JP2000278550A - Image data transfer device, image data management device and image data management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image data transfer device without the need of the activation of an application, transfer indications and the imparting of a file name, etc., for image data transfer. SOLUTION: When the image data management device recognizes the connection of this image data transfer device, the command of the fact that it is recognized is transmitted (step S42). In response to it, the image data transfer device issues an automatic transfer start request command (step S43). The image data management device issues a transmission permission command for responding to the automatic transfer start request command and automatic transfer is started.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data transfer apparatus such as a digital camera for transferring image data to an image management apparatus such as a personal computer (PC) and image data for efficiently managing and storing received image data. The present invention relates to a management device and an image data management system including the image data transfer device and the image data management device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image recording device such as a digital camera is connected to an image storage management device such as a PC which can store and manage image data, and image data in the image recording device is stored as an image. There is a system in which image data is transferred to a management device and stored and managed there.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. First, the user needs to connect the digital camera to the PC, set the digital camera to a mode in which data can be transferred, and in that state, start the application for connecting to the digital camera and transferring data on the PC. was there. In addition, the application has to specify a management method of the acquired data, for example, a file name and a folder name each time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image data transfer apparatus which does not require the start of an application for image data transfer, a transfer instruction, and the assignment of a file name, which are conventionally required. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image data management device capable of automatically classifying and storing received image data under predetermined conditions.

[0005]

That is, the gist of the present invention is to provide an image data transfer apparatus having an internal storage means for storing image data and an interface means capable of communicating with other devices. First connection recognition means for detecting that an external device has been connected, and when the first connection recognition means recognizes the connection of the external device, issues a transfer request for image data to the external device whose connection has been detected. An image data transfer apparatus characterized by having a transfer request issuing means for performing a transfer request and a data transfer means for starting transfer of image data when the transfer request is permitted.

Another aspect of the present invention is an image data transfer apparatus having an internal storage means for storing image data, and an interface means capable of communicating with another device.
A first connection recognition means for detecting that an external device is connected to the interface means; a command input means; Second transfer request issuing means for issuing a transfer request for image data to the device;
Data transfer means for starting transfer of image data when the transfer request is permitted; an interface capable of communicating with an external device; a second connection recognition means for detecting that the external device has been connected to the interface; Image data management apparatus, comprising: a classifying unit that performs predetermined naming on image data transferred from an external device and classifies the image data under predetermined conditions, and a storage unit that stores the transferred image data. Exists.

Another aspect of the present invention is an image data management system including an image data transfer device and an image data management device which are detachable from each other. Internal storage means for storing; (b) connection recognition means for recognizing connection with the image data management device; and (c) in a state where predetermined settings are made.
When the connection recognition unit recognizes the connection with the image data device,
Transfer request issuing means for issuing a transfer request for image data to the image data management device; and (d) data transfer means for starting transfer of image data when receiving a transfer permission command corresponding to the transfer request from the image data management device. The image data management device comprises: (a) a command issuing unit for issuing a transfer permission command when receiving a transfer request from the image data transfer device; and (b) an image data transfer device corresponding to the transfer permission command. Classification means for receiving the transferred image data, performing predetermined naming on the received image data, and classifying the received image data under predetermined conditions, and (c) storage means for storing the transferred image data. Image data management system.

Another aspect of the present invention is a storage medium for storing a program that can be executed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus that has executed the program is stored in an image data transfer apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention. A storage medium characterized by functioning as a data management device or an image data monitoring system.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Configuration of Image Data Management System) FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a device configuration capable of implementing an image data management system according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 301 denotes a computer main body which is, for example, a general-purpose personal computer; 302, a display connected to the computer main body 301;
03 is a mouse which is a typical pointing device,
304 is a mouse button, and 305 is a keyboard. Reference numeral 307 denotes a digital camera connectable to the computer main body 301, which includes a bidirectional serial interface 306 and a USB (universal serial
Bus) and other general-purpose interfaces capable of data transfer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of hardware and software according to the present embodiment and their interrelationships. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 509 denotes hardware, reference numeral 505 denotes an operating system (OS) that operates on the hardware 509, and reference numeral 504 denotes application software that operates on the OS 505. In FIG. 2, components that are naturally included as components of the hardware 509 and the OS 505 but are not directly needed for describing the present embodiment are not shown. As an example of such a component not shown, the hardware includes a CPU,
The memory and the OS include a memory management system and the like.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 515 denotes a hard disk for storing files and data, and 508, a file system constituting an OS, which has a function of enabling application software to input and output files without directly controlling hardware. Reference numeral 514 denotes a disk I / O interface for the file system 508 to read from and write to the hard disk 515. 507 is O
The drawing management system included in S has a function that enables the application software to perform drawing without directly controlling hardware.

