Abstract:
An image capturing system comprises an image capturing terminal and a host computer. The image capturing terminal includes an image capturing section configured to capture images, an image data processor configured to generate image data according to the data obtained from the image capturing section, a receiver configured to receive progress information describing a progress of a predetermined program transmitted from the host computer, and a recorder configured to record the progress information received by the receiver in a recording medium. The host computer includes a progress information generator configured to generate the progress information, and a transmitter configured to transmit the progress information generated by the progress information generator. The recorder is configured to record the progress information at the time of capturing an image by the image capturing section in the recording medium, relating it to the image data generated by the image data processor.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-180634, filed Jun. 21, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to an image capturing system comprising an image capturing terminal and a host and a method of recording progress information of a program by such a system.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Jpn. Pat. Appln. Publication No. 2004-221665 discloses an image capturing apparatus that can store clock time when a predetermined action is taken as a clock time mark and display game time and progress time by displaying the difference between the image capturing clock time and the clock time mark.  
         [0006]     Jpn. Pat. Appln. Publication No. 2002-268806 discloses a sporting game real-time progress details recording system for centrally managing information relating to the progress of a sporting game and the play of each of the players of the game and presenting it to third parties. With such a system, a reporter in the field of the game transmits information relating to the progress of the game to a center and the center centrally manages the information and provides it to third parties.  
         [0007]     Jpn. Pat. Appln. Publication No. 9-134323 discloses a game information communication processing system adapted to store the game information input at a game information recording terminal in a database server and display and print out the game information recorded in the database server at a game information output terminal. With such a system, it is possible to print and output game information in a predetermined format only by character codes.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image capturing system comprising:  
         [0009]     an image capturing terminal configured to capture images; and  
         [0010]     a host computer communicable with the image capturing terminal,  
         [0011]     the image capturing terminal including: 
        an image capturing section configured to capture images;     an image data processor configured to generate image data according to the data obtained from the image capturing section;     a receiver configured to receive progress information describing a progress of a predetermined program transmitted from the host computer; and     a recorder configured to record the progress information received by the receiver in a recording medium,        
 
         [0016]     the host computer including: 
        a progress information generator configured to generate the progress information; and     a transmitter configured to transmit the progress information generated by the progress information generator, and        
 
         [0019]     the recorder of the image capturing terminal being configured to record the progress information at the time of capturing an image by the image capturing section in the recording medium, relating it to the image data generated by the image data processor.  
         [0020]     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a progress information recording method of a program by an image capturing system comprising an image capturing terminal and a host computer, the method comprising:  
         [0021]     generating progress information of the program by the host computer;  
         [0022]     transmitting the progress information from the host computer;  
         [0023]     capturing image data relating to the program by the image capturing terminal;  
         [0024]     receiving the progress information transmitted from the host computer by the image capturing terminal; and  
         [0025]     recording the received progress information by relating to the captured image data by the image capturing terminal.  
         [0026]     According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image capturing system, comprising:  
         [0027]     an image capturing terminal configured to capture images; and  
         [0028]     a host computer communicable with the image capturing terminal,  
         [0029]     the image capturing terminal including: 
        an image capturing section configured to capture images;     an image data processor configured to generate image data according to the data obtained from the image capturing section;     a time data processor configured to generate image capturing time data relating to the time of capturing an image by the image capturing section;     a recorder configured to record an image file in a state where the image data generated by the image data processor and the image capturing time data generated by the time data processor are related to each other with a predetermined file name in a recording medium; and     an image capturing terminal transmitter configured to transmit captured image information including at least the image capturing time data generated by the time data processor and information relating the file name of the image file recorded in the recording medium,        
 
         [0035]     the host computer including: 
        a progress information generator configured to generate progress information relating to the progress of a predetermined program;     a host computer receiver configured to receive the captured image information transmitted from the image capturing terminal transmitter; and     a host computer transmitter configured to transmit progress information at the time corresponding to the image capturing time data included in the captured image information as received by the host computer receiver, relating it to the captured image information,        
 
         [0039]     the image capturing terminal further including an image capturing terminal receiver configured to receive the progress information transmitted from the host computer transmitter, and  
         [0040]     the recorder of the image capturing terminal being configured to record the image file in the recording medium, relating it to the progress information as received by the image capturing terminal receiver.  
         [0041]     According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a progress information recording method of a program by an image capturing system comprising an image capturing terminal and a host computer, the method comprising:  
         [0042]     the following to be carried out by the image capturing terminal: 
        capturing image data relating to the program;     transmitting image information relating to the image data to the host computer;     receiving the progress information relating to the progress of the program as transmitted from the host computer;     receiving the image authentication information as transmitted from the host computer; and     recording the image data with the received progress information and the received image authentication information added thereto; and        
 
         [0048]     the following to be carried out by the host computer: 
        generating progress information of the program;     transmitting the progress information to the image capturing terminal;     receiving the image information as transmitted from the image capturing terminal;     generating image authentication information relating to the received image information; and     transmitting the image authentication information to the image capturing terminal.        
