Abstract: Disclosed herein is a recording apparatus including: an input section configured to input data to be recorded; and a recording control section configured to reserve a recording region beforehand on recording media by updating file management information about the recording media to which the data is to be recorded, the recording control section being further configured such that when the data input through the input section has reached a predetermined data amount, the recording control section records the input data to the reserved region.

Abstract: A recording apparatus records data in a recording medium which has a plurality of blocks and includes an alternative block for a defect block, in accordance with a recording unit of a set data amount. The recording apparatus sets the data amount of the recording unit based on an alternative block remaining amount in the recording medium.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus being capable of generating a frame for a moving image at a desired timing using a still image captured during capturing a moving image is provided.

Abstract: A data recording apparatus records data onto a recording medium having a flash memory in which data can be written in block units using a part of a recording region as an alternative block for a defect block in which normal data writing cannot be performed. The data recording apparatus causes a user to select one of plural recording modes including a first recording mode and a second recording mode in which an amount of data to be processed is larger than that of the first recording mode, then obtains data in the selected recording mode and stores the data onto the recording medium. If an alternative block remaining amount obtained from the recording medium is equal to or less than a threshold value, the data recording apparatus allows recording in the first recording mode and inhibits recording in the second recording mode.

Abstract: Charging of a camera and backup of data are concurrently executed to enable picking up an image regardless of a remaining available memory. As the camera is attached to a cradle, image data for the image picked up by a camera module of the camera is directly transferred to and recorded in a HDD of the cradle. Image data, already recorded in the flash memory of the camera, is backed up by the HDD of the cradle. Further, the cradle allows a charging circuit to charge a rechargeable battery of the camera using electric power supplied via an AC cord. Also, the cradle has a tripod bore through which the camera is fixed to a tripod for picking up the image.

Abstract: A sensed image is saved in a printer in an environment in which a digital camera can directly communicate with a printer, and the sensed image can be directly printed. A printer and a digital camera (DSC) can be directly connected to each other via a USB interface. Upon this direct connection, the digital camera and printer serve as a print system, and the DSC serves as a user interface in that system. When the user inputs a print instruction of a desired image on the DSC, a print process of that image is executed. When the user inputs a save instruction of a given image, that image is saved in a storage device in the printer. Even when the image is erased on the DSC side, original image data can be prevented from being lost.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. A method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus, the method including determining whether a condition for changing an environment setup of the digital photographing apparatus is satisfied; if the condition is satisfied, searching for an environment setup to be changed according to the condition; and changing the environment setup according to the condition.

Abstract: A system and method for indexing media files includes capturing a subject in a media file with a media capture device. The media capture device also receives index information from a media indexing beacon, wherein the index information is related to the subject in the media file. The system and method associates the index information with the media file. The media file may then be provided to a media storage device containing other media files having index information associated therewith, whereupon the media files are searchable based on the index information and pertinent media files may be retrieved.

Abstract: Charging of a camera 100 and backup of data are concurrently executed to enable picking up an image regardless of a remaining available memory. As the camera 100 is attached to a cradle 200, image data for the image picked up by a camera module 110 of the camera 100 is directly transferred to and recorded in a HDD 220 of the cradle 200. Image data, already recorded in the flash memory 133 of the camera 100, is backed up by the HDD 220 of the cradle 200. Further, the cradle 200 allows a charging circuit 204 to charge a rechargeable battery of the camera 100 using electric power supplied via an AC cord 280. Also, the cradle 200 has a tripod bore 270 through which the camera is fixed to a tripod for picking up the image.

Abstract: A method of transferring encoded data and an imaging device executing the method thereof are disclosed. The image signal processor according to an embodiment of the present invention has an encoding unit, which generates encoded image data by encoding, in accordance with a predetermined encoding method, image data corresponding to an electrical signal inputted from an image sensor, and a data output unit, which temporarily stores the image data encoded by the encoding unit and transfers the stored encoded image data to a receiving part. The data output unit can input a skip command, which makes the process of a following frame skip, to the image sensor or the encoding unit in case input start information of the following frame is inputted from the image sensor or the encoding unit while a preceding frame is processed by the encoding unit, the skip command. Therefore, it becomes possible to increase the process efficiency of the back-end chip and to reduce the power consumption.

