JPH11313237A - Digital camera and image transmission system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an image sent from the digital camera from being browsed by an unspecified party at a receiver side and to prevent undesired image data from being received by the receiver side. SOLUTION: A sender sends image data to which authentication data to authenticate the sender are added, and a recipient confirms authentication data 513 displayed on a monitor 505 of a receiver before receiving the image data and instructs acceptance/rejection of reception of image data from the digital camera by using a reception button 514 or a reception stop button 511. Thus, the receiver side prevents reception of undesired image data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera having a function of photographing an image and transmitting the photographed image data directly or via a transfer server or the like, and an image transmission system thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an image transmission system for transmitting image data photographed by a digital camera to a remote receiving device using a telephone line or the like. In this type of system, when image data is received, the image data transmitted from the digital camera is directly received and displayed, or the reduced image data is first received and the reduced image is displayed, and the receiver displays the image data. When a selected reduced image is selected, there is a type in which full-scale image data corresponding to the selected reduced image is displayed.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional digital camera and its image transmission system as described above, there is no transmission method for specifying the receiver on the transmission side so that only a specific person can view the transmission image. However, an image transmitted from the digital camera is viewed by an unspecified person on the receiving side. Conversely, since the receiving side cannot confirm the identity of the transmission source until the image data is received, there is a possibility that the receiving side may receive an image having no relation to the image data or display and receive image data that defames a person. was there.

[0004] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an image transmitted from a digital camera is transmitted only to a specific person on a receiving side. Prevents the image from being viewed by an unspecified person on the receiving side, and also allows the receiver to confirm the sender's identity before receiving the image data, so that unnecessary image data can be received. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera and an image transmission system for the digital camera capable of preventing the digital camera from being prevented.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera having a function of capturing an image and transmitting the captured image data directly or via a transfer server or the like. And an image data receiving apparatus for receiving and displaying image data transmitted from the digital camera, the digital camera being used in an image transmission system, wherein an image to be transmitted when image data is transmitted from the digital camera. It is provided with an authentication information adding means for adding a personal identification number or information corresponding thereto to data.

In the above configuration, when transmitting image data from the digital camera, a password or information corresponding thereto can be added to the image data to be transmitted by the authentication information adding means. Only the person who knows the password added to or the information corresponding thereto can receive and browse the image data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an image is taken,
In an image transmission system including a digital camera having a function of transmitting captured image data directly or via a transfer server or the like, and an image data receiving device for receiving and displaying image data transmitted from the digital camera. ,
The digital camera includes an authentication information adding unit that adds a personal identification number or information corresponding to the image data to be transmitted when image data is transmitted from the digital camera, and the image data receiving device transmits the image data transmitted from the digital camera. An authentication information input means for inputting authentication information is provided when trying to receive, and when the authentication information input by the authentication information input means matches the authentication information transmitted from the digital camera, image data reception is performed. It is made possible. In this configuration, when the authentication information input by the authentication information input unit matches the authentication information transmitted from the digital camera, the image data can be received. Therefore, the transmitted image is specified on the receiving side. Only those who can view it.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an image is taken,
In an image transmission system including a digital camera having a function of transmitting photographed image data directly or via a transfer server or the like, and an image data receiving device for receiving and displaying image data transmitted from the digital camera. ,
The digital camera, when transmitting image data from the digital camera, includes authentication data adding means for adding authentication data for confirming the sender before receiving the image data on the image data receiving side. Display means for displaying the authentication data added by the authentication data adding means, and instructing means for instructing permission to receive image data from the digital camera. Is received and an image is displayed. In this configuration,
The sender adds authentication data for confirming the sender when transmitting the image data, and the receiver checks the authentication data displayed on the display unit before receiving the image data, and then transmits the image from the digital camera by the instruction unit. By instructing data reception permission, image data is received.

The authentication data added by the authentication data adding means may be image data of a sender's face. Thus, the receiver can easily confirm the sender with the authentication data displayed on the display means.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A digital camera equipped with an image recording system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show the front, back, and bottom of a digital camera provided with the image recording system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 shows an electrical configuration of the digital camera. The digital camera 1 includes a box-shaped camera body 2 and a rectangular parallelepiped imaging unit 3. The imaging unit 3 is detachably mounted on the right side of the camera body 2 when viewed from the front, and is rotatably mounted in a plane parallel to the right side.

