(12) United States Patent
`Matsumoto et al.
`
`(io) Patent No.: US 6,833,861 B2
`(45) Date of Patent: Dec. 21,2004
`
`US006833861B2
`
`(54) SYSTEM FOR TRANSFERRING IMAGE
`DATA FROM A CAMERA TO A PRINTING
`SYSTEM
`
`(75) Inventors: Nobuo Matsumoto, Kanagawa (JP);
`Naoto Kinjo, Kanagawa (JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Kanagawa
`(JP)
`
`( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 59 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/350,376
`
`(22) Filed: Jul. 9, 1999
`
`(65) Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2003/0174213 Al Sep. 18, 2003
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 09/350,376, filed on Jul. 9,
`1999, which is a continuation of application No. 09/041,661,
`filed on Mar. 13, 1998, now abandoned.
`
`(30) Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Mar. 25, 1997 (JP) 9-072008
`
`(51) Int. CI.7 H04N 5/225; H04N 5/76
`(52) U.S. CI 348/207.2; 348/231.3
`(58) Field of Search 348/14.12, 207.2,
`348/222, 231-233, 2, 333.01, 333.02, 333.05,
`333.11, 333.12, 373, 375, 376, 552; 358/500,
`501, 502, 505, 513, 527; 386/46, 95, 107,
`108, 109, 112, 117, 118; 396/297, 299,
`300
`
`(56) References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`* 3/1994
`5,296,884 A
`5,477,353 A
`12/1995
`* 12/1995
`5,479,228 A
`* 1/1996
`5,488,558 A
`5,512,396 A
`4/1996
`5,574,533 A
`11/1996
`* 2/1997
`5,606,365 A
`* 4/1997
`5,625,411 A
`* 9/1997
`5,666,578 A
`5,754,227 A
`5/1998
`5,757,388 A
`5/1998
`* 6/1998
`5,768,633 A
`5,798,738 A
`8/1998
`* 8/1998
`5,799,219 A
`* 9/1998
`5,806,005 A
`* 7/1999
`5,926,285 A
`* 12/1999
`6,000,864 A
`* 1/2000
`6,011,547 A
`* 1/2000
`6,018,774 A
`* 5/2000
`6,069,712 A
`* 10/2000
`6,133,947 A
`* 10/2000
`6,141,482 A
`2003/0025808 Al * 2/2003
`* cited by examiner
`
`Honda 396/311
`Yamasaki 358/487
`Tamamura 396/319
`Ohki 701/207
`Hicks 430/21
`Itoh 396/639
`Maurinus 348/222
`Inuiya 348/220.1
`Oikawa 396/319
`Fukuoka 348/232
`Stephenson 347/2
`Allen 396/2
`Yamada 345/2.3
`Moghadam 396/319
`Hull 348/14.12
`Takahashi 358/296
`Hanada 400/62
`Shiota 382/254
`Mayle 709/250
`Dellert 358/408
`Mikuni 348/143
`Massarksy 386/118
`Paralskietal 348/231.99
`
`Primary Examiner•Ngoc-Yen Vu
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm•Sughrue Mion, PLLC
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A digital still camera is provided with a data communication
`section which transfers image data of a picture frame pho-
`tographed by the digital still camera to a printing equipment
`through a radio telephony channel each time the picture
`frame is photographed. The data communication section
`sends ID data consisting of a user ID number and a frame ID
`number and print order data as along with the image data. In
`the printing equipment, the received image data and ID data
`is stored as database in a memory. Based on the image data
`read from the database, a printer makes hard copies in
`conditions designated by the print order data. The hard
`copies are delivered to a place appointed by the print order
`data.
`
`5,194,892 A * 3/1993 Robison 355/40
`
`18 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`At
`
`17-
`
`16 1
`
`IMAGE
`PROCESSOR
`
`15
`
`IMAGING
`SECTION
`
`IMAGE
`MEMORY
`17a
`
`17b
`M
`
`SYSTEM
`CONTROLLER
`
`(-13
`
`18
`
`20
`
`DATA
`COMPRESSOR
`
`CONTROL DATA
`GENERATOR
`
`DATA
`TERMINAL
`21
`
`KEY INPUT
`
`14-
`
`f35
`
`MODEM
`/
`
`-
`
`^-30
`
`z36
`DATA
`CONVERTER -
`i
`J n
`1
`34 •
`
`^
`DATABASE
`MEMORY
`I
`
`32 s
`DIGITAL
`PRINTER
`* «
`, i • r
`/
`BILL
`PRINTER
`
`SYSTEM
`CONTROLLER
`
`i
`11
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS INC.
