Patent ID: 7657568
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image pickup apparatus including a communication unit which stores image data obtained by an image pickup unit in a storage medium and communicates with an external apparatus, comprising: a mode selection unit which selects an image pickup mode using the image pickup unit or a communication mode using the communication unit to acquire images to be saved in the storage medium; a storing unit which stores and holds information for determining whether the latest image data stored in the storage medium is image data obtained in the image pickup mode or image data obtained in the communication mode; a first setting unit which sets whether to forcibly create a folder in the storage medium; a second setting unit which sets whether to automatically create or not create a folder in the storage medium; a determination unit which determines whether the current mode selected by said mode selection unit coincides with the mode in which latest data held in said storing unit is stored; a notify unit which displays a new folder creation announcement on a display unit of the image pickup apparatus so as to notify a user that a new folder will be created when new image data to be stored is obtained, if said determination unit determines that the current mode selected by said mode selection unit does not coincide with a mode in which the last image data is stored in said storing unit; and a file management unit which, when image data to be stored in the storage medium is obtained in one of the modes, stores the image data as a file in the storage medium on the basis of settings made by said first setting unit and said second setting unit and a determination result obtained by said determination unit, wherein said file management unit (a) creates a new folder in the storage medium and stores the image data as a file in the new folder when folder creation is forcibly set by said first setting unit, (b) creates a new folder in the storage medium and stores the image data as a file in the new folder when folder creation is not forcibly set by said first setting unit, and automatic creation/non-creation of a folder is set by said second setting unit, and said determination unit determines that the modes do not coincide with each other, and (c-1) stores the image data as a file in an existing folder in the storage medium when folder creation is not forcibly set by said first setting unit, and automatic creation/non-creation of a folder is not set by said second setting unit, or (c-2) stores the image data as a file in an existing folder in the storage medium when said determination unit determines that the modes coincides with each other.