U.S. patent application number 08/949531 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-11 for file management system of image data.
Invention is credited to HATANAKA, KOJI.
Application Number | 20020090208 08/949531 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 17528692 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020090208 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HATANAKA, KOJI |
July 11, 2002 |
FILE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF IMAGE DATA
Abstract
In a system for file managing image data of an electronic
camera, so long as the image data is recorded by the same image
pickup apparatus, a peculiar file name which is not overlapped is
generated and in order to prevent that a plurality of files of the
same name exist, when an electronic camera is connected to a main
body of a computer, a storage device in the electronic camera is
examined from a host application of the computer, and when a file
of a file name including numerical values exceeding a predetermined
value is found, a message is displayed for the user in a manner
such that after all of the files having the file names which had
automatically been formed were transferred to the computer, all of
the contents in the storage device are deleted or formatted. When
the detachable storage device is loaded or a power source is turned
on, if the file having the unique file name which was automatically
generated does not exist in the storage device, the numerical
values held in the electronic camera are initialized.
Inventors: |
HATANAKA, KOJI;
(KANAGAWA-KEN, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITZPATRICK CELLA HARPER & SCINTO
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK
NY
10112
US
|
Family ID: |
17528692 |
Appl. No.: |
08/949531 |
Filed: |
October 14, 1997 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
386/225 ;
707/E17.026 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/2112 20130101;
H04N 2101/00 20130101; G06F 16/58 20190101; H04N 1/00204 20130101;
H04N 1/2158 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
386/117 ;
348/231; 348/232; 348/233 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/76; H04N
005/225 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 16, 1996 |
JP |
8-273494 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A file management system for managing photographed image data as
a file, comprising: a counter for updating numerical values every
image recording; and generating means for generating a file name on
the basis of the numerical values of said counter, wherein when
said recording image data is stored as a file, even in the case
where all of image data photographed by a same image pickup
apparatus is recorded to different recording media, when the image
data is recording by the same image pickup apparatus, an individual
file name which is not overlapped is generated.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein when the numerical values
of said counter lie within a preset range, a warning and a
predetermined countermeasure method are displayed.
3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the numerical values are
sequentially included in the file names from the smaller numerical
value, said included numerical values or numerical values to be
subsequently included are stored into said counter, and said preset
range is equal to or larger than a predetermined value based on
said stored numerical values.
4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the numerical values are
sequentially included in the file names from the larger numerical
value, said included numerical values or numerical values to be
subsequently included are stored into said counter, and said preset
range is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value based on
said stored numerical values.
5. A system according to claim 2, wherein when the numerical values
of said counter lie within the preset range and a file which was
previously formed does not exist in a storage device in which the
file is formed, the numerical values of the counter are
initialized.
6. A system according to claim 2, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, the file with the file name among the files
included in the storage device serving as a target is deleted.
7. A system according to claim 3, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, the file with the file name among the files
included in the storage device serving as a target is deleted.
8. A system according to claim 4, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, the file with the file name among the files
included in the storage device serving as a target is deleted.
9. A system according to claim 2, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, a storage device serving as a target is
formatted.
10. A system according to claim 3, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, a storage device serving as a target is
formatted.
11. A system according to claim 4, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, a storage device serving as a target is
formatted.
12. A file management method of managing photographed image data as
a file, comprising: a counting step of updating numerical values
every image recording; and a generating step of generating a file
name on the basis of the numerical values in said counting step,
wherein when said recording image data is stored as a file, even in
the case where all of image data photographed by a same image
pickup apparatus is recorded to different recording media, when the
image data is recording by the same image pickup apparatus, an
individual file name which is not overlapped is generated.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein when the numerical
values of said counter lie within a preset range, a warning and a
predetermined countermeasure method are displayed.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the numerical values
are sequentially included in the file names from the smaller
numerical value, said included numerical values or numerical values
to be subsequently included are stored in said counting step, and
said preset range is equal to or larger than a predetermined value
based on said stored numerical values.
15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the numerical values
are sequentially included in the file names from the larger
numerical value, said included numerical values or numerical values
to be subsequently included are stored in said counting step, and
said preset range is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value
based on said stored numerical values.
16. A method according to claim 13, wherein when the numerical
values in said counting step lie within the preset range and a file
which was previously formed does not exist in a storage device in
which the file is formed, the numerical values in the counting step
are initialized.
