Digital Camera Patent AbstractA digital camera and an image editing system capable of inputting
information corresponding to each photographed image every time
a picture is taken. When an editing mode transfer switch is depressed
in a photographing mode, a memo setting screen is displayed Then,
if a text-based input title is selected, a soft keyboard is displayed,
and text data is inputted from a touch panel on the by operating
a touch pen so as to edit a memo. Then, the operation returns to
the photographing mode, and a shutter button is depressed, so that
image data is fetched from a imaging element to be stored in a memory
card as an image file. At this time, memo information is stored
in a header of the file format. When transmitting the image file,
the file is also sent together with the memo information.
Digital Camera Patent ClaimsWhat is claimed is:
1. A digital camera comprising: imaging means for photographing
a subject, converting an optical image into an electric signal,
and outputting image data including said electric signal; display
means for displaying a photographed image and various setting screens;
shutter means for outputting a fetching signal of said image data
which serves as the photographed image; mode switching means for
switching various modes; an information recording medium for recording
said image data as an image file in a format for storage of the
image data together with information associated with the image;
means for switching textual information to be added to the image
data into a memo setting screen; means for switching to a title
setting screen that is adapted for setting a title to be displayed
on the memo setting screen in response to the textual information;
and means for switching to an editing screen for editing the textual
information by inputting the textual information, wherein the display
means includes a touch panel by which text data is input and the
editing screen displays a software keyboard by which the textual
information is input depending on a depression signal of the touch
panel; further comprising means for displaying on the monitoring
screen the textual information inputted from the memo setting screen,
while determining whether a function of recording in said information
recording medium is performed or not in a set-up mode of setting
various functions.
2. A digital camera comprising: imaging means for photographing
a subject, converting an optical image into an electric signal,
and outputting image data including said electric signal; display
means for displaying a photographed image and various setting screens;
shutter means for outputting a fetching signal of said image data
which serves as the photographed image; mode switching means for
switching various modes; an information recording medium for recording
said image data as an image file in a format for storage of the
image data together with information associated with the image;
means for switching textual information to be added to the image
data into a memo setting screen; means for switching to a title
setting screen that is adapted for setting a title to be displayed
on the memo setting screen in response to the textual information;
and means for switching to an editing screen for editing the textual
information by inputting the textual information, wherein the display
means includes a touch panel by which text data is input and the
editing screen displays a software keyboard by which the textual
information is input depending on a depression signal of the touch
panel; wherein, when switching display of said display means from
a reproducing screen in a reproduction mode to said editing screen,
on the memo setting screen displayed by said display means, the
title and the textual information read from the information recording
medium are displayed, and contents of the textual information are
edited, so that contents recorded in said header are updated.
3. A camera comprising: an optical image to electrical signal converter
which inputs an optical image and outputs electrical image data;
a display which displays said electrical image data, said display
including at least one type of a setting screen including a memo
screen, or a title screen, or an edit screen, or a monitoring screen,
or a reproducing screen; a shutter which outputs a fetching signal
of said electrical image data, said fetching signal serving as a
photographed image; a mode selector which switches from a first
mode to a second mode of operation of said camera; an information
recorder which records said electrical image data as an image file
in a format for storage of said electrical image data along with
other information including new information associated with said
electrical image data; a text input device configured to add or
alter old information with said new information in said memo screen;
and a screen selector which switches from said at least one type
of screen to said title screen, said title screen is configured
to set a title which is to be displayed on said memo screen in response
to an input of said new information; said screen selector further
switches from said at least one type of screen to said editing screen
which edits said old information with said new information; wherein
said display includes a touch panel by which text data is input
and said editing screen displays a software keyboard which inputs
said new information depending on a depression signal of said touch
panel; wherein said display displays said new information input
from said memo screen, on said monitoring screen, while a determination
device of said display determines whether a function of recording
of said information recorder is performed in a set-up mode of said
display, said set-up mode sets up at least one of a plurality of
functions.