Abstract: A method and system for workload balancing includes determining which one of a plurality of printer devices satisfies at least one criteria and routing the job to the printer device which satisfies the criteria. The determining is carried out at one or more of the plurality of printer devices.

Abstract: An imaging device with a semi-column-parallel pipeline analog-to-digital converter architecture. The semi-column-parallel pipeline architecture allows multiple column output lines to share an analog-to-digital converter. Analog-to-digital conversions are performed in a pipelined manner to reduce the conversion time, which results in shorter row times and increased frames rate and data throughput. The architecture also enhances the pitch of the analog-to-digital converters, which allows high performance, high resolution analog-to-digital converters to be used. As such, semi-column-parallel pipeline architecture overcomes the shortcomings of the typical serial and column-parallel architectures.

Abstract: A mobile video terminal includes a video camera to supply video signals; processing logic to selectively encode the video signals from the video camera at different quality levels; a memory to store the video signals encoded by the processing logic; and a power supply to supply power for the mobile video terminal, where the processing logic is further configured to automatically alter the encoding of the video signals from the video camera based on a condition of at least one of the memory, the power supply, or the processing logic.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a shutter spring which urges a shutter drive member for driving shutter blades, a shutter charge unit which is used to charge the shutter spring, and is switched between a fixed state in which a charge operation of the shutter spring is complete, and the shutter drive member is fixed and a released state, and a drive unit which drives the shutter charge unit. When a second determination unit determines that a switching ready state of a mirror from a mirror-down state to a mirror-up state is set when a first determination unit determines that a charge operation of the shutter spring is complete, the drive unit is controlled to drive the shutter charge unit to the released state without latch the shutter charge unit in the fixed state after the charge operation of the shutter spring is complete.

Abstract: A method of setting a ratio of an input image according to scene recognition and a digital photographing apparatus for performing the method, the method including: generating an input image; recognizing a scene from the input image; and setting a ratio of the input image according to the recognized scene. A digital photographing apparatus that sets a ratio of an input image according to scene recognition, the apparatus including an image generating unit configured to generate an input image; a scene recognition unit configured to recognize a scene from the input image; and an image aspect ratio setting unit configured to set an aspect ratio of the input image according to the recognized scene.

Abstract: A method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus having a memory for storing an image includes generating counter information corresponding to the image, determining whether the capacity of the memory is larger than a reference capacity, and selectively resizing or deleting the image according to the counter information when the capacity of the memory is larger than the reference capacity.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus records image files on a recording medium. The image recording apparatus automatically selects disused files and automatically deletes them at the appropriate timing. A storage device acquires an image file from, e.g., an imaging component or an external terminal and records the image file together with time information on a recording medium. A controller monitors the recording area of the recording medium and automatically deletes image files for which the time information is old in accordance with the monitored usage status of the recording area.

Abstract: Embodiments include an apparatus, device, system, computer-program product, and method. In an embodiment, a device includes a user-accessible digital storage medium, and a storage medium manager module. The storage manager module includes a storage manager module operable to save a digital image in a form in the user-accessible digital storage medium, and then alter the form of the saved digital image if a condition is met.

Abstract: From a time point at which a storage capacity reaches a certain remaining capacity with respect to a limit value of 4 GB per one file depending on a file system, a subtraction time-managing portion (100A) changes photographing elapsed time display (174) which is displayed on a display picture of a liquid crystal display portion (17) to subtraction time display (178) in which residual time until 4 GB is reached is continuously subtracted in the inside of a portable image pickup device (1). Hence, a photographer can be visually informed of timing at which the photographing blank time period will occur. As a result, the photographer can be previously given the opportunity for the judgment about whether the photographing should be continuously performed or the current photographing should be ended to start new photographing.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is able to suppress instances in which the user misses shutter opportunities or has to abort shooting due to insufficient remaining capacity on a recording medium. When the remaining capacity of the recording medium falls below a threshold, the user is allowed to set a desired recording duration. If it is determined that recording for the set desired recording duration at the target encoding data rate currently set is not possible, recording for the desired recording duration is enabled by automatically setting a recording mode that corresponds to a lower target encoding data rate, for example.