The image pickup section 3 has a photographing lens 301 formed by a macro zoom and an image pickup device formed by a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and converts an optical image of a subject into an image formed of an electric signal (each pixel of the CCD). The image is converted into an image composed of charge signals that have been photoelectrically converted in step (1). On the other hand, the camera body 2 is an LCD (Liquor
It has a display unit 10 composed of an id crystal display, a mounting unit 17 for a memory card 8 and a connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected, and performs predetermined signal processing mainly on the image signal captured by the imaging unit 3. After that, L
It performs processing such as display on the CD display unit 10, recording on the memory card 8, transfer to a personal computer, and the like.

A macro zoom lens 301 is provided inside the image pickup section 3, and an image pickup circuit having a CCD color area sensor 303 is provided at an appropriate position behind the macro zoom lens 301. In addition, a dimming circuit 304 including a dimming sensor 305 that receives the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is provided at an appropriate position in the imaging unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, a grip 4 is provided at an appropriate position on the left end of the camera body 2 as shown in FIG.
A built-in flash 5 and an infrared transmission / reception unit IR for transferring data with an external device such as a personal computer are provided at an appropriate position on the right end. On the upper surface of the camera body 2, switches 6 and 7 for frame advance when reproducing a recorded image are provided substantially at the center. The switch 6 is a switch (hereinafter referred to as an UP) for advancing the recorded image in the direction in which the frame number increases (the direction of the photographing order).
It is called a switch. ), And the switch 7 is a switch (hereinafter, referred to as a DOWN switch) for frame-forwarding the recorded image in a direction in which the frame number decreases. An erasure switch D for erasing an image recorded on the memory card 8 is provided on the left side of the DOWN switch 7 when viewed from the rear side, and a shutter button 9 is provided on the right side of the UP switch 6. .

As shown in FIG. 2, on the back of the camera body 2, an LCD display for displaying a monitor (corresponding to a viewfinder) of a photographed image and reproducing and displaying a recorded image is provided substantially at the center of the left end. 10 are provided. Also, L
The F related to the flash emission is located above the CD display unit 10.
L mode setting key 11, power switch PS, display changeover switch D for changing display contents of LCD display section 10
An ISP and a return switch ESC for giving an instruction to cancel the input contents are provided. Furthermore,
A compression ratio setting switch 12 for switching and setting a compression ratio K of image data recorded on the memory card 8 is provided below the LCD display unit 10.

The digital camera 1 has an "automatic flash mode" in which the built-in flash 5 is automatically fired according to the brightness of the subject as a mode relating to flash emission, and a "forced flash" in which the built-in flash 5 is forcibly fired regardless of the brightness of the subject. A flash mode, and a flash mode in which the flash of the built-in flash is inhibited.
Each time the mode setting key 11 is pressed, each mode of "automatic light emission", "forced light emission" and "light emission inhibition" is cyclically switched, and any one of the modes is selectively set. Also, the digital camera 1 has 1/8 and 1/20
Can be selected and set. For example, when the compression ratio setting switch 12 is slid to the right, the compression ratio K =
It is set to 1/8, and when it slides to the left, the compression ratio K = 1
/ 20 is set. In the present embodiment, two types of compression ratios K can be selectively set, but three or more types of compression ratios K may be selectively set.

Further, a mode setting switch 14 is provided at the upper right end of the rear surface of the camera body 2 for switching between "shooting mode", "playback mode", "transfer mode" and "utility mode". ing. The photographing mode is a mode for photographing, the reproducing mode is a mode for reproducing and displaying a photographed image recorded on the memory card 8 and an image recorded on another external image recording device on the LCD display unit 10, and the transfer mode is a mode for transmitting image data. The transfer mode to the transfer server and the utility mode are modes in which various utilities can be used. Mode setting switch 1
Reference numeral 4 also includes a two-contact slide switch. For example, sliding to the right sets a shooting mode, sliding to the center sets a playback mode, sliding to the left sets a transfer mode, and further sliding to the left sets a utility mode. .

