Image recording method and system, image transmitting method, and image recording apparatus

• US 20020101619A1
• Filed: 01/30/2002
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hiroshi, Watanabe, Mikio, Tsubaki, Hisayoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,664,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/302
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00323 with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00339 with an electronic or magnetic storage medium I/O device RFID or the like H04N1/00342
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• 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 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

An input apparatus reads a patient ID from an ID card and transmits it to a computer. On the basis of the patient ID, the computer obtains corresponding patient information containing a photograph of the patient'"'"'s face and the patient'"'"'s name, from a medical database, and then transmits the patient information to the digital camera together with the patient ID. The digital camera displays the patient information on the liquid crystal monitor to enable confirmation of the patient, who is a subject to be photographed. After the patient has been confirmed, the patient ID is filled in a header part of an image file for the image photographed using the digital camera, and the image file is transmitted to the medical database or the like. Thus, when identification information on the subject is recorded in connection with the photographed image, the input of the identification information is simplified, and the correspondence between the subject identification information input before photographing and the subject to be photographed can be easily confirmed. Further, the digital camera obtains locational information from a car navigation apparatus. The locational information is classified into added-to-image information added to the subject image (GPS information indicative of latitude, longitude, and altitude) and display information associated with the added-to-image information (the place name corresponding to the GPS information). The digital camera stores the location information obtained in a non-volatile memory and displays the display information (place name) of the locational information on the liquid crystal monitor of the camera. Subsequently, after photographing has been completed, the added-to-image information (GPS information) of the locational information stored in the non-volatile memory in connection with the image. Thus, if additional information input from an external device is recorded in connection with the subject image, the camera can be used to easily check what added-to-image information is used, whether or not the added-to-image information is correct as information to be added to the subject image, and the like.

Claims

1. An image recording method, comprising:

an information loading step of loading identification information on a subject and subject information used by a photographer to confirm the subject, in a digital camera before photographing the subject;

a display step of displaying, on the basis of the subject information, subject information on a display device of the digital camera;

a photographing step of photographing the subject using the digital camera after confirming the subject on the basis of the display on the display device; and

a recording step of recording the photographed image of the subject in connection with the identification information loaded in the information loading step.

2. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the image recorded in connection with the identification information is saved to a database.

3. The image recording method according to claim 2, wherein the subject information contains at least one of the subject'"'"'s photograph and name.

4. The image recording method according to claim 2, wherein the recording step records the identification information loaded in the information loading step, in a header part of an image file in which the photographed subject image is recorded.

5. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the information loading step comprises:

a step of reading the subject identification information from a recording medium having the identification information recorded thereon;

a step of reading the subject information corresponding to the read identification information, from a database having the subject information already stored in connection with the subject identification information; and

a transmitting step of transmitting the subject information read from the database, to the digital camera together with the identification information read from the recording medium.

6. The image recording method according to claim 5, wherein while the subject identification information and the subject information are being transmitted to the digital camera, the digital camera is inhibited from being used for photographing.

7. The image recording method according to claim 5, wherein the subject information contains at least one of the subject'"'"'s photograph and name.

8. The image recording method according to claim 5, wherein the recording step records the identification information loaded in the information loading step, in a header part of an image file in which the photographed subject image is recorded.

9. The image recording method according to claim 5, wherein:

the step of reading the identification information reads plural pieces of identification information so that these pieces can be accumulated; and

the transmitting step transmits the identification information and the subject information in response to an information obtainment request from the digital camera.

10. The image recording method according to claim 9, wherein while the subject identification information and the subject information are being transmitted to the digital camera, the digital camera is inhibited from being used for photographing.

11. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein:

the information loading step loads recorded image information containing at least one of image format, the number of pixels, compression rate, file size, and image aspect ratio; and

the digital camera records the photographed image on the basis of the loaded recorded image information.

12. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the subject information contains at least one of the subject'"'"'s photograph and name.

13. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the recording step records the identification information loaded in the information loading step, in a header part of an image file in which the photographed subject image is recorded.

