Recording apparatus and method and storage medium

• US 7,111,022 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2000
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanamoto, Takashi, Yamamoto, Kunihiro, Kusama, Kiyoshi, Matsumoto, Kentaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US09/651,293
• Time in Patent Office: 2,211 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-205, 709/201, 235/454, 717/114, 345/840
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• 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 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 2201/3212 of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

Various recording apparatuses and methods, each capable of repeatedly attaching the same meta-data as information related to binary data to a plurality of binary data to generate a plurality of binary data having meta-data.

A first recording apparatus generates binary data by image sensing and also generate meta-data as information related to the binary data. This apparatus can repeatedly attach the same meta-data generated to the generated binary data to easily generate a plurality of binary data having meta-data.

A second recording apparatus loads and uses binary data instead of generating it and can generate meta-data and repeatedly attach the same meta-data to a plurality of loaded binary data to easily generate binary data having meta-data.

A third recording apparatus can generate the meta-data using a dedicated meta-data generation apparatus, store the meta-data in a storage medium, and load and use the meta-data from the storage medium, and also generate binary data and repeatedly attach the same meta-data loaded to generated binary data to easily generate a plurality of binary data having meta-data.

Claims

1. A recording apparatus for attaching, to a set of binary data, meta-data as information identifying the set of binary data, the apparatus comprising:

meta-data accessing means for accessing meta-data to be used to identify a group of plural sets of binary data;

binary data accessing means for accessing plural sets of binary data; and

meta-data attaching means for obtaining meta-data identifying a group of plural sets of binary data by using said meta-data accessing means, and then repeatedly attaching the same meta-data accessed by said meta-data accessing means to the group of plural sets of binary data accessed by said binary data accessing means to create the group of plural sets of binary data, every set having the same meta-data, when the recording apparatus accesses plural sets of binary data by said binary data accessing means.

2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising storage means for storing the binary data having meta-data output by said meta-data attaching means.

3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising binary data having meta-data write means for writing the binary data having meta-data output by said meta-data attaching means in a detachable storage medium or external device.

4. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by further comprising binary data having meta-data write means for writing the binary data having meta-data stored in said storage means in a detachable storage medium or external device.

5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that

said apparatus further comprises meta-data loading means for loading meta-data stored in advance in a detachable storage medium or external device, and

said meta-data attaching means attaches the meta-data loaded by said meta-data loading means to the binary data to generate the binary data having meta-data.

6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that

said apparatus further comprises binary data loading means for loading binary data stored in a first detachable storage medium or external device, and

said meta-data attaching means attaches the meta-data to the binary data loaded by said binary data loading means, to generate the binary data having meta-data.

7. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, characterized by further comprising binary-data having meta-data write means for writing the binary data having meta-data output by said meta-data attaching means in the first storage medium as a loading source of the binary data.

8. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, characterized by further comprising binary-data having meta-data write means for writing the binary data having meta-data stored in said storage means in the first storage medium as a loading source of the binary data.

9. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said meta-data attaching means embeds the meta-data to a predetermined position of the binary data.

10. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said meta-data attaching means attaches only information representing a file name of the meta-data or a location of the meta-data to a predetermined position of the binary data.

11. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said meta-data attaching means is driven after an insertion of a memory card storing binary data, a connection of interface cable for accessing binary data, or a start of communication for accessing binary data.

12. A recording method of attaching, to a set of binary data, meta-data as information identifying the set of binary data, the method comprising:

a meta-data accessing step of accessing meta-data to be used to identify a group of plural sets of binary data;

a binary data accessing step of accessing plural sets of binary data; and

a meta-data attaching step of obtaining meta-data identifying a group of plural sets of binary data by causing execution of said meta-data accessing step, and then repeatedly attaching the same meta-data accessed in said meta-data accessing step to the group of plural sets of binary data accessed in the binary data accessing step to create the group of plural sets of binary data, every set having the same meta-data, when plural sets of binary data are accessed in said binary data accessing step.

13. The recording method according to claim 12, characterized by further comprising the storage step of storing the binary data having meta-data output by the meta-data attaching step.

14. The recording method according to claim 13, characterized by further comprising the binary data having a meta-data write step of writing the binary data having meta-data output by the meta-data attaching step in a detachable storage medium or external device.

15. The recording method according to claim 13, characterized by further comprising the binary data having meta-data write step of writing the binary data having meta-data stored in the storage step in a detachable storage medium or external device.

