Imaging apparatus and control method configured to authenticate a user

Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes a registration unit configured to register an ID tag, a detection unit configured to detect an ID tag within a detection area and a determination unit configured to determine if the ID tag detected by the detection unit is registered. The imaging apparatus further includes an operation member configured to execute a predetermined operation, and a control unit configured to prevent execution of the predetermined operation even if the operation member is operated, in cases where the ID tag detected by the detection unit is not registered in the registration unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 an image capture unit that captures an image;   a storage unit that stores image data corresponding to the captured image in a storage medium;   a detection unit that performs a process of detecting a wireless device; and   a control unit that (a) determines whether or not a detected wireless device is a registered device, and (b) changes a mode of the imaging apparatus to a power saving mode to reduce power consumption if the detected wireless device is not determined as the registered device within a period of time.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit (a) enables the imaging apparatus to store the image data corresponding to the captured image in the storage medium if the detected wireless device is determined as the registered device, and (b) controls the imaging apparatus not to capture an image if the detected wireless device is not determined as the registered device. 
     
     
         3 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit enables the imaging apparatus to store the image data corresponding to the captured image in the storage medium if the detected wireless device is determined as the registered device. 
     
     
         4 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the imaging apparatus not to capture an image if the detected wireless device is not determined as the registered device. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage medium is detachable from the imaging apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the imaging apparatus includes an electronic camera. 
     
     
         7 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the detected wireless device determined as the registered device is a wireless device which includes an identification device. 
     
     
         8 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the registered device is a device which is registered in a registration unit included in the imaging apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 controlling an imaging apparatus to capture an image;   storing image data corresponding to the captured image in a storage medium;   controlling the imaging apparatus to perform a process of detecting a wireless device;   determining whether or not a detected wireless device is a registered device; and   changing a mode of the imaging apparatus to a power saving mode to reduce power consumption if the detected wireless device is not determined as the registered device within a period of time.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 enabling the imaging apparatus to store the image data corresponding to the captured image in the storage medium if the detected wireless device is determined as the registered device; and   controlling the imaging apparatus not to capture an image if the detected wireless device is not determined as the registered device.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising enabling the imaging apparatus to store the image data corresponding to the captured image in the storage medium if the detected wireless device is determined as the registered device. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising controlling the imaging apparatus not to capture an image if the detected wireless device is not determined as the registered device. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the storage medium is detachable from the imaging apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the imaging apparatus includes an electronic camera. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the detected wireless device determined as the registered device is a wireless device which includes an identification device. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the registered device is a device which is registered in a registration unit included in the imaging apparatus.