Image photographing system

• US 20030020813A1
• Filed: 07/25/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Iida, Takayuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,092,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00164 at a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0018 of images captured using a loaned, rented or limited-use still digital camera, e.g. recyclable or disposable camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras

Abstract

The present invention provides an image photographing system, which permits a user to easily photograph images and place, orders for printing. A digital still camera is rented to the user with a prepaid card affixed thereto, the prepaid card serving to write the number of times into the digital still camera, and an image saving area dedicated to the user is opened on an image server connected to the Internet. After the user photographs images with the digital still camera, image data for images, which the user selects, is saved in the image data saving area via a portable apparatus, and the saved images can also be browsed therewith. When the user places an order for printing one of the saved images, the corresponding image data is sent to a print finishing dealer, and a photographic print is created.

Claims

1. An image photographing system comprising:

an image server connected to a computer network;

image saving areas managed by the image server;

a communication apparatus for communicating with the image server; and

an image photographing device that includes

a photographing component, which converts an optical image into image data,

a built-in storage component in which the image data is temporarily stored,

a first communication component, which can communicate with the communication apparatus,

a save control component which saves the image data, photographed by the photographing component and temporarily stored in the storage component, in the image saving area by the communication apparatus, in such a way that the image data is transferred to the communication apparatus via the first communication component when an instruction is given for the image data to be saved, and

a management component which stores the number of times written according to a predetermined procedure, which updates the stored number of times each time the save control component saves the image data, and which prevents at least one of the photographing by the photographing component and the saving of the image data by the save control component when the number of times has become equal to a predetermined value,

wherein, as an equivalent for a rental fee paid by a user, the image photographing device is lent to the user after the number of times has been written into the image photographing device according to the predetermined procedure, or after attaching information required for the user to personally write the number of times into the image photographing device according to the predetermined procedure, and one of the image saving areas is opened and dedicated to the user,

the user is allowed to browse, via the communication apparatus, the images expressed by the image data which the user has saved in the image saving area dedicated to the user, and

when an order has been placed via the communication apparatus by the user, for printing a specified one of the images expressed by the image data saved in the image saving area, a photographic print is created by employing the image data saved in the image saving area, whereupon the created photographic print is delivered to the user.

2. An image photographing device comprising:

a photographing component, which converts an optical image into image data;

a built-in storage component in which the image data is temporarily stored;

a first communication component, which can communicate with a communication apparatus for communicating with an image server, connected to a computer network;

a save control component which saves the image data, photographed by the photographing component, and temporarily stored in the storage component, in a predetermined image saving area managed by the image server, by means of the communication apparatus, in such a way that the image data is transferred to the communication apparatus through the first communication component when an instruction is given for the image data to be saved; and

a management component which stores the number of times written in a predetermined procedure, which updates the stored number of times each time the save control component saves the image data, and which prevents at least one of the photographing by the photographing component and the saving of the image data by the save control component when the number of times has become equal to a predetermined value.

3. The image photographing device of claim 2, wherein the communication apparatus is one selected from the group consisting of a portable telephone, a PDA, a wearable computer and a mobile computer, which can be carried by the user and which is possessed by the user.

4. The image photographing device of claim 2, wherein:

the communication apparatus, which can be carried by the user;

the image photographing device comprises a positional information storage component in which positions of a plurality of access points for permitting the communication apparatus to communicate with the image server are stored; and

the save control component acquires information expressing a current position from the communication apparatus, determines the nearest one of the access points on the basis of the acquired information and the information stored in the positional information storage component, and controls the communication apparatus so that the image data can be saved in the predetermined image saving area via the determined nearest access point.

5. The image photographing device of claim 2, wherein the save control component saves the image data in a storage medium built into or connected to a predetermined external equipment, in such a way that, when instructed to save the image data, it transfers the image data to be saved to the predetermined external equipment.

6. The image photographing device of claim 2, wherein the management component also prevents at least one of the photographing by the photographing component and the saving of the image data by the save control component, when a predetermined period of time has lapsed since the writing of the number of times.

7. The image photographing device of claim 2, further comprising:

a second communication component that can perform wireless communication with a portable image display apparatus, which is provided with a display unit capable of displaying an image and which performs wireless communication; and

a transfer component which transfers the image data to the image display apparatus via the second communication component by wireless communication so that the image expressed by the image data obtained by the photographing carried out by the photographing component can be displayed on the display unit of the image display apparatus.

8. The image photographing device of claim 7, wherein the transfer component generates thumbnail image data, having a lower resolution than that of the image data obtained by the photographing carried out by the photographing component, and transfers the generated thumbnail image data to the image display apparatus.

9. The image photographing device of claim 7, wherein the portable type image display apparatus is one selected from the group consisting of a portable telephone, a PDA, a wearable computer and a mobile computer, which is possessed by the user.