Abstract: The present invention relates to matching a camera-photographed image with map data in a portable terminal. Location information of objects of images photographed by a camera and location information of display objects, such as a building included in the map data are calculated based on location information of the camera, and the calculated location information is used to match the objects with the display objects. The image photographed by the camera is displayed on a screen, and text information of display objects matched to the objects is read out from the map data and is displayed on the locations of the objects displayed on the screen. If a user moves, a travel route is guided using the matching information between the objects and display objects, so the user can be guided with the travel route while personally checking objects such as a building.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing and storing digital images. Instead of processing images on the fly or storing images in a raw format, the present invention involves the compression of captured images before the images are stored. When it is desirable to display an image, the particular image can be decoded and processed as necessary. The present invention reduces the amount of storage space necessary for each image. A variety of compression algorithms and systems can be used in conjunction with the present invention.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in transmitting data that is supplied with a high jitter input clock in a serial data stream over a single fiber cable. Video data from a camera is stored in memory using the high jitter clock. A stable clock is used to transmit the data from memory. To account for drift between the input clock and the stable clock idle words are added to or deleted from the transmitted data.

Abstract: An electronic camera comprises an image-capturing element; a recording device that records image data constituted of image capturing signals output from the image-capturing element into a data recording medium; a frame number calculating device that calculates a number of frames of image data that have been recorded or can be recorded into the data recording medium; a display device at which the number of frames is displayed; and a control device that controls the display device so as to display at least the number of frames when a main switch is in an OFF state.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus represented by digital camera 200 is capable of accessing at least two storage media. Each time one of the storage media becomes full, the image capturing apparatus switches the image data recording destination to the other storage medium. While one of the storage media is serving as the image data recording destination, image data in the other storage medium is transferred to a host unit by communication.

Abstract: Information regarding free space on a recording medium is acquired. The free space is classified into a plurality of classes according to a writing speed. Then, image data is recorded at predetermined position on the recording medium determined on the basis of a bit rate of the image data to be recorded and the classified class.

Abstract: Even when a remaining amount of an image memory built in a digital camera is decreased, the photographing can be further continued while reserving a photographed image. An image which is obtained from an image input unit including image pickup means is accumulated into an image memory. When a remaining amount calculating unit detects that the remaining amount of the image memory is small, an image record discriminating unit compares it with an image size in a photograph mode at that time which is obtained from an image size table, thereby discriminating whether the continuation of the photographing can be performed or not. When the photographing is impossible, an image selecting unit selects an old image, an image in which the number of colors is small, or the like on the basis of management data regarding the photographed images in a memory managing table. The selected image is transmitted by a PHS communication by a data transmitting apparatus.

Abstract: A sensed image is saved in a printer in an environment in which a digital camera can directly communicate with a printer, and the sensed image can be directly printed. A printer and a digital camera (DSC) can be directly connected to each other via a USB interface. Upon this direct connection, the digital camera and printer serve as a print system, and the DSC serves as a user interface in that system. When the user inputs a print instruction of a desired image on the DSC, a print process of that image is executed. When the user inputs a save instruction of a given image, that image is saved in a storage device in the printer. Even when the image is erased on the DSC side, original image data can be prevented from being lost.

Abstract: In a player, for example, when a memory card is loaded as a removable medium during playback of a CD, an audio-output-source selecting unit switches the output state to playback of the memory card in normal operation. However, in a case in which a medium-loading detecting unit detects that a memory card is not loaded at the time when a request for recording on the memory card is entered during the playback of a CD, and a medium-loading-time detecting unit detects that the memory card is loaded within a predetermined time, the audio-output-source selecting unit immediately starts recording on the memory card without switching the output state to the playback of the memory card.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus is provided having an image capturing device, an image compressing device, a recording device, a definition calculating device, and a residual recordable number calculating device. The image capturing device outputs a captured image. The image compressing device compresses the captured image using flexible compression. The recording device records the compressed captured image into a memory medium. The definition calculating device calculates a definition by summing the absolute value of higher frequency components in the compressed captured image before the higher frequency components are rounded off. The residual recordable number calculating device calculates a residual recordable number of images in the memory medium using the definition of a standard image, the file size of a standard image, and a residual recordable amount of the memory medium.