`EX1004
`Page 1 of 11
`
`

`
`1 12
`IT-
`
`IS
`
`16
`
`IMAGING
`SECTION
`
`IMAGE
`PROCESSOR
`
`IMAGE
`MEMORY
`17a
`
`17b
`
`FIG. 1
`
`1 13
`
`18
`
`1
`
`DATA
`COMPRESSOR
`
`20
`
`DATA
`TERMINAL
`
`21 ±
`
`KEY INPUT
`
`a
`
`-19
`
`U
`
`SYSTEM
`CONTROLLER
`
`CONTROL DATA
`GENERATOR
`
`/35
`
`* MODEM
`
`1 \
`
`j36
`
`DATA
`CONVERTER
`- i
`
`/30
`
`DATABASE
`MEMORY
`T~
`
`34 •
`
`1
`
`\
`'
`
`SYSTEM
`CO NTRC LL .EI *
`
`DIGITAL
`PRINTER
`
`A OO
`i "-"^
`(
`/
`
`BILL
`PRINTER
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS INC.
`EX1004
`Page 2 of 11
`
`

`
`FIG. 2
`
`32
`
`i
`
`V////A
`V777 I V^^
`
`41
`
`44
`
`PAPER
`PROCESSOR
`
`IMAGE DATA
`
`PRINT - EXPOSURE
`SECTION
`
`<D
`
`40
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS INC.
`EX1004
`Page 3 of 11
`
`

`
`52
`A.
`
`LCD PANEL
`
`15
`
`16
`
`51
`
`IMAGE
`DISPLAY
`CKT
`17
`
`IMAGING
`SECTION
`
`IMAGE
`PROCESSOR
`
`IMAGE
`MEMORY
`
`U
`
`SYSTEM
`CONTROLLER
`
`FIG. 3
`
`50
`
`49
`
`18
`
`i DATA
`
`COMPRESSOR
`
`22
`1
`SENDING
`DATA
`MEMORY
`
`53
`
`TERMINAL
`
`t
`
`CONTROL DATA
`GENERATOR
`
`KEY INPUT
`
`•21
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS INC.
`EX1004
`Page 4 of 11
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 21, 2004 Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 6,833,861 B2
`
`FIG. 4
`TsTART^)
`
`IMAGING
`
`PRINT ORDER
`DATA ENTRY
`
`DATA COMPRESSION
`
`DATA STORAGE
`
`YES
`
`DATA TRANSFER
`
`NORMAL
`^ DATA ACKNOWLEDG-
`NO ^^ MENT ?
`
`YES
`
`DELETE TRANSFERRED
`IMAGE DATA
`
`(W)
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS INC.
`EX1004
`Page 5 of 11
`
`

`
`49
`
`DIGITAL
`STILL CAMERA
`
`11
`(
`
`"7
`
`FIG. 5
`
`1 70
`
`MODEM
`
`1 61
`1 72
`
`DATA
`CONVERTER
`
`BUFFER
`MEMORY
`
`75
`\
`...±
`
`67-
`
`SYSTEM
`CONTROLLER
`
`ii 71
`
`MODEM
`
`1 66
`1 73
`
`DATA
`CONVERTER
`
`10
`
`PRINTING
`EQUIPMENT
`
`10
`
`PRINTING
`EQUIPMENT
`
`49
`
`DIGITAL
`STILL CAMERA
`
`Uf RECEPTION
`EQUIPMENT
`
`60
`
`60
`
`ADDRESS
`DECODER
`
`I
`
`RETRANSFER
`DATA
`GENERATOR
`
`RETRANSFER
`FILE
`PRODUCER
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS INC.
`EX1004
`Page 6 of 11
`
`

`
`US 6,833,861 B2
`1 2
`SYSTEM FOR TRANSFERRING IMAGE subject; and a data terminal device for sending the image
`DATA FROM A CAMERA TO A PRINTING data of one frame after another along with ID data of each
`SYSTEM frame to a data receiving device of a printing equipment, and
`print order data defining printing conditions of each frame.
