US20050151858A1 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Digital camera Download PDF

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Publication number
US20050151858A1
US20050151858A1 US10/503,982 US50398204A US2005151858A1 US 20050151858 A1 US20050151858 A1 US 20050151858A1 US 50398204 A US50398204 A US 50398204A US 2005151858 A1 US2005151858 A1 US 2005151858A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
storage medium
image data
image
digital camera
write
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/503,982
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English (en)
Inventor
Hirotake Nozaki
Akira Ohmura
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nikon Corp
Original Assignee
Nikon Corp
Nikon Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2002040284A external-priority patent/JP4269558B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP2002040283A external-priority patent/JP4277474B2/ja
Application filed by Nikon Corp, Nikon Technologies Inc filed Critical Nikon Corp
Assigned to NIKON CORPORATION, NIKON TECHNOLOGIES INC. reassignment NIKON CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: NOZAKI, HIROTAKE, OHMURA, AKIRA
Assigned to NIKON TECHNOLOGIES INC., NIKON CORPORATION reassignment NIKON TECHNOLOGIES INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: NOZAKI, HIROTAKE, OHMURA, AKIRA
Publication of US20050151858A1 publication Critical patent/US20050151858A1/en
Assigned to NIKON CORPORATION reassignment NIKON CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: NIKON TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Priority to US12/078,854 priority Critical patent/US8149295B2/en
Priority to US13/412,095 priority patent/US8659677B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N1/32101—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
    • H04N1/32106—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title separate from the image data, e.g. in a different computer file
    • H04N1/32122—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title separate from the image data, e.g. in a different computer file in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/21—Intermediate information storage
    • H04N1/2104—Intermediate information storage for one or a few pictures
    • H04N1/2112—Intermediate information storage for one or a few pictures using still video cameras
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/21—Intermediate information storage
    • H04N1/2104—Intermediate information storage for one or a few pictures
    • H04N1/2158—Intermediate information storage for one or a few pictures using a detachable storage unit
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/76—Television signal recording
    • H04N5/765—Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
    • H04N5/77—Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television camera
    • H04N5/772—Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television camera the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/76—Television signal recording
    • H04N5/765—Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
    • H04N5/775—Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/76—Television signal recording
    • H04N5/907—Television signal recording using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N9/00—Details of colour television systems
    • H04N9/79—Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
    • H04N9/80—Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback
    • H04N9/82—Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only
    • H04N9/8205—Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a digital camera with a function to record taken image data in a recording medium.
  • a digital camera records image information about a taken image in a changeable recording medium like a memory card etc. But, capacity of the recording medium recording the image information and cost performance are not satisfactory. Especially, a problem a overwritable recording medium has is its high price.
  • a present invention is aimed at providing a digital camera that uses a recording medium efficiently.
  • a digital camera of this invention includes an imaging device, an internal memory, an attachment device that attaches a storage medium, a medium detector that detects whether the storage medium attached to the attachment device is a storage medium limiting overwrite and a record control device that controls so as to store image data taken by the imaging device in the storage medium attached to the attachment device, wherein, when the medium detector detects that the storage medium attached to the attachment device is the storage medium limiting overwrite, the record control device controls so as to store data management information of the image data recorded in the storage medium limiting overwrite in the internal memory. It is preferable that the record control device controls so as to record the data management information stored in the internal memory in the storage medium limiting overwrite at given timing.
  • the data management information may be record position information identifying where to record the image data in the storage medium.
  • the data management information may be information about a printing of the image data.
  • the given timing may be timing on when to remove the storage medium attached to the attachment device.
  • the digital camera further includes a lid detector that detects whether a lid capping the attachment device is opened and it is preferable that the timing on when to remove the storage medium is timing on when to detect via the lid detector that the lid is opened.
  • the digital camera further includes a capacity detector that detects residual capacity of the storage medium attached to the attachment device, wherein the given timing may be timing on when to detect via the capacity detector that the residual capacity becomes below given capacity.
  • the given timing may be timing on when to connect to an external device.
  • a digital camera of this invention includes an attachment device that attaches a storage medium recording image data and data management information of the image data, a medium detector that detects whether the storage medium attached to the attachment device is a storage medium limiting overwrite, a record control device that controls recording of the image data and the data management information of the image data and a switching device that switches over a mode between a change mode capable of changing data management information of image data stored in the storage medium and a non-change mode unable to change the data management information, wherein, when the medium detector detects that the storage medium limiting overwrite is attached to the attachment device, the record control device puts recording of data management information changed in the change mode in the storage medium limiting overwrite on hold.
  • the record control device records the changed data management information in the storage medium limiting overwrite in response to a switch-over to the non-change mode from the change mode via the switching device.
  • the digital camera further includes an internal memory, wherein it is preferable that the record control device stores the changed data management information in the internal memory until the switching device switches over to the non-change mode from the change mode.
  • the data management information may be record position information identifying where to record the image data in the storage medium.
  • the data management information may be information about a printing of the image data.
  • the internal memory is a volatile memory. It is preferable that the internal memory is a buffer memory for image processing used when image processing is performed.
  • a digital camera of this invention includes an attachment device that attaches a storage medium, a capacity detector that detects usable capacity of the storage medium attached to the attachment device and an index creator that creates index data corresponding to usable capacity of the storage medium detected by the capacity detector. It is preferable that the index data is data that provides an overview of image data information recorded in the storage medium.
  • the digital camera further includes a medium detector that detects whether the storage medium attached to the attachment device is a storage medium limiting overwrite, wherein, when the capacity detector detects that the storage medium attached to the attachment device is the storage medium limiting overwrite, the index creator may create the index data.
  • a digital camera of this invention includes an imaging device, an attachment device that attaches a storage medium, an image output device that outputs image data recorded in the storage medium attached to the attachment device to an external image storage apparatus, a medium detector that detects whether the storage medium attached to the attachment device is a storage medium limiting overwrite and an output record device that records output information to find out the image data outputted to the external image storage apparatus in the storage medium limiting overwrite when the medium detector detects that the storage medium limiting overwrite is attached to the attachment device. It is preferable that the output information includes information on where to output the image data. The output information may include information on what day and what time to output the image data.
  • a digital camera of this invention includes an imaging device, an attachment device that attaches a storage medium, a record control device that controls so as to record image data taken by the imaging device in the storage medium attached to the attachment device, a medium detector that detects whether the storage medium attached to the attachment device is a storage medium limiting overwrite and an image edit processing device that performs different image edit processing on the image data recorded in the storage medium corresponding to a kind of the storage medium attached to the attachment device.
  • the image edit processing device does not perform image edit processing on the image data. It is preferable that the image edit processing performs right/left rotate processing to right- or left-rotate the image data as the image edit processing.
  • the digital camera further includes a capacity detector that detects usable capacity of the storage medium attached to the attachment device, wherein it is preferable that, when the medium detector detects that the storage medium attached to the attachment device is the storage medium limiting overwrite, the image edit processing performs different image edit processing corresponding to usable capacity of the storage medium detected by the capacity detector.
  • the image edit processing device may not perform image edit processing on the image data.
  • the image edit processing device may perform right/left rotate processing to right- or left-rotate the image data as the image edit processing.
  • the image edit processing device performs right/left rotate processing on the image data when the capacity detector detects that usable capacity of the storage medium limiting overwrite is above given capacity and the image edit processing device changes right/left rotate information of data management information of the image data and creates new data management information when the capacity detector detects that usable capacity of the storage medium limiting overwrite is below the given capacity.
  • a digital camera of this invention includes an imaging device, an internal memory, an attachment device that attaches a storage medium, a record control device that controls so as to record image data taken by the imaging device in the storage medium attached to the attachment device, a medium detector that detects whether the storage medium attached to the attachment device is a storage medium limiting overwrite, a switch device that switches over a mode between a relating shooting mode for shooting a plurality of related image data and a normal shooting mode and a relating image control device that stores the image data taken in the relating shooting mode in the internal memory when the medium detector detects that the storage medium attached to the attachment device is the storage medium limiting overwrite.
  • the relating image control device controls so as to record the image data stored in the internal memory in the storage medium limiting overwrite all at once in response to release of the relating shooting mode by the switch device.
  • the digital camera further includes an image select device that selects image data to be recorded in the storage medium limiting overwrite from image data taken in the relating shooting mode, wherein it is preferable that the relating image control device controls so as to record image data selected by the image select device in the storage medium limiting overwrite.
  • the relating shooting mode may be a composite image shooting mode in which the plurality of taken image data are put together into one image.
  • the composite image shooting mode may be a composite panorama shooting mode.
  • the relating shooting mode may be a continuous shooting mode.
  • the internal memory is a volatile memory.
  • the internal memory may be a buffer memory for image processing used when image processing is performed.
  • a digital camera of this invention includes an imaging device, an attachment device that attaches a storage medium, a record control device that controls so as to record image data taken by the imaging device in the storage medium attached to the attachment device, a medium detector that detects whether the storage medium attached to the attachment device is a storage medium limiting overwrite, a failure judgment device that judges if the image data taken by the imaging device is a failure image and a failure image record control device that controls so as not to automatically record image data judged by the failure judgment device as a failure image in the storage medium limiting overwrite when the medium detector detects that the storage medium limiting overwrite is attached to the attachment device.
  • the digital camera further includes an internal memory, wherein it is preferable that the failure image record control device stores the image data taken by the imaging device in the internal memory temporally.
  • the digital camera further includes a record display device, wherein the failure image record control device may display an inquiry if image data judged by the failure judgment device as a failure image is to be recorded in the storage medium limiting overwrite.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera in a first embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a main flow chart of control processing to be executed in the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 is a flow chart of interrupt image taking processing to be executed in the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 4 is a flow chart of interrupt reproduction processing to be executed in the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an interrupt reproduction menu to be executed in the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an interrupt special delete to be executed in the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera in a second embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a main flow chart of control processing to be executed in the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing priority decision processing of FIG. 8 .
  • FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a detail of transcription processing of FIG. 8 .
  • FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing residual capacity display processing of FIG. 8 .
  • FIG. 12 is a flow chart of an interrupt image taking to be executed in the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 13 is a flow chart of interrupt reproduction processing to be executed in the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a detail of the reproduction processing of FIG. 13 .
  • FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing of an interrupt reproduction menu to be executed in the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 16 is a flow chart of interrupt power-off processing to be executed in the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 17 is a flow chart of bulk transcription processing when an all-at-once transcription processing mode is set in the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 18 is a flow chart of an interrupt image taking processing when the all-at-once transcription processing mode is set in the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 19 is a flow chart of all-at-once transcription processing when the all-at-once transcription processing mode is set in the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera in a third embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing control processing at a time of a power-on to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 22 is a view showing a display example displayed on a LCD display panel.
  • FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing of control processing at a time of changing a mode to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing record control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing record control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 26 is a view showing a display example displayed on a LCD display panel.
  • FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing a memory capacity detection control to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIGS. 28 ( a ) and ( b ) are views showing a display example displayed on a LCD display panel.
  • FIG. 29 ( a ) is a view showing a display example of the delete menu displayed on a LCD display panel.
  • FIG. 29 ( b ) is a view showing a display example of a warning displayed on a LCD display panel.
  • FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing a simple delete operation in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 31 is a flow chart showing a complete delete operation to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing delete control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing delete control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing delete control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 35 is a view showing a display example of a warning on a LCD display panel.
  • FIG. 36 is a view showing a display example of a setting menu on a LCD display panel.
  • FIG. 37 is a flow chart showing a format control to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 38 is a flow chart showing file optimization control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 39 is a flow chart showing format processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 40 is a flow chart showing panorama shooting control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 41 is a flow chart showing panorama composition control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 42 is a flow chart showing continuous shooting control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 43 is a flow chart showing record inquiry control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 44 is a view showing a display example of a print setting menu on a LCD display panel.
  • FIG. 45 is a flow chart showing print setting control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 46 is a flow chart showing setting change control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 47 is a flow chart showing setting change control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 48 is a flow chart showing right/left rotation control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 49 is a flow chart showing right/left rotation control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 50 is a flow chart showing right/left rotation control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 51 is a flow chart showing index data creation control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 52 is a flow chart showing transfer management control processing to be executed in the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 53 is a flow chart showing record control processing to be executed in a fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 54 is a view showing a display example of reproducing an image on a LCD display panel.
  • FIG. 55 is a flow chart showing capacity secure control processing to be executed in the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 56 is a flow chart showing residual capacity display control processing to be executed in the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 57 is a view showing a display example of a number of remaining frames on a LCD display panel.
  • FIG. 58 is a flow chart showing battery related control processing to be executed in the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 59 is a flow chart showing battery-related control processing to be executed in the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 60 is a view showing a message display example on a LCD display panel.
  • FIG. 61 is a flow chart showing battery-related control processing in the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 62 is a flow chart showing battery-related control processing in the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 63 is a flow chart showing memory capacity display control processing in the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 64 is a view showing a display example of a number of remaining frames on a LCD display panel.
  • FIG. 65 is a flow chart showing memory capacity display control processing to be executed in the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 66 is a flow chart showing memory capacity display change control processing to be executed in the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 67 is a flow chart showing image reproduction control processing to be executed in the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 68 is a flow chart showing reproduction change control processing to be executed in the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 69 is a view showing a display example of a reproduction menu on a LCD display.
  • FIG. 70 is a view showing a display example of reproducing plural image data on a LCD display panel.
  • FIG. 71 is a flow chart showing image delete control processing to be executed in the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 72 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image storage apparatus in a fifth embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 73 is a flow chart showing image management control processing to be executed in the fifth embodiment.
  • FIG. 74 is a view showing a display example of a setting menu to be executed in the fifth embodiment.
  • FIG. 75 is a flow chart showing image management control processing to be executed in the fifth embodiment.
  • FIG. 76 is a flow chart showing image management control processing to be executed in the fifth embodiment.
  • FIG. 77 is a view showing a display example of a setting menu in the fifth embodiment.
  • FIGS. 78 ( a ) and ( b ) 77 are views showing a display example of a setting menu in the fifth embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital camera system of the first embodiment in accordance with this invention.
  • digital camera 1 consists of control/processor unit 5 , LCD display panel 6 , operation unit 7 , imaging device 8 , A/D converter 9 , display buffer 10 , Raw data buffer 11 , digital input/output terminal 12 and the like.
  • Operation unit 7 is a unit whereby a user selects any of operations of digital camera 1 , for instance, including a mode selection switch and a shutter release button.
  • Imaging device 8 has an image sensor of approximately 3 million pixels and converts a subject image through a taking lens (not shown) electrically.
  • Digital camera 1 is provided with card slot 2 for inserting a storage medium of a solid-state memory card.
  • Digital camera 1 can accept selectively overwritable storage medium 3 that is typically used as a storage medium of a digital camera and write-once storage medium 4 capable of writing once as a storage medium. Overwritable storage medium 3 and write-once storage medium 4 can be inserted into card slot 2 .
  • FIG. 1 shows what write-once storage medium 4 is inserted into card slot 2 .
  • a user operates operation unit 7 to select a shooting mode or a reproduction mode while viewing a menu displayed on LCD display panel 6 . When the shooting mode is selected, an optical image through a taking lens (not shown) is successively converted into an electric image signal by imaging device 8 .
  • control/processor unit 5 controls imaging device 8 and skips/reads converted electric image data. Skipped/read electric image data is digitally converted to skipped image data by A/D converter 9 and then sent to control/processor unit 5 .
  • Control/processor unit 5 converts skipped image data from A/D converter 9 to display image data and sends the display image data to display buffer 10 .
  • the shooting mode is set, as imaging device 8 successively takes photographs, the skipped image data is also successively sent to control/processor unit 5 and then display buffer 10 is successively overwritten one after another by new display image data. Accordingly, An image successively taken by imaging device 8 is displayed as a moving image via LCD display panel 6 and LCD display panel 6 functions as a finder of digital camera 1 .
  • control/processor unit 5 reads out all pixels of an electric image signal controlling imaging device 8 and digitally converts the read-out electric image signal by A/D converter 9 .
  • Digital data obtained in this way is Raw data outputted from an image sensor of imaging device 8 .
  • Raw data from A/D converter 9 is sent to Raw data buffer 11 and is temporally stored therein.
  • imaging device 8 performs skip/read-out processing again and LCD display panel 6 displays a moving image based upon skipped image data.
  • Raw data buffer 11 has capacity equivalent to about 10 images, it can store up to 10 images at maximum in response to an operation of a shutter release button.
  • image processing such as an interpolation and a white balance adjustment and compression process is performed.
  • Data processed by the image processing and compression process is stored in write-once storage medium 4 inserted into card slot 2 .
  • the Raw data already sent to control/processor unit 5 is deleted from Raw data buffer 11 or gets ready for being overwritten by new Raw data.
  • Capacity of approx. 10 images at Raw data buffer 11 is for storing plural Raw data at the same time when a subsequent image is taken before processing on an image at control/processor unit 5 is not complete in a continuous shooting mode.
  • a residual capacity amount of write-once storage medium 4 is detected by control/processor unit 5 and displayed on LCD panel 6 .
  • a message prompting to update the storage medium is displayed on LCD pane 16 .
  • a user acknowledges a necessity to update it with a fresh medium via a display screen of LCD display panel 6 .
  • Write-once storage medium 4 is pulled out from digital camera 1 , then an image stored in write-once storage medium 4 is retrieved using PCs and the like. Or, with write-once storage medium 4 inside card slot 2 , a digital communication cable is connected to digital input/output terminal 12 and then the image can be retrieved too over the digital communication cable.
  • overwritable storage medium 3 instead of write-once storage medium 4 is inserted into card slot 2
  • digital camera 1 works almost the same way as the foregoing. In this case, however, it is possible to select an unwanted image from the image displayed on LCD display panel 6 and delete the unwanted image from storage medium 3 via an operation of operation unit 7 .
  • overwritable storage medium 3 new memory capacity for storing new image data can be secured by deleting the unwanted image even when residual capacity of a storage medium gets empty.
  • LCD display panel 6 displays so as to show that any of write-once storage medium 4 or overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted into card slot 2 .
  • FIG. 2 is a main flow chart showing a control processing of control/processor unit 5 according to the first embodiment.
  • step S 1 when a power switch is turned on via operation unit 7 , it is boot digital camera 1 in a record mode.
  • step S 2 it is checked whether or not a storage medium is inserted into card slot 2 and when the storage medium is inserted into card slot 2 , the flow proceeds to step S 3 .
  • step S 3 property information on the storage medium is read in via a connector of card slot 2 .
  • the property information is information that refers to a kind and capacity of a storage medium and also includes information on which a medium is in use, write-once storage medium 4 or overwritable storage medium 3 .
  • step S 4 it is checked whether or not a medium inserted into card slot 2 is write-once storage medium 4 based upon property information inputted.
  • step S 5 LCD display panel 6 displays that the storage medium in use is write-once storage medium 4 . This display is kept on as long as the power switch is on.
  • step S 6 it is to process nullification of a delete instruction.
  • overwritable storage medium 3 it is possible to give a delete instruction of a stored image and secure capacity for new image data by deleting the image.
  • Processing of nullifying the delete instruction is processing to make the delete instruction invalid even if the instruction to delete an image is given.
  • the deletion instruction is performed through an operation of operation unit 7 with a display of an image in question on LCD display panel 6 .
  • the delete instruction becomes null and void, and then processing to delete an image is not executed.
  • step S 7 processing of nullifying a protect release instruction is performed.
  • an instruction to protect an image from a delete operation and an instruction to release this protect every each image can be given via operation unit 7 .
  • Processing of nullifying the protect release instruction is processing to make the protect release instruction invalid if the protect release is instructed.
  • write-once storage medium 4 is configured in such a way that an image cannot be overwritten owing to protect processing, so it is to make sure such that processing of nullifying the protect release instruction does not inadvertently release the protect processing.
  • step S 8 it is to enable an interrupt special delete.
