U.S. patent application number 11/447158 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-14 for image storing apparatus, control method for image storing apparatus, and control program for image storing apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Akihiro Yoshitani.
Application Number | 20060280074 11/447158 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37523996 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060280074 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yoshitani; Akihiro |
December 14, 2006 |
Image storing apparatus, control method for image storing
apparatus, and control program for image storing apparatus
Abstract
In an image storing apparatus (photostorage), files are enabled
to be certainly copied (or moved) without overlapping by the fairly
simple operation. When image data is read out of a recording medium
connected through a slot and stored into a high capacity storage
unit, a management table in which a unique ID of the recording
medium and the maximum value of file IDs of image files stored in
the recording medium have been associated is used and the image
files having the file IDs larger than the maximum value of the file
IDs corresponding to the unique ID of the recording medium in the
management table are read out and stored into the high capacity
storage unit. The file ID is formed by combining a directory number
and a file number in the DCF standard.
Inventors: |
Yoshitani; Akihiro;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITZPATRICK CELLA HARPER & SCINTO
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK
NY
10112
US
|
Assignee: |
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
37523996 |
Appl. No.: |
11/447158 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
369/47.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00148 20130101;
H04N 1/2175 20130101; H04N 2201/0084 20130101; H04N 2201/0087
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
369/047.12 |
International
Class: |
G11B 20/10 20060101
G11B020/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 9, 2005 |
JP |
2005-168954 |
Claims
1. An image storing apparatus comprising: a high capacity storage
unit; interface means adapted to connect a recording medium or an
external apparatus in which image data has been stored; a
management table in which a unique ID of said recording medium or
said external apparatus and a maximum value of file IDs of image
files stored in the recording medium or the external apparatus are
held in association with each other; and control means adapted to
control in such a manner that when the image data is read out of
the recording medium or the external apparatus through said
interface means and stored into said high capacity storage unit,
the image files having the file IDs larger than the maximum value
of the file IDs corresponding to the unique ID of the recording
medium or the external apparatus in said management table are read
out and stored into said high capacity storage unit.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said file ID is
formed by combining a directory number and a file number in a DCF
standard.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unique ID of said
recording medium or a serial number or an apparatus unique address
of said external apparatus is used as said unique ID.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a unique value X is
formed every said recording medium, the file including said value X
is written into the recording medium, and when the recording medium
is mounted into the storing apparatus at the next or subsequent
time, said file is read, the value X is obtained, and said value X
is used as said unique ID of the recording medium.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said recording
medium or said external apparatus which does not have the unique ID
in said management table is connected to said interface means, an
entry in which the unique ID of the recording medium or the
external apparatus and the maximum value of the file IDs of the
image files stored in the recording medium or the external
apparatus have been associated is newly formed in said management
table.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the case where
said recording medium or said external apparatus which has the
unique ID in said management table is connected to said interface
means, when the image data is read out of the recording medium or
the external apparatus and stored into said high capacity storage
unit, an entry in which the maximum value of the file IDs of the
image files stored in the recording medium or the external
apparatus has been associated and which has been stored in said
management table in correspondence to the unique ID of the
recording medium or the external apparatus is updated.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image data
is read out of the recording medium or the external apparatus and
stored into said high capacity storage unit, the file read out of
the recording medium is recorded into a directory which has a name
including the unique ID of the recording medium or the external
apparatus and which has been formed in the high capacity storage
unit.
8. A control method for an image storing apparatus which has a high
capacity storage unit and interface means adapted to connect a
recording medium or an external apparatus in which image data has
been stored, reads out the image data from the recording medium or
the external apparatus through said interface means, and stores
said image data into said high capacity storage unit, wherein a
management table in which a unique ID of said recording medium or
said external apparatus and a maximum value of file IDs of image
files stored in the recording medium or the external apparatus are
held in association with each other is used, and when the image
data is read out of the recording medium or the external apparatus
through said interface means and stored into said high capacity
storage unit, the image files having the file IDs larger than the
maximum value of the file IDs corresponding to the unique ID of the
recording medium or the external apparatus in said management table
are read out and stored into said high capacity storage unit.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said file ID is formed by
combining a directory number and a file number in a DCF
standard.
10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the unique ID of said
recording medium or a serial number or an apparatus unique address
of said external apparatus is used as said unique ID.
