Abstract: A laser ranging unit is rotatably attached to a camera body by a hinge unit. The camera body has a first imaging unit and a laser radiation position specification unit. The laser ranging unit has a laser radiation unit, a laser receiving unit, a second imaging unit, and a distance calculation unit. The first imaging unit images a first range to generate a first image. The laser radiation unit is able to radiate a laser beam in an arbitrary direction within the first range. The laser receiving unit receives a reflected beam of the laser beam. The second imaging unit images a second range including a radiation position of the laser beam within the first range to generate a second image. The laser radiation position specification unit searches for a portion matching the second image in the first image to specify the radiation position in the first image. The distance calculation unit calculates the distance to the radiation position based on the time of receiving the reflected beam.

Abstract: When an image to be printed is specified in a print system for printing images, a telephone number or e-mail address is entered as a contact destination to be contacted when printing ends. At the conclusion of printing, the entered contact destination is so notified. Upon being so notified of end of printing, the user returns to the location at which the print system has been installed. Since the user will thus know when printing ends, the user can make effective utilization of time until printing ends.

Abstract: A digital camera capable of readily recognizing the printing-specifying information that has been set. Printing-specifying information is set for digital image data acquired by photographing. When an image for which printing-specifying information has been set is displayed on a monitor provided in the digital camera, the image is displayed along with the set printing-specifying information.

Abstract: The portable terminal with camera comprises: a first housing and a second housing which are movably connected to each other; an image pickup device which is arranged in one of the first housing and the second housing; and a conversion lens which is arranged in the other of the first housing and the second housing. In a first state where the first housing and the second housing are laid on each other, the image pickup device and the conversion lens have an identical optical axis so that a focal length of the image pickup device is converted from a focal length in a second state where the first housing and the second housing are arranged to each other differently than the first state. Thus, the focal length can be converted using a simple arrangement, so as to easily switch between image-capturing of a distant object as with ordinary cameras and image-capturing of an operator's face or the like.

Abstract: When a plurality of image communication apparatuses, especially digital cameras, communicate images, each of the users of the receiving digital cameras can pull desired images from an image transmitting camera. In an image communicating method in which an image can be communicated by wireless in a server-client system, an image is displayed on a server camera, and an image is selected from among displayed images for transmission to a client camera. Pressing of the release button of the client camera instructs the client camera to transmit to the server camera a request to send an image to the server camera. The client camera transmits the request to send an image to the server camera. The server camera transmits the selected image to the client camera. Thus, the user of the client camera can obtain a desired image from the server camera.

Abstract: With the portable terminal, the shop-front terminal, the communication system and the communication method, a user can send service request information such as an image from the portable terminal to the shop-front terminal and receive services such as a print service and a digital content service. The communication system is composed of a portable terminal (electronic camera) provided with an inputting device with which the user inputs desired service contents and a transmitting and receiving device which sends service request information based on the above described service contents to the shop-front terminal wirelessly and a shop-front terminal provided with a device (print engine, etc.) which provides services such as a print service based on the service request information received from the portable terminal (electronic camera).

Abstract: A data communication system is so adapted that even if E-mail received by a mobile telephone has an image file attached thereto, the image represented by the image file can be displayed. An E-mail file is received by a mobile telephone and text represented by text data contained in the file is displayed on the display screen of the mobile telephone. When a received E-mail file has an image file attachment, the portable telephone interrogates a digital still camera as to whether the camera is capable of displaying the image contained in this image file. When the camera is capable of displaying the image, the image file is transmitted to the camera. The image represented by the image file is then displayed on the display screen of the camera.

Abstract: The portable terminal with camera comprises: a first housing and a second housing which are movably connected to each other; an image pickup device which is arranged in one of the first housing and the second housing; and a conversion lens which is arranged in the other of the first housing and the second housing. In a first state where the first housing and the second housing are laid on each other, the image pickup device and the conversion lens have an identical optical axis so that a focal length of the image pickup device is converted from a focal length in a second state where the first housing and the second housing are arranged to each other differently than the first state. Thus, the focal length can be converted using a simple arrangement, so as to easily switch between image-capturing of a distant object as with ordinary cameras and image-capturing of an operator's face or the like.

Abstract: When a plurality of image communication apparatuses, especially digital cameras, communicate images, each of the users of the receiving digital cameras can pull desired images from an image transmitting camera. In an image communicating method in which an image can be communicated by wireless in a server-client system, an image is displayed on a server camera, and an image is selected from among displayed images for transmission to a client camera. Pressing of the release button of the client camera instructs the client camera to transmit to the server camera a request to send an image to the server camera. The client camera transmits the request to send an image to the server camera. The server camera transmits the selected image to the client camera. Thus, the user of the client camera can obtain a desired image from the server camera.

