Automatic image data filing system using attribute information

An electronic image filing system includes an information detecting/reading system having a film image data capture unit for capturing an image of a photographic film having developed, and a film information detection unit for detecting photographing information recorded in the photographic film in a photographing operation. The electronic image filing system further includes a film driving unit for performing a frame feed operation, a wind/rewind operation, and the like with respect to the film, and a film image data storage/accumulation unit for adding the photographing information detected by the film information detection unit as attribute information to the photographic image data read by the film image data capture unit and then accumulating the resultant data. The photographing information includes information about the photographing date and time and a film cartridge, the frame number information, and the like. The image data read on the basis of the attribute information are systematically stored and accumulated in the film image data storage/accumulation unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an image filing system and, more 
particularly, to an electronic image filing system which automatically 
captures, e.g., image data of a film stored in a film cartridge using a 
scanner and which includes a film scanner for filing the image data using 
a computer. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Conventionally, as a kind of image filing system, a so-called film scanner 
which has an automatic film feed function for automatically feeding film 
to an illumination unit in sequence in units of frames and which can 
electronically read a film image has widely been known. 
For example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 5-145838 discloses a 
film player which reproduces a film piece and a film stored in a 
cartridge. 
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2-257760 discloses an image reading 
apparatus. This image reading apparatus is constituted by a tray for 
storing a film, as a transparent original, held on a slide mount, an 
illumination unit arranged below the tray, and a reading unit having a 
charge-coupled device (CCD) line sensor for reading a film image fed to 
the illumination unit, and the like. In this image reading apparatus, 
films respectively stored in a plurality of storing portions provided to 
the tray are automatically fed one by one to the illumination unit by an 
automatic film feed function to continuously and electronically read the 
film image. 
In the above-mentioned conventional image filing system, however, when the 
film image data electronically captured are stored and saved in an 
external storage device (e.g., a hard disk, an MO, a PD, a ZIP, or a 
CD-R), a file name must be designated for each captured image data, and 
the image filing system is not completely automatized. 
Further, in an image filing system of this type, if the file name of the 
filed image file is not significantly related to the contents of the image 
file, the filing system suffers very poor operability and usability in 
subsequent file retrieval. 
In addition, a CISC (Complexed Instruction Set Computer) type central 
processing unit (CPU) used in the conventional image filing system cannot 
input/output, by using the CPU ports, high-speed, complicated control 
signals such as a driving control signal for a CCD line sensor, and a 
control signal for controlling an interface circuit constituted by an 
amplifier for processing a read signal from the CCD line sensor, a 
clamping circuit, and an analog/digital (A/D) converter. At the same time, 
it is difficult for the CISC type central processing unit to execute 
output processing of a plurality of types of high-speed control signals 
for motor driver control of automatic frame feeding of a film and motor 
driver control of subscanning the CCD line sensor, and the like, data 
input processing, and further calculation processing of input data in a 
multi-task manner. 
For this reason, in the conventional image filing system, it is a common 
practice that a dedicated control integrated circuit (IC) is provided to 
control the CCD line sensor, the interface circuit, and the motor driver, 
and the CISC type CPU performs each control described above via this IC. 
As a result, in the conventional image filing system, the number of ICs to 
be mounted and the occupied area inevitably increase, which obstructs size 
and cost reductions of the whole system. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above 
disadvantages, and has as its object to provide an image filing system 
which realizes size and cost reductions and includes a film scanner 
capable of automatically capturing and automatically filing a large number 
of film images. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a convenient image 
filing system with good operability such that, by filing an image file 
with a file name significantly related to the contents thereof, in 
subsequent file retrieval, the number of image files to be retrieved can 
be decreased to a certain degree or the contents of the film image can be 
predicted to some extent on the basis of the given file name. 
