METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A FILE NAME IN AN IMAGE MANIPULATING SYSTEM HAVING A MEMORY DEVICE IN WHICH A FILE NAME AND A SECOND TRAIN OF CHARACTERS IS PROVIDED WHEREIN A FILE NUMBER IS AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED BY INCREMENTING A FILE NUMBER PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED AND STORED IN MEMORY

• US 6,985,892 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2003
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Yoneyama, Kaoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Christopher B.
• Application Number:
  US10/648,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 707/530, 707 1- 10, 707205-206, 707/511, 707/104.1, 345/113, 345/340, 345/527, 235/375, 715/530, 369/41.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/04 Arrangements for preventing, inhibiting, or warning against double recording on the same blank or against other recording or reproducing malfunctions
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/06 by counting or timing of machine operations
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9261 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

An image manipulating system according to the present invention includes a file generator which assigns a file name for information to be recorded so that the information is formatted as a file for storage in a recording medium. The file generator automatically assigns the file name which has a part thereof which is a serial number stored and managed in the recording medium and associated with the file. The file generator increments the last stored file number and stores it in readiness for use to identify the next file to be created. The file generator also creates characters forming an arbitrary position of the file name. The file generator also provides a character which identifies the image manipulating system with the file number.

Claims

1. An image manipulating system, comprising:

an A/D converter for converting an analog video signal into a digital signal;

a coder for compressing said digital signal from said A/D converter and outputting compressed image data;

an interface circuit for recording said image data in a removable recording medium connected to said interface circuit;

a memory for storing a value, said value being incremented responsive to recording of the image data in said recording medium, said memory retaining said stored value even when said recording medium is disconnected from said interface circuit and replaced by another recording medium;

a controller for automatically producing a file name for the image data including a number when the image data is recorded in the recording medium connected to the interface circuit, said controller selectively executing one of a first file name production mode to set a number in said file name to a selectable smallest one based on information recorded in the recording medium connected to the interface circuit and a second file name production mode to provide a number in said file name based on the value stored in the memory; and

a mode selector for selecting one of said first file name production mode and said second file name production mode.

2. An image manipulating system according to claim 1,

wherein said mode selector comprises a switch to select one of the first and second modes.

3. An image manipulating system according to claim 1,

wherein said mode selector comprises a display for displaying a menu having selectable recording modes.

4. An image manipulating system according to claim 1,

wherein said controller retrieves directories having no recorded image data responsive to recording of the image data in the recording medium connected to the interface circuit when executing the first file name production mode to record the image data in a directory having a smallest directory number and having no recorded image data and use said smallest directory number as a number in the file name, to thereby set the number in the file name to a selectable smallest one.

5. An image manipulating system according to claim 1,

wherein said controller records the image data in a directory having a smallest directory number other than directories in which the image data have been recorded or deleted responsive to recording of the image data in the connected recording medium when executing the first file name production mode, and uses the number of the directory having a smallest directory number as a number in the file name, to thereby set the number in the file name to a selectable smallest number.

6. An image manipulating system according to claim 1,

wherein said controller further provides a fixed character as part of the file name when automatically producing the file name.

7. An image manipulating system according to claim 1,

wherein said controller further provides a character specific to the system as part of the file name when automatically producing the file name.

8. An image manipulating system according to claim 1,

wherein said memory is capable of retaining stored data even when power to the memory is turned off.

9. An image manipulating system according to claim 8,

wherein said memory is an EEPROM.

10. An image manipulating system, comprising:

an A/D converter for converting an analog video signal into a digital signal;

a coder for compressing said digital signal from said A/D converter and outputting compressed image data;

an interface circuit for recording said image data in a recording medium releaseably connected to said interface circuit;

a memory for storing a value, said value being incremented responsive to recording of the image data in said recording medium releaseably connected to said interface circuit, said memory retaining said stored value even when said recording medium is disconnected from said interface circuit and exchanged for a another recording medium; and

a controller for automatically producing a file name for the image data including a number when recording the image data in the recording medium, said controller producing said number in the file name based on said value stored in said memory.

11. An image manipulating system according to claim 10,

wherein said controller further provides a fixed character as part of the file name when automatically producing the file name.

12. An image manipulating system according to claim 10,

wherein said controller further provides a character specific to the system as part of the file name when automatically producing the file name.

13. An image manipulating system according to claim 10,

wherein said memory is capable of retaining stored data even when power to the memory is turned off.

14. An image manipulating system according to claim 13,

wherein said memory is an EEPROM.

15. A method of recording image data in an exchangeable recording medium, said recording medium receiving image data and a file identifier when selectively connected to an interface, comprising:

connecting said recording medium to said interface;

receiving analog image data;

converting said analog image data into digital image data;

compressing said digital image data;

automatically producing a file name for said compressed image data including a number which is then automatically incremented; and

recording said compressed image data and said automatically produced file name correspondingly in said recording medium;

wherein numbers in the file names are set so as to prevent use of a same number in another file name even when the recording medium is removed from the interface and another recording medium is connected to the interface.

16. A method of recording image data in an exchangeable recording medium, said recording medium receiving image data when selectively connected to an interface, comprising:

connecting said recording medium to said interface;

converting received analog image data into digital image data;

compressing said digital image data;

automatically producing a file name for said compressed image data including a number which is then automatically incremented; and

recording said compressed image data and said automatically produced file name correspondingly in the recording medium connected to the interface;

wherein one of first and second operating modes is selected, said first mode being a first file name producing mode setting said number in the file name to a selectable smallest one when automatically producing the file name and said second mode being a second file name producing mode setting numbers in each file name to prevent use of the same number in another file name even when the recording medium is removed from the interface and another recording medium is connected to the interface.

