Image display apparatus and camera and image communication system

• US 7,205,958 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2003
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Akihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick; Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US10/712,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20040105008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 340/825.29, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 358/906, 358/909.1, 380/23, 709/209, 709/227
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32117 in a separate transmission or protocol signal prior to or subsequent to the image data transmission, e.g. in digital identification signal [DIS], in non standard setup [NSS] or in non standard field [NSF] for mode signalling H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4182 for identification purposes, e.g. storing user identification data, preferences, personal settings or data restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code in combination with an additional device, e.g. dongle or smart card G06F21/123
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3235 Checking or certification of the authentication information, e.g. by comparison with data stored independently
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/662 by using master/slave camera arrangements for affecting the control of camera image capture, e.g. placing the camera in a desirable condition to capture a desired image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

The camera reads identification information of the user, which is contained in an identification card, through a card reading part. The camera connects automatically to a server designated in accordance with the read identification information through a communication interface. Then, the camera transmits and stores the data of recorded images to the designated server. The camera retrieves the image data stored in the server, and reproduces and displays the image on an image display at the back of the camera. A plurality of cameras in which the same user'"'"'s identification information is set can be controlled altogether in the image-recording and reproduction by one camera. One camera in which the identification information of a plurality of user'"'"'s is set can distribute the recorded image data to the servers of the users simultaneously.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

an imaging part provided with an imaging optical system and an imaging device, an image of a subject being formed on a light receiving surface of the imaging device through the imaging optical system, the imaging device photoelectrically converting the image into an image signal;

a signal processor for processing the image signal sent from the imaging device so as to produce image data;

a storage device for storing owner identification information and user identification information;

an information reader for reading identification information from an external storage medium, the read identification information being different from the owner identification information and set as the user identification information;

a communicating device for communicating with a server through a network, the server being designated in accordance with the identification information last read; and

a data transmitter for transmitting the image data to the server.

2. The camera as defined in claim 1, further comprising an image display for displaying a first image captured by the imaging part and a second image represented by image data distributed from the server.

3. The camera as defined in claim 1, further comprising an information adding device for adding the read identification information to the image data.

4. The camera as defined in claim 3, further comprising an image data retrieving device for retrieving the image data in accordance with the added identification information.

5. A camera comprising:

an imaging part provided with an imaging optical system and an imaging device, an image of a subject being formed on a light receiving surface of the imaging device through the imaging optical system, the imaging device photoelectrically converting the image into an image signal;

a signal processor for processing the image signal sent from the imaging device so as to produce image data;

an information reader for reading identification information from an external storage medium;

a communicating device for communicating with a server through a network, the server being designated in accordance with the read identification information; and

a data transmitter for transmitting the image data to the server;

a communicational condition evaluating device for determining whether condition of the communication of the communicating device with the server is satisfactory; and

a communication postponing device for, if the communicational condition evaluating device determines that the condition is unsatisfactory, postponing the communication of the communicating device with the server until the communicational condition evaluating device determines that the condition becomes satisfactory.

6. A camera comprising:

an imaging part provided with an imaging optical system and an imaging device, an image of a subject being formed on a light receiving surface of the imaging device through the imaging optical system, the imaging device photoelectrically converting the image into an image signal;

a signal processor for processing the image signal sent from the imaging device so as to produce image data;

an information reader for reading identification information from an external storage medium;

a communicating device for communicating with a server through a network, the server being designated in accordance with the read identification information; and

a data transmitter for transmitting the image data to the server;

a camera communicating device for communicating with at least one additional cameras reading the same identification information that the camera reads; and

a cooperative mode designating device for designating the camera in either of a master mode and a slave mode with respect to the additional cameras;

wherein the camera supervises the additional camera through the camera communicating device when the camera is in the master mode;

wherein the camera is supervised by one of the additional cameras through the camera communicating device when the camera is in the slave mode, the one of the additional cameras being designated in the master mode by the cooperative mode designating device thereof.

7. A camera comprising:

an imaging part provided with an imaging optical system and an imaging device, an image of a subject being formed on a light receiving surface of the imaging device through the imaging optical system, the imaging device photoelectrically converting the image into an image signal;

a signal processor for processing the image signal sent from the imaging device so as to produce image data;

an information reader for reading identification information from an external storage medium;

a communicating device for communicating with a server through a network, the server being designated in accordance with the read identification information; and

a data transmitter for transmitting the image data to the server;

an identification information storage device for storing identification information of a plurality of persons read by the information reader; and

a communication controller for controlling the communicating device and the data transmitter such that the communicating device communicates with the server designated in accordance with the read identification information of each of the persons and the data transmitter transmits the image data to the designated server.

8. A camera comprising:

an imaging part provided with an imaging optical system and an imaging device, an image of a subject being formed on a light receiving surface of the imaging device through the imaging optical system, the imaging device photoelectrically converting the image into an image signal;

a signal processor for processing the image signal sent from the imaging device to produce image data;

an information reader for reading identification information from an external storage medium;

a nonvolatile storage device for storing identification information of an owner of the camera;

a user'"'"'s identification information setting device for setting the owner'"'"'s identification information as user'"'"'s identification information if the information reader reads no identification information, and setting the identification information read by the information reader as the user'"'"'s identification information if the information reader reads the identification information;

a communicating device for communicating with a server through a network, the server being designated in accordance with the user'"'"'s identification information; and

a data transmitter for transmitting the image data to the server.

9. The camera as defined in claim 8, further comprising a user'"'"'s identification information erasing device for erasing the user'"'"'s identification information when the camera is turned off.

10. The camera as defined in claim 8, further comprising a user'"'"'s identification information updating device for, when the information reader reads a new identification information, erasing the set user'"'"'s identification information and setting the new identification information as the user'"'"'s identification information.

11. The camera as defined in claim 8, further comprising a user'"'"'s identification information confirmation device for, if the set user'"'"'s identification information is other than the owner'"'"'s identification information, requiring resetting of the user'"'"'s identification information when a first preset time has elapsed after the setting of the set user'"'"'s identification information, and erasing the set user'"'"'s identification information when a second preset time has elapsed without the resetting after the requirement.