Image transfer system

• US 20020137529A1
• Filed: 03/18/2002
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Takumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,304,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/457
• 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 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32117 in a separate transmission or protocol signal prior to or subsequent to the image data transmission, e.g. in digital identification signal [DIS], in non standard setup [NSS] or in non standard field [NSF] for mode signalling H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• 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 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/325 Modified version of the image, e.g. part of the image, image reduced in size or resolution, thumbnail or screennail

Abstract

Based on image list information received from an image storage device (image device), an image display device (portable terminal) counts the number of images held by the image storage device, determines the type of data to be received, and requests from the image display device the data for the determined type. When the file names of multiple image files are received from the image storage device, the image display device displays these file names, and requests, from the image storage device, the images for file names selected by a user. The image display device thereafter transmits, to a public network, images that are received from the image storage device in response to the request.

Claims

1. A method for displaying on an image display device an image stored in an image storage device comprising:

a selection step of employing the number of images stored in said image storage device to determine whether an image is to be displayed.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein whether an image or a thumbnail image is to be displayed is determined at said selection step, and wherein said selection step includes:

a thumbnail image display step of displaying a plurality of thumbnail images; and

a full image display step of displaying images corresponding to said displayed thumbnail images.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transfer step of transferring said displayed image from said image display device to a transmission destination.

4. A method for displaying on an image display device an image stored in an image storage device comprising:

a selection step of employing the volume of images stored in said image storage device to determine whether an image or the name of an image is to be displayed.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said selection step includes:

a name display step of displaying names of multiple images; and

an image display step of displaying images whose names are displayed.

6. A method for transmitting image data from an image storage device to an image display device comprising:

a selection step of employing the number of images stored in said image storage device to determine whether image data is to be transmitted by said image storage device to said image display device.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

a wireless transmission step of said image storage device transmitting, using wireless communication, image data to said image display device.

8. A method for transmitting image data from an image storage device to an image display device comprising:

a selection step of employing the volume of images stored in said image storage device to determine whether image data or an image name is to be transmitted to said image display device by said image storage device.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

a display step of displaying multiple names that are transferred; and

a transmission step of said image storage device transmitting to said image display device image data whose names are displayed.

10. An image display device that is capable of displaying images stored in an image storage device comprising:

display means; and

selection means for employing the number of images stored in said image storage device to determine whether an image is to be displayed on said display means.

11. An image display device according to claim 10, wherein said selection means determines whether an image or a thumbnail image is to be displayed;

and wherein said display means displays multiple thumbnail images, and furthermore, displays images that correspond to said thumbnail images.

13. An image display device according to claim 12, wherein said display means furthermore displays an image whose name is displayed.

15. A program or a storage medium according to claim 14, wherein whether an image or a thumbnail image is to be displayed is determined at said selection step, and wherein said selection step includes:

a thumbnail image display step of displaying a plurality of thumbnail images; and

a full image display step of displaying images corresponding to said displayed thumbnail images.

17. A program or a storage medium according to claim 16, further comprising:

an image display step of displaying images whose names are displayed.

12. An image display device that is capable of displaying images stored in an image storage device comprising:

display means; and

selection means for employing the volume of images stored in said image storage device to determine whether an image or the name of an image is to be displayed on said display means.

14. A program for an image display device that is capable of displaying an image stored in an image storage device, or on a storage medium, said program comprising:

a selection step of employing the number of images stored in said image storage device to determine whether an image is to be displayed.

16. A program for an image display device that is capable of displaying an image stored in an image storage device, or on a storage medium, said program comprising:

a selection step of employing the volume of images stored in said image storage device to determine whether an image or the name of an image is to be displayed.

18. An image storage device for storing image data comprising:

communication means for communicating with an image display device; and

selection means for employing the number of images to determine whether image data is to be transmitted to said image display device.

19. An image storage device for storing image data comprising:

communication means for communicating with an image display device; and

selection means for employing the volume of images to determine whether image data or an image name is to be transmitted to said image display device.

20. A program for an image display device that is capable of displaying an image stored in an image storage device, or on a storage medium, said program comprising:

a selection step of employing the volume of images to determine whether image data or an image name is to be transmitted to said image display device by said image storage device.