(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2003/0020813 A1
`Iida
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jan. 30, 2003
`
`US 2003.0020813A1
`
`(54) IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHING SYSTEM
`(75) Inventor: Takayuki Iida, Kanagawa (JP)
`Correspondence Address:
`SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
`2100 PENNSYLVANIAAVENUE, N.W.
`WASHINGTON, DC 20037 (US)
`73) AS
`: FUL PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
`(73)
`Signee
`J
`9
`(21) Appl. No.:
`10/201,925
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jul. 25, 2002
`O
`O
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(30)
`Jul. 30, 2001 (JP)...................................... 2001-22062
`U
`s
`(JP)
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl." ..................................................... H04N 5/225
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. .............. 348/207.1; 348/20799; 348/231.3
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention provides an image photographing
`System, which permits a user to easily photograph images
`d place. orders for printing. A digital Still camera is rented
`and place,
`prinung. A dig
`to the user with a prepaid card affixed thereto, the prepaid
`card Serving to write the number of times into the digital Still
`camera, and an image Saving area dedicated to the user is
`opened on an image Server connected to the Internet. After
`the user photographs images with the digital Still camera,
`image data for images, which the user Selects, is Saved in the
`image data saving area via a portable apparatus, and the
`saved images can also be browsed therewith. When the user
`places an order for printing one of the Saved images, the
`corresponding image data is Sent to a print finishing dealer,
`and a photographic print is created.
`
`
`
`
`
`12.
`---
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`CONTROL UNIT
`
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`US 2003/0020813 A1
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`
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 30, 2003 Sheet 2 of 13
`
`US 2003/0020813 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 30, 2003 Sheet 3 of 13
`
`US 2003/0020813 A1
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`Ingenico Inc. - Ex. 1003
`Page 4
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jan. 30, 2003 Sheet 4 of 13
`
`US 2003/0020813 A1
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`

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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 30, 2003 Sheet 5 of 13
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`

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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 30, 2003 Sheet 6 of 13
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`US 2003/0020813 A1
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`Ingenico Inc. - Ex. 1003
`Page 7
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jan. 30, 2003 Sheet 7 of 13
`
`US 2003/0020813 A1
`
`F. G. 4B
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`(D)
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`210,
`
`
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`(UPDATE THE REMAINING
`NUMBER OF TIMES)
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`READ CURRENT REMAINING NUMBER OF
`TIMES AND DISPLAY CODE INPUT
`SCREEN.
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`DISPLAY S CREEN FOR CONFIRMING
`22O UPDATING OF REMAINING NUMBER
`OF TIMES.
`
`(E)
`
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jan. 30, 2003 Sheet 8 of 13
`F G, 4 C
`
`US 2003/0020813 A1
`
`(B)
`(CHECK A
`PHOTOGRAPHED
`IMAGE)
`GENERATE AND TRANSFER INDEX IMAGE DATA,
`AND DISPLAY SELECTION SCREEN.
`
`232
`
`234
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`INSTRUCTION N(CHANGEOWER)
`INPUTTED?
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`GENERATE AND TRANSFER THUMB - NAIL IMAGE DATA
`OF SELECTED IMAGE AND DISPLAY IMAGE
`CHECK S CREEN.
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`ACCESS POINT DETERMINATION
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`LOG-IN PROCESSING
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`TRANSFER SELECTED IMAGE DATA.
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`24
`6
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`ACKNOWLEDGMENT
`RECEIVED
`25O
`Y
`UPDATE REMAINING NUMBER OF TIMES. 252
`DISPLAY SAWE CONFIRMATION SCREEN
`
`248
`
`Ingenico Inc. - Ex. 1003
`Page 9
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jan. 30, 2003 Sheet 9 of 13
`
`US 2003/0020813 A1
`
`F. G. 4D
`(BROWSE MY
`254
`(C SCENE FOLDER)
`ACCESS POINT
`DETERMINATION
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`258
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`LOG - IN PROCESSING
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`MAKE IMAGE BROWSING REQUEST.