16. The image recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the recording medium is a card, magnetic card, or IC card having a bar code recorded thereon, and the input device is a card reader.

17. The image recording apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a communication device which transmits the image recorded in connection with the identification information, to the database.

18. The image recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the recording device records the identification information in a header part of an image file in which the photographed subject image is recorded.

20. The image recording apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the recording medium is a card, magnetic card, or IC card having a bar code recorded thereon, and the input device is a card reader.

21. The image recording apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a communication device which transmits the image recorded in connection with the identification information, to the database.

22. The image recording apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the recording device records the identification information in a header part of an image file in which the photographed subject image is recorded.

24. The image recording method according to claim 23, wherein the display information is used by a photographer to check at least either the contents or correctness of the added-to-image information added to the subject image.

25. The image recording method according to claim 24, wherein the display information is either test information or image information which can be displayed on the display device.

26. The image recording method according to claim 24, wherein the added-to-image information is binary information, and the display information is text information corresponding to the binary information.

27. The image recording method according to claim 24, wherein the added-to-image information is recorded in a header part of an image file in which an image of the subject is recorded.

28. The image recording method according to claim 23, wherein the display information is either test information or image information which can be displayed on the display device.

29. The image recording method according to claim 23, wherein the added-to-image information is binary information, and the display information is text information corresponding to the binary information.

30. The image recording method according to claim 23, wherein the added-to-image information is recorded in a header part of an image file in which an image of the subject is recorded.

31. The image recording method according to claim 23, wherein the added-to-image information contains at least either numerical locational information on the subject or identification information already imparted to the subject.

32. The image recording method according to claim 31, wherein the display information is used by a photographer to check at least either the contents or correctness of the added-to-image information added to the subject image.

33. The image recording method according to claim 32, wherein the display information is either test information or image information which can be displayed on the display device.

34. The image recording method according to claim 32, wherein the added-to-image information is binary information, and the display information is text information corresponding to the binary information.

35. The image recording method according to claim 32, wherein the added-to-image information is recorded in a header part of an image file in which an image of the subject is recorded.

14. An image transmitting method, comprising:

an input step of inputting destination information from an external device to a digital camera, the information being indicative of a destination of an image;

a photographing step of photographing a subject using the digital camera;

a recording step of recording the photographed image of the subject in connection with the destination information input in the input step; and

a transmitting step of transmitting the photographed subject image to the destination corresponding to the destination information, on the basis of the destination information recorded in connection with the image.

15. An image recording apparatus, comprising:

an input device which reads identification information on a subject from a recording medium having the information recorded thereon;

an information transmitting device which reads subject information corresponding to the read identification information, from a database having the subject information already stored in connection with the subject identification information and transmitting the subject information read from the database, together with the identification information read from the recording medium;

a receiving device which receives the identification information and the subject information;

a display device which displays the subject information on the basis of the received subject information;

a photographing device which photographs the subject; and

a recording device which records the photographed subject image in connection with the received identification information.

19. An image recording apparatus, comprising:

an input device which reads subject identification information and subject information from a recording medium having the identification information and the subject information recorded thereon;

a display device which displays the subject information on the basis of the read subject information;

a photographing device which photographs the subject; and

a recording device which records the photographed image of the subject in connection with the read identification information.

23. An image recording method, wherein:

added-to-image information added to an image of a subject and display information associated with the added-to-image information are input to a digital camera from an external device;

the digital camera displays the display information on a display device thereof on the basis of the display information input from the external device; and

after photographing the subject, records an image of the subject and also records the added-to-image information input from the external device in connection with the image.

36. An image recording system, comprising:

an external device which outputs added-to-image information added to an image of a subject and display information associated with the added-to-image information; and

a digital camera comprising;

a display device which displays the display information on the basis of the display information input from the external device; and

a recording device which records an image of the subject after the subject has been photographed and records the added-to-image information input from the external device, in connection with the image.