`This is a continuation of Application Ser. No. 09/350,376 5 Because image data of photographed frames is transferred
`filed Jul. 9,1999, which is a continuation of Application Ser. from a camera to a printing equipment, the camera does not
`No. 09/041,661, filed Mar. 13, 1998 now abandoned, the need any image data recording medium, but has only to have
`disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. a small capacity image memory enough to store image data
`of one or several frames. The user of the camera does not
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION io need to take the image data recording medium or the photo
`1 Field of the Invention film cartridge to a photofinisher's agency or the like for
`rrn . • ,. , , ... r printing. On the photo finisher side, the printing system of
`Ine present invention relates to a printing system tor , " . . , ., , .
`,. . . , , • j t £ •/ c the present invention makes it possible to automatize receiv-
`making a print based on image data of a picture frame r , . , . , ,, . ,
`u * u J u J t -tu »u mg and managing the print orders, as well as operating the
`photographed by a camera, and a camera tor use with the 1c?.,.&&r ' r &
`• ,. , l:> printing device,
`printing system. r "
`2. Background Arts BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`According to the conventional photo film development T,, , , ., , . . , , ri,
`, . i. 0 ^ , r •, % ^ a-, ^ 1 he above and other obiects and advantages of the present
`and printing system, a user takes exposed photo film to a . i. .• , ^ r i1 r ,, . f, •, ,
`, f • • , ., , • ^ i i , i . invention will become apparent from the following detailed
`photofimsher or its agency, and receives the developed photo 20 /r 0 .
`5, , , . , . • . . ., , . r- • f ., description of the preferred embodiments when read in
`film and subsequent photo prints at the photofimsher or the r
`i. •,, ,, ... ...
`,• j, ^ , ^ ^ f. , ^ • . , connection with the accompanying drawings, which are
`agency. 1 here tore, the user has to go to the photofimsher or . , r ... ^ i. , , i1 .,••..•
`^ ^ i 1 ^ • r i xr .LI 1 . given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative
`the agency at least twice tor one order. It the user does not r .. J J. . .. , . ,., r ,
`° . , ,, . , j. i . ^1 . • i . of the present invention, wherein like reference numerals
`want to print all picture frames on a photo filmstnp, but , . ^ ... ,. ^ i1 , ,,, ,
`^ ^ ^ ^ ., j- L-LLI ., designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several
`wants to sort out some picture frames to print, the user must 25 . A y, ' •
`order the development only to check all picture frames on '
`the developed photo film, and then order printing of desig- FIG- * is a block diagram of a printing system consisting
`nated picture frames. Then, the user has to go to the of a digital still camera and a printing equipment, according
`photofinisher or the agency at least four times till the user to an embodiment of the invention;
`gets the photo prints of the designated picture frames. 30 FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a digital printer used in
`In electronic or digital still cameras, a recording medium t"6 printing equipment of FIG. 1;
`for storing image data of photographed images, such as a FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a digital still camera
`floppy disc or an LSI memory card, is loaded instead of the according to another embodiment of the invention;
`photo film. To make a print from the image data, the FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an operation sequence of the
`recording medium is set in an in-house printer, or is for- 35 digital still camera of FIG. 3; and
`warded to a photofinisher. Photo prints made through the FIG 5 is a block diagram of a printing system consisting
`in-house printer are inferior in quality. Taking the recording of the digital still cameras of FIG. 3, the printing equipments
`medium to the photofinisher is time-consuming for the user, of FIG ^ and intermediate reception equipments,
`in the same way as set forth above with respect to the photo
`film. 40 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`Whether it is the photo film camera or the digital still PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`camera, the user must carry or prepare many photo filmstrips In a priming system of FIG. 1, a digital still camera 9 and
`or recording media, i.e., floppy discs or LSI memory cards, a priming equipment 10 are connected through a radio
`for taking many picture frames on one occasion. ^ communication channel 11. The digital still camera 9 con-
`OXTHJHJ AXTSZ ^r T^XXX^ XXTX^XTT^X/-.XT sists of a camera section 12, a data communication section
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION .• ' • •. ,
`13 and a system controller 14 tor controlling them.
