Patent ID: 7336300
Filing Date: 2008-02-26
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image pickup control apparatus for controlling an image pickup apparatus via a data communications interface unit, for controlling photographing by the image pickup apparatus in a plurality of photographing modes, and for providing a sample image for simulating, prior to photographing, the look of a scene to be photographed in a selected photographing mode reflecting color photographing conditions and non-color photographing conditions whose settings have been selected by a user, comprising: a guide unit which guides the selection of one setting from a plurality of settings for each of a plurality of photographing conditions including color photographing conditions and non-color photographing conditions each of which are associated with control data; a setting unit which changes the control data associated with the selected settings of the photographing conditions, the control data being data for controlling the image pickup apparatus; a transmission control unit which transmits the control data to the image pickup apparatus; and means for providing the sample image, different from images photographed by the user using the image pickup apparatus for simulating, prior to photographing, the look of a scene to be photographed in a selected photographing mode reflecting color photographing conditions and non-color photographing conditions whose settings have been selected by a user, said providing means causing said guide unit to display the sample image, different from images photographed by the user using the image pickup apparatus to associate the sample image with the control data associated with the selected settings of the plurality of photographing conditions so as to edit the displayed sample image in accordance with the control data being changed by said setting unit so that the appearance of the sample image changes in response to a change in the control data prior to photographing, and wherein said transmission control unit transmits the control data to the image pickup apparatus prior to photographing an image in the selected photographing mode whose sample image was displayed by said guide unit.