Abstract: In the method of properly deleting music data in a music player or other equipment with audio reproduction function, and a camera with audio reproduction function, unnecessary audio file can be exactly deleted to keep a recording area of image data during image-capturing. The camera is a digital camera for recording electronic image data picked up via a CCD in a memory card. This camera contains an audio decoder circuit that can reproduce a music file stored in the memory card and can output audio from a speaker or a head phone. When the music file is deleted, a part of the file is reproduced to prompt an operator to make a confirmation. Also, when the memory card becomes full in an image-capturing mode, the music file can be reproduced if a photographer depresses a shutter button, thereby prompting the operator to confirm deletion.

Abstract: A digital camera generates principal image data of a predetermined size and backup image data of a maximum size, and records the principal image data and the backup image data in a memory card and an internal memory respectively. In a resize processing in a replay mode, if the backup image data corresponding to the principal image data has been recorded, and a designated size is larger than the principal image data, a resize processing section reads the backup image data from the internal memory and performs the resize processing to the backup image data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a an electronic device such as a digital camera 300 that includes a deletion mode whereby a camera/electronic device user can delete captured images or data files that have already been transferred in order to make room in the electronic device or digital camera memory for capturing further images. In one embodiment a digital camera keep track of which images have already been transferred to an external storage device and presents those to the user as potential images to be deleted. In another embodiment, the user is presented with a “delete all transferred images” which when selected deletes all the captured images that have already been transferred. In still another embodiment, a deletion criteria is used to prioritize which images are deleted first.

Abstract: A digital camera includes: an imaging unit that obtains image data by capturing an image of a subject; a recording control unit that records the image data obtained by capturing the image of the subject into a plurality of recording media; a speed detection unit that detects access speeds at each of the plurality of recording media; and a selection unit that selects the recording media, into which image data are to be recorded by the recording control unit, based upon each of the access speeds having been detected, wherein: at least one of the plurality of recording media is an exchangeable recording medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a digital camera comprising at least a memory unit for saving pictures and a control unit that is adapted to control the operation of the camera and to form a trigger tone on the basis of the state of the camera. The trigger tone indicates the triggering of the camera and the current state of the camera. The invention also relates to a method and a computer program product for forming an information tone of a digital camera.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus represented by digital camera 200 is capable of accessing at least two storage media. Each time one of the storage media becomes full, the image capturing apparatus switches the image data recording destination to the other storage medium. While one of the storage media is serving as the image data recording destination, image data in the other storage medium is transferred to a host unit by communication.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image creating section for imaging a predetermined surveillance range and creating image data, and a storage processing section converting the image data to a predetermined storage format and creating storage data. A data storage section having a storage medium with a predetermined storage space stores the storage data created by the storage processing section. The apparatus includes a compression processing section for reading storage data stored in the data storage section, and compressing the storage data and creating compressed data. A determination processing section detects the data storage amount of the storage data stored in the data storage section, supplies a compression control signal to the compression processing section in accordance with the detection result and supplies the storage control signal to the data storage section.

Abstract: A pixel signal output from a solid-state imaging device is converted into image data and recorded in a memory by a writing controller. A reading controller reads the image data from the memory by blocks and performs Y/C processing on the image data that has been read out by blocks. A JPEG processing section performs compression coding. The coded data is not recorded in the memory but is written on a recording medium by a DMA processing section.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus control unit, comprising a calculation block, a first control block, an output block, and a second control block, is provided. The calculation block calculates the number of possible photographs. The number of possible photographs is set as the sequential-photographing number. The first control block carries out imaging control for either sequential-photographing or single-photographing. The output block outputs the compressed image signal to the memory. The second control block either repeatedly carries out the sequential control for sequential-photographing, or stops carrying out the sequential control for sequential-photographing and begins carrying out the sequential control for single-photographing when the sequential-photographing number is below a first predetermined number.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a plurality of sequential image data samples for display, is disclosed. A first one of the image data samples is accessed and then a second one of the image data samples is accessed. The first and second image data samples may then be provided for display, where one or more further data samples are provided in the event that the first and second image data samples are not contiguous. These further data samples indicate that image data samples are not available between the first and second image data samples.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus represented by digital camera 200 is capable of accessing at least two storage media. Each time one of the storage media becomes full, the image capturing apparatus switches the image data recording destination to the other storage medium. While one of the storage media is serving as the image data recording destination, image data in the other storage medium is transferred to a host unit by communication.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing images is provided. The apparatus for capturing images includes a control unit that determines whether an internal memory is available for use, and a process-driving unit that loads background processes.

