Recording apparatus, communications apparatus, recording system, communications system, and methods therefor

• US 20020039479A1
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Published: 04/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Mikio, Muta, Tomomitsu, Tsubaki, Hisayoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,619,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00925 Inhibiting an operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91335 the copy protection signal being a watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3212 of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9261 involving data reduction

Abstract

A recording apparatus includes a communications device which can receive from another communications apparatus by wireless an image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing process or a sound recording condition of restricting a sound recording process, and a device which performs an image-capturing or sound recording process according to the received image-capturing condition or sound recording condition. Thus, a user can automatically set a recording function of a recording apparatus in a restricted state without special care in a position where image-capturing, sound recording, etc. are prohibited, thereby recording on an allowed condition. Since it further includes a communications device which can receive by wireless from another communications apparatus a reproducing condition of restricting a reproducing function of an image, and a reproducing device which reproduces an image according to the received reproducing condition, an available function can be used by easily specifying a user of the communications apparatus.

Claims

1. A recording apparatus, comprising:

a first communications device which receives from another communications apparatus by wireless at least one of an image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing process and a sound recording condition of restricting a sound recording process; and

a device which performs at least one of an image-capturing process and a sound recording process according to the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition.

2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first communications device receives information about a use rate for at least one of image-capturing and sound recording by wireless, and comprises a display device which displays the received information about the use rate, and the information about the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition.

3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

an input device which inputs information about a use rate for a user performing the at least one of the image-capturing process and the sound recording process, and acknowledgment information about the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition,

wherein the first communications device transmits the acknowledgment information input by the user to another communications apparatus by wireless.

4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a second communications device which receives identification information from a communications apparatus by wireless,

wherein the first communications device transmits the identification information received by the second communications device to another communications apparatus by wireless.

5. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first communications device transmits information required for accounts for identification information specifying a user together with the acknowledgment information to another communications apparatus by wireless.

6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a second communications device which receives identification information from a communications apparatus by wireless,

wherein the first communications device transmits the identification information received by the second communications device to another communications apparatus by wireless.

7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the image-capturing condition includes at least one of prohibition of all image-capturing processes, prohibition of image-capturing using a flash, prohibition of image-capturing with a resolution of at least predetermined number of pixels, prohibition of image-capturing using a specified model of a recording apparatus, inserting predetermined information claiming a copyright into data of a captured image, compressing a captured image, settings of a condition of resolution of captured image information, and restrictions on sound issued by a recording apparatus after the image-capturing process; and

the sound recording condition includes at least one of prohibition of all sound recording processes, compressing voice information to be recorded, and resolution of voice information to be recorded.

8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first communications device receives information about a use rate for at least one of image-capturing and sound recording by wireless, and comprises a display device which displays the received information about the use rate, and the information about the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition.

9. The recording apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

an input device which inputs information about a use rate for a user performing the at least one of the image-capturing process and the sound recording process, and acknowledgment information about the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition,

wherein the first communications device transmits the acknowledgment information input by the user to another communications apparatus by wireless.

10. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a second communications device which receives identification information from a communications apparatus by wireless,

wherein the first communications device transmits the identification information received by the second communications device to another communications apparatus by wireless.

11. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first communications device transmits information required for accounts for identification information specifying a user together with the acknowledgment information to another communications apparatus by wireless.

12. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a second communications device which receives identification information from a communications apparatus by wireless,

wherein the first communications device transmits the identification information received by the second communications device to another communications apparatus by wireless.

14. The communications apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a display device which displays information about a use rate for at least one of image-capturing and sound recording, and information about the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition to the user.

15. The communications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the communications device transmits information about a use rate for at least one of image-capturing and sound recording to the recording apparatus by wireless.

16. The communications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the communications device receives accounting information about at least one of image-capturing and sound recording from the user, reads the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition in accordance with the received accounting information from the recording device, and transmits the condition to the recording apparatus carried by the user by wireless.

17. The communications apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a rate reception device which receives a use rate for at least one of image-capturing and sound recording from a user,

wherein the communications device reads the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition in accordance with the use rate received by the rate reception device from the recording device, and transmits the read condition to the recording apparatus carried by the user by wireless.

18. The communications apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a display device which displays information about a use rate for at least one of image-capturing and sound recording, and information about the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition to the user.

19. The communications apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the communications device transmits information about a use rate for at least one of image-capturing and sound recording to the recording apparatus by wireless.

20. The communications apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the communications device receives accounting information about at least one of image-capturing and sound recording from the user, reads the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition in accordance with the received accounting information from the recording device, and transmits the condition to the recording apparatus carried by the user by wireless.

13. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a recording device which records at least one of an image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing process by a recording apparatus carried by a user and a sound recording condition of restricting a sound recording process by the recording apparatus carried by the user; and

a communications device which transmits the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition recorded in the recording device to the recording apparatus by wireless.