17. A method according to claim 13, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, the file with the file name among the files
included in the storage device serving as a target is deleted.
18. A method according to claim 14, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, the file with the file name among the files
included in the storage device serving as a target is deleted.
19. A method according to claim 15, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, the file with the file name among the files
included in the storage device serving as a target is deleted.
20. A method according to claim 13, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, a storage device serving as a target is
formatted.
21. A method according to claim 14, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, a storage device serving as a target is
formatted.
22. A method according to claim 15, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, a storage device serving as a target is
formatted.
23. A medium in which a file management method of managing
photographed image data as a file has been recorded, said method
comprising: a counting step of updating numerical values every
image recording; and a generating step of generating a file name on
the basis of the numerical values in said counting step, wherein
when said recording image data is stored as a file, even in the
case where all of image data photographed by a same image pickup
apparatus is recorded to different recording media, when the image
data is recording by the same image pickup apparatus, an individual
file name which is not overlapped is generated.
24. A medium according to claim 23, wherein when the numerical
values in said counting step lie within a preset range, a warning
and a predetermined countermeasure method are displayed.
25. A medium according to claim 24, wherein the numerical values
are sequentially included in the file names from the smaller
numerical value, said included numerical values or numerical values
to be subsequently included are stored in said counting step, and
said preset range is equal to or larger than a predetermined value
based on said stored numerical values.
26. A medium according to claim 24, wherein the numerical values
are sequentially included in the file names from the larger
numerical value, said included numerical values or numerical values
to be subsequently included are stored in said counting step, and
said preset range is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value
based on said stored numerical values.
27. A medium according to claim 24, wherein when the numerical
values in said counting step lie within the preset range and a file
which was previously generated does not exist in a storage device
in which the file is formed, the numerical values in the counting
step are initialized.
28. A medium according to claim 23, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, the file with the file name among the files
included in the storage device serving as a target is deleted.
29. A medium according to claim 24, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, the file with the file name among the files
included in the storage device serving as a target is deleted.
30. A medium according to claim 25, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, the file with the file name among the files
included in the storage device serving as a target is deleted.
31. A medium according to claim 23, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, a storage device serving as a target is
formatted.
32. A medium according to claim 24, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, a storage device serving as a target is
formatted.
33. A medium according to claim 25, wherein in said predetermined
countermeasure method, a storage device serving as a target is
formatted.
34. A file management system for managing photographed image data
as a file, comprising: a counter for updating numerical values
every image recording: file name generating means for generating a
file name on the basis of the numerical values of said counter; and
directory name generating means for generating a directory name on
the basis of a dirNo calculated by the following equation with
substitution of the numerical values of said counter,
dirNo=(counter value-1)/n where n is an integer, and round down
figures blow decimal point, wherein even in the case where all of
image data photographed by a same image pickup apparatus is
recorded to different recording media when the recording image data
is stored as a file, an individual file is not overwritten if the
image data is recorded by the same image pickup apparatus.
35. A system according to claim 34, wherein the n is 50.
36. A file managing method of managing photographed image data as a
file, comprising: a count step of updating numerical values every
image recording: a file name generating step of generating a file
name on the basis of the numerical values of said count step; and a
directory name generating step of generating a directory name on
the basis of a dirNo calculated by the following equation with
substitution of the numerical values of said count step,
dirno=(counter value-1)/n where n is an integer, and round down
figures blow decimal point, wherein even in the case where all of
image data photographed by a same image pickup apparatus is
recorded to different recording media when the recording image data
is stored as a file, an individual file is not overwritten if the
image data is recorded by the same image pickup apparatus.
37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the n is 50.
38. A medium on which a file managing method for managing
photographed image data as a file is recorded, comprising: a count
step of updating numerical values every image recording: a file
name generating step of generating a file name on the basis of the
numerical values of said count step; and a directory name
generating step of generating a directory name on the basis of a
dirNo calculated by the following equation with the numerical value
of said count step, dirNo=(counter value-1)/n where n is an
integer, and round down figures blow decimal point, wherein even in
the case where all of image data photographed by a same image
pickup apparatus is recorded to different recording media when the
recording image data is stored as a file, an individual file is not
overwritten if the image data is recorded by the same image pickup
apparatus.
