Image-taking apparatus, image-taking method, image-taking program, and storage medium having image-taking program stored thereon

• US 20030088557A1
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Morino, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,358,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32106 separate from the image data, e.g. in a different computer file
• 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 2201/3277 The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data

Abstract

An image-taking apparatus preferable for saving image data in folders as desired by a user for each scene or date of image-taking is disclosed. The image-taking apparatus of the present invention comprises an image processing circuit which creates image data files based on output from an image-pickup device, and a filing system which saves created image data files in a folder created on a recording medium with a different file number assigned to each image data file and performs a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number. The filing system creates a new folder on the recording medium in accordance with operation of an operating member by a user and starts the numbering process on image data files to be saved in the new folder from the initial number.

Claims

1. An image-taking apparatus comprising:

an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image;

an image processing circuit which creates image data files based on output from said image-pickup device;

a filing system which saves image data files created by said image processing circuit in a folder created on a recording medium with a different file number assigned to each image data file and performs a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number; and

an operating member which is operated by a user,

wherein said filing system creates a new folder on said recording medium in accordance with operation of said operating member and starts said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said new folder from said initial number.

2. An image-taking apparatus comprising:

an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image;

an image processing circuit which creates image data files based on output from said image-pickup device; and

a filing system which saves image data files created by said image processing circuit in a folder created on a recording medium with a different file number assigned to each image data file and performs a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number to a predetermined number,

wherein said filing system creates a new folder on said recording medium in response to the last assigned file number in said numbering process reaching said predetermined number and starts said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said new folder from said initial number.

3. The image-taking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said initial number and said predetermined number in said numbering process are numbers compliant with the DCF (Design rule for Camera File system) standard.

4. An image-taking apparatus comprising:

an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image;

an image processing circuit which creates image data files based on output from said image-pickup device;

a filing system which creates a plurality of folders on a recording medium, selectively saves image data files created by said image processing circuit in one of said plurality of folders with a different file number assigned to each image data file, and performs a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number; and

a operating member which is operated by a user,

wherein said filing system changes a folder for saving image data files for another folder in accordance with operation of said operating member, and starts said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said other folder from said initial number or a number which does not coincide with any file number of the image data file already saved in said other folder.

5. An image-taking apparatus comprising:

an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image;

an image processing circuit which creates image data files based on output from said image-pickup device; and

a filing system which creates a plurality of folders on a recording medium, selectively saves image data files created by said image processing circuit in one of said plurality of folders with a different file number assigned to each image data file, and performs a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number to a predetermined number,

wherein said filing system changes a folder for saving image data files for another folder in response to the last assigned file number in said numbering process reaching said predetermined number and starts said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said other folder from said initial number or a number which does not coincide with any file number of the image data file already saved in said other folder.

6. The image-taking apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said initial number and said predetermined number in said numbering process are numbers compliant with the DCF standard.

7. An image-taking apparatus comprising:

an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image;

an image processing circuit which creates image data files based on output from said image-pickup device; and

a filing system which saves image data files created by said image processing circuit in a folder created on a recording medium with a different file number assigned to each image data file and performs a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number to a predetermined number,

wherein said filing system performs a folder creating process in which it creates a new folder on said recording medium in response to the last assigned file number in said numbering process reaching said predetermined number and starts said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said new folder from said initial number, and

said filing system determines whether or not said folder creating process is performed in accordance with a condition in taking images.

8. An image-taking apparatus comprising:

an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image;

an image processing circuit which creates image data files based on output from said image-pickup device; and

a filing system which creates a plurality of folders on a recording medium, selectively saves image data files created by said image processing circuit in one of said plurality of folders with a different file number assigned to each image data file, and performs a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number to a predetermined number,

wherein said filing system performs a folder changing process in which it changes a folder for saving image data files for another folder in response to the last assigned file number in said numbering process reaching said predetermined number and starts said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said other folder from said initial number or a number which does not coincide with any file number of the image data file already saved in said other folder, and

said filing system determines whether or not said folder changing process is performed in accordance with a condition in taking images.

9. An image-taking method comprising the steps of:

an image-taking step of creating image data files based on output from an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image; and

a filing step of saving image data files created at said image-taking step in a folder created on a recording medium with a different file number assigned to each image data file and performing a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number,

wherein said filing step includes creating a new folder on said recording medium in accordance with operation of a specific operating member and starting said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said new folder from said initial number.

10. An image-taking method comprising the steps of:

an image-taking step of creating image data files based on output from an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image; and

a filing step of saving image data files created at said image-taking step in a folder created on a recording medium with a different file number assigned to each image data file and performing a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number to a predetermined number,

wherein said filing step includes creating a new folder on said recording medium in response to the last assigned file number in said numbering process reaching said predetermined number, and starting said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said new folder from said initial number.

11. The image-taking method according to claim 10, wherein said initial number and said predetermined number in said numbering process are numbers compliant with the DCF standard.

12. An image-taking method comprising the steps of:

an image-taking step of creating image data files based on output from an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image; and

a filing step of creating a plurality of folders on a recording medium, selectively saving image data files created at said image-taking step in one of said plurality of folders with a different file number assigned to each image data file, and performing a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number,

wherein said filing step includes changing a folder for saving image data files for another folder in accordance with operation of a specific operating member and starting said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said other folder from said initial number or a number which does not coincide with any file number of the image data file already saved in said other folder.