A battery loading chamber 1 is provided on the bottom of the camera body 2.
8 and a card loading chamber 17 for the memory card 8, and the loading ports of both loading chambers 17 and 18 are closed by a clamshell type lid 15. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment uses a power supply battery formed by connecting four AA batteries in series as a drive source.

In FIG. 4, a CCD 303 converts a light image of a subject formed by a macro zoom lens 301 into an R image.
The image signal is photoelectrically converted into an image signal of a color component of (red), G (green), and B (blue) (a signal including a signal sequence of pixel signals received by each pixel) and output. The timing generator 314
Various timing pulses for controlling the driving of the CCD 303 are generated. In the exposure control in the image pickup unit 3, the CCD 303
, The CC corresponding to the shutter speed
This is performed by adjusting the charge accumulation time of D303. If the shutter speed cannot be set to an appropriate value because the subject brightness is low, the improper exposure due to insufficient exposure is corrected by adjusting the level of the image signal output from the CCD 303. That is, when the luminance is low, the exposure control is performed by combining the shutter speed and the gain adjustment. The level adjustment of the image signal is performed in the gain adjustment in the AGC circuit in the signal processing circuit 313.

The timing generator 314 generates a drive control signal for the CCD 303 based on a reference clock transmitted from the timing control circuit 202. The timing generator 314 generates clock signals such as integration start / end (exposure start / end) timing signals and light-receiving signal readout control signals (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.) for each pixel. CCD3
03 is output. Further, the signal processing circuit 313 includes a CCD
A predetermined analog signal processing is performed on the image signal (analog signal) output from the output terminal 303. Signal processing circuit 3
13 is a CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit and AGC
(Auto gain control) circuit, the noise of the image signal is reduced by the CDS circuit, and the level of the image signal is adjusted by adjusting the gain in the AGC circuit.

The dimming circuit 304 controls the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 in flash photography to a predetermined light emission amount set by the overall control unit 211. In flash photography, the reflected light of flash light from the subject is received by the light control sensor 305 at the same time as the start of exposure, and when the amount of received light reaches a predetermined light emission amount, the light control circuit 3
An emission stop signal is output from 04 to a flash control circuit 214 (hereinafter, FL control circuit) provided in the camera main body 2. The FL control circuit 214 forcibly stops light emission of the built-in flash 5 in response to the light emission stop signal, whereby the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled to a predetermined light emission amount.

In the camera body 2, a timing control circuit 202 for generating a reference clock, a timing generator 314, and a clock for the A / D converter 205 is provided. The timing control circuit 202 is controlled by the overall control unit 211. A / D converter 2
Numeral 05 converts each pixel signal of the image signal into a 10-bit digital signal. The A / D converter 205 receives each pixel signal (analog signal) based on an A / D conversion clock input from an A / D clock generation circuit (not shown).
Into a 10-bit digital signal.

The black level correction circuit 206 corrects the black level of the A / D converted pixel signal (hereinafter referred to as pixel data) to a reference black level. Further, the WB circuit 207 adjusts R, R so that the white balance is also adjusted after γ correction (signal conversion for reversely correcting the inverse linearity of the recording characteristic to make the recording density closer to linear).
The level conversion of the pixel data of each color component of G and B is performed. The WB circuit 207 converts the level of the pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components using the level conversion table input from the overall control unit 211. The conversion coefficient (gradient of the characteristic) of each color component in the level conversion table is set by the overall control unit 211 for each captured image. The γ correction circuit 208 corrects γ characteristics of pixel data. The γ correction circuit 208 has, for example, six types of γ correction tables having different γ characteristics, and performs γ correction of pixel data using a predetermined γ correction table in accordance with a shooting scene and shooting conditions.

The image memory 209 is a memory for storing pixel data output from the gamma correction circuit 208. The image memory 209 has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, in the image memory 209, the CCD 303
In the case of having pixels in rows and m columns, it has a storage capacity for pixel data of n × m pixels, and each pixel data is stored in a corresponding pixel position. VRAM (Video Ra
An ndom access memory (210) is a buffer memory for image data reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. VR
The AM 210 has a storage capacity for image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD display unit 10.

