Information management method and digital camera

• US 20090115879A1
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation), Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagata, Hideki, Ide, Takayuki, Minakata, Hiroyuki, Kohashi, Atsushi, Omaki, Minoru
• Application Number:
  US11/903,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20090115879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4406 Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4426 involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/444 to a particular document or image or part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

An information management method and digital camera which can reduce the burden on a user in terms of information management, while ensuring security, are provided. The invention provides a digital camera including an image-acquisition unit for acquiring image information; an ID reading unit for reading identification information of a wireless IC tag built into personal belongings that an image-acquiring person carries; a recording unit for associating and recording the read identification information and image information; a display unit for displaying the image information; and a control unit. At the time of a display request for the image information, the control unit displays the image information on the display unit when the identification information read by the ID reading unit matches the identification information associated with the image information which is the subject of the display request.

Claims

1. An information management method comprising:

reading, at information creation time, identification information of a wireless IC tag built into personal belongings which an information creator carries and recording created information in association with the read identification information; and

reading, at readout request time, identification information of a wireless IC tag built into personal belongings of a person requesting readout of the information and

allowing readout of the corresponding information when the read identification information matches the identification information associated with information which is the subject of the readout request.

2. An information management method according to claim 1, wherein:

the information is recorded in association with a plurality of items of the identification information; and

readout of the information is allowed when any of the identification information associated with the information which is the subject of the readout request matches any of the identification information read out from the wireless IC tag.

3. An information management method according to claim 1, wherein:

the information is recorded in association with a plurality of items of the identification information; and

readout of the information is allowed when the identification information associated with the information which is the subject of the readout request and the identification information read out from the wireless IC tag completely match.

4. An information management method according to claim 1, wherein:

the information is recorded in association with a plurality of items of the identification information; and

whether to allow readout of the information which is the subject of the readout request when all of the identification information matches or whether to allow readout of the information when any of the identification information matches can be selected, and readout of the information is performed according to the allowed condition that is selected.

5. An information management method according to claim 1, wherein when the identification information of the wireless IC tag built into the personal belongings is read, information which can be read out according to the read identification information is identified, and a list of the identified information is displayed.

6. A digital camera comprising:

an image-acquisition unit configured to acquire image information;

an ID reading unit configured to read identification information of a wireless IC tag built into personal belongings that an image-acquirer carries;

a recording unit configured to associate and record the read identification information and image information;

a display unit; and

a control unit,

wherein, at the time of a display request for the image information, the control unit displays the image information on the display unit when the identification information read by the ID reading unit matches the identification information associated with the image information which is the subject of the display request.

7. A digital camera according to claim 6, wherein:

the recording unit is capable of recording the image information in association with a plurality of items of the identification information; and

the control unit displays the image information on the display unit when any of the identification information associated with the image information which is the subject of the display request matches any of the identification information read by the ID reading unit.

8. A digital camera according to claim 6, wherein:

the recording unit is capable of recording the image information in association with a plurality of items of the identification information; and

the control unit displays the image information on the display unit when the identification information associated with the image information which is the subject of the display request and the identification information read by the ID reading unit completely match.

9. A digital camera according to claim 6, further comprising:

a selection unit;

wherein the recording unit is capable of recording the image information in association with a plurality of items of the identification information,

the selection unit is configured to select whether to display an image only when the identification information completely matches or whether to display the image when any of the identification information matches, in the event of the display request, and

the control unit displays the image for which there is a display request on the display unit according to the selection condition selected by the selection unit.

10. A digital camera according to claim 6, wherein, at display request time, the control unit identifies, from the recording unit, image information which can be displayed on the basis of the identification information read by the ID reading unit, and displays a list of the identified image information on the display unit.