  • overwriting cannot be performed on write-once storage medium 4 , new memory capacity cannot be secured even if a stored image is deleted.
  • processing of an interrupt special delete makes it possible to delete these images stored in write-once storage medium 4 . A detail of processing of nullifying the interrupt special delete will be described later.
  • step S 9 after processing the foregoing, it is to detect residual capacity of a storage medium and display the detected capacity on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 4 when it is detected that the storage medium is not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 9 .
  • the detected capacity is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 10 it is to enable an interrupt image taking corresponding to an operation of a shutter release button in operation unit 7 .
  • step S 11 it is to make an interrupt reproduction enabled corresponding to a reproduction mode selection in operation unit 7 .
  • step S 12 the flow is put on a standby.
  • step S 13 LCD display panel 6 displays that there is no storage medium inserted into card slot 2 . Then, the flow proceeds to step S 12 . Accordingly, when there is no storage medium inserted into card slot 2 , the interrupt imaging taking and the interrupt reproduction become disable.
  • a kind of the storage medium is detected in step S 4 .
  • the first embodiment is not limited to this example. For example, let a given connector pin out of a plurality of connector pins, provided at a storage medium, connecting to the storage medium and card slot 2 be for checking the medium. There is provided the given pin in overwritable storage medium 3 , whereas write-once storage medium 4 has no given pin. In this case, in step S 4 , detection of whether the given pin is connected to the connector on a side of slot card 2 permits to judge whether write-once storage medium 4 is inserted.
  • an exterior shape of the storage medium is so configured as to be different between overwritable storage medium 3 and write-once storage medium 4 , so a kind of the storage medium can be detected.
  • a notch is provided at a part of the exterior shape of write-once storage medium 4 . In this case, by providing a switch or so to detect presence or absence of a notch or so provided on the side of the storage medium, it can be judged whether or not write-once storage medium 4 is inserted.
  • FIG. 3 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of the interrupt image taking to be executed in control/processor unit 5 . Pressing a shutter release button in operation unit 7 lets this processing start from step S 21 . In step S 22 , it is to perform image taking processing and storage processing. Control/processor unit 5 retrieves an image via imaging device 8 , A/D converter 9 and Raw data buffer 11 . Further, after processing such an image interpolation and an image compression is performed, the image is stored in the storage medium via card slot 2 .
  • step S 23 it is judged whether or not write-once storage medium 4 is inserted into card slot 2 . This judgment can be made based upon the property information inputted in step S 3 of FIG. 2 .
  • step S 24 the image stored in write-once storage medium 4 in step S 22 is automatically protected so as not to be overwritten.
  • step S 25 LCD display panel 6 displays that the image appearing on a display screen is protected.
  • step S 26 it is checked if there is residual capacity in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • the flow proceeds to step S 27 .
  • step S 27 LCD display panel 6 displays that the storage medium in use is to be updated.
  • step S 28 the flow gets back to the main flow.
  • step S 26 when it is judged that there is residual capacity, the flow proceeds to step S 28 and gets back to the main flow.
  • step S 23 when it is judged in step S 23 that the storage medium is overwritable storage medium 3 , not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 28 and gets back to the main flow.
  • Write-once storage medium 4 is basically the same configuration with overwritable storage medium 3 rather than an image quality stored in medium 4 getting deteriorated due to excessive overwriting beyond a performance warranty against repeated overwriting. Then, in step S 24 of FIG. 3 , write-once storage medium 4 is configured such that automatic protect processing via control/processor unit 5 inhibits a user from overwriting and deleting the image and does not confuse the user. But, the first embodiment is not limited to this example and, for example, when write-once storage medium 4 in itself is configured such that overwriting and deleting are banned, processing in steps S 24 and S 25 can be omitted.
  • FIG. 4 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of the interrupt reproduction to be executed in control/processor unit 5 . Selecting a reproduction mode via an operation of operation unit 7 lets this processing start from step S 31 .
  • step S 32 it is to enable an interrupt reproduction menu.
  • the reproduction menu is various kind of an operation menu that can be set in the reproduction mode.
  • step S 33 it is to process a reproduction.
  • a latest image stored in write-once storage medium 4 is reproduced on LCD panel unit 6 .
  • An image displayed on LCD display panel 6 can be changed at will via operation unit 7 and an image advance can be performed.
  • a thumbnail display is selected via operation unit 7 , all of images stored in the storage medium are displayed on LCD display panel 6 . Every time a single operation of the reproduction process is finished in step S 33 , the flow proceeds to step S 34 .
  • step S 34 it is judged if an operation to finish reproduction is performed via operation unit 7 and when the reproduction finishing operation is performed, the flow proceeds to step S 35 .
  • step S 35 it is to make an interrupt reproduction menu disabled and then in step S 36 , the flow gets back to the main flow of FIG. 2 . Then, a mode is changed from the reproduction mode to a record mode.
  • the flow gets back to step S 33 and processing in steps S 33 and S 34 is repeatedly performed until the operation to finish reproduction is implemented.
  • FIG. 5 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of interrupt reproduction menu processing to be executed in control/processor unit 5 .
  • the reproduction menu is various kind of the operation menu that can be set in a reproduction mode and an operation item such as the thumbnail display, an enlarged display, a bulk delete of images, an individual delete of an image, a protect image and a release protect image delete is displayed on LCD display panel 6 as an itemized menu.
  • One of items listed in the menu can be selected via operation unit 7 . Selecting the reproduction mode via operation unit 7 lets this processing start from step S 41 .
  • step S 42 it is checked whether write-once storage medium 4 is inserted into card slot 2 and when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, an item change processing of a display menu is performed in steps S 43 through S 45 .
  • step S 43 it is to process a non-display of deleted menu and, more specifically, an operation item such as the bulk image delete and the single image delete is excluded from a reproduction menu so as not to be displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 44 a special delete menu display processing is performed and, more specifically, a special delete is added to the menu as an operation item so that the special delete is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 45 it is to process a non-display of a protect menu and, more specifically, an operation item such as a protect of an image and a release protect of an image is excluded from the reproduction menu so that such operation items are not displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 46 the reproduction menu including a result of the item change performed in step S 43 through step S 45 is displayed.
  • step S 42 on the other hand, when the storage medium in use is overwritable storage medium 3 , not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 46 , not changing an operation item.
  • operation items such as the thumb nail display, the enlarged display, the bulk image delete, a single image delete, a protect image and the release protect image and so are displayed as the list menu on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 47 from reproduction menu displayed on LCD display panel 6 , an item in the list is selected via operation unit 7 and a selected operation item via operation unit 7 is executed. Every time processing of the selected operation item is complete, the flow proceeds to step S 48 .
  • step S 48 it is checked if an operation of closing a reproduction menu is performed via operation unit 7 . When the operation is performed, the flow proceeds to step S 49 .
  • step s 49 it is to format a menu display.
  • a menu screen returns to the reproduction menu display of standard operation items such as thumbnail display, an enlarged display, the bulk image delete, the single image delete, the protect image and the release protect image and so forth. And then, the flow gets back to the flow of interrupt reproduction in step S 50 of FIG. 4 .
  • step S 48 When the operation of closing the reproduction menu is not executed in step S 48 , the flow gets back to step S 47 and processing in steps S 47 and S 48 is repeatedly performed until the operation to finish the reproduction menu is executed. After the reproduction menu display is performed in step S 46 , when the operation to finish the reproduction menu is executed not selecting the operation item, the flow gets back to step S 49 to format the menu display.
  • the processing to nullify the delete instruction and the release protect instruction in steps S 6 and S 7 of FIG. 2 is performed and further, the processing in steps S 43 and S 45 lets these operation items be deleted from the reproduction menu. Accordingly, the foregoing processing can avoid a user from being confused when the user operates and also becomes a safety measure just in case of an error.
  • steps S 43 and S 45 can be omitted.
  • the delete image and a protect-related operation item are displayed on LCD display panel 6 as a selectable operation item on the surface even when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted into card slot 2 .
  • steps S 43 and S 45 of FIG. 5 are so configured as to be surely executed, steps S 6 and S 7 of FIG. 2 can be omitted.
  • steps S 6 and S 7 of FIG. 2 can be omitted.
  • processing of an item change of the display menu in steps S 43 to S 45 is so configured as to be executed all at once in steps S 6 and step S 7 .
  • FIG. 6 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of interrupt special delete processing to be executed in control/processor unit 5 . This processing will start from step S 51 by selecting a special delete item from the reproduction menu with an image being reproduced on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 52 overwrite disabled notice is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • a user is notified that deletion of an image cannot secure new capacity in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • This overwrite disabled notice display notifies a user that a special delete operation is different from a normal delete operation against overwritable storage medium 3 not to confuse a user.
  • step S 53 a restore disable warning is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • Deletion to be performed against overwritable storage medium 3 is not to delete image information itself from the storage medium. Namely, when the deletion of an image is instructed, data on management information corresponding to the image is caused to be in a deleted state and then a storage area of image information specified by management information is made enabled to be overwritten. Accordingly, even with the delete operation, unless an area actually storing the image information is overwritten by another information, it is possible to restore the image again using special restoration software.
  • the management information herein is information such as FAT (File Allocation Table) data controlling image data stored in the storage medium.
  • the first embodiment employs a deletion method with respect to write-once storage medium 4 , which will be explained hereinafter. With this method, once an image of write-once storage medium 4 is deleted, it becomes impossible to restore the image. Thus, the restore disable warning display notifies a user that the image restoration is impossible.
  • step S 54 it is checked if a delete execution is selected via operation unit 7 within a given period of time since the notice and the warnings in steps S 52 and step S 53 are displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • the delete execution is selected in step S 54 , assuming that a user is convinced with the notice and the warnings displayed on LCD display panel 6 so that the user selects the delete operation, the flow proceeds to step S 55 .
  • step S 55 the storage area of the image to be deleted specified by management information is overwritten by meaningless information and the image information itself is deleted.
  • step S 56 it is to process a change of management information. More specifically, management information is so changed as to exclude an image to be deleted from a reproduction candidate. In a case of a normal delete against a overwritable storage medium, management information is so changed as to make a storage area corresponding to the image to be deleted capable of being overwritten. Like this, by changing management information so as to exclude an image to be deleted from a reproduction candidate, the image storage area corresponding to the changed management information is already occupied and overwriting cannot be performed in this area, so this area cannot be re-used for storing new image data. And, as information about the storage area of the image to be deleted is excluded from the reproduction candidate, the image overwritten by the meaningless information cannot be reproduced.
  • step S 57 when a user backs down on an intention of the special delete in response to the notice and the warnings displayed on LCD display panel 6 does not implement an execution within the given period of time via operation unit 7 , the flow proceeds to step S 57 and returns to processing of the interrupt reproduction menu of FIG. 5 .
  • write-once storage medium 4 When write-once storage medium 4 is so configured as to inhibit a user from to overwriting and deleting, it is not necessary to consider from a standpoint of preventing the image storage area of the storage medium as described above from inadvertently being overwritten. But, when an image stored in write-once storage medium 4 is made capable of being deleted with reference to write-once storage medium 4 , it is necessary to employ a delete method different from one applicable to overwritable storage medium 3 . It is preferable that the notice and warning as described in steps S 52 and S 53 are given to the user. Therefore, in the event that write-once storage medium 4 so configured in advance as to inhibit a user from overwriting and deleting is used, the same processing like the interrupt special delete processing of FIG. 6 is needed.
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a digital camera system in accordance with the second embodiment of this invention.
  • digital camera 21 of the second embodiment has internal nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • Nonvolatile memory 22 stores image data processed by control/processor unit 23 along with write-once storage medium 4 or overwritable storage medium 3 inserted into card slot 2 .
  • the image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 is transcribed to a storage medium inserted into card slot 2 and then can be retrieved outside. Also, the image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 can be directly read out over a digital communication cable connected to digital input/output terminal 12 .
  • FIG. 8 is a main flow chart showing a control processing by control/processor 23 of the second embodiment.
  • step S 61 when a power is ON via operation unit 24 , digital camera 21 is booted in a record mode.
  • step S 62 it is checked if a storage medium is inserted into card slot 2 and if the storage medium is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 63 .
  • step S 63 property information about the storage medium is read in via a connector of card slot 2 .
  • step S 64 based upon the property information inputted in step S 3 , it is checked if write-once storage medium 4 is in use. If write-once storage medium 4 is in use, the flow proceeds to step S 65 , wherein a display showing that write-once storage medium 4 is in use appears on LCD display panel 6 . This display runs on as long as the power is ON.
  • step S 66 it is to process nullification of the release protect instruction.
  • this processing is to nullify the delete instruction directed for image data stored in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • this delete instruction is effective.
  • step S 67 it is to process nullification of the release protect instruction.
  • it is to make the release protect instruction given to the image data stored into write-once storage medium 4 invalid.
  • this release instruction is effective.
  • step S 68 it is to make an interrupt special delete enabled.
  • it is to make the interrupt special delete against image data stored in write-once storage medium 4 enabled. But an interrupt special delete towards image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 is disabled.
  • Step S 69 it is to process priority decision to decide a priority order of a storage location to store image data. Specifically, it is decided which process is used to store image data taken by imaging device 8 and image-processed by control/processor 23 , “memory priority process” letting nonvolatile memory 22 have a storage priority or “medium priority process” letting an storage medium inserted into card slot 2 have a storage priority.
  • image data is first stored in nonvolatile memory 22 even when a write-once storage medium has residual capacity and then with a user's operation and confirmation etc, image data is transcribed to write-once storage medium 4 . Image cannot be overwritten in write-once storage medium 4 , so image storage is carefully performed with the memory priority.
  • medium priority process as long as the storage medium inserted into card slot 2 has memory capacity, image data is stored firstly in the storage medium and when memory capacity of the storage medium becomes empty, image data is then stored in nonvolatile memory 22 . A detail of priority decision processing will be explained later.
  • step S 70 image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 , when the power is ON, is transcribed to the storage medium inserted into card slot 2 .
  • a detail about transcription processing will be described later, too.
  • step S 71 it is to process residual capacity display. This process will start when the power is on, which will be also detailed later.
  • step S 72 it is to make interrupt reproduction in response to a reproduction mode selection enabled.
  • step S 73 it is to make an interrupt power-off operation in response to the power-off operation also enabled. Accordingly, the flow becomes on standby in step S 74 .
  • step S 75 When no storage medium is inserted into card slot 2 in step S 62 , the flow proceeds to step S 75 to display an internal memory on LCD display panel 6 .
  • This internal memory display shows a state in which there is no storage medium inside card slot 2 and image storage is to be executed with only internal nonvolatile memory 22 . This display runs on as long as the power is on.
  • “memory priority process” is performed in step S 76 , then the flow proceeds to processing of residual capacity display of step S 71 .
  • step S 64 when the storage medium is not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 77 in which it is judged that overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted into card slot 2 and LCD display panel 6 displays that the storage medium is overwritable storage medium 3 . This display runs on as long as the power is on. Then, “medium priority process” is performed in step S 78 , and then the flow proceeds to transcription processing of step S 70 .
  • Processing shown in FIG. 8 is executed not only when the power is on, but also when a storage medium inserted into card slot 2 is changed while the power is on, that is, write-once storage medium 4 is updated with a overwritable storage medium and vice versa.
  • FIG. 9 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of priority decision processing to be executed in control/processor 23 .
  • Control/processor 23 has settings defaulted to perform “medium priority process” if nothing is set at a time of inserting write-once storage medium 4 . Therefore, in a case where “memory priority process” is set, a setting change is performed via operation unit 24 at a time of inserting write-once storage medium 4 . This setting change will be kept until write-once storage medium 4 is pulled out of card slot 2 or unless the setting change is performed again.
  • priority decision processing starts from step S 81 and in step S 82 , it is checked if “memory priority process” is set via operation unit 24 . If memory priority process” is set, the flow proceeds to step S 83 .
  • step S 83 it is to decide to perform “memory priority process”.
  • step S 84 when “memory priority process” is performed, as it is necessary to transcribe image data of nonvolatile memory 22 to write-once storage medium 4 , an interrupt transcription is made enabled.
  • step S 85 this processing is finished and the flow proceeds to step S 70 of FIG. 8 .
  • step S 82 When “memory priority process” is not set in step S 82 , it is to decide to perform “medium priority process” in step S 86 and the flow proceeds to step S 85 .
  • FIG. 10 is the flow chart showing the detail of transcription processing to be executed in control/processor 23 .
  • step S 88 it is checked if image data is stored in nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 it can be thought that image data stored by “memory priority process” remains intact without being transcribed or image data is stored in nonvolatile memory 22 due to emptiness of capacity of the storage medium in “medium priority process”. In a latter case, the transcription becomes automatically performed when the medium inserted into card slot 2 is updated and the power is turned on.
  • step S 88 when image data is stored in nonvolatile memory 22 , the flow proceeds to step S 89 .
  • step S 89 it is checked if the medium inside card slot 2 has residual capacity. If there is residual capacity, the flow proceeds to step S 90 .
  • step S 90 it is checked if “memory priority process” is set and if memory priority process” is set, the flow proceeds to step S 91 .
  • memory priority process the storage medium inserted into card slot 2 is write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 91 it is to reproduce an image stored in nonvolatile memory 22 and to be transcribed on LCD display panel 6 and further display a message asking if image to be transcribed is transcribed to the storage medium thereon.
  • step S 92 it is checked if operation unit 24 is operated within a given period of time after the image to be transcribed was reproduced and the message asking for transcription was displayed on LCD display panel 6 . If unit 24 is operated within the given period of time, the flow proceeds to step S 93 .
  • step S 93 it is detected whether the operation of operation unit 24 is the transcription operation or the delete operation.
  • the flow proceeds to step S 94 , wherein it is to execute transcription of image data stored in nonvolatile memory 23 to write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 95 it is to display that the same automatic protect processing and protect processing of image data with respect to write-once storage medium 4 as in steps S 24 and S 25 of FIG. 3 of the first embodiment were performed.
  • step S 96 it is to delete the image data of nonvolatile memory 22 whose transcription to the storage medium was complete and get an increase in residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • step S 93 when the operation performed by operation unit 24 is not the transcription operation, it is presumed that operation unit 24 performs the delete operation and the flow proceeds to step S 96 .
  • step S 96 it is to delete the image data of nonvolatile memory 22 without transcribing the image data to write-once storage medium 4 and then get an increase in residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 gets.
  • step S 97 it is checked if there is other data in nonvolatile memory 22 and if there is the other data in nonvolatile memory 22 , the flow gets back to step S 89 wherein processing of transcribing image data is continued. When there is no image data in nonvolatile memory 22 , the flow proceeds to step S 98 and this processing is ended. And then, the flow proceeds to the residual capacity display processing of step S 71 In step S 90 , when it is not “memory priority process”, the flow proceeds to step S 99 without processing the confirmations in steps S 91 and S 92 , assuming that “medium priority process” is set.
  • step S 99 it is checked if the storage medium inserted into card slot 2 is write-once storage medium 4 and if the storage medium inserted into card slot 2 is write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 94 , wherein the image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 is transcribed to write-once storage medium 4 . Further, in step S 95 , it is to process an auto protect/display and also in step S 96 , it is to delete the image corresponding to the image stored in nonvolatile memory 22 and whose transcription to write-once storage medium 4 was complete. Accordingly, the image data transcription processing can be executed without user's transcription operation.
  • step S 99 when the medium is not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 100 , assuming that overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted into card slot 2 .
  • step S 100 the image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 is transcribed to overwritable medium 3 and the flow proceeds to step S 96 .
  • step S 92 when operation via operation unit 24 is not operated within the given period of time after the image to be transcribed was reproduced and the message asking for transcription was displayed on LCD display panel 6 , the flow proceeds to step S 97 skipping steps from S 93 to S 96 , assuming that processing on the image is on hold. At this moment, the image to be transcribed remains in nonvolatile memory 22 intact. Image data put on hold is never handled as “next image data”.
  • transcription processing re-starts from step S 87 , processing about transcription to the storage medium is newly performed on such the image data on hold.