In a shooting standby state, each pixel data of an image picked up by the image pickup unit 3 every 1/30 (second) is A
After undergoing predetermined signal processing by the / D converter 205, the black level correction circuit 206, the WB circuit 207, and the γ correction circuit 208, the signal is stored in the image memory 209 and transferred to the VRAM 210 via the overall control unit 211. And L
It is displayed on the CD display unit 10. This allows the photographer to
The subject image can be confirmed from the image displayed on the CD display unit 10. In the reproduction mode, the image read from the memory card 8 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the overall control unit 211, transferred to the VRAM 210, and reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

The card I / F 212 is an interface for writing image data to the memory card 8 and reading image data. Also, the communication I / F 21
Reference numeral 3 denotes an interface conforming to, for example, an infrared interface (IrDA) for externally connecting the personal computer 19 in a communicable manner. The personal computer 19 is used as a transfer server when transmitting image data from the digital camera 1 to a receiving device.

The modem 401 modulates the image data to which the additional data for transfer is added so that the data can be transferred via a telephone line. In the present embodiment, the image data of the digital camera 1 is transferred to the receiving device via the transfer server 19; however, the image data can be directly transferred from the digital camera 1 to the receiving device using the modem 401.

The FL control circuit 214 has a built-in flash 5
This is a circuit for controlling the light emission. The FL control circuit 214
The built-in flash 5 based on the control signal of the overall control unit 211
The presence or absence of light emission, the amount and timing of light emission,
The light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled based on the light emission stop signal input from the light control circuit 304. In addition, RTC21
Reference numeral 9 denotes a clock circuit for managing the shooting date and time, and is driven by another battery (not shown). The operation unit 250 includes the above-described UP switch 6, DOWN switch 7, shutter button 9, FL mode setting key 11, compression ratio setting switch 12, mode setting switch 14, return switch ES
C and a switch corresponding to the display changeover switch DISP.

The overall control section 211 is composed of a microcomputer, and controls the driving of each member in the image pickup section 3 and the camera main body section 2 in an organic manner to control the photographing operation of the digital camera 1 in an integrated manner.

In the photographing mode, when photographing is instructed by the shutter button 9 in the photographing mode, as shown in FIG. 5, a thumbnail image (reduced image) of the image taken into the image memory 209 after the photographing instruction is issued. The JPEG (Joint Photographic Exper) is determined based on the low resolution image for display) and the compression ratio K set by the compression ratio setting switch 12.
ts Group) and generate a compressed image.
Both images are stored in the memory card 8 together with tag information (frame number, exposure value, shutter speed, compression ratio K, shooting date, flash ON / OFF data at shooting, scene information, image determination result, etc.) regarding the shot image. Remember. The memory card 8 can store 40 frames of images at a compression ratio of 1/20. Each frame has tag information, high-resolution image data (640 × 480 pixels) compressed in JPEG format, and thumbnail display. Image data (80 × 60 pixels) is recorded. For each frame, for example, EXIF format (JPEG
(A type of file format conforming to the standard) can be handled as image files. The tag stores shooting date, flash on / off data at the time of shooting, and the like. In addition, the photographer's name, personal identification number, and authentication data are also recorded in this tag.

Next, a description will be given of a procedure for transferring image data after photographing with a digital camera and a method for setting a password and authentication data at the time of image data transfer, which are features of the present invention.
This digital camera 1 is a personal computer G
Operability similar to that of a UI (Graphical User Interface) is provided. When there is an event that needs to be selected by the user due to setting of a utility or the like, a message box (dialog) is displayed on the LCD display unit 10. Pressing of the shutter button 9 is defined as an operation that means affirmation, and pressing of the UP switch 6 and the DOWN switch 7 is defined as an operation of sequentially selecting selection branches. Also,
Pressing the return switch ESC is defined as an operation of shifting (returning) from the current setting mode to a higher layer, canceling the operation, or canceling the operation.

