Image management apparatus and method, recording medium capable of being read by a computer, and computer program

• US 20030058276A1
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takiguchi, Hideo
• Granted Patent: US 7,119,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

In order to simplify the user'"'"'s operation when receiving images from an image input device, when reception of images stored in a digital camera have been selected by the user from a dialog displayed on a display, the user is directed to select the type of images to be received, by displaying a dialog for selecting the type of images. Furthermore, by displaying a dialog for directing the user to select how the received images are to be processed, the user is directed to select contents of subsequent processing.

Claims

1. An image management apparatus for managing images input from an image input device,

wherein, when the image input device is connected to the image management apparatus, options for an operation to be performed are shown to a user, and when the user has selected reception of images input from the image input device, the user is also caused to select a type of images to be received.

2. An image management apparatus for managing images input from an image input device, said apparatus comprising:

image operation options showing means for showing options for an operation to be performed to a user, when the image input device is connected to the image management apparatus;

operation contents recognition means for recognizing contents of an operation selected by the user from among the options shown by said image operation options showing means;

image type options showing means for showing, when the user has selected reception of images, options for a type of the images to be received, in accordance with the contents of the operation selected by the user that have been recognized by said operation contents recognition means;

image type recognition means for recognizing the type of the images selected by the user, from among the options shown by said image type options showing means; and

image receiving means for receiving images of the type recognized by said image type recognition means from the image input device.

3. An image management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

received-image operation options showing means for showing options for an operation to be performed for the images received by said image receiving means, after the type of the images to be received has been selected by the user from among the options shown by said image type options showing means;

image operation contents recognition means for recognizing contents of the operation for the images that have been selected by the user from among the options shown by said received-image operation options showing means; and

image operation execution means for executing the operation for the received images in accordance with the contents of the operation recognized by said image operation contents recognition means.

4. An image management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein selection of the operation for the received images is performed before executing an operation of actually receiving the images, or after executing the image receiving operation.

5. An image management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the options for the type of the images to be received include at least one of an option for receiving all images within the image input device, an option for receiving all unreceived images within the image input device, an option for receiving all images assigned to be printed within the image input device, and an option for receiving for all images assigned to be transferred within the image input device.

6. An image management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the options for the operation for the received images include at least one of an option for performing a slide show using the received images, an option for performing index printing of the received images, an option for transmitting the received images in electronic mail, and an option for uploading the received images into contents of a server on a communication network.

7. An image management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

folder forming means for forming a folder in accordance with a date of an operation of photographing each of the received images by selecting reception of the images by the user from among the options shown by said image operation options showing means; and

image storage means for storing the received images within the folder formed by said folder forming means.

8. An image management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

folder forming means for forming a folder in accordance with a date of reception of the received images by selecting reception of the images by the user from among the options shown by said image operation options showing means; and

image storage means for storing the received images within the folder formed by said folder forming means.

9. An image management apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

all images display means for displaying all images stored within the folder by said image storage means, on a picture frame on a display device; and

fixed-size images display means for displaying the images stored within the folder by said image storage means on the picture frame of the display device with a fixed size; and

display-contents switching means for performing switching between contents of display by said all images display means and contents of display by said fixed-size images display means, based on an instruction from the user.

10. An image management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

selected-contents storage means for storing contents selected by the user from among the options shown to the user in a predetermined storage medium;

selected-contents showing means for showing the contents stored in said selected-contents storage means when the image input device is subsequently connected to the image management apparatus; and

same-contents execution means for executing an operation conforming to the contents stored in said selected-contents storage means, when an instruction from the user is received to operate the images with contents identical to the contents shown by said selected-contents showing means.

11. An image management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

selected-contents storage means for storing contents selected by the user from among the options shown to the user in a predetermined storage medium;

selected-contents showing means for showing the contents stored in said selected-contents storage means, when the image input apparatus is subsequently connected to the image management apparatus; and

reoperation options showing means for showing options for reoperating the images with contents different from the contents shown by said selected-contents showing means,

wherein the user is directed to select one of the options shown by said reoperation options showing means.

12. An image management method for a computing apparatus for managing images input from an image input device,

wherein, when the image input device is connected to the computing apparatus, options for an operation to be performed are shown to a user, and when the user has selected reception of images input from the image input device, the user is also directed to select a type of images to be received.