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`262
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`IMAGE DATA
`RECEIVED2
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`DISPLAY IMAGE SELECTION SCREEN.
`26
`1st Ruction N(CHANGEOVER)
`4.
`INPUTTED?
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`(SELECTION)
`ENLARGE AND DISPLAY SELECTED IMAGE
`(DISPLAY BROWSE SCREEN).
`
`266
`
`N
`
`268
`
`ORDER FOR
`PRINTING 2
`27O
`Y
`PROMPT USER TO INPUT
`NECESSARY INFORMATION
`
`7
`272
`
`N
`
`INFORMATION
`INPUTTED?
`274
`Y
`TRANSFER INPUTTED NECESSARY
`INFORMATION TO IMAGE SERVER
`
`NOTIFY USER OF COMPLETION
`OF ORDER
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`
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`276
`
`278
`INQUIRE OF USER
`ABOUT ERASING
`DATA.
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`286 \DISPLAY ERASURE
`CONFIRMATION
`SCREEN.
`
`(E)
`
`Ingenico Inc. - Ex. 1003
`Page 10
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jan. 30, 2003 Sheet 10 of 13 US 2003/0020813 A1
`
`F G 5
`
`ACCESS POINT DETERMINATION
`PROCESSING
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`390
`REQUEST PORTABLE APPARATUS TO TRANSFER
`POSITIONAL INFORMATION EXPRESSING CURRENT
`POSITION.
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`DETERMINED TO BE CLOSEST
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`
`Ingenico Inc. - Ex. 1003
`Page 11
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 30, 2003 Sheet 11 of 13
`
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`Ingenico Inc. - Ex. 1003
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 30, 2003 Sheet 12 of 13
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 30, 2003 Sheet 13 of 13
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`US 2003/0020813 A1
`
`Jan. 30, 2003
`
`IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHING SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0001) 1. Field of the Invention
`0002 The present invention relates to an image photo
`graphing System, and more particularly to an image photo
`graphing and ordering method for allowing a user to pho
`tograph images and to order prints, and an image
`photographing device which can be used with the image
`photographing and ordering method.
`0003 2. Description of the Related Art
`0004 Digital still cameras, which have rapidly spread in
`recent years, are structured So that each includes an imaging
`device Such as CCD, an optical image is photographed by
`the imaging device, and that an analog image Signal obtained
`by the photographing is converted into digital image data,
`which is thereafter Stored in an information Storage medium
`Such as Smart Media card. A user can obtain a photographic
`print of high image quality by Sending a photo lab the image
`data obtained by the photographing and requesting that it
`create the photographic print. Also, the user can easily
`record the image expressed by the image data, easily on
`paper or the like by using a printer, which he/she possesses.
`0005 One way in which the digital still camera is espe
`cially Superior to a conventional camera, wherein a Silver
`halide photographic film is exposed to an image So as to
`record the image, is that the photographed image can be
`reproduced and displayed on a display unit then and there,
`thereby to check whether or not the photographing was
`Successful. It is an unavoidable fact, however, that an
`expensive LCD must be adopted as the display component
`for displaying the image, when reduction in the size of the
`digital Still camera is considered. It has accordingly been
`difficult to provide a digital Still camera, which is as inex
`pensive as a lensed film unit employing the Silver halide
`photographic film.
`0006 Incidentally, there are some digital still cameras,
`which have attained Sharp curtailment in cost by omission of
`the LCD. Since Such a digital Still camera cannot immedi
`ately reproduce and display a photographed image, however,
`the advantage of the digital Still camera is lost and thus Such
`digital still cameras do not meet the needs of most users.
`0007 Also, when the digital still camera uses a 64 MB
`Smart Media card as a recording medium, for example, as
`many as 198 images can be Saved in the recording medium
`(in a case where each of the images consists of 1280x960
`pixels and has a data amount of 312kB). Since the recording
`medium is expensive as compared with the Silver halide
`photographic film, however, an initial cost for photograph
`ing images with the digital Still camera is high.