4. A camera comprising: an optical image to electrical signal converter
which inputs an optical image and outputs electrical image data;
a display which displays said electrical image data, said display
including at least one type of a setting screen including a memo
screen, or a title screen, or an edit screen, or a monitoring screen,
or a reproducing screen; a shutter which outputs a fetching signal
of said electrical image data, said fetching signal serving as a
photographed image; a mode selector which switches from a first
mode to a second mode of operation of said camera; an information
recorder which records said electrical image data as an image file
in a format for storage of said electrical image data along with
other information including new information associated with said
electrical image data; a text input device configured to add or
alter old information with said new information in said memo screen;
and a screen selector which switches from said at least one type
of screen to said title screen, said title screen is configured
to set a title which is to be displayed on said memo screen in response
to an input of said new information; said screen selector further
switches from said at least one type of screen to said editing screen
which edits said old information with said new information; wherein
said display includes a touch panel by which text data is input
and said editing screen displays a software keyboard which inputs
said new information depending on a depression signal of said touch
panel; wherein said old information is updated according to said
new information when said screen selector switches from said reproducing
screen of a reproduction mode of said camera to said editing screen,
on said memo screen, so that said title and said new information
read from said information recorder are displayed, and so that contents
recorded in a header are updated. Digital Camera Patent DescriptionBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital camera and an image
editing system using this digital camera.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, digital cameras have been in widespread used in place
of analog cameras. The advantages of the digital cameras are as
follows. Images photographed can be directly viewed on a display
device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) of a camera, and the
like. Images unsuccessfully photographed can be cancelled. Images
photographed can be stored in a personal computer (hereinafter referred
to as "PC") to be processed and edited by digital processing
with ease. Printing of images is available by means of the PC, and
the images can be transmitted as digital files. By transferring
photographed images to the PC, digital images can be stored without
degradation. Multimedia images such as moving images and sounds
can be handled.
For these reasons, the digital cameras have increasingly been used
with the spread of PC. Further, in the digital cameras, the number
of pixels is increased as technology of CCD advances. For example,
digital cameras having 2.0 mega pixels to 3.0 mega pixels or more
have been on sale. Thus, the digital cameras have come in widespread
use not only in a consumer market but also in a business market.
An example of a digital camera used in a car insurance company
in a business market will be described below.
In the car insurance company, the following business flow will
take place when a vehicle is insured. 1) The vehicle is photographed
(to obtain about ten prints) by the digital camera (so as to confirm
damage and the like). 2) Data on the vehicle (vehicle type, insurance
number, and the like) are described or recorded. 3) Photographs
of the vehicle are displayed on the PC to be edited, and then editing
such as attaching the insurance number to the image is performed.
4) An external medium including the photographed images and the
data are mailed or transmitted by e-mail to a person in charge of
estimate. 5) The photographed images are stored in a database of
the PC. At this time, the insurance number and the like are inputted.
Conventionally, in the photographs a date and a photographer's
name can be included. That is, in a set-up mode, settings of the
date and the photographer's name are inputted, and then a position
of the photograph for such information to be entered, namely an
upper right position, an upper left position, a lower left position,
or a lower right position is set, so that the date and the photographer's
name are entered into the photographed image.
However, once data including the date, the photographer's name,
or the like is set, it will not to be changed at each time of photographing.
So, data corresponding to each photographed image cannot be inputted.