  • step S 88 when there is no image data in nonvolatile memory 22 and in step S 89 , when there is no residual capacity in the storage medium inside card slot 2 , the flow proceeds to step S 98 and this processing is ended.
  • step S 89 When there is no storage medium inside card slot 2 , it is judged in step S 89 that there is no residual capacity in the storage medium and then this processing is ended.
  • steps S 91 and 92 prevents the unwanted image data from being stored in write-once storage medium 4 capable of being written one time only.
  • step S 90 and S 99 when “medium priority process” is set, image data, which is stored in nonvolatile memory 22 since the storage medium becomes full and nonvolatile memory 22 stores the image data, can be surely transcribed to the storage medium even when the storage medium of no residual capacity is updated and the power switch is turned on. Also, as described later, when image data in overwritable storage medium 3 full of images is deleted and capacity is secured to store image data, processing of steps S 90 and S 99 can surely let the image data in nonvolatile memory 22 be transcribed to the storage medium.
  • FIG. 11 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of the residual capacity display processing to be executed in control/processor 23 .
  • the residual capacity display processing starts from step S 101 .
  • step S 102 it is judged if “memory priority process” is set. If “memory priority process” is set, the flow proceeds to step S 103 .
  • step S 103 residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 104 it is checked if there is residual capacity in nonvolatile memory 22 and if there is not residual capacity, the flow proceeds to step s 105 where a transcription warning display is performed. Specifically, what “memory priority process” cannot be executed anymore unless otherwise due to a lack of residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is displayed on LCD display panel 6 and a message asking for an image transcription is brought up. And in step S 106 , after the “memory priority process” setting is forcefully switched to “medium priority process”, the flow proceeds to step S 107 . When it is judged in step S 104 that there is residual capacity in nonvolatile memory 22 , the flow proceeds to step S 107 with the “memory priority process” skipping processing of steps S 105 and S 106 .
  • step S 102 when the “memory priority process” is not set, the flow proceeds to step S 108 , assuming that the setting is “medium priority process”.
  • step S 108 residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 and residual capacity of the medium inserted into card slot 2 are added together and a summation of residual capacity is displayed on LCD display panel 6 . Then, the flow proceeds to step S 107 .
  • “medium priority process” storage of image data begins from the storage medium sequentially without storing the image data in nonvolatile memory 22 . Accordingly, with the display of the summation of residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 and the storage medium, a user can judge if image data can be stored.
  • step S 107 it is checked if there is residual capacity in the medium inserted into card slot 2 . If there is not residual capacity, the flow proceeds to step S 109 where it is checked if the medium inserted into card slot 2 is overwritable storage medium 3 . If it is judged in step S 109 that the medium is not overwritable storage medium 3 , the flow proceeds to step S 110 . In step S 110 , it is judged that card slot 2 has write-once storage medium 4 inserted therein, a message asking for medium replacement is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 109 when overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted into card slot 2 , the flow proceeds to step S 112 .
  • step S 112 it is to modify a display style of the summation of residual capacity displayed in step S 108 . For example, by underlining a numeral figure of residual capacity or changing a display color of the numeral figure thereof, the display style of the summation of residual capacity is modified.
  • a user is notified through modification of the display style of the summation of residual capacity that capacity of the storage medium gets fully occupied.
  • step S 111 it is checked if there is the summation of residual capacity of the storage medium inserted into card slot 2 and nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • step S 113 it is to make an interrupt picture taking enabled. Namely, even if there is no residual capacity in the inserted storage medium, it is judged that the picture taking is possible when there is residual capacity in nonvolatile memory 22 . Then, this processing is ended in step S 114 and the flow proceeds to step S 72 of FIG. 8 .
  • step S 111 When it is judged in step S 111 that there is no residual capacity in the inserted storage medium and there is not capacity enough to store image data even if residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is added to the inserted medium, the flow proceeds to step S 115 .
  • step S 115 it is to display what a memory is full on LCD display panel 6 and the flow proceeds to step S 114 to end this processing. Accordingly, when there is no summation of residual capacity, it is impossible to interrupt image taking unless the image data is deleted or the storage medium is updated.
  • step S 107 When it is judged in step S 107 that there is residual capacity in the medium, the flow proceeds to step S 116 .
  • step S 116 after the residual capacity display is performed on LCD display panel 6 , the flow proceeds to step S 113 . Even when there is residual capacity in the storage medium, a user can judge necessity for replacing the medium through the display of the medium residual capacity.
  • FIG. 12 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of the interrupt image taking to be executed in control/processor 23 . This processing will start from step S 121 by pressing a shutter release button of operation unit 24 .
  • step S 122 it is to process an image control/processor 23 reads out an image via imaging device 8 , A/D converter 9 and Raw data buffer 11 and performs processing like image interpolation and compression etc.
  • step S 123 it is checked if “memory priority process” is set and when it is judged that “memory priority process” is set, the flow proceeds to step S 124 .
  • card slot 2 has write-once storage medium 4 inserted therein.
  • step S 124 it is judged if nonvolatile memory 22 has residual capacity and when the memory has capacity, the flow proceeds to step S 125 to store the compressed image data in nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • step S 126 it is judged if write-once storage medium 4 inserted into card slot 2 has residual capacity to transcribe the image of nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • step S 127 a message asking if the image data is transcribed is displayed on LCD display panel 6 . At this moment, an end result image appears on LCD display panel 6 for a given period of time with the message asking for transcription.
  • step S 128 it is judged if a transcription operation is performed via operation unit 24 within the given period of time since the end result image and the message asking for transcription appear on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 128 when it is judged that the transcription operation is performed within the given period of time, the flow proceeds to step S 129 .
  • step S 129 transcription of the image data to write-once storage medium 4 is executed and further nonvolatile memory 22 gets an increase in residual capacity by deleting the image data of nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • step S 130 the same automatic protect processing of image data and display thereof are performed with respect to write-once storage medium 4 as in steps S 24 and S 25 . Then, the flow proceeds to step S 131 .
  • step S 126 when it is judged in step S 126 that there is no residual capacity in write-once storage medium 4 , it is unnecessary to consider transcription and thus the flow proceeds to step S 131 . Also when it is judged in step S 128 that the transcription operation is not performed within the given period of time, the flow proceeds to step S 131 too.
  • step S 128 it is to judge a presence or an absence of the transcription operation only and not to accept an image data delete operation right after the image is shot.
  • step S 123 when it is judged that “memory priority process” is not set, the flow proceeds to step S 132 .
  • step S 132 the compressed image data is stored in “medium priority process”. Namely, when there is residual capacity in the medium inserted into card slot 2 , the image data is to be stored in the medium and when there is no capacity in the medium, the image data is to be stored in nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • step S 133 it is checked if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted into card slot 2 and when the medium 4 is inserted therein, the flow proceeds to step S 130 and when overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted therein, the flow proceeds to step S 131 .
  • step S 124 When it is judged in step S 124 that there is no residual capacity in nonvolatile memory 22 , “memory priority process” cannot be executed, so the flow proceeds to step S 132 to switch over to “medium priority process”.
  • step S 131 it is checked if there is summation of residual capacity of the storage medium inserted into card slot 2 and nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • step S 134 it is to make the interrupt image taking disabled and the flow proceeds to step S 135 .
  • step S 135 based upon a latest image taking status after shot, it is to process a residual capacity display. This processing is ended in step S 136 and the flow gets back to the main flow of FIG. 8 to stand by.
  • FIG. 13 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of the interrupt reproduction processing to be executed in control/processor 23 . This processing will start from step S 141 by selecting a reproduction mode via operation unit 24 . First, in step S 142 , it is to make the interrupt reproduction menu enabled.
  • step S 143 it is to process transcription of image data as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 10 .
  • the “memory priority process” is set and when the image data is stored in nonvolatile memory 22 and write-once storage medium 4 has residual capacity, transcription of the image data is asked (steps S 91 through S 97 ).
  • the “memory priority process” is set, residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is configured so as to be secured as much as possible using selection of the reproduction mode.
  • overwritable storage medium 3 is configured so as to be capable of retrieving as many image data as possible externally by transcribing image data of nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • step S 144 to step S 147 Processing from step S 144 to step S 147 is just the same as in steps from S 33 to S 36 , so an explanation is omitted. A detail about reproduction processing in step S 144 will be described hereinafter.
  • FIG. 14 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of the reproduction processing to be executed in control/processor 23 . This processing will start from step S 151 when transcription processing is ended in step S 143 of FIG. 13 and the flow proceeds to step S 141 .
  • step S 152 it is to reproduce an image.
  • instruction etc does not come from operation unit 24
  • a latest image data taken recently is reproduced on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 153 it is checked whether the image data in reproduction is image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • the flow proceeds to step S 154 .
  • step S 154 it is judged if the storage medium inside card slot 2 has residual capacity.
  • the flow proceeds to step S 155 .
  • step S 155 it is checked if the “memory priority process” is set. When the “memory priority process” is set, the flow proceeds to step S 156 .
  • card slot 2 has write-once storage medium inserted therein.
  • step S 156 it is to display a message asking for transcription on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 157 it is checked if operation unit 24 is operated within a given period of time after the message asking for transcription is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • operation unit is operated within the given period of time, the flow proceeds to step S 158 and it is judge if the operation is for transcription.
  • the flow proceeds to step S 159 .
  • step S 159 it is to implement transcription of the image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 to write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 160 it is to process the same auto protect and display of image data with respect to write-once storage medium 4 as in steps S 24 and S 25 of FIG. 3 .
  • step S 161 it is to delete the image data that is stored in nonvolatile memory 22 and of which transcription to write-once storage medium 4 is complete and nonvolatile memory 22 gets an increase in residual capacity. Then, the flow proceeds to step S 162 .
  • step S 158 when it is judged in step S 158 that the operation is not for transcription, the operation by the operation unit 24 is judged to be the delete operation and then the flow proceeds to step S 161 .
  • step S 161 the image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 is deleted without transcription to write-once storage medium 4 and nonvolatile memory 22 gets an increase in residual capacity. Then the flow proceeds to step S 162 .
  • step 157 When it is judged in step 157 that operation unit 24 is not operated within the given period of time after the message asking for transcription is displayed on LCD display panel 6 , the flow proceeds to step S 162 assuming that processing on the image being reproduced on LCD display panel 6 is put on hold. At this moment, processing in steps from S 158 to S 161 is skipped, so the image to be transcribed remains still stored in nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • step S 153 When it is judged in step S 153 that a reproduction image is not the image stored in nonvolatile memory 22 , the flow proceeds to step S 162 . And when it is judged in step S 154 that the storage medium inside card slot 2 has no residual capacity and in step S 155 that the “memory priority process” is not set, the flow proceeds to step S 162 . Namely, in these cases, there, is no need to ask for transcription of the image stored in nonvolatile memory 22 to the storage medium.
  • step S 162 it is checked if an image advancing operation is performed via operation unit 24 within a given period of time after the image is reproduced in step S 152 .
  • the flow returns to step S 152 , wherein a next image, that is, an image taken right before an image right now being reproduced on LCD display panel 6 will be reproduced.
  • processing from step S 152 to step S 162 is repeated.
  • step S 162 when it is judged in step S 162 that the image advancing operation is not performed within the given period of time after reproduction of the image, the flow proceeds to step S 163 to end this processing and then proceeds to step S 145 of FIG. 3 .
  • step S 145 of FIG. 13 When it is judged in step S 145 of FIG. 13 that a reproduction end operation is not performed, reproduction processing described in FIG. 14 will start from step S 151 once again. In this case, in step S 152 , reproduction of the same image now being displayed on LCD display panel 6 is continued.
  • processing to ask for transcription is performed as long as write-once storage medium 4 inside card slot 2 has residual capacity.
  • FIG. 15 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of the interrupt reproduction menu to be executed in control/processor 23 .
  • a reproduction menu is a menu for a variety of operations available in a reproduction mode and an operation item such as a thumbnail display, an enlarged display, a bulk delete of an image, an individual delete of an image, a protect image and a release protect image is displayed on LCD display panel 6 as list of operations available in the menu.
  • One of operations in the menu is selectable via operation unit 24 . This processing will start from step S 171 by selecting the reproduction menu via operation unit 24 .
  • step S 173 it is checked if an individual delete menu is selected by an operation for operation unit 24 and when the individual delete menu is selected, a menu screen is advanced to a detailed menu tree of the individual delete and proceeds to step S 174 .
  • step S 174 it is checked if image data for the individual delete is stored in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • the flow proceeds to step S 175 to process a change to a display menu item used for write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 175 it is to process a non-display of a delete menu. Specifically, an operation item to delete an image is excluded from the detailed menu of the individual delete and is so configured as not to be displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 176 it is to process a special delete menu display. Specifically, the special delete is added to the menu as the operation item and is so configured as to be displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 177 it is to process a non-display of the protect menu. Specifically, operation items like a protect of an image and a release protect of an image are excluded from the menu and are so configured as not to be displayed on LCD display panel 6 . With processing in step S 43 to step S 45 , the operation items excluded from the detailed menu of the individual delete become not selectable.
  • step S 174 when it is judged in step S 174 that the image data to be deleted individually is not stored in write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 178 assuming that image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 or overwritable storage medium 3 is the image data for the individual delete.
  • step S 178 a delete instruction menu is displayed on LCD display panel 6 as the detailed menu of the individual delete.
  • step S 179 a protect menu of an image data is displayed on LCD display panel 6 . In this way, the operation item of the detailed menu of the individual delete is changed every each image to be deleted and the post-changed operation item is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 180 it is to implement the operation item selected via operation unit 24 from the detailed menu of the individual delete displayed on LCD display panel 6 . Every time processing of the selected operation item is complete, the flow proceeds to step S 181 . When it is judged in step S 173 that the individual delete menu is not selected from the reproduction menu, the flow proceeds to step S 180 and execution of a selected another menu is processed.
  • step S 181 it is checked if an operation to end a menu is executed via operation unit 24 and when the operation to end the menu is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 182 .
  • step S 182 a menu display displayed on LCD display panel 6 is formatted and display contents etc of the individual delete menu changed in steps S 174 to S 179 return to a pre-changed state. Then, in step S 183 , the flow gets back to processing to interrupt reproduction of FIG. 13 .
  • step S 181 When it is judged in step S 181 that the operation to end the menu is not executed, the flow gets back to step S 172 , wherein processing of steps S 172 to S 181 is repeated until the operation to end the menu is executed.
  • FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of power-off interrupt processing to be executed in control/processor 23 . This processing will start from step S 191 by turning off the power of digital camera 21 via operation unit 24 .
  • step S 192 it is to process image data transcription detailed in the flow chart of FIG. 10 .
  • this processing when the image data is stored in nonvolatile memory 22 , transcription of the image data to the storage medium inside card slot 2 is facilitated and when the storage medium gets full with transcribed image data, a quick replacement of the storage medium is realized.
  • the storage medium can be updated before digital camera 21 is turned on to take a picture next time.
  • step S 193 it is to check if there is image data in nonvolatile memory 22 even after transcription processing is implemented in step S 192 .
  • the flow proceeds to step S 194 .
  • step S 194 LCD display panel 6 displays a warning message that there is the image data in nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • the display of this warning message prompts a user to update write-once storage medium 4 and transcribe image data. Namely, a user is prompted to update write-once storage medium 4 and transcribe image data very soon in preparation for an upcoming shooting operation by turning digital camera 21 on.
  • processing in step S 194 is not performed.
  • step S 195 it is checked if there is residual capacity in the storage medium inside card slot 2 and when there is not residual capacity in the storage medium, the flow proceeds to step S 196 , wherein it is checked if the storage medium inserted into card slot 2 is write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 197 a message prompting a user to update the storage medium is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 198 it is to check if at least either of processing in step S 194 and/or in step S 197 are/is performed. Namely, it is checked if LCD display panel 6 displays the warning message about a presence of an image in memory and/or the medium replacement prompt. When LCD display panel 6 displays the warning message about a presence of an image in memory and/or the medium replacement prompt, the flow proceeds to step S 199 . In step S 199 , it is to check if a given period of time has elapsed since LCD display panel 6 starts displaying the warning message about a presence of an image in memory and/or the medium replacement prompt.
  • step S 200 When the given period of time has elapsed since the display starts, the flow proceeds to step S 200 to turn digital camera 21 off. Then, this processing is ended in step S 201 .
  • step S 199 When it is judged in step S 199 that the given period of time does not elapse, the display on LCD display panel 6 is kept on until the given period of time will elapse.
  • a user can update write-once storage medium 4 or delete the image data stored in overwritable storage medium 3 prior to the power-off digital camera 21 . Accordingly, it becomes possible to transcribe the image data left in nonvolatile memory 22 to the storage medium.
  • step S 198 When it is judged in step S 198 that LCD display panel 6 does not display any of the warning messages about the presence of image data in memory or the medium replacement prompt, the flow proceeds to step S 200 to power digital camera 21 off.
  • the power-off operation via operation unit 24 lets the image data in nonvolatile memory 22 be transcribed to the storage medium before digital camera 21 is actually turned off.
  • nonvolatile memory 22 has no image data after transcription processing is performed and write-once storage medium 4 is not full, digital camera 21 is switched off immediately after the transcription processing is performed.
  • the “medium priority process” is set, the image data in nonvolatile memory 22 is automatically transcribed to the storage medium, so the transcription processing in step S 192 is not substantially performed.
  • step S 192 Even if the transcription processing of step S 192 is performed, a time lag from a power-off instruction of operation unit 24 to an actual switch-off operation of digital camera 21 is almost next to nothing.
  • the “memory priority process” when the “memory priority process” is set, information about the image data and the storage medium is provided to a user by the displays of the transcription processing of step S 192 and the warning etc on the “memory priority process”. Accordingly, the quick transcription of the image data in nonvolatile memory 22 is prompted prior to the power-off of digital camera 21 , which results in enhancing an operation ability at a time of switching the camera on and storing a taken image.
  • FIG. 17 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of the bulk transcription processing mode setting to be executed in control/processor 23 .
  • a taken image data is temporally stored in nonvolatile memory 22 only and then, all stored contents in nonvolatile memory 22 , that is, management information about the image data like the image data and FAT (file Allocation Table) data is transcribed to write-once storage medium 4 in an integral way.
  • This bulk transcription processing mode becomes settable only when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted into card slot 2 .
  • the bulk transcription processing mode can be set via operation unit 24 .
  • the bulk transcription processing mode shown in FIG. 17 corresponds to the processing of step S 69 to step S 71 shown in FIG. 8 .
  • the processing of FIG. 17 will start from step S 211 when digital camera 21 set with the bulk transcription processing mode is switched on and then the processing as shown in FIG. 8 proceeds to step S 69 .
  • a “memory storage process” is so set as to let nonvolatile memory 22 have a priority to store image data processed by control/processor 23 .
  • the “memory storage process” is different from a “memory priority process” and when residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 gets empty, the storage medium does not store image data even if the medium has residual capacity. That is, at a time when residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 gets empty, it is judged that there is no residual capacity in digital camera 21 as a whole.
  • step S 213 it is to make an interrupt transcription of individual image data disabled, but in step S 214 , it is to make the bulk interrupt transcription enabled. An actual transcription work is not performed here.
  • Processing after step S 215 and on shows a processing procedure of a residual capacity display in the bulk transcription processing mode and corresponds to the processing of step S 71 in FIG. 8 .
  • step S 215 it is judged if usable residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is larger than that of write-once storage medium 4 by comparison with write-once storage medium 4 inserted into card slot 2 .
  • capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 or a storage medium usable to store image data is defined here as usable capacity.
  • step S 216 it is checked if an effective capacity limit mode is set.
  • the effective capacity limit mode is a mode that limits capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 to store image data in. This mode is to be set together with the bulk transcription processing mode setting.
  • step S 216 the flow proceeds to step S 217 , wherein effective capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 , namely, capacity used for actually storing image data in is set to capacity equal to usable capacity of write-once storage medium 4 .