`0008 Further, in the case where the user sends the image
`data obtained by the photographing to the photo lab and
`requests that it creates the photographic prints, a Separate
`recording medium is required in order to photograph further
`images with the digital Still camera while the photographic
`prints are being created at the photo lab. Also, the user
`requires a personal computer (PC) or a printer in order to
`record the photographed images on paper or the like.
`0009 AS stated above, the digital still camera itself is
`expensive as are the recording media and peripheral equip
`
`ment, which are required in order to use the digital Still
`camera. These factors have been obstacles to the popular
`ization of digital Still cameras, and it has been difficult for
`digital Still cameras to meet the demands of users, Such as a
`desire to be able to readily obtain a digital Still camera and
`request printing of favorites from among the photographed
`images, as in the case of lensed film units.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0010. The present invention has been achieved in con
`sideration of the above-described circumstances, and a first
`object these of is to provide an image photographing System
`which includes an image photographing device that is highly
`functional and inexpensively available to a user.
`0011
`Further, a second object the present invention is to
`provide an image photographing and ordering method,
`which permits a user to easily photograph images and order
`prints thereof.
`0012. As means for inexpensively offering an image
`photographing device, Such as digital Still camera or digital
`Video camera, to a user, the inventor of the present invention
`has devised a System in which an image photographing
`device capable of photographing a predetermined number of
`images is lent in exchange for a rental fee paid by the user.
`In the System, the image photographing device to be lent
`ought to be made leSS costly in itself So as to lower the fee,
`which the user pays for renting the image photographing
`device. Further, a mechanism needs to be provided for easily
`preventing the user from photographing images in exceSS of
`the predetermined number without payment of an additional
`rental fee and allowing the user to photograph images in
`excess of the predetermined number Subject to payment of
`the additional rental fee.
`0013 Considering the above items, in order to accom
`plish the first object, an image photographing device in a
`first aspect is constructed comprising a photographing com
`ponent which converts an optical image into image data; a
`built-in Storage component in which the image data is
`temporarily Stored; a communication component which can
`communicate with a communication apparatus having a
`function of communicating with an image Server connected
`to a computer network; a Save control component which
`Saves the image data temporarily Stored in the Storage
`component by photographing by the photographing compo
`nent, in a predetermined image Saving area managed by the
`image Server, by means of the communication apparatus, in
`Such a way that the image data is transferred to the com
`munication apparatus through the communication compo
`nent when the image data is instructed to be Saved; and a
`management component which Stores the number of times
`written in a predetermined procedure, which updates the
`Stored number of times each time the Save control compo
`nent Saves the image data, and which forbids at least one of
`the photographing by the photographing component and the
`Save of the image data by the Save control component when
`the number of times has become a predetermined value.
`0014.
`In the first aspect, the communication component is
`disposed which can communicate with the communication
`apparatus having the function of communicating with the
`image server connected to the computer network (for
`example, the Internet or any other network). Incidentally, it
`is favorable to utilize, for example, an equipment which can
`
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`US 2003/0020813 A1
`
`Jan. 30, 2003
`
`be carried by the user and which is possessed by the user, as
`the communication apparatus (thus, the user need not pre
`pare the communication apparatus anew). Concretely, a
`portable telephone, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), wear
`able computer, or mobile computer can be applied as the
`communication apparatus. Besides, although the communi
`cation between the communication apparatus and the com
`munication component may well be wire communication, it
`should preferably be wireleSS communication Such as the
`Bluetooth when the labor of connecting a communication
`cable, etc. are considered.
`0.015
`Besides, in the first aspect, in the case where the
`instruction of Saving the image data temporarily Stored in the
`Storage component by the photographing by the photograph
`ing component has been given (by way of example, the
`aspect may be So constructed that the instruction is given by
`operating a Switch or the like disposed in the image photo
`graphing device according to the present invention, or it may
`well be So constructed that the instruction is given by
`operating a Switch or the like disposed in the communication
`apparatus, whereupon it is inputted to the image photograph
`ing device), the Save control component transfers the image
`data to the communication apparatus through the commu
`nication component, whereby the image data is Saved by the
`communication apparatus in the predetermined image Sav
`ing area which is managed by the image Server connected to
`the computer network.