According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic image 
file apparatus comprising: image capture means for capturing image data of 
a photographic film having developed; information reading means for 
reading photographing information recorded on the film in a photographing 
operation; and image data accumulation means for adding the photographing 
information read by the information reading means, as attribute 
information, to the image data of the film captured by the image capture 
means and then accumulating the image data. 
According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic image 
file apparatus comprising: image data capture means for capturing image 
data of a film; information detection means for detecting photographing 
date information recorded on the film; and accumulation means for adding 
the photographing date information detected by the information detection 
means, as attribute information, to the image data captured by the image 
data capture means and then accumulating the data. 
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of capturing 
and filing image data of a film in a computer system for executing 
processing of capturing and filing the image data, comprising the steps 
of: reading an image of a photographic film having developed; reading 
photographing information recorded on the photographic film in a 
photographing operation of the photographic film; and adding the read 
photographing information, as attribute information, to the read image of 
the photographic film and then accumulating the image. 
According to the present invention, there is provided an article of 
manufacture, comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer 
readable program code means stored to execute processing of capturing and 
filing image data of a film, wherein the computer readable program code 
means comprises: first computer readable program means for causing a 
computer to read an image of a photographic film having developed; second 
computer readable program means for causing the computer to read 
photographing information recorded on the photographic film in a 
photographing operation of the photographic film; and third computer 
readable program means for causing the computer to add the photographing 
information read by the computer in accordance with the second computer 
readable program means as attribute information to the image of the 
photographic film read by the computer in accordance with the first 
computer readable program means, and then to accumulate the image. 
Additional objects and 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. The objects 
and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of 
the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the 
appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments 
of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which 
like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout 
the several drawings. 
An image filing system of the present invention will be described in detail 
below by exemplifying a plurality of embodiments with reference to the 
accompanying drawings. 
(First Embodiment) 
FIG. 1 is a block diagrams showing the conceptional arrangement of an image 
filing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the image filing system of the present invention 
includes the following functional block. 
More specifically, this image filing system has an information detection 
read system 200 including a film image data capture unit 100 for 
electronically capturing an image of a photographic film F having 
developed and a film information detection unit 150 for detecting 
photographing information recorded on the photographic film F in a 
photographing operation, a film driving unit 300 for performing film 
feeding, wind/rewind driving, and the like with respect to the 
photographic film F, and a film image data storage/accumulation unit 400 
for adding the photographing information read by the film information 
detection unit 150, as attribution information, to the image data of the 
photographic film F read by the film image data capture unit 100, and 
storing and accumulating the resultant data. 
In this case, a storage medium 500, such as a floppy disk (FD) and a 
CD-ROM, loaded in the film image data storage/accumulation unit 400, which 
comprises a personal computer or the like, stores a series of computer 
readable programs including a predetermined processing procedure required 
for film image data storage/accumulation processing in the film image data 
storage/accumulation unit 400. 
The above-mentioned photographing information recorded on the photographic 
film F in a photographing operation is, e.g., photographing date 
information or photographing time information. 
In addition to the above information, information about a film cartridge 
storing the photographic film F, the film frame number information of the 
photographic film F, and the like may also be stored and accumulated in 
the film image data storage/accumulation unit 400 under systematic 
directory management. 
Note that these pieces of photographing information are magnetically or 
optically written in a predetermined portion of the photographic film F or 
the film cartridge storing the photographic film F. 
The film image data capture unit 100 reads the image data of the 
photographic film F with an optical image reading means. 
The film information detection unit 150 detects information recorded at the 
leading end of the photographic film F or, e.g., a magnetic recording area 
of each frame with a magnetic head. 
In this manner, image data in units of frames of the photographic film F 
upon a photographing operation are automatically captured in sequence by 
the film image data capture unit 100, and at the same time photographing 
information of a corresponding frame is detected by the film information 
detection unit 150. After adding the photographing information detected by 
the film information detection unit 150 as attribute information to the 
image data of the photographic film F captured by the film image data 
capture unit 100, the film image data storage/accumulation unit 400 
automatically stores and accumulates the resultant image data. 
