Communication device, imaging device, communication method, and recording medium storing program to execute communication method in computer readable state

• US 7,123,935 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Takumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/957,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20020037743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.12, 348/14.02, 348/207.1, 348/239, 348/222.1, 348/333.05, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/517, 455/426.1
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• 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 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• 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 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

When a communication device transmit search information to an imaging device to request search of image data, the imaging device performs search of stored image data based on the received search information. Then, the communication device receives the image data searched by the imaging device and can display the data.

Claims

1. A data communication system comprising:

a communication apparatus including transmission means for transmitting search information; and

an imaging apparatus including;

storage means for storing a signal obtained by imaging a subject as data into a memory;

reception means for receiving the search information;

search means for searching the data from the memory on the basis of the search information;

transmission means for transmitting information regarding the data searched by said search means;

detection means for detecting a residual battery amount; and

notification means for notifying that searching by said search means is impossible and that storing by said storage means is possible, based on the detection results by said detection means.

2. An imaging device comprising:

storage means for storing a signal obtained by imaging a subject as data into a memory;

reception means for receiving, from an external device, search information for searching the data;

search means for searching the data stored in the memory on the basis of the search information received by said reception means;

transmission means for transmitting, to the external device, information regarding the data searched by said search means;

detection means for detecting a residual battery amount; and

notification means for notifying that searching by said search means is impossible and that storing by said storage means is possible, based on the detection results by said detection means.

3. An imaging device according to claim 2, further comprising:

reduction processing means for performing reduction processing to the data searched by said search means,

wherein information regarding said searched data is data to which the reduction processing has been performed by said reduction processing means.

4. An imaging device according to claim 3, further comprising:

second reception means for receiving information regarding data selection based on the data to which the reduction processing has been performed by said reduction processing means,

wherein said transmission means transmits data corresponding to the information received by said second reception means without performing the reduction processing.

5. An imaging device according to claim 3, wherein said reduction processing means performs said reduction processing in accordance with the number of the data searched by said search means.

6. An imaging device according to claim 2, wherein said search information is any one of a data name, a picture date, a camera type of an imaging device that shot an image, a shooting position and a keyword regarding said data.

7. An imaging device according to claim 2, wherein said storage means stores an attribute of data along with said data.

8. An imaging device according to claim 7, wherein the attribute of said data is any one of a data name, a picture data, a camera type of an imaging device that shot an image, a shooting position and a keyword regarding said data.

9. An imaging device according to claim 2, wherein said reception means and said transmission means are performed by radio communication.

10. An imaging device according to claim 9, wherein said radio communication is based on the Bluetooth standard.

11. An imaging device according to claim 2, wherein said imaging device is any one of a digital camera and a video camera.

12. A communication device according to claim 2, wherein the external device is a cellular phone.

13. A search method of searching data stored in an imaging device, comprising the steps of:

storing a signal obtained by imaging a subject as data in a storage unit of said imaging device;

receiving, from an external device, search information to search said stored data;

searching the data stored in said storage unit on the basis of said received search information;

transmitting, to the external device, information regarding said searched data;

detecting a residual battery amount; and

notifying that searching by said searching step is impossible and that storing by said storing is possible, based on the detection result in said detecting step.

14. A storage medium storing a program for executing a process of searching data stored in an imaging device, the program storing:

a step of storing a signal obtained by imaging a subject as data in a storage unit of said imaging device;

a step of receiving, from an external device, search information to search said stored data;

a step of searching the data stored in said storage unit on the basis of said received search information;

a step of transmitting, to the external device, information regarding said searched data;

a step of detecting a residual battery amount; and

a step of notifying that searching by said searching step is impossible and that storing by said storing is possible, based on the detection result in said detecting step.