11. A method according to claim 8, wherein a unique value X is
formed every said recording medium, the file including said value X
is written into the recording medium, and when the recording medium
is mounted into the storing apparatus at the next or subsequent
time, said file is read, the value X is obtained, and said value X
is used as said unique ID of the recording medium.
12. A method according to claim 8, wherein when said recording
medium or said external apparatus which does not have the unique ID
in said management table is connected to said interface means, an
entry in which the unique ID of the recording medium or the
external apparatus and the maximum value of the file IDs of the
image files stored in the recording medium or the external
apparatus have been associated is newly formed in said management
table.
13. A method according to claim 8, wherein in the case where said
recording medium or said external apparatus which has the unique ID
in said management table is connected to said interface means, when
the image data is read out of the recording medium or the external
apparatus and stored into said high capacity storage unit, an entry
in which the maximum value of the file IDs of the image files
stored in the recording medium or the external apparatus has been
associated and which has been stored in said management table in
correspondence to the unique ID of the recording medium or the
external apparatus is updated.
14. A method according to claim 8, wherein when the image data is
read out of the recording medium or the external apparatus and
stored into said high capacity storage unit, the file read out of
the recording medium is recorded into a directory which has a name
including the unique ID of the recording medium or the external
apparatus and which has been formed in the high capacity storage
unit.
15. A control program for an image storing apparatus, wherein
members constructing said image storing apparatus are controlled so
as to embody a control method for the image storing apparatus
according to claim 8.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an image storing apparatus for
reading out image data from a recording medium or an external
apparatus and storing it into a high capacity storage unit, a
control method for such an apparatus, and a control program for
such an apparatus.
[0003] 2. Related Background Art
[0004] In many cases, photo image data formed by photographing an
object by a digital camera is temporarily stored into a recording
medium such as a compact flash (registered trademark (hereinbelow,
omitted)) mounted in the digital camera. Since a capacity of the
recording medium is not so large, generally, the photo image data
in the recording medium is copied into a hard disk or the like of a
PC (personal computer) or is read out of the hard disk and copied
into a CD-R or a DVD-R, thereby accumulating/storing the data. That
is, in most cases, the recording medium is used only as a temporary
recording location of the photo image data.
[0005] In recent years, a product called a "photostorage" having a
high capacity storage unit such as a hard disk device and a slot of
the recording medium has been proposed (for example, refer to
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-184324).
[0006] Such a type of photostorage has a function of automatically
copying files in the recording medium into the hard disk device
when the recording medium in which the photo image data has been
stored is mounted into the slot, and can accumulate/store a large
amount of photo image data without using the PC.
[0007] Such a function of the photostorage can be embodied by
constructing it as a stand-alone product, by constructing it by PC
hardware having the high capacity storage unit and software, or by
constructing it by a printer which can perform direct printing, a
multifunction (or hybrid) image processing apparatus in which a
printing function, a communicating function, and the like are
integrated, or the like so long as the high capacity storage unit
is provided for such an apparatus.
[0008] According to the photostorage as disclosed in Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-184324, when the recording
medium is mounted, the following operation is executed.
[0009] (1) After all of the files in the recording medium were
copied into the built-in hard disk, all of the files in the
recording medium are deleted.
[0010] Or, according to other photostorages which are commercially
available at present, similarly, when the recording medium is
mounted, the following operation is executed.
[0011] (2) Although all of the files in the recording medium are
copied into the built-in hard disk, all of the files in the
recording medium are left.
[0012] In the above construction (1) in the related art, there is
an inconvenience in the case where even after the data in the card
was copied into the photostorage, the user wants to leave the data
in the card (in the case where the data is copied into the PC and
used later, or the like).
[0013] In the above construction (2) or (1) in the related art,
similarly, there is a possibility that the same image file is
written into the photostorage many times in dependence on a using
method of the user, there is also such a problem that the storage
capacity of the photostorage is restricted more than it is needed
or an overlap amount of the same file increases and it is
troublesome to rearrange them later.
[0014] To avoid such a problem, a managing operation in which the
user discriminates a file name or contents and selects files to be
copied (or moved) while deciding whether or not the image files are
copied (or moved) is necessary. Such a managing operation is not
impossible in the construction using the PC and the software.