`In view of the foregoing, an object of the present inven- The camera section 12 is constituted of an imaging
`tion is to provide a printing system which provides high- Section 15, an image processor 16, and an image memory 17.
`quality photo prints, saves time for ordering and getting 50 The imaging section 15 has a triple-plate type image area
`prints, and wherein the user does not need to use a lot of SenSor for picking up three color analog image signals from
`photo film strips or recording media, nor to forward them to a subject. The image processor 16 subjects the analog image
`a photofinisher. signals to well-known image processing steps like gamma-
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a conversion, and converts the image signals into digital
`camera for use with the printing system of the present 55 image data. The image data is temporarily stored in the
`invention. image memory 17 that consists of two frame memories 17a
`To achieve the above object, a printing system according and 17fc. While the image data of one picture frame is
`to the present invention is comprised of a data receiving written in one of the frame memories 17a and 17fc, the image
`device installed in a printing equipment, for receiving image data of another picture frame written in the other frame
`data and ID data of the image data sent from a camera, image go memory is sent to a data compressor 18 of the data corn-
`database for managing the image data from the data receiv- munication section 13. Hereinafter, the image data of one
`ing device based on the ID data, a printing device for picture frame will be referred to as frame image data,
`printing out a hard copy based on the image data read from The data communication section 13 is constituted of the
`the memory means, and a controlling device for controlling data compressor 18, a control data generator 19, and a data
`the printing means in accordance with print order data. 6s terminal 20. The data compressor 18 reads out the frame
`According to the present invention, a camera is comprised image data from one of the frame memories 17a and 17fc,
`of an imaging device for picking up image data from a and compresses the frame image data at a ratio of 1/10 to
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS INC.
`EX1004
`Page 7 of 11
`
`

`
`US 6,833,861 B2
`
`1/20, by use of the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts
`Group) method or any other appropriate data compression
`method. The compressed frame image data is sent to the data
`terminal 20.
`The control data generator 19 generates user ID data for 5
`identifying the user of the digital still camera 9, frame ID
`data for correlating each picture frame with the compressed
`frame image data, and print order data that represents
`various commands entered through a key input 21. The ID
`data and print order data is sent as control data to the data 1°
`terminal 20. The data terminal 20 sends the compressed
`image data sequentially to the printing equipment 10 of a
`photofinisher through the radio communication channel 11,
`along with the control data. The photofinisher is previously
`registered in the digital still camera 9. In the present 15
`embodiment, the radio communication channel 11 is that for
`radio telephony. Therefore, the data terminal 20 consists of
`a modem and a radio sender-receiver for sending and
`receiving data through the radio telephony. The data termi-
`nal 20 is provided with a connector for allowing linkage to 20
`a public telephone network or another digital communica-
`tion network.
`The print order data or commands entered through the key
`input 21 may include an order for an index print, an order for
`individual frame printing, print size, requisite number of 25
`prints, and print delivery commands for designating the way
`of receiving the photo prints, i.e., the date and place the user
`wishes to receive the photo prints, and the way of delivery:
`mail or home delivery service etc. As the printing
`commands, there may be an order for a special size print, 30
`such as a panoramic print, an order for trimming, an order
`for preserving the image data in a database of the
`photofinisher, and a command of designating a memory
`medium for the image data. Once the contents of the print
`order data are set up through the key input 21, the contents 35
`are stored in a memory of the control data generator 19.
`Thus, the control data generator 19 outputs the same con-
`tents as the print order data unless they are revised.
`The frame image data and the control data are automati-
`cally sent to the printing equipment 10 each time the frame
`image data and the related control data is obtained through
`the above described operations in the digital still camera 9,
`i.e., imaging, image processing, image data storing, data
`compressing, and command data entry through the key input
`21. Since there is no need for recording image data on a
`recording medium by the digital still camera 9, the user can
`photograph as many picture frames as he or she wants
`without any restriction and interruption.
`The printing equipment 10 is constituted of a data com-
`munication section 30, a database memory 31, a digital
`printer 32, a bill printer 33 and a system controller 34.
`The data communication section 30 consists of a modem
`35 and a data converter 36 for converting or decoding the
`data from the modem 35 into the image data and the control 55
`data. The system controller 34 writes the image data and the
`control data in the database memory 31, wherein the ID data
`is used for data retrieval.
