File management system of image data

• US 7,639,925 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hatanaka, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury; Nigar
• Application Number:
  US10/216,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20020191962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,696 Days
• Field of Search: 386/1, 386 45- 46, 386125-126, 386/117, 386/121, 348/231.99, 3482312-2313
• US Class Current: 386/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• 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

Abstract

In a system for file managing image data of an electronic camera, so long as the image data is recorded by the same image pickup apparatus, a peculiar file name which is not overlapped is generated and in order to prevent that a plurality of files of the same name exist, when an electronic camera is connected to a main body of a computer, a storage device in the electronic camera is examined from a host application of the computer, and when a file of a file name including numerical values exceeding a predetermined value is found, a message is displayed for the user in a manner such that after all of the files having the file names which had automatically been formed were transferred to the computer, all of the contents in the storage device are deleted or formatted. When the detachable storage device is loaded or a power source is turned on, if the file having the unique file name which was automatically generated does not exist in the storage device, the numerical values held in the electronic camera are initialized.

Claims

1. A file management system for managing data of photographed images as a file, comprising:

a mounting unit that detachably mounts a recording medium for recording the file;

a counter that stores a numerical value information to determine a numerical value to be used for a file name of the file, said counter counting up the numerical value information for every photographed image;

a generator that generates the file name of the file by using the numerical value information stored in said counter, when the image is photographed;

a comparison unit that compares the numerical value information stored in said counter with a maximum numerical value of the numerical values used in the file names of the files recorded on the recording medium; and

a selection unit that selects, if the recording medium detachably mounted on said mounting unit is changed to a different recording medium to be mounted thereon, one of the numerical value information stored in said counter and the maximum numerical value as a reference numerical value in accordance with a result of a comparison by said comparison unit between the numerical value information stored in said counter immediately before the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium and the maximum number of the numbers used as the file names of the files recorded on the different recording medium, wherein said generator determines the file name of an image to be photographed first after the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium, on the basis of the reference numerical value selected by said selection unit.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays a predetermined message when the numerical value information of said counter reaches a predetermined threshold.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said message includes an instruction to delete all the files in said medium.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein said message includes an instruction to format said medium.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the numerical value information for the current file name or the numerical value information for the next file name is stored in said counter.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said counter includes a nonvolatile memory.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said generator also generates a file name for a corresponding sound file including the same numerical value as that of the image file name.

8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a delete unit that deletes a set of files having the same numerical value in their file names together.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a directory name generator that generates directory names each including a numerical value, wherein, each directory includes a plurality of files, when the number of files included in the current directory reaches a preset value, a next directory is created, with the numerical value included in the directory name increased.

10. A system according to claim 9, further comprising a display unit that displays a predetermined message when said numerical value for said directory name reaches a predetermined threshold.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said generator controls such that the stored numerical value information for the next file name is increased to more than said maximum numerical value if said stored numerical value information for the next file name is not larger than said maximum numerical value, and

said generator controls such that the stored numerical value information for the next file name remains unchanged when generating a file name if said stored numerical value information for the next file name is larger than said maximum numerical value.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said selection unit selects larger one of the numerical value information stored in said counter and the maximum numerical value as the reference numerical value.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein if said selection unit selects the maximum numerical value as the reference numerical value to determine the file name, said counter stores therein the selected maximum numerical value.

14. A file management method for managing data of photographed images as a file within a file management system which includes a mounting unit that detachably mounts a recording medium for recording the file, said file management method comprising:

storing, in a counter, a numerical value information to determine a numerical value to be used for a file name of the file, said counter counting up the numerical value information for every photographed image;

generating the file name of the file by using the numerical value information stored in said counter, when the image is photographed;

comparing the numerical value information stored in said counter with a maximum numerical value of the numerical values used in the file names of files recorded on the recording medium; and

if the recording medium detachably mounted on said mounting unit is changed to a different recording medium to be mounted thereon, selecting one of the numerical value information stored in said counter and the maximum numerical value as a reference numerical value to determine the file name of an image to be photographed first after the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium, in accordance with a result of a comparison in said comparison step between the numerical value information stored in said counter immediately before the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium and the maximum number of the numbers used as the file names of the files recorded on the different recording medium,

wherein said generating step determines the file name of an image to be photographed first after the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium, on the basis of the reference numerical value selected in said selecting step.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising displaying a predetermined message when the numerical value information in said counter reaches a predetermined threshold.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said message includes an instruction to delete all the files in said medium.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein said message includes an instruction to format said medium.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein the numerical value information for the current file name or the numerical value information for the next file name is stored in said counter.

19. A method according to claim 14, wherein if the numerical value information in said counter reaches a preset value and if there is no directory for storing photographed image on the recording medium, the numerical value information in the counter is reset.

20. A method according to claim 14, wherein the numerical value information in the counter is stored in a nonvolatile memory.

21. A method according to claim 14, further comprising generating a file name for a sound file using a same numerical value as that used in a corresponding image data file name.

22. A method according to claim 14, further comprising deleting a set of files having the same numerical value in their file names together.

