Picture taking apparatus

Abstract

In an electronic imaging apparatus, image information of an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident is stored in image information storing means in a format dependent upon a type of the applied storage device. Provided therein are communication means for transmitting and/or receiving image information generated in this apparatus or the other equivalent apparatuses while an operation mode of the apparatus is set for communication and switch means for causing the communication means to start a communication mode operation.

1 - 38 . (canceled)  
   
   
       39 . An electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, said system comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image information storing means for storing image information represented by said image signal;    communication means for transmitting to and/or receiving image information from a system external to the system while an operation mode of the system is set for communication with a system external to the system; and    switch for causing said communication means to start a communication mode operation with a system external to the system.    
   
   
       40 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 39  wherein said communication means includes modem setting up means for setting up a modem to be ready for communication with a system external to the system in response to a user's operation of said switch.  
   
   
       41 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 39  further comprising display for displaying various indicia inclusive of a predetermined mark for representing said communication operation mode.  
   
   
       42 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 39 , wherein said communication means includes: 
 play-back means for playing-back an image represented by image information received from an external transmission side system via a network connected to the communication means; and    request command generating means for generating and transmitting a request command representing a re-send instruction for causing said external transmission side system to re-send image information in response to operation of a predetermined switch.    
   
   
       43 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 42 , wherein said play-back means is for processing image information received from said external transmission side system via said network and for issuing an image signal of an adaptive form to a monitor to be processed by the monitor.  
   
   
       44 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 communication buffer storage means for storing image data representative of image information received by said communication means from the system external to the system, said communication buffer storage means being capable of storing said image information without said applied storage device.    
   
   
       45 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 process data storage means for storing various process data such as parameters necessary for processing image information received by said communication means without said applied storage device.    
   
   
       46 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 frame buffer storage means for storing image data processed or to be processed by a process means for image data processing, said frame buffer storage means being capable of storing image data representative of image information received by said communication means from the system external to the apparatus without said applied storage device.    
   
   
       47 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 44 , further comprising: 
 data transferring means for transferring data temporarily stored in said communication buffer storage means to said applied storage device.    
   
   
       48 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 45 , further comprising: 
 data transferring means for transferring data temporarily stored in said process data storage means to said applied storage device.    
   
   
       49 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 46 , further comprising: 
 data transferring means for transferring data temporarily stored in said frame buffer storage means to said applied storage device.    
   
   
       50 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 FIFO storage means for storing image data representative of image information received by said communication means from said system external to the system and issuing the stored image data effectively instantly without delay from reception of said image information so as to effectively monitor a received image immediately.    
   
   
       51 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 communication controlling means for automatically controlling successive image information to be sent or received via said communication means based on subsidiary data stored in a predetermined specific file, relating to image information, in the applied storage device.    
   
   
       52 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 lodging means for recording transactions concerning communications done by said communication means with said system external to the system, on a subsidiary file concerning image data files, in the applied storage device.    
   
   
       53 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 39 , wherein said switch is also capable of functioning as a trigger switch for enabling operation for taking pictures during a photographing mode.  
   
   
       54 . An electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them on an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image information storing means for storing image information represented by said image signal; and    play-back means for playing-back an image once photoelectrically converted by said image pick-up means to an image signal or further converted to corresponding image data appropriate to said applied storage device, based on of an operation of a specific operating mechanism which is usually used for a different purpose for a photographing operation.    
   
   
       55 . An electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them on an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image information storing means for storing image information represented by said image signal;    external commands receiving means for receiving various commands from an external device connected with the external commands receiving means via a transmission channel; and    executing means for carrying out the operation corresponding to said command;    wherein said executing means is for executing a file moving operation for moving file data representative of image information and/or subsidiary information of the image information to a designated destination directory, based on commands received via said external command receiving means.    
   
   
       56 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 39 , comprising: 
 erase operation mode setting means for selectively setting an erase operation mode for the applied storage device, the operation mode set thereupon selected from a plurality of erasing operation modes provided in advance for this system.    
   
   
       57 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 39 , comprising: 
 power source control means for automatically making a power source circuit of this apparatus ready to supply power, in response to reception of a call signal of said information signal received via said communication means.    
   
   
       58 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 57 , wherein said power source control means is for making said power source circuit ready to supply power in response to a reception of a transmission SD signal sent through a network channel from a personal computer as a sender side device.  
   
   
       59 . An electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, said system comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an analog image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image data generating means for generating digital image data corresponding to said image signal;    data storing means for storing said image data on said applied storage device in the form of a file organized by a directory or sub-directory;    communication means for transmitting and/or receiving image data or further subsidiary data via a transmission channel connected with a system external to the system and with the communication means; and    preceding transmission means for transmitting to the external system data for said directory and/or said subsidiary data relating to a transmission of image information, when a transmitting operation mode is set.    
   
