System for storing and utilizing picture image data recorded by digital camera

Claim 2

A picture data storing and utilizing system separate from a digital camera, comprising: at least one medium reading means for reading picture image data from a removable medium, said picture image data being recorded by the digital camera and stored in the removable medium, wherein the image data is transferred to a remotely located image server which stores the transferred picture image data; and accessing means for enabling the picture image data stored in the remotely located image server to be accessed and utilized, wherein the picture image data are transferred to the image server via cable or wireless transmission, and wherein the at least one medium reading means and the accessing means are housed together, separate from the remotely located image server.

Claim 3

The picture image data storing and utilizing system of claim 1 , further comprising: at least one data transferring means which transfers picture image data recorded by a digital camera and stored in the built-in memory of the digital camera from the built-in memory to the image server.

Claim 4

A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 2 wherein the medium reading means and the data transferring means are housed in a common unit.

Claim 5

A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 3 wherein the accessing means is also housed in the common unit.

Claim 6

The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one medium reading means, the at least one data transferring means and the accessing means are housed together, separate from the remotely located image server.

Claim 7

A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein the medium reading means and the accessing means are housed in a common unit.

Claim 8

A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 6 wherein file outputting means for outputting the picture image data stored in the image server to a predetermined recording medium as a file is installed in the common unit.

Claim 9

A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 6 wherein print outputting means for outputting the picture image data stored in the image server as a print is installed in the common unit.

Claim 10

A picture image data storing and utilizing system separate from a digital camera, comprising: at least one data transferring means for transferring picture image data from a built-in camera memory to a remotely located image server which stores the transferred picture image data, wherein the picture image data is recorded by the digital camera in the built-in camera memory; and accessing means for enabling the picture image data stored in the remotely located image server to be accessed and utilized, wherein the picture image data are transferred to the image server via cable or wireless transmission, and wherein the at least one data transferring means and the accessing means are housed together, separate from the remotely located image server.

Claim 11

A picture image data storing and utilizing system separate from a digital camera, comprising: at least one data transferring means for transferring picture image data from a built-in camera memory to a remotely located image server which stores the transferred picture image data, wherein the picture image data is recorded by the digital camera in the built-in camera memory; and accessing means for enabling the picture image data stored in the remotely located image server to be accessed and utilized, wherein the picture image data are transferred to the image server via cable or wireless transmission, and wherein the at least one data transferring means and the accessing means are housed together, separate from the remotely located image server.

Claim 12

A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 9 or 2 wherein the data transferring means is at least one of a cable connection interface, camera loading transferring means and a communication channel.

Claim 13

A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 9 wherein the data transferring means and the accessing means are housed in a common unit.

Claim 14

A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claim 1 or claim 9 which further comprises file outputting means for outputting the picture image data stored in the image server to a predetermined recording medium.

Claim 15

A picture image data storing and utilizing system as defined in claims 1 or claim 9 which further comprises print outputting means for outputting the picture image data stored in the image server as prints.

Claim 16

A picture image data storing and utilizing system separate from a digital camera, comprising: an image server which stores picture image data; at least one medium reading means for reading picture image data from a removable medium and transferring the picture image data to the image server, wherein the picture image data is stored by the digital camera in the removable medium; and accessing means for enabling the picture image data stored in the image server to be accessed and utilized, wherein the picture image data are transferred to the image server via cable or wireless transmission; and file name assigning means for assigning, to the picture image data transferred to the image server, a unique file name different from a file name before the data transfer, as the file name for storage in the image server, wherein the file name assigning means generates the unique file name by using at least one of a camera code for identifying the digital camera used for recording, a possessor code for identifying a possessor of the digital camera, and a date code representing a date of recording to the picture image data.