Reference numeral 513 denotes a video interface for the drawing management system 507 to draw on the display 302. Reference numeral 506 denotes an input device management system included in the OS, which has a function of enabling application software to receive a user's input without directly controlling hardware. In this, U
A USB host system serving as a host when using the SB device is also included.

Reference numeral 510 denotes an input device management system 506.
A mouse interface 512 is a keyboard interface for receiving input from the keyboard 305, and a mouse interface for enabling the input device management system 506 to receive input from the mouse 303. Furthermore, the digital camera 307
Is connected to a 516 bidirectional serial interface or USB interface, and can exchange image data and the like through a 506 input device management system. The 521 input / output device command monitoring system monitors a command issued from an external device such as a camera, and performs a process associated with the command, which is set in advance according to the type of the command.

Reference numeral 501 denotes a digital camera host application, and reference numeral 502 denotes data management means for managing image data by a creation date, a shooting date, a keyword, and the like. A data display unit 503 displays the managed image data. A data registration unit 520 automatically determines the attribute of newly registered data and registers the data in an application.

In this system, data transfer with a digital camera is performed by a digital camera host application 501. Then, the transferred image data is stored in the hard disk 515 of the computer main body 301 by the data registration unit 520.

(Configuration of Digital Camera) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera 307. In FIG. 3, components which are naturally included as constituent elements but are not directly necessary for describing the embodiment of the present invention are not shown.

In FIG. 3, an imaging unit 401 includes a lens, a CCD, and an image processing device, and outputs a captured image as image data (for example, JPEG data). Also, thumbnail image data which is a reduced image of the photographed image is generated at the same time. In the digital camera of the present system, in addition to photographing an image, sound can be recorded, and the recording unit 402 outputs the recording data (for example, WAVE format data).

The auxiliary storage device 403 includes an image pickup unit 401
In this embodiment, a compact flash memory card is used as a removable recording medium. An interface 404 connects the digital camera to the computer.
It is connected using an SB interface and a USB cable. The control unit 405 is a digital camera 3
07 for controlling the entire operation.

Reference numeral 406 denotes a transfer button. In this embodiment, when this button is pressed, automatic image data transfer to the computer main body 301 as an image management device starts. A display unit 407 displays image data from the imaging unit on a display screen such as a liquid crystal panel provided in the digital camera, and displays a menu for setting the digital camera.

FIG. 4 is an external view of the digital camera 307 according to the present embodiment. 3071 is a menu button,
When this button is pressed, a menu for performing various camera settings is displayed on the display screen 3070. The user can change the settings of the digital camera 307 by operating the operation buttons 3072. When the transfer button 406 is pressed while the camera is connected to the computer main body 301, automatic transfer described later is started.

(Transfer processing of digital camera image data)
Next, data transfer performed between the digital camera 307 and the computer main body 301 in the present embodiment will be described. First, the operation from when the connection between the computer main body 301 and the digital camera 307 is established until automatic transfer is performed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the data transfer operation.

As described above, in the image data management system according to the present embodiment, it is assumed that the USB which is a general-purpose interface is used as an interface between the digital camera and the computer main body 301. First,
When the camera and the computer main body 301 are connected using a USB cable, the input device management system 506 of the OS 505 detects the connection. Thus, the computer main body 301 recognizes that the digital camera has been connected as a USB client (step S4).
1).

Next, the input device management system 506
Issue a command to the digital camera which is a USB client. By receiving this command, the digital camera recognizes that it has been connected to the computer main body 301 as a USB client, and enters a data transfer mode (step S4).
2).