39. A medium according to claim 38, wherein the n is 50.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] In an image pickup apparatus such as an electronic camera or
the like, the invention relates to a file management system of an
image pickup apparatus such that in case of storing recording image
data as a file into a storage device, even if a storage medium is
exchanged, so long as the data is recorded by the same image pickup
apparatus, a peculiar file name is automatically formed for a
recording image.
[0003] 2. Related Background Art
[0004] Hitherto, in case of recording an image onto a recording
medium by an electronic camera, although it is necessary to
allocate a name to a file of the image, a method whereby a number
to be updated every photographing operation is included in the file
name has been proposed. In such an apparatus, however, when the
recording medium is exchanged, the number included in the file name
of the image is reset. Therefore, there is a case where a plurality
of files of the same name exist.
[0005] Since a conventional file management system of image data is
constructed as mentioned above, there are the following
problems.
[0006] That is, in the case where the file name is formed as
mentioned above, when it is intended to transfer data from the
storage device of the electronic camera to a computer, there is a
possibility such that files of the same name also exist in an
auxiliary storage device of the computer. In such a case, the user
has to take a procedure such that the file existing in the
auxiliary storage device of the computer is overwritten or, since
the same file name exists, a message to instruct to change the file
name is displayed, or the like.
[0007] Although the number of file names which can be formed is
determined by the number of digits of numerical values which are
included in the file name, in case of forming a file while
sequentially including a series of numerical values, for example,
starting from 0 among numerical values of five digits into the file
name, the number of numerical values which can be used is equal to
100000 within a range from "00000" to "99999". Therefore, file
names exceeding 100000 cannot be formed. In order to avoid such a
limitation, for example, there is a method of returning the
numerical values included in the file name to the original
numerical values in a manner such that, for instance, the file name
which is formed subsequently to "IMG99999. JPG" is set to
"IMG00000. JPG". In this case, however, if the file of "IMG00000.
JPG" still exists in the storage device, the file which has
originally existed will be overwritten.
[0008] Since numerical values to be included in the file name are
determined by examining the file names of the files existing in the
recording medium to record data, in the case where the recording
medium is exchangeable, the file of the same file name is formed on
a plurality of recording media.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the invention to solve the problems as
mentioned above.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a file
management system of image data, in which a peculiar file name
which is not overlapped can be allocated so long as it is recorded
by the same image pickup apparatus, thereby making it possible to
prevent a situation that a plurality of files of the same name
exist.
[0011] A file management system of image data according to one
aspect of the invention is constructed as follows.
[0012] (1) A file management system for managing photographed image
data as files comprises a counter for updating a numerical value
every image recording and generating means for generating a file
name on the basis of the numerical value of the counter, wherein
when the recording image data is stored as a file, even in case of
recording all of the image data photographed by a same image pickup
apparatus onto different recording media, an individual file name
which is not overlapped is formed when they are recorded by the
same image pickup apparatus.
[0013] (2) In the above system of (1), when the numerical value of
the counter lies within a preset range, a warning and a
predetermined method of taking a countermeasure are displayed.
[0014] (3) In the system of (2), the numerical values are
sequentially included in the file name in accordance with the order
from the smaller numerical value, the numerical values included or
the numerical value to be next included are stored into the
counter, and a preset range is set equal to or more than a
predetermined value based on the stored numerical value.
[0015] (4) In the system of (2), the numerical values are
sequentially included in the file name in accordance with the order
from the larger numerical value, the numerical values included or
the numerical value to be next included are stored into the
counter, and the preset range is set equal to or less than a
predetermined value based on the stored numerical value.
[0016] (5) In the system of (2), when the numerical value of the
counter lies within the preset range and the file formed before
does not exist in a storage device in which the file is formed, the
numerical value of the counter is initialized.
[0017] (6) In any one of the systems of (2) to (4), the
predetermined method of taking a countermeasure is to delete the
file to which the file name was allocated among the files included
in the storage device serving as a target.
[0018] (7) In any one of the systems of (2) to (4), the
predetermined method of taking a countermeasure is to format the
storage device serving as a target.