`0016. In this manner, in the first aspect, the image data
`instructed to be Saved is Saved in the predetermined image
`Saving area managed by the image Server. Therefore, even in
`a case where the instruction of Saving a large amount of
`image data may possibly be given, the built-in Storage
`component need not be set at a large capacity, and it is also
`dispensed with to construct the image photographing device
`So as to be capable of loading a recording medium and to
`furnish the image photographing device with a mechanism
`for Saving the image data in the loaded recording medium,
`So that the image photographing device can be constructed
`inexpensively. Moreover, the user need not prepare the
`expensive recording medium, So that an economical burden
`to the user can be further lightened.
`0.017. Further, the image photographing device in the first
`aspect includes the management component which Stores the
`number of times written in the predetermined procedure,
`which updates the Stored number of times each time the Save
`control component Saves the image data, and which forbids
`at least one of the photographing by the photographing
`component and the Save of the image data by the Save
`control component when the number of times has become
`the predetermined value. Incidentally, the number of times
`may be updated in accordance with the mere number of the
`image data, which are Saved, or it may well be updated
`considering also the data amount of the image data, which
`are Saved.
`0.018. In this way, it is preventable to use the image
`photographing device according to the present invention, in
`excess of the quantity of use corresponding to the written
`number of times (by way of example, it is preventable to
`Save image data in a number larger than the number of
`images to-be-Saved corresponding to the written number of
`times), and it is easily preventable to illegally rewrite the
`number of times, by keeping confidential the procedure
`
`itself for writing the number of times, information required
`in writing the number of times, or the like. It is therefore
`preventable to photograph an image or to Save the data of the
`photographed image after the number of times has become
`the predetermined value. Besides, it can be easily imple
`mented that, in case of the fulfillment of a certain require
`ment Such as the payment of an additional expense by the
`user, the image photographing device is brought into a
`uSable State again by writing the number of times again.
`0019 Accordingly, the image photographing device in
`the first aspect is very Suitable for an aspect where the device
`is lent as an equivalent for a rent paid by the user. According
`to the first aspect, it is possible to obtain an image photo
`graphing device which is of high function (capable of saving
`a large amount of image data) and which can be inexpen
`sively offered to the user.
`0020. Meanwhile, the image data transferred from the
`image photographing device according to the present inven
`tion to the communication apparatus is Saved in the prede
`termined image Saving area in Such a way that a communi
`cation line is Secured between the communication apparatus
`and a predetermined acceSS point for connection to the
`computer network, that the image Server is accessed by the
`connection to the computer network via the predetermined
`access point, and that the image data is transferred to the
`image Server after a procedure Such as authentication has
`been taken as may be needed. Here, in a case where the
`communication apparatus is a portable one (the equipment
`which can be carried by the user) and where the communi
`cation cost between the access point and the communication
`apparatus differs in accordance with the distance of the
`communication apparatus to the access point, etc., the com
`munication apparatus should preferably be connected to the
`computer network via the access point nearest to its current
`position among access points which are ordinarily located in
`a plurality of places, in order to SuppreSS the communication
`COSt.
`0021. Therefore, the communication apparatus is the
`equipment which can be carried by the user, the image
`photographing device includes a positional information Stor
`age component in which a plurality of positions of the access
`points for permitting the communication apparatus to com
`municate with the image Server are Stored, and the Save
`control component acquires information expressive of the
`current position from the communication apparatus, it
`judges the nearest access point on the basis of the acquired
`information and the information Stored in the positional
`information Storage component, and it controls the commu
`nication apparatus So that the image data may be Saved in the
`predetermined image Saving area via the judged nearest
`access point.
`0022. The plurality of positions of the access points are
`Stored beforehand, the nearest access point is judged from
`the current position acquired from the communication appa
`ratus, and the image data is transferred (the image data is
`saved in the predetermined image Saving area) via the
`judged access point, So that the communication cost between
`the communication apparatus and the access point in the
`case of Saving the image data in the predetermined image
`Saving area can be Suppressed to the required minimum.