Conventionally, as mentioned in the above-mentioned business example,
photographed images are grabbed or captured into a personal computer,
and then an insurance number for business or a scene number is inputted
with the aid of image editing application software on the personal
computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished to solve such problems,
and it is an object of the present invention to provide a digital
camera and an image editing system which permit inputting of information
corresponding to each photographed image and which allow editing
of the information corresponding to the image, every time a photographer
takes a picture.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present
invention, there is provided a digital camera comprising: imaging
means for converting an optical image of a subject into an electric
signal and for outputting image data including said electric signal;
display means for displaying a photographed image and various setting
screens; shutter means for outputting a fetching signal of the image
data which serves as the photographed image; mode switching means
for switching various modes; and an information recording medium
for recording the image data as an image file in a format for storage
of the image data together with information associated with the
image, wherein the digital camera further comprises switching means
for switching to a memo setting screen for setting textual information
to be added to the image data, and switching means for switching
to a title setting screen that is adapted for setting a title to
be displayed on the memo setting screen in response to the textual
information. The digital camera further comprises switching means
for switching to an editing screen for editing the textual information,
and control means for recording the title and the textual information
in a header of the format when the image data is grabbed by operating
the shutter means.
With this configuration, information corresponding to each image
at every photographing time can be inputted into the image, while
a memo is attached together with the title to the header of the
format recording the image data therein, whereby such image and
memo data is handled as one image file. Thus, when editing the photographed
image on the personal computer, the information concerning the image
data can be obtained by reading out the header of the image file,
thereby to omit operations such as inputting characters by means
of image editing application software as required in the prior art.
Further, since the title displayed on the memo setting screen is
able to be edited, for example when a plurality of pictures are
taken, a title common to the photographed images can be set.
The digital camera further comprises switching means for switching
from a monitoring screen of the display means placed in a photographing
mode of photographing the subject to the memo setting screen. This
permits editing of the memo before photographing.
In the photographing mode, the textual information inputted from
the memo setting screen is displayed together with the subject on
the monitoring screen of the display means. With this configuration,
contents of the memo edited are to be confirmed before photographing.
In this configuration, there is further provided means for displaying
on the monitoring screen the textual information inputted from the
memo setting screen, while determining whether a function of recording
in the information recording medium is performed or not in a set-up
mode of setting various functions. This configuration permits setting
of an unusable state of the memo editing function if it is unnecessary.
When switching display of the display means from a reproducing
screen in a reproduction mode to the editing screen, on the memo
setting screen displayed by the display means, the title and the
textual information read from the information recording medium are
displayed, and contents of the textual information are edited, so
that contents recorded in the header are updated. With this configuration,
the contents of the memo attached to the image data previously photographed
are able to be altered.
In the above-mentioned configuration, there is provided communication
means for transmitting the image file, and in the set-up mode, a
specific communication scheme is assigned from among a plurality
of communication schemes. When transmitting the image file, the
specific communication scheme is automatically set to the communication
means. This permits saving a trouble to designate a communication
scheme for every image file.
In the above-mentioned configuration, there is further provided
communication means for transmitting the image file, and when transmitting
the image file in the set-up mode, it is determined whether the
image file already transmitted is automatically cancelled or not.
This configuration prevents leaving a needless image file on the
camera side, thereby maintaining recordable areas of the information
recording medium. This also prevents the same image file from being
transmitted twice to the other end.
According to the present invention, there is provided an image
editing system comprising the digital camera, and an external terminal
for editing the image data of the image file transmitted from the
digital camera or information associated therewith. With this configuration,
the use of the image file transmitted from the digital camera allows
editing of the image data or the associated information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a
digital camera according to one preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an outward appearance
of the digital camera.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing setting processes of a title to be
displayed on a display screen when an editing mode transfer switch
is depressed in a photographing mode.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting screen of the
title to be displayed on the display screen when the editing mode
transfer switch is depressed in the photographing mode.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the display screen when
the editing mode transfer switch is depressed in the photographing
mode.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a monitoring screen in
the photographing mode.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing editing processes of a memo.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen for determining
whether a camera-memo function is utilized or not.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen in a
reproduction mode.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen when
selecting "MEMO" in FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting screen for
setting quick transmission.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing software relative to communications
mounted in the digital camera.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing sumnail display in the
reproduction mode.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting
screen of e-mail transmission.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting
screen of FTP transmission.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a dial-up connection
upon the e-mail transmission.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a photographing lens, reference
numeral 2 a mechanical shutter, and reference numeral 3 a charge
coupled device (CCD). Reference numeral 4 designates a converter
for performing correlative double sampling and A/D conversion of
a CCD signal from the CCD 3. Reference numeral 5 represents an image
processor for converting a digital signal from the converter 4 into
YUV data with brightness Y, color-difference U, and V signal, for
performing JPEG compression of the YUV data, and for altering an
image size. Reference numeral 6 denotes a driver for performing
focus driving of the photographing lens 1 and for opening and closing
the mechanical shutter 2. Reference numeral 7 denotes a CCD driving
circuit for driving the CCD 3, and reference numeral 8 a CPU for
controlling an entire digital camera. Reference numeral 9 denotes
a memory mounted in a camera body for temporarily storing photographed
image data and read data from a file stored in a memory card. This
memory 9 is used as a work memory for the image processor 5 and
the CPU 8.
