System for transferring image data from a camera to a printing system

• US 6,833,861 B2
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 12/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Nobuo, Kinjo, Naoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen, VU, NGOC YEN T
• Application Number:
  US09/350,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.12, 348/207.2, 348/222, 348/231-233, 348/2, 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/333.05, 348/333.11, 348/333.12, 348/373, 348/375, 348/376, 348/552, 358/500, 358/501, 358/502, 358/505, 358/513, 358/527, 386/46, 386/95, 386/107, 386/108, 386/109, 386/112, 386/117, 386/118, 396/297, 396/299, 396/300
• US Class Current: 348/207.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• 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 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence

Abstract

A digital still camera is provided with a data communication section which transfers image data of a picture frame photographed by the digital still camera to a printing equipment through a radio telephony channel each time the picture frame is photographed. The data communication section sends ID data consisting of a user ID number and a frame ID number and print order data as along with the image data. In the printing equipment, the received image data and ID data is stored as database in a memory. Based on the image data read from the database, a printer makes hard copies in conditions designated by the print order data. The hard copies are delivered to a place appointed by the print order data.

Claims

1. An imaging system for making an image print based on transmitted image data, comprising a printing system and a camera, wherein said camera comprises:

an imaging device detecting image data from a subject; and

a transmitter transmitting the image data along with ID data identifying individual image frames of the image data and along with print order data defining printing conditions for the individual image frames of the image data;

wherein said printing system comprises;

a data receiving device receiving the image data, the ID data and the print order data transmitted from said transmitter within said camera; and

a printing device making image prints of the individual image frames in accordance with the ID data and the print order data;

wherein said camera is configured to photograph a series of frames of the subject according to a pixel-shifting method; and

wherein data of differences between the series of frames is coded for transmission to said printing system via said transmitter.

2. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said printing system further comprises a control device which controls the writing of the image data into a database memory within said printing system, the reading of the image data from said database memory based on the ID data, and the printing of the image prints based on the print order data.

3. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the image data is transmitted to said data receiving device via a radio communication channel.

4. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein photographic condition data is transmitted along with the image data from said transmitter to said data receiving device.

5. An imaging system according to claim 4, wherein the photographic condition data comprises at least one of date information, time information, focal length information, distance-to-subject information, exposure information, illumination information, weather condition information, and temperature condition information.

6. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the ID data comprises a user ID number and a frame ID number.

7. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the print order data includes print delivery data, and the image prints are delivered to an order sender at a place appointed by the delivery data.

8. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said camera stores a plurality of registered printing locations, and the print order data includes a selected one of the plurality of registered printing locations, and further wherein the selected one of the plurality of registered printing locations is closest to said camera of all the registered printing locations.

9. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the present location of the camera is determined by data entered by a user, or a signal from a radio base station or a global positioning system.

10. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises a memory device storing the image data of a plurality of frames, and wherein said transmitter starts transmitting the image data of the plurality of frames after a predetermined number of frames are photographed or after a predetermined amount of image data is stored in said memory device.

11. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said printing system transmits a confirmation signal upon normal receipt of the image data by said printing system, and wherein said camera deletes the image data of a plurality of frames stored in said memory device when said transmitter receives the confirmation signal from said printing system.

12. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises a key input through which a user of said camera enters the print order data into the camera.

13. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the print order data comprises at least one of:

a quantity of prints, an index print request, and a print format request.

14. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the print order data comprises at least one of a request to preserve the image data in a database of said printing system, a request to preserve the image data on a transportable memory medium, or a request to transmit the image data to a designated database external to said printing system.

15. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said printing system stores customized printing instructions for said camera, and wherein the print order data transmitted by said camera comprises either a confirmation or a modification of the customized printing instructions.

16. A method, comprising:

recording an image with a camera as image data;

transmitting the image data and control data from the camera over a telecommunications medium to a printing system that is remote from the camera, wherein the control data includes ID data identifying image frames of the image data and image data print order instructions;

receiving the image data and the control data at the printing system;

printing the image data at the printing system in accordance with the ID data identifying image frames of the image data and the print order instructions;

wherein a series of frames of a subject is photographed by the camera according to a pixel-shifting method; and

wherein data of differences between the series of frames is coded for transmission to the printing system via a transmitter.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising entering the print order instructions into the camera prior to said transmitting.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the print order instructions comprise at least one of:

a quantity of prints, an index print request, and a print format request.