Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited

Fumihiro Funazaki

Mikio Watanabe

Kazuya Oda

Masahiro Konishi

Yoshiki Kawaoka

Hitoshi Ueno

Kouji Matsuura

Yoshiki Takeoka

To reduce the necessary storage capacity of the internal memory of a printer, a printing start command is transmitted from a printer controller to a printer by asynchronous transfer before the transmission of image data. Isochronous transfer of image data to be printed in packet units starts upon elapse of a fixed period of time following transmission of the printing start command. Image data thenceforth is transmitted from the printer controller to the printer successively by isochronous transfer at a fixed period. Since the image data is transmitted from the printer controller to the printer at the fixed period, printing can be performed at a constant speed without requiring that the printer be provided with an image memory for storing image data representing one frame of an image. In a case where a transfer request command is supplied from the printer to the printer controller, the image data is transmitted from the printer controller to the printer in response to the transfer request command.

Printer system and method of controlling operation of the same

A printer system includes a printer controller and a printer connected to each other by a cable according to IEEE Standard 1394. The printer controller and the printer each accepts data transmitted thereto when device identification data assigned thereto agrees with transmission destination identifying data accompanying the transmitted data. The printer controller and the printer are assigned identical device identification data. The printer controller and printer decide a first transmission-permitted time period in which the printer controller transmits data to the printer and a second transmission-permitted time period in which the printer transmits data to the printer controller. The first and second transmission-permitted time periods are separated from each other. The printer controller transmits image data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to the printer in packet units in the first transmission-permitted time period. The printer transmits data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to the printer controller in the second transmission-permitted time period.

A camera and a video filing system practicable therewith are disclosed. The camera has a body and a plurality of component parts removably mounted on the body and including a lens and a stroboscope. The body and component parts each has a respective condition data output section for outputting shooting conditions, and a respective ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a type and other inherent data beforehand. A processor reads the data from such condition data output sections and ROMs at the time of shooting and records them in a magnetic recording area formed in a silver halide sensitive type of film. As a result, images are recorded in the film together with shot data associated therewith. The video filing system automatically reads the image data and shot data out of the film and records the image data in an optical disk or similar recording medium by using the shot data as keywords, thereby constructing a video data base. The system, therefore, saves time and labor otherwise needed in inputting the keywords by hand.

Camera for recording shot data on a magnetic recording area of a film

Camera for recording image data and shot data and video filing system

The time required for transmission of image data from an electronic camera to a host computer is shortened. Image data representing the image of a subject imaged in the electronic camera is stored in an image memory. When a preview-image command is applied to the electronic camera from the host computer, the image data that has been stored in the image memory is reduced to 1/8 by eliminating pixels in a thinning-out circuit. The reduced-image data is transmitted to the host computer, where the data is displayed on a display unit as a preview image. A desired area and magnification (resolution) are designated on the preview image and then a get command is applied, whereupon main image data in the designated area and having the designated magnification is transmitted from the electronic camera to the host computer.

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Asaka, Japan

Fumihiro Funazaki