[0019] The above and other objects and features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description and the appended claims with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an equipment
construction of an embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system construction of
the embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system construction of
an electronic camera in the embodiment;
[0023] FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are flowcharts showing the operation
when a memory card is inserted into the electronic camera;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation when data is
stored into the memory card in the electronic camera;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of an exception
process when the memory card is inserted into the electronic
camera;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of an exception
process in a host application of the electronic camera;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relation between numerical
values included in a file example and numerical values included in
a directory name in which they have been stored; and
[0028] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a structure of files which are
formed by the electronic camera in the embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an equipment construction of an
embodiment of the invention and shows a constructional example of a
personal computer system including an electronic camera (image
pickup apparatus) as a platform.
[0030] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a
computer; 2 a display for displaying data; 3 a mouse serving as a
typical pointing device; 4 a mouse button; 5 a keyboard for
inputting and outputting; and 6 an interface for connecting an
electronic camera 7 to the computer. A general interface such as
bidirectional parallel interface, SCSI interface, or the like which
can transmit an image at a high speed is used as an interface
6.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a construction of a file
management system including software and hardware according to the
embodiment. In the diagram, reference numeral 19 denotes hardware;
15 an operating system (hereinafter, abbreviated to "OS") which
operates on the hardware 19; and 14 application software which
operates on the OS 15.
[0032] Blocks which are not directly necessary when explaining the
embodiment although they are obviously included as component
requirements among the blocks constructing the hardware 19 and OS
15 are not shown. As examples of the blocks which are not shown,
there are a CPU and a memory as hardware and a memory management
system and the like as OSs.
[0033] In FIG. 2, reference numeral 25 denotes a hard disk to
physically store a file or data, and 18 indicates a file system
constructing the OS 15 and having a function for enabling the
application software 14 to input and output the file without being
aware of the hardware 19.
[0034] Reference numeral 24 denotes a disk IO interface for
allowing the file system 18 to perform the reading and writing
operations of the hard disk 25, and 17 indicates a drawing
management system constructing the OS 15 and having a function for
enabling the application software 14 to draw without being aware of
the hardware 19.
[0035] Reference numeral 23 denotes a video interface for allowing
the drawing management system 17 to draw onto a display, and 16
indicates an input device management system constructing the OS 15
and having a function for enabling the application software 14 to
receive an input of the user without being aware of the hardware
19.
[0036] Reference numeral 20 denotes a keyboard interface for
allowing the input device management system 16 to receive an input
of the keyboard 5, and 22 indicates a mouse interface for enabling
the input device management system 16 to receive an input from the
mouse 3.
[0037] The electronic camera 7 is connected to a bidirectional
interface 26, an SCSI interface, or the like and can transmit and
receive image data or the like through the input device management
system 16.
[0038] Reference numeral 11 denotes an electronic camera host
application; 12 a data management unit for managing the image data
by attribute information or by a keyword or the like which is
inputted by the user; and 13 a data display unit for displaying the
managed image data.
[0039] In the system, the image data from the electronic camera 7
is transferred to a computer or the transferred image data is
registered into the image data management system 11 by the
electronic camera host application 11.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system construction of
the electronic camera 7. Blocks which are not directly necessary
when explaining the embodiment although they are obviously included
in the component requirements are not shown.
[0041] In FIG. 3, an image pickup unit 31 includes a lens and a CCD
and generates a photographed image as image data (JPG data). The
image pickup unit 31 also simultaneously forms thumbnail image data
as a reduction image of the photographed image.
[0042] In the electronic camera 7 in the system, not only the image
is photographed but also an audio sound can be recorded and is
outputted as recording data (WAVE data) by a recording unit 32. An
auxiliary storage device 33 is used to store data from the image
pickup unit 31 and recording unit 32 as a file. In this system, a
memory card corresponding to PCMCIA as a detachable recording
medium is used as an auxiliary storage device 33.
[0043] Reference numeral 34 denotes an interface when connecting
the electronic camera 7 and the computer. The interface 34 is
connected to the bidirectional parallel/SCSI interface 26 in FIG.
2. A general interface such as bidirectional parallel interface,
SCSI interface, or the like is used as an interface 34 in a manner
similar to the interface 26.
[0044] Reference numeral 35 denotes a control unit constructing
file name forming means. The control unit 35 controls the operation
of the whole electronic camera. Reference numeral 36 denotes a file
number threshold memory for holding the maximum value of the normal
values among the numerical values included in the file. In this
system, when numerical values exceeding this numerical value are
included in the file name, some exception process is executed,
thereby preventing the overlapped file name from being formed after
the numerical values were circulated once.