   
       60 . An electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, said system comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an analog image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image data generating means for generating digital image data corresponding to said image signal;    data storing means for storing said image data on said applied storage device in the form of a file organized by a directory or a sub-directory:    communication means for transmitting and/or receiving image data or further subsidiary data via a transmission channel connected with said communication means; and    preceding transmission means for transmitting data representative of a capacity reservable for receiving image data, to a sender side device, in anticipation of a reception when a receiving operation mode is set.    
   
   
       61 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 39 , comprising: 
 power source control means for executing a power off process for turning off a power source circuit when a communication with another party fails to be held in a predetermined period of time.    
   
   
       62 . An electronic camera system for storing image data as image data files allocated in an applied storage device, said system comprising: 
 determining means for determining a remaining capacity of a file which has a uniform, previously-defined capacity;    dummy data adding means for adding dummy data on image data to be stored, said dummy data being of an amount corresponding to a said remaining capacity so that an administrative uniformity of file size is maintained thereby.    
   
   
       63 . An electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, said system comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an analog image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image data generating means for generating digital image data corresponding to said image signal;    data storing means for storing said image data on said applied storage device as a file organized by a directory and a sub-directory; and    display for displaying a successive file name for respective images picked-up by said image pick-up means, based on a position of a designated file in said directory.    
   
   
       64 . An electronic camera system according to  claim 63 , further comprising: 
 communication means for transmitting and/or receiving image data or further subsidiary data via a transmission channel connected with the communication means; and    display for displaying a frame number of designated transfer image data.    
   
   
       65 . An electronic imaging apparatus for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image information storing means for storing image information represented by said image signal;    communication means for transmitting to and/or receiving image information from a system external to the apparatus while an operation mode of the apparatus is set for communication with a system external to the apparatus;    switch for causing said communication means to start a communication mode operation with a system external to the apparatus; and    a body for accommodating at least the image pick-up means, image information storing means and switch.    
   
   
       66 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein said communication means includes modem setting up means for setting up a modem to be ready for communication with a system external to the apparatus in response to a user's operation of said switch means.  
   
   
       67 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 65 , further comprising display means for displaying various indicia inclusive of a predetermined mark for representing said communication operation mode.  
   
   
       68 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein said communication means includes: 
 play-back means for playing-back an image represented by image information received from an external transmission side system via a network connected to the communication means; and    request command generating means for generating and transmitting a request command representing a re-send instruction for causing said external transmission side system to re-send image information in response to operation of a predetermined switch.    
   
   
       69 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 68 , wherein said play-back means is for processing image information received from said external transmission side system via said network and for issuing an image signal of an adaptive form to a monitor to be processed by the monitor.  
   
   
       70 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 65 , further comprising: 
 communication buffer storage means for storing image data representative of image information received by said communication means from the system external to the apparatus, said communication buffer storage means being capable of storing said image information without said applied storage device.    
   
   
       71 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 65 , further comprising: 
 process data storage means for storing various process data such as parameters necessary for processing image information received by said communication means without said applied storage device.    
   
   
       72 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 65 , further comprising: 
 frame buffer storage means for storing image data processed or to be processed by a process means for image data processing, said frame buffer storage means being capable of storing image data representative of image information received by said communication means from the system external to the apparatus without said applied storage device.    
   
   
       73 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 70 , further comprising: 
 data transferring means for transferring data temporarily stored in said communication buffer storage means to said applied storage device.    
   
   
       74 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 71 , further comprising: 
 data transferring means for transferring data temporarily stored in said process data storage means to said applied storage device.    
   
   
       75 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 72 , further comprising: 
 data transferring means for transferring data temporarily stored in said frame buffer storage means to said applied storage device.    
   
   
       76 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 65 , further comprising: 
 FIFO storage means for storing image data representative of image information received by said communication means from said system external to the apparatus and issuing the stored image data effectively instantly without delay from reception of said image information so as to effectively monitor a received image immediately.    
   
   
       77 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 65 , further comprising: 
 communication controlling means for automatically controlling successive image information to be sent or received via said communication means based on subsidiary data stored in a predetermined specific file, relating to image information, in the applied storage device.    
   
   
       78 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 65 , further comprising: 
 lodging means for recording transactions concerning communications done by said communication means with said system external to the apparatus, on a subsidiary file concerning image data files, in the applied storage device.    
   
   
       79 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein said switch is also capable of functioning as a trigger switch means for enabling operation for taking pictures during a photographing mode.  
   
