US6539169B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for recording and re-recording image data in a device having limited memory capacity
Assignee: Fujifilm Corp
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Filing: 1998-12-23
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Granted: 2003-03-25
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Expires: 2018-12-23
Abstract
Abstract In the case where images photographed by a digital camera or the like are recorded in a recording medium at a predetermined resolution or compression rate upon photographing and the data representing the image are re-recorded therein after being read and resolution-converted or re-compressed, a target of re-recording can be specified by a simple operation and damage due an erroneous input can be minimized. A function is provided for setting accompanying information such as necessity of printing an image when the image is being replayed in a replay mode, for example. The information having been set is described in a tag of an image file and recorded together with the image. When a user shifts a mode to a re-recording execution mode, necessity of re-recording is judged based on the stored information having been set. A re-recording target image file is then read from a memory card and re-recorded therein after a resolution conversion or compression processing carried out on the image data.
Inventors
- 👤 Hisayoshi Tsubaki
- 👤 Hiroshi Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:17
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/765; H04N5/77; H04N5/772; H04N5/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
An image re-recording method comprising the steps of: recording data representing at least one image obtained by photographing in a recording medium; storing accompanying information received with regard to the data of each image having been recorded, by relating the accompanying information to the image data; changing the accompanying information stored, as desired; judging, based on the accompanying information, whether or not the data of each image are re-recorded as data having a smaller data size when a predetermined operation is carried out; reading image data to be re-recorded sequentially from the recording medium, based on the judgment; carrying out conversion processing such that the size of image data becomes smaller than the image data having been read; and collectively re-recording the image data after the conversion in the recording medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
An image re-recording method comprising the steps of: recording data representing at least one image obtained by photographing in a recording medium; storing accompanying information received with regard to the data of each image having been recorded, by relating the accompanying information to the image data; changing the accompanying information stored, as desired; judging, based on the accompanying information, whether or not the data of each image are re-recorded as data having a smaller data size when a predetermined operation is carried out; reading image data to be re-recorded sequentially from the recording medium, based on the judgment; carrying out conversion processing such that the size of image data becomes smaller than the image data having been read; and collectively re-recording the image data after the conversion in the recording medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image recording method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a resolution conversion is carried out as the conversion processing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image recording method as claimed in claim 1 wherein compression processing using coding is carried out as the conversion processing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image recording method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the re-recording is carried out by writing the data after the conversion over the original image data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
An image recording method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the re-recording is carried out by recording the data after the conversion in an area different from that of the original image data and erasing the original image data from the recording medium thereafter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image recording method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the accompanying information indicates whether re-recording of the image data is necessary or unnecessary.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An image recording method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the accompanying information indicates whether printing of the image data is necessary or unnecessary; and re-recording is judged to be unnecessary in the judgment if printing is necessary, while re-recording is judged to be necessary if printing is unnecessary.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image recording method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the accompanying information is information showing the content of printing of the image data; and the judgment is carried out based on the content of printing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The image re-recording method according to claim 1 , wherein the accompanying information is inserted into the header of the image data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
159 words
An image re-recording apparatus comprising: photographed image recording means for recording data representing at least one image obtained by photographing in a recording medium; accompanying information recording means for storing accompanying information received with regard to the data of each image having been recorded, by relating the accompanying information to the image data, the accompanying information recording means capable of changing the stored information, as desired; re-recording necessity judging means for judging, based on the accompanying information, whether or not the data of each image are re-recorded as data having a smaller data size when a predetermined operation is carried out; data reading means for reading image data to be re-recorded from the recording medium, based on the judgment; data converting means for carrying out conversion processing such that the size of image data becomes smaller than the image data having been read; and re-recording means for collectively re-recording the image data after the conversion in the recording medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
159 words
An image re-recording apparatus comprising: photographed image recording means for recording data representing at least one image obtained by photographing in a recording medium; accompanying information recording means for storing accompanying information received with regard to the data of each image having been recorded, by relating the accompanying information to the image data, the accompanying information recording means capable of changing the stored information, as desired; re-recording necessity judging means for judging, based on the accompanying information, whether or not the data of each image are re-recorded as data having a smaller data size when a predetermined operation is carried out; data reading means for reading image data to be re-recorded from the recording medium, based on the judgment; data converting means for carrying out conversion processing such that the size of image data becomes smaller than the image data having been read; and re-recording means for collectively re-recording the image data after the conversion in the recording medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the data converting means carries out a resolution conversion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the data converting means carries out compression using coding.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in any one of claim 10 wherein the re-recording means carries out the re-recording by writing the data after the conversion over the original image data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in any one of claim 10 wherein the re-recording means carries out the re-recording by recording the data after the conversion in an area different from that of the original image data and erasing the original image data from the recording medium thereafter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , characterized by that the accompanying information indicates whether re-recording of the image data is necessary or unnecessary.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , characterized by that the accompanying information indicates whether printing of the image data is necessary or unnecessary; and the re-recording necessity judging means judges that re-recording is unnecessary if printing is necessary or that re-recording is necessary if printing is unnecessary.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , characterized by that the accompanying information is information showing the content of printing of the image data; and the re-recording means judges the necessity of re-recording based on the content of printing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The image re-recording apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the accompanying information is inserted into the header of the image data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-24 | 2006-09-23 | 2007-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-24 | 2010-09-23 | 2011-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-24 | 2014-09-23 | 2015-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |