Digital information input system

• US 20020063781A1
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Aizawa, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,075,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• 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

Abstract

In a digital camera system in which a digital camera and a computer are connected so that image data stored in a memory of the digital camera is managed from the computer, the digital camera issues to the computer the same event information to the computer, indicating that a change has been made in the image data stored in the memory, whether an image is captured or a captured image is deleted in response to an operation of the digital camera or an image is captured or a captured image is deleted by the digital camera in response to a command from the computer. The computer executes the same processing flow whether the image data stored in the memory has been changed in response to the operation of the digital camera or when the image stored in the memory has been changed by the command issued by the computer itself.

Claims

1. A digital camera system comprising a digital camera, and a computer which is connected to said digital camera and which controls said digital camera,

said digital camera having:

a capture unit arranged to capture an image; and

an image storing unit arranged to store the captured image in a memory;

said computer having;

a command issuing unit arranged to issue a capture command for capturing an image by said digital camera or a delete command for deleting the image stored in said memory;

wherein said digital camera generates an event signal indicating a change in the content stored in said memory by a common sequence when the content stored in said memory is changed in response to said capture command or said delete command and when the content stored in said memory is changed in response to an operation of said digital camera; and

said computer issues a control command for collecting the content stored in said memory by a common sequence in response to said event signal when the content stored in said memory is changed in response to said capture command or said delete command and when the content stored in said memory is changed in response to an operation of said digital camera.

2. A digital camera which is connectable to a computer, said digital camera comprising:

a capture unit arranged to capture an image;

an image storing unit arranged to store the captured image in a memory;

a release switch arranged to request a capture to said capture unit;

an operation unit arranged to request deletion of the image stored in said memory; and

a control unit arranged to control said capture unit or said image storing unit upon receipt of a capture command or a delete command from a computer connected to said digital camera;

wherein said control unit generates an event signal indicating a change in the content stored in said memory by a common sequence when the content stored in said memory is changed in response to a capture by said release switch or an operation of said operation unit and when the content stored in said memory is changed in response to said capture command or said delete command.

3. A method of controlling a computer which is connected to a digital camera and which controls said digital camera, said method comprising:

a first issuing step of issuing a capture command for capturing an image by said digital camera or a delete command for deleting an image stored in a memory of said digital camera;

a receiving step of receiving event information indicating a change in the content stored in the memory of said digital camera from said digital camera; and

a second issuing step of issuing a control command for collecting the content stored in said memory by a common sequence when said event information is issued in relation to a capture or deletion of image being executed in response to the command issued in said first issuing step and when said event information is issued in relation to a capture or deletion of image being executed in response to an operation of an operation unit of said digital camera.

4. An image processing system comprising an image information generating apparatus, and an information processing apparatus for processing image information from said image information generating apparatus,

said image information generating apparatus comprising event information transmitting means arranged to transmit event information indicating the type of a process executed in said image information generating apparatus;

said information processing apparatus comprising processing request transmitting means arranged to transmit a processing request to said image information generating apparatus in accordance with the event information transmitted from said event information transmitting means.

5. An image processing system according to claim 4, wherein said event information includes information indicating a change in an image stored in said image information generating apparatus, and said processing request includes a request for the image stored in said image information generating apparatus.

6. An image processing system according to claim 4, wherein said image information generating apparatus is a digital camera for capturing and storing an image.

7. A digital camera which is connectable to a computer, said digital camera comprising:

first transmitting means that transmits event information relating to an operation executed in said digital camera to said computer; and

second transmitting means that transmits data having been changed by said operation to said computer;

wherein said first transmitting means transmits common event information when said operation is initiated by a command from said computer and when said operation is initiated by an input from an operation unit of said digital camera.

8. A method of controlling a computer which is connectable to a digital camera, said method comprising:

a first transmitting step for transmitting a command for executing a predetermined operation by said digital camera;

a receiving step for receiving event information relating to the operation executed by said digital camera in response to the command transmitted; and

a second transmitting step for transmitting a processing request to said digital camera in accordance with the event information received;

wherein said second transmitting step transmits the same processing request when said event information is generated in relation to said predetermined operation being executed in response to an input from an operation unit of said digital camera.