   
       80 . An electronic imaging apparatus for taking pictures and storing them on an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image information storing means for storing image information represented by said image signal;    play-back means for playing-back an image once photoelectrically converted by said image pick-up means to an image signal or further converted to corresponding image data appropriate to said applied storage device, based on of an operation of a specific operating mechanism which is usually used for a different purpose for a photographing operation; and    a body for accommodating at least the image pick-up means, image information storing means and play-back means.    
   
   
       81 . An electronic imaging apparatus for taking pictures and storing them on an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image information storing means for storing image information represented by said image signal;    external commands receiving means for receiving various commands from an external device connected with the external commands receiving means via a transmission channel;    executing means for carrying out operations corresponding to said commands; and    a body for accommodating at least the image pick-up means, image information storing means and executing means,    wherein said executing means is for executing a file moving operation for moving file data representative of image information and/or subsidiary information of the image information to a designated destination directory, based on commands received via said external command receiving means.    
   
   
       82 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 65 , comprising: 
 erase operation mode setting means for selectively setting an erase operation mode for the applied storage device, the operation mode set thereupon selected from a plurality of erasing operation modes provided in advance for this apparatus.    
   
   
       83 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 65 , comprising: 
 power source control means for automatically making a power source circuit of this apparatus ready to supply power, in response to reception of a call signal of said information signal received via said communication means.    
   
   
       84 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 83 , wherein said power source control means is for making said power source circuit ready to supply power in response to a reception of a transmission SD signal sent through a network channel from a personal computer as a sender side device.  
   
   
       85 . An electronic imaging apparatus for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an analog image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image data generating means for generating digital image data corresponding to said image signal;    data storing means for storing said image data on said applied storage device in the form of a file organized by a directory or sub-directory;    communication means for transmitting and/or receiving image data or further subsidiary data via a transmission channel connected with a system external to the apparatus and with the communication means;    preceding transmission means for transmitting to the external system data for said directory and/or said subsidiary data relating to a transmission of image information, when a transmitting operation mode is set; and    a body for accommodating at least the image pick-up means, image data generating means and image information storing means.    
   
   
       86 . An electronic imaging apparatus for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an analog image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image data generating means for generating digital image data corresponding to said image signal;    data storing means for storing said image data on said applied storage device in the form of a file organized by a directory or a sub-directory;    communication means for transmitting and/or receiving image data or further subsidiary data via a transmission channel connected with said communication means;    preceding transmission means for transmitting data representative of a capacity reservable for receiving image data, to a sender side device, in anticipation of a reception when a receiving operation mode is set; and    a body for accommodating at least the image pick-up means, image data generating means and image information storing means.    
   
   
       87 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 65 , further comprising: 
 power source control means for executing a power off process for turning off a power source circuit when a communication with another party fails to be held in a predetermined period of time.    
   
   
       88 . An electronic imaging apparatus for storing image data as image data files allocated in an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 determining means for determining a remaining capacity of a file which has a uniform, previously-defined capacity;    dummy data adding means for adding dummy data on image data to be stored, said dummy data being of an amount corresponding to a said remaining capacity so that an administrative uniformity of file size is maintained thereby; and    a body for accommodating at least the determining means and dummy data adding means.    
   
   
       89 . An electronic imaging apparatus for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an analog image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image data generating means for generating digital image data corresponding to said image signal;    data storing means for storing said image data on said applied storage device as a file organized by a directory and a sub-directory;    display for displaying a successive file name for respective images picked-up by said image pick-up means, based on a position of a designated file in said directory; and    a body for accommodating at least the image pick-up means, image data generating means, data storing means and display.    
   
   
       90 . An electronic imaging apparatus according to  claim 89 , further comprising: 
 communication means for transmitting and/or receiving image data or further subsidiary data via a transmission channel connected with the communication means; and    display for displaying a frame name of designated transfer image data.    
   
   
       91 . An electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 an image pick up device constructed to generate and output an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up device;    a writing circuit constructed to receive said image signal and write image information represented by said image signal in the applied storage device;    a communication unit constructed and arranged to transmit to and/or receive image information from a system external to the apparatus while an operation mode of the apparatus is set for communication with a system external to the apparatus; and    a switch operatively connected to said communication unit, said switch adapted to cause said communication unit to start a communication mode operation with a system external to the apparatus.    
   
   
       92 . An electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them on an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 an image pick up device constructed to generate and output an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up device;    a writing circuit constructed to receive said image signal and write image information represented by said image signal in the applied storage device; and    a play back device constructed and arranged to play back an image once photoelectrically converted by said image pick up device to an image signal or further converted to corresponding image data appropriate to said applied storage device, based on an operation of a specific operating mechanism which is usually used for a different purpose for a photographing operation.    
   
