Abstract: A method for an apparatus including an acquisition unit for acquiring moving image data, and a recording unit for recording the acquired moving image data in a loaded recording medium, includes determining whether the recording medium is a recordable and non-erasable recording medium, and if the recording medium is a recordable and non-erasable recording medium, controlling the recording unit so as to automatically stop recording of the moving image data according to the fact that a predetermined time has elapsed from the recording start of the moving image data, and if the recording medium is not a recordable and non-erasable recording medium, controlling the recording unit so as not to automatically stop recording of the moving image data, even if the predetermined time has elapsed from the recording start of the moving image data.

Abstract: A method for an apparatus including an acquisition unit for acquiring moving image data, and a recording unit for recording the acquired moving image data in a loaded recording medium, includes determining whether the recording medium is a recordable and non-erasable recording medium, and if the recording medium is a recordable and non-erasable recording medium, controlling the recording unit so as to automatically stop recording of the moving image data according to the fact that a predetermined time has elapsed from the recording start of the moving image data, and if the recording medium is not a recordable and non-erasable recording medium, controlling the recording unit so as not to automatically stop recording of the moving image data, even if the predetermined time has elapsed from the recording start of the moving image data.

Abstract: A recording or playback apparatus classifies privacy-related information such as information concerning an operation of an apparatus and information for identifying an operator into, e.g., an individual identification information category, playback contents information category, apparatus maintenance information category, and photographing environment information category, and controls recording, playback, display, transfer, or erase of the privacy-related information by the apparatus in accordance with the classified categories.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus has a network mode for transmitting and receiving image data through a network and a normal mode for recording and reproducing image data without connecting to a network. In a mode capable of switching between the network mode and the normal mode, the apparatus prohibits the data recording operation on a recording medium and the data erasing operation on the recording medium regardless of whether an accidental-recording prevention means is in a recording-allowed state or in a recording-prohibited state.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: an input unit for inputting a moving image signal; an extracting unit for extracting a portion of the moving image signal for a plurality of frames input by the input unit; an encoding unit for encoding the portion of the moving image signal extracted by the extracting unit using intraframe coding and interframe predictive coding; and a control unit for detecting motion of an image in an area outside the portion of the moving image signal input by the input unit and for controlling a time for performing encoding using the intraframe coding performed by the encoding unit in accordance with a result of detection of the motion.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for receiving a recording medium that stores image data and data setting conditions for an operation relating to the image data, and that includes an erroneous-erasure prevention mechanism, includes an image recording device for rewriting or erasing image data recorded in the recording medium, a setting device for setting conditions for an operation relating to the image data recorded in the recording medium, a detector for detecting a state of the erroneous-erasure prevention mechanism, and a controller for performing control of the apparatus so that, when the detector detects that the erroneous-erasure prevention mechanism is in an erroneous-erasure prevention state, an operation of the image recording device is prohibited, and an operation of the setting device is permitted.

Abstract: A control apparatus controls information exchange among portable terminals which perform wireless communication via a communication network. A unit accepts a specific information-provision request from a first portable terminal. A unit determines a prescribed area based on the accepted information-provision request. A unit sends the information-provision request to a second portable terminal in the prescribed area. A unit accepts a response to the information-provision request from the second portable terminal. A unit sends the response to the information-provision request to the first portable terminal.

Abstract: Images sensed through object lenses 100R and 100L, having zoom lenses, with image sensors 102R and 102L are processed by image signal processors 104R and 104L, and an image of an object in each of the sensed images is separated from a background image on the basis of the processed image signals. The separated image signals representing the image of the object enter the image processor 220, where a three-dimensional shape of the object is extracted on the basis of parameters used upon sensing the images. The parameters are automatically adjusted so that images of the object fall within the both image sensing areas of the image sensors 102R and 102L and that they fall within the both focal depths of the image sensors 102R and 102L.

Abstract: A control system having device units removably attachable to a control device such as a computer is arranged to optimize the allocation and distribution of electric power to the device units and also displays of varied kinds. For this purpose, each device unit of the system includes a communication circuit arranged to transmit information of electric power consumption and an operating state of the device unit detachably connected to the control device such as a computer, a stopping circuit for partly stopping a function of the device unit according to a control signal sent in reply from the control device on the basis of information of varied kinds transmitted through the transmission circuit to the control device.

Abstract: In order to transfer at a high speed a large amount of data, such as data of a moving image, an image pickup system having an image pickup apparatus is arranged to convert an object image inputted through an optical system into an electrical signal, to convert the electrical signal into a digital signal by an A/D conversion part, to obtain from the digital signal a video signal in a predetermined form by a video signal generating part, to convert a color space of the video signal by a color space converting part in such a way as to compress the video signal according to a look-up table held within the color space converting part, and to transfer the compressed video signal to an external personal computer through an interface part.

