Electronic camera having picture data output function

• US 6,642,959 B1
• Filed: 06/16/1998
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Arai, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Villecco, John M.
• Application Number:
  US09/098,065
• Time in Patent Office: 1,967 Days
• Field of Search: 348/239, 348/552, 348/143, 348/211.2, 348/231.2, 348/231.3, 348/231.99, 348/211.99, 348/207.1, 348/207.11, 348/207.2, 348/211.6, 348/211.11, 348/211.12, 348/231.9, 710/62
• US Class Current: 348/231.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2137 with temporary storage before final recording, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3204 of data relating to a user, sender, addressee, machine or electronic recording medium H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• 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

A digital camera stores captured picture data and E-mail address data inputted from a key entry unit in a flash memory so that they are associated with each other and then transfers the picture data and the E-mail address data to a personal computer via an I/O port or an infrared communication unit. The personal computer receives the picture data and the E-mail address data transferred from the digital camera via an I/O port or an infrared communication unit. The received picture data is then transmitted to a destination terminal on a computer network on the basis of the received E-mail address data.

Claims

1. A portable electronic camera comprising:

picture capturing means for capturing a picture of a subject;

storage means for storing a plurality of picture data items obtained by the picture capturing means;

first selection means for selecting a desired picture data item from the picture data items stored in the storage means;

input means for inputting a destination address data item indicative of a transmission destination;

storage control means for causing the storage means to store the input destination address data item in association with the picture data item selected by the first selection means;

second selection means for selecting at least one picture data item from the picture data items stored in the storage means;

output means for externally outputting the picture data item selected by the second selection means; and

output control means for, when the output means externally outputs the selected picture data item, externally outputting the destination address data item stored in the storage means in association with the selected picture data item;

wherein the storage means stores different destination address data items, input by the input means, in association with the respective picture data items.

2. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the output means comprises means for transferring the picture data items to external equipment.

3. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the output control means comprises means for causing the picture data items to be transmitted to respective one or more destination terminals based on the destination address data items.

4. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the second selection means selects a desired picture data item from the picture data items stored in the storage means.

5. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the second selection means includes means for selecting a desired destination address data item from among the plurality of destination address data items stored in the storage means, and the second selection means selects a picture data item stored in the storage means in association with the destination address data item selected by the means.

6. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the second selection means selects a picture data item which is not yet externally output by the output means from among the picture data items stored in the storage means.

7. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein:

the input means includes means for inputting title data and/or memo data,

the storage control means causes the storage means to store the picture data items, the destination address data items, and the title data and/or the memo data inputted by the input means in association with the picture data item selected by the first selection means; and

the output control means externally outputs, when the output means externally outputs the picture data item, the title data and/or the memo data stored in the storage means in association with the picture data item.

8. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the storage means comprises a memory card which is adapted to be inserted in and removed from a body of the portable electronic camera.

9. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the destination address data items comprise E-mail addresses.

10. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising display means for simultaneously displaying the picture data items and the destination address data items respectively associated therewith.

11. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising mode selection means for selecting one of an address input mode for inputting destination address data, and a picture output mode for outputting picture data, and wherein if the mode selection means selects the address input mode, input of destination address data by the input means is allowed, and if the mode selection means selects the picture output mode, external output of picture data by the output means is allowed.

12. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing a character data storage table showing a plurality of characters, and wherein the input means selects arbitrary characters one by one from the character data storage table, thereby inputting destination address data.

13. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the input means receives destination address data output from an external device.

14. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the input means executes character recognition processing on the picture data items obtained by the picture capturing means, and inputs resultant character data as destination address data.

15. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the input means executes character recognition processing on character data input by handwriting on a touch panel, and inputs resultant character data as destination address data.

16. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the input means includes means for inputting a plurality of destination address data items, and the storage control means includes means for storing in the storage means a plurality of destination address data items input by the input means in association with the picture data item selected by the first selection means.

