System for storing and utilizing picture image data recorded by digital camera

• US 6,337,712 B1
• Filed: 11/20/1997
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Shiota, Kazuo, Haneda, Norihisa, Fukada, Shigekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M.
• Application Number:
  US08/975,111
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5907, 348/231, 348/232, 348/233, 348/222, 348/229, 348/552, 348/714, 395/2.97, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 707/200-206
• US Class Current: 348/231.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00106 using land mobile radio networks, e.g. mobile telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• 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 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image

Abstract

Pictures recorded by a digital camera can be stored and utilized by a method convenient and appropriate for the situation. The system includes a variety of devices for transferring picture image data recorded by a variety of digital cameras to an image server installed in a DPE or the like. It further includes a variety of accessing devices for enabling the picture image data stored in the image server to be accessed. As such, a user of a digital camera can transfer images, via this system while the user is away from home, thereby enabling continual use of the digital camera.

Claims

1. A picture data storing and utilizing system separate from a digital camera, comprising:

at least one medium reading means for reading picture image data from a removable medium, said picture image data being recorded by the digital camera and stored in the removable medium, wherein the image data is transferred to a remotely located image server which stores the transferred picture image data; and

accessing means for enabling the picture image data stored in the remotely located image server to be accessed and utilized, wherein the picture image data are transferred to the image server via cable or wireless transmission, and wherein the at least one medium reading means and the accessing means are housed together, separate from the remotely located image server.

2. The picture image data storing and utilizing system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one data transferring means which transfers picture image data recorded by a digital camera and stored in the built-in memory of the digital camera from the built-in memory to the image server.

3. A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 2 wherein the medium reading means and the data transferring means are housed in a common unit.

4. A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 3 wherein the accessing means is also housed in the common unit.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one medium reading means, the at least one data transferring means and the accessing means are housed together, separate from the remotely located image server.

6. A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein the medium reading means and the accessing means are housed in a common unit.

7. A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 6 wherein file outputting means for outputting the picture image data stored in the image server to a predetermined recording medium as a file is installed in the common unit.

8. A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 6 wherein print outputting means for outputting the picture image data stored in the image server as a print is installed in the common unit.

10. A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 9 or 2 wherein the data transferring means is at least one of a cable connection interface, camera loading transferring means and a communication channel.

12. A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 1 or claim 9 which further comprises file outputting means for outputting the picture image data stored in the image server to a predetermined recording medium.

13. A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claims 1 or claim 9 which further comprises print outputting means for outputting the picture image data stored in the image server as prints.

9. A picture image data storing and utilizing system separate from a digital camera, comprising:

at least one data transferring means for transferring picture image data from a built-in camera memory to a remotely located image server which stores the transferred picture image data, wherein the picture image data is recorded by the digital camera in the built-in camera memory; and

accessing means for enabling the picture image data stored in the remotely located image server to be accessed and utilized, wherein the picture image data are transferred to the image server via cable or wireless transmission, and wherein the at least one data transferring means and the accessing means are housed together, separate from the remotely located image server.

11. A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 9 wherein the data transferring means and the accessing means are housed in a common unit.

14. A picture image data storing and utilizing system separate from a digital camera, comprising:

an image server which stores picture image data;

at least one medium reading means for reading picture image data from a removable medium and transferring the picture image data to the image server, wherein the picture image data is stored by the digital camera in the removable medium; and

accessing means for enabling the picture image data stored in the image server to be accessed and utilized, wherein the picture image data are transferred to the image server via cable or wireless transmission; and

file name assigning means for assigning, to the picture image data transferred to the image server, a unique file name different from a file name before the data transfer, as the file name for storage in the image server, wherein the file name assigning means generates the unique file name by using at least one of a camera code for identifying the digital camera used for recording, a possessor code for identifying a possessor of the digital camera, and a date code representing a date of recording to the picture image data.

15. The picture image data storing and utilizing system of claim 14, wherein the image server is located separately from the at least one medium reading means.

16. The picture image data storing and utilizing system of claim 14, wherein the image server is located separately from the accessing means.

17. A picture image data storing and utilizing system separate from a digital camera, comprising:

an image server which stores picture image data;

at least one data transferring means for transferring picture image data recorded by a digital camera and stored in the built-in memory of the digital camera from the built-in memory to the image server;

accessing means for enabling the picture image data stored in the image server to be accessed and utilized, wherein the picture image data are transferred to the image server via cable or wireless transmission; and

file name assigning means for assigning, to the picture image data transferred to the image server, a unique file name different from a file name before the data transfer, as the file name for storage in the image server, wherein the file name assigning means generates the unique file name by using at least one of a camera code for identifying the digital camera used for recording, a possessor code for identifying a possessor of the digital camera, and a date code representing a date of recording to the picture image data.

18. The picture image data storing and utilizing system of claim 17, wherein the image server is located separately from the at least one data transferring means.

19. The picture image data storing and utilizing system of claim 17, wherein the image server is located separately from the accessing means.

20. An apparatus separate from a digital camera for receiving digital images, comprising:

a transaction fee input unit for receiving a transaction fee permitting input and storage of at least one digital image; and

an input unit for inputting the at least one digital image into the apparatus, wherein an identification code is associated with (each of said at least one input digital image) the apparatus being operatively connected to a remote storage device which stores the at least one digital image, wherein access to the remotely stored at least one digital image is permitted at the apparatus based upon the identification code associated therewith.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a memory for temporarily storing the input digital image in association with an identification code.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein stored digital images and associated identification codes are periodically transferred from the memory to the remote storage device.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transaction fee input unit includes a device for receiving coined currency.

24. The apparatus of claims 20 or 23, wherein the transaction fee input unit includes a device for receiving paper currency.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the input unit includes at least one data transferring means for transferring the digital image from a memory of a digital camera into the apparatus.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one data transferring means includes a cable, connectable to a digital camera.

27. The apparatus of claim 20 or 25, wherein the input unit includes at least one medium reading means for reading the digital image from a removable recording medium for input into the apparatus.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the removable recording medium is a removable recording medium of a digital camera.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the removable recording medium is a removable recording medium of a personal computer.

30. The apparatus of claim 20, further including a printer for printing the digital image.

31. The apparatus of claim 20, further including a keyboard for inputting an identification code to access a remotely stored digital image.

32. The apparatus of claim 20, further including a touch-panel screen for inputting an identification code to access a remotely stored digital image.

33. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein identification code is automatically associated with the input digital image.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the identification code includes information associated with capture of the digital image.

35. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein an identification code previously associated with the input digital image is maintained, if uniquely identifiable by the remote storage device.

36. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the associated identification code uniquely identifies the digital image stored at the remote storage device.

37. The apparatus of claim 20, further including an input unit permitting input of an identification code to access a remotely digital image.

38. The apparatus of claim 20, further including a unit permitting selection of an identification code to access a remotely stored digital image.

39. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

an input device for inputting an identification code and accessing a stored digital image from the remote storage device; and

an output unit for outputting the accessed stored digital image.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the input device includes a keyboard.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the output device includes a printer.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the output device includes a printer.