When recognizing that the digital camera 307 is connected to the computer main body 301, the digital camera 307 checks the setting of the automatic transfer mode from among the setting items held in the camera (step S43). This mode is displayed by selecting the automatic transfer setting menu screen 3080 displayed on the camera display screen 3070 shown in FIG. 6 or the menu (not shown) of the digital camera host application 501 shown in FIG. Camera setting screen 3081
In the present embodiment, the automatic transfer mode to be set is "PC (computer body) 30".
There are two modes: a mode in which all images are transferred at the same time as the connection with No. 1 (radio button 3084 or 3087) and a mode in which all images are transferred when the transfer button is pressed (radio button 3085 or 3088).

The setting of the mode is exclusive, and only one of them can be selected. Setting screen 3080 of camera 307
Is provided with a check box 3089 for setting whether or not the image data in the camera 307 is to be deleted after being transferred, in addition to the radio buttons 3087 and 3088 for mode selection. When the setting screen 3080 is closed, the settings at that time are set in the camera.

The camera application screen 3081 shown in FIG. 7 is controlled by the host application 501 so that it can be displayed only when the camera 307 and the computer main body 301 are connected and communicable. Specifically, the menu for displaying the camera setting screen is valid only when the camera 307 is connected and in a communicable state. In the camera setting screen 3081, in addition to radio buttons 3084 and 3085 for setting the automatic transfer mode, an owner setting area 3082 for setting the owner name of the camera, a date and time setting area 3083 for setting the clock inside the camera 307,
Check box 3086 and three buttons 3090-
3092 are provided. Check box 3086
Is the check box 30 on the camera setting screen 3080
It has the same function as 89.

OK button 3090 or update button 3
092 is selected by the mouse 303 or the keyboard 305 and pressed (meaning a click of the mouse button 304 or a press of a predetermined key such as an enter key on the keyboard).
When the same is used hereinafter, the values set in the respective areas (including radio buttons and check boxes; also used in the same meaning in the following description) of the camera setting screen 3081 are transferred to the camera 307. And is set in an internal nonvolatile memory or the like.

In step S43 of FIG. 5, the digital camera 307 checks the automatic transfer mode setting. If the digital camera 307 is set to the mode of "transfer all images simultaneously with connection to the computer main body 301", the flow advances to step S44. Perform automatic transfer processing. On the other hand, if the mode is set to “transfer all images when the transfer button is pressed”, the process ends.

In step S44, the digital camera 30
7 issues a data transfer start request command to the computer main body 301. In the computer main unit 301, the input / output device command monitoring system 521 included in the OS 505 receives via the input device management system 506 also included in the OS 505, and according to this command, the digital camera host application 501 set in advance is transmitted to the computer. to start. Upon issuing the command, the digital camera 307 waits for a command from the application (step S45).

When the host application 501 started in response to the command of the digital camera 307 starts normally and is ready to receive data, the digital camera 3
07, a transmission permission command is issued. Upon receiving the transmission permission command, the digital camera 307 proceeds to step S46, and displays a message indicating that the automatic transfer process is being performed (for example, “automatic transfer”) on the liquid crystal display screen 3070.

In step S47, it is checked whether or not there is image data in the camera that has not been transferred to the computer body 301. If there is image data that has not yet been transferred to the computer main body 301, data transfer to the computer main body 301 is performed in step S48. At this time,
The digital camera host application 501 started on the computer main body 301 automatically manages and stores image data from the digital camera. Details of management and storage of image data by the host application will be described later.

When all the image data has been transferred, the process moves from step S47 to step S49, and the digital camera 3
07 sends a transfer end command to the computer main body 301. In step S410, it is determined whether the automatically transferred data is automatically deleted from the auxiliary storage device 403 in the camera. This is an item set by the above-described camera automatic transfer setting menu screen 3080 or the check box 3089 or 3086 of the camera setting screen 3081 activated from the application menu shown in FIG.