  • nonvolatile memory 22 if image data is stored in nonvolatile memory 22 more than usable capacity of write-once storage medium 4 , the image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 cannot be transcribed to write-once storage medium 4 all at once, so the effective capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is limited.
  • capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is small in comparison with a storage medium inserted into card slot 2 .
  • usable capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is smaller than that of nonvolatile memory 22
  • capacity of write-once storage medium 4 itself is relatively small and a partially used write-once storage medium 4 is utilized and so on. Setting to limit effective capacity enables all image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 to be transcribed to a single piece of write-once storage medium 4 all at once.
  • step S 215 When it is judged in step S 215 that usable residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is equal to or larger than that of nonvolatile memory, the flow proceeds to step S 218 and the usable capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is set as the effective capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 intact. That is, image data exceeding the usable capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is allowed to be stored in nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • step S 218 the usable capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is set as the effective capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 intact. That is, image data exceeding the usable capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is allowed to be stored in nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • it is permissible to split all data in nonvolatile memory 22 and transcribe all the split data to a plurality of write-once storage medium 4 all the image data is stored by utilizing all usable capacity in nonvolatile memory 22 , not setting the effective capacity limit mode.
  • step S 219 it is judged if nonvolatile memory 22 has effective residual capacity capable of storing image data based upon the effective capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 set in step S 217 or Step S 218 .
  • step S 219 the flow proceeds to step S 220 .
  • step S 220 the effective residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 221 it is to make the interrupt image taking enabled.
  • step S 222 this processing is ended and then the flow proceeds to step S 72 of FIG. 8 .
  • step S 223 LCD display panel 6 displays a message prompting a user to transcribe data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 all at once and the flow proceeds to step S 222 , wherein this processing is ended.
  • FIG. 18 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of processing to interrupt image taking to be executed in control/processor 23 . This processing will start from step S 231 by pressing a shutter release button of operation unit 24 .
  • step S 232 it is to process an image.
  • Control/processor 23 reads an image via imaging device 8 , A/D converter 9 and Raw data buffer 11 and performs processing like an image interpolation and compression etc.
  • step S 233 it is to store the image data image-processed like the image interpolation and compression in step S 232 in nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • step S 234 it is checked if there is the effective residue capacity in nonvolatile memory 22 having stored the image data in step S 232 .
  • the flow proceeds to step S 235 , wherein the interrupt image taking is changed to disabled.
  • step S 236 LCD display panel 6 displays a message asking for all-at-once transcription and in step S 237 , the flow gets back to the main flow of FIG. 8 and stands by until operation unit 24 is operated.
  • step S 234 When it is judged in step S 234 that there is the effective residue capacity in nonvolatile memory 22 , the flow proceeds to step S 238 .
  • step S 238 LCD display panel 6 displays the effective residue capacity in nonvolatile memory 22 and the flow proceeds to step S 237 .
  • FIG. 19 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of the all-at-once transcription processing to be executed in control/processor 23 . This processing will start from step S 241 when the operation for all-at-once transcription is performed via control/processor 23 .
  • step S 242 it is checked if the effective capacity limit mode is set and when the effective capacity limit mode is not set, the flow proceeds to step S 243 .
  • step S 243 it is judged if a total data amount of a not-yet-transcribed to write-once storage medium 4 image stored in nonvolatile memory 22 is larger than that of the usable capacity of write-once storage medium 4 . It should be noted that the total data amount of the not-yet-transcribed image stored in nonvolatile memory 22 includes image data and management information of the image data.
  • step S 244 it is judged in step S 243 that the total data amount of the not-yet-transcribed image is larger than that of the usable capacity of write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 244 it is to process a data split.
  • the total data amount in nonvolatile memory 22 is split into a portion corresponding to usable capacity of write-once storage medium 4 now inserted into card slot 2 and other portion equivalent to the rest thereof. Further, management information is created to unit the split image data by reading out the data after the image data is stored in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • the other portion left in nonvolatile memory 22 is further split depending upon capacity of a next storage medium to be inserted into card slot 2 .
  • step S 245 the data amount split in step S 244 and transcribable to write-once storage medium 4 is transcribed to write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 242 When it is judged in step S 242 that the effective capacity limit mode is not set, processing in steps S 243 and S 244 are not performed and the flow proceeds to step S 245 . That is, when the effective capacity limit mode is set, the total data amount in nonvolatile memory 22 is limited within the usable capacity of write-once storage medium 4 now inserted into card slot 2 , so the transcription processing is performed without splitting data.
  • step S 246 after the transcription processing is performed in step S 245 , it is judged if there is a not-yet-transcribed image in nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • step S 247 a message asking if duplicate transcription is performed is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • Duplicate transcription is a transcription method in which one piece of data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 is transcribed to plural storage media and a duplicate of the storage medium to which the same data is transcribed is created. With the duplicate transcription, it becomes possible to easily give the same data of nonvolatile memory 22 plural participants in an event just like printed hard copies.
  • LCD display panel 6 displays a message, for example, “Transcription is complete. Transcribe the same contents to other memory card?”.
  • step S 248 it is checked if an operation to perform duplicate transcription via operation unit 24 is executed within a given period of time from a start of the duplicate transcription display in step S 247 .
  • the flow proceeds to step S 249 judging that the duplicate transcription is not instructed.
  • step S 249 when the duplicate transcription is not performed, as the data in nonvolatile memory 22 is not needed thereafter, stored contents in nonvolatile memory 22 is deleted.
  • step S 251 when it is judged in step S 246 that nonvolatile memory 22 has the not-yet-transcribed image, the flow proceeds to step S 251 to further transcribe the data equivalent to the rest of the split data.
  • step S 251 LCD display panel 6 displays a message prompting a user to update a storage medium.
  • step S 252 it is checked if write-once storage medium 4 inserted into card slot 2 is updated and when it is judged that a fresh storage medium is inserted into card slot 2 , the flow gets back to step S 243 . Then, processing of step S 243 and subsequent steps will be so performed as to transcribe data left in nonvolatile memory 22 to the fresh storage medium inserted into card slot.
  • the fresh storage medium to be inserted in step S 252 may be not only write-once storage medium 4 but also overwritable storage medium 3 to process the all-at-once transcription.
  • step S 252 when it is judged that the medium replacement is not detected, the flow proceeds to step S 253 , wherein it is to check if the given period of time has elapsed from the medium replacement display. When it is judged in step S 253 that the given period of time has not elapsed, the flow gets back to step S 252 wherein it is to confirm replacement of the storage medium until the given period of time elapses. When it is judged in step S 253 that the given period of time has elapsed with no storage medium updated, the flow proceeds to step S 254 , wherein processing to halt transcription is performed. Then, the flow proceeds to step S 250 and stands by, getting back to the flow chart of FIG. 8 .
  • a record of transcription processing in halfway is saved, for example, as management information about image data.
  • step S 248 when it is judged that the duplicate transcription operation is performed within the given period of time in response to the duplicate transcription display in step S 247 , the flow proceeds to step S 251 .
  • the management information is so changed as to cancel management information indicating that the image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 was already transcribed and indicate that all the image data therein are not yet transcribed.
  • the all-at-once transcription processing of image data of nonvolatile memory 22 will be performed in the same way when not-yet-transcribed image is left in nonvolatile memory 22 .
  • step S 246 As long as there is no-yet-transcribed image left in nonvolatile memory 22 in step S 246 and the storage medium is updated in step S 252 , the all-at-once transcription processing as described above is repeated. And in step S 248 , when the duplicate transcription operation is performed within the given period of time in response to the duplicate transcription display, image data of nonvolatile memory 22 is not deleted and a desired number of duplicates of the image data can be created by replacing a storage medium.
  • FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital camera system in accordance with third embodiment of this invention.
  • digital camera 31 in accordance with the third embodiment is provided with buffer memory 311 instead of Raw data buffer 11 .
  • Buffer memory 31 temporally stores image data taken by imaging device 8 and variously processed by control/processor 301 .
  • Digital camera 31 in accordance with the third embodiment prevents a user from storing unwanted image data in write-once storage medium 4 as much as possible when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted into card slot 2 , by controlling so as to temporally store taken image data in buffer memory 311 . And by utilizing a nonvolatile buffer memory used in a continuous shooting and for image processing as a memory for temporally storing image data, a cost can be held down. Now, work of digital camera 31 in accordance with the third embodiment will be described hereinafter.
  • digital camera 31 in accordance with the third embodiment warns that image data stored in a storage medium cannot be overwritten.
  • digital camera 31 is turned on, besides controls to be explained herein, several controls like, for example, formatting and checking etc are performed, but these explanations are omitted.
  • FIG. 21 is the flow chart showing control processing by control/processor 301 at a time of the power-on in accordance with the third embodiment. This processing will start when operation unit 7 switches digital camera 31 on.
  • step S 1001 it is to obtain information about a storage medium inserted into card slot 2 , namely, a memory card.
  • step S 1002 it is judged whether a now inserted memory card is the same memory card as detected at a previous time, namely, inserted previously. This judgment is made by comparing property information about the previously detected memory card with property information about the detected memory card this time.
  • step S 1002 when it is judged that a different memory card is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1003 .
  • step S 1003 based upon the property information about the memory card detected in step S 1001 , it is judged that the now inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 .
  • write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1004 .
  • step S 1004 it is to obtain status information about LCD display panel 6 . Specifically, it is to detect whether a display is performed on LCD display panel 6 , that is, LCD display panel 6 is lit up.
  • step S 1005 it is judged if LCD display panel 6 is lit up. When LCD display panel 6 is lit up, the flow proceeds to step S 1007 and when LCD display panel 6 is not lit up, the flow proceeds to step S 1006 , wherein LCD display panel 6 is driven.
  • step S 1007 LCD display panel 6 displays that write-once storage medium 4 unable to overwrite image data is inserted into card slot 2 .
  • FIG. 22 shows a display example on LCD display panel 6 . Only a warning message is displayed on the display example screen of FIG. 22 , but this message may be displayed together with other information like a remaining number of frames of a memory card, residual capacity of a battery power in use and so.
  • step S 1002 When it is judged in step S 1002 that the memory card now in use is the same as inserted at the previous time or in step S 1003 that the inserted memory card is not write-once storage medium 4 , this processing is ended.
  • write-once storage medium 4 when write-once storage medium 4 is in use, it is displayed, when digital camera 31 is switched on, that image data cannot be overwritten. Thus, a user can be notified that before actually storing image data in write-once storage medium 4 , overwriting is unable. And when the same memory card as detected at the previous time is used, the warning message does not bring up, so a user frequently powering digital camera 31 on/off does not feel annoyed.
  • a digital camera is provided with a picture taking mode to record taken image data, a reproduction mode to reproduce the taken image data and a mode change function to switch the picture taking mode and there production mode.
  • an operation via operation unit 7 can change the mode.
  • the reproduction mode as image data is not recorded in write-once storage medium 4 , it is not important to warn a user using only the reproduction mode that the memory card now in use is not overwritable. Namely, when the reproduction mode is selected when a power is on, the warning that the memory card is not overwritable may not be needed.
  • FIG. 23 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of control processing at the time of the mode change to be executed in control/processor 301 . Execution of processing shown in FIG. 23 does not need execution of the control processing at the time of the power-on shown In FIG. 21 . This processing will start when the mode of digital camera 31 is changed via operation unit 7 .
  • step s 1101 it is to detect a mode set to digital camera 31 .
  • step S 1102 it is to judge whether the detected mode in step S 1001 is the picture taking mode. When the picture taking mode is set, the flow proceeds to step s 1103 .
  • step S 1103 it is to obtain information about the property information of the memory card inserted into slot 2 and the like.
  • step S 1104 it is to judge, based upon information about the memory card detected in step S 1003 , if the memory card now in use is the same one as detected at the previous time. When the memory card now in use is different from the previous card, the flow proceeds to step S 1105 , wherein it is to judge, based upon the information detected in step S 1103 , whether the memory card now in use is write-once storage medium 4 . If write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1106 .
  • step S 1106 it is to obtain status information about whether LCD display panel 6 displays and in step S 1107 , it is to judge, based upon the information detected in step S 1106 , whether LCD display panel 6 is lit up.
  • step S 1109 When LCD display panel 6 is lit up, the flow proceeds to step S 1109 .
  • step S 1108 When LCD display panel 6 is not lit up, the flow proceeds to step S 1108 , wherein LCD display panel 6 is driven. Then, the flow proceeds to step S 1109 .
  • step S 1109 a message that image data cannot be overwritten in write-once storage medium 4 is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 1102 When it is judged in step S 1102 that the picture taking mode is not set, namely, the reproduction mode is set, this processing is ended without warning that overwriting of image data is impossible in the memory card.
  • step S 1104 When it is judged in step S 1104 that the same memory card is inserted or the inserted memory card is not write-once storage medium 4 , this processing is ended too without displaying the warning.
  • step S 1101 When the picture taking mode is set at the time of the power-on of digital camera 31 , processing will start from step S 1101 judging that the mode is changed to the picture taking mode.
  • a record control of image data to be executed in digital camera 31 when a picture is shot will be described hereinafter.
  • a digital camera with display device such as a LCD monitor etc is provided with a function that displays a photographed image, which is confirmed by a user, and deletes it if it is an undesired image.
  • a digital camera that has a function that reproduces the photographed image for a certain period of time on a monitor right after taking the picture and deletes the photographed image data now in reproduction from a memory card when a delete operation is executed within a given period of time.
  • the image data delete function it becomes easy that a pictured image can be viewed on a monitor soon after shot and, if an unsatisfactory image is found, the image is deleted and a picture is re-shot.
  • image data when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, image data is temporally stored in buffer memory 311 , not recorded in write-once storage medium 4 within a given period of time after shot. Then, after the given period of time has elapsed, the image data is copied from buffer memory 311 to write-once storage medium 4 . Accordingly, even when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the image data can be deleted easily soon after shot without reducing capacity of the storage medium as in the case where overwritable storage medium 3 is in use.
  • FIG. 24 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a record control to be executed in control/processor 301 .
  • This processing will start by a shooting operation, namely, depressing a shutter release button of operation unit 7 .
  • step S 1201 it is to detect information about a memory card in use and judge if the inserted memory is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1202 .
  • step S 1202 it is to create image data in Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) by performing image processing etc and then store the created image data in a temporal storage area of buffer memory 311 .
  • the Exif image data includes information about a shooting date and a shooting situation along with image information.
  • step S 1203 LCD display panel 6 displays a reproduction image of a taken image and a message asking if the reproduction image is deleted.
  • FIG. 26 shows a display screen example on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 1204 it is to judge whether a given period of time has elapsed since the reproduction image is displayed on LCD display panel 6 and if the given period of time has not elapsed since the reproduction image is displayed, the flow proceeds to step S 1205 .
  • step S 1205 it is to detect whether a delete operation to delete the reproduction image is executed via operation unit 7 . If the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 1206 , wherein the taken image data temporally stored in buffer memory 311 is deleted. When the delete operation via operation unit 7 is not detected in step S 1205 , the flow gets back to step S 1203 , wherein LCD display panel 6 displays the reproduction image and the message inquiring into the deletion of the reproduction image.
  • step S 1204 when it is judged that the given period of time has elapsed since the reproduction image is displayed, the flow proceeds to step S 1207 , wherein the taken image data temporally stored in buffer memory 311 is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 1201 when it is judged that write-once storage medium 4 is not inserted, namely, overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1208 .
  • step S 1208 image data in Exif is created and the created image data is recorded in overwritable storage medium 3 , not in buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 1209 LCD display panel 6 displays the reproduction image and the message inquiring into the deletion of the reproduction image as shown in FIG. 26 .
  • step S 1210 it is judged whether the given period of time has elapsed since the reproduction image is displayed on LCD display panel 6 and if the given period of time has elapsed, this processing is ended. When the given period of time does not elapse, the flow proceeds to step S 1211 .
  • step 1211 it is to judge whether the delete operation to delete the reproduction image is executed via operation unit 7 and if the delete operation to delete the reproduction image is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 1212 and the taken image data recorded in overwritable storage medium 3 is deleted. But, if it is judged in step S 1211 that the delete operation via operation unit 7 is not executed, the flow gets back to step S 1209 and LCD display panel 6 displays the reproduction image and the message inquiring into the deletion.
  • a given period of time for which a taken image is displayed on LCD display panel 6 is set to, for example, a few seconds (4 ⁇ 5 sec). But this given period of time is not limited to this example and the image may stay on for a few minutes or hours.
  • the image data is temporally stored in buffer memory 311 until the given period of time has elapsed and then the image data will be automatically recorded in write-once storage medium 4 after the given period of time has elapsed.
  • This control is not limited to this example and in response to a given operation of digital camera 31 , the image data of buffer memory 311 may be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • image data may be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 and in response to a half depressing of the shutter release button, the image data may be so configured as to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • FIG. 25 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a record control of image data in response to a shooting operation to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when the shutter release button of operation unit 7 is depressed to start shooting.
  • step S 1301 it is to detect information about an inserted memory card and judge whether write-once storage medium 4 is inserted and when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1302 .
  • step S 1302 image processing etc is performed on a taken image to create image data in Exif and the created Exif image data is stored in a temporal storage area of buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 1303 it is to judge whether a next shooting operation is performed, that is, the shutter release button of operation unit 7 is depressed.
  • the flow proceeds to step S 1305 .
  • step S 1305 the image data temporally stored in buffer memory 311 is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 1306 the image data stored in the temporal buffer memory 311 , which was already recorded in write-once storage medium 4 , is deleted.
  • step S 1305 the image data to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 is an image taken when this processing starts, not image data taken by a shooting operation in step S 1303 .
  • the image taken in step S 1303 is image-processed and as different image data, the image-processed image is stored in the temporal storage area.
  • step S 1303 when the next shooting operation is not detected, the flow proceeds to step S 1304 .
  • step S 1304 it is to judge if a delete operation to delete the image data temporally stored in buffer memory 311 is performed.
  • the flow gets back to step S 1303 , wherein it is to judge again if a new shooting operation is performed.
  • step S 1306 the image data taken this time and temporally stored in buffer memory 311 is deleted.
  • step s 1301 when it is judged that write-once storage medium 4 is not inserted and when overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1307 .
  • step S 1307 image processing etc is performed on the taken image and image data in Exif is created and then, the created Exif image data in is recorded in overwritable storage medium 3 , not in buffer memory 311 .
  • the record control shown in FIG. 25 is employed into a digital camera with, for example, a function to reproduce an image taken just before with ease of simplicity, what is called a quick view function.
  • a record control can be implemented by combining two record controls. For example, of a given period of time elapse from the display of the reproduction image and a next shooting operation, responding to an earlier action thereof, image data can be so controlled as to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • LCD display panel 6 displays residual capacity of the memory card and a warning message about memory card replacement.
  • FIG. 27 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a memory capacity detection control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing is repeatedly executed as long as the power of digital camera 31 is ON.
  • step S 1401 it is to detect memory capacity of a loaded memory card.
  • step S 1402 it is to judge whether residual capacity of the memory card is below a given capacity.
  • the given capacity of a memory card is capacity necessary to record image data equivalent to one frame.
  • the flow proceeds to step S 1403 .
  • step S 1403 it is to detect whether the loaded memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1404 , wherein LCD display panel 6 displays a message prompting a user to update a memory card.
  • FIG. 28 ( a ) shows a display screen example of the replacement prompt. If write-once storage medium 4 is loaded, as image data cannot be overwritten, replacement of write-once storage medium 4 is prompted.
  • step S 1403 when write-once storage medium 4 is not loaded, that is, a overwritable storage medium is loaded, the flow proceeds to step S 1405 .
  • step S 1405 LCD display panel 6 displays a message asking if a memory card is updated or unnecessary data in a memory card is deleted.
  • FIG. 28 ( b ) displays a display screen example.