Reference numeral 10 denotes a cradle I/F. Through this cradle
I/F 10, the camera body is connected to a cradle not shown, to which
a PC is connected. Thus, images photographed by the digital camera
are transferred to the PC, otherwise set contents edited on the
PC are sent to the digital camera. Reference numeral 11 denotes
a memory card I/F connected to a memory card 17 which is attachable
and detachable to and from the digital camera body. Reference numeral
12 denotes display means or a display that comprises a display controller
for converting video output signals from the image processor 5 into
signals that are capable of being displayed by a liquid crystal
display, and a liquid crystal monitor for actually displaying video.
Reference numeral 13 denotes a switch including a release switch,
a T/W key for zoom operation, a power key, and the like. Reference
numeral 14 designates a sound CODEC. This sound CODEC 14 converts
a signal from an input analog section 14a to digital form to store
it in the memory 9 as sound data, so that it is saved in the memory
card as a file. Otherwise, the sound CODEC converts a sound file
to analog form when reproducing to make it reproduced by a speaker
in an output section. Such a CODEC is used for recording and reproducing
of images with moving images and sound included therein or for postrecording.
Reference numeral 15 indicates a power source section for supplying
power to the entire system. Reference numeral 16 denotes an I/O
communication card I/F connected to a communication card 18 such
as a modem card, a wireless LAN card, a wired LAN card, or the like,
for performing e-mail transmission and/or FTP transmission of the
photographed images via the communication card 18.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes the camera body, reference
numeral 21 a strobe, reference numeral 22 a finder, and reference
numeral 23 an upper lid. Reference numeral 24 denotes a hinge for
pivotally supporting the upper lid 23 on the camera body 20. Reference
numeral 26 denotes a liquid crystal monitor, reference numeral 27
a release switch, reference numeral 28 a mode switching dial, reference
numeral 29 an operating panel, reference numeral 30 an editing mode
transfer switch, reference numeral 31 an upper-lid opening and closing
detection switch, and reference numeral 32 a barrier opening and
closing knob for opening and closing a barrier (not shown) that
protects the photographing lens 1.
With the upper lid 23 closed, the camera body has a substantially
rectangular shape. The photographing lens 1, the strobe 21, and
the finder 23 are disposed on the front of the camera body, while
the release switch 27, the mode switching dial 28, the operating
panel 29, the editing mode transfer switch 30, and the upper-lid
opening and closing detection switch 31 are disposed on the side
of the camera body. On the edge of the camera body in the vicinity
of the operating panel 29, the upper lid 23 is pivotally attached
through the hinge 24. A sub-LCD 25 is provided on the surface of
the upper lid 23, while the liquid crystal monitor 26 is disposed
on the back surface thereof.
In a case where the upper lid 23 is open and the upper-lid opening
and closing detection switch 31 detects its opening, the liquid
crystal monitor 26 is driven to display an image. In a case where
the upper-lid opening and closing detection switch 31 detects closing
of the upper lid 23, driving of the liquid crystal monitor 26 is
terminated. With the upper lid 23 closed, the operating panel 29
and the liquid crystal monitor 26 are opposed to each other.