17. The pottable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the first selection means includes means for selecting a plurality of desired picture data items from the picture data items stored in the storage means, and the storage control means includes means for storing in the storage means destination address data input by the input means in association with a plurality of picture data items selected by the first selection means.

18. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the storage control means includes means for replacing, with destination address data input by the input means, destination address data stored in the storage means in association with the picture data selected by the first selection means.

19. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for controlling a display to display a plurality of the picture data items stored in the storage means, and wherein the first selection means selects the desired picture data item from the displayed picture data items.

20. The portable electronic camera according to claim 19, wherein the display control means includes means for controlling the display to display destination address data stored in the storage means in association with the picture data items.

21. The portable electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for controlling a display to display a plurality of the picture data items stored in the storage means, and wherein the second selection means selects the at least one picture data item from the displayed picture data items.

22. The portable electronic camera according to claim 21, wherein the display control means includes means for controlling the display to display destination address data stored in the storage means in association with the picture data items.

23. An electronic camera comprising:

picture capturing means for capturing a picture of a subject;

input means for inputting a destination address data of a location to which picture data captured by the picture capturing means is to be transmitted;

storage means for storing the picture data captured by the picture capturing means and the destination address data input by the input means in association with each other;

output means for outputting to external equipment the picture data and the destination address data associated therewith stored in the storage means;

means for, when the picture data and the destination address data associated therewith are transferred to the external equipment by the output means, setting whether or not to transfer the destination address data together with the picture data.

24. The portable electronic camera according to claim 23, wherein:

the storage means stores picture data items captured by the picture capturing means, and destination address data items input by the input means, each of the picture data items being stored in association with a corresponding one of the destination address data items;

the portable electronic camera further comprises selection means for selecting a desired picture data item from the picture data items stored in the storage means; and

the output means externally outputs the selected picture data item and a corresponding destination address data item.

25. The portable electronic camera according to claim 23, wherein:

the input means includes means for inputting title data and/or memo data corresponding to the picture data,

the storage means stores, in association with each other, the picture data, the destination address data, and the title data and/or the memo data input by the input means;

the output means externally outputs the picture data, the destination address data, and the title data and/or the memo data stored in the storage means in association with each other; and

the setting means determines whether or not the destination address data and the title data and/or the memo data should be output to an external device together with the picture data, when the output means outputs the picture data, the destination address data and the title data and/or memo data.

26. An electronic device comprising:

receiving means for receiving picture data and destination address data of a location to which the picture data is to be transmitted;

storage means for storing the picture data and the destination address data received by the receiving means in association with each other;

transmitting means for transmitting the stored picture data to a destination terminal based on the destination address data stored in the storing means; and

selecting means for selecting, from the stored picture data, picture data that has not been transmitted by the transmitting means,

wherein the transmitting means transmits the picture data selected by the selecting means to the destination terminal based on the destination address data associated with the picture data selected by the selecting means.

27. The electronic device according to claim 26, further comprising detecting means for detecting completion of reception of the picture data and the corresponding destination address data by the receiving means, and wherein when the detecting means detects the completion of the reception, the transmitting means transmits the picture data selected by the selecting means based on destination address data corresponding to the selected picture data.

28. The electronic device according to claim 26, wherein:

the receiving means receives title data and/or memo data corresponding to the picture data, together with the picture data and the corresponding destination address data;

the storage means stores the picture data, the corresponding destination address data and the title data and/or the memo data received by the receiving means; and

the transmitting means transmits, to the destination terminal, the picture data selected by the selecting means, and the title data and/or the memo data stored in the storage means in association with the selected picture data, based on the destination address data corresponding to the selected picture data.

