flag is a flag for performing a warning display for urging the transmission of image data, and is set when the remaining number of recordable images in the image memory 33 is less than three.

When the transmission warning flag is set, a warning display for prompting image transmission is performed in step # 140, and the process proceeds to step # 150. For example, a character or a symbol indicating a warning is superimposed and displayed on the LCD display unit 6. On the other hand, when the transmission warning flag is not set, the above-mentioned warning display is erased from the LCD display unit 6 in step # 135, and the process proceeds to step # 150.

Then, in step # 150, it is determined whether the camera mode changeover switch (SR / P) is on or off. When the switch (SR / P) is on, the photographing mode and the reproduction mode are switched in the camera mode in step # 160. Then, the playback frame number information n in the playback mode is set to 1. Thus, when the operation mode is the camera mode, each time the switch (SR / P) is pressed, the mode is alternately switched between the shooting mode and the reproduction mode. Then, the process proceeds to step # 170. On the other hand, the switch (SR /
When P) is off, the process proceeds directly to step # 170.

In step # 170, it is determined whether or not the camera mode is the photographing mode. In the shooting mode, the process proceeds to a shooting mode subroutine (described later) in step # 180. On the other hand, in the playback mode, step # 1 is executed.
At 90, the process proceeds to a subroutine of a reproduction mode (described later). After the processes of steps # 180 and # 190, the process returns to step # 20 again.

Next, the subroutine of image transmission 1 in step # 100 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the subroutine. Image transmission switch (SSEN
This is a routine for transmitting an image when D) is turned on or the transmission warning flag is set.

First, at step # 800, the telephone unit 20 checks the status of radio waves. In step # 810, the camera control unit 28 determines whether the radio wave condition is good. If the telephone relay station 11 is too far away or the digital camera is in an underground mall or in a tunnel and cannot communicate with the relay station 11, the process proceeds to step # 820, and an LCD display indicates that image data cannot be transmitted. A warning is displayed in the unit 6. Then, the process returns to the main routine (FIG. 4).

On the other hand, if the radio wave condition is good, the transmission request flag is reset in step # 830. And
In step # 840, it is checked whether or not the image memories 32 and 33 have image data that needs to be transmitted. This check is performed based on transmission necessity data corresponding to each image data. Then, in a step # 850, it is determined whether or not there is an image that needs to be transmitted. When there is no image data to be transmitted, the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, when there is image data that needs to be transmitted, a dial-up connection is made to the dial-up server 13 (see FIG. 1) of the Internet by the telephone unit 20 in step # 860. Then, it waits until the connection is completed in step # 870. Next, in step # 880, predetermined communication with the main DB server 14 is performed, and the communication speed is measured. Then, step # 890
It is determined whether communication can be performed at a speed equal to or higher than the first predetermined speed.

If the communication speed is equal to or higher than the first predetermined speed, the main DB server is set as the image transmission server in step # 1020. Then, the process proceeds to step # 980 to shift to a subroutine of image transmission 2 (described later). When the communication speed is not higher than the first predetermined speed in step # 890, the sub DB server 15 is set in step # 900.
Communicate with and measure the speed of communication. And step #
At 910, it is determined whether the communication speed is equal to or higher than a first predetermined speed.

If the speed is equal to or higher than the first predetermined speed, the sub-DB server 15 is set as the image transmission server in step # 1010, and the flow advances to step # 980. Step # 910
If the speed is not equal to or higher than the first predetermined speed, it is determined in step # 920 whether or not each of the main DB server 14 and the sub DB server 15 is higher than the second predetermined speed. However, the second predetermined speed is set lower than the first predetermined speed.

When the speed of at least one of the DB servers 14 and 15 is equal to or higher than the second predetermined speed, step # 9
In step 70, one of the DB servers 14 and 15 with the faster communication speed is set as the image transmission server, and the flow advances to step # 980. In step # 980, the image data is transmitted to the set image transmission server.
To disconnect the line. Then, in step # 1000, the transmission warning flag is reset, and the process returns to the main routine.

