Image file sharing method, and digital camera and center server used in image file sharing system

• US 7,742,074 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Minatogawa, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Quang V
• Application Number:
  US12/219,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20080297607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/231.2, 348/231.3, 348/231.6, 348/231.9
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking

Abstract

Group keys and image group names of image groups to which the owner of a digital camera belongs are transmitted from a server to the digital camera. The image group names are displayed in list form and an image group name is selected from the list. The group key of the selected image group is transmitted from the digital camera to the server. The server sends the digital camera access information for accessing the user computer of another user who belongs to the image group identified by the received group key. The digital camera accesses the user computer based upon the access information and receives the image file desired.

Claims

1. A digital camera used in an image file sharing/printing system constituted by said digital camera and a computer possessed by each of a plurality of users, a center server capable of data communication with the digital cameras and computers via a network, and a printer capable of data communication with the digital cameras and computers via a network, wherein said center server has a management information storage device for storing, on a per-user basis, management information that includes image group information specifying one or a plurality of image groups to which the user belongs and access information for accessing each computer, each computer has an image file storage device for storing an image file, which includes thumbnail image data and original image data, in linkage with an image folder corresponding to one or a plurality of image groups to which a user possessing the computer belongs, and said printer has a communication unit which, on the basis of image specifying information and computer specifying information transmitted from said digital camera, accesses a computer specified by the computer specifying information and receives an image file specified by the image specifying information transmitted from said computer, said digital camera comprising:

image group information receiving means for receiving, from said center server, the image group information specifying one or plurality of image groups to which the user possessing said digital camera belongs;

image group information selecting means for accepting selection of any one item of image group information from among the items of image group information received;

image group information transmitting means for transmitting the image group information selected to said center server;

access information receiving means for receiving access information, which is transmitted from said center server, for accessing a computer or computers possessed by one or a plurality of other users who belong to the image group specified by the image group information selected;

accessing means for transmitting the selected image group information to said one or plurality of computers based upon the access information received;

thumbnail image data receiving means for receiving thumbnail image data, which is transmitted from a computer that has received the image group information from the digital camera, contained in an image file that has been linked to an image folder corresponding to an image group identified by the image group information;

display means for displaying a thumbnail image represented by the thumbnail image data;

selecting means for selecting an image, which is desired to be printed, from among thumbnail images displayed by said display means; and

specifying information transmitting means for transmitting, to said printer, information specifying an image to be printed selected by said selecting means and information specifying a computer having an image file that represents the image to be printed.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising print-number designating means for designating number of prints of an image to be printed;

wherein said specifying information transmitting means further transmits information representing number of prints.

3. A method of controlling a digital camera used in an image file sharing/printing system constituted by said digital camera and a computer possessed by each of a plurality of users, a center server capable of data communication with the digital cameras and computers via a network, and a printer capable of data communication with the digital cameras and computers via a network, wherein said center server has a management information storage device for storing, on a per-user basis, management information that includes image group information specifying one or a plurality of image groups to which the user belongs and access information for accessing each computer, each computer has an image file storage device for storing an image file, which includes thumbnail image data and original image data, in linkage with an image folder corresponding to one or a plurality of image groups to which a user possessing the computer belongs, and said printer has a communication unit which, on the basis of image specifying information and computer specifying information transmitted from said digital camera, accesses a computer specified by the computer specifying information and receives an image file specified by the image specifying information transmitted from said computer, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from said center server, the image group information specifying one or plurality of image groups to which the user possessing said digital camera belongs;

accepting selection of any one item of image group information from among the items of image group information received;

transmitting the image group information selected to said center server;

receiving access information, which is transmitted from said center server, for accessing a computer or computers possessed by one or a plurality of other users who belong to the image group specified by the image group information selected;

transmitting the selected image group information to said one or plurality of computers based upon the access information received;

receiving thumbnail image data, which is transmitted from a computer that has received the image group information from the digital camera, contained in an image file that has been linked to an image folder corresponding to an image group identified by the image group information;

displaying a thumbnail image represented by the thumbnail image data received;

selecting an image, which is desired to be printed, from among thumbnail images displayed; and

transmitting, to said printer, information specifying a selected image to be printed and information specifying a computer having an image file that represents the image to be printed.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

accepting designation of number of prints of an image to be printed; and

transmitting information representing number of prints to said printer.