Still image system

Claim 2

A picture control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control data recorded onto the recording medium is data for controlling, when the recording medium is loaded into an external equipment, the external equipment.

Claim 3

A picture control apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the control data generating means is operative to generate the control data so that picture processing state of the picture data of the second resolution which has been caused to undergo picture processing on the basis of the control data obtained from the recording medium at the external equipment is in correspondence with picture processing state of the first resolution picture data which has been caused to undergo picture processing at the picture processing means.

Claim 4

A picture control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the recording medium has hierarchical directory structure consisting of directory and subdirectories formed at the lower level (layer) of the directory, and wherein the recording means is operative to record the control data file into control directory formed as subdirectory different from subdirectory including the first picture file or the second picture file.

Claim 5

A picture control apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein, in the control directory, there is provided control data management file for carrying out management of all control data files included within the control directory.

Claim 6

A picture control apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the recording medium comprises a first area caused to be of the hierarchical directory structure for recording the first picture file, the second picture file, the control data file and the control data management file, and a second area in which management information table which carries out, in recording units of the recording medium, management of recording state of the first area, wherein the recording means is operative to designate the control data file for recording the control data on the basis of the control data management file to record, into the first area, the control data file including the control data on the basis of the management information table.

Claim 7

A picture control apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the control data included in the control data file is data for controlling, when the recording medium is loaded into an external equipment, the external equipment, and wherein, in the control data management file, execution discrimination data indicating whether or not picture processing based on the control data should be executed by the external equipment with respect to the picture data of the second resolution is recorded in a manner to correspond to the control data file.

Claim 8

A picture control apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the external equipment comprises reproducing means for reproducing the picture data of the second resolution and the control data, and print means for carrying out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution on the basis of the control data, and wherein the control data includes print control data for controlling the print means, and the control data file includes print data file including the print control data.

Claim 9

A picture control apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the print control data includes additional information discrimination data indicating whether or not additional information based on additional information table recorded in header of the second picture file is subjected to print out operation along with the picture data of the second resolution, wherein an operation is conducted by the reproducing means to reproduce the picture data of the second resolution on the basis of the control data, and to reproduce the additional information from the second picture file on the basis of the additional information discrimination data, and wherein an operation is conducted by the print means to carry out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution in a manner such that the additional information is superimposed thereon.

Claim 10

A picture control apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the additional information is file name of the second picture file.

Claim 11

A picture control apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the print control data includes trimming data for designating print area in carrying out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution by the print means.

Claim 12

A picture control apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the print control data includes color adjustment data for designating hue or tint in carrying out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution by the print means.

Claim 13

A recording medium including picture file comprising first picture file including picture data of first resolution, and second picture file including picture data of second resolution higher than the first resolution and caused to be related to the first picture file, control data file formed as file different from the picture file and in which control data generated on the basis of the picture data of the first resolution to which desired picture processing is implemented is recorded in a manner related to the picture data of the second resolution, control data management file comprising control data file management information unit for carrying out management of the control data file, and management information table for carrying out, in first recording units of the recording medium, recording positions of the picture file, the control data file and the control data management file.

Claim 14

A recording medium as set forth in claim 13, wherein a recording area of the recording medium is composed of a file area serving as an area for recording the picture file, the control data file and the control data management file and adapted so that recording state of data within the area is caused to undergo management in the first recording units, and a management area serving as an area for recording the management information table, and adapted so that recording state of data within the area is caused to undergo management in second recording units smaller than the first recording unit.

Claim 15

A recording medium as set forth in claim 14, wherein the file area is constituted by hierarchical directory structure consisting of directory and subdirectories formed at the lower level (layer) of the directory, wherein the picture file is included in picture directory formed as the subdirectory, and wherein the control data file and the control data management file are included in control directory formed as subdirectory different from the picture directory.

Claim 16

A recording medium as set forth in claim 13, wherein, in the control data management file, control data file management information unit which designates the control data file for recording the control data is provided in a manner to correspond to the control data file.

Claim 17

A recording medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein the control data included in the control data file is data for controlling, when the recording medium is loaded into an external equipment, the external equipment, and wherein, into the control data file management information unit, control execution discrimination data indicating whether or not picture processing based on the control data should be executed by the external equipment with respect to the second picture data is recorded in a manner to correspond to the control data file.

Claim 18

A recording medium as set forth in claim 17, wherein the external equipment comprises reproducing means for reproducing the picture data of the second resolution and the control data, and print means for carrying out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution on the basis of the control data, and wherein the control data includes print control data for controlling the print means, and the control data file includes print data file including the print control data.

