Digital image storage system that deletes images from digital camera memory after tramsmission and storage in external storage medium

Abstract

A digital image storage system includes a digital camera having a memory storing digital images, a docking station on which the digital camera can be placed for transmitting one or more of the digital images from the memory of the digital camera, and a data storage separate from the docking station and having a storage medium that stores digital images transmitted from the memory of the digital camera through the docking station. A controller communicates with the data storage and the digital camera while the digital camera is placed on the docking station, and causes digital images stored in the memory of the digital camera to be deleted from the memory after being successfully transmitted from the memory and stored in the storage medium of the data storage. The controller does not delete from the memory digital images protected against deletion.

1 . A digital image storage system comprising:
 a digital camera having a memory capable of storing digital images;   a docking station on which the digital camera can be placed for use in transmitting one or more of the digital images from the memory of the digital camera;   a data storage separate from the docking station and having a storage medium that stores the digital images that have been transmitted from the memory of the digital camera through the docking station; and   a controller in communication with the data storage and the digital camera while the digital camera is placed on the docking station, and that causes the digital images stored in the memory of the digital camera to be deleted from the memory after being successfully transmitted from the memory and stored in the storage medium of the data storage, the digital images being deleted from the memory based on a signal supplied from the data storage,   wherein the controller does not delete from the memory digital images protected against deletion.   
   
   
       2 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller does not delete a digital image from the memory of the digital camera when the digital image is incompletely stored in the storage medium. 
   
   
       3 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 2 , wherein a digital image is incompletely stored in the storage medium of the data storage when the digital camera is removed from the docking station in the course of a transferring operation by which the digital camera transmits the digital image to the storage medium through the docking station. 
   
   
       4 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller does not delete a digital image protected against a deletion even if the protected digital image is completely transmitted from the memory of the digital camera and stored in the storage medium. 
   
   
       5 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is a controller housed by the data storage. 
   
   
       6 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein the digital images stored in the memory of the camera are not deleted unless all of the digital images are completely transferred from the memory and stored in the storage medium of the data storage. 
   
   
       7 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein the digital images stored in the memory of the camera are deleted one-by-one after each respective one of the digital images is completely transferred from the memory and stored in the storage medium of the data storage. 
   
   
       8 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein the docking station includes a docking station connector that is removably connectable to a camera connector of the digital camera to transmit the digital images from the memory of the digital camera to the data storage while the digital camera is placed on the docking station. 
   
   
       9 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein the docking station has a shape to fit a bottom of the digital camera. 
   
   
       10 . A digital image storage system comprising:
 a digital camera having a memory capable of storing digital images;   a docking station on which the digital camera can be placed for use in transmitting one or more of the digital images from the memory of the digital camera;   a data storage separate from the docking station and having a storage medium that stores the digital images that have been transmitted from the memory of the digital camera to the data storage while the digital camera and the data storage are in communication with each other through the docking station; and   a controller that communicates with the digital camera and the data storage while the digital camera and the data storage are in communication with each other through the docking station, wherein the controller causes a digital image in the memory of the digital camera to be deleted from the memory of the digital camera if the digital image has been completely transmitted to and stored in the storage medium of the data storage, and the controller does not cause a digital image to be deleted from the memory of the digital camera if the digital image has been incompletely transmitted to and stored in the storage medium of the data storage, the digital image being deleted from the memory based on a signal supplied from the data storage,   wherein the controller does not delete from the memory a digital image protected against deletion.   
   
   
       11 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 10 , wherein the controller distinguishes the incompletely transmitted and stored digital image from the completely transmitted and stored digital image in the storage medium. 
   
   
       12 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller makes the incompletely transmitted and stored digital image in the storage medium ineffective. 
   
   
       13 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 12 , wherein the controller deletes the incompletely transmitted and stored digital image from the storage medium. 
   
   
       14 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 10 , wherein the controller is a controller housed by the data storage. 
   
   
       15 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 10 , wherein the digital images stored in the memory of the camera are deleted one-by-one after each respective one of the digital images is completely transferred from the memory and stored in the storage medium of the data storage. 
   
   
       16 . The digital image storage system according to  claim 10 , wherein the docking station has a shape to fit a bottom of the digital camera. 
   
   
       17 . A computer-readable recording medium that stores a computer program executable by a controller of a digital image storage for use with a digital camera having a memory, digital images in the memory being transmitted from the memory to the digital image storage by way of a docking station capable of being coupled with the digital camera, the computer program comprising instructions to cause the controller to perform the steps of:
 storing the digital images that have been transmitted from the memory of the digital camera through the docking station in a storage medium of the digital image storage; and   causing the digital images stored in the memory of the digital camera to be deleted from the memory after being successfully transmitted from the memory and stored in the storage medium of the digital image storage, the digital images being deleted from the memory based on a signal supplied from the digital image storage, wherein digital images protected against deletion are not deleted from the memory.   
   
   
       18 . A computer-readable recording medium that stores a computer program executable by a controller of a digital image storage for use with a digital camera having a memory, digital images in the memory being transmitted from the memory to the digital image storage by way of a docking station capable of being coupled with the digital camera, the computer program comprising instructions to cause the controller to perform the steps of:
 storing the digital images that have been transmitted from the memory of the digital camera in a storage medium of the digital image storage while the digital camera and the digital image storage are in communication with each other through the docking station; and   causing a digital image in the memory of the digital camera to be deleted from the memory of the digital camera if the digital image has been completely transmitted to and stored in the storage medium of the digital image storage, and not causing a digital image to be deleted from the memory of the digital camera if the digital image has been incompletely transmitted to and stored in the storage medium of the digital image storage, the digital image being deleted from the memory based on a signal supplied from the digital image storage, wherein a digital image protected against deletion is not deleted from the memory.