 
         [0054]     Advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0055]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0056]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of image capturing system according to the present invention;  
         [0057]      FIG. 2  is a basic flowchart of the operation of the one embodiment of image capturing system according to the present invention;  
         [0058]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of the configuration of the first specific example;  
         [0059]      FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of a camera;  
         [0060]      FIG. 5  is a main flowchart of the operation of the first specific example;  
         [0061]      FIG. 6  is a detailed flowchart of the registration process in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0062]      FIG. 7  is a detailed flowchart of the information format transmission process in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0063]      FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of the contents of a game progress information file;  
         [0064]      FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration of the format of a camera number;  
         [0065]      FIG. 10  is a schematic illustration of the format of a game recognition number;  
         [0066]      FIG. 11  is a detailed flowchart of the game start signal transmission process in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0067]      FIG. 12A  is a display example of the camera before the start of a game;  
         [0068]      FIG. 12B  is a display example of the camera during a game;  
         [0069]      FIG. 13  is a detailed flowchart of the progress information/contents update process in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0070]      FIG. 14  is a schematic illustration of the format of game information;  
         [0071]      FIG. 15  is a detailed flowchart of the captured image information transmission process in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0072]      FIG. 16A  is a schematic illustration of the format of an image file in an image capturing operation;  
         [0073]      FIG. 16B  is a schematic illustration of the format of the image file after image authentication information is embedded;  
         [0074]      FIG. 17  is a schematic illustration of the format of an image file list;  
         [0075]      FIG. 18  is a detailed flowchart of the authentication information sending process in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0076]      FIG. 19  is a detailed flowchart of the authentication information pasting process in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0077]      FIG. 20  is schematic illustration of an example of form of reproduction of an image file where image authentication information is embedded;  
         [0078]      FIG. 21  is a schematic illustration of another example of form of reproduction of an image file where image authentication information is embedded;  
         [0079]      FIG. 22A  is a schematic illustration of still another example of form of reproduction of an image file where image authentication information is embedded;  
         [0080]      FIG. 22B  is a schematic illustration of still another example of form of reproduction of an image file where image authentication information is embedded;  
         [0081]      FIG. 23  is a schematic illustration of an example of form of reproduction of recorded image data for a thumbnail;  
         [0082]      FIG. 24  is a schematic illustration of the configuration of the second specific example;  
         [0083]      FIG. 25  is a main flowchart of the operation of the second specific example;  
         [0084]      FIG. 26  is a schematic illustration of the configuration of the third specific example; and  
         [0085]      FIG. 27  is a main flowchart of the operation of the third specific example. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0086]     Now, the present invention will be described by referring to the accompanying drawings that illustrate the best mode of carrying out the present invention.  
         [0087]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of image capturing system according to the present invention comprises an image capturing terminal  10  and a host  12 . The image capturing terminal  10  is a terminal to be held by an image capturer who captures photographic images of any of various programs, including games, entertainment shows, performances, amusement shows and so on at the site of any programs. The host  12  is a computer arranged on the site of the event so as to be communicable with the image capturing terminal  10 . While a single image capturing terminal  10  is representatively shown in  FIG. 1 , an image capturing system according to the present invention may comprise a plurality of image capturing terminals. In other words, a single image capturer may hold a plurality of image capturing terminals or a plurality of image capturers may hold respective image capturing terminals.  
         [0088]     The image capturing terminal  10  comprises an image capturing section  14 , a recording section  16 , a machine information storage section  18 , a clock section  20 , a communication section  22  and a control section  24 . The image capturing section  14  captures images. The recording section  16  records the image data obtained by the image capturing operation of the image capturing section  14  in a predetermined recording medium. The recording medium may be a memory device that can be removably fitted to the image capturing terminal  10  such as a memory card or one that is contained in the image capturing terminal  10 . The machine information storage section  18  stores machine information necessary for identifying the image capturing terminal  10 . The clock section  20  measures and indicates time. The communication section  22  communicates with the host  12  typically by way of a wireless LAN. The control section  24  controls the entire image capturing terminal  10 .  
         [0089]     The host  12  includes an input section  26 , a display section  28 , a communication section  30 , a clock section  32 , an information recording section  34 , an authentication information storage section  36  and a control section  38 . The input section  26  is a user interface, which may be a keyboard, a pointing device or the like. The display section  28  includes a user interface such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display and an electric billboard or some other large display screen arranged on the site of the program, which may be a sports arena. The communication section  30  communicates with the image capturing terminal  10  typically by way of a wireless LAN. The clock section  32  measures and indicates time. The information recording section  34  stores the information transmitted from the image capturing terminal or terminals  10 . The authentication information storage section  36  stores authentication information. The control section  38  controls the entire host  12 .  
