Communication apparatus and method that link a network address with designated image information

Abstract

To make it possible to process or retrieve a recorded image in accordance with the location where the image is recorded and record digital image data together with GPS information when capturing a digital image by a video camera. Moreover, when GPS information cannot be captured, GPS information a certain time before is captured. Furthermore, a system is disclosed which accesses the internet in accordance with the captured GPS information.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An image recording method when recording image information, comprising the step of: 
 recording said image information together with the location information at the place where said image information is obtained.    
     
     
         2 . An image recording method according to  claim 1 , wherein said location information is altitude information.  
     
     
         3 . An image recording method according to  claim 1 , wherein location information is obtained from radio waves output from a station at a predetermined position.  
     
     
         4 . An image recording method according to  claim 3 , wherein said station at a predetermined position is a satellite.  
     
     
         5 . An image recording method according to  claim 3 , wherein said base at a predetermined position is a ground station.  
     
     
         6 . An image recording method according to  claim 1 , wherein location information includes latitude and longitude information.  
     
     
         7 . An image recording method for recording location information together with image information, comprising the steps of: 
 deciding whether said location information can be obtained; and    recording substitute information together with said image information when it is not decided that said location information can be obtained.    
     
     
         8 . An image recording method wherein the substitute information of  claim 7  is last-obtained location information.  
     
     
         9 . An image recording method wherein the substitute information of  claim 7  is location information obtained within a predetermined time.  
     
     
         10 . An image recording method wherein the substitute information of  claim 7  is manually-input location information.  
     
     
         11 . An image recording method according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 unless location information can be obtained, it is communicated to a user that no location information can be obtained.    
     
     
         12 . An image recording method according to  claim 8 , wherein 
 if the time when obtaining last location information is information obtained a certain time before, substitute information is used as last-obtained location information.    
     
     
         13 . An image recording method according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 if the time when obtaining last-obtained location information is information obtained a certain time after, substitute information is used as information showing that a location is indeterminate.    
     
     
         14 . An image recording apparatus when recording image information characterized by: 
 recording not only an image but also the location information at a place where the image is obtained.    
     
     
         15 . A communication apparatus comprising: 
 generation means for generating image information and location information corresponding to said image information;    means for generating a network address according to the location information generated by said generation means; and    means for linking with an address generated by said generation means.    
     
     
         16 . A communication apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said generation means is means for generating location information by a GPS.  
     
     
         17 . A communication apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said generation means is previously provided with a corresponding table of location information and network addresses.  
     
     
         18 . A communication apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising image pickup means for picking up a subject.  
     
     
         19 . A communication apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said location information generation means is means for generating the location information of the place where image pickup is performed by said image pickup means.  
     
     
         20 . A communication apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising storage means for storing a signal corresponding to a subject picked up by said image pickup means in a medium.  
     
     
         21 . An image input unit according to  claim 20 , wherein said medium is a semiconductor memory.  
     
     
         22 . A computer communication apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said address generation means is means for generating the name of area information according to the location generated by said location information generation means.  
     
     
         23 . A communication apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising means for generating the address of an internet home page including an area name in accordance with said area information.  
     
     
         24 . A communication apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein said generation means is previously provided with a corresponding table of location and internet address.  
     
     
         25 . A communication apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said location information is data for latitude and longitude.  
     
     
         26 . A communication apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein said corresponding table can be retrieved.  
     
     
         27 . A communication apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said network is an internet network and said linkage means has means for linking with an internet address retrieval home page, automatically inputting location information as a retrieval keyword, and retrieving an internet address.  
     
     
         28 . A communication apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein an address retrieved by said retrieval means can be automatically entered in said internet address corresponding table.  
     
     
         29 . A computer readable medium comprising: 
 means for storing steps described in  claim 1  or  7 , wherein said storing means is readable by computer.