Abstract: Provided is a device and method for taking a still picture and recording a moving picture. The device includes a user interface unit for generating a user input instruction to record the moving picture, and a user input instruction to take the still picture while recording the moving picture; a moving picture recorder for compressing the still pictures into the moving picture, and recording the compressed picture; a camera picture capturing unit for, when there is the user input instruction to take the still picture while recording the moving picture, capturing the still picture; a camera controller for controlling an operation of a camera, and an operation of the camera picture capturing unit; a take-while-record setting unit for storing information on picture-taking; and a controller for generating a signal for controlling to detect the user input instruction to take the still picture while recording the moving picture, and take the still picture while recording the moving picture.

Abstract: A method for initializing an imaging device includes executing a startup procedure to enter an image capture mode without loading any string tables for a user interface, detecting a need to display text in the user interface, and loading a string table enabling the text to be displayed when the need is detected.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus including an imaging device configured to continuously output image data of a subject in units of frames according to a predetermined drive clock, during consecutive photographing; a buffer memory configured to store a plurality of image frames output by the imaging device; a memory checking unit configured to detect a data overflow of the buffer memory; a digital signal processor configured to perform an overriding operation of sacrificing previously stored frame data and storing image frames recently obtained after the data overflow occurs in the buffer memory in replacement of the sacrificed framed data; and a recording medium configured to store the image frames in the buffer memory in the form of files.

Abstract: Method and system for receiving an advance decision from a wireless communication device user to terminate a video sequence captured by the user at a limit length of a target use for the video sequence and enforcing the advance decision upon reaching the limit length. The method and system relieve the user of the burden to continuously monitor the length of video sequences and terminate video sequences at just the right time.

Abstract: A method of operating a timer module includes the steps of querying a non-volatile memory module to determine available digital image storage locations, each storage location having assigned thereto an image number; receiving a selection selecting one of the available digital image storage location as a starting location, and assigning an image number corresponding to the starting location as a starting image number; determining a number of image storage locations having an image number equal to or greater than the starting image number; instructing the image capture module to capture images a number of times equal to the number of image storage locations having an image number equal to or greater than the starting image number; transferring an image to the memory module each time the image capture module captures an image, the image being transferred into the memory module at a storage location corresponding to the starting image number; and updating the starting image number to correspond to a consecutively

Abstract: It is so arranged that the user of a device such as a digital still camera can ascertain the transfer history of an image file that has been transferred to the camera. An image file is obtained by “Mr. A” shooting a subject using a digital still camera, whereupon information concerning the owner of the camera is read and “Mr. A” is written to a photographer/transferor history table as the photographer of the image file. The table is placed in the header recording area of the image file. If the image file is transferred to a “Miss B”, the table is read out of the image file and “Miss B” is written to the table as the transferor of the image file. The table thus updated is placed in the header recording area of the image file. One can determine the photographer and transferor of the image file by referring to the table.

Abstract: An electronic system comprising an image pickup unit 1, a computer 2, and communication terminals for connecting the unit and the computer, such as infrared communication ports 6, 10, a card slot 8, and serial communication terminals 5,9 wherein the necessary image data is allowed to be produced from the unit 1 and transmitted to the computer through the communication terminals. The computer communicates with the image pick up unit by examining the port of each communication means in order to recognize whether a connected unit is the image pickup unit or a foreign unit and to determine and store the communication speed for each communication port. The image data and memory space information is then automatically transmitted to the computer and displayed on a device connected to said computer.

Abstract: A method of appending a position stamp to an image file of a photo or video clip taken with a digital camera having a GPS antenna and a GPS RF front-end including an analogue to digital converter for receiving GPS signals and outputting GPS signal samples together with a digital camera and computer for the same.