`0023 Besides, in a case where the user possesses an
`information processor Such as PC, there arise the needs that
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`the user wants to utilize the image data obtained by the
`photographing with the image photographing device accord
`ing to the present invention, by the possessed information
`processor. Considering the needs, the Save control compo
`nent should preferably have such a function that, when the
`instruction of Saving the image data has been given, the
`image data instructed to be Saved is transferred to the
`information processor possessed by the user, thereby to Save
`the image data in a storage medium built in or connected to
`the information processor. Thus, the needs of the user as
`Stated above can be met. Incidentally, it is needless to Say
`that the number of times is updated by the management
`component even in the case where the image data instructed
`to be Saved is transferred to the information processor So as
`to be Saved in the Storage medium.
`0024.
`Besides, in order to accomplish the first object, an
`image photographing device in a Second aspect is con
`Structed comprising a photographing component which con
`verts an optical image into image data; a built-in Storage
`component in which the image data is temporarily Stored; a
`Save control component which Saves the image data tempo
`rarily Stored in the Storage component by photographing by
`the photographing component, in a storage medium built in
`or connected to a predetermined external equipment, by
`reading out the image data and transferring it to the prede
`termined external equipment when the image data is
`instructed to be Saved; and a management component which
`Stores the number of times written in a predetermined
`procedure, which updates the Stored number of times each
`time the save control component saves the image data, and
`which forbids at least one of the photographing by the
`photographing component and the Save of the image data by
`the Save control component when the number of times has
`become a predetermined value.
`0.025
`In the second aspect, in the case where the instruc
`tion of Saving the image data temporarily Stored in the
`Storage component by the photographing by the photograph
`ing component has been given, the Save control component
`transferS the image data to the predetermined external equip
`ment, thereby to Save the image data in the Storage medium
`which is built in or connected to the predetermined external
`equipment. Thus, as in the first aspect, even in a case where
`the instruction of Saving a large amount of image data may
`possibly be given, the built-in storage component need not
`be set at a large capacity, and it is also dispensed with to
`furnish the image photographing device with a mechanism
`for Saving the image data in a recording medium loaded into
`the image photographing device, So that the image photo
`graphing device can be constructed inexpensively. More
`over, the user need not prepare the expensive recording
`medium, So that an economical burden to the user can be
`further lightened.
`0.026
`Further, as in the first aspect, the image photo
`graphing device in the Second aspect includes the manage
`ment component which Stores the number of times written in
`the predetermined procedure, which updates the Stored num
`ber of times each time the Save control component Saves the
`image data, and which forbids at least one of the photo
`graphing by the photographing component and the Save of
`the image data by the Save control component when the
`number of times has become the predetermined value.
`Therefore, it is preventable to use the image photographing
`device according to the present invention, in excess of the
`
`quantity of use corresponding to the written number of
`times, and it is easily preventable to illegally rewrite the
`number of times, by keeping confidential the procedure
`itself for writing the number of times, information required
`in writing the number of times, or the like. It is therefore
`preventable to photograph an image or to Save the data of the
`photographed image after the number of times has become
`the predetermined value. Besides, it can be easily imple
`mented that, in case of the fulfillment of a certain require
`ment Such as the payment of an additional expense by the
`user, the image photographing device is brought into a
`uSable State again by writing the number of times again.
`0027 Accordingly, also the image photographing device
`in the Second aspect is very Suitable for the aspect where the
`device is lent as an equivalent for a rent paid by the user.
`According to the Second aspect, it is possible to obtain an
`image photographing device which is of high function and
`which can be inexpensively offered to the user.
`0028 Besides, in the first aspect or the second aspect,
`certain limits may well be set to the term of use of the image
`photographing device lent to the user. This can be incarnated
`by constructing the management component So that at least
`one of the photographing by the photographing component
`and the Save of the image data by the Save control compo
`nent is forbidden also in a case, for example, where a
`predetermined term has lapsed since the writing of the
`number of times.