`The system controller 34 controls the digital printer 32 in
`accordance with the print order data, such as the individual so
`frame printing order, the index print order, the print size and
`the requisite number of prints. First, the system controller 34
`reads the date and time the user wishes to receive the prints,
`and starts reading the frame image data sequentially from
`the most urgent to the lest urgent picture frames. 65
`As shown in FIG. 2, the digital printer 32 has a print-
`exposure section 40 that scans a color silver-salt photo-
`
`45
`
`40
`
`graphic material or color paper 41 with a Laser beam in a
`cross direction of the color paper 41, while the color paper
`41 is transported in its lengthwise direction. Thereby, each
`picture frame is printed in a frame exposure area on the color
`paper 41, when the individual frame printing is ordered.
`When the index printing is ordered, a plurality of picture
`frames of a reduced size are printed in the frame exposure
`area.
`A back-printer 42 prints an ID number and a correspond-
`ing bar code on the backside of the color paper 41 for each
`printed picture frame. In addition, a mark provider 43, e.g.,
`a puncher, provides a cut mark between adjacent printed
`picture frames. The color paper 41 having the picture frame
`printed thereon is developed and processed in a paper
`processor 44, and is cut at the cut mark into a hard copy 45
`of the individual picture frame. The ID number and the bar
`code printed by the back-printer 42 are utilized for identi-
`fying the hard copies 45 in a delivery process as set forth
`below.
`The system controller 34 calculates a charge for the
`printing according to the contents of printing process, and
`outputs the charge to a bill printer 33. The bill printer 33
`determines users' name by the ID number, and prints out a
`bill containing the user's name, the date and time of delivery,
`the place of delivery, the charge, and other necessary infor-
`mation about the finished prints. The bill printer 33 also
`prints the ID number and its bar code on the bill, so the bill
`can be mechanically correlated with the hard copies 45
`having the same ID number and bar code. The correlated
`hard copies 45 and the bill are enclosed in a delivery
`envelope, and delivered to the user the way appointed by the
`print delivery commands of the print order data.
`If the system controller 34 reads the image data preser-
`vation command out of the print order data, the concerned
`frame image data is stored for a given period in the database
`memory 31. If not, the frame image data is deleted from the
`database memory 31 when the requisite number of prints or
`hard copies 45 are made based on the frame image data. The
`user can retrieve or download the frame image data from the
`database memory 31 by way of the digital still camera 9 or
`a personal computer or another data terminal. For this
`purpose, the data communication section 13 of the digital
`still camera 9 can access the database memory 31 to retrieve
`the image data of the picture frames photographed before by
`the digital still camera 9. These picture frames are seriatim
`displayed on an electronic viewfinder or a display panel of
`the camera 9 or on a display device connected to the camera
`9.
`
`If the print order data includes the command of designat-
`ing a data memory medium for the image data, the system
`controller 34 writes the image data in a large capacity data
`memory medium, e.g. MO, CD-ROM, MD, and deletes the
`corresponding image data from the database memory 31.
`In the above embodiment, the data communication sec-
`tion 13 is integrated into the digital still camera 9, but the
`data communication section 13 may be separate from the
`camera section 12. It is also possible to provide the data
`communication section 13 with a voice transmission device,
`so the data communication section 13 functions as a cellular
`phone.
`Although print order data is entered by the key input 21,
`and is transferred along with image data to the printing
`equipment 10 in the above embodiment, it is possible to
`enter customized printing commands in advance in the
`registered photofinisher. In that case, the user makes a
`request to the photofinisher for modifying the customized
`printing commands by phone or the like whenever the user
`wants.
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS INC.
`EX1004
`Page 8 of 11
`
`

`
`US 6,833,861 B2
`
`It is also possible to transfer photographic condition data
`along with the frame image data. The photographic condi-
`tion data may include the date and time of photography, the
`focal length used, the subject distance, the kind of illumi-
`nation source, the weather and the temperature. The photo- 5
`graphic condition data may be used for improving quality of
`the photo prints. For the reprinting, the user has only to
`transfer the ID data of the concerned picture frame and the
`requisite number of prints from the camera 9 to the printing
`equipment 10 since the frame image data is already for-
`warded to the printing equipment.