16. The recording method according to claim 12, characterized in that said recording method further comprises the meta-data loading step of loading meta-data stored in advance in a detachable storage medium or external device, and

the meta-data attaching step comprises attaching the meta-data loaded in the meta-data loading step to the binary data to generate the binary data having meta-data.

17. The recording method according to claim 12, further characterized in that

the recording method further comprises binary data loading step of loading the binary data stored in a first detachable storage medium or external device, and

the meta-data attaching step comprises attaching the meta-data to the binary data loaded in the binary data loading step to generate the binary data having meta-data.

18. The recording method according to claim 17, characterized by further comprising the binary-data having meta-data write step of writing the binary data having meta-data output by the meta-data attaching step in the first detachable storage medium as a loading source of the binary data.

19. The recording method according to claim 17, characterized by further comprising the binary-data having meta-data write step of writing the binary data having meta-data stored in the storage step in the first detachable storage medium as a loading source of the binary data.

20. The recording method according to claim 12, characterized in that the meta-data attaching step comprises embedding the meta-data to a predetermined position of the binary data.

21. The recording method according to claim 12, characterized in that the meta-data attaching step comprises attaching only information representing a file name of the meta-data or a location of the meta-data to a predetermined position of the binary data.

22. The recording method according to claim 12, wherein in said meta-data attaching step said meta-data attaching means is driven after an insertion of a memory card storing binary data, a connection of interface cable for accessing binary data, or a start of communication for accessing binary data.

23. A storage medium which stores a processing program for attaching, to a set of binary data, meta-data as information identifying the set of binary data, the processing program comprising:

a meta-data accessing step of accessing meta-data to be used to identify a group of plural sets of binary data;

a binary data accessing step of accessing plural sets of binary data to which the generated meta-data is to be attached; and

a meta-data attaching step of obtaining meta-data identifying a group of plural sets of binary data by causing execution of said meta-data accessing step, and then repeatedly attaching the same meta-data accessed in said meta-data accessing step to the group of plural sets of binary data accessed in the binary data accessing step to create the group of plural sets of binary data, every set having the same meta-data, when plural sets of binary data are accessed in said binary data accessing step.

33. The storage medium processing program according to claim 23, wherein in said meta-data attaching step, said meta-data attaching means is driven after an insertion of a memory card storing binary data, a connection of interface cable for accessing binary data, or a start of communication for accessing binary data.

24. A recording apparatus for attaching, to a set of binary data, meta-data as information identifying the set of binary data, the apparatus comprising:

meta-data accessing means for accessing meta-data to be used to identify a group of plural sets of binary data;

binary data loading means for loading plural sets of binary data to which the generated meta-data is to be attached from a first detachable storage medium or external device; and

meta-data attaching means for obtaining meta-data identifying a group of plural sets of binary data by using said meta-data accessing means, and then repeatedly attaching the same meta-data accessed by said meta-data accessing means to the group of plural sets of binary data loaded by said binary data loading means to create the group of plural sets of binary data, every set having the same meta-data, when the recording apparatus loads plural sets of binary data by said binary data loading means.

25. The recording apparatus according to claim 24, characterized by further comprising storage means for storing the binary data having meta-data outputted by said meta-data attaching means.

26. The recording apparatus according to claim 24, characterized by further comprising binary data having meta-data write means for writing the binary data having meta-data output from said meta-data attaching means in the first detachable storage medium or external device as a loading source of the binary data.

27. The recording apparatus according to claim 24, characterized by further comprising binary data having meta-data write means for writing the binary data having meta-data output from said meta-data attaching means in a second detachable storage medium or external device different from a loading source of the binary data.

28. The recording apparatus according to claim 25, characterized by further comprising binary data having meta-data write means for writing the binary data having meta-data stored in said storage means in the first storage medium as a loading source of the binary data.

29. The recording apparatus according to claim 25, characterized by further comprising binary data having meta-data write means for writing the binary data having meta-data stored in said storage means in a second detachable storage medium or external device different from a loading source of the binary data.

30. The recording apparatus according to claim 24, further characterized in that

said recording apparatus further comprises loading means for-loading meta-data stored, in advance, in a detachable storage medium or external device, and

said meta-data attaching means attaches the meta-data loaded by said meta-data loading means to the binary data.

31. The recording apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that said meta-data attaching means embeds the meta-data to a predetermined position of the binary data.

32. The recording apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that said meta-data attaching means attaches only information representing a file name of the meta-data or a location of the meta-data to a predetermined position of the binary data.

34. The recording apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said meta-data attaching means is driven after an insertion of a memory card storing binary data, a connection of interface cable for accessing binary data, or a start of communication for accessing binary data.

