Abstract: A mobile device system includes a plurality of mobile devices, each to which unique identification information is assigned, wherein each mobile device includes a location-information acquisition unit, a communication unit, and a group registration unit. The communication unit links location information acquired by the location-information acquisition unit of the mobile device and the identification information of the mobile device, sends the information to other mobile devices, and receives from the other mobile devices location information of the other mobile devices and identification information linked to the location information of the other mobile devices. The group registration unit detects other mobile devices located within a predetermined range of the mobile device on the basis of the location information of the other mobile devices and the location information of the mobile device and registers the identification information of the detected other mobile devices as a group.

Abstract: In a camera in which a lens unit can be replaced, a camera, which individually grasps lens characteristics corresponding to a picked-up subject image, is provided. The camera is characterized by including a camera main body, a lens unit having an image pickup optical system for focusing a subject image, an image pickup means for picking up the subject image and converting it into electric image information, an optical characteristics memory unit for storing optical characteristics inherent to the image pickup optical system, an image memory unit for storing the image information and the optical characteristics of the lens unit used when the image information is obtained by causing them to correspond to each other, and an image processing means for subjecting the image information to image processing based on the optical characteristics which are caused to correspond to the image information.

Abstract: An image playback method is provided which allows the viewer to easily recognize how much time has elapsed and to evoke, with nostalgia, the memories from the time when the image was acquired. This image playback method includes the steps of determining a time elapsed from image acquisition based on an acquisition date and time of image information obtained by the image acquisition and a current date and time; determining a fading rate based on the determined elapsed time; subjecting the image information to image processing in which the image information is faded based on the determined fading rate; and displaying the image-processed image information to play back the image.

Abstract: A plurality of mobile devices interoperate without configuration operation. A mobile device system including a plurality of mobile devices is provided. Each mobile device is operable in one of an independent-operation mode in which the mobile device operates with priority over the other mobile devices and a dependent mode in which the mobile device operates dependently on another mobile device and includes a control unit having a start-up-order detection unit configured to detect the start-up order of the mobile device with respect to the other mobile devices. A first mobile device operates in the independent-operation mode when the start-up order of the first mobile device detected by the start-up-order detection unit is earlier than the start-up order of a second mobile device and operates in the dependent-operation mode when the start-up order is later than the start-up order of the second mobile device.

Abstract: There is provided an image taking device with removable optical unit, with which it is possible to operate the power supply of the image taking device body without operating a power switch, and operation of the power supply of the image taking device body is made easy. The image taking device with removable optical element is provided with an image taking device body, a lens unit (optical unit) that is removable with respect to the image taking device body, an attachment detection unit for detecting attachment of the lens unit to the image taking device body, and a system controller (control unit) for turning a power supply of the image taking device body on upon detection of attachment of the lens unit to the image taking device body by the attachment detection unit. The system controller is configured to turn off the power supply of the image taking device body in a state where attachment of the lens unit to the image taking device body is not detected by the attachment detection unit.

Abstract: An interchangeable-lens camera including a camera body on which a lens unit is capable to mount. The camera body includes a lens mounting unit which is provided to the camera body and on which the lens unit is capable to mount at least one dummy mounting unit which is provided to the camera body and on which a device is capable to mount under the same lens mounting system as the lens mounting unit, and a processing unit for reading information about the lens unit mounted to the lens mounting unit; and the processing unit for reading information about the device mounted to the dummy mounting unit.

Abstract: An information management method and digital camera which can reduce the burden on a user in terms of information management, while ensuring security, are provided. The invention provides a digital camera including an image-acquisition unit for acquiring image information; an ID reading unit for reading identification information of a wireless IC tag built into personal belongings that an image-acquiring person carries; a recording unit for associating and recording the read identification information and image information; a display unit for displaying the image information; and a control unit. At the time of a display request for the image information, the control unit displays the image information on the display unit when the identification information read by the ID reading unit matches the identification information associated with the image information which is the subject of the display request.

Abstract: Even when the mobile devices which one carries change from day to day, the invention can flexibly handle such changes to prevent misplacement and the like of a mobile device. Each mobile device includes a communication unit for communicating with other mobile devices, a GPS receiver for acquiring current location information of the mobile device, a group registration unit, an announcing unit, and a control unit. In each mobile device, other mobile devices located within a predetermined range of that mobile device are registered as a group in the group registration unit, and after this registration, the other mobile devices located within the predetermined range of the mobile device are periodically detected, and when the combination of detected other mobile devices does not match the combination of other mobile devices registered in the group registration unit, the announcing unit is operated.

Abstract: When one mobile device is activated, the existence of information which other mobile devices hold is also confirmed. There is provided a mobile device system including a plurality of mobile devices, wherein each mobile device includes a communication unit for communicating with other mobile devices, an information storage unit for storing information, a list storage unit for storing a list of information stored in the information storage unit and in the information storage units of the other mobile devices, a display unit, and a control unit. The control unit displays the list stored in the information storage unit on the display unit and, when information stored in the information storage unit of another mobile device is specified, requests transmission of information from the other mobile device using the communication unit and displays information transmitted in response to the request on the display unit.