[0045] Reference numeral 37 denotes a current file number counter
serving as a nonvolatile memory to hold the numerical values
included in the file name that is subsequently formed. An initial
value (which is set at the time of shipping of the electronic
camera 7 from a factory) of the current file number is equal to 1.
Therefore, even if the on/off operation of a power source of the
electronic camera 7, an exchange of the memory card, or the like is
executed, the file name which is generated by one electronic camera
7 in a lifetime is fundamentally unique and peculiar name which is
not overlapped.
[0046] A rule of naming a file name and a directory name in the
system will now be described.
[0047] In the system of the embodiment, in order to automatically
form the unique file name, numerical values of five digits are
included in a part of the file name. In this instance, it is
assumed that the numerical values to be included are fundamentally
sequentially increased from 1 each time the file is formed. When
the numerical values which are formed are equal to or larger than
the values stored in the file number threshold memory 36, the
exception process is executed.
[0048] In the embodiment, the numerical values of 99900 have been
stored in the file number threshold memory 36. The numerical values
of 99900 are numerical values for providing an allowance of up to
99999 as a maximum value of decimal number of five digits and are
not limited to them. For example, there is no problem in case of
99000. By setting the file number threshold value with a certain
allowance, even if the file name including the numerical values
exceeding this threshold value is formed, a situation that an
inconvenience immediately occur can be avoided.
[0049] The files are classified into subdirectories every
predetermined number of files in accordance with the numerical
values included in the file name. The file name of the subdirectory
is also automatically formed and stored into the storage
device.
[0050] In the system, the subdirectory to store the files formed by
the electronic camera 7 starts from "CTG" like "CTG10100" and
subsequently has a file name of eight characters comprising decimal
number of five digits. Explanation will now be made on the
assumption that the decimal number of five digits is set to the
directory number and the directory for storage is set to a CTG
directory.
[0051] The CTG directory is arranged under a "DC" subdirectory
under the route directory in the auxiliary storage device 33.
[0052] A name of the file of image and audio data which is formed
by the electronic camera 7 is constructed by a file name of eight
characters and an extension of three characters. In the system,
alphanumerical characters of three characters from the head of the
file name to store the image data are fixedly set to "AUT".
Similarly, head three characters of the file name of the thumbnail
image are fixedly set to "THM" and three characters from the head
of the file name of the audio data are fixedly set to "SND".
[0053] For example, in case of the image data, the file name is
"AUT10100. JPG". In case of the thumbnail data, the file name is
"THM10100. JPG". In case of the audio data, the file name is
"SND10100. WAV". As mentioned above, each file name is expressed by
three characters, the decimal number of five digits, and the
extension of three characters. In the following description, the
decimal number of five digits is set to the file number.
[0054] In this system, the image files or audio files having the
same file number are treated as a group of data and are set to an
object. That is, the file names of the same file number are
included in one object. For example, the file name of the thumbnail
image data for the image data of the file name "AUT10100. JPG" is
"THM10100. JPG". When there is audio data, its file name is
"SND10100. WAV". Those three files construct one object. In the
system of the embodiment, each time one object is formed, the value
of the current file number counter 37 is increased by 1.
[0055] In the system, in order to handle the object as one data
unit, in case of deleting data, it is performed on an object unit
basis. In case of deleting the object from the camera 7 or the host
application of the computer, if there is an attribute of protect
(or ReadOnly) even in one of the files included in the object, such
an object cannot be deleted.
[0056] In the system, the number (kNumObjInDir) of objects included
in one CTG directory has been predetermined. Further, a directory
number (dirNo) of the CTG directory in which the object in which
the file having a certain file number (fileNo) is included exists
is determined by an equation (A) in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 shows a
constructional example of directories and files formed by the
camera 7 in accordance with this rule.
[0057] A forming method of the file name and a deciding method and
a forming method of the CTG directory to store the file name in the
system of the embodiment will now be described.
[0058] In the system, MS-DOS of Microsoft Co., Ltd. is used as a
disk operating system to manage the file structure of the memory
card serving as a storage device of the electronic camera 7.
[0059] Processes which are executed when the memory card serving as
a storage medium is inserted into the electronic camera 7 or when
the power source of the electronic camera 7 is turned on will now
be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS. 4A and 4B.