A touch panel is disposed on the liquid crystal monitor 26. By
depressing a title portion displayed on the liquid crystal monitor
26 by means of a touch pen (not shown), a corresponding signal is
sent to the CPU 8.
The mode switching dial 28 is operated to switch among a photographing
mode, a reproduction mode, a set-up mode for reset, a PC mode in
which an image file is transferred to the PC, a transmission mode
in which the image file is transmitted over a communications circuit,
and the like, causing display on a screen of the liquid crystal
monitor 26 to be switched corresponding to the mode.
The editing mode transfer switch 30 is to perform switching to
a mode (hereinafter referred to as "editing mode") for
editing a memo comprising text information to be attached to the
photographed images.
In the embodiment, by depressing the release switch 27 in the photographing
mode, the image data is stored in the memory card 17 in a file of
a format standard set by an Exif (exchangeable image file format).
The text information generated in the editing mode is stored in
a header of the Exif format. For example, when the image file is
transferred to the PC in the PC mode, text data is also transferred
together with the image data.
In the editing mode, many pieces of text information are able to
be edited to be stored in the header of the Exif format. On the
liquid crystal monitor 26, a title corresponding to the text information
to be inputted is displayed. This title can also be set in the set-up
mode.
Now, setting processes of the title will be explained below with
reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4.
First, as shown in FIG. 3, the set-up mode is started up by the
operation of the mode switching dial 28 (S16). At this time, several
alternatives including registration of a photo shooting date, registration
of a photographer, setting of an image size, setting of image quality,
and the like are displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 26. Among
these alternatives, setting of a camera-memo function is selected
by the touch pen, causing a setting screen for the camera-memo function
to be displayed (S17) as shown in FIG. 4.
In the embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, five kinds of memos
including MEMO 1 to 5 are available. If the title has already inputted,
the inputted title is displayed as it is. When the title is to be
edited, a software keyboard (hereinafter referred to as "soft
keyboard") is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 26 by
selecting a pen-shaped icon disposed on the side of items. A title
is inputted by operating this soft keyboard (S18), so that the title
to be registered is newly generated or the title is updated to be
reflected in the liquid crystal monitor 26. In FIG. 4, a column
of the MEMO 1 has a title "CLAIM No." inputted therein,
and a column of the MEMO 2 a title "CLIENT No.". When
the registered contents are right, the title is stored in the memory
9 by selecting "OK". It should be noted that although
the input of the title is performed by displaying the above-mentioned
keyboard and inputting with the touch pen, it is not limited thereto
and can be carried out by gaining set-up data from an external PC.
Now, the editing mode will be described hereinafter.
The photographing mode is started up by operating the mode switching
dial 28. By depressing the editing mode transfer switch 30 with
the monitoring screen of a subject displayed on the liquid crystal
monitor 26, a menu screen is displayed, wherein the titles set in
the set-up mode, that is, for example, "CLAIM No.", "CLIENT
No.", "MEMO 3", "MEMO 4", and "MEMO
5" when set as shown in FIG. 4 are displayed as illustrated
in FIG. 5. When contents of the memo are already inputted in an
input column disposed on the side of the tile, the memo contents
are displayed as they are. Thereafter, a desired title, for example
"CLAIM No." is selected by the touch pen, and then the
"OK" is selected, whereby the operation returns to the
photographing mode. At this time, the memo contents registered in
the input column of the "CLAIM No." are displayed on the
liquid crystal monitor 26 as shown in FIG. 6.
It should be noted that although the memo contents displayed on
the liquid crystal monitor 26 correspond to the item "CLAIM
No." in an example of FIG. 6, they may be selected and set
for every title, thereby displaying a plurality of memo contents.
Also, the display control may be carried out such that the titles
are simultaneously displayed.
