DIGITAL CAMERA AND IMAGE-SHARING METHOD

• US 20070047950A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Masao, Asami, Shuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,561,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/429
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

Image data captured by digital cameras are shared among the digital cameras. Image data captured by digital cameras constituting members of an image-sharing group are shared, by way of a network, within the image-sharing group. Every time captured image data are output, the digital camera generates for each of the members distribution information, including a storage source directory, a distribution destination address, and a storage destination directory, all pertaining to the image data, by reference to a group list where member information is registered for each of the members, including a distribution destination address and a storage destination directory, to thus generate a distribution list having respective pieces of distribution information registered therein. Further, the digital camera sequentially reads distribution information from the distribution list and distributes the image data to respective other digital cameras, which constitute the members, on the basis of the read distribution information.

Claims

1. A digital camera which shares, within an image-sharing group by way of a network, image data captured by digital cameras constituting members of the image-sharing group, the digital camera comprising:

an imaging circuit for outputting image data obtained by capturing a subject;

a distribution list generation module which generates for each of the members of the group, every time image data are output from the capturing circuit, distribution information, including a storage source directory, a distribution destination address, and a storage destination directory, all pertaining to the image data, by reference to a group list where member information is registered for each of the members, including a distribution destination address and a storage destination directory, to thus generate a distribution list having respective pieces of distribution information registered therein; and

a distribution module which sequentially reads distribution information from the distribution list and distributes the image data to respective other digital cameras, which constitute the members, on the basis of the read distribution information.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein, when image data based on read distribution information have not been successfully distributed, the distribution module saves the distribution information in an undistributed list, and again tries to effect distribution in connection with the distribution information saved in the undistributed list after having attempted distribution with regard to all pieces of distribution information registered in the distribution list.

3. An image-sharing method for sharing, by way of a network and within an image sharing group, image data captured by digital cameras constituting members of the image-sharing group, the method comprising:

a distribution list generation step of generating, for each of the members of the group, every time image data are output from the capturing circuit, distribution information, including a storage source directory, a distribution destination address, and a storage destination directory, all pertaining to the image data, by reference to a group list where member information is registered for each of the members, including a distribution destination address and a storage destination directory, to thus generate a distribution list having respective pieces of distribution information registered therein; and

a distribution step of sequentially reading distribution information from the distribution list and distributing the image data to respective other digital cameras, which constitute the members, on the basis of the read distribution information.