   
       93 . An electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them on an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 an image pick up device constructed to generate and output an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up device;    a writing circuit constructed to receive said image signal and write image information represented by said image signal in the applied storage device; and    an external commands receiving device constructed to receive various commands from an external device connected via a transmission channel; and    a controller constructed and arranged to carry out an operation corresponding to at least one of said commands; 
 wherein said controller is for executing a file moving operation for moving file data representative of image information and/or subsidiary information of the image information to a designated destination directory, based on commands received via said external command receiving device.  
   
   
   
       94 . An electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 an image pick up device constructed to generate and output an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up device;    an image data generating device constructed and arranged to generate digital image data corresponding to said image signal;    a data storage unit adapted to store said image data on said applied storage device in the form of a file organized by a directory or a sub directory:    a communication unit constructed and arranged to transmit and/or receive image data or further subsidiary data via a transmission channel connected with a system external to the apparatus and with the communication unit; and    a preceding transmission unit constructed and arranged to transmit to the external system data for said directory and/or said subsidiary data relating to a transmission of image information, when a transmitting operation mode is set.    
   
   
       95 . An electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 an image pick up device constructed to generate and output an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up device;    an image data generating device constructed and arranged to generate digital image data corresponding to said image signal;    a data storage unit adapted to store said image data on said applied storage device in the form of a file organized by a directory or a sub directory;    a communication unit constructed and arranged to transmit and/or receive image data or further subsidiary data via a transmission channel connected with said communication unit; and    a preceding transmission unit constructed and arranged to transmit data representative of a capacity reservable for receiving image data, to a sender side device, in anticipation of a reception when a receiving operation mode is set.    
   
   
       96 . An electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, said apparatus comprising: 
 an image pick up device constructed to generate and output an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up device;    an image data generating device constructed and arranged to generate digital image data corresponding to said image signal;    a data storage unit adapted to store said image data on said applied storage device in the form of a file organized by a directory or a sub directory; and    a display unit constructed and arranged to display a successive file name for respective images picked up by said image pick up device, based on a position of a designated file in said directory.    
   
   
       97 . A control method of an electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device including image pick up means for generating and outputting an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means, image data generating means for generating digital image data corresponding to said image signal, data storing means for storing said image data on said applied storage device and communication means for transmitting and/or receiving image data to/from an external system to the system, 
 wherein the image data is stored in the applied storage device in the form of a file organized by a directory or sub-directory, the image data or further subsidiary data is transmitted and/or received via a transmission channel, which is connected with a system external to the camera system and said directory and/or said subsidiary data relating to a transmission of image information is transmitted preceding to the receipt of the image data transmission of the image data to the external system or the receipt of the image data from the external system.    
   
   
       98 . A control method of an electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device including image pick up means for generating and outputting an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means, image data generating means for generating digital image data corresponding to said image signal, data storing means for storing said image data on said applied storage device and communication means for transmitting and/or receiving image data to/from an external system to the camera system, 
 wherein the image data is stored in the applied storage device in the form of a file organized by a directory or sub-directly, the image data or further subsidiary data is transmitted and/or received via a transmission channel which is connected with a system external to the system and the data representative of a capacity of receipt by the electronic camera system is transmitted before the image data is received from the external system when the electronic system is set to the receiving operation mode.    
   
   
       99 . An electronic camera system for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an analog image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image data generating means for generating digital image data corresponding to said image signal;    data storing means for storing said image data on said applied storage device in the form of a file organized by a directory or sub-directory;    communication means for transmitting and/or receiving image data or further subsidiary data via a transmission channel connected with a system external to the system and with the communication means;    wherein data for said directory or sub-directory and/or said subsidiary data relating to a transmission of image information is transmitted preceding to transmission of the image data to the external system, when a transmitting operation mode is set.    
   
   
       100 . An electronic imaging apparatus for taking pictures and storing them in an applied storage device, comprising: 
 image pick-up means for generating and outputting an analog image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident on the image pick-up means;    image data generating means for generating digital image data corresponding to said image signal;    data storing means for storing said image data on said applied storage device in the form of a file organized by a directory or sub-directory;    communication means for transmitting and/or receiving image data or further subsidiary data via a transmission channel connected with a system external to the system and with the communication means; and    a body for accommodating at least the image pick-up means, image data generating means and image information storing means;    wherein data for said directory or sub-directory and/or said subsidiary data relating to a transmission of image information is transmitted preceding to transmission of the image data to the external system, when a transmitting operation mode is set.