17. A method of recording according to claim 16, wherein said first file name producing mode comprises:

retrieving directories having no image data recorded from the recording medium connected to the interface;

selecting a directory having a smallest directory number and having no image data recorded as the directory for recording the image data; and

setting the number in the file name as a selectable smallest number by setting the directory number as the number in the file name.

18. A method of recording according to claim 16, wherein said first file name producing mode comprises:

retrieving directories having no image data recorded from the recording medium connected to the interface;

setting a directory of the smallest directory number other than directories in which image data have been recorded or deleted as the directory to record the image data; and

setting the number in the file name as a selectable smallest number by setting the directory number as the number in the file name.

19. A file name producing method for recording image data provided for recording in an exchangeable recording medium when selectively connected to an interface, comprising:

connecting said recording medium to said interface;

automatically producing a file name of said image data including a number which is then automatically incremented,

wherein numbers in the file names are set to prevent duplicate use of said numbers even when said one recording medium is removed from the interface and another recording medium is selectively connected to the interface.

20. A file name producing method for recording image data in an exchangeable recording medium, when said recording medium is connected to an interface, comprising:

connecting said recording medium to said interface;

automatically producing a file name of said image data including a number which is then automatically incremented;

wherein either one of first and second modes is selected, said first mode being a first file name producing mode setting the number in the file name to a selectable smallest number when automatically producing the file names and said second mode being a second file name producing mode setting the numbers in the file names to prevent duplicate use of said numbers even when said one recording medium is removed from the interface and another recording medium is selectively connected to the interface.

21. A file name production method according to claim 20, wherein said first file name producing mode comprises:

retrieving directories having no image data recorded from the recording medium connected to said interface;

selecting a directory of a smallest directory number and having no image data recorded as the directory to record the image data; and

setting the number in the file name as the selectable smallest number by setting the directory number as the number in the file name.

22. A file name production method according to claim 20, wherein said first file name producing mode comprises:

retrieving directories having no image data recorded from the recording medium connected to the interface;

selecting a directory of a smallest directory number other than directories in which the image data have been recorded or deleted as the directory to record the image file; and

setting the number in the file name as a selectable smallest number by setting the directory number as the number in the file name.

23. A method of recording image data in an exchangeable recording medium, whereby image data is recorded when said recording medium is selectively connected to an interface, comprising:

connecting said recording medium to said interface;

converting analog image data into digital image data;

compressing said digital image data;

automatically producing a file name of said compressed image data including a number which is then automatically incremented;

recording said compressed image data and said automatically produced file name correspondingly in the recording medium connected to the interface;

storing the incremented value when recording of said compressed image data in the recording medium connected to the interface; and

retaining the stored value even when said one recording medium is disconnected from the interface and a different medium is connected to the interface, wherein the number in the file name is automatically produced based on the stored value.

24. A method of recording image data in an exchangeable recording medium, wherein image data is recorded when said recording medium is selectively connected to an interface, comprising:

connecting said recording medium to said interface;

converting analog image data into digital image data;

compressing said digital image data;

automatically producing a file name of said compressed image data including a number which is then automatically incremented; and

recording said compressed image data and said automatically produced file name correspondingly in the recording medium connected to the interface;

wherein one of first and second modes are selectable, said first mode being a first file name producing mode setting the number in the file name to a selectable smallest number when automatically producing the file names and said second mode being a second file name producing mode, said second file name producing mode comprising;

storing a value which represents the incremented number

retaining the stored value even when said one recording medium is disconnected from the interface and another recording medium is exchanged for said first-mentioned recording medium and is connected to said interface, wherein the number in the file name is automatically produced based on the stored value.

25. An image manipulating system comprising:

an A/D converter for converting an analog video signal into a digital signal;

a coder for compressing said digital signal and outputting compressed image data;

an interface for recording said image data in an exchangeable recording medium connected to said interface;

a memory for storing a value, said value being updated every recording of said image data in said recording medium, said memory retaining said stored value even when the recording medium is disconnected and replaced with another recording medium; and

a controller for automatically producing a file name of the image data including a number, said controller selectively executing one of a first file name production mode to set a number in said file name based on information recorded in the recording medium, and a second file name production mode to provide a number in the file name based on said value stored in said memory, and recording said image data with said file name in said recording medium.

26. An image manipulating system according to claim 25, further comprising:

a mode selector for selecting one of said first file name production mode and said second file name production mode.

27. An image manipulating system according to claim 25,

wherein said controller increments said number in the file name for use in producing another file name.

28. An image manipulating system, comprising:

an A/D converter for converting an analog video signal into a digital signal;

a coder for compressing said digital signal and outputting compressed image data;

an interface for recording said image data in an exchangeable recording medium connected to said interface;

a memory for storing a value, said value being updated every recording of said image data in said recording medium, said memory retaining said stored value even when the recording medium is disconnected and replaced with another recording medium; and

a controller for automatically producing a file name of the image data including a number, producing said number in said file name based on said value stored in said memory, and recording the image data with said file name in said recording medium.

29. An image manipulating system according to claim 28,

wherein said controller increments said number in the file name for use in producing another file name.

30. A method of recording image data in an exchangeable recording medium, comprising;

receiving an analog video signal;

converting said analog video signal into a digital image signal;

compressing said digital image signal and outputting compressed image data;

automatically producing a file name of said image data including a number which is then incremented; and

recording the image data with said file name in the recording medium;

wherein numbers in said file names are set to prevent use of a same number in another file name even when said recording medium is replaced with another recording medium.