As a result of checking the settings, the automatically transferred image is automatically stored in the auxiliary storage device 40 in the digital camera.
If the mode has not been set to delete from step 3, the process proceeds to step S412, and if the mode has been set, the process proceeds to step S412.
At 411, the image automatically transferred from the auxiliary storage device 403 in the camera is deleted. Thereby, the free space of the auxiliary storage device in the camera is automatically recovered. Step S4
In step 12, a message indicating the end of the transfer process (for example, “automatic transfer end”) is displayed on the display screen 3070 of the camera, and a message that a series of processes has been completed is displayed.

The process from step S44 in FIG. 5 is performed by using the transfer button 40 provided on the digital camera body.
6 is also performed by pressing. In this case, when the transfer button 406 on the back of the camera shown in FIG. 4 is pressed, step S44 in FIG. 5 is executed, and the camera issues a data transfer start request command to the host computer main body 301, so that step S44 and thereafter are performed. Is performed.

(Operation of Digital Camera Host Application) Next, a description will be given of a host application 501 that operates on the computer main body 301 and manages and stores images, according to the present embodiment.

As an operation of the image management / storing application according to the present embodiment, an operation of automatically dividing an image acquired from a camera by a folder for each shooting date or creation date and saving the folder will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. I do.

For example, in response to the automatic transfer processing start request command from the camera described in the above-described automatic transfer processing, a transmission permission command is issued to the camera (step S51), and the data sent from the camera is transmitted. Receive (Step S52). Next, it is determined whether or not the data sent in step S53 is an automatic transfer end command. If it is not an automatic transfer end command, it is determined that the transmitted data is image data, and in step S54,
The shooting date and time are detected from the attribute information included in the image data.

In the system according to the present embodiment, the shooting date and time is automatically included in the data as supplementary information of the image data when the image is shot by the digital camera, and the host application 501 also recognizes the position of the shooting date and time data in the data. It is assumed that Next, step S5
In step 5, a folder name corresponding to the shooting date and time obtained in step S54 is determined. That is, it is checked whether a folder having a folder name corresponding to the shooting date and time exists in a preset folder for automatic storage, and if not, a new folder with a folder name according to a predetermined format is found. Create In the present embodiment, in the case of an image whose shooting date and time is June 29, 1998, the folder name is' 1998062 from the numerical value representing the date.
9 '.

The folder for automatic storage is set on the option setting screen of the host application, for example. FIG. 9 shows an example of the option setting screen. An option setting screen 1201 includes an automatic storage folder specification area 1202 for specifying an automatic storage destination (folder) of the received data.
And a file format selection area 1203 for selecting a data format for storage. Also, an OK button 1204 and a cancel button 1205
Is provided. Automatic storage folder designation area 1202
Is an area for inputting and specifying an automatic storage destination in the form of a directory or the like. File format selection area 1
Reference numeral 203 denotes a pull-down menu for selecting and specifying a file format to be automatically stored. In FIG. 9, "
C: “MyImage” indicates that the JPEG format is specified as the file format.

The contents specified in these two areas are
When the K button 1204 is pressed, the setting is saved in a setting file used by the host application 501 or the like. When the cancel button 1205 is pressed, the option setting screen 1201 is closed without changing the settings. When the transfer process is performed in a state where the automatic storage folder has not been set, such as when the host application 501 is first started, the option setting screen 1201 may be displayed before the start of the transfer process to allow the user to set the option setting screen. Good.

Returning to FIG. 8, in step S56, the folder found in step S55 (or newly created) is searched to determine a unique file name that does not overlap with an existing file name. In this embodiment, the file name is represented by a series of numerical values starting from eight-digit 0, and when adding a new file,
The numerical value representing the file name of the file to be added is set to be the largest among the numerical values representing the file names of the files already included in the folder. For example, the file name is “00000001. jpg''00000000
2. If two files named “jpg” already exist, the file name of the newly added file is “00”.
000003. jpg '. The extension (.jpg) of the file name is displayed in the option setting screen 1201 shown in FIG.
Is automatically added in accordance with the file format specified in the file format selection area 1203 of FIG.

In step S57, the input data from the digital camera is stored as a file in the storage device (for example, the hard disk 515) of the computer 301 using the folder and the file name determined by the above processing.

With the above-described configuration, the transfer, management and storage of image data are automatically performed only by connecting the digital camera 307 to the image data management system. This eliminates the need for a conventional digital camera host application activation, image data transfer instruction, file name assignment for each received data, and the like, which is very convenient.