`Instead of transferring the frame image data and the
`control data to the printing equipment 10 after each frame is
`photographed, it is possible to transfer the data after a
`plurality of picture frames are photographed. FIG. 3 shows 15
`a digital still camera 49 for this embodiment, which is
`provided with a sending data memory 22 for storing com-
`pressed image data of a plurality of picture frames. The
`sending data memory 22 is connected between a data
`compressor 16 and a data terminal 20 of a data communi- 20
`cation section 13, and stores the individual frame image data
`in association with the print order data. In addition, a camera
`body 50 is provided with an image display circuit 51 and an
`LCD panel 52, the user can confirm the photographed image
`on the LCD panel 52. 25
`The sending data memory 22 stores the user ID number
`and the telephone number of the registered photofinisher,
`besides the image data and the print order data. The user ID
`number and the photofinisher's telephone number may be
`stored in a built-in memory of a system controller 14, instead 30
`of the sending data memory 22. The user ID number may be
`associated with the individual frame image data, like the
`frame ID data and the print order data, or may be transferred
`as footer of a data block consisting of the image data, the
`frame ID data and the print order data of a given number of 35
`picture frames. It is preferable to associate the user ID
`number with the individual frame image data, because it
`would be unnecessary to transfer the whole data block once
`again even if the data communication is interrupted for some
`reasons like radio noise or radio propagation blockage. The 40
`user ID number may also be combined with the frame ID
`number.
`As shown in FIG. 4, each time the data of the individual
`picture frame is normally transferred to the printing equip-
`ment 10, the printing equipment 10 sends back a normal data 45
`acknowledgment signal. If the digital still camera 49 does
`not receive the normal data acknowledgment signal in a
`given time, the digital still camera 49 sends out the data of
`the concerned picture frame again. Instead of sending the
`data of the individual picture frame repeatedly until the 50
`digital still camera 49 receives the normal acknowledgment
`signal, it is possible to limit the number of available repeats
`of sending, and give an alarm when it comes to the limit.
`According to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the digital still
`camera 49 starts transferring the data to the printing equip- 55
`ment 10 when a predetermined number of picture frames
`have been photographed. As an alternative, it is possible to
`start transferring the data when a given amount of data is
`stored in the sending data memory 22. It is also possible to
`start transferring the data a given time after the latest picture 60
`frame is photographed. The digital still camera 49 is pref-
`erably provided with a manual transfer mode where the user
`may transfer the data at an appropriate time. It is preferable
`that the digital still camera 49 is automatically set in a
`transfer standby mode when it is located in those areas 65
`where the data communication is impossible. In the transfer
`standby mode, the digital still camera 49 automatically starts
`
`transferring the data when it goes out of the communication
`impossible area.
`Upon receipt of the normal data acknowledgment signal,
`the digital still camera 49 writes data transfer records in a
`predetermined memory location of the sending data memory
`22, and thereafter deletes the transferred image data from the
`sending data memory 22. The data transfer records include
`the date and time of sending, the frame ID data of the picture
`frame of the transferred frame image data, the print delivery
`commands included in the print order data, and the like. It
`is possible to delete the transferred image data in response
`to a manually entered command. Instead of the normal data
`acknowledgment signal, the photofinisher may send back a
`reception number to the digital still camera 49. Then, the
`reception number is stored in the sending data memory 22.
`It is possible to store addresses of a plurality of photo labs
`in the sending data memory 22, so the user can select one of
`the photo labs. In this embodiment, a reception equipment
`60 is installed in each geographical area, e.g., in an area
`agency of a photofinisher, as shown in FIG. 5. The reception
`equipment 60 is provided with a data receiver 61, a buffer
`memory 62, an address decoder 63, a retransfer data gen-
`erator 64, a retransfer file producer 65, a data sender 66 and
`a system controller 67. The data receiving section 61 con-
`sists of a modem 70 and a data converter 72, and the data
`sender 66 consists of a modem 71 and a data converter 73.