  • overwritable storage medium 3 When overwritable storage medium 3 is loaded, as new image data can be recorded by not only replacing the memory card but also deleting the recorded image data, the display screen example as shown in FIG. 28 ( b ) is displayed thereon.
  • step S 1402 when it is judged that memory capacity of the memory card is more than the given capacity, the flow proceeds to step S 1406 , wherein residual capacity of the memory card is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • FIG. 29 ( a ) displays a display screen example of the delete menu.
  • digital camera 31 in accordance with the third embodiment is provided with two image data delete methods of a simple delete and a complete delete.
  • a simple delete will be explained using FIG. 30 .
  • FIG. 30 is the flow chart showing a simple delete operation of digital camera 31 . The flow will start by selecting a simple delete in a delete menu shown in FIG. 29 ( a ).
  • step S 1501 it is to judge whether a loaded memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1502 .
  • step S 1205 LCD display panel 6 displays a message asking if image data is deleted although the image deletion does not get an increase in memory capacity.
  • FIG. 29 ( b ) shows a display screen example of the message.
  • step S 1503 when it is judged whether an operation to delete image data is executed. When the operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 1504 .
  • step s 1504 to indicate that image data to be deleted is deleted, FAT (File Allocation Tables) information is overwritten to create new FAT information.
  • FAT File Allocation Tables
  • An instruction to nullify pre-overwritten old FAT information and record the created new FAT information is outputted to write-once storage medium 4 .
  • the FAT information is information to manage data recorded in a memory. Thus, by nullifying the old FAT information and recording the new FAT information indicative of data being deleted, it is shown therein that there is no data recorded.
  • the new FAT information shows that a data area where image data to be deleted is recorded is overwritable, but here, in addition to the FAT information, other management information so as to make once written area disabled to be overwritten is provided.
  • step S 1503 when it is not judged that the delete operation is performed, the flow proceeds to step S 1505 .
  • step S 1505 it is to judge if a cancel operation is performed. When the cancel operation is performed, this processing is ended. When the operation is not performed, the flow proceeds to step S 1502 .
  • step S 1506 LCD display panel 6 displays a message asking if the image data is deleted.
  • step S 1507 it is to judge if the delete operation is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 1508 .
  • step S 1508 it is to output an instruction to overwritable storage medium 3 so as to overwrite to FAT information indicating that the image data to be deleted was deleted.
  • the flow proceeds to step S 1509 and it is judged if a cancel operation is executed. When the cancel operation is executed, this flow is ended. When the cancel operation is not executed, the flow gets back to step S 1506 .
  • delete processing of the image data can be quickly ended by overwriting FAT information so as to indicate deletion of the image data.
  • FIG. 31 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a complete delete operation to be executed in control/processor 6 . This processing will start when the complete delete operation is selected via operation unit 7 form the delete menu shown in FIG. 29 ( a ).
  • step S 1601 it is judged if a memory card in use is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1602 .
  • step S 1602 like the simple delete control shown in FIG. 30 , LCD display panel 6 displays a message asking if image data is deleted although deletion of image data cannot get an increase in memory capacity.
  • step S 1603 it is to judge if a delete operation to delete image data is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 1604 .
  • step S 1604 FAT information is so corrected as to indicate that there is no existed image data to be deleted and an instruction to make old FAT information invalid is outputted to write-once storage medium 4 .
  • an instruction to overwrite with given data is outputted to write-once storage medium 4 so as to nullify an image data area to be deleted.
  • step S 1603 when the delete operation is not detected, it is judged if the cancel operation is executed and if the cancel operation is executed, this processing is ended. When the cancel operation is not executed, the flow gets back to step S 1602 .
  • step S 1601 when it is judged that a memory card in use is not write-once storage medium 4 and overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1606 .
  • step S 1606 LCD display panel 6 displays a message asking if image data is deleted.
  • step S 1607 it is to judge if the delete operation is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 1608 .
  • step S 1608 an instruction to overwrite to FAT information indicative of the image data to be deleted having been deleted is outputted to overwritable storage medium 3 . Also, at the same time, an instruction to overwrite given data in an image data area to be deleted is outputted to overwritable storage medium 3 .
  • step S 1607 when the delete operation is not detected, the flow proceeds to step S 1609 and it is judged if the cancel operation is performed. When the cancel operation is performed, this processing is ended. When the cancel operation is not performed, the flow gets back to step S 1606 .
  • selection of the complete delete in the delete menu can make image data invalid completely.
  • an overall image data area is configured to be overwritten with given data and whole image data is configured to be made invalid, but image data can be partially overwritten. In this case, although the whole image data to be deleted cannot be made invalid, a time to overwrite the data can be shortened.
  • overwritable storage medium 3 there is possibility that image data itself on which the delete processing was performed by overwriting FAT information is overwritten with other image data. Contrary to this, in a case of write-once storage medium 4 , image data itself on which the delete processing was performed by adding FAT information is not overwritten with other image data. Thus, when delete processing is performed by overwriting FAT information, the image data remains recorded in write-once storage medium 4 . As an ordinary operation cannot check what the deleted image data looks like, a user hesitates to hand over the storage medium to someone for fear of abuse.
  • FIG. 32 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of other sample 1 of the delete operation to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start by performing the delete operation via operation unit 7 in a reproduction mode.
  • step S 1621 it is to detect if a memory card in use is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1622 and in step S 1622 , as shown in FIG. 29 ( b ), LCD display panel 6 displays a message asking if an operation to delete image data is performed although deletion cannot get an increase in memory capacity.
  • step S 1623 it is to judge if the delete operation is performed. When the delete operation is performed, the flow proceeds to step S 1624 .
  • step S 1624 FAT information is overwritten to create new FAT information indicative of the image data to be deleted having been deleted by nullifying the old FAT information and an instruction to record the new FAT information is outputted to write-once storage medium 4 .
  • an instruction to overwrite with given data so as to make an image data area to be deleted invalid is outputted to write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 1623 when the delete operation is not detected, the flow proceeds to step S 1625 and it is judged if a cancel operation is executed and if the cancel operation is executed, the flow is ended. If the cancel operation is not executed, the flow gets back to step S 1622 .
  • step S 1621 LCD display panel 6 displays a message asking if image data is deleted.
  • step S 1627 it is to judge if the delete operation is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 1628 .
  • step S 1628 an instruction to overwrite to FAT information indicative of the image data to be deleted having been deleted is outputted to overwritable storage medium 3 .
  • step S 1629 it is judged if the cancel operation is performed. When the cancel operation is performed, this processing is ended and if the cancel operation is not performed, the flow gets back to step S 1626 .
  • image data delete processing in digital camera 31 will be explained.
  • an image data delete control combining the simple delete and the complete delete will be performed. Specifically, only in a case where write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, any of the simple delete or the complete delete is controlled so as to be selected.
  • FIG. 33 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a delete control of other example 2 to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when the delete operation is operated via operation unit 7 in a reproduction mode.
  • step S 1641 it is to judge if a memory card in use is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1642 , wherein LCD display panel 6 displays the delete menu as shown in FIG. 29 ( a ).
  • step S 1643 it is judged that “complete delete” is selected from the delete menu via operation unit 7 . When the “complete delete” is selected, the flow proceeds to step S 1644 .
  • step S 1646 FAT information is created to indicate that there is no image data to be deleted and an instruction to nullify old FAT information is outputted to write-once storage medium 4 .
  • an instruction to overwrite an image data area with given data so as to nullify an image data area to be deleted is outputted to write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 1645 When the delete operation is not detected in step S 1645 , the flow proceeds to step S 1647 and it is to judge if a cancel operation is performed. When the cancel operation is performed, this processing is ended. When the cancel operation is not performed, the flow gets back to step S 1644 .
  • step S 1643 when the “complete delete” is not selected from the delete menu, that is, the “simple delete” is selected, the flow proceeds to step S 1648 .
  • step S 1648 as shown in FIG. 29 ( b ), LCD display panel 6 displays a message asking if the image data is deleted although deletion of the image data does cannot get an increase in memory capacity.
  • step S 1649 it is to judge if the delete operation is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 1650 .
  • step S 1650 new FAT information is created by overwriting FAT information so as to indicate that image data to be deleted was deleted and an instruction to record the new FAT information and nullify the old FAT information is outputted to write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 1649 when the delete operation is not detected, the flow proceeds to step S 1651 and it is to judge if a cancel operation is executed. If the cancel operation is executed, the flow is ended and if a cancel operation is not executed, the flow gets back to step S 1648 .
  • step S 1641 when a memory card in use is overwritable storage medium 3 , not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 1652 .
  • step S 1652 LCD display panel 6 displays a message asking if the image data is deleted.
  • step S 1653 it is judged if a delete operation is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 1654 .
  • step 1654 an instruction to overwrite to FAT information indicative of the image data to be deleted having been deleted is outputted to overwritable storage medium 3 .
  • step S 1653 when the delete operation is not detected, the flow proceeds to step S 1655 and it is to judge if a cancel operation is performed. When the cancel operation is performed, this processing is ended and when the cancel operation is not performed, the flow gets back to step S 1652 .
  • a user can choose any of the complete delete or the simple delete, for instance, when confidentiality etc is a top priority, the complete delete or when a deleting time is to be shortened, the simple deletion.
  • image data is configured to be deleted even when there is no residual capacity in a storage medium without preparing vacant memory capacity for overwriting FAT information. More specifically, data is nullified by leaving FAT information intact in which image data to be deleted is recorded and overwriting given data in a record area of the image data to be deleted.
  • FIG. 34 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a delete control in response to residual capacity of a memory card to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start by performing an operation to delete image data in write-once storage medium 4 via operation unit 7 .
  • step S 1701 it is to judge if residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is enough to record FAT information to be newly created. When the residual capacity is not enough, the flow proceeds to step S 1702 .
  • step s 1702 LCD display panel 6 displays a message warning that inconvenience takes place as well as asking if a delete operation is executed.
  • FIG. 35 shows a display screen example of the warning message.
  • step S 1703 it is to judge if the delete operation is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 1704 .
  • step S 1704 FAT information remains intact and given data is overwritten in image data area to be deleted, and then data is nullified. In this case, along with image data, data about its thumbnail image and additional information is nullified too.
  • step S 1703 when the delete operation is not detected, the flow proceeds to step S 1705 , wherein it is to judge if a cancel operation is performed. If the cancel operation is performed, the flow is ended and if cancel operation is not performed, the flow gets back to step S 1702 .
  • step S 1701 when it is judged that there is residual capacity for recording FAT information, the flow proceeds to step S 1706 .
  • step S 1706 new FAT information indicative of the image data to be deleted having been deleted is created.
  • step S 1707 the new FAT information is recorded by nullifying old FAT information.
  • the image data which is overwritten by the given data and deleted in step S 1704 still exists in accordance with FAT information, so reproduction of the deleted image data is tried in digital camera 31 or other image playback apparatus. But, since there is no image data existed actually, the image data is never reproduced by displaying what an image data file is broken. FAT information does not meet a presence of actual image data and thus this mismatching causes a user some inconvenience a little bit in a file management, but image data a user is eager to delete can be deleted without fail even when residual capacity is getting smaller.
  • a format control of a memory card in digital camera 31 will be explained hereinafter.
  • FIG. 36 shows a display screen sample of a setting menu to be displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • the setting menu has a menu of selections such format, a file sorting etc and FIG. 36 shows that the “format” is selected from the setting menu via operation unit 7 . Selecting of the “format” makes a memory card enabled to be formatted.
  • Formatting of the loaded memory card deletes all image data recorded therein.
  • FIG. 37 is the flow chart showing a format control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when the setting menu as shown in FIG. 36 is displayed by an operation of operation unit 7 .
  • step S 1801 it is to judge if a memory card in use is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1802 .
  • step S 1802 format processing in a setting menu screen is made unable to be selected. With this, the format processing on write-once storage medium 4 is inhibited.
  • step S 1801 when it is judged that write-once storage medium 4 is not inserted and overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1803 .
  • step S 1803 the format processing in the setting menu screen is made enabled to be selected. Like this, with such the control of the format processing depending upon a memory card, when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, an inadvertent format processing can be prevented.
  • a file optimization processing of a memory card inserted into card slot 2 of digital camera 31 will be described hereinafter.
  • a file optimization is a way of re-arranging files from the beginning and resolving fragmentation of a memory space area. But, since write-once storage medium 4 is non overwritable, a file might be mislaid at not-yet-used area.
  • FIG. 38 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a file optimization control to be executed in control/processor 301 .
  • This processing will start when the setting menu as shown in FIG. 36 is displayed by an operation of operation unit 7 .
  • step S 1901 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1902 .
  • step S 1902 file optimization processing in the setting menu screen is made unable to be selected.
  • step S 1903 when it is judged that write-once storage medium 4 is not inserted and overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 1903 wherein the format processing in the setting menu screen is made enabled to be selected.
  • the format control of FIG. 37 controls such that the format processing is inhibited when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted.
  • fake format processing is so controlled as to be performed. More specifically, in the event that the format processing is selected via operation unit 7 , a controller within a memory card of write-once storage medium 4 receives a format instruction from digital camera 31 and then processing is performed to make data invalid against a used area. And, the controller within the memory card does not perform the format processing on a not-yet-used area. Such the processing is called the fake format processing. With this processing, data stored in the used area is unable to be read out and data in the not-yet-used area remains still recordable. In this case, memory capacity in the used area where the format processing was performed cannot be restored.
  • the fake format processing is controlled to be performed on write-once storage medium 4 .
  • a normal format processing is controlled to be performed on a memory card rather than write-once storage medium 4 .
  • FIG. 39 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a format control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when the format processing is selected from the setting menu screen shown in FIG. 36 .
  • step S 2001 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2002 .
  • step S 2002 a message warning that formatting does not get an increase in memory capacity is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 2003 a warning that execution of the formatting will delete recorded data and a message asking if the formatting is executed or cancelled are also displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 2004 it is to judge if an operation to format is executed and if the operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2005 .
  • step S 2005 a controller within a memory card is ordered to format the memory card.
  • step S 2004 if the operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2006 and it is to judge if a cancel operation is executed. If the cancel operation is executed, the flow is ended and if the cancel operation is not executed, the flow gets back to step S 2003 .
  • step S 2007 it is judged if the format processing is finished and if the format processing is finished, the flow proceeds to step S 2008 .
  • step S 2008 a message saying that the formatting is over is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 2007 judgment is kept on until completion of the format processing is detected.
  • step s 2001 it is judged that write-once storage medium 4 is not inserted and overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2003 without a measurement display in step S 2002 and a message asking if the format processing is executed is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • the control shown in FIG. 39 configures the controller within the memory card to perform the fake format processing and the normal format processing, so digital camera 31 only outputs a format processing order to the memory card.
  • digital camera 31 is so configured as to perform the fake format processing on write-once storage medium 4 and the normal format processing on overwritable storage medium 3 .
  • a panorama shooting mode is a mode of shooting to make a composite picture with a plurality of image data, wherein information showing where to arrange each image data is recorded along with the image data so that the image data can be automatically composed.
  • image data taken in the panorama shooting mode is stored in the provisional storage area in buffer memory 311 .
  • arrangement information about a series of panorama image data is stored in the provisional storage area in buffer memory 311 since the information does not come into completion until the panorama shooting is complete. After the panorama shooting is complete, the image data and arrangement information are moved to write-once storage medium 4 from buffer memory 311 .
  • FIG. 40 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a panorama shooting control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when the panorama shooting mode is set.
  • step S 2101 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2102 .
  • step S 2102 it is to judge if a shooting operation is executed with the shutter release button of operation unit 7 and if the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2103 .
  • step S 2103 image data gained by the shooting operation is stored in the temporal storage area of buffer memory 311 and the flow proceeds to step S 2104 .
  • step S 2102 when the shooting operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2104 .
  • step S 2104 it is to judge if a delete operation with respect to the image data shot in step S 2102 is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2105 , wherein an image data taken just while ago, that is, the image data shot in step S 2102 is deleted from buffer memory 311 . Then, the flow proceeds to step S 2106 . When the delete operation is not detected in step S 2104 , the flow proceeds to step S 2106 .
  • step S 2106 it is to judge if the panorama shooting mode is released. If the panorama shooting mode is released, the flow proceeds to step S 2107 and if the panorama shooting mode is not released, the flow goes back to step S 2102 .
  • step S 2107 it is to judge if there is the image data taken in the panorama shooting mode in buffer memory 311 has and if there is the image data in buffer memory 311 , the flow proceeds to step S 2108 and if there is not the image data in buffer memory 311 , this flow is ended.
  • step S 2108 it is to create arrangement information used to make a composite picture with a series of the image data taken in the panorama shooting mode.
  • the arrangement information is information necessary to decide how to put the series of the image data together into one picture to make a composite picture.
  • step S 2109 the created arrangement information is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 together with the image data.
  • step S 2110 the image data recorded in write-once storage medium 4 is deleted from buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 2101 When it is judged in step S 2101 that the memory card is not write-once storage medium 4 and overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2111 .
  • step S 2111 it is to judge if the shooting operation is executed and if the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2112 .
  • step S 2112 it is to perform image processing on the image data gained by the shooting operation in buffer memory 311 and record the processed image data in the memory card. Then the flow proceeds to step S 2113 .
  • step S 2111 if the shooting operation is not yet executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2113 .
  • step S 2113 it is to judge if the delete operation is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2114 .
  • step S 2114 a taken image data just while ago, that is, the image data shot in step S 2111 is deleted from the memory card. And then, the flow proceeds to step S 2115 .
  • step S 2113 if the delete operation is not detected, the flow proceeds to step S 2115 .
  • step S 2115 it is to judge if the panorama shooting mode is released. If the panorama shooting mode is released, the flow proceeds to step S 2116 and if the panorama shooting mode is not released, the flow gets back to step S 2111 .
  • step S 2116 it is to judge if there is the image data taken in the panorama shooting mode in buffer memory 311 has the image data taken in the panorama shooting mode and if there is the image data in buffer memory 311 , the flow proceeds to step S 2117 and if there is no image data, the flow is ended.
  • step S 2117 the arrangement information about the series of the image data taken in the panorama shooting mode is created.
  • step S 2118 the created arrangement information is recorded in the memory card with link to the image data.
  • FIG. 40 describes the embodiment in which the panorama shooting control can be executed only when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted. But, regardless of a kind of a memory card, a panorama shooting mode setting may be configured to implement the processing described in FIG. 40 at all times. With this configuration, it is not necessary to prepare two different programs to execute two different controls for use in a case where write-once storage medium 4 is inserted or other memory card rather than medium 4 is inserted.
  • the control of FIG. 40 may be applied to a shooting mode in which a plurality of image data is shot and related information relevant to image data like the arrangement information is created.
  • composition processing of image data is not performed within digital camera 31 and the series of the image data and the arrangement information are recorded in the memory card is explained herein.
  • software installed in PC etc enables to create image data in order to put a series of image data together into one picture and create a panorama image based upon the arrangement information.
  • composite processing can be performed within digital camera 31 to the extent that image data taken in a panorama shooting is composite-processed to create a panorama image.
  • digital camera 31 temporally stores image data each taken in buffer memory 311 until an image composition is complete and records panorama image data obtained by the image composition in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • FIG. 41 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a panorama composition control to be executed in control/processor 301 .
  • This processing will start when the panorama shooting mode is set via operation unit 7 .
  • step S 2201 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2202 .
  • step S 2202 it is to judge if the shooting operation is executed with the shutter release button of operation unit 7 depressed. When the operation is executed.
  • step S 2203 image data gained by the shooting operation in step S 2202 is stored in buffer memory 311 . And then, the flow proceeds to step S 2204 .
  • step S 2204 When the operation is not detected in step S 2202 , the flow proceeds to step S 2204 .
  • step S 2204 it is to judge if a delete operation to delete the image data is operated and if the delete operation is operated, the flow proceeds to step S 2205 .
  • step S 2205 the image data gained in step S 2202 is deleted from buffer memory 311 . Then, the flow proceeds to step S 2206 .