13. An image-taking method comprising the steps of:

an image-taking step of creating image data files based on output from an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image; and

a filing step of creating a plurality of folders on a recording medium, selectively saving image data files created at said image-taking step in one of said plurality of folders with a different file number assigned to each image data file, and performing a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number to a predetermined number,

wherein said filing step includes changing a folder for saving image data files for another folder in response to the last assigned file number in said numbering process reaching said predetermined number, and starting said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said other folder from said initial number or a number which does not coincide with any file number of the image data file already saved in said other folder.

14. The image-taking method according to claim 13, wherein said initial number and said predetermined number in said numbering process are numbers compliant with the DCF standard.

15. An image-taking method comprising the steps of:

an image-taking step of creating image data files based on output from an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image; and

a filing step of saving image data files created at said image-taking step in a folder created on a recording medium with a different file number assigned to each image data file and performing a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number to a predetermined number,

wherein said filing step includes performing a folder creating process in which a new folder is created on said recording medium in response to the last assigned file number in said numbering process reaching said predetermined number, and starting said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said new folder from said initial number, and

said filing step includes determining whether or not said folder creating process is performed in accordance with a condition in taking images.

16. An image-taking method comprising the steps of:

an image-taking step of creating image data files based on output from an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image; and

a filing step of creating a plurality of folders on a recording medium, selectively saving image data files created at said image-taking step in one of said plurality of folders with a different file number assigned to each image data file, and performing a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number to a predetermined number,

wherein said filing step includes performing a folder changing process in which a folder for saving image data files is changed for another folder in response to the last assigned file number in said numbering process reaching said predetermined number, and starting said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said other folder from said initial number or a number which does not coincide with any file number of the image data file already saved in said other folder, and

said filing step includes determining whether or not said folder changing process is performed in accordance with a condition in taking images.

17. An image-taking program executable by a computer, comprising the steps of:

an image-taking step of creating image data files based on output from an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image; and

a filing step of saving image data files created at said image-taking step in a folder created on a recording medium with a different file number assigned to each image data file and performing a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number,

wherein said filing step includes creating a new folder on said recording medium in accordance with operation of a specific operating member and starting said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said new folder from said initial number.

25. A computer-readable storage medium having the image-taking program according to claim 17 stored thereon.

18. An image-taking program executable by a computer, comprising the steps of:

an image-taking step of creating image data files based on output from an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image; and

a filing step of saving image data files created at said image-taking step in a folder created on a recording medium with a different file number assigned to each image data file and performing a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number to a predetermined number,

wherein said filing step includes creating a new folder on said recording medium in response to the last assigned file number in said numbering process reaching said predetermined number, and starting said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said new folder from said initial number.

19. The image-taking program according to claim 18, wherein said initial number and said predetermined number in said numbering process are numbers compliant with the DCF standard.

26. A computer-readable storage medium having the image-taking program according to claim 18 stored thereon.

20. An image-taking program executable by a computer, comprising the steps of:

an image-taking step of creating image data files based on output from an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image; and

a filing step of creating a plurality of folders on a recording medium, selectively saving image data files created at said image-taking step in one of said plurality of folders with a different file number assigned to each image data file, and performing a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number,

wherein said filing step includes changing a folder for saving image data files for another folder in accordance with operation of a specific operating member and starting said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said other folder from said initial number or a number which does not coincide with any file number of the image data file already saved in said other folder.

27. A computer-readable storage medium having the image-taking program according to claim 20 stored thereon.

21. An image-taking program executable by a computer, comprising the steps of:

an image-taking step of creating image data files based on output from an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image; and

a filing step of creating a plurality of folders on a recording medium, selectively saving image data files created at said image-taking step in one of said plurality of folders with a different file number assigned to each image data file, and performing a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number to a predetermined number,

wherein said filing step includes changing a folder for saving image data files for another folder in response to the last assigned file number in said numbering process reaching said predetermined number, and starting said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said other folder from said initial number or a number which does not coincide with any file number of the image data file already saved in said other folder.

22. The image-taking program according to claim 21, wherein said initial number and said predetermined number in said numbering process are numbers compliant with the DCF standard.

28. A computer-readable storage medium having the image-taking program according to claim 21 stored thereon.

23. An image-taking program executable by a computer, comprising the steps of:

an image-taking step of creating image data files based on output from an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image; and

a filing step of saving image data files created at said image-taking step in a folder created on a recording medium with a different file number assigned to each image data file and performing a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number to a predetermined number,

wherein said filing step includes performing a folder creating process in which a new folder is created on said recording medium in response to the last assigned file number in said numbering process reaching said predetermined number, and starting said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said new folder from said initial number, and

said filing step includes determining whether or not said folder creating process is performed in accordance with a condition in taking images.

29. A computer-readable storage medium having the image-taking program according to claim 23 stored thereon.

24. An image-taking method executable by a computer, comprising the steps of:

an image-taking step of creating image data files based on output from an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image; and

a filing step of creating a plurality of folders on a recording medium, selectively saving image data files created at said image-taking step in one of said plurality of folders with a different file number assigned to each image data file, and performing a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number to a predetermined number,

wherein said filing step includes performing a folder changing process in which a folder for saving image data files is changed for another folder in response to the last assigned file number in said numbering process reaching said predetermined number, and starting said numbering process on image data files to be saved in said other folder from said initial number or a number which does not coincide with any file number of the image data file already saved in said other folder, and

said filing step includes determining whether or not said folder changing process is performed in accordance with a condition in taking images.

30. A computer-readable storage medium having the image-taking program according to claim 24 stored thereon.