         [0090]     Now, referring to  FIG. 2 , the image capturing system having the above-described configuration firstly registers the image capturer (Step S 10 ). More specifically, the image capturing terminal  10  transmits the machine information stored in the machine information storage section  18  and the information on the image capturer input by way of an input section (not shown) and the host  12  stores those pieces of information in the information recording section  34 . Then, in response, the host  12  transmits permission for an image capturing operation to the image capturing terminal  10 .  
         [0091]     As the scheduled program starts, the image capturing terminal  10  is started capturing operation of images by the image capturer (Step S 12 ). More specifically, the start of the program is input by the input section  26  of the host  12  and the clock section  32  starts measuring the time elapsed from the start of the program. The time measured by the clock section  32  is the official time. Then, the host  12  transmits the program information to the image capturing terminal  10  (Step S 14 ). The program information includes a start signal for the clock section  20  of the image capturing terminal  10 , which is a synchronizing signal that makes the clock section  32  of the host  12  and the clock section  20  of the image capturing terminal  10  start timing synchronously. The above-described program information includes the elapsed time from the start of the program to the time when some event such as scoring occurs as measured by the clock section  32  and details of the occurred event. The control section  38  of the host  12  records to the information recording section  34  the elapsed time from the start of the program to the time when the event occurs as measured by the clock section  32  and details of the occurred event as progress information. Upon receiving the program information transmitted from the host  12  at the communication section  22 , the control section  24  of the image capturing terminal  10  records it in the recording medium by the recording section  16 .  
         [0092]     Each time the image capturing terminal  10  performs an image capturing operation, an image capturing information acquisition process is executed (Step S 16 ). This is a process where image capturing information is transmitted from the image capturing terminal  10  to the host  12  and recorded in the information recording section  34  of the host  12  each time an image capturing operation is performed. More specifically, the control section  24  of the image capturing terminal  10  generates image data according to the data obtained by the image capturing operation of the image capturing section  14 . Additionally, the control section  24  generates image capturing time data relating to the clock time when the image capturing operation is performed according to the time information obtained as a result of the timing operation of the clock section  20 . Then, the control section  24  records an image file where the image data and the image capturing time data that are generated are related to each other with a predetermined file name in the recording medium by the recording section  16 . Then, the control section  24  transmits image capturing information including at least the image capturing time data and information relating to the file name of the image file to the host  12  by the communication section  22 .  
         [0093]     The above-described process of transmitting the program information (Step S 14 ) and the process of acquiring the image capturing information (Step S 16 ) are repeated until a directive for the end of the program is issued by the input section  26  of the host  12  (Step S 18 ).  
         [0094]     Then, as a directive for the end of the program is issued, a program result transmission process is executed (Step S 20 ). More specifically, if the program is a sporting game, the control section  38  of the host  12  transmits, by the communication section  30 , information on the results of the game including the winner, the loser, the scores and the duration of the game along with progress information as described above that corresponds to the time points when the image capturing time data contained in the image capturing information transmitted from the image capturing terminal  10  and recorded in the information recording section  34 , relating the progress information to the image capturing information. Then, the control section  24  of the image capturing terminal  10  records the progress information in the corresponding image file recorded in the recording medium, relating it to the corresponding image file.  
         [0095]     After the end of the program result transmission process, an image authentication information sending process is executed (Step S 22 ). More specifically, the control section  38  of the host  12  transmits the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage section  36  to the image capturing terminal  10  by the communication section  30 . The control section  24  of the image capturing terminal  10  embeds the authentication information received by way of the communication section  22  in the corresponding image file or in each of the corresponding image files, if more than one image files are made, recorded in the recording medium as an electronic watermark. With this arrangement, it is possible to prevent illegal copying of the image file or each of the image files.  
         [0096]     Note that the authentication information is input by way of the input section  26  of the host  12  and stored in the authentication information storage section  36 . The authentication information includes the period of authentication, the name of the copyright holder, the organization, the copyright mark and so on. The period of authentication is information indicating (1) the date of expiration of the authentication, (2) the date when the authentication becomes effective, (3) prohibition of unauthorized use and so on.  
         [0097]     As described above, this embodiment of image capturing system according to the present invention makes it possible to record captured images of a program, relating them to the respective elapsed times and other information with ease.  
         [0098]     Now, the present invention will be described further by way of specific programs.  
       FIRST SPECIFIC EXAMPLE  
       [0099]     In this example, the embodiment of image capturing system is applied to a soccer game, which is a program to be imaged. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the host  12  is arranged in the soccer stadium  40 . The image capturer holds the image capturing terminal  10 , which is a camera  42 , and captures photographic images from any of the seats for spectators and those for reporters. The host  12  includes an input terminal  44 , a host computer  46 , a transmission/reception section  48  and an antenna  50 . The input terminal  44  corresponds to part of the input section  26  and the display section  28 . The host computer  46  corresponds to the clock section  32 , the information recording section  34 , the authentication information storage section  36  and the control section  38 . The transmission/reception section  48  and the antenna  50  correspond to the communication section  30 . The antenna  50  and a large display screen  52  that corresponds to part of the display section  28  are arranged in the stadium  40 . Note, however, that the input terminal  44 , the host computer  46  and the transmission/reception section  48  do not necessarily need to be arranged in the stadium  40  and may alternatively be arranged at a remote site so long as they are connected to the antenna  50  and/or the large display screen  52 .  
         [0100]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the camera  42  has an image capturing section  54 , an A/D conversion section  56 , a recording section  58 , a memory (machine information storage section)  60 , a clock section  62 , a transmission/reception section  64 , a CPU  66 , an image processing section  68 , an encoding/decoding section  70 , an authentication information embedding section  72 , an operation section  74  and a display section  76 . The image capturing section  54  and the A/D conversion section  56  correspond to the image capturing section  14 . The recording section  58  corresponds to the recording section  16  and records various data in a recording medium  78  that can be removably fitted to the camera  42 . The memory  60 , the clock section  62 , the transmission/reception section  64  and the CPU  66  correspond respectively to the machine information storage section  18 , the clock section  20 , the communication section  22  and the control section  24 .  
         [0101]     The operation section  74  is operated by the image capturer to issue various directives to the camera  42  for the operation thereof. It includes various buttons and keys such as a release button, a power button, a mode key and a so-called cross key. A personal computer (not shown) may be connected to the camera  42  so that the image capturer operates the keyboard and other input means of the personal computer to issue various directives to the camera  42 . The display section  76  includes a liquid display and an viewfinder-display member for displaying the operation mode and the operating condition of the camera  42 , the captured images, and so on.  
         [0102]     The image capturing section  54  includes an optical system and an image pickup element and is adapted to capture various images under the control of the CPU  66  in response to an operation of the release button of the operation section  74 . The captured image is converted into digital data by the A/D conversion section  56  and subsequently subjected to known various image processing operations including white balance correction, tone correction and color correction by the image processing section  68 . Then, the digital data are further subjected to an image encoding (compression) process by the encoding/decoding section  70 , using a known compression method such as the JPEG method. The JPEG data obtained by the JPEG compression method are recorded in recording medium  78  as JPEG file to which predetermined header information is added. The image data of the recorded JPEG file can be read out at the recording section  58  and decoded by the encoding/decoding section  70  so as to be displayed on the display section  76  under the control of the CPU  66 .  
         [0103]     The encoding/decoding section  70  additionally has a functional feature of preparing image data (low resolution image data) for a thumbnail out of the image data that are processed by the image processing section  68 . The CPU  66  can display the prepared image data for a thumbnail on the display section  76  and transmit them to the host  12  by the transmission/reception section  64 .  
         [0104]     The authentication information embedding section  72  has such a functional feature that, when it receives authentication information from the host  12  by way of the transmission/reception section  64 , it embeds the received authentication information in the corresponding JPEG file as electronic watermark by the recording section  58 .  
         [0105]     The image capturing system of this first example operates in a manner as described below by referring to the flowchart of  FIG. 5 . Firstly, a process of registering the image capturer and the image capturing machine or machines in the host  12  is executed (Step S 24 ). In this process, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the name of the image capturer is registered first (Step S 24 A). More specifically, the image capturer operates the operation section  74  of the camera  42 , which is the image capturing terminal  10 , to input his or her own name and transmits to the transmission/reception section  64  as image capturer information. The image capturer information may be stored in the memory  60  of the camera  42  in advance and read out so as to be transmitted. The transmitted image capturer information is received by the transmission/reception section  48  of the host  12  that is connected to the antenna  50  and registered in the host computer  46  (information recording section  34 ). Thereafter, the machine number or numbers are registered (Step S 24 B). More specifically, the CPU  66  of the camera  42  reads out the machine information stored in a non-volatile manner in the memory  60  and transmits it by way of the transmission/reception section  64 . Then, the transmitted machine information is received by the transmission/reception section  48  of the host  12  that is connected to the antenna  50  and registered in the host computer  46  (information recording section  34 ). If the image capturer uses a plurality of cameras  42  (that are not registered yet) (Step S 24 C), the above-described steps S 24 A,  24 B are repeated to register all the remaining cameras  42 . The registration process ends when the registration is completed (Step S 24 C).  
         [0106]     Then, a process of transmitting an information format from the host  12  to each of the cameras  42  is executed (Step S 26 ). In this process, the CPU  66  of each of the camera  42  prepares a game progress information file and an image file list according to the information format for the camera  42  that is contained in the information received at the transmission/reception section  64 . Then, it records them in the recording medium  78  by the recording section  58  and displays the contents of the game progress information file on the display section  76  (Step S 28 ).  