[0060] First, a check is made in step S1 to see if the card
inserted into the electronic card 7 is normal. If it is not normal,
in order to notify the user of such a fact, a warning message is
displayed in step S18 and the processing routine is finished. The
card which is not normal indicates a card such that the electronic
camera 7 cannot read the contents of the card or the like. In case
of the normal card, step S2 follows.
[0061] In step S2, the file structure in the memory area of the
card is examined and a check is made to see if the file of the file
name "DC" exists in the route directory. If the file of such a file
name exists, since the directory of the same name cannot be formed,
step S18 follows and a message to notify the user of the reason is
displayed on a display apparatus and the processes are finished.
When the file of the name "DC" does not exist in the route
directory, step S3 follows.
[0062] In step S3, a check is made to see if the directory of the
name "DC" exists in the route directory. In the system, data such
as image data or audio data which is generated by the electronic
camera is stored in the directory of the name "DC" as a
subdirectory of the route directory. Such a directory is called a
DC directory in the following description.
[0063] When the DC directory does not exist, step S17 follows and a
DC directory is formed. After that, the processing routine advances
to step S19. When the DC directory exists, step S4 follows.
[0064] In step S4, the contents in the DC directory are examined.
When a space CTG directory exists, it is deleted. The space CTG
directory denotes a directory in which none of the file and
directory exists therein.
[0065] In step S5, a check is made to see if the CTG directory
exists in the DC directory. If it does not exist, step S19
follows.
[0066] Step S19 relates to a process which is executed when the CTG
directory does not exist as a subdirectory of the DC directory.
That is, it is a process which is executed in the case where the
card just after it was formatted by the camera 7 or the host
application or the camera which was all erased (Erase All) is
inserted into the electronic camera 7.
[0067] The current file number which is stored into the current
file number counter 37 of the electronic camera 7 is compared with
the file number threshold value recorded in the file number
threshold memory 36. When the current file number exceeds the file
number threshold value, a process in step S20 is executed in order
to perform an exception process (1), which will be explained
hereinlater. After that, the processing routine advances to step
S21 and the CTG directory in which the current directory number is
set to the directory number is formed. The processes are
finished.
[0068] The current directory number is obtained by substituting the
current file number for the file number of the equation (A) in FIG.
8. Even in the following description, the current directory number
indicates the directory number which is obtained by substituting
the current file number at that time point for the equation (A) in
FIG. 8.
[0069] In step S5, when one or more CTG directories exist in the DC
directory, the processing routine advances to step S6.
[0070] In step S6, a directory entry starting from "CTG" is
searched from the directory entries in the DC directory. The
directory entry having the maximum directory number is obtained
from them and such a value is stored into a maximum directory
number dirNoFound as a variable.
[0071] In step S7, a check is made to see if something having the
name corresponding to the maximum directory number dirNoFound
obtained in step S6 is a file or a directory. In case of the
directory, step S12 follows. In case of the file, step S8 follows
and the value of the maximum directory number dirNoFound is
increased by 1. Subsequently, a check is made in step S9 to see if
the resultant value exceeds the upper limit directory number.
[0072] The upper limit directory number is obtained by substituting
99999 as an upper limit among possible values as a file number for
the file number fileNo in the equation (A) in FIG. 8. If the
maximum directory number dirNoFound is larger than this value, an
error message is displayed in step S18 and the processes are
finished. If it is not larger, the processing routine advances to
step S10.
[0073] In step S10, a check is made to see if the CTG directory in
which the maximum directory number dirNoFound obtained in step S8
is set to the directory number exists. When it does not exist, a
CTG directory is formed in step S11.
[0074] In step S12, a check is made to see if the current directory
number currDirNo is larger than the maximum directory number
dirNoFound by comparing them. When it is larger, a CTG directory in
which the current directory number is set to the directory number
is formed in step S23. When it is smaller, the processing routine
advances to step S13.
[0075] In step S13, the contents in the directory in which the
maximum directory number dirNoFound is equal to the directory
number are examined. A file having the maximum file number among
the files included in the directory is obtained and stored into the
maximum file number fileNoFound. In this instance, when the file
does not exist in the directory, the minimum value among the
possible values which can be set into the file number fileNo when
the directory number dirNoFound in an equation (B) in FIG. 8 is
substituted is set.