10. An image photographing device comprising:

a photographing component, which converts an optical image into image data;

a built-in storage component in which the image data is temporarily stored;

a save control component which saves the image data, photographed by the photographing component and temporarily stored in the storage component, in a storage medium built into or connected to a predetermined external equipment, by reading the image data and transferring it to the predetermined external equipment when an instruction is given for the image data to be saved; and

a management component which stores a number of times written according to a predetermined procedure, which updates the stored number of times each time the save control component saves the image data, and which prevents at least one of the photographing by the photographing component and the saving of the image data by the save control component when the number of times has become equal to a predetermined value.

11. The image photographing device of claim 10, wherein the management component also prevents at least one of the photographing by the photographing component and the saving of the image data by the save control component, when a predetermined period of time has lapsed since the writing of the number of times.

12. The image photographing device of claim 10, further comprising:

a second communication component that can perform wireless communication with a portable image display apparatus, which is provided with a display unit capable of displaying an image and which performs wireless communication; and

a transfer component which transfers the image data to the image display apparatus via the second communication component by wireless communication so that the image expressed by the image data obtained by the photographing carried out by the photographing component can be displayed on the display unit of the image display apparatus.

13. The image photographing device of claim 12, wherein the transfer component generates thumbnail image data, having a lower resolution than that of the image data obtained by the photographing carried out by the photographing component, and transfers the generated thumbnail image data to the image display apparatus.

14. The image photographing device of claim 12, wherein the portable type image display apparatus is one selected from the group consisting of a portable telephone, a PDA, a wearable computer and a mobile computer, which is possessed by the user.

15. An image photographing and ordering method comprising the steps of:

lending an image photographing device to a user as an equivalent for a rental fee paid by the user, after a number of times has been written into the image photographing device according to a predetermined procedure, or after attaching information required for the user to personally write the number of times into the image photographing device according to the predetermined procedure, and also opening an image saving area, which is dedicated to the user and managed by an image server connected to a computer network;

allowing the user to browse, via a communication apparatus, images expressed by image data which the user has saved in the image saving area dedicated to the user; and

when an order has been placed via the communication apparatus by the user for printing a specified one of the images expressed by the image data saved in the image saving area, creating a photographic print using the image data saved in the image saving area, and delivering the created photographic print to the user;

wherein the image photographing device comprises

a photographing component, which converts an optical image into image data,

a built-in storage component in which the image data is temporarily stored,

a first communication component, which can communicate with the communication apparatus for communicating with the image server, connected to the computer network,

a save control component which saves the image data, photographed by the photographing component and temporarily stored in the storage component, in the predetermined image saving area managed by the image server, by means of the communication apparatus, in such a way that the image data is transferred to the communication apparatus via the first communication component when an instruction is given for the image data to be saved, and

a management component which stores the number of times written according to the predetermined procedure, which updates the stored number of times each time the save control component saves the image data, and which prevents at least one of the photographing by the photographing component and the saving of the image data by the save control component when the number of times has become equal to a predetermined value.

16. The image photographing and ordering method of claim 15, wherein at least, the number of times to be written into the image photographing device is altered in accordance with the rent paid by the user.

17. The image photographing and ordering method of claim 15, wherein, when the user has paid an additional fee, the number of times stored in the image photographing device is rewritten according to a predetermined procedure, or information required for the user to personally rewrite the number of times into the image photographing device according to the predetermined procedure is given to the user.

18. An image photographing and ordering method comprising the steps of:

lending an image photographing device to a user as an equivalent for a rental fee paid by the user, after the number of times has been written into the image photographing device according to a predetermined procedure, or after attaching information required for the user to personally write the number of times into the image photographing device according to the predetermined procedure, and also opening an image saving area, which is dedicated to the user and managed by an image server connected to a computer network;

allowing the user to browse, via a communication apparatus, images expressed by image data which the user has saved in the image saving area dedicated to the user; and

when an order has been placed via the communication apparatus by the user for printing a specified one of the images expressed by the image data saved in the image saving area, creating a photographic print using the image data saved in the image saving area, and delivering the created photographic print to the user;

wherein the image photographing device comprises

a photographing component, which converts an optical image into image data,

a built-in storage component in which the image data is temporarily stored,

a save control component which saves the image data, photographed by the photographing component and temporarily stored in the storage component, in a storage medium built into or connected to a predetermined external equipment, by reading the image data and transferring it to the predetermined external equipment when an instruction is given for the image data to be saved; and

a management component which stores the number of times written according to a, predetermined procedure, which updates the stored number of times each time the save control component saves the image data, and which prevents at least one of the photographing by the photographing component and the saving of the image data by the save control component when the number of times has become equal to a predetermined value.

19. The image photographing and ordering method of claim 18, wherein at least, the number of times to be written into the image photographing device is altered in accordance with the rental fee paid by the user.

20. The image photographing and ordering method of claim 18, wherein, when the user has paid an additional fee, the number of times stored in the image photographing device is rewritten according to a predetermined procedure, or information required for the user to personally rewrite the number of times into the image photographing device according to the predetermined procedure is given to the user.