Image storing apparatus, control method for image storing apparatus, and control program for image storing apparatus

Abstract

In an image storing apparatus (photostorage), files are enabled to be certainly copied (or moved) without overlapping by the fairly simple operation. When image data is read out of a recording medium connected through a slot and stored into a high capacity storage unit, a management table in which a unique ID of the recording medium and the maximum value of file IDs of image files stored in the recording medium have been associated is used and the image files having the file IDs larger than the maximum value of the file IDs corresponding to the unique ID of the recording medium in the management table are read out and stored into the high capacity storage unit. The file ID is formed by combining a directory number and a file number in the DCF standard.

1 . An image storing apparatus comprising: 
 a high capacity storage unit;    interface means adapted to connect a recording medium or an external apparatus in which image data has been stored;    a management table in which a unique ID of said recording medium or said external apparatus and a maximum value of file IDs of image files stored in the recording medium or the external apparatus are held in association with each other; and    control means adapted to control in such a manner that when the image data is read out of the recording medium or the external apparatus through said interface means and stored into said high capacity storage unit, the image files having the file IDs larger than the maximum value of the file IDs corresponding to the unique ID of the recording medium or the external apparatus in said management table are read out and stored into said high capacity storage unit.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said file ID is formed by combining a directory number and a file number in a DCF standard.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the unique ID of said recording medium or a serial number or an apparatus unique address of said external apparatus is used as said unique ID.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a unique value X is formed every said recording medium, the file including said value X is written into the recording medium, and when the recording medium is mounted into the storing apparatus at the next or subsequent time, said file is read, the value X is obtained, and said value X is used as said unique ID of the recording medium.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein when said recording medium or said external apparatus which does not have the unique ID in said management table is connected to said interface means, an entry in which the unique ID of the recording medium or the external apparatus and the maximum value of the file IDs of the image files stored in the recording medium or the external apparatus have been associated is newly formed in said management table.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein in the case where said recording medium or said external apparatus which has the unique ID in said management table is connected to said interface means, when the image data is read out of the recording medium or the external apparatus and stored into said high capacity storage unit, an entry in which the maximum value of the file IDs of the image files stored in the recording medium or the external apparatus has been associated and which has been stored in said management table in correspondence to the unique ID of the recording medium or the external apparatus is updated.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein when the image data is read out of the recording medium or the external apparatus and stored into said high capacity storage unit, the file read out of the recording medium is recorded into a directory which has a name including the unique ID of the recording medium or the external apparatus and which has been formed in the high capacity storage unit.  
   
   
       8 . A control method for an image storing apparatus which has a high capacity storage unit and interface means adapted to connect a recording medium or an external apparatus in which image data has been stored, reads out the image data from the recording medium or the external apparatus through said interface means, and stores said image data into said high capacity storage unit, wherein 
 a management table in which a unique ID of said recording medium or said external apparatus and a maximum value of file IDs of image files stored in the recording medium or the external apparatus are held in association with each other is used, and when the image data is read out of the recording medium or the external apparatus through said interface means and stored into said high capacity storage unit, the image files having the file IDs larger than the maximum value of the file IDs corresponding to the unique ID of the recording medium or the external apparatus in said management table are read out and stored into said high capacity storage unit.    
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein said file ID is formed by combining a directory number and a file number in a DCF standard.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the unique ID of said recording medium or a serial number or an apparatus unique address of said external apparatus is used as said unique ID.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein a unique value X is formed every said recording medium, the file including said value X is written into the recording medium, and when the recording medium is mounted into the storing apparatus at the next or subsequent time, said file is read, the value X is obtained, and said value X is used as said unique ID of the recording medium.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein when said recording medium or said external apparatus which does not have the unique ID in said management table is connected to said interface means, an entry in which the unique ID of the recording medium or the external apparatus and the maximum value of the file IDs of the image files stored in the recording medium or the external apparatus have been associated is newly formed in said management table.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein in the case where said recording medium or said external apparatus which has the unique ID in said management table is connected to said interface means, when the image data is read out of the recording medium or the external apparatus and stored into said high capacity storage unit, an entry in which the maximum value of the file IDs of the image files stored in the recording medium or the external apparatus has been associated and which has been stored in said management table in correspondence to the unique ID of the recording medium or the external apparatus is updated.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein when the image data is read out of the recording medium or the external apparatus and stored into said high capacity storage unit, the file read out of the recording medium is recorded into a directory which has a name including the unique ID of the recording medium or the external apparatus and which has been formed in the high capacity storage unit.  
   
   
       15 . A control program for an image storing apparatus, wherein members constructing said image storing apparatus are controlled so as to embody a control method for the image storing apparatus according to  claim 8.