`The data from the digital still camera 49 is received on the
`data receiver 61, and is stored in the buffer memory 62. The
`data receiver 61 also sends the received data to the address
`decoder 63. The address decoder 63 decodes the address of
`the delivery place appointed by the user, that is included in
`the print delivery commands of the received data. The
`address decoder 63 sends the decoded address along with the
`ID data to the retransfer data generator 64. The retransfer
`data generator 64 produces retransfer address data from the
`decoded address, and sends it along with the ID data to the
`retransfer file producer 65. The retransfer file producer 65
`reads out the image data and the print order data from the
`buffer memory 62, correlates the retransfer address data with
`the image data and the print order data by use of the ID data,
`to produce a retransfer data file from the correlated data.
`Thereby, the data sender 66 sends the retransfer data file to
`a printing equipment 10 located nearest to the appointed
`delivery place through a leased or private line 75.
`Accordingly, the finished prints are delivered to the
`appointed place in the shortest time. It is, of course, possible
`to use a public data communication network for sending the
`retransfer file, instead of the private line 75.
`Alternatively, the digital still camera 49 or the reception
`equipment 60 may automatically select the nearest printing
`equipment 10 to the present location of the digital still
`camera 49. As the present location of the digital still camera
`49, a place name may be entered through a key input 21 of
`the digital still camera 49. In that case, it is preferable to
`store a table for correlating place names with the addresses
`of the printing equipment 10 of the respective geographical
`areas, so the nearest printing equipment 10 to the present
`location of the camera 49 is selected based on the place
`name entered through the key input 21. It is also possible to
`provide the digital still camera 49 with a receiver for the
`global positioning system (GPS), so the camera 49 finds the
`present location by the GPS signal, and determines based on
`the present location the address to send the data. The data
`communication section 13 may be designed to receive
`information about radio base stations, so the user may use
`the address of the nearest radio base station as the present
`location of the digital still camera 49.
`
`UNIFIED PATENTS INC.
`EX1004
`Page 9 of 11
`
`

`
`US 6,833,861 B2
`
`30
`
`Selecting the nearest printing equipment 10 to the present
`location of the camera 49 is preferable in terms of cutting
`down on data communication bills. It is possible to display
`on the LCD panel 52 an address list of those printing
`equipments 10 which are placed near by the present location 5
`of the digital still camera 49, so the user may choose an
`appropriate one.
`The delivery place of the print delivery commands may be
`the user's home, the nearest photo shop or photofinisher's
`agency to the user's home, or another place appointed by the 1°
`user. For designating the delivery place, it is preferable to
`memorize address data of available delivery places in asso-
`ciation with place names, so the user may choose an
`appropriate one of those delivery places which are near by
`the location represented by the place name entered through 15
`the key input 21. In that case, the delivery places may be
`displayed on the LCD panel 52. The user may enter not only
`the place name of the present location of the digital still
`camera 49, but also any appropriate place name. Since it is
`possible to appoint the date and time of delivery as well as 20
`the delivery place, the user may receive the finished prints
`in the most suitable way, e.g. at a photo shop nearby a hotel
`where the user is staying on a trip.
`It is, of course, possible for the digital still camera 49 to
`select automatically a delivery place among from the reg-
`istered delivery places based on the present location of the
`camera 49, that may be entered as a place name, or may be
`determined by the GPS signal or the signals from the radio
`base stations.
`The image data may be transferred without being
`compressed, though the data transfer efEciency is lowered.
`It is also possible to sort out those picture frames whose
`image data should be transferred, by inspecting the picture
`frame after each photography on the LCD panel 52. ,
`It is possible to obtain high resolution image data by the
`pixel-shifting, wherein a plurality of picture frames are
`photographed from a subject in rapid succession while the
`image area sensor of the imaging section 15 is shifting by a
`unit less than one pixel on the image plane by use of 40
`piezoelectric elements or the like. Then, position data of the
`shifted pixels is transferred as coordinate values to the
`photofinisher, along with the corresponding image data.
`Since the picture frames obtained by the pixel-shifting from
`the same subject are highly correlated with each other, it is 45
`preferable to code differences between these picture frames
`for the data compression, rather than coding the image data
`of each individual picture frame. Thereby, the data amount
`necessary to transfer and store is reduced. The photofinisher
`may produce an image of virtually higher resolution than 50
`available by the image area sensor from the image data of
`the pixel-shifted picture frames and the position data of the
`shifted pixels by decoding the transferred differential image
`data and interpolating the pixels. If necessary, the image data
`is treated with other image processing steps such as smoo