(Second Embodiment) Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, the digital camera host application 501 automatically classifies received image data into groups for each shooting date or creation date and manages them. -The operation at the time of registration will be described.

First, a data management method of the application 501 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, an “album” that can include a plurality of image data is constructed, and these are managed in an album management table as shown in FIG. The album management table 700 holds an album name of each of the albums 701 to 703, and a pointer to an item management table for managing information of images included in the album. The item management tables 704 to 706 are created for each album, and store the storage location of images contained in the album and the shooting date and time. The album management table and the corresponding item management table are stored in a storage device (such as the hard disk 515) of the image data management system.

To display the image data contained in each album, a window for each album is created on the display 302, and the image data contained in each album is combined with the reduced image and the shooting date and time. In FIG. 11, windows 802 and 803 corresponding to albums 701 and 702 are displayed as digital camera host application 501.
Are displayed in a window 801, and windows 802 and 803 show a state in which reduced images (thumbnails) of the respective image data described in the corresponding item management tables 704 and 705 and the shooting time are displayed.

(Operation for Automatically Registering in Album) The operation of automatically registering the image data received from the digital camera 307 in the album will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, as in the first embodiment, a transmission permission command is issued to the camera in step S91, and data transmitted from the camera is received in step S92. Next, in step S93, it is determined whether the data transmitted is an automatic transfer end command. If the command is not the automatic transfer end command, the transmitted data is stored as image data in step S94 in an automatic storage folder specified in advance.

The folder for automatic storage is set, for example, on an option setting screen of the host application. FIG. 13 shows an example of the option setting screen. The option setting screen 1001 is used to create an album every day,
Radio buttons 1006 and 1007 for specifying whether to create each month, and an automatic storage destination (folder) for received data
And a file format selection area 1003 for selecting a data format for storage. The option setting screen 1001 is provided with an OK button 1004 and a cancel button 1005.

Radio buttons 1006 and 1007 allow mutually exclusive selection. When radio button 1006 is selected, an album is automatically created for each shooting date, and when radio button 1007 is selected, an album is automatically created for each shooting month. Is done. The automatic storage folder specification area 1002 is an area for inputting and specifying an automatic storage destination in the form of a directory or the like.
A file format selection area 1003 is a pull-down menu for selecting and specifying a file format to be automatically stored. In FIG. 13, "C: @MyI" is used as the storage destination.
“message” indicates a state in which the JPEG format is specified as the file format.

The contents specified in these two areas are O
When the K button 1004 is pressed, the setting is saved in a setting file used by the host application 501 or the like. When the cancel button 1005 is pressed, the option setting screen 1001 is closed without changing the setting contents. When the transfer processing is performed in a state where the automatic storage folder has not been set, such as when the host application 501 is first started, the option setting screen 1001 may be displayed before the start of the transfer processing, and the user may set the option setting screen 1001. Good.

Also in this embodiment, the file names at the time of automatic storage are given according to the same rules as in the first embodiment.
That is, the file is created by using the file names included in the designated folder in descending order of the file name. The same applies to the extension. After storing the received data,
In step S95, the shooting date and time is extracted from the supplementary information included in the image data.

In step S96, an album having an album name corresponding to the shooting date and time obtained in step S95 is searched from the album management table. If the corresponding album is not included in the album management table, a new album is created. When a new album is created, the album is created in units specified by the radio buttons 1006 or 1007 on the option setting screen 1001 described above. That is, the shooting date and time of the image data is 199.
In the case of 80629 (June 29, 1998), the album name "if daily (radio button 1006) is selected"
If "1980629" and "monthly" (radio button 1007) are selected, an album with the album name "199806" is created. Finds the album for the month.

In step S97, an item is added to the item management table corresponding to the album searched or created in step S96, and the path name (storage location and file name) to the file stored in step S94.
And the shooting date and time.

According to the present embodiment, the entity of the received data is sequentially stored in the storage device, and a table classified according to the supplementary information is created, thereby changing the classification standard such as classification based on the supplementary information other than the date and time. Also in this case, it is only necessary to recreate the table without moving the image data, so that management with high flexibility can be realized.