However, in the case of the stand-alone type apparatus, the
printer, the multifunction image processing apparatus, or the like,
generally, the hardware (display, operation input means) enough to
embody such a user interface as to browse the contents of the
medium or select the files is not provided. Therefore, it is
actually impossible to realize such a managing operation.
[0015] Even if such a managing operation can be performed, the
operation to copy (or move) the files without overlapping is not so
easy but it takes a time and is troublesome for the user. Ideally,
there is demanded such a construction that the medium in which the
image files have been stored is connected to the slot of the
photostorage (or the digital camera or the like is connected to a
USB port of the photostorage), and the files can be certainly
copied (or moved) without overlapping only by the operation (for
example, one specific button is pressed) which can be easily
executed even by the user interface of the stand-alone type
apparatus, the printer, the multifunction image processing
apparatus, or the like without needing any other operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] It is an object of the invention to enable files to be
certainly copied (or moved) without overlapping by a fairly simple
operation in an image storing apparatus (photostorage) in
consideration of the above problems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a fundamental construction
of an image storing apparatus to which the invention is
applied;
[0018] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a construction of a
management table (ID table) of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing image data storing control in
the apparatus of FIG. 1; and
[0020] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a construction of a
file system formed on a recording medium in accordance with the DCF
standard.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] An embodiment regarding an image storing apparatus
(photostorage) to which the invention is applied will be described
in detail hereinbelow with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a construction of the image storing apparatus
(photostorage) to which the invention is applied. The construction
of FIG. 1 is common not only to the stand-alone type photostorage
but also to the case of constructing the photostorage by the PC
hardware and software or the case of mounting the photostorage in
the printer which can perform the direct printing, the
multifunction image processing apparatus in which the printing
function, the communicating function, and the like are integrated,
or the like.
[0023] In the diagram, reference numeral 1 denotes a high capacity
storage unit to store image data. The high capacity storage unit 1
is constructed by a hard disk device or the like.
[0024] Reference numeral 2 denotes a CPU for integratedly
controlling a whole system. The CPU 2 controls the photostorage
operation in accordance with software which has been stored in a
ROM 7 (or the high capacity storage unit 1) and which will be
explained hereinafter. In this instance, a RAM 8 is used as a work
area. Management data or the like necessary for controlling the
apparatus is stored in an EEPROM 9 even in the OFF state of a power
source of the apparatus.
[0025] A management table (FIG. 2) to control the photostorage
operation as will be explained hereinafter is used in the
embodiment. This management table is stored in the high capacity
storage unit 1 (or EEPROM 9) or the like.
[0026] Reference numeral 3 denotes a recording medium such as
compact flash (CF) card, SD card, or the like which can record the
image data. This recording medium is a general medium and can be
used in common with digital cameras (for example, products made by
other companies) unrelated to the present apparatus. The recording
medium 3 can be also replaced by an external apparatus (digital
camera, PC, or the like) in which the image data has been stored as
will be explained hereinafter.
[0027] Reference numeral 4 denotes a slot adapted to mount the
recording medium 3. The CPU 2 can write and read digital data
into/from the recording medium 3. Although a denomination "slot" is
used hereinbelow with respect to the member shown by reference
numeral 4 for convenience of explanation, the member shown by
reference numeral 4 can be also replaced by arbitrary interface
means such as a USB port or the like to which the recording medium
or external apparatus in which the image data has been stored can
be connected.
[0028] Reference numerals 5 and 6 denote means constructing a user
interface. That is, reference numeral 5 denotes a display unit
which can display bit map image data and reference numeral 6
denotes an operation unit which is used for the user to operate the
present apparatus by using a cursor key or the like.
[0029] The blocks shown by reference numerals 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 are
mutually connected by a system bus of the apparatus.
[0030] Prior to explaining the operation of the image storing
apparatus having the foregoing construction, particularly, the
control which is made by the CPU 2, the DCF standard specifying a
file naming rule and the like when the digital camera records the
photo image data into the recording medium will be first
described.
[0031] At present, in most of the digital cameras, when an image
file is written into the recording medium, a file name and a
directory name are added to the image file and the resultant image
file is stored in accordance with the DCF (Design-rule for Camera
File system) standard specified by Japanese Electronic Industry
Development Association (JEIDA).