At step # 920, the sub DB server 1
When the communication speed is lower than the second predetermined speed in both of steps 4 and 15, in step # 950, the database server 1
The lines with 4, 15 are disconnected. Then, step # 96
0 indicates that the image transmission was stopped because the communication speed was slow.
The data is displayed on the D display unit 6 for a certain period of time, and the process returns to the main routine.

The lower limit of the communication speed at which the communication state is considered to be good is defined as the first predetermined speed, and the lower limit of the allowable range of the communication speed for the user is defined as the second predetermined speed. As a result, the communication speed of the DB servers 14 and 15 becomes slower when the communication becomes congested, so that the digital camera selects the better communication state. Both are second
If the speed does not exceed the predetermined speed, the image data is not transmitted.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a subroutine of image transmission 2 (# 980). First, step # 1100
It is determined whether or not the image memory 33 has image data that needs to be transmitted. If there is image data that needs to be transmitted, one image data in the image memory 33 is stored in the DB server 14 or 1 set as described above in step # 1110.
Send to 5. After the transmission, it is determined whether or not the image data transmitted in step # 1120 can be deleted. This determination is made based on the erasure availability data corresponding to the transmitted image data.

If erasure is not possible, step # 11
In step 30, it is determined whether or not data compression is to be performed at a higher compression ratio based on the storage compression ratio data corresponding to the transmission image. When performing data compression at a high compression rate, the image data transmitted at step # 1140 is temporarily expanded, and at step # 1150, the image data is recompressed at a high compression rate, and
To record. At this time, the original image data is deleted.

The transmitted image data is stored in the DB server 1
Since it is stored in either one of 4 and 15, there is no need to leave it in the digital camera, but image data is stored in order to take measures against accidents and to enable the digital camera to check the image even after transmission. . LCD display 6
If the number of pixels is smaller than the number of captured pixels, increasing the compression ratio has almost no effect on the image quality. In addition, the compression ratio can be further increased by using pixel thinning or the like at the time of compression.

Even when the image data can be erased in step # 1120, the image data is not erased, and # 1140,
In step # 1150, the image data is compressed and stored. However,
As will be described later, when the remaining capacity of the image memory 33 is insufficient, the image is erased.

Then, the transmission necessity data of the image transmitted in step # 1160 is rewritten so as to be "transmission unnecessary", and the process returns to step # 1100. When data compression is not performed at a high compression ratio in step # 1130, the process directly proceeds to step # 1.
Proceed to 160.

If there is no image data to be transmitted in the image memory 33 in step # 1100, step # 1190
Then, it is determined whether or not the image memory 32 has image data that needs to be transmitted. If there is no image data that needs to be transmitted in the image memory 32, the process directly returns to the image transmission 1 subroutine (FIG. 5). On the other hand, if there is image data to be transmitted in the image memory 32, the image data in the image memory 32 is compressed at a standard compression ratio in step # 1200. Then, the compressed image data is transmitted to the image transmission server in step # 1210.

Next, in step # 1220, it is determined whether or not the transmitted image can be deleted. When an image is to be left, it is determined in step # 1230 whether or not to save the image at a high compression rate. In both the case where erasing is possible in step # 1220 and the case where compression is performed at a high compression rate in step # 1230, the process proceeds to step # 1240, and the free space for recording the highly compressed image data in the image memory 33 is increased. It is determined whether or not there is.

When there is free space, step # 1250
Then, the transmitted image data is temporarily expanded. Then, the image data is compressed at a high compression ratio in step # 1260, and is recorded in the image memory 33 in step # 1270. Then, in step # 1280, an erasure impossible flag for prohibiting erasure of the image data in the image memory 32 is reset,
Erasable.