(Third Embodiment) Next, as a third embodiment of the present invention, the digital camera host application 501 stores an image while maintaining the folder structure (file hierarchical structure) of the storage device in the digital camera. The operation for transferring data will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

First, as in the first embodiment, a transmission permission command is issued to the camera in step S31, and data transmitted from the camera is received in step S32. Next, in step S33, it is determined whether the data transmitted is an automatic transfer end command. If the command is not the automatic transfer end command, the flow advances to step S34 to check the path and file name stored in the storage device of the camera. Here, it is assumed that the path and the file name in the camera are stored as additional information of the data.

Next, in step S35, a path name to be stored in the image data management system is determined. This is determined based on the setting value of the automatic storage folder setting area 1701 on the option setting screen 1700 of the digital camera host application shown in FIG. 15 and the path name and file name in the camera. The setting value of the automatic storage folder setting area 1701 is connected to the path name in the camera that is lower than the image root folder.

However, “Ignore image root folder name” option 170 on option setting screen 1700
When 3 is set, it is determined by joining the set automatic storage folder name and the path name in the camera with the image root folder name deleted. It should be noted that the image root folder is a folder immediately below the root (top) folder of the storage device of the camera, and is set so that images taken by the camera are stored only in that folder by a predetermined method. .

For example, if the path name in the camera is “\ DC97 \ CT
G_0000 \ Aut_0001.jpg ”
If “C: \ MyImage” is set as the automatic storage folder, the path name determined in step S35 is “C: \ MyI
mage \ DC97 \ CTG_0000 \ Aut_0001.jpg ”This is the case when the“ Ignore image root folder name ”option 1703 is not set, and when it is set, the path name in the camera is Only the part below the image root folder “\ DC97” is used, and “C: \ MyImage \
CTG_0000 \ Aut_0001.jpg ".

The option setting screen 1700 further includes
A file format selection area 1702, an OK button 1704, and a cancel button 1705 are provided. These have the same functions as 1203, 1204 and 1205 in the option setting screen 1201 shown in FIG.

The automatic storage folder setting area 1701
Is provided with a reference button 1706. By pressing this button, an automatic storage folder can be designated using a graphical interface.

Next, in step S36, step S3
It is checked whether a file having the path name and file name determined in step 5 already exists. If the file already exists, the process shifts to step S37 to display a warning dialog screen shown in FIG. 16 and wait for an instruction from the user. The warning dialog 1800 includes an automatic storage folder designation area 1801 having the same function as the automatic storage folder setting area 1701 on the option setting screen 1700, and an OK button 1803 and a cancel button 1804 corresponding to the buttons 1704 and 1705 on the screen. Have been. The dialog 1800 includes an option setting screen 170
Unlike 0, a file name specification area 1802 for directly specifying a file name is provided.

When the OK button 1803 is pressed, the folder names and / or file names specified in the areas 1801 and 1802 become final folder names and file names. If the user presses the OK button 1803 or the cancel button 1804 without making any changes, it is considered that an instruction to overwrite an existing file has been issued.

In step S38, the path name and file name obtained in step S35, or in step S37
Saves the transferred file with the path name and file name specified in.

By the above processing, for example, FIG.
When an image file is stored in the auxiliary storage device 403 in the digital camera 307 in the folder structure as shown in FIG. 17B, the image data designated in the automatic storage folder designation area 1701 as shown in FIG. In the folder (C: \ MyImage) of the management system, the folder structure under the image root folder “\ DC97” in the auxiliary storage device 403 of the camera is copied as it is. Note that the folder structure shown in FIG. 17B is a case where the “ignore image root folder name” option 1703 is not set on the option setting screen 1700, and FIG. As shown in c), the folder structure below the image root folder “\ DC97” is directly copied into the folder designated in the automatic storage folder designation area 1701.

