Order processing method and system for image output service, and order information generating apparatus, order receiving apparatus, and digital camera used in the method

• US 7,256,819 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1998
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hannett; James M.
• Application Number:
  US09/219,121
• Time in Patent Office: 3,156 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/333.04, 348/333.11, 348/333.12, 348/207.11, 348/207.2, 348/231.3, 348/231.6, 348/231.5, 348/207.1
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00143 Ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00164 at a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00175 from a still image storage medium H04N1/00172, H04N1/0018 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00177 from a user terminal, e.g. personal computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00442 Simultaneous viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. using a mosaic display arrangement of thumbnails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00477 Indicating status, e.g. of a job for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N2201/3219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• 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 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 : using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

When order information is recorded in a recording medium and an image output service is requested using this order information, the content of a new order is not confused with that of an old order and a user'"'"'s intention can be conveyed accurately to a service provider in the case where orders are placed repeatedly by using the same recording medium. The user is caused to confirm all order information recorded in the recording medium by using an index relating images to the quantity of prints both displayed on a screen, for example. The user'"'"'s intention is confirmed by an order confirmation operation carried out by the user, and the intention is provided to the service provider as confirmed order information recorded in the recording medium.

Claims

1. An order processing method used in an image output service for a digital camera, the order processing method comprising the steps of:

obtaining image data by photographing an image and recording the image data into a recording medium or by reading the image data from the recording medium;

replaying the obtained image data as a visible image on a display medium;

receiving an output instruction regarding the image data, the output instruction being input from an input apparatus based on the replay of the image data;

generating order information describing the output instruction in a predetermined data format and recording the order information in the recording medium;

displaying on the display medium all image data output of which has been instructed and the content of the instruction regarding the image data so that a requester of the image output service can confirm the content of the output instruction;

certifying an order by recording confirmed order information in the recording medium when a predetermined order confirmation operation indicating that the requester has confirmed the content of the output instruction;

carrying out the image output service based on the order information recorded in the recording medium only when the confirmed order information has been recorded in the recording medium, and

selecting for an image recording mode one of a printing mode and a non-printing mode based on a selection from a user,

wherein a still image is recordable in the non-printing mode.

2. The order processing method of claim 1,

wherein the digital camera is capable of directly taking an image of a real object, and

wherein the display medium is capable of displaying the image of the real object when the image is taken and during order processing.

3. The order processing method of claim 1, wherein the steps of obtaining the image data, replaying the image data, receiving the output instruction, generating the order information, displaying on the display medium all image data output, and certifying the order are carried out by means all integrated physically within a single body of the digital camera.

4. The order processing method of claim 1, wherein when the image data is obtained by photographing the image, the image data is obtained without a need for conversion from a negative image to a positive image.

5. The order processing method of claim 1, wherein the step of photographing the image includes adjustably focusing the image prior to photographing the image.

6. An order processing system used in an image output service, the order processing system comprising an order information generating apparatus and an order receiving apparatus, the order information generating apparatus comprising:

data obtaining means for obtaining image data by photographing an image and recording the image data into a recording medium or by reading the image data from the recording medium;

display means for carrying out replay of the obtained image data as a visible image on a display medium;

instruction receiving means for receiving an output instruction regarding the image data, the output instruction being input from an input apparatus based on the replay of the image data;

order information recording means for generating order information describing the output instruction in a predetermined data format and recording the order information in a recording medium;

order content confirming means for displaying on the display medium all image data, output of which has been instructed and the content of the instruction regarding the image data so that a requester of the image output service can confirm the content of the output instruction; and

order certifying means for certifying an order by recording confirmed order information in the recording medium when a predetermined order confirmation operation indicating that the requester has confirmed the content of the output instruction;

the order receiving apparatus comprising;

data reading means for reading the order information recorded in the recording medium;

confirmed information certifying means for certifying whether or not the confirmed order information has been recorded in the recording medium; and

output instructing means for instructing, based on the order information recorded in the recording medium, output of the image data to various kinds of output apparatuses only when the confirmed order information has been recorded in the recording medium,

wherein the order processing system further comprises a recording mode selector for selecting for an image recording mode one of a printing mode and a non-printing mode based on a selection from a user, wherein a still image is recordable in the non-printing mode.

7. The order processing system of claim 6,

wherein the digital camera is capable of directly taking an image of a real object, and

wherein the display means is capable of displaying the image of the real object when the image is taken and during order processing.

8. The order processing system of claim 6, wherein the data obtaining means, the display means, the instruction receiving means, the order information recording means, the order content confirming means, and the order certifying means are physically integrated in a single body of the digital camera.

9. The order processing system of claim 6, wherein when the image data is obtained by photographing the image, the image data is obtained without a need for conversion from a negative image to a positive image.

10. The order processing system of claim 6, wherein the data obtaining means includes an adjustable focusing mechanism capable of adjustably focusing the image prior to photographing the image.

11. An order information generating apparatus for a digital camera comprising:

data obtaining means for obtaining image data by photographing an image and recording the image data into a recording medium or by reading the image data from the recording medium;

display means for carrying out replay of the obtained image data as a visible image on a display medium;

instruction receiving means for receiving an output instruction regarding the image data, the output instruction being input from an input apparatus based on the replay of the image data;

order information recording means for generating order information describing the output instruction in a predetermined data format and recording the information in a recording medium;

order content confirming means for displaying on the display medium all image data output of which has been instructed and the content of the instruction regarding the image data so that a requester of an image output service can confirm the content of the output instruction;

order certifying means for certifying an order by recording confirmed order information in the recording medium when a predetermined order confirmation operation indicating that the requester has confirmed the content of the output instruction; and

a recording mode selector for selecting for an image recording mode one of a printing mode and a non-printing mode based on a selection from a user,

wherein a still image is recordable in the non-printing mode, and

wherein the data obtaining means, the display means, the instruction receiving means, the order information recording means, the order content confirming means, and the order certifying means are physically integrated in a single body of the digital camera.