23. A method according to claim 14, further comprising generating directory names each including a numerical value, wherein, each directory includes a plurality of files, when the number of files included in the current directory reaches a preset value, a next directory is created, with the numerical value included in the directory name increased.

24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising displaying a predetermined message when said numerical value for said directory name reaches a predetermined threshold.

25. A method according to claim 14, wherein in said generating, the stored numerical value information for the next file name is increased to more than said maximum numerical value if said stored numerical value information for the next file name generated based on said counter is not larger than said maximum numerical value, and

the stored numerical value information for the next file name remains unchanged when generating a file name if said stored numerical value information for the next file name generated based on said counter is larger than said maximum numerical value.

26. A system according to claim 14, wherein said selecting step selects larger one of the numerical value information stored in said counter and the maximum numerical value as the reference numerical value.

27. A system according to claim 14, wherein if said selection step selects the maximum numerical value as the reference numerical value to determine the file name, said storing step stores the selected maximum numerical value in said counter.

28. A file management system for managing data of photographed images as a file, comprising:

a mounting unit that detachably mounts a recording medium for recording the file;

a counter that stores a numerical value information to determine a numerical value to be used for a file name of the file, said counter counting up the numerical value information for every photographed image;

a generator that generates the file name of the file by using the numerical value information stored in said counter, when the image is photographed;

a comparison unit that compares the numerical value information stored in said counter with a maximum numerical value of the numerical values used in the file names of the files recorded on the recording medium; and

a selection unit that selects, if the recording medium detachably mounted on said mounting unit is changed to a different recording medium to be mounted thereon, one of the numerical value information stored in said counter and the maximum numerical value as a reference numerical value in accordance with a result of a comparison by said comparison unit between the numerical value information stored in said counter immediately before the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium and the maximum number of the numbers used as the file names of the files recorded on the different recording medium, wherein said generator determines the file name of an image to be photographed first after the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium, on the basis of the reference numerical value selected by said selection unit

wherein the generator also generates a file name for a sound file including the same numerical value as that of the image file name and including different fixed letters from those of the image file name when sound information is recorded in connection with the image file.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein said generator controls such that the numerical value of said counter for the next file name is increased to more than said maximum numerical value if said numerical value of said counter for the next file name is not larger than said maximum numerical value, and

said generator controls such that the numerical value of said counter for the next file name remains unchanged when generating a file name if said numerical value of said counter for the next file name is larger than said maximum numerical value.

30. A system according to claim 28, further comprising a display unit that displays a predetermined message when the numerical value of said counter reaches a predetermined threshold.

31. A system according to claim 28, wherein said generator controls such that the numerical value increases from a small numerical value, and said counter stores the numerical value for the next file name.

32. A system according to claim 28, wherein said counter includes a nonvolatile memory.

33. A system according to claim 28, further comprising a deleting unit that deletes a set of files having the some numerical value in their file names together.

34. A system according to claim 28, further comprising directory name generator that generates directory names each including a numerical value, wherein each directory includes a plurality of files, when the number of files included in the current directory reaches a preset value, a next directory is created, with the numerical value included in the directory name increased.

35. A system according to claim 34, further comprising a displaying unit that displays a predetermined message when said numerical value for said directory name reaches a predetermined threshold.

36. A file management method for managing data of photographed images as a file within a file management system which includes a mounting unit that detachably mounts a recording medium for recording the file, said file management method comprising:

storing, in a counter, a numerical value information to determine a numerical value to be used for a file name of the file, said counter counting up the numerical value information for every photographed image;

generating the file name of the file by using the numerical value information stored in said counter, when the image is photographed;

comparing the numerical value information stored in said counter with a maximum numerical value of the numerical values used in the file names of files recorded on the recording medium; and

if the recording medium detachably mounted on said mounting unit is changed to a different recording medium to be mounted thereon, selecting one of the numerical value information stored in said counter and the maximum numerical value as a reference numerical value to determine the file name of an image to be photographed first after the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium, in accordance with a result of a comparison in said comparison step between the numerical value information stored in said counter immediately before the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium and the maximum number of the numbers used as the file names of the files recorded on the different recording medium,

wherein said generating step determines the file name of an image to be photographed first after the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium, on the basis of the reference numerical value selected in said selecting step

wherein, the generating also generates a file name for a sound file including the same numerical value as that of the image file name and including different fixed letters from those of the image file name when sound information is recorded in connection with the image file.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein in said generating, the numerical value for the next file name is increased to more than said maximum numerical value if said numerical value for the next file generated based on said counting is not larger than said maximum numerical value, and

the numerical value for the next file name remains unchanged when generating a file name if said numerical value for the next file name generated based on said counting is larger than said maximum numerical value.

38. A method according to claim 36, further comprising displaying a predetermined message when the numerical value in said counting reaches a predetermined threshold.

39. A method according to claim 36, wherein said generating comprises increasing the numerical value from a small numerical value, and said counting comprises storing the numerical value for the next file name.