Finally, at step # 1290, the image memory 3
In step 2, the transmission necessity data of the transmission image is recorded so as to be "transmission unnecessary", and the process returns to the image processing 1 subroutine. on the other hand,
When high compression is not performed in step # 1230 and step #
If there is no free space at 1240, step # 1
Proceeding to 300, the transmission necessity data corresponding to the image data in the image memory 32 is recorded as "transmission unnecessary", and the process returns to the image processing 1 subroutine.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a subroutine of the reproduction mode (# 190) in FIG. When the camera mode is the playback mode, the processing shown in FIG. 7 is performed. First, in step # 600, the n-th (playback frame number information) image from the oldest shooting time in the image memories 32 and 33 is played back and displayed on the LCD display unit 6.

Next, in step # 610, the on / off state of the up switch (SUP) is determined. When the up switch (SUP) is ON, n is determined in step # 620.
And proceeds to step # 630. On the other hand, when the up switch (SUP) is off, the process proceeds directly to step # 630.

In step # 630, the down switch (SD
OWN) is determined. When the down switch (SDOWN) is ON in step # 630, 1 is subtracted from n in step # 640, and the process proceeds to step # 650. On the other hand, when the down switch (SDOWN) is off, the process proceeds directly to step # 650.

In step # 650, it is determined whether the transmission mode setting switch (SSMOD) is on or off. When the switch (SSMOD) is turned on, step # 660
To switch the transmission necessity data of the display image between “transmission necessity” and “transmission unnecessary”. Then, the process proceeds to step # 670. If the switch (SSMOD) is off, the process proceeds directly to step # 670.

In step # 670, it is determined whether the erase enable / disable setting switch (SDEL) is on or off. Switch (SD
EL) is ON, the erasure permission / inhibition data is alternately switched between “erasable” and “non-erasable” in step # 680.
Return to the main routine (FIG. 4). Switch (SDEL)
When is off, the program returns to the main routine.

Next, the photographing mode (# 18) in FIG.
FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the subroutine (0). First, in step # 300, it is determined whether the release button is half-pressed (S1) on or off. Release button half-pressed (S1)
Is off, the main routine (Fig. 4)
Return to When S1 is ON, it is determined whether or not the image data stored in the image memory 32 may be erased by looking at the erasure impossible flag in step # 310.

The erasure impossible flag is a flag for prohibiting erasure of the image data stored in the image memory 32 as described above. By setting this flag, even if the image memory 33 runs out of free space, one image can be shot using the image memory 32. At this time, as long as the camera mode is not exited, new photographing is prohibited even if the release button 5 is pressed, and the image data is left in the image memory 32.

When the image data stored in the image memory 32 is "erasable", the process returns to the main routine.
As a result, the image data is left in the image memory 32.
On the other hand, if the image can be erased, an image is taken at step # 320, and the image data
To memorize. Then, in step # 330, the pixels are decimated and stored in the display memory 25, whereby LC
An image is displayed on the D display unit 6.

Next, in step # 340, it is determined whether the transmission mode setting switch (SSMOD) is on or off. When the switch (SSMOD) is on, step # 35
At 0, the transmission necessity data is alternately switched between "transmission required" and "transmission unnecessary". In the initial setting, “transmission required” is set, and the transmission necessity data is switched each time the switch (SSMOD) is turned on. Then, the process proceeds to step # 354. On the other hand, when the switch (SSMOD) is off, the process directly proceeds to step # 354.

In step # 354, it is determined whether the erasure enable / disable setting switch (SDEL) is on or off. Switch (SD
When EL) is on, the erasing permission / prohibition data is alternately switched between “erasing possible” and “erasing impossible”. In the initial setting, “erasable” is set, and every time the switch (SDEL) is turned on, the erasable data is switched. And
Proceed to step # 360. On the other hand, switch (SDEL)
Is off, the process proceeds directly to step # 360.

In step # 360, it is determined whether the compression ratio change switch (SCOMP) is on or off. Switch (S
When (COMP) is ON, the storage compression ratio data of the image data is switched in step # 370. By default, it is set to "high compression ratio" and the switch (SCOM
Each time P) is turned on, the compression ratio data alternately switches between “high compression ratio” and “standard”. Then, Step # 38
Go to 0. If the switch (SCOMP) is off, the process proceeds directly to step # 380.