29. A transmission system comprising a portable electronic camera and an electronic device,

wherein the portable electronic camera comprises:

picture capturing means for capturing a picture of a subject;

storage means for storing a plurality of picture data items obtained by the picture capturing means;

first selection means for selecting a desired picture data item from the picture data items stored in the storage means;

input means for inputting a destination address data item indicative of a transmission destination;

storage control means for causing the storage means to store the input destination address data item in association with the picture data item selected by the first selection means;

second selection means for selecting at least one picture data item from the picture data items stored in the storage means;

output means for externally outputting the picture data item selected by the second selection means; and

output control means for, when the output means externally outputs the selected picture data item, externally outputting the destination address data item stored in the storage means in association with the selected picture data item;

wherein the storage means stores different destination address data items, input by the input means, in association with the respective picture data items, and

wherein the electronic device comprises;

receiving means for receiving the output picture data item and the output corresponding destination address data item;

second storage means for storing combinations of the picture data items and the corresponding destination address data items received by the receiving means; and

transmitting means for transmitting to a destination terminal, based on at least one destination address data item, a picture data item stored in the second storage means in association with the at least one destination data address item.

30. The transmission system according to claim 29, wherein the portable electronic camera and the electronic device are adapted to wirelessly communicate with each other.

31. The transmission system according to claim 30, wherein the electronic camera and the electronic device are adapted to communicate with each other via infrared signals.

32. A method of controlling a portable electronic camera comprising:

capturing a picture of a subject;

storing in a memory a plurality of picture data items corresponding to picked up images;

selecting a desired picture data item from the stored picture data items;

inputting a destination address data item;

storing in the memory the input destination address data item in association with the selected picture data item;

selecting at least one picture data item from the stored picture data items;

externally outputting the selected picture data item; and

externally outputting the destination address data item stored in the memory in association with the selected picture data item, when externally outputting the selected picture data item.

33. A portable electronic camera comprising:

a picture capturing section for capturing a picture of a subject;

a memory storing a plurality of picture data items obtained by the picture capturing section;

a first selection section for selecting a desired picture data item from the picture data items stored in the memory;

an input section for inputting a destination address data item indicative of a transmission destination;

a storage control section for causing the memory to store the input destination address data item in association with the picture data item selected by the first selection section;

a second selection section for selecting at least one picture data item from the picture data items stored in the memory;

an output section for externally outputting the picture data item selected by the second selection section; and

an output control section for, when the output section externally outputs the selected picture data item, externally outputting the destination address data item stored in the memory in association with the selected picture data item;

wherein the memory stores different destination address data items, input by the input section, in association with the respective picture data items.

34. An electronic camera composing:

a picture capturing unit for capturing a picture of a subject;

an input unit for inputting destination address data of a location to which picture data captured by the picture capturing unit is to be transmitted;

a memory for storing the picture data captured by the picture capturing unit and the destination address data input by the input unit in association with each other;

an output unit for outputting to external equipment the picture data and the destination address data associated therewith stored in the memory; and

a setting unit for, when the picture data and the destination address data associated therewith are transferred to the external equipment by the output unit, setting whether or not to transfer the destination address data together with the picture data.

35. An electronic device comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving picture data and destination address data of a location to which the picture data is to be transmitted;

a memory for storing the picture data and the destination address data received by the receiving unit in association with each other;

a transmitting unit for transmitting the stored picture data to a destination terminal based on the destination address data stored in the memory; and

a selecting unit for selecting, from the stored picture data, picture data that has not been transmitted by the transmitting unit;

wherein the transmitting unit transmits the picture data selected by the selecting unit to the destination terminal based on the destination address data associated with the picture data selected by the selecting unit.

36. A method of controlling an electronic camera comprising:

capturing a picture of a subject;

inputting destination address data;

storing the captured picture data and the inputted destination address data in association with each other in a memory;

externally outputting the picture data and the destination address data associated therewith stored in the memory; and

setting, when the picture data and the destination address data associated therewith are transferred to external equipment, whether or not to transfer the destination address data together with the picture data.

37. A method of controlling an electronic device comprising:

receiving picture data and destination address data associated therewith;

storing the received picture data and destination address data in a memory;

selecting, from the picture data stored in the memory, picture data that has not been transmitted; and

transmitting the selected picture data to a destination terminal based on destination address data associated with the selected picture data.