         [0107]     The process of transmitting an information format of the above-described Step S 26  is executed in a manner as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , firstly, the host computer  46  transmits the identification number of the game by way of the transmission/reception section  48  and the antenna  50  (Step S 26 A) and then it transmits permission for image capturing (Step S 26 B). Thereafter, the host computer  46  transmits the text of the information to be displayed on the display section  76  of the camera  42  (Step S 26 C). Then, it transmits information on the competing teams (Step S 26 D) to end the process of transmitting the information format.  
         [0108]      FIG. 8  illustrates a typical game progress information file. Note that the game progress information file  80  of  FIG. 8  shows the contents of the file at the time when the game is over. In other words, the columns of “start time”, “number of spectators” and event information are still blank at time point of the Step S 28 .  
         [0109]     “Camera number” in the game progress information file  80  includes image capturing machine information  82  that by turn includes machine manufacturer information  84  and machine name information  86  and image capturer information  88  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The above listed pieces of information are those registered in the above-described registration process of Step S 24  so that the camera  42  can determine if the information transmitted from the host  12  is addressed to the own camera  42  or not by referring to “camera number”.  
         [0110]     “Game identification number” includes promoter information  90  and game identification number information  92  as shown in  FIG. 10 . These pieces of information are those input by way of the input terminal  44  and registered in the host computer  46 . They are transmitted in the above-described Step S 26 A.  
         [0111]     Similarly, “date of the game”, “place of the game”, “weather”, “temperature”, “humidity” and other pieces of information are transmitted in the above-described Step S 26 C whereas “team name A”, “team name B”, “referee” and other pieces of information are transmitted in the above-described Step S 26 D.  
         [0112]     Thus, the processes of Step S 24  through Step S 28  are executed in the pre-game stages.  
         [0113]     When the game actually starts, the host  12  executes a process of transmitting a game start signal (Step S 30 ). In this game start signal transmission step, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the host computer  46  firstly transmits score information (0-0) to each of the cameras  42  by way of the transmission/reception section  48  and the antenna  50  (Step S 30 A). Additionally, it displays team information and score information on the large display screen  52  of the stadium  40  (Step S 30 B). At this time, each of the cameras  42  displays an image as shown in  FIG. 12A  on the display section  76  according to the score information and the contents of the game progress information file  80 , which are described above. Then, the operator of the host  12  issues a directive for the start of the game by the input terminal  44  at the time of the kickoff of the game. Upon receiving the directive, the host computer  46  transmits a timing start signal to the clock section  32  in or connected to the host computer  46  and timing start information and the current clock time to each of the cameras  42  (Step S 30 C). As a result, the clock section  32  starts operating and the clock section  62  of each of the cameras  42  also starts operating (Step S 30 D). Then, each of the cameras  42  sets the “start time” of the above-described game progress information file  80  to the transmitted current clock time and writes down the kickoff as event information. The time as measured by the clock section  32  of the host  12  is the so-called official time and displayed on the large display screen  52  (Step S 30 E).  
         [0114]     Then, a process of updating the contents of the progress information of the game at the time by the host  12  when an event occurs (Step S 32 ) and a process of transmitting information on the image captured by the camera  42  when capturing operation is executed by the camera  42  (Step S 34 ) are repeatedly executed until the game ends (Step S 36 ).  
         [0115]     The above-described process of updating the contents of the progress information in Step S 32  proceeds in a way as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . Firstly, the host computer  46  of the host  12  determines if there is a directive for ending the first period half or the second period issued by operating the input terminal  44  or not (Step S 32 A). If there is such a directive for ending the half, the host computer  46  stops the clock section  32  and resets the timing (Step S 32 B). Thereafter, or if it is determined that such a directive for ending the half is not issued in the above-described Step S 32 A, the host computer  46  determines if there is a directive for changing the score issued by operating the input terminal  44  or not (Step S 32 C). If there is such a directive for changing the score, the host computer  46  updates the score information recorded in the information recording section  34  in the host computer  46  (Step S 32 D). Thereafter, or if it is determined that such a directive for changing the score is not issued in the above-described Step S 32 C, the host computer  46  transmits the change information to each of the cameras  42  according to the information recorded in the information recording section  34  in the host computer  46  (Step S 32 E) and, at the same time, updates the contents of the display on the large display screen  52  (Step S 32 F). If there is not any event that occurs, the host computer  46  simply transmits the time measured by the clock section  32  in step S 32 E and only the measured time that is being displayed is updated in Step S 32 F.  
         [0116]     Events as used herein include kickoff, shoot, corner kick, free kick and so on that are described in the form of game information as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . In other words, game information includes event information  94 , team information  96 , player information  98  and score information  100  that includes scoring team information  102 . The example of  FIG. 14  indicates that the shoot of player B 1  of team B got the goal and gave a point to team B. For the purpose of discriminating events, a code is assigned to each event as shown in  FIG. 14 . In the above-described step S 32 E, game information as illustrated in  FIG. 14  is transmitted with the clock time when the event took place as measured by the clock section  32 . As a result, each of the cameras  42  that receive the game information and the clock time writes the game information on the event in the game progress information file  80  and, at the same time, updates the image being displayed on the display section  76  from the one illustrated in  FIG. 12A  to the one illustrated in  FIG. 12B . The images as shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B  as examples may be displayed on the display section comprising a large liquid crystal display panel or in a finder. Thus, the image capturers can easily grasp the progress of the game as the elapsed time and the score information are displayed in the above-described manner. The CPU  66  of the camera  42  stops the clock section  62  and resets it when the event that takes place is the end of the first period or the second period of the game. The CPU  66  of the camera  42  makes the time being measured by the clock section  62  synchronize with the time received from the host  12  each time it receives it when the event that takes place is not the end of the first period or the second period of the game. Alternatively, it may be so arranged that the CPU  66  of the camera  42  makes the time being measured by the clock section  62  synchronize with the time received from the host  12  not each time it receives but when the difference between the two times show a difference larger than a predetermined value.  
         [0117]     After updating the image being displayed on the large display screen  52  in the above-described Step S 32 F, the host computer  46  of the host  12  determines if there is a directive for starting the second period of the game given by operating the input terminal  44  or not (Step S 32 G). If it is determined that there is not any directive for starting the second period, the host computer  46  ends the process of updating the progress information. If, on the other hand, it is determined that there is a directive for starting the second period, the host computer  46  transmits a timing start signal to the clock section  32  and, at the same time, timing start information and the current clock time to each of the cameras  42  (Step S 32 H). As a result, the clock section  32  starts operating and, at the same time, the clock section  62  of each of the cameras  42  also starts operating (Step S 32 I). Then, the host computer  46  displays the time being measured by the clock section  32  of the host  12  on the large display screen  52  (Step S 32 J) and ends the process of updating the progress information.  
         [0118]     In the process of transmitting information on the image captured by the camera  42  when capturing operation is executed in the above-described Step S 34 , the CPU  66  of the camera  42  firstly determines if the camera  42  is operating to capture an image or not (Step S 34 A). If the camera  42  is not operating to capture an image, the CPU  46  does nothing and simply ends the process of transmitting information on the image captured by the camera  42 . If, on the other hand, the camera  42  is operating to capture an image, the CPU  66  transmits the camera number stored in the memory  60  in a non-volatile manner and the image number of the captured image (image file name) to the host  12  by way of the transmission/reception section  64  (Step S 34 B). At the same time, the CPU  46  also transmits the image data to be used for a thumbnail of the captured image to the host  12  in the same way (Step S 34 C). Then, the CPU  66  records the captured image in the recording medium  78  as image file (Step S 34 D). Note that the host computer  46  records the image data to be used for a thumbnail received from each of the cameras  42  by way of the antenna  50  and the transmission/reception section  48  in the information recording section  34  in or connected to the host computer  46 , relating them to the camera number and the image number (image file name).  
         [0119]     As shown in  FIG. 16A , the image file  104  that is recorded in the recording medium  78  of the camera  42  includes a header section  106 , an official data section  108 , image data to be used for a thumbnail  110  and image data  112 . “Camera number”, “game identification number”, “image file name”, “inaccessibility flag”, “image capture time and date”, “various parameters for the image capturing operation” and other data are written in the header section  106 . Note that “camera number” is written according to the machine information stored in the memory  60  in a non-volatile manner. “Game identification number” is written according to the game progress information file  80  read out from the recording medium  78  by the recording section  58 . “Image file name” is the name of the image file  104 . “Inaccessibility flag” is a flag for making the image file  104  inaccessible until image authentication is obtained for the image file as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. However, it may alternatively be so arranged that the image file  104  is not totally inaccessible but accessible for displaying the image data to be used for a thumbnail  110  in order to check the image even when “inaccessibility flag” is set in position. “Image capture time and date” is information obtained from the clock section  62 . “Various parameters for the image capturing operation” are Exif information including the aperture and the shutter speed.  
         [0120]     The official data section  108  describes “information on the competing teams”, “score information” and “game time information” according to the game progress information file  80  read out from the recording medium  78  by the recording section  58 . Note that the data stored in the official data section  108  are described according to the game progress information file  80  that is updated according to the official results information transmitted from the host  12  after the end of the game as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Therefore, the column of the official data section  108  is left blank in the image file that is stored at the time when the image is captured. The image data to be used for a thumbnail  110  is prepared by the encoding/decoding section  70 . The image data  112  are the encoded image data prepared by the encoding/decoding section  70 .  