[0032] FIG. 4 shows an example of a structure in the medium in
which image files have been recorded by a recording apparatus
(writer) such as a digital camera or the like on the basis of the
DCF standard. Reference numerals 41 and 42 denote directories
(folders). That is, reference numeral 41 denotes the still image
recording directory specified by the DCF. The directories 42 as
other layers can be stored under the directory 41. In this
instance, the two directories of directory names "100PHOTO" and
"200PHOTO" are formed and image files 43 of an Exif(JPEG) format
are stored under each directory 42.
[0033] In the DCF standard, each image file is managed by the
directory name including numerals (directory number) of three
digits and a file name including numerals (file number) of four
digits. Between them, ordinarily, the directory number is embedded
in the head of the directory name like "100PHOTO" or "200PHOTO" in
FIG. 4 and the file number is embedded in the position of four
digits just before a JPG extension like "ABCD0001.JPG",
"MXPD4432.JPG", or the like (all of them are shown by the decimal
notation).
[0034] According to the DCF standard, the image file can be managed
by the numerals of the total of seven digits. In the invention, the
decimal number of seven digits constructed by combining the
directory number as upper digits and the file number as lower
digits is assumed to be a "file ID" and used as data which
specifies the file, thereby making it possible to prevent the
overlap copy (or movement) in the management table with the simple
construction.
[0035] That is, in the DCF standard, it is specified that when the
image data is recorded into the same recording medium, the 7-digit
number has to be formed by a monotone increase without the overlap.
For example, in the digital camera corresponding to the DCF
standard, when the file in which the numerical value of the file ID
is the largest among the files in the mounted recording medium is
assumed to be
[0036] DCIM201PHOTOTEST1092.JPG
since the file ID of this file is equal to 2011092, when this
digital camera writes a new image file into this recording medium,
the file ID has to be equal to or larger than 2011093.
[0037] That is, the directory number of the directory in which the
file is written has to be equal to or larger than 201 and the file
number of this file has to be equal to or larger than 1093
(however, the number of the ID may be skipped).
[0038] Since this rule is also protected when the same recording
medium is often used by a plurality of digital cameras, so long as
the same recording medium is continuously used, the file ID of the
image file which is newly written monotonously increases without
overlapping.
[0039] When the photo image data is copied from the recording
medium into the image storing apparatus, the maximum value of the
file IDs (=file IDs of the latest photo image data at that point of
time) is stored in the image storing apparatus every recording
medium with respect to the copied file, so that when the recording
medium in which the new photo image data has been recorded is
mounted to the image storing apparatus at the next time, only the
files having the file IDs larger than such a file ID to the targets
is set to be copied (moved) to the image storing apparatus.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the same image data from being
copied (moved) to the image storing apparatus.
[0040] As recording media which are used in the digital cameras,
there are various kinds of media such as smart media, compact
flash, SD card, and the like. Among them, with respect to the
medium such as an SD card which is widely used, a unique ID exists
every medium. Inherently, the unique ID is used to prevent the copy
of the data with a copyright by encrypting the data by using the
unique ID as a key (for example, refer to Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open 2001-155425 or the like). In the embodiment,
however, it is used merely to identify the recording medium.
[0041] In the embodiment, when the photo image data is copied to
the image storing apparatus in the embodiment from the recording
medium in which the photo image data obtained by photographing the
object by the digital camera corresponding to the DCF standard has
been recorded, the management table as shown in FIG. 2 in which the
maximum value of the file IDs (hereinafter, referred to as
MaxFileID) of the copied photo image data and the unique ID of the
recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as MediaID) are combined
is referred to. A storing destination of the management table is
assumed to be the high capacity storage unit 1, the EEPROM 9, or a
memory (not shown) in the apparatus as mentioned above. The
management table is called an ID table hereinbelow.
[0042] In the image storing apparatus of the embodiment, when the
recording medium in which the image files have been stored is
subsequently inserted, the CPU 2 checks the unique ID of the
inserted medium and searches the ID table by using the unique ID,
so that the latest file ID of the photo image data which has
previously been copied can be recognized. Therefore, in the present
copying process, such a situation that the same file as the image
data which has already been copied to the image storing apparatus
is copied so as to overlap is prevented.
[0043] FIG. 3 shows a control procedure which is executed by the
CPU 2 when the photo image data recorded in the recording medium
mounted into the slot 4 of the image storing apparatus is copied to
the high capacity storage unit 1. The procedure of FIG. 3 is stored
as a program of the CPU 2 into the ROM 7 or the high capacity
storage unit 1.
