Abstract: An imaging apparatus connectable to an external device includes a recording instruction module which instructs a recording, an imaging module which generates an image signal from an optical image, a memory module which stores the image signal generated by the imaging module, a connecting module which enables connection of the imaging apparatus to the external device, and a control module which controls wiring into the memory module and effects control of an operation of the recording instruction module or an operation responsive thereto.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus connectable to an external device includes a recording instruction module which instructs a recording, an imaging module which generates an image signal from an optical image, a memory module which stores the image signal generated by the imaging module, a connecting module which enables connection of the imaging apparatus to the external device, and a control module which controls wiring into the memory module and effects control of an operation of the recording instruction module or an operation responsive thereto.

Abstract: On the basis of information which is the standard for transaction conditions such as amount information in an IC card as well as age information registered in the IC card or a predetermined contract destination, a transaction when electronic money is used and restrictions and conditions for program audience are automatically set.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus which is connectable to an external device includes a recording instruction module which instructs a recording, an imaging module which generates an image signal from an optical image, a memory module which stores the image signal generated by the imaging module, a connecting module which enables connection of the imaging apparatus to the external device, and a control module which controls writing into the memory module. The control module effects control so that when an image signal is written to the memory nodule from the external device connected via the connecting module, writing of a new image signal to the memory module which is responsive to an operation of the recording instruction module is inhibited.

Abstract: An electric camera includes an imaging device converts an optical image focused thereon into an electric signal, a compressor generates compressed image data of the electric signal, a memory which stores the compressed image data, a decompressor generates an electric signal from the compressed image data stored in the memory, a progressive selection switch directs the progress of reproducing an image on a monitor, a connector connects the camera with an external device, and a control circuit. The control circuit controls writing operations of the memory according to an external data access from the external device and reading operations of the memory according to an internal data access occurred by an operation of the progressive selection switch. The control circuit inhibits writing operations of the memory according to an external data access independent of an external access direction from the external access device when the internal data is being executed.

Abstract: An electric camera includes an imaging device which converts an optical image focused thereon into an electric signal, a first memory which stores the electric signal, a compressor which generates compressed image data from the electric signal stored in the first memory, a second memory which stores the compressed image data, a decompressor which generates an electric signal from the compressed image data stored in the second memory, a progressive selection switch which directs the progress of reproducing an image on a monitor, a connector which is able to connect the camera with an external device, and a control circuit. The control circuit controls writing operations of the second memory according to an external data access from the external device and reading operations of the second memory according to an internal data access which occurred by an operation of the progressive selection switch.

Abstract: In fee charging system for a video information, scramble signals including video information and charging information can be recorded, free of charge, such that the signals are read later therefrom using a fee based scheme. In an operation to reproduce original video signals from the signals read from the media by a recording and reproducing apparatus, the charging information is detected to conduct a charging process. The charging process is executed for each copying operation. The video information includes first video information as main video information and second video information. First charging information is added to the first video information, and second, different charging information is added to the second video information. A charging process is executed by a charge processing unit according to the charging information. When the second charging information is detected, the charging process is accomplished according to the second charging information.

Abstract: A data reading apparatus, includes an apparatus connecting terminal to which an external apparatus is connected; a reader to read data information or directly information recorded in a recording medium; a first memory to store specific information to confirm whether or not specific data information or specific directory information is recorded in the recording medium; a judging section to compare the specific information with the data information or the directory information read from the recording medium, to judge whether or not the specific information conforms with the data information or the directory information, and to indicate a conforming case or a nonconforming case as a judgement result; and a controller to control a working mode such that a first working mode is conducted in the conforming case and a second working mode different from the first working mode is conducted in the nonconforming case when the data information recorded in the recording medium is handled from the external.

Abstract: An image processing system, having an image pickup trigger device transmitting a image pickup trigger signal, an image pickup device for obtaining image data by imaging a photographic object in response to the trigger signal, a first network for transmitting said image data, a selection device for selecting a set of image data to be processed from the image data, a processing information generating section for generating processing information of the set of image data selected, a second network for transmitting the processing information, and an image data processing section connected to both the first network and the second network for processing the image data.

Abstract: A data printing system, including: a digital camera or other image capturing device, including a memory for storing individual unit identification information of the image capturing device; a print service administration device, connected to a network, for administering image data printing and for receiving image data recorded by the image capturing device; and a printer or other print processing device, connected to the network, for executing a printing process in accordance with an instruction from the print service administration device. In the data printing system, the individual unit identification information and the image data are transmitted from the image capturing device to the print service administration device; and the printing process by the print processing device is administered by establishing a logical linkage between the individual unit identification information and the image data.

Abstract: On the basis of information which is the standard for transaction conditions such as amount information in an IC card as well as age information registered in the IC card or a predetermined contract destination, a transaction when electronic money is used and restrictions and conditions for program audience are automatically set.