Now, editing processes of the memo will be described below with
reference to a flowchart as shown in FIG. 7.
After starting up in the photographing mode (S1), with monitoring
screen of a subject displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 26 (S2),
the editing mode transfer switch 30 is depressed (S3) to display
a setting screen shown in FIG. 5. On this setting screen, an input
column disposed on the side of a desired title is selected by the
touch pen (S4), so that the soft keyboard is displayed on the liquid
crystal monitor 26. By operating this keyboard, the contents of
a memo is inputted (S5), and then the memo contents edited are displayed
on the side of the title. If the memo contents are right, the selection
of the "OK" causes the memo contents to be stored in the
memory 9. Thus, the operation returns to the monitoring screen (S6).
When actually photographing after registration of the memo contents,
the title and the memo contents are stored in the header of the
Exif format. Similarly, every time a subject to be photographed
is changed, the editing mode transfer switch 30 is depressed to
start up the editing mode, so that memo contents are altered. Thus
the memo contents displayed on the monitoring screen of the liquid
crystal monitor 26 are updated. When photographing, the title and
the updated memo contents are stored in the header of the Exif format
(S7).
An example of a specification of the Exif header will be described
hereinafter.
User Comment Tag
GAT-TAG (NULL) Textdata-item1 (NULL) Textdata-item2 (NULL)
Textdata-item3 (NULL) Textdata-item4 (NULL)
Textdata-item5 (NULL) (NULL)
The above-mentioned "GAT-TAG" denotes an identifier of
automatic text generation, and the (NULL) denotes OOH.
FIG. 8 shows an explanatory diagram of a screen for determining
whether the camera-memo function is utilized or not. Whether the
camera-memo function is used or not is set by displaying the setting
screen of FIG. 6 on the liquid crystal monitor 26 in the set-up
mode.
Generally, a consumer or user does not very often utilize the camera-memo
function. Accordingly, provision of a setting mode for setting the
use of the camera-memo function makes it possible to cope with the
memo so that it is not displayed on the monitoring screen.
When switching to the reproduction mode by operating the mode switching
dial 28 after photographing, photographed data is read from the
image file stored in the memory card 17, so that the memo contents
are also displayed with a photographed image on the liquid crystal
monitor 26 as shown in FIG. 9. Around the photographed image, there
are provided various soft keys such as a key for editing of images,
a key for memo editing, a key for copy or shift, a key for transmission,
a key for quick transmission, a key for cancellation of an image,
a key for selection of an image, and the like. In this state, the
memo editing is selected by the touch pen to perform switching of
the memo contents to the editing screen as shown in FIG. 10. If
there are any changes in the memo contents, the soft keyboard is
started up, causing editing operation to be carried out. After the
editing operation, the OK key is selected to switch to the editing
screen shown in FIG. 9. If not changes, a save key is selected so
as to update the memo contents stored in the image file corresponding
to the photographed data in the memory card 17 during reproduction.
When a plurality of titles is set and memo contents not shown on
the liquid crystal monitor 26 are to be edited, the editing mode
transfer switch 30 is depressed in the reproduction mode to start
up the editing mode, whereby the memo contents are displayed with
the title on the editing screen. If there are any changes in the
memo contents, the soft keyboard is started up so as to perform
editing operation. After editing, the OK key is selected to update
the memo contents to be displayed on the liquid crystal monitor
26 and the memo contents stored in the memory card
Now, a communication function of the photographed images will be
explained below.
As shown in FIG. 9, there are displayed a transmission key ("SEND"
in the figure), and a quick transmission key ("QUICK SEND"
in the figure) on a reproducing screen in the reproduction mode.
One of these keys is selected, so that a transmission file is generated
based on the image being reproduced to be stored in a transmission
tray. The mode switching dial 28 is operated to perform switching
to a circuit mode, and a telephone line is connected, whereby the
transmission file is transmitted through a predetermined communication
scheme.