[0044] When the user mounts the recording medium of a predetermined
format in which the image files have been recorded into the slot 4
of the image storing apparatus, the CPU 2 detects the mounting of
the recording medium by an interface signal of the slot 4 (or by a
media sensor or the like if the sensor or the like of the recording
medium has been provided for the slot) (step S301).
[0045] Subsequently, the unique ID of the recording medium is read
out and its value is set into a variable readID (step S302). The
variable readID is held in a predetermined area or the like in the
RAM 8 (this is true of other variables).
[0046] Whether or not "readID" exists in a column of MediaID in the
ID table of FIG. 2 is searched. If an entry whose readID coincides
with the value of MediaID exists in the ID table, that is, if the
recording medium which was read in the past has been inserted, the
processing routine advances to step S304. If such entries do not
exist, step S306 follows (step S303).
[0047] If the recording medium which was read in the past, in other
words, the recording medium in which the entry having readID
identical to the value of MediaID exists in the ID table has been
inserted, the value of MaxFileID corresponding to the unique ID is
read out of the ID table (step S304).
[0048] The value of read-out MaxFileID is set into a variable
lastID (step S305) and the processing routine advances to step
S307.
[0049] If the recording medium which was not read in the past and
in which readID does not exist as a value of MediaID in the ID
table has been inserted, 0 is set into the variable lastID (step
S306) and the processing routine advances to step S307.
[0050] Subsequently, the mounted recording medium is searched and
all of the image files whose file IDs are larger than lastID among
the image files recorded in the recording medium are copied (or
moved) to the high capacity storage unit 1 in the image storing
apparatus (step S307).
[0051] Subsequently, the file ID of the file having the largest
file ID among the image files copied to the high capacity storage
unit 1 in step S307 is set into the variable lastID (step
S308).
[0052] A discrimination result of step S303 is checked again. If
the recording medium in which readID exists as a value of MediaID
of an arbitrary entry in the ID table, in other words, the
recording medium which was read in the past has been inserted, the
processing routine advances to step S310. If the recording medium
which was not read in the past has been inserted, the processing
routine advances to step S311 (step S309).
[0053] If the recording medium which was read in the past has been
inserted, a column of MaxFileID of the entry in which readID in the
ID table coincides with the value of MediaID is rewritten to the
value of lastID (step S310) and the processing routine is
finished.
[0054] If the recording medium which was not read in the past has
been inserted, a new entry having the variable readID in the column
of MediaID is formed in the ID table and the value of lastID is
written into the column of MaxFileID (step S311) and the processing
routine is finished.
[0055] As mentioned above, according to the embodiment, merely by
mounting the recording medium into the image storing apparatus,
when the image file is copied from the recording medium to the
image storing apparatus, information of the maximum value of the
file IDs in which the directory number of the DCF as upper digits
and the file number as lower digits are combined is stored in
association with the unique ID of the recording medium, thereby
making it possible to prevent the same file from being copied to
the image storing apparatus a plurality of number of times so as to
overlap.
[0056] Therefore, according to the embodiment, the user can
certainly copy (move) the files without overlapping by the
extremely simple operation without needing the operation to
rearrange the overlapped image files and select the files to be
copied (moved) after the copy (or movement). Thus, such an
excellent effect that the high capacity storage unit in the image
storing apparatus can be efficiently used is obtained. Since the
user interface to execute the complicated operation is unnecessary,
the invention can be easily embodied even in the apparatus such as
stand-alone type apparatus, printer, multifunction image processing
apparatus, or the like which does not have the sufficient user
interface means.
[0057] In the embodiment, for example, such a construction that all
of the file names of the files which have been copied so far and
their identification information are recorded is not used and it is
sufficient to store only the maximum value of the file IDs each of
which is formed by the directory number and the file number of the
DCF standard in association with the unique ID of the recording
medium or the external apparatus. Therefore, it is sufficient that
the capacity of the management table is small and the process for
maintaining the management table is extremely easy.
[0058] Further, in the embodiment, each file ID can be formed by
combining the directory number and the file number in the DCF
standard which are managed so as to monotonously increase without
overlapping. Thus, the overlap copy (movement) of the files can be
prevented by the small calculation costs without needing another
overlap avoiding process.