Abstract: Situations such as mobile devices being left in the activated mode are avoided by efficiently reporting the statuses of a plurality of mobile devices. Provided is a mobile device system including a plurality of mobile devices. Each mobile device includes a status-detecting unit for detecting the status of that device, a communication unit for communicating with other mobile devices, a display unit, and a control unit. The control unit of each of the mobile devices sends the status detected by the status-detecting unit to the other mobile devices by using the communication unit, and when statuses are received by the communication unit from the other mobile devices, those statuses are displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: There is provided an image taking device with removable optical unit, with which it is possible to switch the operating mode of an image taking device body to playback mode without operating an image playback button or the like, and operation of the image taking device body is made easy. There are provided an image taking device body, a lens unit (optical unit) that is removable with respect to the image taking device body, an removal detection unit for detecting removal of the lens unit from the image taking device body, and a system controller (control unit) for controlling operation of the image taking device body. The image taking device body is provided with an image playback function. The system controller is configured to switch the operating mode of the image taking device body to playback mode upon detection of removal of the lens unit from the image taking device body by the removal detection unit.

Abstract: A mobile device system and a communication device which can flexibly respond to the living environment to prevent misplacement are provided. In each mobile device, outside a specified area which is registered in advance, when a combination of other mobile devices detected as being located within a predetermined range of that device does not match a combination of other mobile devices registered in a group registration unit, misplacement of a mobile device is announced by operating an announcing unit. Inside the specified area on the other hand, even if the combination of other mobile devices detected as being located within the predetermined range of that device does not match the combination of other mobile devices registered in the group registration unit, the announcing unit is not operated.

Abstract: In a camera in which a lens unit can be replaced, a camera, which individually grasps lens characteristics corresponding to a picked-up subject image, is provided. The camera is characterized by including a camera main body, a lens unit having an image pickup optical system for focusing a subject image, an image pickup means for picking up the subject image and converting it into electric image information, an optical characteristics memory unit for storing optical characteristics inherent to the image pickup optical system, an image memory unit for storing the image information and the optical characteristics of the lens unit used when the image information is obtained by causing them to correspond to each other, and an image processing means for subjecting the image information to image processing based on the optical characteristics which are caused to correspond to the image information.

Abstract: Even when the state of an auxiliary device mounted to a dummy mounting unit cannot be visually identified, the state thereof can be immediately identified. The invention provides an interchangeable-lens camera including a camera body and a lens unit configured to be removably mounted to the camera body. The camera body includes a lens mounting unit for mounting the lens unit, at least one dummy mounting unit compatible with the same lens mounting system as the lens mounting unit, and information reading means for reading information about devices mounted to the lens mounting unit and the dummy mounting unit.

Abstract: There is provided an image taking device with removable optical unit, with which it is possible to perform switching of the operating mode of the image taking device body without operating mode change switch, and an operating mode switching operation of the image taking device body is made easy. There are provided an image taking device body, a lens unit (optical unit) that is removable with respect to the image taking device body, an attachment detection unit for detecting attachment of the lens unit to the image taking device body, and a system controller (control unit) for switching an operating mode of the image taking device body to photographing mode on upon detection of attachment of the lens unit to the image taking device body by the attachment detection unit. The system controller is configured to switch the operating mode of the image taking device body to playback mode in a state where attachment of the lens unit to the image taking device body is not detected by the attachment detection unit.

Abstract: It is possible to acquire an image of a human figure in which pores or fine wrinkles cannot be displayed in detail even when the image is enlarged by image processing, and acquire an image of a distant view or a distant human figure in which enlarged portions can also be displayed in detail by image processing. The invention provides a camera including an image-acquisition unit for acquiring an image; a magnification detection unit for detecting an imaging magnification; and an image adjusting unit for changing at least one of resolution and contrast of the image acquired by the image-acquisition unit, wherein the image adjusting unit adjusts to a predetermined resolution or contrast that are lower than the resolution or contrast capable of being acquired by the image-acquisition unit when the imaging magnification detected by the magnification detection unit is larger than a predetermined magnification.

Abstract: The invention provides a mobile device system and a mobile device that can flexibly respond to situations where the user carries a different combination of mobile devices on different days, and can prevent the mobile devices from being misplaced. The mobile device system includes three or more mobile devices, wherein each mobile device includes a device detection unit for periodically detecting other mobile devices located within a predetermined range of the mobile device, a function-restricting unit for restricting a predetermined function, and a control unit, and when two or more mobile devices of the other mobile devices detected by the device detection unit are no longer detected, the control unit operates the function-restricting unit.

Abstract: An image playback method is provided which allows the viewer to easily recognize how much time has elapsed and to evoke, with nostalgia, the memories from the time when the image was acquired. This image playback method includes the steps of determining a time elapsed from image acquisition based on an acquisition date and time of image information obtained by the image acquisition and a current date and time; determining a fading rate based on the determined elapsed time; subjecting the image information to image processing in which the image information is faded based on the determined fading rate; and displaying the image-processed image information to play back the image.

Abstract: A mobile device system includes a plurality of mobile devices, each to which unique identification information is assigned, wherein each mobile device includes a location-information acquisition unit, a communication unit, and a group registration unit. The communication unit links location information acquired by the location-information acquisition unit of the mobile device and the identification information of the mobile device, sends the information to other mobile devices, and receives from the other mobile devices location information of the other mobile devices and identification information linked to the location information of the other mobile devices. The group registration unit detects other mobile devices located within a predetermined range of the mobile device on the basis of the location information of the other mobile devices and the location information of the mobile device and registers the identification information of the detected other mobile devices as a group.

Abstract: To provide a camera and a lens unit that can easily obtain image data subjected to predetermined filtering processing. A camera includes a camera main body, a lens unit having an photographing optical system that forms an image of a subject, image pickup means that captures the image of the subject and converts the captured image into electrical image information, an algorithm storing unit that stores a predetermined image processing algorithm, and image processing means that performs image processing of the image information on the basis of the image processing algorithm.