Image pickup apparatus and control method therefor

Abstract

This invention allows a user to easily classify and manage image files by recording an image file obtained by image capture and an image file obtained by being received from an external apparatus in different folders. For this purpose, a system control unit which controls an overall digital camera determines whether the latest image data stored in a storage medium is image data captured in an image pickup mode or image data received in a communication mode which allows communication with the outside. The system control unit then determines whether the current mode is the image pickup mode or the mode which allows reception. If the current mode coincides with neither of the two modes, since it indicates that the source of the image data to be saved in a storage medium differs from the source of the latest saved image data, the system control unit turns on a folder creation flag for the creation of a folder.

1 . An image pickup apparatus including a communication unit, which communicates with an external apparatus, comprising:
 a mode selection unit which selects an image capture mode using an image pickup unit or a communication mode using the communication unit;   a storing and holding unit which stores and holds information for discriminating whether the latest image data stored in a storage medium is image data obtained in the image pickup mode or image data obtained in the communication mode;   a determination unit which determines whether to create a new folder, by comparing a current mode selected by said mode selection unit with a mode in which the latest image data is stored in said storing and holding unit; and   a file management unit which creates a new folder in the storage medium when image data to be stored in the storage medium is obtained in one of the modes and said determination unit determines that a new folder is to be created, stores the image data as a file in the new folder, and if said determination unit determines not to create a new folder, stores the image data as a file in an existing folder in the storage medium.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a notify unit adapted to notify a user that a new folder will be created in response to acquisition of a new image to be stored, if said determination unit determines that a new folder is created. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said notify unit displays, on a display unit of the pickup apparatus, an icon indicating that a new folder will be created. 
   
   
       4 . A control method for an image pickup apparatus including a communication unit, which communicates with an external apparatus, comprising:
 a mode selection step of selecting an image pickup mode using an image pickup unit or a communication mode using the communication unit;   a determination step of determining whether to create a new folder, by referring to a storing and holding unit, which stores and holds information for determining whether the latest image data stored in a storage medium is image data obtained in the image pickup mode or image data obtained in the communication mode, and comparing the mode in which the latest image data is stored with the current mode determined in the mode selection step; and   a file management step of creating a new folder in the storage medium when image data to be stored in the storage medium is obtained in one of the modes and it is determined in the determination step that a new folder is to be created, storing the image data as a file in the new folder, and if it is determined in the determination step that a new folder is not to be created, storing the image data as a file in an existing folder in the storage medium.