13. An image management method for a computing apparatus for managing images input from an image input device, said method comprising:

an image operation options showing step of showing options for an operation to be performed to a user, when the image input device is connected to the computing apparatus;

an operation contents recognition step of recognizing contents of an operation selected by the user from among the options shown in said image operation options showing step;

an image type options showing step of showing, when the user has selected reception of images based on said operation contents recognition step, options for a type of images to be received;

an image type recognition step of recognizing the type of the images selected by the user, from among the options shown in said image type options showing step; and

an image receiving step of receiving images of the type recognized in said image type recognition step

14. An image management method according to claim 13, further comprising:

a received-image operation options showing step of showing options for an operation to be performed for the images received in said image receiving step, after the type of the images to be received has been selected by the user from among the options shown in said image type options showing step;

an image operation contents recognition step of recognizing contents of the operation for the images that have been selected by the user from among the options shown in said received-image operation options showing step; and

an image operation execution step of executing the operation for the received images in accordance with the contents of the operation recognized in said image operation contents recognition step.

15. An image management method according to claim 14, wherein selection of the operation for the received images is performed before executing an operation of actually receiving the images, or after executing the image receiving operation.

16. An image management method according to claim 13, wherein the options for the type of the images to be received include at least one of an option for receiving all images within the image input device, an option for receiving all unreceived images within the image input device, an option for receiving all images assigned to be printed within the image input device, and an option for receiving for all images assigned to be transferred within the image input device.

17. An image management method according to claim 14, wherein the options for the operation for the received images include at least one of an option for performing a slide show using the received images, an option for performing index printing of the received images, an option for transmitting the received images in electronic mail, and an option for uploading the received images into contents of a server on a communication network.

18. An image management method according to claim 13, further comprising:

a folder forming step of forming a folder in accordance with a date of an operation of photographing each of the received images by selecting reception of the images by the user from among the options shown in said image operation options showing step; and

an image storage step of storing the received images within the folder formed in said folder forming step.

19. An image management method according to claim 13, further comprising:

a folder forming step of forming a folder in accordance with a date of reception of the received images by selecting reception of the images by the user from among the options shown in said image operation options showing step; and

an image storage step of storing the received images within the folder formed in said folder forming step.

20. An image management method according to claim 18, further comprising:

an all images display step of displaying all images stored within the folder in said image storage step, on a picture frame on a display device; and

a fixed-size images display step of displaying the images stored within the folder in said image storage step on the picture frame of the display device with a fixed size; and

a display-contents switching step of performing switching between contents of display in said all images display step and contents of display in said fixed-size images display step, based on an instruction from the user.

21. An image management method according to claim 13, further comprising:

a selected-contents storage step of storing contents selected by the user from among the options shown to the user in a predetermined storage medium;

a selected-contents showing step of showing the contents stored in said selected-content storage step when the image input device is subsequently connected to the computing apparatus; and

a same-contents execution step of executing an operation conforming to the contents stored in said selected-contents storage step, when an instruction is received from the user to operate the images with contents identical to the contents shown in said selected-contents showing step.

22. An image management method according to claim 13, further comprising:

a selected-contents storage step of storing contents selected by the user from among the options shown to the user in a predetermined storage medium;

a selected-contents showing step of showing the contents stored in said selected-contents storage step, when the image input device is subsequently connected to the computing apparatus; and

a reoperation options showing step of showing options for reoperating the images with contents different from the contents shown in said selected-contents showing step,

wherein the user is directed to select one of the options shown in said reoperation options showing step.

23. A storage medium storing a computer program capable of being read and executed by a computer, said computer program comprising:

an image operation options showing unit for showing options for an operation to be performed to a user, when an image input device is connected to the computer;

an operation contents recognition unit for recognizing contents of an operation selected by the user from among the options shown by processing of said image operation options showing unit;

an image type options showing unit for showing, when the user has selected reception of images based on processing by said operation contents recognition unit, options for a type of the images to be received;

an image type recognition unit for recognizing the type of the images selected by the user, from among the options shown in processing by said image type options showing unit; and

an image receiving unit for receiving images of the type recognized by processing of said image type recognition unit.

24. A computer program capable of being read and executed by a computer, said computer program comprising:

an image operation options showing unit for showing options for an operation to be performed to a user, when an image input device is connected to the computer;

an operation contents recognition unit for recognizing contents of an operation selected by the user from among the options shown by processing of said image operation options showing unit;

an image type options showing unit for showing, when the user has selected reception of images based on processing by said operation-contents recognition unit, options for a type of the images to be received;

an image type recognition unit for recognizing the type of the images selected by the user, from among the options shown in processing by said image type options showing unit; and

an image receiving unit for receiving images of the type recognized by processing of said image type recognition unit.