  • step S 2206 the flow proceeds to step S 2206 .
  • step S 2206 it is to judge if the panorama shooting mode is released. If the panorama shooting mode is released, the flow proceeds to step S 2207 and if the panorama shooting mode is not released, the flow gets back to step S 2202 .
  • step S 2207 it is to judge if there is the image data taken in the panorama shooting mode in buffer memory 311 and if there is the image data, the flow proceeds to step S 2208 and if there is not the image data, the flow is ended.
  • step S 2208 it is to create arrangement information for use inputting a series of image data taken in the panorama shooting mode together in to one picture.
  • the arrangement information is information necessary to decide how a series of image data are composed to make a composite photograph.
  • step S 2209 it is to perform composite processing on the series of the image data based upon the created arrangement information to create panorama image. At this stage, the panorama image is so processed as to be sized to a size of normal image data.
  • step S 2210 the panorama image data composite-processed and created in step S 2209 is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 and at the same time the series of the image data and the arrangement information are deleted from buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 2201 when it is judged that the inserted memory card is overwritable storage medium 3 , not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 2211 .
  • step S 2211 it is to judge if the shooting operation is executed with the shutter release button of operation unit 7 and if the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2212 .
  • step S 2212 it is to process image data gained by the shooting operation in buffer memory 311 and record the processed image data in a memory card. Then, the flow proceeds to step S 2213 .
  • the shooting operation is not detected in step S 2211 , the flow proceeds to step S 2213 .
  • step S 2213 it is to judge if a delete operation is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2214 .
  • step S 2214 a taken image data just while ago, that is, the image data taken in step S 2211 is deleted from the memory card. Then, the flow proceeds to step S 2215 .
  • the flow proceeds to step S 2215 .
  • step S 2215 it is to judge if the panorama shooting mode is released. If the panorama shooting mode is released, the flow proceeds to step S 2216 and if the panorama shooting mode is not released, the flow gets back to step S 2211 .
  • step S 2116 it is to judge if there is image data taken in the panorama shooting mode in a memory card and if there is the image data, the flow proceeds to step S 2217 and if there is not the image data, the flow is ended.
  • step S 2217 arrangement information about a series of the image data taken in the panorama mode is created.
  • step S 22 18 it is to perform composite processing on the series of the image data based upon the created arrangement information to create a panorama image.
  • the panorama image is so processed as to be sized to a size of normal image data.
  • step 2219 the panorama image data is recorded in the memory card and at the same time the series of the image data and the arrangement information are deleted from the memory card.
  • a size of the composite image data created in steps S 2209 and S 2218 as described in the foregoing is so configured as to correspond to a image size set in a normal shooting, so the composite image can be treated in the same way as other image data.
  • digital camera 31 is so controlled as to ask if image data is recorded before the image data is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 when the continuous shooting is performed.
  • FIG. 42 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a continuous shooting control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This flow will start when the continuous shooting mode is set by an operation of operation unit 7 .
  • step S 2301 it is to judge if the continuous shooting is performed with the shutter release button of operation unit 7 and if the continuous shooting is performed, the flow proceeds to step S 2302 . When the continuous shooting is not performed, processing of S 2301 is continued.
  • step S 2302 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2303 .
  • step S 2303 image data taken in step S 2301 is stored in buffer memory 311 . At this moment, the image data is created in file format to be recorded in a memory card.
  • step S 2304 it is to detect if the continuous shooting is over.
  • the flow proceeds to step S 2305 and when the continuous shooting is still on, the flow gets back to step S 2303 .
  • step S 2305 a taken image is reproduced on LCD display panel 6 and a message asking if the reproduced image is deleted without recording the image in write-once storage medium 4 is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 2306 it is to detect if image to be deleted is selected without recording the image in write-once storage medium 4 and if the image to be deleted is selected, the flow proceeds to step S 2307 .
  • step S 2307 it is to record image data that is not selected as the image data in step S 2306 in write-once storage medium 4 and at the same time delete the image data from buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 2306 when the image data to be deleted is not selected, the flow proceeds to step S 2308 .
  • step S 2308 it is to judge if a given period of time has elapsed since reproduction of the image is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • the flow proceeds to step S 2309 , wherein all images taken in the continuous shooting mode are recorded in write-once storage medium 4 and the image data thereof is deleted form buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 2308 the flow gets back to step S 2306 .
  • step S 2302 when it is judged that overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 2310 .
  • step S 2310 it is to temporally store the image data taken in step S 2301 in buffer memory 311 , process the image data and at the same time record image data ready for being recorded in a memory card successively in the memory card.
  • step S 2311 it is to judge if the continuous shooting is over and if the continuous shooting is over, the flow is ended and if the continuous shooting is still on, the flow gets back to step S 2310 .
  • digital camera 31 can be controlled to analyze taken image data and automatically select suitable image data and automatically record only the selected image data in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • a record inquiry control in digital camera 31 will be explained hereinafter.
  • a record inquiry control is a control in which, when digital camera 31 judges that taken image data is a failure image, digital camera 31 prompts a user to cancel record of the image data before the image data is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • FIG. 43 is the flow chart of a processing procedure of a record inquiry control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This flow will start when the shooting mode is set by an operation of operation unit 7 .
  • step S 2401 it is to judge if a shooting operation is executed with the shutter release button of operation unit 7 and if the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2402 and if the shooting operation is not executed, processing of step S 2401 is continued.
  • step S 2402 it is judged if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2403 .
  • step S 2403 it is to perform image-processing etc on the image data taken in step S 2401 and temporally store the processed image data in buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 2404 it is to judge if the image stored in buffer memory 311 in step S 2403 is the failure image. For instance, an image such as an out-of-focus image, under-exposed image just taken before a battery is not fully charged, a blurred picture etc is generally judged as the failure image. And it may be judged if a taken image is a failure by analyzing the taken image. If it is judged in step S 2404 that the image in step S 2403 is the failure image, the flow proceeds to step S 2405 .
  • step S 2405 the failure image judged in step S 2404 is reproduced on LCD display panel 6 and at the same time, a message inquiring if the image is deleted without recording it in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 2406 it is to judge if the delete operation is executed with respect to the reproduction image and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2410 , wherein the image to be deleted is deleted from buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 2406 when the delete operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2407 .
  • step S 2407 it is to judge if a given period of time has elapsed since the failure image is reproduced on LCD display panel 6 . If the given period of time has elapsed, the flow proceeds to step S 2408 and the image data stored in buffer memory 31 is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 . When it is judged in step S 2407 that the given period of time does not elapse, the flow gets back to step S 2406 .
  • step S 2402 when overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 2409 .
  • step S 2409 it is to perform image-processing etc on the image data taken in step S 2401 and record the processed image data in overwritable storage medium 3 .
  • step S 2404 When it is judged in step S 2404 that the image is not the failure image, the flow proceeds to step S 2409 and the image data taken in step S 2401 is recorded in a memory card.
  • a user is inquired if the image is recorded. This inquiry prevents the failure image from being recorded in write-once storage medium 4 and its memory capacity from being wastefully reduced. And this record inquiry control can prompt the user to re-shoot with respect to the failure image by reproducing the failure image.
  • the control shown in FIG. 43 lets the user be inquired if the failure image is deleted only when it is judged that a taken image is a failure. Therefore, the inquiry into deletion of an image is not performed unless the taken image is the failure, so the user is not frustrating by frequent inquiries.
  • a DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) file is configured in text file format describing information about printing of image data.
  • information about a number of prints, a print size, a trimming, a rotation (right/left) etc is described.
  • new FAT information is created and the new FAT information is recorded again by nullifying old FAT information.
  • print information about image data recorded in write-once storage medium 4 is changed, it is necessary to create a new DPOF file and record the new DPOF file again by nullifying old DPOF file. In this case, every time print information is changed, write-once storage medium 4 is getting a decrease in memory capacity.
  • a print setting to set a number of prints in digital camera 31 will be explained hereinafter.
  • FIG. 44 shows a display example of the print setting menu on LCD display panel 6 .
  • image data recorded in write-once storage medium 4 is reproduced and at the same time, a present print setting is displayed too.
  • An example shown in FIG. 44 sets a camera so as to print out two copies of the reproduction image data.
  • this print setting menu is set, a user can select image data for the print setting and set the number of print copies against the selected image data via an operation of operation-unit 7 . But, if the DOPF file recorded in write-once storage medium 4 is renewed ever time the print setting of each image data is changed, memory capacity will get decreased.
  • setting change information about the print setting of each image data is kept stored in buffer memory 311 and when the print setting menu is released, a DPOF file is created from the setting change information and the DOPF file is recorded.
  • FIG. 45 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a print setting control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when the print setting menu is selected via an operation of operation unit 7 .
  • step S 2501 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2502 .
  • step S 2502 it is to judge if the print setting is changed and if the print setting is changed, setting change information is stored in buffer memory 311 . Then, the flow proceeds to step S 2504 .
  • step S 2502 when it is judged that the setting is not changed, the flow proceeds to step S 2504 .
  • step S 2504 it is to judge if the print setting menu is released and if the print setting menu is released, the flow proceeds to step S 2505 and if the print setting menu is still on, the flow gets back to step S 2502 .
  • step S 2505 it is to judge if the print setting change information is stored in buffer memory 311 and if the print setting change information is stored, the flow proceeds to step S 2506 and if the print setting change information is not stored, the flow is ended.
  • step S 2506 the DOPF file is created again in accordance with the print setting change information.
  • step S 2507 the created DOPF file is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 by nullifying the old DOPF file.
  • the flow proceeds to step S 2508 .
  • step S 2508 the DOPF file in the memory card is renewed in accordance with the setting change information and the flow proceeds to step S 2510 .
  • step S 2508 when it is judged that the print setting is not changed, the flow proceeds to step S 2510 .
  • step S 2510 it is to judge if the print setting menu is released and if the print setting menu is released, the flow is ended and if the print setting menu is still on, the flow gets back to step S 2508 .
  • setting change information about each changed print setting is controlled to be stored in buffer memory 311 and when the print setting menu is released, a DPOF file is controlled to be created based upon information stored in buffer memory 311 and the created DPOF file is controlled to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • buffer memory 311 may read in a DPOF file and the DPOF file in buffer memory 311 may be renewed at every time of a setting change and then the DPOF file stored in buffer memory 311 may be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 when the print setting menu is released.
  • a setting to transfer image data can be described therein.
  • a transfer setting can be set per each image data so that image data is automatically transferred to a given memory of PC when a memory card is connected to the PC etc.
  • a transfer setting description of the DPOF file can be automatically overwritten.
  • the DPOF file is not recorded at each shot and is so controlled as to be collectively recorded via a given operation.
  • all changes of the DPOF file inclusive of the foregoing print setting etc are so controlled as to be processed collectively.
  • FIG. 46 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a setting change control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This process repeats itself at any time as long as a power of digital camera 31 is on. And a power is turned on when a cover of card slot 2 is opened even without the power of digital camera 31 and the DPOF file in buffer memory 311 is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 2521 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2522 .
  • step S 2522 the DPOF file recorded in write-once storage medium 4 is read out and stored in buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 2523 it is to judge if a shooting operation is executed with the shutter release button depressed and if the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2524 .
  • step S 2524 it is to update a DPOF file stored in buffer memory 311 with a renewed DPOF file describing a transfer setting of image data taken by this shooting. Then, the flow proceeds to step S 2525 .
  • the shooting operation is not detected in step S 2523 , the flow proceeds to step S 2525 .
  • step S 2525 it is to judge if a setting such as a print setting or so is changed and if the setting is changed, the flow proceeds to step S 2526 .
  • step S 2526 it is to update the DPOF file stored in buffer memory 311 with a renewed DPOF file describing a changed setting. Then, the flow proceeds to step S 2527 . If the setting is changed, the flow proceeds to step S 2527 .
  • step S 2527 it is to detect if a lid covering card slot 2 is opened and if the lid is opened, the flow proceeds to step S 2528 and if the lid opening is not detected, the flow gets back to step S 2523 .
  • step S 2528 it is to record the DOPF file stored in buffer memory 311 in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 2529 the old DOPF file is nullified.
  • step S 2521 when the inserted memory card is overwritable storage medium 3 , not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 2530 .
  • step S 2530 it is to judge if a shooting operation is executed and if the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2531 .
  • step S 2531 it is to update a DPOF file stored in buffer memory 311 with a renewed DPOF file describing a transfer setting of image data taken by this shooting. Then, the flow proceeds to step S 2532 .
  • step S 2530 if the shooting operation is not executed, it proceeds to step S 2532 .
  • step S 2532 it is to judge if a setting such as a print setting etc is changed and if the setting is changed, the flow proceeds to step S 2533 and if the setting is not changed, the flow is ended.
  • step S 2533 it is to update a DPOF file stored in buffer memory 311 with a renewed DPOF file describing a changed setting.
  • the DPOF file is so controlled as to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • the DPOF file may be controlled to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 by detecting a power switch-OFF, not through detection of opening the lid.
  • a DPOF file may be controlled to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • a DPOF file is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 before image data stored in a memory card is read out outside.
  • the DPOF file may be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 via an operation of this button.
  • FIG. 47 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a setting change control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing repeats itself as long as the power of digital camera 31 is on. But, even if the power thereof is not turned on, the power thereof is supplied when digital camera 31 is connected to the external device and the FAT information stored in buffer memory 311 is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 2541 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2542 .
  • step S 2542 it is read out the FAT information recorded in write-once storage medium 4 and store the read FAT information in buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 2543 it is to judge if a shooting operation is executed with the shutter release button of operation unit 7 and if the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2544 .
  • step S 2544 it is to update the FAT information stored in buffer memory 311 with renewed FAT information adding file management information of image data taken by this shooting. Then, the flow proceeds to step S 2545 .
  • step S 2543 when the shooting operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2545 .
  • step S 2545 it is to judge if a setting of digital camera 31 such as a delete setting is changed and if the setting is changed, the flow proceeds to step S 2546 .
  • step S 2546 it is to update the FAT information stored in buffer memory 311 with renewed FAT information describing a changed setting.
  • step S 2545 if the setting is not changed, the flow proceeds to step S 2547 .
  • step S 2547 it is to detect if a communication cable etc is connected to DIGITAL INPUT/OUTPUT TERMINAL 12 and digital camera 31 is connected to an external device like PC or so and if digital camera 31 is connected externally, the flow proceeds to step S 2548 and if digital camera 31 is not connected externally, the flow gets back to step S 2543 .
  • step S 2548 it is to record FAT information stored in buffer memory 311 in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 2549 old FAT information is nullified.
  • step S 2541 when an inserted memory card is overwritable storage medium 3 , not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 2550 .
  • step S 2550 it is to judge if a shooting operation is executed and if the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2551 .
  • step S 2551 it is to update FAT information stored in buffer memory 311 with renewed FAT information adding file management control information of image data taken by this shooting. Then, the flow proceeds to step S 2552 .
  • step S 2550 if the shooting operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S 2552 .
  • step S 2552 it is to judge if a setting such as a delete setting is changed and if the setting is changed, the flow proceeds to step S 2553 and if setting is not changed, the flow is ended.
  • step S 2553 FAT information stored in buffer memory 311 is updated with renewed FAT information corresponding to a changed setting.
  • the DPOF file and the FAT information are controlled to be collectively recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • the DPOF file and the FAT information may be collectively recorded.
  • Digital camera 31 herein controls so as to process a right/left rotation control using buffer memory 311 , delete pre-right/left rotation control-processed image data recorded in a memory card and then record post-right/left rotation control-processed image data.
  • write-once storage medium 4 As memory capacity does not increase even if the pre-right/left rotation control-processed image data is deleted, there is a case where the post-right/left rotation control-processed image data cannot be recorded in the memory. Therefore, when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, a DPOF file is processed to change a right/left description instead of actually implementing a right/left rotation control of image data. Processing of a right/left rotation control will be specifically described hereinafter.
  • FIG. 48 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a right/left rotation control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when the right/left rotation control is executed.
  • step S 2601 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2602 .
  • step S 2602 it is to create a DPOF file that changes a description of a right/left rotation and record the file in write-once storage medium 4 . At this moment, an old DPOF file is nullified.
  • step S 2601 if the inserted memory card is over writable storage medium 3 , not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 2603 .
  • step S 2603 it is to create image data that performs a right/left rotation using buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 2604 the pre-rotated image data is deleted from the memory card and, in step S 2605 , it is record the post-rotated image data in the memory card.
  • processing of the right/left rotation of image data can be performed.
  • the image data changing a description of a right/left rotation in the DPOF file in step S 2602 can be reproduced using software corresponding to the right/left rotation control of the DPOF file.
  • Digital camera 31 controls so as to perform a right/left rotation processing on image data when memory capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is more than given capacity and, when the memory capacity is not more than the given capacity, digital camera 31 controls so as to change a right/left rotation description in the DPOF file, not to perform the right/left rotation processing.
  • FIG. 49 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a right/left rotation control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This flow will start when an operation of a right/left rotation is executed via operation unit 7 .
  • step S 2701 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2702 .
  • step S 2702 it is to judge if memory capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is equal to and more than that of image data of which the right/left rotation will be performed and when the memory capacity thereof is equal to and more than that of the image data, the flow proceeds to step S 2703 and when the memory capacity thereof is not equal to and more than that of the image data, the flow proceeds to step S 2706 .
  • step S 2703 the right/left rotation is processed using buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 2704 it is record the post-rotated image data in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 2705 it is to delete the pre-rotated image data recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 2702 when the memory capacity thereof is less than that of the image data, the flow proceeds to step S 2706 .
  • step S 2706 as there is no memory capacity to record the post-rotated image data, it is to create a DPOF file that changes a description of a right/left rotation is created and record the created file in write-once storage medium 4 . At this moment, an old DPOF file is nullified.
  • step S 2701 when it is judged if the inserted memory card is overwritable storage medium 3 , not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 2707 .
  • step S 2707 it is to create image data processed with the right/left rotation using buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 2708 it is to delete the pre-rotated image data.
  • step S 2709 it is to record the post-rotated image data in the memory card.
  • digital camera 31 warns a user that, when memory capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is less than given capacity, the right/left rotation is inhibited and the right/left rotation processing cannot be performed.
  • FIG. 50 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a right/left rotation control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when the right/left rotation operation is executed via operation unit 7 .
  • step S 2801 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2802 and if write-once storage medium 4 is not inserted, it proceeds to step S 2807 .
  • step S 2802 it is to judge if memory capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is equal to and more than that of image data of the right/left rotation to be processed and when the memory capacity thereof is equal to and more than that of the image data, the flow proceeds to step S 2803 .
  • step S 2803 it is to perform the right/left rotation processing using buffer memory.
  • step S 2804 it is to record the post-rotated image data in write-once storage medium 4 and delete the pre-rotated image data recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 2802 when the memory capacity thereof is less than that of the image data, the flow proceeds to step S 2806 .
  • step S 2806 as there is no memory capacity to record the post-rotated image data, it is to warn that the right/left rotation cannot be processed. For example, a message that the right/left rotation cannot be processed is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 2801 when the inserted memory card is overwritable storage medium 3 , not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 2807 .
  • step S 2807 it is to create image data processed with the right/left rotation using buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 2808 it is to delete the pre-rotated image data.
  • step S 2809 it is to record the post-rotated image data in the memory card.
  • Digital camera 31 automatically creates index data when memory capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is equal to and less than given capacity and records the index data in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • the index data is to make image data information recorded in write-once storage medium 4 readily understood.
  • the index data is created from information about a thumbnail of image data, a shooting date/time etc and is configured so that contents of recorded image data can be viewed.
  • Data format of the index data is created in, for example, HTML format or format equivalent to HTML, so that the index data is so created as to be capable of being viewed with browsing software available on the market.
  • Digital camera 31 automatically starts creating index data when the memory capacity of write-once storage medium 4 becomes equal to and less than the given capacity thereof and records the created index data in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • FIG. 51 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of an index data creation control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing repeats itself as long as the power of digital camera 31 is on.