[0076] In step S14, the maximum file number obtained in step S13 is
compared with the current file number. When the current file number
is larger, step S15 follows. If NO, the processing routine advances
to step S16.
[0077] In step S15, the current file number is changed to the value
obtained by adding 1 to the maximum file number. The current
directory number is updated by the equation (A) in FIG. 8 on the
basis of the resultant value.
[0078] In step S16, a check is made to see if a CTG directory in
which the current directory number is set to the directory number
exists. When it exists, the processes are finished. When it does
not exist, a CTG directory corresponding to the current directory
number is formed in step S21 and the processing routine is
finished.
[0079] By the above processes, the setting of the CTG directory to
store the data which is generated by the camera when the card is
inserted into the system and the setting of the current file number
included in the file name to be subsequently formed are
executed.
[0080] When the formatted card or the EraseAll card is inserted, if
the current file number is larger than the file number threshold
value, the current file number is initialized to 1. In this case,
since no object ought to certainly exist in the memory card, a
situation such that the new data is stored by the same file name as
the file which has originally existed and the inherent data which
has originally existed is lost is prevented.
[0081] A case of storing the data generated by the camera 7 into
the card will now be described with reference to a flowchart shown
in FIG. 5.
[0082] First, in step S31, data to be recorded is stored as a file
into the storage device. The file number at this time is a current
file number and the directory number of the CTG directory in which
the file is stored is obtained from the current file number by the
equation (A) in FIG. 8.
[0083] In step S32, the current file number is increased by 1 and
the current directory number is obtained on the basis of the
resultant value.
[0084] In step S33, a check is made to see if the directory
corresponding to the current directory number exists in the DC
directory. When it has already existed, the processing routine is
finished. When it does not exist, in step S34, a directory in which
the directory number is set to the current directory number is
formed and the processes are finished.
[0085] The above exception process will now be described. In the
system, by storing the current file number into the camera 7, the
file name which is generated by one camera is made unique. As
mentioned above, however, since the file name is made up of the
file number comprising alphanumerical characters of three
characters and the decimal number of five digits and the extension
of three characters like "AUT10100. JPG", the last (maximum) values
which can be used as a file number are equal to 99999.
[0086] Hitherto, when the current file number exceeds such a value,
the camera displays an error and does not operate or simply
initializes the file number to 0 and newly forms a file
irrespective of a fact that the file of the file number 0 exists.
In the embodiment, therefore, the following processes are executed
as exception processes so as to prevent the camera from entering
such a situation.
[0087] (1) First, in the case where the current file number stored
in the camera 7 is equal to or larger than 99999 as a file number
threshold value and no CTG directory exists in the card, the value
of the current file number is initialized to 1.
[0088] (2) When the card having the file whose file number is equal
to or larger than 99900 is found in the host application, all of
the files are transferred from the card to the computer and, after
that, a message to promote the user to delete all of the CTG
directories by a card formatting process or the like is
displayed.
[0089] The above first exception process (1) is executed when the
card is inserted or when the power source of the electronic camera
is turned on with the card inserted. This process is executed when
the current file number exceeds the preset file number threshold
value (99900) in the camera. If the CTG directory does not exist in
the card, the current file number is initialized in the camera sole
body. This process corresponds to the process in step S20 in FIG.
4B.
[0090] The second exception process (2) is executed when the
computer intends to read the card. When the file in which a value
that is equal to or larger than the file number threshold value set
in the camera 7 is set to the file number exists, a warning message
is displayed, thereby promoting the user to delete all of the CTG
directories in the card. After that, when the card is again
inserted into the camera or the power source is again turned on,
the exception process (1) in step S20 in the flowchart described in
FIG. 4B is executed and the current file number is reset to 1.
[0091] By the above operation, even if the file number is
overlapped and formed, a situation that the data is lost by
overwriting the file can be avoided.
[0092] The operation of the above exception process will now be
described with reference to a flowchart.
[0093] FIG. 6 shows the operation of the first exception process
(1) which is executed by the electronic camera 7 and corresponds to
the process in step S20 in FIG. 4B.
[0094] First, the card inserted in the camera 7 is examined in step
S41 to see if the CTG directory exists. If it does not exist, the
current file number is reset to 1 in step S42.
[0095] FIG. 7 shows the operation of the second exception process
(2) which is executed when the camera 7 is connected to the
computer. This process is executed by the host application.