At step # 380, it is determined whether the release button is fully pressed (S2) or not. When the release button is fully pressed (S2), the file name of the image data is determined in step # 390. In the present embodiment, the file name is obtained by adding 1 to the number of the previously shot image frame. Although this file name information is not shown, EEPRO
M (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read On
ly Memory). For example, if the file name is p
ic0001.jpg → pic0002.jpg → pic0003.jpg → ...

Next, at step # 400, the image memory 33
Is determined whether or not is mounted on the digital camera.
Step # 410 when the image memory 33 is mounted
It is determined whether or not the image memory 33 has free space for one image or more. If there is free space, step # 44
0, the image data stored in the image memory 32 is compressed at a standard compression ratio.
To record.

Then, in step # 460, the image memory 3
It is determined whether the remaining capacity of No. 3 is equal to one image. If there is no remaining capacity, the transmission request flag is set in step # 470, and the process returns to the main routine (FIG. 4). On the other hand, when there is remaining capacity, it is determined in step # 480 whether or not the remaining capacity is equal to or more than three images. If the remaining capacity is three or more, the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, if the remaining capacity is less than three, a transmission warning flag is set and the process returns to the main routine.

When the release button full press (S2) is off at step # 380, it is determined at step # 385 whether the release button half press (S1) is on. When the release button is half-pressed (S1), the process returns to step # 340. On the other hand, the release button is half-pressed (S
When 1) is off, the process returns to the main routine.

If the image memory 33 is not mounted on the digital camera in step # 400, the process proceeds to step # 500.
To set an erasure impossible flag to prohibit erasure of image data stored in the image memory 32. Then, in step # 510, a transmission request flag is set, and
At step 520, a transmission warning flag is set, and the process returns to the main routine.

If there is no free space for one image in the image memory 33 in step # 410, it is determined in step # 420 whether or not there is erasable image data in the image memory 33 based on the erasability data. When there is no erasable image data, the process proceeds to step # 500. On the other hand, if there is erasable image data, the oldest image data is erased in step # 430 to secure a free space for one image. Since the shooting time is recorded for each of the shot images, such a search can be easily performed. And step #
Proceed to 440.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
The user can select image data to be stored in the digital camera using the erasure enable / disable setting switch (SDEL),
Even after the image data has been sent to the DB servers 14 and 15, the image can be displayed on the LCD display unit 6 so as to be seen or confirmed by a person. Further, even if the image data is damaged by an accident, the image data remains in the digital camera, so that the loss of the image data is prevented.

Since the transmitted image can be displayed and confirmed, it is possible to prevent, for example, the same subject from being photographed repeatedly. If image data is compressed at a high compression ratio when it is stored, a decrease in the remaining number of recordable images is suppressed. Incidentally, since “transmission unnecessary” is automatically written in the transmitted data, the image data is not normally transmitted again.

Further, the camera controller 28 controls the image memory 3
The remaining number of recordable images is monitored, and if the number falls below the remaining three, a warning message prompting transmission is displayed, and transmission is automatically started when there is insufficient capacity to record any image. I have to. Thus, the photographing can be continued even if the user forgets to transmit the image data.
Even when the image memory 33 is not mounted or when there is no free space in the image memory 33, erasing of the image data stored in the image memory 32 is prohibited, so that one image can be shot.

When transmitting the image data, the communication speed is measured by the camera control unit 28, and the digital camera automatically transmits the data to the DB server in a good communication state, so that the connection time is shortened. This also saves on telephone bills.

Further, since the transmission can be manually instructed by turning on the image transmission switch (SSEND), for example, before photographing in a place where the radio wave condition is considered to be bad, image data should be transmitted in a location where the radio wave condition is good. If this is the case, the number of recordable images can be ensured.