  • step S 2901 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 2902 and if write-once storage medium 4 is not inserted, the flow is ended.
  • step S 2902 the memory capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is detected and it is to judge if the memory capacity thereof is equal to and less than given capacity.
  • the flow proceeds to step S 2903 and when the memory capacity thereof is not equal to and less than given capacity, the flow is ended.
  • step S 2903 it is read in a thumbnail of image data recorded in write-once storage medium 4 and related information.
  • step S 2904 the index data is created based upon information read in step S 2903 .
  • step S 2905 it is to judge if the index data creation is over and if the index data creation is over, the flow proceeds to step S 2906 and if the index data creation is not over, the flow gets back to step S 2904 to continue the creation of the index data.
  • step S 2906 the created index data is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • the index data is so controlled as to be created depending upon capacity of write-once storage medium 4 .
  • a button to instruct the index data creation may be provided so that an operation of the button can create the index data.
  • the index data is controlled to be automatically created in the control of FIG. 51 , a user may be inquired about the index data creation.
  • the transferred image data is deleted after image data is transferred to the image storage unit. Or as the transferred image data is set to be automatically deleted, there is small possibility that the once transferred image data will be transferred again. But, in write-once storage medium 4 , as image data is not deleted after it is transferred, a user might forget that a recorded image data was already transferred after the image was transferred. In this case, there are cases where a once transferred image data is transferred again and gain and a user feels annoying to confirm many times if image data was transferred. Therefore, digital camera 31 creates and records management data to manage an image data transfer when an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 .
  • the transfer management data there is described transfer information about a presence or an absence of a transfer, transfer date/time information and receiver information etc per each recorded image data.
  • the transfer management data may be managed as independent management data or be recorded on an Exif maker note or so.
  • Image data of a memory card is outputted via DIGITAL INPUT/OUTPUT TERMINAL 12 of digital camera 31 and the image data is transferred to an image storage unit.
  • DIGITAL INPUT/OUTPUT TERMINAL 12 and the image storage unit is electrically connected to each other via a cable or so.
  • FIG. 52 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a transfer management control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when a transfer of image data is started via a DIGITAL INPUT/OUTPUT TERMINAL.
  • step S 3001 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 3002 .
  • step S 3002 it is to detect if management data is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 . When the management data is recorded, the flow proceeds to step S 3003 .
  • step S 3003 image data instructed to be transferred is compared with management data in order to check that the image data instructed to be transferred was already transferred.
  • step S 3004 it is to judge from a comparison result if the image data instructed to be transferred was transferred and if the image data was transferred, the flow proceeds to step S 3005 .
  • step S 3005 a message that the imaged at a instructed to be transferred was already transferred and its previous transfer receiver are displayed on LCD display panel. And further a message inquiring if a transfer of the image data is needed is displayed thereon.
  • step S 3006 it is to judge if an operation to transfer the image data is executed and if the operation is executed and is needed, the flow proceeds to step S 3007 .
  • step S 3002 when it is judged that the management data is not recorded in write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 3007 .
  • step S 3004 when it is judged that the image data is not yet transferred, the flow proceeds to step S 3007 .
  • step S 3007 the image data instructed to be transferred is transferred to an image storage unit.
  • step S 3008 it is to judge if a transfer of the image data is complete and if the transfer of the image data is complete, the flow proceeds to step S 3009 and if the transfer of the image data is not complete, the flow gets back to step S 3007 , wherein it is to keep on transferring the image data.
  • step S 3006 when an operation not to transfer the image data is executed and the transfer of the image data is not needed, the flow proceeds to step S 3009 .
  • step S 3009 it is to check if all transfers of all image data instructed to be transferred are complete and if the transfers are complete, the flow proceeds to step S 3010 and if the transfers are not complete, the flow gets back to step S 3003 to perform processing on image data to be transferred next time.
  • step S 3010 it is to create transfer management data describing transfer information about this transferred image data and to record the created transfer management data in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 3001 when an inserted memory card is not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 3011 .
  • step S 3011 the image data instructed to be transferred is transferred to the image storage unit.
  • step S 3012 it is to check if all transfers of all image data instructed to be transferred are complete and if the transfers are complete, the flow is ended and if the transfers are not complete, the flow gets back to step S 3011 to keep on the transfer.
  • the inquiry is displayed to get a confirmation from a user so that the same image data can be prevented from being transferred many times.
  • a digital camera system in accordance with a fourth embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter.
  • a configuration of the digital camera of the fourth embodiment is the same as in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 20 .
  • a user using digital camera 31 loaded with write-once storage medium 4 can tend to be careful in shooting. Due to this carefulness, the user can miss a shooting chance, which erodes a merit of a digital camera enabling to shoot anytime anywhere at ease.
  • the fourth embodiment even when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, enables to realize a shooting at ease.
  • An explanation about a variety of controls in digital camera 31 will be given hereinafter.
  • Digital camera 31 in accordance with the fourth embodiment stores image data in buffer memory 311 until the image is instructed to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 or be deleted without being recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • an area within buffer memory 311 is divided into two parts. One area is used for image processing etc as a working area to function as a normal buffer memory and the other is for use as a temporary storage area to temporarily store the image data after image-processed.
  • pre-processed image data and image data in process are stored by using a working area of buffer memory 311 .
  • the finished image data through image-processing etc is also stored in the temporary storage area. At this time, the image data stored in the temporary storage area is being created in Exif format which enables the image data to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 as it is.
  • the image data stored in buffer memory 311 is simply copied.
  • a file creation date/time and a serial number attached to somewhere in a file name are those at a time of storing the image data. Accordingly, even if a sequence order to transfer the image data from buffer memory 311 to write-once storage medium 4 is different from a shooting sequence order, the file creation date/time and the serial number are assigned in the shooting sequence order so that an operation to re-arrange or reproduce the image data in the shooting order can be easily executed.
  • the image data stored in buffer memory 311 however, if there is image data that is not recorded in write-once storage medium 4 , a missing number will occur in a serial number.
  • a control in digital camera 31 in accordance with the fourth embodiment will be explained hereinafter.
  • FIG. 53 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a record control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when an image taking is complete.
  • step S 3101 it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 3102 and if write-once storage medium 4 is not inserted, it proceeds to step S 3109 .
  • step S 3102 image data is created in the Exif format and the created image data is stored in the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 . Folder information about the record location in a memory card is stored in the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 at the same time.
  • step S 3103 the image data is reproduced on LCD display panel 6 and at the same time, a message inquiring if the reproduced image data is recorded or deleted is displayed thereon.
  • FIG. 54 shows a display example on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 3104 it is to check if a given period of time has elapsed since the image is displayed on LCD display panel 6 and if the given period of time has elapsed, the flow is ended and if the given period of time does not elapse, the flow proceeds to step S 3105 .
  • step S 3105 it is to check if an operation is executed to record the image data in reproduction. If the operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 3106 and if the operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S 3107 .
  • step S 3106 it is to order this taken image data temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 and delete the image data in buffer memory 311 that was recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 3107 it is to check if an operation is executed to delete the image data in reproduction and if the delete operation is checked, the flow proceeds to step S 3108 and if the delete operation is not checked, the flow gets back to step S 3103 .
  • step S 3108 it is to delete this taken image data temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 3109 it is to create image data in Exif format and order an image file in Exif to be recorded in the memory card.
  • step S 3110 the image data is reproduced on LCD display panel 6 and at the same time, a message inquiring if the reproduced image data is deleted is displayed thereon.
  • the image data was already recorded in the memory card, a user is not inquired if the image data is recorded.
  • step S 3111 it is to check if the given period of time has elapsed since the reproduced image is displayed on LCD display panel 6 and if the given period of time has elapsed, the flow is ended and if the given period of time has not elapsed, the flow proceeds to step S 3112 .
  • step S 3112 it is to check if a delete operation to delete the image data is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 3113 and if the delete operation is not executed, the flow gets back to step S 3110 .
  • step S 3113 it is to delete this taken image data stored in the memory card.
  • buffer memory 311 There is a limit to a number of image data that can be temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 and buffer memory 311 is volatile. Thus, without losing the image data temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 , the image data is needed to be so controlled as to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 without fail.
  • capacity of the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 is controlled to vary with residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4 in use. Specifically, the temporary storage area of buffer memory 311 is secured as an upper limit of residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4 . With this securing, all of image data stored in buffer memory 311 can be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 . Thus, there is no situation that taken image data cannot be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • a capacity secure control in digital camera 31 will be explained hereinafter using FIG. 55 .
  • FIG. 55 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a capacity secure control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing is repeated as long as the mode is set to the shooting mode.
  • step S 3201 it is to check if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 3202 and if write-once storage medium 4 is not inserted, the flow is ended.
  • step S 3202 it is check capacity of write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 3203 it is to check if the capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is equal to and less than given capacity.
  • the flow proceeds to step S 3204 .
  • step S 3204 it is to secure an area of buffer memory 311 with the same residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4 as the temporary storage area for image data.
  • step S 3205 when the capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is above the given capacity, the flow proceeds to step S 3205 .
  • step S 3205 it is to secure an area of buffer memory 311 with the given capacity as the image data temporary storage area.
  • the given capacity is determined after securing trouble-free capacity as the working area of buffer memory 311 .
  • the capacity of the temporal storage area in buffer memory 311 is set so that image data cannot be shot exceeding residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4 .
  • taken image data can be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 without fail.
  • the residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4 does not decrease.
  • a picture taking does not get decreased in the displayed residual capacity when buffer memory 311 stores image data.
  • digital camera 31 displays a value subtracting a data amount of the image temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 from residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4 as residual capacity on LCD display panel 6 .
  • FIG. 56 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a residual capacity display control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing is repeated as long as the shooting mode is set.
  • step S 3301 it is to check if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 3302 and if write-once storage medium 4 is not inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 3306 .
  • step S 3302 capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is detected.
  • step S 3303 it is to detect the data amount of the image temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 3304 it is to make a calculation to subtract the data amount of the image temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 from residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 3305 it is to calculate a number of remaining frames corresponding to the capacity calculated in step S 3304 .
  • step S 3306 it is to detect residual capacity of the memory card.
  • step S 3307 it is to calculate a number of remaining frames corresponding to the residual capacity thereof.
  • step S 3308 it is to display the number of remaining frames calculated in step S 3305 or S 3307 on LCD display panel 6 .
  • FIG. 57 shows a display example of the numberof remaining frames on LCD display panel 6 .
  • FIG. 57 shows that there are 22 frames left.
  • Buffer memory 311 used in digital camera 31 is a volatile memory, so image data temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 will disappear when the battery becomes dead.
  • digital camera 31 controls so as to check residual capacity of a battery driving digital camera 31 and, when it is detected that the battery capacity becomes below a given level, digital camera 31 controls so as to automatically record image data temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 in write-once storage medium 4 so that a disappearance of the image data is avoided.
  • FIG. 58 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a battery related control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This flow is repeatedly executed at any time.
  • step S 3401 it is to detect residual capacity of a battery and when the residual capacity of the battery is below given capacity, the flow proceeds to step S 3402 and the flow is ended when the capacity is above the given capacity.
  • step S 3402 it is to check if image data is stored in the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 and if the image data is stored, the flow proceeds to step S 3403 and if the image data is not stored, this flow is ended.
  • step S 3403 it is to automatically record image data stored in buffer memory 311 in write-once storage medium 4 . Further, in step S 3404 , it is to delete the temporarily stored image data from buffer memory 311 .
  • the image data temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 is recorded on write-once storage medium 4 before the battery becomes exhausted, so a taken image data can be prevented from disappearing.
  • FIG. 58 shows the control in which the image data temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 is automatically recorded in write-once storage medium 4 . But, herein, a user is prompted to transcribe image data temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 to write-once storage medium 4 .
  • FIG. 59 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a battery-related control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing is repeatedly executed at any time.
  • step S 3501 it is to detect residual capacity of a battery and when the residual capacity of the battery is below given capacity, the flow proceeds to step S 3502 and when the capacity is above the given capacity, the flow is ended.
  • step S 3502 it is to check if image data is stored in the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 and if the image data is stored, the flow proceeds to step S 3503 and if the image data is not stored, this flow is ended.
  • step S 3503 it is to display a message prompting a user to record image data stored in buffer memory 311 in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • FIG. 60 shows a message display example.
  • FIG. 61 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a battery-related control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This flow is repeatedly executed at any time.
  • step S 3601 it is to judge if image data is stored in buffer memory 311 and if the image data is stored, the flow proceeds to step S 3602 and if the image data is not stored, the flow is ended.
  • step S 3602 it is to check a power source in use with digital camera 31 and if the power source is a battery power, the flow proceeds to step S 3603 and if an AC power is used, the flow proceeds to step S 3604 .
  • step S 3603 LCD display panel 6 displays a warning message that a battery should not be pulled out of a camera otherwise image data stored in the temporal storage area in buffer memory 311 gets disappeared.
  • step S 3604 also a warning message that an AC power cable should not be unplugged from a camera is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • a warning message to be displayed on LCD display panel 6 is displayed on a display device that always stays turned on.
  • a record control in digital camera 31 in accordance with the fourth embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter.
  • digital camera 31 automatically records image data in write-once storage medium 4 without waiting for a user's decision when capacity of the image data stored in buffer memory 311 becomes above given capacity.
  • FIG. 62 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a record control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will be executed when a shooting mode is set with write-once storage medium 4 in use.
  • step S 3701 it is to detect if a shooting operation is executed with the shutter release button of operation unit 7 depressed. If the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 3702 and if the shooting operation is not executed, the detection in step S 3701 is continued.
  • step S 3702 it is to process a taken image to create image data and to store the created image data in the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 . And a reproduced image is displayed on LCD display panel 6 . At this moment, a user is inquired if the reproduced image is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 or deleted as shown in FIG. 54 .
  • step S 3703 it is to check if a record operation is executed and if the record operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 3704 and if the record operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S 3705 .
  • step S 3704 it is to record a taken image data being reproduced on LCD display panel 6 in write-once storage medium 4 and to delete the taken image data from the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 3705 it is to check if a delete operation is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 3706 and if the delete operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S 3707 .
  • step S 3706 it is to delete the reproduced taken image data from the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 3707 it is to check if a given period of time has elapsed since the reproduced image is displayed on LCD display panel 6 and if the given period of time has elapsed, the flow proceeds to step S 3708 and if the given period of time does not elapse, the flow gets back to step S 3703 .
  • step S 3708 it is to detect capacity of the image data stored in the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 and in step S 3709 , it is to judge if the capacity of the image data is above given capacity and if the capacity of the image data is above the given capacity, the flow proceeds to step S 3710 and when the capacity of the image data is below the given capacity, the flow is ended.
  • step S 3710 out of image data stored to the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 , it is to reads out an oldest taken image data.
  • step S 3711 it is to record the read-out image data in write-once storage medium 4 and delete this image data from buffer memory 311 .
  • the processing is executed between step S 3708 and step S 3711 repeatedly until the capacity of the image data stored in the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 becomes small below the given capacity.
  • this control prevents a user from being unable to take a picture although write-once storage medium 4 has residual capacity. Also, when the capacity of the image data stored in buffer memory 311 becomes above the given capacity, the image data is automatically recorded in write-once storage medium 4 , so capacity of buffer memory 311 can be secured without deleting the image data stored in buffer memory 311 automatically.
  • the image data is automatically recorded in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • the image data may be automatically recorded when a number of the stored image data exceeds a given number of image data, not responding to the capacity of the image data stored in buffer memory 311 .
  • FIG. 62 describes the control in which the image data is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 preferentially from the oldest taken image data out of the image data stored in buffer memory 311 .
  • a priority order of image data to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 is not limited to a shooting order, but may be in order of a data amount of the image data.
  • a taken image data may be directly recorded in write-once storage medium 4 , leaving the image data stored in buffer memory 311 intact.
  • the image data is not automatically recorded in write-once storage medium 4 , but a message prompting a user to record the image data in write-once storage medium 4 may be displayed.
  • this control permits to store image data in buffer memory 311 beyond capacity capable of recording in a memory card.
  • image data can be shot in the event of an emergency. More specifically, when image data is stored in the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 exceeding residual capacity of the memory card, a minus indication is added in displaying a number of remaining frames. This display lets a user know that memory capacity now in use exceeds the residual capacity.
  • This capacity display control may be applied to not only write-once storage medium 4 but also other memory card in use.
  • FIG. 63 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a memory capacity display control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when a shooting operation is executed with the shutter release button of operation unit 7 depressed.
  • step S 3701 it is to detect memory capacity of a memory card in use and judge if the memory card has capacity to record taken image data. If the memory card has the capacity to record the image data, the flow proceeds to step S 3802 and if the memory card does not have the capacity, the flow proceeds to step S 3803 .
  • step S 3802 it is to check if the memory card in use is write-once storage medium 4 . If the memory card is write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 3803 and if the memory card is not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 3809 .
  • step S 3803 the taken image data is stored in the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 3804 a number of remaining frames are calculated from residual capacity of the memory card.
  • the number of remaining frames becomes 0-frame.
  • step s 3804 it is to check a number of storing frames of image data stored in buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 3806 it is to calculate a number of remaining frames by deducting the number of storing frames in buffer memory 311 calculated in step S 3804 from the number of remaining frames of the memory card calculated in step S 3804 . This is the same number of remaining frame calculation control as in the residual capacity display control of FIG. 56 .
  • step S 3807 it is to judge if the number of remaining frames calculated in step S 3806 is minus and if the number of remaining frames is minus, the flow proceeds to step S 3808 and if the number of remaining frames is not minus, the flow proceeds to step S 3810 .
  • step S 3808 it is to display the number of remaining frames with the minus indication on LCD display panel 6 as shown in FIG. 64 . It is preferable that the minus display is displayed in different color from a display color of a normal number of remaining frames.
  • step S 3810 as shown in FIG. 57 , it is to display the number of remaining frames on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 3809 it is to calculate the number of remaining frames from residual capacity.
  • step S 3810 it is to display the number of remaining frames as shown in FIG. 57 .
  • a shooting is permitted.
  • a user can be informed that a shooting is under the emergency. It may be enough to attract a user's attention even if the minus-indicated number of remaining frames is not displayed.
  • a warning comment may be displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • FIG. 65 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a memory capacity display control to be executed in control/processor 301 .
  • step S 3901 it is to judged fan inserted memory is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 3902 and if the inserted memory is not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 3907 .
  • step S 3902 it is to check residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4 and in step S 3903 , it is to calculate the number of remaining frames from residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 3904 it is to detect capacity of the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 3905 it is to calculate the number of remaining frames from the residual capacity of the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 detected in step S 3904 .
  • step S 3906 it is to calculate a total number of the remaining frames in write-once storage medium 4 calculated in step S 3903 and remaining frames in buffer memory 311 calculated in step S 3905 . And in step S 3309 , it is to display the total number of the remaining frame calculated in step S 3906 on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 3907 it is to detect capacity of the memory card is detected and in step S 3908 , it is to calculate a number of remaining frames from residual capacity of the memory card.
  • the number of remaining frames calculated in step S 3908 is displayed on LCD display panel 6 .
  • the number of remaining frames are not simply calculated from the total of each residual capacity, but a number of remaining frames capable of recording in each memory is calculated respectively and then a summation of the remaining frames are displayed.
  • This control enables to display a number of frames capable of recording image data without fail.
  • buffer memory 311 is used as the temporal storage memory, so the display of the residual capacity is so controlled as to be the summation of the residual capacity in combining write-once storage medium 4 and buffer memory 311 .
  • this calculation control of the summation of the residual capacity explained herein with reference to FIG. 65 may be applied to any digital camera if the digital camera records image data in a plurality of memories regardless of a kind of a memory.