Claim 19

A recording medium as set forth in claim 18, wherein the print control data includes additional information discrimination data indicating whether or not additional information based on additional information table recorded in header of the second picture file should be subjected to print out operation along with the picture data of the second resolution, whereby an operation is conducted by the reproducing means to reproduce the picture data of the second resolution on the basis of the control data, and to reproduce the additional information from the second picture file on the basis of the additional information discrimination data to carry out, by the print means, print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution in such a manner that the additional information is superimposed thereon.

Claim 20

A recording medium as set forth in claim 19, wherein the additional information is file name of the second picture file.

Claim 21

A recording medium as set forth in claim 18, wherein the print control data includes trimming data for designating print area in carrying out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution by the print means.

Claim 22

A recording medium as set forth in claim 18, wherein the print control data includes color adjustment data for designating hue or tint in carrying out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution by the print means.

Claim 23

A picture control system in which a recording medium comprising first picture file including picture data of first resolution, and second picture file including picture data of second resolution higher than the first resolution and caused to be related to the first picture file is loaded into a first picture control unit or a second picture control unit to control picture data obtained from the recording medium, wherein the first picture control unit comprises: first picture processing means for implementing desired picture processing to the picture data of the first resolution reproduced from the recording medium; control data generating means for generating control data for indicating picture processing implemented to the picture data of the first resolution by the first picture processing means; and recording means for recording, onto the recording medium, control data generated by the control data generating means as control data file different from the first picture file and the second picture file in a manner related to the second picture file, and wherein the second picture control unit comprises: reproducing means for reproducing, from the recording medium, the picture data of the second resolution and control data corresponding to the picture data of the second resolution, and second picture processing means for implementing picture processing to the reproduced second picture data on the basis of the control data reproduced by the reproducing means.

Claim 24

A picture control system as set forth in claim 23, wherein the control data generating means is operative to generate the control data so that picture processing state of the picture data of the second resolution to which picture processing based on the control data has been implemented at the second picture processing means is in correspondence with picture processing state of the picture data of the first resolution which has been caused to undergo picture processing at the first picture processing means.

Claim 25

A picture control system as set forth in claim 23, wherein the recording medium has hierarchical directory structure consisting of directory and subdirectories formed at the lower level (layer) of the directory, and wherein the control data file is recorded into control directory formed as subdirectory different from subdirectory including the first picture file or the second picture file.

Claim 26

A picture control system as set forth in claim 25, wherein, in the control directory, there is provided control data management file for carrying out management of all control data files included in the control directory.

Claim 27

A picture control system as set forth in claim 26, wherein the recording medium is composed of a first area caused to be of the hierarchical directory structure for recording the first picture file, the second picture file, the control data file and the control data management file, and a second area in which management information table for carrying out, in recording units of the recording medium, management of recording state of the first area is recorded, and wherein the recording means is operative to designate the control data file for recording the control data on the basis of the control data management file to record, into the first area, the control data file including the control data on the basis of the management information table.

Claim 28

A picture control system as set forth in claim 26, wherein, into the control data management file, execution discrimination data indicating whether or not picture processing based on the control data should be executed by the second picture processing means with respect to the picture data of the second resolution is recorded in a manner to correspond to the control data file.

Claim 29

A picture control system as set forth in claim 28, wherein the reproducing means of the second picture control unit reproduces control data included in the control data file on the basis of the execution discrimination data, and wherein the second picture processing means implements picture processing corresponding to the control data to the picture data of the second resolution on the basis of the execution discrimination data.

Claim 30

A picture control system as set forth in claim 28, wherein when picture processing is implemented to the picture data of the second resolution by the second picture processing means on the basis of control data included in the control data file, the execution discrimination data is rewritten into data indicating that picture processing has been executed.

Claim 31

A picture control system as set forth in claim 23, wherein the second picture control unit further comprises print means for carrying out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution on the basis of the control data, and wherein the control data includes print control data for controlling the print means, and the control data file includes print data file including the print control data.

Claim 32

A picture control system as set forth in claim 31, wherein the print control data includes additional information discrimination data indicating whether or not additional information based on additional information table recorded in header of the second picture file should be caused to undergo print out operation along with the picture data of the second resolution, whereby an operation is conducted by the reproducing means to reproduce the picture data of the second resolution on the basis of the control data, and to reproduce the additional information from the second picture file on the basis of the additional information discrimination data to carry out, by the print means, print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution in such a manner that the additional information is superimposed thereon.

Claim 33

A picture control system as set forth in claim 32, wherein the additional information is file name of the second picture file.