[0096] First in step S51, a check is made to see if a CTG directory
storing the file whose file number is equal to or larger than the
file number threshold value exists. The file number threshold value
is obtained from the camera 7. The directory number of the CTG
directory to be examined here is obtained by substituting the file
number threshold value for the file number in the equation (A) in
FIG. 8. When it does not exist, the exception process (2) is
finished. When it exists, the processing routine advances to step
S52.
[0097] Step S52 is a process which is executed when the current
file number exceeds the file number threshold value. In this case,
a warning message and a message showing a method of taking a
countermeasure are displayed to the user.
[0098] By the above two exception processes, by setting the file
number threshold value to a value smaller than the maximum value
among the possible values as a file number so as to have an
allowance, if the file having the file number exceeding the file
number threshold value exists, the warning message and the method
of taking the countermeasure are shown by the host application.
Since the file number threshold value is smaller than the possible
values of the file number, even in a situation such that the file
number has to exceed the file number threshold value, the camera 7
can be used for a little while (until the file number is equal to
the maximum value among the possible values) without any
inconvenience.
[0099] In the system of the embodiment as mentioned above, by
holding the numerical values into the nonvolatile counter to store
the numerical values which are included into the name of the file
that is formed by the electronic camera 7, the file name which is
generated by one camera 7 becomes unique in its lifetime. When the
numerical values are circulated once and are initialized, even in
the case where the value of the counter is unavoidably initialized
and the same file name has to be formed, a data loss which is
caused by overwriting and storing into the file which originally
has existed by the same name can be prevented.
[0100] Although, in the above-described embodiment, a warning is
given when the file number exceeds the upper limit of the file
number, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. It
may be also possible to monitor whether the directory number
exceeds an upper limit value thereof. As an example of this case,
the step S19 shown in FIG. 4B may be changed to a step S19" shown
in FIG. 4C to monitor whether the current directory number exceeds
99900 or not. In this connection, the directory threshold value
99900 may be stored in a nonvolatile memory of the camera.
Alternately, it may be possible that the value 4995001 obtained
from the first expression of the equation (B) in FIG. 8 with
substitution of 99900 of the directory number, is stored in the
nonvolatile memory of the camera as the file number threshold value
and then substituted into the equation (A) in FIG. 8 to calculate
the directory threshold value. In the latter case, as shown in a
step S19" of FIG. 4D, the current file number, of course, can be
compared directly with the file number threshold value. In
addition, if the file number exceeds a number of five figures, the
file name may be generated based on lower file figures of that file
number. For example, a file whose file number is 110010, is
AUT10010.JPG, THM10010.JPG, SDN10010.WAV, and its directory is
YCTG02200.
[0101] According to the invention as described above, in the system
such that the file names are sequentially formed by, for instance,
including the numerical values in the ascending or descending order
into the file names, by preparing the counter to hold the numerical
values to be included in the file names, even if the power source
of the image pickup apparatus is turned on/off or the recording
medium is exchanged, so long as the image data is recorded by the
same image pickup apparatus, the peculiar file name which is not
overlapped can be formed for the recording image data and a
situation such that a plurality of files of the same name exist can
be prevented.
[0102] By displaying a warning message and a method of taking a
countermeasure as an exception process when the value of the
counter lies within a certain range, even in the case where the
numerical values are circulated once and the same file name is
formed, a situation such that the file is overwritten and the data
is deleted can be prevented.
[0103] Further, by classifying the files into appropriate
directories and storing the classified files, time required by the
file system to search the existing files to determine a new file
name can be shortened. For example, when the kNumObjInDir described
in the embodiment is predetermined as 50, the number of files
stored in one directory is 150 at the maximum. Specifically, when a
1000-th image is recorded by searching the file names of the other
recorded images to detect whether the same file name exists or not,
only directory entry for 20 directories and 147 files at the
maximum has to be searched compared with when 1000 images are
stored in one directory. Therefore, time required to determine the
new file name can be reduced to less than one-fifth. This search
can be executed by a CPU of 80C86 8 MHz within one second and thus
is of enough practical use. In addition, by setting the
kNumObjInDir as 50, relationship between the directory number and
the file number can be easily calculated by a person and thus
easily recognized by him.
[0104] Many widely different embodiments of the present invention
may be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention. It should be understood that the present
invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in
the specification, except as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *