Patent ID: 6081251
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: G06F,H04N,Y10S

Abstract:
A picture data management apparatus for storing and retrieving picture data, comprising:means for receiving respective picture data representative of a plurality of pictures, and for receiving credit information including at least one indicia of source or ownership for at least one of said pictures;means for generating a respective time code for each of said plurality of pictures indicative of the time of receipt of each of said pictures by said means for receiving;means for receiving a respective storage or elimination command at a time subsequent to the time of receipt of the respective picture data;means for selectively storing or eliminating the respective received picture data, credit information and time code indicative of the time of receipt of each of said pictures by said means for receiving, which is prior to the time of storage or elimination, for each of said plurality of pictures in association with said time code corresponding to the respective received picture data in response to the respective storage or elimination command;means for entering retrieval parameter information indicative of a selected time period indicative of the time of receipt of particular picture data by said means for receiving;retrieving means for retrieving the stored picture data for which said time codes correspond to said selected time period, thus indicating that the retrieved picture data was received by said means for receiving during said selected time period; andoutput means for outputting the stored picture data retrieved by said retrieving means, said output means being further adapted to output said credit information with the stored picture data to selectively provide the credit information therewith or indicate whether and to whom further payment must be made.