Image processing system, imaging device and method, recording medium, and program

• US 20060112413A1
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Date, Osamu, Masuda, Hiroshi, Ando, Masaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image processing system, a device and a method for image pickup, a recording medium, and a program that make it possible to transfer a large amount of image data to another apparatus efficiently. A digital camera 1 transfers image data to a server 5 after transferring thumbnail image data yet to be transferred to the server 5. When new thumbnail image data is generated during the transfer of the image data, the transfer of the image data is stopped, and the new thumbnail image data is transferred first. Obtaining the thumbnail image data, the server 5 displays the thumbnail images on a display, receives a request for the transfer of image data from a user, and then supplies the request to the digital camera 1. The digital camera 1 transfers the image data to the server 5 on the basis of the request. The present invention is applicable to digital still cameras.

Claims

1. An image processing system comprising:

an image pickup device for transferring image data obtained by picking up an image of a subject; and

an image processing apparatus for obtaining the image data transferred from said image pickup device;

wherein said image pickup device includes;

image pickup means for picking up the image of said subject and generating said image data;

generating means for generating representative image data representing said image data generated by said image pickup means; and

supplying means for supplying said representative image data preferentially before said image data in supplying said image data and said representative image data to said image processing apparatus connected via a network; and

said image processing apparatus includes;

obtaining means for obtaining said representative image data and said image data supplied from said image pickup device;

displaying means for displaying said representative image data obtained by said obtaining means; and

storing means for storing said representative image data and said image data obtained by said obtaining means in association with each other.

2. An image processing system comprising:

an image pickup device for transferring image data obtained by picking up an image of a subject;

an image managing apparatus for managing said image data transferred from said image pickup device; and

an image processing apparatus for obtaining said image data managed by said image managing apparatus;

wherein said image pickup device includes;

image pickup means for picking up the image of said subject and generating said image data;

generating means for generating representative image data representing said image data generated by said image pickup means; and

first supplying means for supplying said representative image data preferentially before said image data in supplying said image data and said representative image data to said image managing apparatus connected via a network;

said image managing apparatus includes;

first obtaining means for obtaining said representative image data and said image data supplied from said image pickup device;

managing means for managing said representative image data and said image data obtained by said first obtaining means in association with each other; and

second supplying means for supplying said representative image data preferentially before said image data in supplying said image data and said representative image data to said image processing apparatus connected via said network; and

said image processing apparatus includes;

second obtaining means for obtaining said representative image data and said image data supplied from said image managing apparatus;

displaying means for displaying said representative image data obtained by said second obtaining means; and

storing means for storing said representative image data and said image data obtained by said second obtaining means in association with each other.

3. An image pickup device comprising:

image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject and generating image data;

generating means for generating representative image data representing said image data generated by said image pickup means; and

supplying means for supplying said representative image data preferentially before said image data in supplying said image data and said representative image data to another apparatus connected via a network.

4. The image pickup device as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

when said image pickup means generates new said image data while said supplying means is supplying said image data to said other apparatus, said supplying means preferentially supplies new said representative image data representing the new said image data, the new said representative image data being generated by said generating means, to said other apparatus before said image data being supplied.

5. The image pickup device as set forth in claim 3, further comprising receiving means for receiving control information on supply of said image data,

wherein said supplying means supplies said image data to said other apparatus on a basis of said control information received by said receiving means.

6. The image pickup device as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said supplying means supplies related information on said image data to said other apparatus together with said representative image data or the new said representative image data.

7. The image pickup device as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

receiving means for receiving a first cryptographic key supplied by said other apparatus;

cryptographic key generating means for generating a second cryptographic key for encrypting said image data generated by said image pickup means;

first encrypting means for generating first encrypted data by encrypting said image data generated by said image pickup means by said second cryptographic key; and

second encrypting means for generating second encrypted data by encrypting said second cryptographic key by said first cryptographic key;

wherein the related information on said image data is said second encrypted data.

8. An image pickup method comprising steps of:

first generating for generating image data obtained by picking up an image of a subject;

second generating for generating representative image data representing said image data generated by a process of said first generating step; and

supply controlling for controlling supply so as to supply said representative image data preferentially before said image data in supplying said image data and said representative image data to another apparatus connected via a network.

9. The image pickup method as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

when new said image data is generated by the process of said first generating step while said image data is being supplied to said other apparatus, said supply controlling step controls said supply so as to preferentially supply new said representative image data representing the new said image data, the new said representative image data being generated by a process of said second generating step, to said other apparatus before said image data being supplied.

10. The image pickup method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a step of reception controlling for controlling reception of control information on supply of said image data,

wherein said supply controlling step controls said supply so as to supply said image data to said other apparatus on a basis of said control information received by a process of said reception controlling step.

11. The image pickup method as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said supply controlling step controls said supply so as to supply related information on said image data to said other apparatus together with said representative image data or the new said representative image data.

12. The image pickup method as set forth in claim 11, further comprising steps of:

reception controlling for controlling reception of a first cryptographic key supplied by said other apparatus;

cryptographic key generating for generating a second cryptographic key for encrypting said image data generated by the process of said first generating step;

first encrypting for generating first encrypted data by encrypting said image data generated by the process of said first generating step by said second cryptographic key; and

second encrypting for generating second encrypted data by encrypting said second cryptographic key by said first cryptographic key;

wherein the related information on said image data is said second encrypted data.

13. A recording medium on which a computer readable program is recorded, said program comprising steps of:

first generating for generating image data obtained by picking up an image of a subject;

second generating for generating representative image data representing said image data generated by a process of said first generating step; and

supply controlling for controlling supply so as to supply said representative image data preferentially before said image data in supplying said image data and said representative image data to another apparatus connected via a network.

14. A program making a computer perform a process comprising steps of:

first generating for generating image data obtained by picking up an image of a subject;

second generating for generating representative image data representing said image data generated by a process of said first generating step; and

supply controlling for controlling supply so as to supply said representative image data preferentially before said image data in supplying said image data and said representative image data to another apparatus connected via a network.