35. A recording method of attaching, to a set of binary data, meta-data as information identifying the set of binary data, the method comprising:

a meta-data accessing step of accessing meta-data identifying a group of plural sets of binary data;

a binary data loading step of loading plural sets of binary data to which the generated meta-data is to be attached from a first detachable storage medium or external device; and

a meta-data attaching step of obtaining meta-data identifying a group of plural sets of binary data by causing execution of said meta-data accessing step, and then repeatedly attaching the same meta-data accessed in said meta-data accessing step to the group of plural sets of binary data loaded in the binary data loading step to create the group of plural sets of binary data, every set having the same meta-data, when plural sets of binary data are loaded in said binary data loading step.

36. The recording method according to claim 35, characterized by further comprising a storage step of storing the binary data having meta-data output in the meta-data attaching step.

37. The recording method according to claim 35, characterized by further comprising a binary-data having meta-data write step of writing a binary data having meta-data output by the meta-data attaching step in the first storage medium as a loading source of the binary data.

38. The recording method according to claim 35, characterized by further comprising the binary-data having meta-data write step of writing the binary data having meta-data output by the meta-data attaching step in a second detachable storage medium or external device different from a loading source of the binary data.

39. The recording method according to claim 36, characterized by further comprising the binary data having meta-data write step of writing the binary data having meta-data stored in the storage step in the first detachable storage medium as a loading source of the binary data.

40. The recording method according to claim 36, characterized by further comprising binary data having meta-data write step of writing the binary data having meta-data stored in the storage step in a second detachable storage medium or external device different from a loading source of the binary data.

41. The recording method according to claim 35, characterized in that

the recording method further comprises a loading step of loading meta-data stored, in advance, in a detachable storage medium or external device, and

the meta-data attaching step comprises attaching the meta-data loaded in the meta-data loading step to the binary data.

42. The recording method according to claim 35, characterized in that the meta-data attaching step comprises embedding the meta-data to a predetermined position of the binary data.

43. The recording method according to claim 35, characterized in that the meta-data attaching step comprises attaching only information representing a file name of the meta-data or a location of the meta-data to a predetermined position of the binary data.

44. The recording method according to claim 35, wherein in said meta-data attaching step, said meta-data attaching means is driven after an insertion of a memory card storing binary data, a connection of interface cable for accessing binary data, or a start of communication for accessing binary data.

45. A storage medium which stores a processing program for attaching, to a set of binary data, meta-data as information identifying the set of binary data, the processing promam comprising:

a meta-data accessing step of accessing meta-data to be used to identify a group of plural sets of binary data;

a binary data loading means for loading plural sets of binary data to which the generated meta-data is to be attached from a first detachable storage medium or external device; and

,

a meta-data attaching step of obtaining meta-data identifying a group of plural sets of binary data by causing execution of said meta-data accessing step, and then repeatedly attaching the same meta-data accessed in said meta-data accessing step to the group of plural-sets of binary data loaded in the binary data loading step to create the group of plural-sets of binary data, each set having the same meta-data, when plural-sets of binary data are loaded in said binary data loading step.

46. The storage medium processing program according to claim 45, wherein in said meta-data attaching step, said meta-data attaching means is driven after an insertion of a memory card storing binary data, a connection of interface cable for accessing binary data, or a start of communication for accessing binary data.

47. A recording apparatus for attaching, to a set of binary data, meta-data as information identifying the set of binary data, the apparatus comprising:

meta-data loading means for loading meta-data to be used to identify a group of plural-sets of binary data from a first detachable storage medium or external device;

binary data accessing means for accessing plural-sets of binary data; and

meta-data attaching means for obtaining meta-data identifying a group of plural-sets of binary data by using said meta-data loading means, and then repeatedly attaching the same meta-data loaded by said meta-data loading means to the group of plural-sets of binary data accessed by said binary data accessing means to create the group of plural-sets of binary data, every set having the same meta-data, when the recording apparatus accesses plural-sets of binary data by said binary data accessing means.

48. The recording apparatus according to claim 47, characterized by further comprising storage means for storing the binary data having meta-data output by said meta-data attaching means.

49. The recording apparatus according to claim 47, characterized by further comprising binary data having meta-data write means for writing the binary data having meta-data output from said meta-data attaching means in the first storage medium or external device as a loading source of the meta-data.

50. The recording apparatus according to claim 47, characterized by further comprising binary data having meta-data write means for writing the binary data having meta-data output by said meta-data attaching means in a second detachable storage medium or external device different from a loading source of the binary data.