Abstract: A digital camera capable of readily recognizing the printing-specifying information that has been set.

Abstract: A digital camera capable of readily recognizing the printing-specifying information that has been set. Printing-specifying information is set for digital image data acquired by photographing. When an image for which printing-specifying information has been set is displayed on a monitor provided in the digital camera, the image is displayed along with the set printing-specifying information.

Abstract: Inputting a profile of a user; detecting a current position of the user; previously recording service information on shops or the like in a recording device associated with the current position of the user and the profile of the user; and retrieving and selecting the service information on the shops or the like recorded in the recording device according to the inputted profile and the detected current position of the user to notify the user permit providing appropriate service information required by the user to the user by a push type information notification system.

Abstract: A plurality of picture image data obtained from a film in one film handling operation by a film scanner with the automatic film feeding function are output as prints by a digital printer and also as files in a recording medium by a file outputting device. In the system for providing the above two kinds of output services, the numbers of film scanners, file outputting devices, and digital printers are determined so that the processing performance of each kind of apparatus in a unit time times the number of each kind of apparatus is almost the same, to make each kind of apparatus comprising the system demonstrate its full performance.

Abstract: An image photographed by an electronic camera can be recorded in a recording medium in an optimal recording mode such that the quality needed is maintained and the space of the recording medium is used efficiently. Image data obtained by photographing are displayed on a monitor attached to the camera before being recorded in the recording medium so that a user can set the recording mode for the image being displayed. A resolution or compression rate can be specified directly in the setting of the recording mode. Alternatively, a recording mode corresponding to usage of an image (a printing mode, for example) is selected and the electronic camera automatically sets the recording mode optimal for the usage. After the setting, the image data are converted according to the recording mode having been set, and recorded in the recording medium.

Abstract: When a mobile phone or a PC transmits photograph information including image data of photographs, date/time information and location information when the photographs are picked up, and comments, etc. to a photo album creating system, the photograph information are stored in a photograph information storing section and then photo album date/time information and photo album location information are decided. Then, an external server transmits cover images, which conform to the photo album date/time information and the photo album location information or the comments sent from the photo album creating system, to the photo album creating system. After a photo album cover creating section creates a photo album cover based on respective cover images, a preview is transmitted. A photo album creating section creates the photo album by using the photo album cover or a layout, that is selected by a user.

Abstract: Inputting a profile of a user; detecting a current position of the user; previously recording service information on shops or the like in a recording device associated with the current position of the user and the profile of the user; and retrieving and selecting the service information on the shops or the like recorded in the recording device according to the inputted profile and the detected current position of the user to notify the user permit providing appropriate service information required by the user to the user by a push type information notification system.

Abstract: With the portable terminal, the shop-front terminal, the communication system and the communication method, a user can send service request information such as an image from the portable terminal to the shop-front terminal and receive services such as a print service and a digital content service. The communication system is composed of a portable terminal (electronic camera) provided with an inputting device with which the user inputs desired service contents and a transmitting and receiving device which sends service request information based on the above described service contents to the shop-front terminal wirelessly and a shop-front terminal provided with a device (print engine, etc.) which provides services such as a print service based on the service request information received from the portable terminal (electronic camera).

Abstract: A plurality of picture image data obtained from a film in one film handling operation by a film scanner with the automatic film feeding function are output as prints by a digital printer and also as files in a recording medium by a file outputting device. In the system for providing the above two kinds of output services, the numbers of film scanners, file outputting devices, and digital printers are determined so that the processing performance of each kind of apparatus in a unit time times the number of each kind of apparatus is almost the same, to make each kind of apparatus comprising the system demonstrate its full performance.

Abstract: When an image to be printed is specified in a print system for printing images, a telephone number or e-mail address is entered as a contact destination to be contacted when printing ends. At the conclusion of printing, the entered contact destination is so notified. Upon being so notified of end of printing, the user returns to the location at which the print system has been installed. Since the user will thus know when printing ends, the user can make effective utilization of time until printing ends.

Abstract: A plurality of picture image data obtained from a film in one film handling operation by a film scanner with the automatic film feeding function are output as prints by a digital printer and also as files in a recording medium by a file outputting device. In the system for providing the above two kinds of output services, the numbers of film scanners, file outputting devices, and digital printers are determined so that the processing performance of each kind of apparatus in a unit time times the number of each kind of apparatus is almost the same, to make each kind of apparatus comprising the system demonstrate its full performance.