Image filing apparatus

Claim 1

An image filing apparatus provided with: i) a drive means which is loaded with an optical disk for storing a plurality of signals, and on which image signals representing images and subsidiary information belonging to each of the images are stored and read therefrom, ii) a data base constructing means which, when the image signals and the subsidiary information corresponding to each of the image signals are stored on the optical disk loaded into the drive means, constructs an image signal retrieving data base from the subsidiary information such that the image signals corresponding to the subsidiary information are available for retrieval after the image signals are stored on the optical disk, and iii) a storage means which stores said image signal retrieving data base such that said image signal retrieving database can be revised, wherein the improvement comprises: classification means for determining a loaded optical disk classification of said optical disk loaded into said drive means, an automatic judgment means for automatically judging if an image signal retrieving data base is to be constructed by said data base constructing means depending on said loaded optical disk classification, and an interconnecting means comprising a drive means interface and a data base constructing means interface which interconnects said drive means and said data base constructing means, wherein, if said automatic judgment means judges that a first type of optical disk is loaded in said drive means, said data base constructing means constructs said image signal retrieving data base, and if said automatic judgment means judges that a second type of optical disk is loaded in said drive means, said data base constructing means is prevented from constructing said image signal retrieving data base.