12. The order information generating apparatus of claim 11,

wherein the digital camera is capable of directly taking an image of a real object, and

wherein the display means is capable of displaying the image of the real object when the image is taken and during order processing.

13. The order information generating apparatus of claim 11, wherein when the image data is obtained by photographing the image, the image data is obtained without a need for conversion from a negative image to a positive image.

14. The order information generating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data obtaining means includes an adjustable focusing mechanism capable of adjustably focusing the image prior to photographing the image.

15. An order receiving apparatus for use with a digital camera, which receives an order for an image output service by obtaining order information in a digital format, the order receiving apparatus comprising:

data reading means for reading the order information describing an output instruction regarding image data from a recording medium;

confirmed information certifying means for certifying whether or not confirmed order information indicating that a requester of the image output service has confirmed the content of the output instruction is recorded in the recording medium; and

output instructing means for instructing, based on the order information recorded in the recording medium, output of the image data to various kinds of output apparatuses only when the confirmed order information is recorded in the recording medium,

wherein each image data are recorded in the recording medium in one of a printing mode and a non-printing mode based on a selection from a user, wherein a still image is recordable in the non-printing mode.

16. The order receiving apparatus of claim 15,

wherein the digital camera is capable of directly taking an image of a real object, and

wherein a display of the digital camera is capable of displaying the image of the real object when the image is taken and during order processing.

17. A digital camera having an order information generating function, the digital camera comprising:

photographing means for obtaining image data by photographing an image;

image recording means for recording the image data having been obtained in a recording medium;

display means for carrying out replay of the obtained image data as a visible image on a monitor attached to the digital camera;

instruction receiving means for receiving an output instruction regarding the image data, the output instruction being input from an operation button or the like based on the replay of the image data;

order information recording means for recording order information describing the output instruction in a predetermined data format in the recording medium;

order content confirming means for displaying on the monitor all image data output of which has been instructed and the content of the instruction regarding the image data so that a requester of an image output service can confirm the content of the output instruction; and

order certifying means for certifying an order by recording confirmed order information in the recording medium when a predetermined order confirmation operation indicating that the requester has confirmed the content of the output instruction; and

a recording mode selector for selecting for an image recording mode one of a printing mode and a non-printing mode based on a selection from a user,

wherein a still image is recordable in the non-printing mode, and

wherein the photographing means, the image recording means, the display means, the instruction receiving means, the order information recording means, the order content confirming means, and the order certifying means are physically integrated in a single body of the digital camera.

18. A digital camera having the order information generating function as claimed in claim 17, wherein the order information recording means describes the order information in an order file and records the order file in the recording medium, and the order certifying means certifies an order by setting a hidden property of the order file to visible.

19. A digital camera having the order information generating function as claimed in claim 17, wherein the order information recording means describes the order information in an order file and records the order file in the recording medium, and the order certifying means certifies an order by setting a read/write property of the order file to read-only.

20. A digital camera having the order information generating function as claimed in claim 17, wherein the order information recording means describes the order information in an order file and records the order file in the recording medium, and the order certifying means certifies an order by describing a valid date as order file generation date in the order file.

21. A digital camera having the order information generating function as claimed in claim 17, wherein the order information recording means describes the order information in an order file and records the order file in the recording medium, and the order certifying means certifies an order by describing a code meaning order confirmation completion in the order file.

22. A digital camera having the order information generating function as claimed in claim 17, wherein the image recording means records image data representing each image as an image file in the recording medium, and

the order information recording means records the order information as accompanying information included in the image file, and

the order certifying means certifies an order by describing a code meaning order confirmation completion in at least one image file in the recording medium.

23. The digital camera of claim 17,

wherein the digital camera is capable of directly taking an image of a real object, and

wherein the display means is capable of displaying the image of the real object when the image is taken and during order processing.

24. The digital camera of claim 17, wherein when the image data is obtained by photographing the image, the image data is obtained without a need for conversion from a negative image to a positive image.

25. The digital camera of claim 17, wherein the photographing means includes an adjustable focusing mechanism capable of adjustably focusing the image prior to photographing the image.

26. A digital camera having the order information generating function as claimed in claim 17, the digital camera further comprising confirmation operation canceling means for canceling the order confirmation operation when the confirmed order information is updated after having been recorded in the recording medium and/or when deletion of image data representing at least one image recorded in the recording medium is carried out.

27. A digital camera having the order information generating function as claimed in claim 26, wherein the confirmation operation canceling means deletes the order information when all image data, output of which has been instructed, are deleted from the recording medium as a result of the deletion.

28. The digital camera of claim 17, wherein the photographing means comprises recording mode means for enabling selection of one of printing and non-printing modes, wherein in the printing mode, the photographing means is set at maximum resolution.

29. The digital camera of claim 28, wherein in the non-printing mode, the photographing means allows manual setting of resolution and compression.

30. A digital camera having the order information generating function as claimed in claim 17, the digital camera further comprising operation urging means for carrying out display for prompting the order confirmation operation execution by the requester.

31. A digital camera having the order information generating function as claimed in claim 30, wherein the display is a message output on the monitor.

32. A digital camera having the order information generating function as claimed in claim 30, wherein the operation urging means carries out the display for a predetermined period after an operation to switch off a power of the digital camera has been carried out, and switches the power off after the predetermined period has elapsed.

33. A digital camera having the order information generating function as claimed in claim 30, wherein the recording medium is detachable from a body of the digital camera and the operation urging means carries out the display when the recording medium is pulled out from the body of the digital camera.