21. A recording system, comprising:

a recording apparatus comprising;

a first communications device which receives from another communications apparatus by wireless at least one of an image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing process and a sound recording condition of restricting a sound recording process; and

a device which performs at least one of an image-capturing process and a sound recording process according to the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition; and

a communications apparatus comprising;

a recording device which records the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition by the recording apparatus; and

a second communications device which transmits by wireless the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition recorded in the recording device to the recording apparatus.

22. A recording method, comprising the steps of:

reading at least one of an image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing process and a sound recording condition of restricting a sound recording process by a recording apparatus comprising at least one of an image-capturing device and a sound recording device, the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition being recorded in a recording device of a communications apparatus, and transmitting the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition to the recording apparatus by wireless;

receiving the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition by the recording apparatus by wireless from the communications apparatus; and

performing at least one of an image-capturing process and a sound recording process by the recording apparatus according to the at least one of the image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition.

24. The communications apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the communications device receives by wireless an image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing function from another communications apparatus, and comprises an image-capturing device which performs an image-capturing process according to the image-capturing condition.

25. The communications apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the image-capturing condition includes at least one of prohibition of all image-capturing processes, setting a time in which an image-capturing process is restricted, prohibition of image-capturing using a flash, prohibition of image-capturing with a resolution of at least a predetermined number of pixels, prohibition of image-capturing using a specified model of a recording apparatus, inserting predetermined information claiming a copyright into data of a captured image, compressing a captured image, settings of a condition of resolution of captured image information, and restrictions on sound issued by a recording apparatus after an image-capturing process.

26. The communications apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the reproducing condition includes at least one of a reproducing condition of prohibiting all reproducing processes, a condition of setting a time at which a reproducing process is restricted, a reproducing condition of prohibiting a reproducing process with a resolution of at least a predetermined number of pixels, a reproducing condition of inserting predetermined information claiming a copyright for an image, a compressing condition when an image is output, and resolution of an image to be reproduced.

27. The communications apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the communications device receives by wireless an image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing function from another communications apparatus, and comprises an image-capturing device which performs an image-capturing process according to the image-capturing condition.

28. The communications apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the image-capturing condition includes at least one of prohibition of all image-capturing processes, setting a time in which an image-capturing process is restricted, prohibition of image-capturing using a flash, prohibition of image-capturing with a resolution of at least a predetermined number of pixels, prohibition of image-capturing using a specified model of a recording apparatus, inserting predetermined information claiming a copyright into data of a captured image, compressing a captured image, settings of a condition of resolution of captured image information, and restrictions on sound issued by a recording apparatus after an image-capturing process.

29. The communications apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

a recording unit which records identification information unique to a communications apparatus to which the recording unit belongs; and

a transmission device which reads the identification information recorded in the recording unit, and transmits the information to another communications apparatus.

23. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a communications device which receives a reproducing condition of restricting a function of reproducing an image from another communications apparatus by wireless; and

a reproducing device which reproduces the image according to the reproducing condition.

30. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a recording device which records in advance first identification information for specifying a first user of a communications apparatus;

a communications device which can receive identification information from another communications apparatus by wireless, associated with a reproducing condition of restricting a function of reproducing an image, for specifying a second user of a communications apparatus;

a matching device which compares the first identification information specifying the first user with the second identification information specifying the second user; and

a reproducing device which reproduces an image according to a comparison result.

31. The communications apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising:

a recording unit which records identification information unique to a communications apparatus to which the recording unit belongs; and

a transmission device which reads the identification information recorded in the recording unit, and transmits the information to another communications apparatus.

32. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a recording device which records in advance first identification information specifying a first user of the communications apparatus;

a communications device which receives by wireless from another communications apparatus identification information which is associated with an image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing function about an image-capturing process, and specifies a second user of the communications apparatus;

a matching device which compares the first identification information specifying the first user and the second identification information specifying the second user; and

an image-capturing device which performs an image-capturing process according to a comparison result.

33. The communications apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising:

a recording unit which records identification information unique to a communications apparatus to which the recording unit belongs; and

a transmission device which reads the identification information recorded in the recording unit, and transmits the information to another communications apparatus.

35. The communications apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the first and second reproducing conditions contains at least one of identification information unique to the communications apparatus, identification information specifying a operator, and identification information specifying one who carries out reproduction.

36. The communications apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising:

an image pickup device which captures an image of a subject,

wherein the recording device records the captured image after associating the captured image with the received second reproducing condition,

wherein the reproducing device reproduces an image according to one of the comparison result and the second reproducing condition.

37. The communications apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the first and second reproducing conditions contains at least one of identification information unique to the communications apparatus, identification information specifying a operator, and identification information specifying one who carries out reproduction.

38. The communications apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising:

a recording unit which records identification information unique to a communications apparatus to which the recording unit belongs; and

a transmission device which reads the identification information recorded in the recording unit, and transmits the information to another communications apparatus.

40. The communications apparatus according to claim 39, wherein:

the recording device records an image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing function of an electronic camera as associated with the first identification information; and

the transmission device transmits an image-capturing condition of an electronic camera as associated and recorded with the first identification information in the recording device according to the received second identification information.