[0068]

[Other Embodiments] In the above-described embodiment, the camera display screen 30 shown in FIG. 6 is used as a means for setting whether or not to automatically delete image data in the camera after transfer.
The automatic transfer setting menu screen 3080 displayed on the screen 70 or the camera setting screen 3081 activated from the application menu shown in FIG. 7 has been described, but is not limited thereto. For example, the application option setting screen 1201 shown in FIG. Alternatively, a setting menu for the automatic deletion mode may be provided, and a deletion command may be issued from the host application to the digital camera.
FIG. 18 shows an option setting screen 1300 in which an option setting screen 1201 is provided with an automatic deletion option check box 1301. Except for the automatic deletion option 1301, the same configuration elements as those of the option setting screen 1201 are used, and thus the description will not be repeated.

When the host application 501 issues a delete command to the digital camera 307, the step of determining whether the received data is the automatic transfer end command described in each of the above embodiments (step S5 in FIG. 8).
3, step S93 in FIG. 12, step S3 in FIG.
After confirming the reception of the automatic transfer end command in 3), a command for automatically deleting the transferred image data is issued to the camera before ending the processing. in this case,
As the operation of the camera, in step S410 in FIG. 5, the command transferred from the host computer main body 301 is checked to determine whether or not to perform the automatic deletion in step S8.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which a USB is used as an interface for connecting the digital camera 307 and the computer main body 301. However, other interfaces, such as an infrared interface and an IEEE interface, are used.
Any interface such as E1394 can be used. However, to perform automatic transfer, connect the camera to the computer itself (actually, the operating system).
Must be recognizable. If the connection is not automatically recognized, it is necessary to perform only an instruction to perform an operation for confirming the presence or absence of a camera connection, such as at least starting a digital camera application.

The format and path name of image data, the rules for writing file names, the transfer protocol, the type of image data storage device, and the location (whether it is directly connected or connected to a network) are arbitrary. It is.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a digital camera is used as a photographing means has been described. However, the apparatus need not be a camera itself, and any device that can hold and transfer image data can be used. May be something.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), a device including one device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc.) Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) recording software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It is needless to say that a case in which the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing part or all of the actual processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned storage medium, the storage medium described above (FIGS. 5, 8, 12,
The program code corresponding to the flowchart (shown in FIG. 14) will be stored.

[0077]

As described above, according to the image data management system of the present invention, image data transfer from the image data holding device to the image data management / storage device, file name assignment, and image data management are automated. Thus, the procedure for managing and storing the image data can be greatly simplified.

Further, the image data is automatically classified and stored based on additional information related to the data such as the photographing date and time.
Because of the management, the image data can be easily searched after the transfer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of an image data management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image data management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a digital camera used in the image data management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an external appearance example of a digital camera used in the image data management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic transfer operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen display example of a digital camera used in the image data management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a camera setting screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of the host application according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen of a host application according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a data management method of a host application according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a method of displaying image data of a host application according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a host application according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen of a host application according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation of the host application according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen of a host application according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a warning screen displayed by the host application according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure of image data according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen of an automatic deletion mode according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (28)