         [0121]     The CPU  66  of the camera  42  prepares an image file list  114  as shown in  FIG. 17  and stores it in the recording medium  78  by the recording section  58  in response to the reception of the information format transmitted from the host  12  as described above. Then, the CPU  66  of the camera  42  updates the image file list  114  when the image file is recorded in the above-described Step S 34 D, relating the image file name to the image capture time and date.  
         [0122]     In the above-described manner, the game progress information is updated by the host  12  each time an event takes place during the game, which event may be a score, the end of the first period or the end of the half time, and the camera  42  transmits information on the captured image (image data to be used for a thumbnail, the image number, etc.) to the host  12  each time an image is captured.  
         [0123]     In this example, only the least information necessary for grasping the progress of the game such as score information and elapsed time information is transmitted while the game is in progress such as during the first period and during the second period and information on all the other events are collectively transmitted after the end of the game. This arrangement is made in order to minimize the traffic between the host  12  and the camera  42  while the game is in progress. With this arrangement, it is possible for the camera  42  to minimize the risk of missing image capturing chances due to communication with the host  12 . However, it may be inconvenient if it is not possible for the camera  42  to grasp the progress of the game. Thus, it is so arranged that only the least information on the progress of the game is transmitted while the game is still going on as described above.  
         [0124]     While each time the camera  42  captures an image, information on the captured image is transmitted from the camera  42  to the host  12  in this example, the timing of transmission is not limited to such an occasion and all the information on the captured images may be transmitted to the host  12  after the end of the game.  
         [0125]     As the operator of the host  12  issues a directive for ending the game by the input terminal  44  (Step S 36 ), the system gets out of the loop of repeating the processes of Steps S 32  and S 34 .  
         [0126]     At this time, the host computer  46  executes a process of transmitting official results information of the game to each of the cameras  42  by way of the transmission/reception section  48  and the antenna  50  (Step S 38 ). Upon receiving the official results information, each of the cameras  42  updates the information on the game including “number of spectators”, “final score”, “number of shoots” and “number of corner kicks” in the game progress information file  80  recorded in the recording medium  78  by way of the recording section  58 .  
         [0127]     Then, when the image capturing operation of each of the cameras  42  ends (Step S 40 ), the host  12  executes a process of sending authentication information to each of the cameras  42  (Step S 42 ). More specifically, referring to  FIG. 18 , in this authentication information sending process, the host computer  46  firstly reads out the authorization mark that is authorization information stored in it or in the authentication information storage section  36  connected to it (Step S 42 A). Subsequently, the operator of the host  12  operates the input terminal  44  to select an authorization period for authorizing the use of each of the recorded images and the host computer  46  defines the authorization period of each of the images accordingly (Step S 42 B). Then, the host computer  46  transmits the image number, the authorization information and the authorization period of each of the images to each of the cameras  42  as image authentication information by way of the transmission/reception section  48  and the antenna  50  (Step S 42 C). The image authentication information is preferably encrypted before it is transmitted.  
         [0128]     The camera  42  then executes a process of pasting the image authentication information of each of the images to the corresponding one of the images (Step S 44 ). More specifically, in this authentication information pasting process, the authentication information embedding section  72  of the camera  42  embeds the image authentication information of each of the images received by way of the transmission/reception section  64  in the corresponding one of the images read out from the recording medium  78  by the recording section  58  (Step S 44 A) as shown in  FIG. 19 . Then, the CPU  66  of the camera  42  records the image file  104  in which the image authentication information is embedded in the recording medium  78  by the recording section  58 .  
         [0129]      FIG. 16B  illustrates the format of the image file in which the image authentication information is embedded. “Use authorization period” that reflects the above-described authorization period contained in the received image authentication information is written in the header section  106  and “inaccessibility flag” is replaced by “flag for representing authentication information included”. While the flags are illustrated in  FIGS. 16A and 16B , in reality, a specific bit of the header section is used to indicate “0” or “1”, signifying “inaccessibility flag” or “flag for representing authentication information included”, whichever appropriate. The data of the authentication information section  116  of  FIG. 16B  is also embedded in the image data  112 . The authentication information section  116  contains “camera number”, “game identification number” and “image capture time and date” read out from the game progress information file  80  recorded in the recording medium  78  and “authentication mark” included in the received image authentication information. The header section  106  additionally contains “various data display flags” as well as “score information”, “time information”, “image capturer information” and so on obtained at the time of capturing each of the images contained in the game progress information file  80  recorded in the recording medium  78  and the image file  104  specified out of the image file list.  