In the present embodiment, the image data in the memory card 8 of the digital camera 1 is transmitted to the receiving device 500 via the transfer server 19. When transferring image data, the mode of the digital camera 1 is switched to the image data transfer mode by the mode setting switch 14. When entering the image data transfer mode, the display as shown in FIG.
The first image in the memory card 8 is displayed on the D display unit 10 and the image selection window 101 is displayed. Here, by pressing the UP switch 6 and the DOWN switch 7, the image selection window 101 and the "next" button 102
The selection setting item (display indicating which item is selected, such as a cross mark, reverse display, etc.) moves between the items. Here, when the shutter button 9 is pressed when the image selection window 101 is selected (when the selection setting item is located on the image selection window 101), the image selection window 101 is selected. Next, according to the instruction of the dialog 103 for instructing image selection, the UP switch 6, the DOW
When the N switch 7 is operated, the image in the image window 101 is updated to the previous or next image in the memory card 8. When the shutter button 9 is pressed while the image to be transferred is displayed in the image window 101, the image displayed at that time is determined as the transfer image, and the selection setting item moves to the “Next” button 102 I do. When the shutter button 9 is pressed, the "next" button 102 is operated, and a screen for inputting a password as shown in FIG. 6B is displayed.

Next, a personal identification number is input into the input box 104 of five alphabetic characters shown in FIG. 6B by the following method. U
Each time the P switch 6 is pressed, the candidate Roman character is changed from a → b → c
The character is determined by pressing the shutter button 9 when the desired character appears. When the character is determined, the cursor position in the input frame 104 is shifted right by one character, so that the next character is input. When all the characters are input in this way, a “next” button 102 is displayed as shown in FIG. Here, when the shutter button 9 is pressed, a screen as shown in FIG. 6D is displayed, and a dialog 105 for instructing the photographing of the authentication data is displayed on the screen. According to this, the sender is specified. To do this, the sender's own face is photographed. The digital camera 1 stores an image on the memory card 8 at the time of normal photographing, but the image photographed as the authentication image data is temporary data at the time of transfer and is therefore held in the image buffer. The authentication image data may have an image resolution that can be specified by the sender, and has a lower resolution and a higher compression ratio than normal photographing data. When the face of the sender is photographed, the setting of the authentication data is completed, the photographed image data is held in the image memory 209 in the camera, and the screen on the LCD display unit 10 becomes a screen as shown in FIG. .

Next, when the shutter button 9 is pressed, the "next" button 102 is operated, and a screen as shown in FIG. 6F is displayed, and an authentication image 106 is displayed on the screen. As a result, all the data required for image data transfer has been prepared, and data transmission becomes possible. Here, when the shutter button 9 is pressed, the transmission button 107 is operated, and the data transfer is started.
(G) is displayed. When the transmission of all data is completed, the screen is displayed as shown in FIG. Through such an operation, the image data is transferred to the transfer server 19.

Next, the configuration and operation of the receiving apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. The receiving device 500
A modem 502 connected to a telephone line 501 for modulating and demodulating transmitted / received data, a CPU 503 for controlling the entire apparatus, a ROM 504 for storing dedicated data receiving software, a display device (monitor) 505, and an image memory 506 for storing received images. , And an operation unit 50 composed of a mouse and a keyboard
7 is comprised. This receiving device 500 is a telephone line 5
01, image data of the digital camera 1 stored in the transfer server 19 can be received.

When the data receiving software stored in the ROM 504 is started, the modem 5 is transmitted from the receiving device 500 to the transfer server 19 periodically or according to a user's instruction.
02, a dial-up operation is performed. If new image data is transferred to the transfer server 19, the transfer server 19 sends a header portion (including a photographer name, a password, and authentication data) of the image file to the receiving device 500. A screen as shown in FIG. 8A is displayed on the monitor 505 of the receiving device 500. Here, the receiver checks the sender by looking at the authentication image 513.
If the receiver cannot confirm the sender or does not want to receive the image data with an unknown sender, the reception stop button 511 is clicked with the mouse to stop the reception of the image data. By performing such a procedure, it is possible to prevent the receiver from receiving an irrelevant image or receiving an unpleasant image that slanders a person. If the user wants to receive image data, the user inputs a password in the password input box 512. If the password is the same as the one recorded in the header of the image file, a reception button 514 is displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 8B. When the button 514 is clicked, the transfer of the image data starts, and a bar 515 indicating the progress is displayed as shown in FIG. When the image is transferred, FIG.
As shown in (d), the transfer image 516 is displayed on the entire screen.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the receiving apparatus starts receiving image data after the receiver inputs a password, but only when the image data is received in advance and the password is correctly input, the receiving apparatus receives the image data. The displayed image data may be displayed. Also, at this time, scrambling of each line in the sub-scanning direction of the image data is performed in accordance with mathematical rules based on the numerical value of the personal identification number, and by correctly inputting the personal identification number,
Specifications for decoding are also conceivable. In the above-described embodiment, the image data of the digital camera is transmitted to the receiving device via the transfer server. However, the image data may be transmitted directly from the digital camera to the receiving device. Thereby, the configuration of the transmission system can be simplified.