40. A method according to claim 36, wherein said counting comprises storing the numerical value in a nonvolatile memory.

41. A method according to claim 36, further comprising deleting a set of files having the same numerical value in their file names together.

42. A method according to claim 36, further comprising generating directory names each including a numerical value, wherein, each directory includes a plurality of files, when the number of flies included in the current directory reaches a preset value, a next directory is created, with the numerical value included in the directory name increased.

43. A method according to claim 36, further includes displaying a predetermined message when said numerical value for said directory name reaches a predetermined threshold.

44. A file management system for managing data of photographed images as a file, comprising:

a mounting unit that detachably mounts a recording medium for recording the file;

a counter that stores a numerical value information to determine a numerical value to be used for a file name of the file, said counter counting up the numerical value information for every photographed image;

a file name generator that generates the file name of the file by using the numerical value information stored in said counter, when the image is photographed;

a comparison unit that compares the numerical value information stored in said counter with a maximum numerical value of the numerical values used in the file names of the files recorded on the recording medium; and

a selection unit that selects, if the recording medium detachably mounted on said mounting unit is changed to a different recording medium to be mounted thereon, one of the numerical value information stored in said counter and the maximum numerical value as a reference numerical value in accordance with a result of a comparison by said comparison unit between the numerical value information stored in said counter immediately before the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium and the maximum number of the numbers used as the file names of the files recorded on the different recording medium, wherein said file name generator determines the file name of an image to be photographed first after the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium, on the basis of the reference numerical value selected by said selection unit

a directory name generator connected to the file name generator, that generates directory names each including a numerical value, wherein each directory includes a plurality of data files, when the number of data files included in the current directory reaches a preset value, a next directory is created, with the numerical value included in the directory name increased.

45. A system according to claim 44, wherein said file name generator controls such that the numerical value for the next file name is increased to more than said maximum numerical value if said numerical value for the next file name is not larger than said maximum numerical value, and

said file name generator controls such that the numerical value for the next file name remains unchanged when generating a file name if said numerical value for the next file name is larger than said maximum numerical value.

46. A system according to claim 44, further comprising a display unit that displays a predetermined message when the numerical value of said counter reaches a predetermined threshold.

47. A system according to claim 44, wherein said generator controls such that the numerical value increases from a small numerical value, and said counter stores the numerical value for the next file name.

48. A system according to claim 44, wherein said counter includes a nonvolatile memory.

49. A system according to claim 44, further comprising a deleting unit that deletes a set of files having the same numerical value in their file names together.

50. A system according to claim 44, further comprising a displaying unit that displays a predetermined message when said numerical value for said directory name reaches a predetermined threshold.

51. A system according to claim 44, wherein said file name generator generates file names not overlapping each other for a directory having the same name even when said data picked up by a same pickup apparatus is recorded to different recording medium.

52. A system according to claim 44, wherein said file management system includes an electronic camera.

53. A file management method for managing data of photographed images as a file within a file management system which includes a mounting unit that detachably mounts a recording medium for recording the file, said file management method comprising:

storing, in a counter, a numerical value information to determine a numerical value to be used for a file name of the file, said counter counting up the numerical value information for every photographed image;

generating the file name of the file by using the numerical value information stored in said counter, when the image is photographed;

comparing the numerical value information stored in said counter with a maximum numerical value of the numerical values used in the file names of files recorded on the recording medium; and

if the recording medium detachably mounted on said mounting unit is changed to a different recording medium to be mounted thereon, selecting one of the numerical value information stored in said counter and the maximum numerical value as a reference numerical value to determine the file name of an image to be photographed first after the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium, in accordance with a result of a comparison in said comparison step between the numerical value information stored in said counter immediately before the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium and the maximum number of the numbers used as the file names of the files recorded on the different recording medium,

wherein said file name generating step determines the file name of an image to be photographed first after the recording medium mounted on said mounting unit is changed to the different recording medium, on the basis of the reference numerical value selected in said selecting step

generating directory names each including a numerical value,

wherein, each directory includes a plurality of data files, when the number of data files included in the current directory reaches a preset value, a next directory is created, with the numerical value included in the directory name increased.

54. A method according to claim 53, wherein in said generating, the numerical value for the next file name is increased to more than said maximum numerical value if said numerical value for the next file generated based on said counting is not larger than said maximum numerical value, and

the numerical value for the next file name remains unchanged when generating a file name if said numerical value for the next file name generated based on said counting is larger than said maximum numerical value.

55. A method according to claim 53, further comprising displaying a predetermined message when the numerical value in said counting reaches a predetermined threshold.

56. A method according to claim 53, wherein said counting comprises storing the numerical value in a nonvolatile memory.

57. A method according to claim 53, further comprising deleting a set of files having the same numerical value in their file names together.

58. A method according to claim 53, further comprising displaying a predetermined message when said numerical value for said directory name reaches a predetermined threshold.

59. A method according to claim 53, wherein said generating file names generates file names not overlapping each other for a directory having the same name even when said data picked up by a same pickup apparatus is recorded to a different recording medium.

60. A method according to claim 53, wherein said file management method is carried out in an electronic camera.