51. The recording apparatus according to claim 47, characterized by further comprising binary-data having meta-data write means for writing the binary data having meta-data stored in said storage means in the first detachable storage medium as a loading source of the meta-data.

52. The recording apparatus according to claim 47, characterized by further comprising binary data having meta-data write means for writing the binary data having meta-data stored in said storage means in a second detachable storage medium or external device different from a loading source of the meta-data.

53. The recording apparatus according to claim 47, characterized in that said apparatus further comprises binary data loading means for loading binary data stored in advance in a detachable storage medium or external device, and

said meta-data attaching means attaches the meta-data loaded by said meta-data loading means to the binary data to generate the binary data having meta-data.

54. The recording apparatus according to claim 47, characterized in that said meta-data attaching means embeds the meta-data to a predetermined position of the binary data.

55. The recording apparatus according to claim 47, characterized in that said meta-data attaching means attaches only information representing a file name of the meta-data or a location of the meta-data to a predetermined position of the plural sets of binary data.

56. The recording apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said meta-data attaching means is driven after an insertion of a memory card storing binary data, a connection of interface cable for accessing binary data, or a start of communication for accessing binary data.

57. A recording method of attaching, to a set of binary data, meta-data as information identifying the set of binary data, the method comprising:

a meta-data loading step of loading meta-data to be used to identify a group of plural sets of binary data from a first detachable storage medium or external device;

a binary data accessing step of accessing plural sets of binary data; and

a meta-data attaching step of obtaining meta-data identifying a group of plural sets of binary data by causing execution of said meta-data loading step, and then repeatedly attaching the same meta-data loaded in the meta-data loading step to the group of plural sets of binary data accessed in the binary data accessing step to create the group of plural sets of binary data, every set having the same meta-data, when plural sets of binary data are accesed in said binary data accessing step.

58. The recording method according to claim 57, characterized by further comprising the storage step of storing the binary data having meta-data output by the meta-data attaching step.

59. The recording method according to claim 57, characterized by further comprising the binary data having meta-data write step of writing the binary data having meta-data output by the meta-data attaching step in the first storage medium or external device as a loading source of the binary data.

60. The recording method according to claim 57, characterized by further comprising the binary data having meta-data write step of writing the binary data having meta-data output by the meta-data attaching step in a second detachable storage medium or external device different from a loading source of the binary data.

61. The recording method according to claim 57, characterized by further comprising the binary data having meta-data write step of writing the binary data having meta-data stored in the storage step in the first storage medium as a loading source of the binary data.

62. The recording method according to claim 57, characterized by further comprising the binary data having meta-data write step of writing the binary data having meta-data stored in the storage step in a second detachable storage medium or external device different from a loading source of the binary data.

63. The recording method according to claim 57, characterized in that

said method further comprises the binary data loading step of loading binary data stored, in advance, in a detachable storage medium or external device, and

the meta-data attaching step comprises attaching the meta-data loaded in the meta-data loading step to the binary data to generate the binary data having meta-data.

64. The recording method according to claim 57, characterized in that the meta-data attaching step comprises embedding the meta-data to a predetermined position of the binary data.

65. The recording method according to claim 57, characterized in that the meta-data attaching step comprises attaching only information representing a file name of the meta-data or a location of the meta-data to a predetermined position of the binary data.

66. The recording method according to claim 57, wherein in said meta-data attaching step, said meta-data attaching means is driven after an insertion of a memory card storing binary data, a connection of interface cable for accessing binary data, or a start of communication for accessing binary data.

67. A storage medium which stores a processing program for attaching, to a set of binary data, meta-data as information identifying the set of binary data, the processing program comprising:

a meta-data loading step of loading meta-data to be used to identify a group of plural sets of binary data from a first detachable storage medium or external device;

a binary data accessing step of accessing plural sets of binary data; and

a meta-data attaching step of obtaining meta-data identifying a group of plural sets of binary data by causing execution of said meta-data loading step, and then repeatedly attaching the same meta-data loaded in the meta-data loading step to the group of plural sets of binary data accessed in the binary data accessing step to create the group of plural sets of binary data, every set having the same meta-data, when the recording apparatus accesses plural sets of binary data are accessed in said binary data accessing step.

68. The storage medium processing program according to claim 67, wherein in said meta-data attaching step, said meta-data attaching means is driven after an insertion of a memory card storing binary data, a connection of interface cable for accessing binary data, or a start of communication for accessing binary data.