  • Digital camera 31 enables to display any of a number of remaining frames or a number of undecided frames respectively by change over the number of the remaining frames and the number of the undecided frames.
  • the number of the undecided frames is a number of image data stored in buffer memory 311 which a user does not yet decide to record in write-once storage medium 4 or delete without recording.
  • Displaying the number of the undecided frames lets the user know presence of the undecided image data and enables to prompt the user to decide whether to record the data in write-once storage medium 4 or delete it without recording.
  • FIG. 66 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a memory capacity change control to be executed in control/processor 301 .
  • This processing is repeatedly executed as long as the power of digital camera is ON.
  • step S 4001 it is to detect if a shooting mode of digital camera 31 is set to a reproduction mode. If the shooting mode is set to the reproduction mode, the flow proceeds to step S 4002 and if the shooting mode is not set to the reproduction mode, the flow proceeds to step S 4005 .
  • step S 4002 it is to detect a memory status of the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 and obtain a number of stored image data.
  • step S 4003 it is to display the number of image data obtained in step S 4002 as an undecided frame on LCD display panel 6 . At this moment, a number of the undecided frame is displayed on LCD display panel 6 like the display of the number of the remaining frames as shown in FIG. 57 .
  • step S 4004 it is to check if the mode is changed with an operation of operation unit 7 . If the mode is changed, the flow proceeds to step S 4005 and if the mode is not changed, the flow gets back to step S 4002 .
  • step S 4005 it is to check if the mode is changed to a shooting mode and if the mode is changed to the shooting mode, the flow proceeds to step S 4006 and if the mode is not changed to the shooting mode, the flow gets back to step S 4001 .
  • step S 4006 it is to calculate a number of remaining frames by detecting memory status of buffer memory 311 and write-once storage medium 4 .
  • step S 4007 it is to display a total number of the remaining frames of buffer memory 311 and write-once storage medium 4 on LCD display panel 6 as shown in FIG. 57 .
  • step S 4008 it is to check if the mode is changed again.
  • the flow proceeds to step S 4001 .
  • the flow gets back to step S 4006 .
  • displaying the number of the undecided frames enables to let a user know the presence of the undecided image data in buffer memory 311 .
  • this control controls so as to display the number of the undecided frames in the reproduction mode and the number of the remaining frames in the shooting mode
  • a changeover button may be provided to select either the number of the undecided frames or the number of the remaining frames.
  • the control of FIG. 66 displays only a number of a frame, but a display indicating that a number of a frame displayed with the display of the number of the frame is a number of an undecided frame may be displayed.
  • a reproduction control in digital camera 31 will be explained.
  • digital camera 31 when the mode is changed from the shooting mode to the reproduction mode, digital camera 31 reads out image data that was shot just before and displays the image data on LCD display panel 6 .
  • An operation of a cross-marked button provided in operation unit 7 of digital camera 31 enables to change image data and reproduce different image data. In this case, regardless of image data recorded in write-once storage medium 4 or stored in buffer memory, image data is reproduced in shooting order.
  • FIG. 67 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of an image reproduction control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when the mode is changed to the reproduction mode with an operation of operation unit 7 .
  • step S 4101 it is to search for image data in write-once storage medium 4 and the temporary storage area of buffer memory 311 .
  • step S 4102 it is readout image data that is recently taken except for displayed image data. Accordingly, no image data is displayed on LCD display panel 6 right after the mode is changed to the reproduction mode, so recently taken image data is read out.
  • step S 4103 it is to detect if the read-out image data is read out from buffer memory 311 and if the read-out image data is read out from buffer memory 311 , the flow proceeds to step S 4104 . If the read-out image data is not read out from buffer memory 311 , the flow proceeds to step S 4109 .
  • step S 4104 it is to display the read-out image data on LCD display panel 6 and, at the same time, it is to display a message inquiring if the image data is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 or deleted from buffer memory 311 on LCD display panel 6 by overlapping the reproduced image.
  • step S 4105 it is to detect if a record operation is executed in response to the display in step S 4104 and if the record operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 4106 and if the record operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S 4107 .
  • step S 4106 it is to record the image data being reproduced and temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 in write-once storage medium 4 .
  • the image data is recorded in a folder of write-once storage medium 4 in accordance with the folder information about a record location stored simultaneously when the image data is stored in buffer memory 311 .
  • the image data recorded in write-once storage medium 4 and the folder information are deleted from buffer memory 311 .
  • the flow gets back to step S 4101 .
  • step S 4107 it is to detect if a delete operation is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 4108 and if the delete operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S 4111 .
  • step S 4108 it is to delete image data being reproduced from buffer memory 311 . The flow gets back to step S 4101 .
  • step S 4103 when it is judged that the read-out image data is image data in write-once storage medium 4 , not in buffer memory 311 , in step S 4109 , it is to display the read-out image data on LCD display panel 6 .
  • a message inquiring about deletion of the image data etc is not displayed.
  • step S 4110 it is to check if an operation of a cross-marked button of operation unit 7 etc is executed so as to instruct reproduction of other image data. If the reproduction is instructed, the flow gets back to step S 4101 and if the reproduction is not instructed, the flow proceeds to step S 4111 . In step S 4111 , it is to detect if the reproduction mode is set and if the reproduction mode is set, the flow gets back to step S 4110 and if the mode is changed from the reproduction mode to other mode, the flow is ended releasing the reproduction mode.
  • Digital camera 31 is provided with a function to reproduce only an image data of buffer memory 311 in the event that the image data is stored in buffer memory 311 when the mode is changed to the reproduction mode.
  • a reproduction mode change control in digital camera 31 will be explained hereinafter.
  • FIG. 68 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a reproduction mode change control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when the mode is changed to the reproduction mode.
  • step S 4201 it is to detect if image data is stored in buffer memory 311 and if the image data is stored in buffer memory 311 , the flow proceeds to step S 4203 and if the image data is not stored, the flow proceeds to step S 4202 .
  • step S 4202 it is to read out image data taken just before from image data recorded in write-once storage medium 4 and display the image data on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 4203 LCD display panel 6 shows a selection menu to reproduce any of all image data or image data only stored in buffer memory 311 for a reproduction.
  • FIG. 69 shows a selection menu screen display example on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 4204 it is to check if “all reproduction” is selected. If the “all reproduction” is selected, the flow proceeds to step S 4205 and if the “all reproduction” is not selected, the flow proceeds to step S 4206 .
  • step S 4205 out of image data stored in write-once storage medium 4 and buffer memory 311 , it is to read out image data taken just before and display the read-out image data on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 4206 it is to check if “temporary storage” is selected and if the “temporary storage” is selected, the flow proceeds to step S 4207 and if the “temporary storage” is not selected, the flow gets back to step S 4203 .
  • step S 4207 out of image data stored in buffer memory 311 , it is to read out image data taken just before and reproduce the read-out image data on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 4202 In a case where a reproduction image is displayed in any of step S 4202 , step S 4205 or step S 4207 , a message such that the reproduction image is to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 or deleted from buffer memory 311 is displayed at the same time.
  • all image data of buffer memory 311 may be caused to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 or deleted from buffer memory 311 .
  • image data can be reproduced without confirming each time whether the image data is image data in buffer memory 311 or write-once storage medium 4 .
  • the reproduction menu is controlled to be displayed as shown in FIG. 69 only when image data is stored in buffer memory 311 , so an image can be instantaneously reproduced when image data is not stored in buffer memory 311 . Therefore, a user does not feel annoying.
  • Digital camera 31 of the fourth embodiment stores image data in buffer memory 311 continuously, so the image data stored in buffer memory 311 also becomes a target to be deleted when an operation to delete all image data is executed. A more specific operation will be explained as follow.
  • FIG. 71 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of an image delete control to be executed in control/processor 301 . This processing will start when an operation to delete all image data is executed with operation unit 7 .
  • step S 4301 it is to detect if image data is stored in buffer memory 311 and if the image data is stored, the flow proceeds to step S 4302 and if the image data is not stored, the flow proceeds to step S 4303 .
  • step S 4302 it is to display a message saying that the image data in buffer memory 311 is also deleted on LCD display panel 6 . At the same time, it is to display a message inquiring if the image data in buffer memory 311 is deleted simultaneously or the delete operation is cancelled.
  • step S 4303 it is to display a comment saying that the image data is deleted and an inquiry about an image delete or a delete cancel on LCD display panel 6 .
  • step S 4304 it is to detect if a delete operation is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 4305 and if the delete operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S 4308 .
  • step S 4308 it is to detect if the cancel operation is executed. When the cancel operation is executed, this flow is ended and when the cancel operation is not executed, the flow gets back to step S 4304 .
  • step S 4305 when image data is stored in a memory card, all the image data is deleted.
  • step S 4306 when image data is stored in buffer memory 311 , all the image data is deleted.
  • step S 4307 LCD display panel 6 displays that all the image data was deleted.
  • a selection of a delete operation of all image data enables to delete image data stored in a memory card and in buffer memory 311 easily.
  • image data is stored in buffer memory 311
  • a user is notified that the image data stored in buffer memory 311 is deleted so that an inadvertent deletion of the image data can be avoided.
  • a fifth embodiment of this invention will be described using accompanying diagrams.
  • an image storage apparatus that stores image data taken with digital cameras in accordance with the first to the fourth embodiments as described so far will be described.
  • the image storage apparatus is not an apparatus dedicated for storing image data, but may be an information device like PC etc.
  • FIG. 72 is a block diagram showing a configuration of image storage apparatus 50 in accordance with the fifth embodiment.
  • Image storage apparatus 50 consists of control/processor unit 501 , program memory 502 , display driver 503 , hard disk memory 504 , slot 505 , connector terminal 506 , display output terminal 507 and operation unit 509 etc.
  • Control/processor unit 501 is provided with a calculating unit like CPU etc and commands image storage apparatus 50 .
  • Program memory 502 stores a control program to be executed at control unit 501 .
  • Display driver 503 outputs picture image data to display 508 via display output terminal 507 .
  • Hard disk memory 504 is bulk memory to store image data.
  • Slot 505 has a slot enabling a memory card to be inserted into and is an interface when reading out data of a memory card and recording data in a memory card.
  • Connector terminal 506 is an interface to input/output data by connecting digital camera 31 or so hereto.
  • Operation unit 509 is operated in order for a user to enter various orders to image storage apparatus 50 .
  • Operation unit 509 may be an external keyboard, not be directly attached to image storage apparatus 50 .
  • the image data management control can retrieve image data of a memory card, namely, reads in and stores image data and delete it.
  • FIG. 73 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of an image management control to be executed in control/processor 501 . This processing will start by detecting a connection of digital camera 31 thereto or insertion of a memory card into slot 505 of image storage apparatus 50 .
  • step S 4401 it is to detect if there is image data in a memory card and if there is the image data, the flow proceeds to step S 4402 and if there is not the image data, the flow is ended.
  • step S 4402 it is to detect if image data is set to be automatically stored at the same time when digital camera 31 is connected or a memory card is inserted.
  • This setting is set by a user via an operation of operation unit 509 with reference to a setting menu displayed on display 508 .
  • FIG. 74 shows a display example of the setting menu on display 508 .
  • a setting menu shown in FIG. 74 is to set how image data recorded in a memory card in use is processed.
  • step S 4403 When the image data is set to be stored at the same time when the memory card is connected, the flow proceeds to step S 4403 and if the image data is not set to be stored, the flow is ended.
  • step S 4403 it is to retrieve the image data.
  • the retrieved image data is stored in a storage medium set via a setting menu shown in FIG. 74 .
  • step S 4404 it is to detect if retrieving of all image data is finished and if the retrieving of all the image data is finished, the flow proceeds to step S 4405 and if the retrieving of all image data is not finished, the flow gets back to step S 4403 .
  • step S 4405 it is to detect if the retrieved image data is set to be deleted from the memory card in the setting menu. If the deletion of the image data is set, the flow proceeds to step S 4406 and if the image data is not set, the flow proceeds to step S 4415 .
  • step S 4406 it is to obtain information about a connected memory card, for instance, property information.
  • step S 4407 it is to detect if the memory card is write-once storage medium 4 based upon the information obtained in step S 4406 .
  • step S 4408 If the memory card is write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 4408 and if the memory card is not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 4412 .
  • step S 4408 it is to display a message warning that deletion of image data can not get an increase in memory capacity on display 508 and along with this message, an inquiry if the image data is deleted or not is displayed thereon.
  • step S 4409 it is to detect if the delete operation is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 4410 and if the delete operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S 4412 .
  • step S 4410 it is to perform delete processing on the image data already retrieved in the memory card.
  • step S 4411 it is to detect if the delete processing is complete with respect to all the image data already retrieved. If the delete processing is complete, the flow proceeds to step S 4415 and if the delete processing is not complete, the flow gets back to step S 4410 .
  • step S 4412 it is to detect if a cancel operation is executed and if the cancel operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S 4415 and if the cancel operation is not executed, the flow gets back to step S 4409 .
  • step S 4413 FAT information is renewed to indicate that the image data is deleted.
  • step S 4414 it is to detect if the delete processing on all the image data is complete and if the delete processing is complete, the flow proceeds to step S 4415 and if the delete processing is not complete, the flow gets back to step S 4413 .
  • step S 4415 it is to display a message saying that the processing is ended on display 508 . Like this, even if the retrieved image data from the memory card is set to be automatically deleted, the inquiry about deletion with respect to write-once storage medium 4 prevents a user from deleting image data without knowing that the deletion does not lead to an increase in memory capacity.
  • this control when the inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 , this control does not delete image data at a time of an automatic transfer and displays that a delete operation is halted.
  • FIG. 75 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of an image management control to be executed in control/processor 501 of image storage apparatus 50 . This processing will start when detecting a connection of digital camera 31 or insertion of a memory card into slot 505 of image storage apparatus 50 .
  • step S 4501 it is to detect if there is image data in a memory card and if there is the image data, the flow proceeds to step S 4502 and if there is not the image data, the flow is ended.
  • step S 4502 it is to detect if image data is set to be automatically retrieved at the same time when connecting in a setting menu. When the automatic retrieve is set, the flow proceeds to step S 4503 and when the automatic retrieve is not set, this processing is ended.
  • step S 4503 it is to retrieve image data in the memory card.
  • step S 4504 it is to detect if retrieving of all the image data is finished and if the retrieval of all the image data is finished, the flow proceeds to step S 4505 and if the retrieval is not finished, the flow gets back to step S 4503 .
  • step S 4505 it is to detect if the retrieved image data is set to be deleted from the memory card in the setting menu and if the deletion of the image data is set, the flow proceeds to step S 4506 . If the deletion of the image data is not set, the flow proceeds to step S 4511 .
  • step S 4506 it is to obtain information about the connected memory card.
  • step S 4507 it is to detect if the memory card is write-once storage medium 4 based upon the information obtained in step S 4506 . If the memory card is write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 4508 and if the memory card is not write-once storage medium 4 , the flow proceeds to step S 4509 .
  • step S 4508 display 508 displays what an image data deletion is halted due to write-once storage medium 4 in use.
  • step S 4509 FAT information is renewed to indicate that the image data is deleted.
  • step S 4510 it is to detect if the delete processing on all the image data is finished and if the delete processing is finished, the flow proceeds to step S 4511 and if the delete processing is not finished, the flow gets back to step S 4509 .
  • step S 4511 it is to display a message saying that the processing is ended on display 508 .
  • a control in which image data is retrieved from a memory card and then the retrieved image data is automatically deleted is often executed for the purpose of increasing memory capacity capable of recording in preparation for a next shooting.
  • the memory card is write-once storage medium 4
  • deletion of image data cannot get an increase in memory capacity capable of recording.
  • Automatic deletion of image data is not performed in write-once storage medium 4 , so a user does not need meaningless wasteful delete processing.
  • An image management setting control to be executed in image storage apparatus 50 will be described hereinafter.
  • Image storage apparatus 50 sets image management setting processing in a case where a memory card is overwritable storage medium 3 and image management setting processing in a case where a memory card is write-once storage medium 4 independently and the processing is executed respectively in accordance with each setting.
  • FIG. 76 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of an image management setting control to be executed in control/processor 501 of image storage apparatus 50 . This processing will start when insertion of a memory card or a connection of a digital camera is detected.
  • step S 4601 it is to detect if an inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 4602 and if write-once storage medium 4 is not inserted, the flow proceeds to step S 4608 .
  • step S 4602 it is to detect if setting information for write-once storage medium 4 is recorded in program memory 502 and if the setting information is recorded, the flow proceeds to step S 4606 and if the setting information is not recorded, the flow proceeds to step S 4603 .
  • step S 4603 it is to display a setting menu for a write-once storage medium on display 508 .
  • FIG. 77 shows a display example of the setting menu for the write-once storage medium. Though the display example of FIG. 77 shows two setting menus in a single window, each setting menu may be displayed separately in a different window.
  • step S 4604 it is to detect if a setting operation is finished via operation unit 509 and if the setting operation is finished, the flow proceeds to step S 4605 and if the setting operation is not finished, the flow gets back to step S 4603 .
  • step S 4605 it is to record setting information entered via the setting menu in program memory 502 .
  • step S 4606 it is read out the setting information recorded in program memory 502 .
  • step S 4607 processing is executed according to the recorded setting.
  • step S 4608 it is to detect if program memory 502 records setting information about the overwritable storage medium. If program memory 502 records the setting information, the flow proceeds to step S 4612 and if program memory 502 does not record the setting information, the flow proceeds to step S 4609 . In step S 4609 , it is to display the setting menu for the overwritable storage medium on display 508 as shown in FIG. 77 .
  • FIG. 77 shows a display example.
  • step S 4610 it is to detect if a setting operation is finished via operation unit 509 and if the setting operation is finished, the flow proceeds to step S 4611 and if the setting operation is not finished, the flow gets back to step S 4609 .
  • step s 4611 it record the setting information entered via the setting menu in program memory 502 .
  • step S 4612 it is to read out the setting information recorded in program memory 502 .
  • step S 4613 processing is executed according to the recorded setting.
  • the settings for the overwritable storage medium and the write-once storage medium are so controlled as to be independently set, a user can set a setting suitable for each memory card.
  • the image management setting control in image storage apparatus 50 explained by using FIG. 77 can be applied to digital camera 31 .
  • An image management setting control in digital camera 31 will be explained hereinafter.
  • FIGS. 78 ( a ) and ( b ) A setting menu example displayed on LCD display panel 6 of digital camera 31 is shown in FIGS. 78 ( a ) and ( b ).
  • a setting menu shown in FIG. 78 ( a ) is displayed.
  • write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, a setting menu shown in FIG. 78 ( b ) is displayed.
  • FIG. 78 shows separately the setting menus for the overwritable storage medium and the write-once storage medium, both setting menus can be displayed at the same time as shown in FIG. 77 .
  • the processing procedure of the image management control in digital camera 31 is the same as the one to be executed in image storage apparatus 50 explained using FIG. 76 , so the explanation about the procedure thereof is omitted.
  • the image management settings for the overwritable storage medium and the write-once storage medium are so controlled as to be independently set, so the setting suitable for each storage medium can be set in digital camera 31 .
  • Such the control in image storage apparatus 50 can be realized by a computer application program.
  • a computer installing the application program and its peripheral apparatus connected when needed corresponds to each configuring element of image storage apparatus 50 . Therefore, in order to realize a function of this invention, an application program itself and a storage medium like CD-ROM recording the program available for sale via the Internet etc are also included in a scope of this invention.

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JP2002040284A JP4269558B2 (ja) 2002-02-18 2002-02-18 デジタルカメラ
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JP2002040283A JP4277474B2 (ja) 2002-02-18 2002-02-18 デジタルカメラ
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CN100469124C (zh) 2009-03-11
WO2003069903A1 (fr) 2003-08-21
CN1633806A (zh) 2005-06-29
US8149295B2 (en) 2012-04-03
US8659677B2 (en) 2014-02-25
US20120162468A1 (en) 2012-06-28
US20080211927A1 (en) 2008-09-04

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