[Claims] An internal storage means for storing image data;
An image data transfer device having an interface unit capable of communicating with another device, wherein the first connection recognition unit detects that an external device is connected to the interface unit, and the first connection recognition unit is Transfer request issuing means for issuing a transfer request for the image data to the external device whose connection has been detected when recognizing the connection of the external device; and data for starting transfer of the image data when the transfer request is permitted. An image data transfer device comprising: a transfer unit. 2. An internal storage means for storing image data,
An image data transfer device having an interface unit capable of communicating with another device, wherein the first connection recognition unit detects that an external device is connected to the interface unit, a command input unit, and the external device. When a predetermined command is input from the command input unit in a state where the connection is detected, a second transfer request issuing unit that issues a transfer request for the image data to the external device; Data transfer means for starting transfer of the image data when permitted. 3. The image according to claim 1, further comprising a data deletion unit that deletes the transferred image data from the internal storage unit when the transfer of the image data is completed. Data transfer device. 4. The image data transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising means for recording an image. 5. The image data transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising command input means for inputting a predetermined command to the device. 6. The image data according to claim 2, further comprising display means for displaying information inside the apparatus and / or performing display for setting inside the apparatus using the command input means. Transfer device. 7. The data transfer device according to claim 1, wherein when the first connection recognition unit recognizes the connection of the external device, a predetermined application is activated. 8. An interface capable of communicating with an external device, second connection recognition means for detecting that the external device has been connected to the interface, and image data transferred from the external device whose connection has been recognized. An image data management device, comprising: a classifying unit for performing a predetermined naming and classifying under a predetermined condition; and a storage unit for storing the transferred image data. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising command issuing means for issuing a predetermined command to said external device whose connection has been recognized when said second connection recognizing means recognizes connection of an external device. Item 9. The image data management device according to Item 8. 10. The second connection recognizing means detects a command received from an external device that has recognized the connection, and if the detected command is a transfer request command for data contained in the external device, 10. A command analyzing means for instructing a command issuing means to transmit a transfer permission command, further comprising command analyzing means.
An image data management device as described in the above. 11. The image data management device according to claim 8, wherein the classification unit classifies the image data stored in the storage unit and creates a table in which predetermined items are put together. 12. The image data management according to claim 8, wherein the classification unit determines a storage location of the received image data in the storage unit from a predetermined data item included in the image data. apparatus. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the classification unit groups the received image data according to contents of a predetermined data item included in the image data, and determines a storage location in the storage unit for each group. The image data management device according to claim 8. 14. The image data management device according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined naming is performed based on a predetermined data item included in the received image data. 15. The naming and naming means so that the classifying unit maintains the data name and the hierarchical relationship with other image data when the received image data is stored in the external device. 9. The image data management device according to claim 8, wherein a storage location in said storage unit is determined. 16. The image data management device according to claim 8, wherein when the second connection recognition unit recognizes the connection of the external device, a predetermined application is activated. 17. An image data management system comprising an image data transfer device and an image data management device which are detachable from each other, wherein the image data transfer device comprises: (a) an internal storage means for storing image data; (B) connection recognizing means for recognizing connection with the image data management device; and (c) when the connection recognizing means recognizes connection with the image data device in a state where a predetermined setting is made, the image is displayed. Transfer request issuing means for issuing a transfer request for the image data to a data management device; and (d) data for starting transfer of the image data when receiving a transfer permission command corresponding to the transfer request from the image data management device. Transfer means, the image data management device (a) issues the transfer permission command when the transfer request is received from the image data transfer device. And (b) receiving the image data transferred by the image data transfer apparatus in response to the transfer permission command, performing a predetermined naming on the received image data, and classifying the received image data under predetermined conditions. An image data management system, comprising: a classification unit; and (c) a storage unit that stores the transferred image data. 18. The image data transfer apparatus further comprises: (e) input means for performing internal setting of the apparatus and / or for giving a predetermined operation instruction to the apparatus, wherein the transfer request issuing means comprises: 2. The transfer request is issued when an image data transfer instruction is input from the input unit while the connection recognition unit recognizes the connection with the image data device.
7. The data management system according to 7. 19. The image data management system according to claim 17, wherein said classification means classifies the image data stored in said storage means and creates a table in which predetermined items are summarized. 20. The image data management according to claim 17, wherein said classification means determines a storage location of said received image data in said storage means from a predetermined data item included in said image data. system. 21. The image processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the classification unit groups the received image data according to contents of a predetermined data item included in the image data, and determines a storage location in the storage unit for each group. The image data management system according to claim 17. 22. The image data management system according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined naming is performed based on a predetermined data item included in the received image data. 23. The naming unit, wherein the classifying unit maintains the name of the received image data so as to maintain the data name and the hierarchical relationship with other image data when the image data was stored in the internal storage unit. 18. The image data management system according to claim 17, wherein a storage location in said storage unit is determined. 24. The image data management system according to claim 17, wherein when the connection recognition unit recognizes the connection with the image data management device, a predetermined application is activated. 25. The image data management system according to claim 17, wherein when the image data management device receives the transfer request command, a predetermined application is activated. 26. A storage medium for storing a program executable by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus executing the program causes the apparatus to function as the image data transfer apparatus according to claim 1. Description: Storage media. 27. A storage medium for storing a program executable by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus executing the program causes the apparatus to function as the image data management apparatus according to claim 8. Storage media. 28. A storage medium for storing a program that can be executed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus that executes the program causes the apparatus to function as the image data management system according to claim 17. Storage media.