Abstract: An IC card arrangement wherein information which is the standard for transaction conditions such as amount information in an IC card is registered within the IC card, and further included is additional conditional information such as age, sex, etc. information for an owner of the card, or a predetermined contract destination. When a transaction is attempted using the IC card, restrictions and conditions for the owner, etc., are automatically set using the additional conditional information within the IC card.

Abstract: In a fee charging system for video information, scramble signals including video information and charging information can be recorded on a recording media such that the signals are read later therefrom. The recording of the scramble signals is free of charge. In an operation to reproduce original unscrambled video signals from the signals read from the media by a recording and reproducing apparatus, the charging information is detected to conduct a charging process. Consequently, although the scrambled signals may be freely copied onto another recording media, the charging process is executed for each copying operation. First charging information and second charging information other than the first charging information are arranged with the video information. The video information includes first video information as main video information and second video information.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image pickup apparatus for outputting a video signal encoded in order to compress information amount of a photographed image. The apparatus includes: an image pickup device for outputting a digital video signal; a control unit to control the image pickup device; and an encoding apparatus for encoding the digital video signal which is output from the image pickup device. The control unit generates control information of the image pickup device. The encoding apparatus changes encoding characteristics on the basis of the control information. Further, the encoded digital video signal is recorded and/or reproduced onto/from a recording medium and the signal reproduced from the recording medium is decoded. Moreover, a motion vector of a hand vibration or the like is detected from the photographed video signal and is corrected.

Abstract: When a transmission request reception process controller accepts a request to transmit information, the information is read from a memory in order of addresses generated by an address generator. A transmission information generator adds addresses of the information to the read information, for transmission to the transmission requester. When accepting another request to transmit the same information while the information is being transmitted, the transmission request reception process controller causes the information to be transmitted to the latter transmission requester starting at the current point in the information being transmitted to the former transmission requester. After generating the last address of information, the address generator returns to the top address and again continues generating the addresses of the information. The information read from the memory according to the generated addresses is transmitted from output circuits 14 and 16.

Abstract: An imaging and recording apparatus for electrically recording an optical image of a subject as an image information signal which facilitates memory access from an external device and prevents image information from being changed. Upon manipulation of a recording trigger switch, an image outputted from a camera signal processing circuit at that time is written into a semiconductor memory, then subjected to data compression in a data compression circuit, and stored in a semiconductor memory. It is now assumed that an external device not illustrated is connected to a connector and this external device orders taking in the image of the semiconductor memory. If at this time the semiconductor memory is writing an image, a state detection circuit detects the fact and inhibits the external device from taking in the image. Furthermore, while the external device is taking in the image of the semiconductor memory, the state detection circuit detects this fact.

Abstract: When a transmission request reception process controller accepts a request to transmit information, the information is read from a memory in order of addresses generated by an address generator. A transmission information generator adds addresses of the information to the read information, for transmission to the transmission requester. When accepting another request to transmit the same information while the information is being transmitted, the transmission request reception process controller causes the information to be transmitted to the latter transmission requester starting at the current point in the information being transmitted to the former transmission requester. After generating the last address of information, the address generator returns to the top address and again continues generating the addresses of the information. The information read from the memory according to the generated addresses is transmitted from output circuits 14 and 16.

Abstract: An upside-down image, generated when a video camera is rotated about a horizontal axis to face to substantially the same direction as a display unit does, is electrically corrected to be an upright image. A video camera unit made compact to realize a reduction in weight of a video camera rotating mechanism. An image arrangement convertor circuit is provided between the video camera unit and a liquid crystal display serving as a display unit or a recording unit. A switch is provided in a housing for detecting an angular position of the video camera unit. The video camera, which has an imager device and a lens, is pivoted on an edge of the housing for rotation about an axis parallel to the edge. The image arrangement convertor circuit is operated unitarily in accordance with an angular position of the video camera to automatically correct an upside-down image to an upright image.

Abstract: A computer system is provided on the front surface thereof with a connection slot into which a card type holder is inserted for connecting an electronic camera to the computer system. The holder has a connector at one end, a camera head connector at the other end, and a signal processing unit in an intermediate portion. The camera head is supported rotatably in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction relative to the holder.

Abstract: An imaging and recording apparatus for electrically recording an optical image of a subject as an image information signal which facilitates memory access from an external device and prevents image information from being changed. Upon manipulation of a recording trigger switch, an image outputted from a camera signal processing circuit at that time is written into a semiconductor memory, then subjected to data compression in a data compression circuit, and stored in a semiconductor memory. It is now assumed that an external device not illustrated is connected to a connector and this external device orders taking in the image of the semiconductor memory. If at this time the semiconductor memory is writing an image, a state detection circuit detects the fact and inhibits the external device from taking in the image. Furthermore, while the external device is taking in the image of the semiconductor memory, the state detection circuit detects this fact.