When the transmission key is selected, a desired one from among
a plurality of communication schemes prepared, for example one of
E-Mail scheme and FTP scheme, is chosen for the transmission. For
the quick transmission key, since a communication scheme is previously
set, an operation of specifying a communication scheme as required
upon selection of the transmission key can be omitted.
FIG. 11 shows a setting screen of the quick transmission, wherein
there are provided in the set-up mode various settings of a transmission
object end, dial-up, a telephone number, an image size, possibility
of appending an associated file, and the quick transmission. In
an example of FIG. 11, the E-Mail scheme is set as the communication
scheme.
FIG. 12 shows software associated with communications that is installed
in the digital camera. A communication card I/F is an interface
of a communication card, such as PCMCIA, USB, or the like. The communication
card is a wireless LAN, a modem of a portable telephone, or the
like as recently coming into wide use. A communication card driver
is driver software for gaining access to the communication card.
On the driver is disposed TCP/IP software serving as a protocol
on the Internet. On the software a SMTP protocol serving as a normal
protocol of the E-Mail or a FTP file transmission protocol is disposed.
These protocols are included in the software of the camera. In FIG.
12, two types of communication schemes are shown. As mentioned above,
if the protocol to be normally used in the set-up mode is selectable
and the quick transmission is selected, then the communication scheme
specified as normal one is utilized for transmission. In normal
transmission, a communication scheme is designated by a user to
be used for transmission. It should be noted that in cases where
the normal transmission is designated, the communication scheme
specified as the protocol to be used in a normal manner in the set-up
mode is appointed and displayed on the setting screen which is displayed
on the liquid crystal monitor 26.
Accordingly, the quick transmission is provided as well as the
normal transmission, thus permitting settings according to the user's
operating condition thereby to meet various kinds of the user's
needs.
In order to conveniently search for a desired image from the photographed
data stored in the memory card 17, a sumnail display function is
provided as shown in FIG. 13. When transmitting the photographed
data, one or more sumnails of the photographed data to be sent are
designated, and a transmission or quick transmission key is depressed.
Thus the transmission file is generated and the telephone line is
connected, causing the photographed data to be transmitted.
There are provided setting items displayed in the setting screen
for determining whether the file is canceled or not after transmission.
When determining the cancellation of the file, that is, when designating
"yes" in the item "DELETE IMAGE" as shown in
FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, a transmission image stored in the memory card
17 is cancelled after succeeding in the transmission.
As shown in FIG. 16, a file to be transmitted is first selected,
and the transmission or quick transmission key is depressed, to
store the transmission file. Next, the digital camera is connected
to a telephone terminal, and the mode switching dial is operated
to perform switching to the circuit mode, causing image communication
processing to start up (S8). When the dial-up connection is completed
(S9), the E-Mail transmission is started up (S10). After the transmission
(S11), when designating "yes" in the item "DELETE
IMAGE" on the E-Mail transmission setting screen (for YES in
S12), the file already transmitted is cancelled from the memory
card 17 or a built-in memory (S13). When there is another file not
to be transmitted (for NO in S14), it is transmitted and then cancelled
from the memory card 17 or the built-in memory. After the transmission
files are all transmitted, the circuit or line is shut down, thereby
bringing the communications to an end (S15).
This configuration prevents needless image files from remaining
on the camera side, thus allowing maintaining enough capacity in
the memory card 17.
According to the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration,
the memo is attached together with the title to the header of the
format storing the photographed image data therein, whereby such
image data and memo data can be handled as one image file. Thus,
when editing the photographed image on the personal computer, information
on the image data is available by reading the header, thereby omitting
an operation such as inputting characters by means of image editing
application software. Further, the title displayed on the memo setting
screen is able to be edited. For example when a plurality of pictures
is taken, a title common to the respective photographed images can
be set. Accordingly, this enables making effective use of the memo
function according to any purposes of using the digital camera. |