In the present embodiment, if the erasable image data also has a sufficient capacity in the image memory 33, it is stored immediately after transmission without erasing the image data. I will delete it. As a result, an image can be displayed on the LCD display unit 6 even if the image data can be deleted immediately after transmission. In normal use, the image to be displayed is likely to remain in the image memory 33, which is convenient. Needless to say, it is possible to switch the erasable / non-erasable data and the like in these data as well.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the digital camera is integrated with the telephone unit 20 in the same housing. It may be operated. In this case, when transmitting the image data, if the camera unit and the telephone unit 20 are connected, the image data can be transmitted by the same processing as described above. Communication may be performed.

The image memory 33 is not limited to a removable memory such as a flash memory card, but may be a fixed memory built in a digital camera. In FIG. 8, step # 46
The remaining capacity determined to be 0 for setting the transmission request flag is not limited to one image, but may be a place where there is still enough capacity, such as two or three images. Similarly, in step # 480, the remaining capacity determined for setting the transmission warning flag is image 3
The number is not limited to the number of sheets, and may be another number.

[0086]

【The invention's effect】

<Effect of Claim 1> As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to select the image data to be left in the digital camera and the image data to be deleted by the setting means. Therefore, erasable image data can be deleted one after another while necessary image data is left in the digital camera even after transmission, so that a large number of shootings can be performed. As a result, it is possible to show the image to a person or confirm the image using the remaining image data. Further, even if the image data stored in the storage means is damaged due to an accident, the loss of the image data is prevented when the image data remains in the digital camera.

<Effect of Claim 2> Even if the image data is erasable, the image data is not deleted immediately after transmission, but is deleted in the oldest order when the free space of the memory is insufficient.
Even after transmission, it is possible to confirm a captured image, change settings, and the like.

<Effect of Claim 3> Since the digital camera is integrated with communication means such as a mobile phone in the same housing,
When transmitting image data, the image data can be transmitted immediately without connecting to another device.

<Effect of Claim 4> When the memory or the like becomes insufficient, the digital camera automatically transmits image data to increase the remaining number of recordable images, so that the user of the digital camera transmits image data. Even if you forget to do so, you can continue shooting.

<Effect of Claim 5> Since the image data is not transmitted to the external storage means whose communication speed is reduced to some extent, the image data is transmitted to the one whose communication speed is secured to some extent. Is shortened. This also saves on telephone charges.

<Effect of Claim 6> LC of Digital Camera
When the number of pixels of the D display unit or the like is smaller than the number of pixels of the transmitted image data, even if the data is transmitted to the external storage unit and then compressed and recorded at a high compression rate, the image quality does not significantly deteriorate. Since the image data is compressed at a high compression ratio, even if the image data is left in the digital camera, the decrease in the number of shootable images is small.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a use state of a digital camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an arrangement of data recorded in an image memory 33;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the image transmission 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the image transmission 2;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the reproduction mode.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the shooting mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shooting lens 2 Protective cover 3 Antenna 4 Speaker 5 Release button 6, 7 LCD display part 8 Keyboard 9 Microphone 14 Main DB server 15 Sub DB server 20 Telephone part 28 Camera control part 29 Imaging part 32 Image memory 33 Removable image memory

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera which converts an electric image signal of a subject obtained by an image sensor into digital image data, records the digital image data in a memory, and transmits the image data to an external storage unit by a transmission unit. A digital device comprising: setting means for setting whether or not erasure is possible; and control means for erasing the image data recorded in the memory based on the setting by the setting means after transmitting the image data. camera. 2. The control means according to claim 1, wherein, when writing said image data into said memory, when the free space of said memory is insufficient, said transmitted image data is set to be erasable. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the data is erased in an old order. 3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit has a wireless transmission unit provided in the same housing. 4. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein the control unit monitors the free space of the memory, and transmits the image data when the remaining number of recordable images becomes smaller than a predetermined value. . 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said external storage means are provided, and said control means measures a communication speed with said external storage means, and selects a transmission destination of said image data based on the communication speed. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera is a digital camera. 6. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing a compression ratio of the image data after transmitting the image data.