Camera with a temporary delete folder for storing images that are deleted when the memory becomes full

• US 7,295,230 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xacti Corporation (Office Support KK)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kokubo, Satoshi, Takahashi, Tsuneichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava; Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hannett; James M.
• Application Number:
  US10/611,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20040105018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231.1, 348/231.2, 348/231.3, 348/231.4, 348/231.5, 348/231.6
• US Class Current: 348/231.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/214 Checking or indicating the storage space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/218 Deletion of stored data; Preventing such deletion

Abstract

The present invention provides a data recording device which specifies a file to be deleted from a memory card 11 in response to the user'"'"'s file deleting manipulation to a manipulation key 8, and moves the specified file to a predetermined temporary delete folder. In recording data, the device calculates remaining capacity of recording area of the memory card 11, to judge whether a series of data to be recorded is recordable. When it is determined that the data is recordable, the data is recorded in the recording area. When it is not determined that the data is recordable, a file included in the temporary delete folder is deleted and the data is recorded in the recording area.

Claims

1. A data recording device being adapted to record a series of image data or voice data in a memory as a file, and to manage a plurality of flies recorded in the memory with a predetermined directory structure, the data recording device comprising:

specifier for specifying a file to be deleted in response to a file deleting manipulation by the user,

file mover for moving the file to be specified as deleted to a predetermined temporary delete folder,

judge for, in recording data, calculating remaining capacity of recording area of the memory and judging whether the series of data to be recorded can be recorded,

first data writer for writing the series of data to the recording area of the determines that the series of data can be recorded,

second data writer for deleting at least one file included in the temporary delete folder to enlarge the recording area, and writing the series of data to the recording area when the judge determines that the series of data cannot be recorded, and

file restorer a specified file from the temporary delete folder to an original directory position in accordance with the user'"'"'s file restoring manipulation, the file restorer comprising;

judge for determining whether a file having the same file name as that of the specified file is present in the memory, when the specified file is restored from the temporary delete folder, and

changer for changing the file name of the specified to a file name different from any of the file names, if it is determined that file having the same file name is present in the memory.

2. A data recording device according to claim 1 which comprises deleting date and time writer for writing to the memory as appended information of the file date and time when the file is deleted, and the second data writer deletes a file in order of deleting date and time in enlarging the recording area.

3. A data recording device according to claim 1 which comprises file name grantor for granting a file name including a file number as increased every time the series of data is recorded to the memory, the second data writer deletes a file in order of file number in enlarging the recording area.

4. A data recording device according to claim 1 which comprises retriever for retrieving a file to be restored from the temporary delete folder in accordance with the user'"'"'s file retrieving manipulation.

5. A data recording device according to claim 1 wherein the file mover changes an extension of the file to be specified as deleted to a specific extension in moving the file to the temporary delete folder, and the file restorer changes an extension of a file to be specified as restored to the original extension in restoring the file from the temporary delete folder.

6. A data recording device according to claim 1 wherein the temporary delete folder is provided at a directory position which is not bound by a standard to be followed by a predetermined directory structure.