More specifically, when the photographing information detected by the film 
information detection unit 150 is added as attribute information to the 
image data of the photographic film F captured by the film image data 
capture unit 100, and the resultant image data are automatically stored 
and accumulated, the film image data storage/accumulation unit 400 can 
give the recording unit image file a proper significant file name and file 
the image file in a predetermined directory. 
In later retrieval, therefore, on the basis of only the given file name, 
the number of target image files can be limited to a certain degree, and 
the contents of a file image can be predicted to some extent. 
In addition, the user can retrieve a desired image with good usability 
because the file can also be retrieved using a time stamp value (i.e., 
date and time) in the photographing operation as a sort key. 
By filing an image file with a file name significantly related to its 
contents, the present invention can provide a convenient image filing 
system having good operability in later file retrieval such that the 
number of image files to be retrieved is decreased to a certain degree or 
the contents of a film image are predicted to some extent, and having good 
usability when the user retrieves a desired image. 
(Second Embodiment) 
FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are views showing the second embodiment in which the 
image filing system according to the present invention is applied to a 
film scanner 600, as a detailed example. 
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the film scanner 600, and FIG. 3 is a side view 
thereof. 
FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining a film information detection 
unit around a cartridge holder 16 in FIG. 2. 
The film scanner 600 as the embodiment of the present invention shown in 
FIG. 2 includes an illumination means for illuminating a file original. 
As this illumination means, a light-emitting diode (LED), a fluorescent 
lamp (e.g., a thermionic cathode-ray tube or a cold cathode-ray tube), and 
the like can be used. In this embodiment, the entire surface of each frame 
of a film F is uniformly illuminated by a fluorescent lamp 1, a reflector 
2, and a diffusion plate 3. 
The fluorescent lamp 1 is inverter-driven by an illumination driving unit 
(an inverter circuit is used in this case) 4 at a frequency of about 100 
kHz, and driven for illumination at a period sufficiently shorter than the 
integrated action time of a CCD line sensor 7 (to be described later). 
A stepping motor driving unit 5 is a driving circuit for subscanning the 
film F as an original, and drives the CCD line sensor 7 with a stepping 
motor 6 via a CCD feed mechanism (to be described later) in the 
subscanning direction (vertical direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 
2). 
The CCD line sensor 7 itself is arranged along the main scanning direction 
perpendicular to the subscanning direction. 
A one-frame image signal corresponding to one frame of the film F is 
obtained by the CCD line sensor 7 upon one subscanning operation by the 
CCD feed mechanism. 
The CCD line sensor 7 is fixed to a line sensor carriage 8 which serves as 
a CCD feed mechanism, and the carriage 8 is threadably engaged with a feed 
screw 9, which is coupled to the stepping motor 6 by gears 10 and 11. 
With this arrangement, subscanning of the CCD line sensor 7 is performed in 
correspondence with the rotation amount of the stepping motor 6. 
The moving amount and position of the carriage 8 are obtained by a control 
unit 38 by counting the number of driving pulses of the stepping motor 6 
in synchronism with output signals of start and end photointerrupters 
(PIs) 12 and 15. 
The relative positions of the carriage 8, a lens system 28, and the 
cartridge holder 16 can be calculated on the basis of an adjustment value 
written in an EEPROM 50 and the number of driving pulses described above. 
It can be detected whether the PIs 12 and 15 are in a light-shielded state 
by light-shielding members 13 and 14 attached to the carriage 8 or in a 
non-light-shielded state. When the PIs 12 and 15 are light-shielded, the 
control unit 38 inhibits driving of the stepping motor 6 in the direction 
(direction to set the PIs in the light-shielded state) via the stepping 
motor driving unit 5. 
A film cartridge 40 in which the film F is wound is stored in the cartridge 
holder 16. 