Claim 17

A picture image data storing and utilizing system separate from a digital camera, comprising: an image server which stores picture image data; at least one medium reading means for reading picture image data from a removable medium and transferring the picture image data to the image server, wherein the picture image data is stored by the digital camera in the removable medium; and accessing means for enabling the picture image data stored in the image server to be accessed and utilized, wherein the picture image data are transferred to the image server via cable or wireless transmission; and file name assigning means for assigning, to the picture image data transferred to the image server, a unique file name different from a file name before the data transfer, as the file name for storage in the image server, wherein the file name assigning means generates the unique file name by using at least one of a camera code for identifying the digital camera used for recording, a possessor code for identifying a possessor of the digital camera, and a date code representing a date of recording to the picture image data.

Claim 18

The picture image data storing and utilizing system of claim 14 , wherein the image server is located separately from the at least one medium reading means.

Claim 19

The picture image data storing and utilizing system of claim 14 , wherein the image server is located separately from the accessing means.

Claim 20

A picture image data storing and utilizing system separate from a digital camera, comprising: an image server which stores picture image data; at least one data transferring means for transferring picture image data recorded by a digital camera and stored in the built-in memory of the digital camera from the built-in memory to the image server; accessing means for enabling the picture image data stored in the image server to be accessed and utilized, wherein the picture image data are transferred to the image server via cable or wireless transmission; and file name assigning means for assigning, to the picture image data transferred to the image server, a unique file name different from a file name before the data transfer, as the file name for storage in the image server, wherein the file name assigning means generates the unique file name by using at least one of a camera code for identifying the digital camera used for recording, a possessor code for identifying a possessor of the digital camera, and a date code representing a date of recording to the picture image data.

Claim 21

A picture image data storing and utilizing system separate from a digital camera, comprising: an image server which stores picture image data; at least one data transferring means for transferring picture image data recorded by a digital camera and stored in the built-in memory of the digital camera from the built-in memory to the image server; accessing means for enabling the picture image data stored in the image server to be accessed and utilized, wherein the picture image data are transferred to the image server via cable or wireless transmission; and file name assigning means for assigning, to the picture image data transferred to the image server, a unique file name different from a file name before the data transfer, as the file name for storage in the image server, wherein the file name assigning means generates the unique file name by using at least one of a camera code for identifying the digital camera used for recording, a possessor code for identifying a possessor of the digital camera, and a date code representing a date of recording to the picture image data.

Claim 22

The picture image data storing and utilizing system of claim 17 , wherein the image server is located separately from the at least one data transferring means.

Claim 23

The picture image data storing and utilizing system of claim 17 , wherein the image server is located separately from the accessing means.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising: a memory for temporarily storing the input digital image in association with an identification code.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein stored digital images and associated identification codes are periodically transferred from the memory to the remote storage device.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the transaction fee input unit includes a device for receiving coined currency.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the input unit includes at least one data transferring means for transferring the digital image from a memory of a digital camera into the apparatus.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the at least one data transferring means includes a cable, connectable to a digital camera.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 20 or 25 , wherein the input unit includes at least one medium reading means for reading the digital image from a removable recording medium for input into the apparatus.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the removable recording medium is a removable recording medium of a digital camera.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the removable recording medium is a removable recording medium of a personal computer.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 20 , further including a printer for printing the digital image.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 20 , further including a keyboard for inputting an identification code to access a remotely stored digital image.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 20 , further including a touch-panel screen for inputting an identification code to access a remotely stored digital image.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein identification code is automatically associated with the input digital image.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the identification code includes information associated with capture of the digital image.

Claim 40

The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein an identification code previously associated with the input digital image is maintained, if uniquely identifiable by the remote storage device.

Claim 41

The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the associated identification code uniquely identifies the digital image stored at the remote storage device.

Claim 42

The apparatus of claim 20 , further including an input unit permitting input of an identification code to access a remotely digital image.

Claim 43

The apparatus of claim 20 , further including a unit permitting selection of an identification code to access a remotely stored digital image.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising: an input device for inputting an identification code and accessing a stored digital image from the remote storage device; and an output unit for outputting the accessed stored digital image.

Claim 45

The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the input device includes a keyboard.

Claim 46

The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the output device includes a printer.

Claim 47

The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the output device includes a printer.