Digital camera and imaging system for recording imaging information in association with image data

• US 7,528,867 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hiroshi, Ishiyama, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRABHAKHER, PRITHAM DAVID
• Application Number:
  US10/452,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20040021777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,163 Days
• Field of Search: 34821199-2114, 348/211.2, 348/211.1, 348/552, 348/231.2, 348/207.1, 348/207.2, 348/207.11
• US Class Current: 348/231.3
• 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 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/325 Modified version of the image, e.g. part of the image, image reduced in size or resolution, thumbnail or screennail
• 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 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• 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 5/9201 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the video signal

Abstract

A digital camera has an imaging information record mode where imaging information including information on a target to be picked up is recorded in association with image data as well as a regular shooting mode. When imaging information to be recorded is determined, the details of the information is sent to external apparatus via a radio interface and an antenna and corrected by the user interface of the external apparatus. The corrected image is input via the antenna again and updated. The updated image is recorded as property information in an image file including the shot image. According to the digital camera, it is possible to readily correct and add imaging information recorded as property information of image data.

Claims

1. A digital camera, which records imaging information including information on a target to be picked up in association with image data under an imaging information record mode, comprising:

an imaging information storage section for storing said imaging information;

a communications section for communicating with an external portable terminal via wired or wireless communications;

an imaging controller for performing imaging control including imaging control in said imaging information record mode; and

an imaging information management section for managing said imaging information,

wherein in response to a user selection of imaging information from an imaging information list said imaging information management section, in said imaging information record mode, sends said selected imaging information from the imaging information stored in said imaging information storage section to said external portable terminal via said communications section, and updates said selected imaging information in said imaging information storage section when receiving corrected selected imaging information from said external portable terminal after said selected imaging information is sent to said external portable terminal, and

wherein, when said digital camera images a target to obtain image data of said target in said imaging information record mode, said imaging controller reads said selected imaging information from said imaging information storage section and stores the read imaging information in association wit the obtained image data.

2. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said imaging information is recorded as property information of an image file including said image data.

3. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said imaging information comprises at least one of a scene name of said target, outside air temperature at an imaging site, an imaging date, an imaging time, an image file name, and longitude and latitude information of the imaging site.

4. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said imaging information comprises a scene name of said target, outside air temperature at an imaging site, an imaging date, an imaging time, an image file name, and longitude and latitude information of the imaging site.

5. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the imaging information is generated externally to the camera and previously stored on the digital camera prior to picking up said image data.

6. A digital camera according to claim 5, wherein another portion of the imaging information is at least one of generated by said camera and manually input by said user at a time when said image data is picked up.

7. A digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display section,

wherein in the imaging information record mode, the imaging information management section displays the imaging information List on the display section to allow a user to select the imaging information from the imaging information list.

8. A digital camera according to claim 7, further comprising:

a switch for setting said digital camera to said imaging information record mode.

9. A digital camera according to claim 8, wherein when said digital camera is set to said imaging information record mode by operation of said switch, said imaging controller refers to said imaging information stored in said imaging information storage section and causes said display section to display a target list.

10. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said image data comprises data for generating an image of said target, and said imaging information comprises information for identifying said target.

11. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said external portable terminal comprises a global positioning system (GPS), and said updated imaging information comprises GPS information which is added to said imaging information sent by said imaging information management section to said external portable terminal.

12. A imaging system, comprising:

a digital camera, which records imaging information including information on a target to be picked up in association with image data under an imaging information record mode, and

a portable terminal,

wherein said digital camera comprises;

an imaging information storage section for storing said imaging information;

a communications section for communicating with an external portable terminal via wired or wireless communications;

an imaging controller for performing imaging control including imaging control in said imaging information record mode; and

an imaging information management section for managing said imaging information,

wherein in response to a user selection of imaging information from an imaging information list, said imaging information management section, in said imaging information record mode, sends said selected imaging information from the imaging information stored in said imaging information storage section to said external portable terminal via said communications section, and updates said selected imaging information in said imaging information storage section when receiving corrected selected imaging information from said external portable terminal after said selected imaging information is sent to said external portable terminal,

wherein when said digital camera images a target to obtain image data of said target in said imaging information record mode, said imaging controller reads said selected imaging information from said imaging information storage section and stores the read imaging information in association with the obtained image data,

wherein the portable terminal, which is connected via said communications section, including a display section, an operating section and an imaging information modification controller, and

wherein said imaging information modification controller displays the imaging information received from said digital camera onto said display section and sends said imaging information which is undergone a correction to said digital camera, said correction includes a correction implemented by way of operation on said operating section.

13. A imaging system according to claim 12, wherein said imaging information is recorded as property information of an image file including said image data.

14. An imaging system according to claim 12, wherein said digital camera further comprises a display section, and

wherein in the imaging information record mode, the imaging information management section displays the imaging information list on the display section of said digital camera to allow a user to select the imaging information from the imaging information list.

15. A method of modifying imaging information which includes information on a target to be picked up in association wit image data by a digital camera under an imaging information record mode, comprising:

storing said imaging information in an imaging information storage section of said digital camera;

communicating, by said digital camera, with an external portable terminal via at least one of wired and wireless communications;

performing, by said digital camera, imaging control including imaging control in said imaging information record mode; and

managing, by said digital camera, said imaging information,

wherein said managing said imaging information comprises at least one of correcting said imaging information and adding new imaging information,

wherein said at least one of correcting said imaging information and said adding said new imaging information of said digital camera, comprises;

selecting at least a portion of said imaging information from an imaging information list which lists the imaging information stored in said imaging information storage section;

in response to said selection of said at least a portion of said imaging information, sending said at least a portion of said imaging information to said external portable terminal via said communicating;

receiving updated selected imaging information, which corresponds to said selected at least a portion of said imaging information, from said external portable terminal after said selected imaging information is sent to said external portable terminal; and

storing said updated imaging information in said imaging information storage section of said digital camera, and

wherein when said digital camera images a target to obtain image data of said target in said imaging information record mode, said selected imaging information is read from said imaging information storage section and the read imaging information is stored in association with the obtained image data.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

reading said imaging information, including said updated imaging information, from said imaging information storage section; and

storing said imaging information, including said updated imaging information, in association with said image data in recording image data.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein said imaging information comprises at least one of a scene name of said target, outside air temperature at an imaging site, an imaging date, an imaging time, an image file name, and longitude and latitude information of the imaging site.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein said imaging information comprises:

a scene name of said target, outside air temperature at an imaging site, an imaging date, an imaging time, an image file name, and longitude and latitude information of the imaging site.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the imaging information is generated externally to the camera and previously stored on the digital camera prior to picking up said image data.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein another portion of the imaging information is at least one of generated by said camera and manually input by said user at a time when said image data is picked up.

21. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

displaying the imaging information list on a display section of said digital camera,

wherein in the imaging information record mode, the imaging information management section displays the imaging information list on the display section to allow a user to select the imaging information from the imaging information list.