41. The communications apparatus according to claim 39, wherein at least one of the first and second identification information refers to a telephone number of a portable telephone.

34. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a recording device which records an image and a first reproducing condition of restricting a function of reproducing the image;

a reception device which receives a second reproducing condition of restricting a function of reproducing an image from another communications apparatus;

a matching device which compares the first reproducing condition with the second reproducing condition; and

a reproducing device which reproduces an image according to a comparison result.

39. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a recording device which records a reproducing condition of restricting a function of reproducing an image of an electronic camera after associating the condition with first identification information specifying a user of the electronic camera;

a reception device which receives second identification information specifying a user of the electronic camera; and

a transmission device for reading a reproducing condition of an electronic camera recorded as associated with the first identification information in the recording device according to the received second identification information, and transmitting the condition.

42. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a recording device which records a reproducing condition of restricting a function of reproducing an image of an electronic camera after associating the condition with identification information specifying a user of the electronic camera; and

a transmission device which transmits a reproducing condition of an electronic camera recorded as associated with the identification information to the recording device.

43. The communications apparatus according to claim 42, wherein:

the recording device records an image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing function of an electronic camera as associated with the identification information; and

the transmission device transmits the image-capturing condition of the electronic camera recorded as associated with the identification information.

44. The communications apparatus according to claim 42, wherein at least one of the first and second identification information refers to a telephone number of a portable telephone.

46. The communications system according to claim 45, wherein:

the first communications device of the first communications apparatus receives an image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing function from another communications apparatus by wireless;

the first communications apparatus comprises an image-capturing device which performs an image-capturing process according to the received image-capturing condition;

the second recording device of the third communications apparatus records the image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing function of the first communications apparatus as associated with second identification information specifying a user of the first communications apparatus; and

the transmission device of the third communications apparatus reads and transmits the image-capturing condition of the image of the first communications apparatus recorded as associated with the second identification information in the second recording device according to the received first identification information.

50. The communications system according to claim 49, wherein:

the first communications apparatus further comprises an image pickup device which captures an image of a subject;

the first recording device of the first communications apparatus records an image obtained by an image-capturing process as associated with the received reproducing condition; and

the reproducing device of the first communications apparatus reproduces an image according to one of the comparison result and the second reproducing condition.

45. A communications system, comprising:

a first communications apparatus, comprising;

a first communications device which receives a reproducing condition of restricting a function of reproducing an image from another communications apparatus by wireless; and

a reproducing device which reproduces an image according to the received reproducing condition;

a second communications apparatus, comprising

a first recording device which records first identification information specifying a user of the first communications apparatus; and

a second communications device which transmits the first identification information recorded in the first recording device to another communications apparatus; and

a third communications apparatus, comprising;

a second recording device which records a reproducing condition of restricting a reproducing function of an image of the first communications apparatus as associated with second identification information specifying a user of the first communications apparatus;

a reception device which receives the first identification information specifying the user of the first communications apparatus; and

a transmission device which reads and transmits a reproducing condition of an image of the first communications apparatus recorded as associated with the second identification information in the second recording device according to the first identification information.

47. A communications system, comprising:

a first communications apparatus, comprising;

a recording device which records in advance first identification information specifying a first user of the first communications apparatus;

a communications device which receives by wireless from a second communications apparatus second identification information which is associated with a reproducing condition of restricting a function of reproducing an image of the first communications apparatus, and specifies a second user of the first communications apparatus;

a matching device which compares the first identification information with the second identification information; and

a reproducing device which reproduces an image according to a comparison result; and

the second communications apparatus comprising;

a transmission device which transmits the second identification information specifying the second user of the first communications apparatus to the first communications apparatus.

48. A communications system, comprising:

an electronic camera, comprising

a recording device which records in advance first identification information specifying a first user of the electronic camera;

a communications device which receives by wireless from another communications apparatus second identification information which is associated with an image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing function of the electronic camera, and specifies a second user of the electronic camera;

a matching device which compares the first identification information with the second identification information; and

an image-capturing device which performs an image-capturing process according to a comparison result; and

a communications apparatus, comprising;

a transmission device which transmits to the electronic camera the second identification information specifying the second user of the electronic camera.

49. A communications system, comprising:

a first communications apparatus, comprising;

a first recording device which records an image associated with a first reproducing condition of restricting a reproducing function of the image;

a first communications device which receives a second reproducing condition of restricting a reproducing function of an image from another communications apparatus;

a matching device which compares the first reproducing condition with the second reproducing condition; and

a reproducing device which reproduces an image according to a comparison result;

a second communications apparatus, comprising;

a second recording device which records the first identification information specifying a user of the first communications apparatus; and

a second communications device which transmits the first identification information recorded in the second recording device to another communications apparatus; and

a third communications apparatus, comprising;

a third recording device which records the second reproducing condition of the image of the first communications apparatus associated with second identification information specifying the user of the first communications apparatus;

a reception device which receives the first identification information specifying the user of the first communications apparatus; and

a transmission device which reads and transmits the second reproducing condition recorded as associated with the second identification information in the third recording device according to the received first identification information.