`0029 Besides, in the first aspect or the second aspect, it
`is favorable to further dispose a communication component
`which is permitted to perform wireleSS communication with
`a portable type image display apparatus that is furnished
`with a display unit capable of displaying an image and that
`has the function of performing wireless communication, and
`a transfer component which transferS the image data to the
`image display apparatus through the communication com
`ponent over the wireleSS communication So that the image
`expressed by the image data obtained by the photographing
`by the photographing component may be displayed on the
`display unit of the image display apparatus.
`0030. In this way, the image photographed by the pho
`tographing component is reproduced and displayed on the
`display unit of the portable type image display apparatus,
`and the user can immediately check the photographed image
`by referring to the reproduced and displayed image. There
`fore, the image photographing device need not be furnished
`with an expensive display unit formed of an LCD or the like,
`and it can be constructed more inexpensively.
`0031
`Besides, it is favorable that the transfer component
`generates thumbnail image data at a resolution lowered from
`that of the image data obtained by the photographing by the
`photographing component, and that it transferS the generated
`thumbnail image data to the image display apparatus. Thus,
`the thumbnail image of the photographed image is displayed
`on the display unit of the image display apparatus. However,
`the thumbnail image of low resolution suffices for the check
`of the photographed image in most cases, and a time period,
`which is expended, in transferring the image data to the
`image display apparatus can be shortened by transferring the
`data of the thumbnail image.
`0032 Besides, it is favorable to utilize, for example, an
`equipment, which is possessed by the user, as the portable
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`type image display apparatus (thus, the user need not prepare
`the portable type image display apparatus anew). Con
`cretely, a portable telephone, a PDA, a wearable computer,
`a mobile computer or the like can be applied as the portable
`type image display apparatus. Besides, a known wireleSS
`communication technique Such as the Bluetooth or infrared
`communication can be utilized for the wireleSS communi
`cation with the image display apparatus.
`0.033
`Besides, in order to accomplish the second object,
`an image photographing and ordering method in a third
`aspect comprises the Steps of lending an image photograph
`ing device to a user as an equivalent for a rent paid by the
`user, after the number of times has been written into the
`image photographing device in the first aspect in a prede
`termined procedure, or by attaching information required for
`the user himself/herself to write the number of times into the
`image photographing device in the predetermined proce
`dure, and also opening an image Saving area dedicated to the
`user, and managed by the image Server connected to the
`computer network; allowing the user to browse through the
`communication apparatus, images expressed by image data
`which the user has saved in the image Saving area dedicated
`to the user; and creating a photographic print by employing
`the image data Saved in the image Saving area, in a case
`where an order for printing has been given through the
`communication apparatus by the user, as to a specified one
`of the images expressed by the image data Saved in the
`image Saving area, and delivering the created photographic
`print to the user.
`0034.
`In the third aspect, as the equivalent for the rent
`paid by the user, the image photographing device in the first
`aspect is lent to the user after the number of times has been
`written thereinto in the predetermined procedure, or by
`attaching the information required for the user himself/
`herself to write the number of times thereinto in the prede
`termined procedure, while the image Saving area dedicated
`to the user is opened by the image Server connected to the
`computer network. Therefore, the user can photograph the
`images for a predetermined term by employing the hired
`image photographing device, and he/she can Save the image
`data in a predetermined amount corresponding to the num
`ber of times written into the image photographing device, in
`the image Saving area dedicated to the user.
`0.035
`Besides, in the third aspect, the user is allowed to
`browse through the communication apparatus the images
`expressed by the image data, which the user has Saved in the
`image Saving area dedicated to the user, So that the user can
`utilize the image Saving area as My Scene Folder. Further, in
`the third aspect, in the case where the user has given the
`order for printing, through the communication apparatus as
`to the Specified one of the images expressed by the image
`data Saved in the image Saving area, the photographic print
`is created using the image data Saved in the image Saving
`area, and the created photographic print is delivered to the
`user, So that the user can give the order for printing and
`receive the created photographic print without performing
`an act Such as carrying to an accepting shop a recording
`medium in which the image data have been recorded.
`0036). In this way, even the user who does not possess an
`equipment Such as PC or printer is permitted to photograph
`the images by using the image photographing device, to Save
`the image