Image saving apparatus, image transfer apparatus and image transmission apparatus

Abstract

An image transfer system configured with an image transmission apparatus, an image transfer apparatus and the image saving apparatus. The image transmission apparatus transmits image data recorded in a storage medium to the image transfer apparatus. The image transfer apparatus receives the image data, records the image data into a first storage device and transfers the image data to the image saving apparatus in response to a request issued from the image saving apparatus. The image saving apparatus receives the image data and records the image data into a second storage device. The image saving apparatus includes: the second storage device; a communication unit; a recording control unit for controlling read/write of management information; a request receiving unit from a user; a decision-making unit as to whether or not target image data are recorded; an image requesting unit for the target image data; and an image recording unit.

1 . An image saving apparatus in an image transfer system configured with an image transmission apparatus, an image transfer apparatus and the image saving apparatus, wherein:
 the image transmission apparatus transmits image data recorded in a storage medium to the image transfer apparatus, the image transfer apparatus receives the image data transmitted from the image transmission apparatus, records the image data into a first storage device and transfers the image data to the image saving apparatus in response to a request issued from the image saving apparatus, and the image saving apparatus receives the image data transmitted from the image transfer apparatus and records the image data into a second storage device; and   the image saving apparatus, comprising:   the second storage device;   a communication unit engaged in communication with the image transfer apparatus;   a recording control unit for controlling read and write at the second storage device of management information indicating whether or not each set of image data is recorded in the storage medium and in the first storage device;   a request receiving unit for receiving an image transfer request from a user;   a decision-making unit for making a decision as to whether or not target image data, a request for which has been received at the request receiving unit, are recorded in the first storage device by referencing the management information read via the recording control unit;   an image requesting unit for issuing a transmission request for the target image data to the image transfer apparatus via the communication unit if the decision-making unit determines that the target image data are recorded in the first storage device, and issuing a transmission request for the target image data to the image transmission apparatus via the image transfer apparatus engaged in communication with the communication unit if the decision-making unit determines that the target image data are not recorded in the first storage device; and   an image recording unit for recording image data received via the communication unit based upon a request issued by the image requesting unit into the second storage device.   
   
   
       2 . An image transfer apparatus in an image transfer system configured with an image transmission apparatus, the image transfer apparatus and an image saving apparatus, wherein:
 the image transmission apparatus transmits image data recorded in a storage medium to the image transfer apparatus, the image transfer apparatus receives the image data transmitted from the image transmission apparatus, records the image data into a first storage device and transfers the image data to the image saving apparatus in response to a request issued from the image saving apparatus, and the image saving apparatus receives the image data transmitted from the image transfer apparatus and records the image data into a second storage device; and   the image transfer apparatus, comprising:   the first storage device;   a first communication unit engaged in communication with the image transmission apparatus;   a second communication unit engaged in communication with the image saving apparatus;   an image data recording control unit for recording image data received from the image transmission apparatus via the first communication unit into the first storage device;   a recording control unit for controlling read and write at the first storage device of management information indicating whether or not each set of image data is recorded in the storage medium and in the first storage device;   a request receiving unit for receiving an image data transmission request from the image saving apparatus via the second communication unit;   a decision-making unit for making a decision as to whether or not target image data, a request for which has been received at the request receiving unit, are recorded in the first storage device by referencing the management information read via the recording control unit; and   an image transmission unit for reading out the target image data from the first storage device and transmitting the target image data to the image saving apparatus via the second communication unit if the decision-making unit determines that the target image data are recorded in the first storage device, and issuing a transmission request for the target image data to the image transmission apparatus via the first communication unit and transmitting the image data received from the image transmission apparatus to the image saving transmission apparatus via the second communication unit if the decision-making unit determines that the target image data are not recorded in the first storage device.   
   
   
       3 . An image transmission apparatus in an image transfer system configured with the image transmission apparatus, an image transfer apparatus and an image saving apparatus, wherein:
 the image transmission apparatus transmits image data recorded in a storage medium to the image transfer apparatus, the image transfer apparatus receives the image data transmitted from the image transmission apparatus, records the image data into a first storage device and transfers the image data to the image saving apparatus in response to a request issued from the image saving apparatus, and the image saving apparatus receives the image data transmitted from the image transfer apparatus and records the image data into a second storage device; and   the image transmission apparatus, comprising:   a communication unit engaged in communication with the image transfer apparatus;   an image transmission unit for transmitting image data recorded in the storage medium to the image transfer apparatus via the communication unit;   a recording control unit for controlling read and write at the storage medium of management information indicating whether or not each set of image data is recorded in the storage medium and in the first storage device;   a request receiving unit for receiving an image data transmission request issued from the image saving apparatus via the image transfer apparatus engaged in communication with the communication unit;   a decision-making unit for making a decision as to whether or not target image data, a request for which has been received at the request receiving unit, are recorded in the first storage device by referencing the management information read via the recording control unit; and   an image providing unit for issuing a transmission instruction to the image transfer apparatus via the communication unit for transmitting the target image data to the image saving apparatus if the decision-making unit determines that the target image data are recorded in the first storage device, and reading out the target image data from the storage medium and transmitting the target image data to the image saving apparatus via the image transfer apparatus engaged in communication with the communication unit if the decision-making unit determines that the target image data are not recorded in the first storage device.   
   