[0037]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
At the time of transmitting image data from the digital camera, the personal identification number or information corresponding to the password is added to the image data to be transmitted, so that only the specific person can view the image transmitted from the digital camera on the receiving side. This can prevent the transmitted image from being viewed by an unspecified person on the receiving side.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the authentication information input on the image data receiving device side matches the authentication information transmitted from the digital camera side, image data can be received. Therefore, by notifying only the specific person of the authentication information, only the specific person can view the image transmitted from the digital camera on the receiving side. This can prevent the transmitted image from being viewed by an unspecified person on the receiving side.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the authentication data added by the digital camera at the time of transmitting the image data is displayed on the display means before the image data is received at the time of reception at the image data receiving device. Therefore, after confirming the identity of the transmission source based on the authentication data, it is possible to instruct the reception permission of the image data by operating the instruction means.
This can prevent the receiver from receiving unnecessary image data such as an image unrelated to the receiver.

Further, by using the image data of the sender's face as the authentication data to be added by the authentication data adding means, the receiver can easily determine the authentication data displayed on the display means. The effect described in item 3 can be obtained accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the digital camera.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data array in a memory card.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a transfer procedure of image data captured by a digital camera.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a receiving device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an image data receiving operation on the receiving device side.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 digital camera 6 UP switch (authentication information adding means) 9 shutter button (authentication information adding means) 104 input frame (authentication information adding means) 211 overall control unit (authentication information adding means, authentication data adding means) 303 CCD (authentication data) Adding means) 500 receiving apparatus (image data receiving apparatus) 504 personal identification number input frame (authentication information input means) 505 monitor (display means) 507 operation section (instruction means, authentication information input means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 7/081 H04N 7/08 Z 7/16

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera having a function of capturing an image and transmitting the captured image data directly or via a transfer server, and an image for receiving and displaying the image data transmitted from the digital camera. A digital camera used in an image transmission system including a data receiving device, comprising: authentication information adding means for adding a personal identification number or information equivalent to image data to be transmitted when transmitting image data from the digital camera. A digital camera characterized in that: 2. A digital camera having a function of capturing an image and transmitting the captured image data directly or via a transfer server or the like, and image data for receiving and displaying image data transmitted from the digital camera. An image transmission system including a receiving device, wherein the digital camera includes authentication information adding means for adding a personal identification number or information corresponding to the image data to be transmitted when transmitting image data from the digital camera; The receiving device includes authentication information input means for inputting authentication information when trying to receive the image data transmitted from the digital camera, and the authentication information input by the authentication information input means and the authentication information transmitted from the digital camera. Image data can be received when the authentication information matches the authentication information. Image transmission system. 3. A digital camera having a function of capturing an image and transmitting the captured image data directly or via a transfer server or the like, and image data for receiving and displaying image data transmitted from the digital camera. An image transmission system comprising a receiving device, wherein the digital camera, when transmitting image data, adds authentication data for confirming a sender prior to receiving the image data on the image data receiving side. The image data receiving apparatus comprises: display means for displaying the authentication data added by the authentication data adding means; and instructing means for instructing reception of image data from the digital camera. According to the instructions by
An image transmission system wherein image data is received from the digital camera and an image is displayed. 4. The image transmission system according to claim 3, wherein the authentication data added by the authentication data adding means is image data of a sender's face.