Image display apparatus and camera and image communication system

• US 7,675,478 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US11/716,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20070285339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/530, 345/536, 345/538, 345/555, 345/661, 340/823.29, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 358/906, 358/909.1, 380/23, 380/24, 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. An image communication system comprising:

at least one server provided with a storage device storing image data;

a

network capable of connecting to the server;

an image display apparatus communicating with the server through the network, the image display apparatus comprising;

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

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

an image display for displaying an image represented by the image data distributed from the server;

a data distributor for distributing the image data from the server to the image display apparatus in accordance with a command given through the image display apparatus; and

a charge calculator for calculating a charge to a person designated with the read identification information for at least one of using the network and using the image data.

2. An image communication system comprising:

at least one server provided with a storage device storing image data;

a

network capable of connecting to the server;

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

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

a transmitted data recording device for recording the transmitted image data in the designated server; and

a charge calculator for calculating a charge to a person designated with the read identification information for at least one of using the network and recording the image data in the server.

3. An image communication system comprising:

at least one server provided with a storage device storing image data;

a

network capable of connecting to the server;

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

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

a transmitted data recording device for recording the transmitted image data in the designated server;

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

an information transmitter for transmitting the read identification information of a first group of at least one of the persons to a second group of at least one of the server designated in accordance with the read identification information of a second group of at least one of the persons;

wherein the image communication system further comprises;

a data distributor for distributing the image data from the second group of the at least one of the server to a first group of at least one of the server designated in accordance with the transmitted identification information of the first group of the at least one of the persons; and

a distributed data recording device for recording the distributed image data in the first group of the at least one of the server.