         [0130]      FIG. 20  illustrates how an image is reproduced (for displaying and printing) from the image file  104  where the image authentication information is embedded. The first authentication information display  118  is a display of the authentication mark embedded in the image data, which is reproduced constantly. On the other hand, the second authentication information display  120  is a display of the information embedded in the header section  106 . In the instance of  FIG. 20 , it is a display of “image capturer”. The second authentication information display  120  may be selected arbitrarily for the type of display and also for display/non-display by the user and the outcome of the user selection is described as “various data displaying flags” in the header section. As show in  FIG. 21 , it is possible to provide a game information display  122 .  FIGS. 22A and 22B  show other examples of the second authentication information display  120 .  
         [0131]     The camera  42  or a reproduction apparatus where the recording medium  78  taken out from the camera  42  is set in position can reproduce data as shown in  FIG. 23 . In  FIG. 23 , the image data for thumbnails of the images captured when events took place during the game are arranged in a time series according to the contents of the game progress information file  80  and those of the image file list  114  that are recorded in the recording medium  78  so that the flow of the game may be grasped in a sense of seeing bird&#39;s-eye views. As seen from  FIG. 23 , general information including the time and date of the game, the site of the game and the weather conditions is described in an upper part and the results of the game are described concisely in a middle part. Then, events are described in the order of time series so that the time when each event took place may be realized with ease. Then, the thumbnail image  124  of the image file  104  that is obtained at the time closest to the time when an event took place is arranged at a side of the event. The events may be arranged in such a way that the teams are separated to the right and left sides and each event is assigned to the proper team to facilitate the understanding of the view.  
       SECOND SPECIFIC EXAMPLE  
       [0132]     In this example, the embodiment of image capturing system is applied to a baseball game, which is a program to be imaged. As seen from  FIG. 24 , the configuration of the image capturing system of this second specific example differs from that of the image capturing system of the first specific example only in that the large display screen  52  of the first example is replaced by a scoreboard  126  installed in the stadium  40  of baseball. Of course, a large display screen  52  may also be installed in the stadium  40  in addition to the scoreboard  126 . Alternatively the scoreboard  126  may be provided as part of the large display screen  52 .  
         [0133]     The operation of the image capturing system of this second specific example is also substantially same as that of the first specific example as seen from  FIG. 25 . Note, however, while the clock section  62  of the camera  42  starts measuring the time elapsed since the start of the game in the process of transmitting a game start signal executed in Step S 30  in the above-described first example, it does not start measuring the time elapsed since the start of the game in Step S 30  but in Step S 46 , which is next to Step S 30 . This is because, unlike a soccer game, it is only necessary for a baseball game to measure the duration of the game from the start to the end of the game and a slight discrepancy of time (of several seconds), if any, does not give rise to any problem.  
         [0134]     After the start of the game, the process of updating the game progress information at the time when an event takes place that is executed by the host  12  (Step S 48 ) and the process of transmitting information on the image captured by the camera  42  when the capturing operation is executed by the camera  42  (Step S 50 ) are repeated until the game ends (Step S 36 ).  
         [0135]     Events that take place in a baseball game include a score obtained by the scoring team and a change of the side of the batting team and that of the fielding team, which may take place to enter a new inning. Hits, outs, steals and replacements of players may also be treated as events.  
         [0136]     Otherwise, this specific example is identical with the first specific example and hence will not be described any further.  
       THIRD SPECIFIC EXAMPLE  
       [0137]     In this example, the embodiment of image capturing system is applied to an American football game, which is a program to be imaged. As seen from  FIG. 26 , the configuration of the image capturing system of this third specific example is similar to that of the image capturing system of the first specific example. However, for the operation of capturing images of an American football requires two different types of clocks, one for measuring the elapsed time from the start of the game and the official time that is stopped and restarted intermittently. Therefore, the clock section  32  of the host  12  and the clock section  62  of the camera  42  need to be adapted to measure these two types of time simultaneously.  
         [0138]     The operation of the image capturing system of this third specific example is substantially same as that of the image capturing system of the second specific example as shown in  FIG. 27 . However, in this specific example, Step S 48  of the second specific example is replaced by Step S 52 , where a process of updating the game progress information is executed by the host  12  when an event takes place. In the case of an American football game, such an event may be getting a score, turn over or the time of clock operation (starting timing or stopping timing).  
         [0139]     Then, in Step S 38 , a process of transmitting official results information of the game from the host  12  to each of the cameras  42  is executed by the host  12 . The official results information includes the elapsed time and the official time.  
         [0140]     While the present invention is described by way of an embodiment, the present invention is by no means limited to the above-described embodiment, which may be modified or altered in various different ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the progress information may be updated by the host  12  not each time when an event takes place but each time when a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Additionally, the host  12  records the image data for thumbnails and generates image authentication information and the image capturing terminal  10  embeds the image authentication information in the images only for the images captured between the start of a program, which may be a sporting game, and the end of the program in each of the above-described specific examples, similar processes may be executed for the images captured before the start of the program and after the end of the program.  
         [0141]     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative devices, and illustrated examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.