Claim 34

A picture control system as set forth in claim 31, wherein the print control data includes trimming data for designating print area in carrying out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution by the print means.

Claim 35

A picture control system as set forth in claim 31, wherein the print control data includes color adjustment data for designating hue or tint in carrying out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution by the print means.

Claim 36

A picture control method in which a recording medium includes first picture file including picture data of first resolution and second picture file including picture data of second resolution higher than the first resolution and caused to be related to the first picture file is loaded into a first picture control unit or a second picture control unit to control picture data obtained from the recording medium, the method comprises a step (a) of implementing desired picture processing to the picture data of the first resolution reproduced from the recording medium at the firs picture control unit, a step (b) of generating control data on the basis of the picture data of the first resolution which has been caused to undergo picture processing at the step (a) at the first picture control unit, a step (c) of recording, onto the recording medium, the control data generated at the step (b) as control data file different from the first picture file and the second picture file in a manner related to the picture data of the second resolution at the first picture control unit, a step (d) of reproducing, from the recording medium, the picture data of the second resolution and control data corresponding to the picture data of the second resolution recorded at the step (c) at the second picture control unit, and a step (e) of implementing picture processing to the picture data reproduced of the second resolution at the step (d) on the basis of the control data reproduced at the step (d) at the second picture control unit.

Claim 37

A picture control method as set forth in claim 36, wherein, at the step (b), a procedure is taken to generate the control data so that picture processing state of the picture data of the second resolution to which picture processing based on the control data has been implemented at the second picture control unit is in correspondence with picture processing state of the picture data of the first resolution which has been caused to undergo picture processing at the first picture control unit.

Claim 38

A picture control method as set forth in claim 36, wherein the recording medium has hierarchical directory structure consisting of directory and subdirectories formed at the lower level (layer) of the directory, and wherein, at the step (c), the control data file is recorded into control directory formed as subdirectory different from subdirectory including the first picture file or the second picture file.

Claim 39

A picture control method as set forth in claim 38, wherein, in the control directory, control data management file for carrying out management of all control data files included in the control directory is provided.

Claim 40

A picture control method as set forth in claim 39, wherein the recording medium is composed of a first area caused to be of the hierarchical directory structure for recording the first picture file, the second picture file, the control data file and the control data management file, and a second area in which management information table for carrying out, in recording units of the recording medium, recording state of the first area is recorded, and wherein, at the step (c), a procedure is taken to designate the control data file for recording the control data on the basis of the control data management file to record, into the first area, the control data file including the control data on the basis of the management information table.

Claim 41

A picture control system as set forth in claim 39, wherein, at the step (c), into the control data management file, execution discrimination data indicating whether or not picture processing based on the control data included in the control data file is executed by the second picture processing unit is recorded in a manner to correspond to the control data file.

Claim 42

A picture control method as set forth in claim 41, wherein, at the step (d), a procedure is taken to reproduce control data included in the control data file on the basis of the execution discrimination data, and wherein, at the step (e), a procedure is taken to implement picture processing corresponding to the control data to the picture data of the second resolution on the basis of the execution discrimination data.

Claim 43

A picture control method as set forth in claim 41, wherein the method further comprises a step of rewriting, after, at the step (e), picture processing has been implemented to the picture data of the second resolution by the second picture processing means on the basis of control data included at the control data file, the execution discrimination data into data indicating that picture processing has been executed in the second picture processing unit.

Claim 44

A picture control method as set forth in claim 36, wherein the method further includes a step (f) of carrying out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution which has been caused to undergo picture processing at the step (e) at the second picture control unit, and wherein the control data includes print control data for controlling the print means, and the control data file includes print data file including the print control data.

Claim 45

A picture control method as set forth in claim 44, wherein the print control data includes additional information discrimination data indicating whether or not additional information based on additional information table recorded in header of the second picture file is subjected to print out operation along with the picture data of the second resolution, wherein, at the step (d), a procedure is taken to reproduce the picture data of the second resolution on the basis of the control data, and to reproduce the additional information from the second picture file on the basis of the additional information discrimination data, and wherein, at the step (f), a procedure is taken to carry out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution in such a manner the additional information is superimposed thereon.

Claim 46

A picture control method as set forth in claim 45, wherein the additional information is file name of the picture file of the second resolution.

Claim 47

A picture control method as set forth in claim 44, wherein the print control data includes trimming data for designating print area in carrying out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution by the print means.

Claim 48

A picture control method as set forth in claim 44, wherein the print control data includes color adjustment data for designating hue or tint in carrying out print out operation of the picture data of the second resolution by the print means.