[0059] When the recording media are different, even if they have
the same file ID, there is a possibility that the contents of the
photo image data differ. However, according to the embodiment,
since the unique ID of the recording medium and the file ID of the
file in the recording medium are associated with each other, even
when the file IDs are identical, if the unique IDs of the recording
media are different, such a file can be recognized as a different
file and copied to the high capacity storage unit 1.
[0060] A storing structure at the time when the image file is
copied to the high capacity storage unit 1 is arbitrary. For
example, if a directory (folder) having a name including the unique
ID of the recording medium is formed in the high capacity storage
unit 1 (for example, when a recording medium is newly mounted) and
the file read out of the recording medium having such a unique ID
is recorded into such a directory (folder), the image file can be
stored without being overwritten.
[0061] Although the unique ID of the recording medium exists in the
SD card or the like, it does not exist in a part of the recording
media such as a compact flash and the like, so that such a unique
ID cannot be used. In this case, when the recording medium is first
mounted in the slot of the image storing apparatus, the CPU 2 forms
a unique value by using proper random numbers in the image storing
apparatus, forms a file of a specific name including such a value
(for example, dcimmiscmediaid.txt), subsequently, reads such a
file, obtains the unique value, and regards such a value as a
unique ID of the recording medium, so that the process of
substantially the same contents as those mentioned above can be
executed.
[0062] The explanation has been made above with respect to the case
where the recording medium is the recording medium itself such as
SD card or CF card. Naturally, the above construction can be
similarly embodied even in such a construction that the recording
medium is connected to an external apparatus such as digital camera
or PC (mobile PC, PDA, notebook-sized PC, etc.), those apparatuses
are connected to the image storing apparatus through an interface
such as a USB or the like, and the recording medium operates so
that it can be handled as an external storing device from the image
storing apparatus side.
[0063] In such a case, it is not always necessary that the external
apparatus such as digital camera, PC, or the like has a detachable
recording medium. Naturally, the above construction can be
similarly embodied even in such a construction that the external
apparatus itself (or a storing device such as a hard disk or the
like) can be regarded as a recording medium which can be connected
through a proper interface such as a USB or the like.
[0064] In the case where the recording medium has been mounted in
the external apparatus or the like, it is sufficient to similarly
read out and use the unique ID of the recording medium. If a serial
number, an MAC address (unique address of the apparatus/device), or
the like of the external apparatus can be read out, those
information may be substituted for the unique ID of the recording
medium.
[0065] The invention can be used not only for the stand-alone type
photostorage but also for for various image storing apparatuses
such as various constructions each having the high capacity storage
unit and the function of fetching the image data. For example, the
invention can be used in the photostorage constructed by the PC
hardware and the software is mounted, or where the photostorage is
mounted in the printer which can perform the direct printing, the
multifunction image processing apparatus or the like in which the
printing function, the communicating function, and the like are
integrated, and the like. In addition to the method whereby the
software of the invention is stored into the ROM or hard disk in
those apparatuses and read out and supplied therefrom, the software
can be also installed or updated via a network.
[0066] According to the above constructions, the control is made so
that the image files having the file IDs lager than the maximum
value of the file IDs corresponding to the unique ID of the
recording medium or external apparatus in the management table are
read out and stored into the high capacity storage unit. Therefore,
the user can certainly copy (move) the files without the overlap by
the extremely simple operation without needing the operation to
rearrange the overlapped image files and select the files to be
copied (moved) after the copy (or movement). Thus, such an
excellent effect that the high capacity storage unit in the image
storing apparatus can be efficiently used is obtained. Since the
user interface to execute the complicated operation is unnecessary,
the invention can be easily embodied even in the apparatus such as
stand-alone type apparatus, printer, multifunction image processing
apparatus, or the like which does not have the sufficient user
interface means. Since it is sufficient to store only the maximum
value of the file IDs in association with the unique ID of the
recording medium or external apparatus, it is sufficient that the
capacity of the management table is small and the process for
maintaining the management table is also extremely easy.
[0067] Each of the file IDs can be formed by combining the
directory number and the file number in the DCF standard which are
managed so as to monotonously increase without overlapping. Thus,
the overlap copy (movement) of the files can be prevented by the
small calculation costs without needing another overlap avoiding
process.
[0068] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2005-168954 filed on Jun. 9, 2005, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
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