   
       4 . An image saving apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 if an available capacity at the first storage device is less than a data size of image data transmitted from the image transmission apparatus, the image transfer apparatus deletes at least one set of image data recorded in the first storage device so as to secure within the first storage device sufficient memory space corresponding to the data size.   
   
   
       5 . An image transfer apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an available capacity decision-making unit for making a decision upon receiving image data from the image transmission apparatus as to whether or not an available capacity at the first storage device is equal to or greater than a data size of the image data received from the image transmission apparatus; and   a deleting unit for deleting at least one set of image data recorded in the first storage device so as to secure within the first storage device sufficient memory space corresponding to the data size if the available capacity decision-making unit determines that the available capacity is less than the data size.   
   
   
       6 . An image transmission apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 if an available capacity at the first storage device is less than a data size of image data transmitted from the image transmission apparatus, the image transfer apparatus deletes at least one set of image data recorded in the first storage device so as to secure within the first storage device sufficient memory space corresponding to the data size.   
   
   
       7 . An image saving apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display unit for displaying a view of display images, each being a display image generated based upon image data and received from the image transfer apparatus;   an image presence decision-making unit for making a decision by referencing the management information read via the recording control unit as to whether or not corresponding image data corresponding to the display image displayed at the display unit are recorded in the storage medium and in the first storage device; and   an erasing unit for erasing the display image, from the view, related to the corresponding image data determined by the image presence decision-making unit to be not present in the recording medium or in the first storage device.   
   
   
       8 . An image transfer apparatus according to  claim 2 , engaged in operation in conjunction with the image saving apparatus, at which a view of display images, each being a display image generated based upon image data and received from the image transfer apparatus, is displayed, further comprising:
 an image presence decision-making unit for making a decision by referencing the management information read via the recording control unit when image data have been deleted from the first storage device as to whether or not image data identical to the deleted image data are recorded in the storage medium; and   an erasure instruction unit for issuing an erase instruction to the image saving apparatus for erasing the display image corresponding to the deleted image data if the image presence decision-making unit determines that image data identical to the deleted image data are not recorded in the storage medium.   
   
   
       9 . An image transmission apparatus according to  claim 3 , engaged in operation in conjunction with the image saving apparatus, at which a view of display, each being a display image generated based upon image data and received from the image transfer apparatus, is displayed, further comprising:
 an image presence decision-making unit for making a decision by referencing the management information read via the recording control unit when image data have been deleted from the storage medium as to whether or not image data identical to the deleted image data are recorded in the first storage device; and   an erasure instruction unit for issuing an erase instruction to the image saving apparatus for erasing a display image corresponding to the deleted image data if the image presence decision-making unit determines that image data identical to the deleted image data are not recorded in the first storage device.   
   
   
       10 . An image saving apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an updating unit for updating the management information if image data are added to the storage medium, if image data are added to the first storage device, if image data are deleted from the storage medium, if image data are deleted from the first storage device, if the storage medium is initialized, if the first storage device is initialized or if the storage medium is disengaged from the image transmission apparatus.   
   
   
       11 . An image transfer apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an updating unit for updating the management information if image data are added to the storage medium, if image data are added to the first storage device, if image data are deleted from the storage medium, if image data are deleted from the first storage device, if the storage medium is initialized, if the first storage device is initialized or if the storage medium is disengaged from the image transmission apparatus.   
   
   
       12 . An image transmission apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an updating unit for updating the management information if image data are added to the storage medium, if image data are added to the first storage device, if image data are deleted from the storage medium, if image data are deleted from the first storage device, if the storage medium is initialized, if the first storage device is initialized or if the storage medium is disengaged from the image transmission apparatus.   
   
   
       13 . An image saving apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an updating unit for updating the management information when the image saving apparatus receives list data listing the image data stored in the first storage device.   
   
   
       14 . An image saving apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 following an update of the management information, if the image presence decision making unit determines, based upon the management information that the corresponding image data are recorded in at least either the storage medium or the first storage device and the display image for the corresponding image data is not displayed in the view, the display unit receives the display image from the image transfer apparatus and displays the display image in the view.   
   
   
       15 . An image transfer apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 following an interruption in communication via the second communication unit, if an available capacity at the first storage device is less than a data size of image data transmitted by the image transmission apparatus, the image data recording control unit aborts recording of the image data received from the image transmission apparatus via the first communication unit into the first storage device.   
   
   
       16 . An image transmission apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 based upon an image data transmission prohibition notice issued from the image transfer apparatus, the image transmission unit prohibits transmission of image data recorded in the storage medium to the image transfer apparatus via the communication unit.