Abstract: A control system having device units removably attachable to a control device arranged to optimize the allocation and distribution of electric power to the device units and also displays of varied kinds. For this purpose, each device unit of the system includes a communication circuit arranged to transmit information of electric power consumption and an operating state of the device unit detachably connected to the control device, The control device, includes a communication circuit arranged to receive the information on the device unit from the device unit, and a control circuit arranged to compare the information of electric power consumption and the operating state received by the communication circuit with information of the amount of electric power which can be supplied to the device unit and to send the control signal to the device unit for partly stopping the function of the device unit according to the result of comparison.

Abstract: When a region of interest of an image is compressed with high quality by an image sensing apparatus, such as a digital camera or the like, the region of interest (ROI) can be compressed by a compression coefficient different from that of other regions of the image according to the so-called JPEG 2000 method. However, setting the ROI is a complicated operation for a user. In the present invention, when a continuous photographing mode is not set, a single image sensing operation is assumed and the ROI is automatically set in a first region, which is the largest of three regions. Whereas in the continuous photographing mode, if a low-speed mode is set, the ROI is set in a second region smaller than the first region, and if a high-speed mode is set, the ROI is set in a third region, which is the smallest.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus has a network mode for transmitting and receiving image data through a network and a normal mode for recording and reproducing image data without connecting to a network. In a mode capable of switching between the network mode and the normal mode, the apparatus prohibits the data recording operation on a recording medium and the data erasing operation on the recording medium regardless of whether an accidental-recording prevention means is in a recording-allowed state or in a recording-prohibited state.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: an input unit for inputting a moving image signal; an extracting unit for extracting a portion of the moving image signal for a plurality of frames input by the input unit; an encoding unit for encoding the portion of the moving image signal extracted by the extracting unit using intraframe coding and interframe predictive coding; and a control unit for detecting motion of an image in an area outside the portion of the moving image signal input by the input unit and for controlling a time for performing encoding using the intraframe coding performed by the encoding unit in accordance with a result of detection of the motion.

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus using an image sensing device, such as a CCD, to be used by connecting to an external device, such as a computer, an operating rate of the CCD is changed in accordance with a rate at which the computer receives image signals from the image sensing apparatus. Further, when the operating rate of the CCD is changed, a proper exposure value is conjectured to obtain an image sensed at a proper exposure on the basis of operating rates of the CCD before and after the operating rate is changed, and a proper exposure value of the CCD before the operating rate is changed.

Abstract: A recording or playback apparatus classifies privacy-related information such as information concerning an operation of an apparatus and information for identifying an operator into, e.g., an individual identification information category, playback contents information category, apparatus maintenance information category, and photographing environment information category, and controls recording, playback, display, transfer, or erase of the privacy-related information by the apparatus in accordance with the classified categories.

Abstract: An information requesting terminal notifies a server of information about a location from which information is desired. The server transmits an acknowledge signal, keywords and a template to the information requesting terminal. The latter sends request information and points to the server, and the server attaches the rating of the requesting terminal to this information and then sends the information to an information providing terminal. The latter sends response information and points to the server, and the server attaches the rating of the information providing terminal to this information and then sends the information to the information requesting terminal. The user of the information requesting terminal makes primary and second evaluations of the information provided. The evaluations are sent to the information providing terminal via the server. In some cases the information requesting terminal questions the information providing terminal by e-mail or telephone.

Abstract: A recording apparatus, to and from which each of a plurality of recording media is attachable and detachable, includes a detection part for detecting a state of an exterior of the recording medium, and a recording part for performing recording of data in the recording medium, wherein the recording part has a first mode of performing recording of data in the recording medium on the basis of a result of detection obtained by the detection part, and a second mode of performing recording of data in the recording medium without using a result of detection obtained by the detection part.

Abstract: A control system having device units removably attachable to a control device such as a computer is arranged to optimize the allocation and distribution of electric power to the device units and also displays of varied kinds. For this purpose, each device unit of the system includes a communication circuit arranged to transmit information of electric power consumption and an operating state of the device unit detachably connected to the control device such as a computer, a stopping circuit for partly stopping a function of the device unit according to a control signal sent in reply from the control device on the basis of information of varied kinds transmitted through the transmission circuit to the control device.

Abstract: Images sensed through object lenses 100R and 100L, having zoom lenses, with image sensors 102R and 102L are processed by image signal processors 104R and 104L, and an image of an object in each of the sensed images is separated from a background image on the basis of the processed image signals. The separated image signals representing the image of the object enter the image processor 220, where a three-dimensional shape of the object is extracted on the basis of parameters used upon sensing the images. The parameters are automatically adjusted so that images of the object fall within the both image sensing areas of the image sensors 102R and 102L and that they fall within the both focal depths of the image sensors 102R and 102L.