The film F in the film cartridge 40 is wound on a spool 18 by a film 
driving motor 17, which is called "wind" of the film F. 
With this operation, a certain frame, of the film F, having an image to be 
captured by a scanner can be set. 
The film driving motor 17 is controlled by a film driving unit 19 via the 
control unit 38 to wind and "rewind" the film F. 
The driving amount of the film F is detected by small pulse outputs from a 
film perforation detection photo-reflector (PR) and a film driven PI. On 
the basis of this driving amount, film driving control is performed by the 
control unit 38 via the film driving unit 19. 
A detailed description of this film driving control will be described later 
with reference to FIG. 4. 
The cartridge holder 16 is threadably engaged with a feed screw 27 shown in 
FIG. 3, which is coupled to a stepping motor 20 by gears 22 and 21. 
With this mechanism, the frame of film F can be moved to a direction 
perpendicular to the subscanning direction. 
The moving amount and position of the cartridge holder 16 are obtained by 
the control unit 38 by counting the number of driving pulses of the 
stepping motor 20 in synchronism with output signals from start and end 
PIs 23 and 26. 
The relative position of the cartridge holder 16 with respect to the lens 
system 28 and an illumination optical system can be calculated by the 
control unit 38 on the basis of an adjustment value written in the EEPROM 
50 and the number of driving pulses. 
It can be detected whether the PIs 23 and 26 are in a light-shielded state 
due to light-shielding members 25 and 24 attached to the cartridge holder 
16 or in a non-light-shielded state. When the PIs 23 and 26 are 
light-shielded, the control unit 38 inhibits driving of the stepping motor 
20 in the direction (direction to set the PIs in the light-shielded state) 
via a cartridge holder driving unit 42. 
With a combination of the subscanning driving by the CCD feed mechanism and 
the vertical driving by the cartridge holder 16, the film scanner 600 of 
this embodiment can enlarge a desired trimming frame area in one frame of 
the film F via the lens system 28 serving as a zoom optical system, and 
can capture the frame as image data with hardly decreasing the resolution, 
while effectively using the main scanning area of the CCD line sensor 7. 
The frame of the film F is zoomed via the lens system 28 serving as the 
zoom optical system, and projected on the CCD line sensor 7. 
The lens system 28 as the zoom optical system is driven by driving a zoom 
motor 30 by the control unit 38 via a zoom driving unit 29. 
The zoom driving amount of the lens system 28 as the zoom optical system is 
set by a pulse output when a PI gear interlocked with the zoom motor 30 is 
rotated to set PIs 33 and 34 in the light-shielded or non-light-shielded 
state by a light-shielding plate 35 upon the rotation of the PI gear. 
In this case, the zoom value of the lens system 28 as the zoom optical 
system can be obtained by the control unit 38 by counting the number of 
pulses of a PI 32 in synchronism with output signals from the start and 
end PIs 33 and 34. 
The zoom value of the lens system 28 as the zoom optical system can be 
calculated by the control unit 38 on the basis of an adjustment value 
written in the EEPROM 50 and the number of driving pulses. 
Focusing of the lens system 28 as the zoom optical system is performed by 
driving a focus motor 52 by the control unit 38 via a focus adjustment 
unit 31. 
The zoom value of the lens system 28 as the zoom optical system, the 
setting value and subscanning driving amount of the cartridge holder 16, a 
main scanning capture pixel representing an effective frame data area, and 
a subscanning capture range are set by the user upon performing setting on 
the control window on a monitor using the keyboard of a PC (Personal 
Computer; to be described later). 
The control unit 38 on the film scanner 600 side recognizes the user's 
setting values on the PC 36 side via a communication unit 37 and controls 
the whole film scanner 600 on the basis of the communicated data. 
The control unit 38 controls transfer of digital image data obtained by 
processing an image signal from the CCD line sensor 7 by an A/D conversion 
unit 39, to the PC 36 via the communication unit 37. 
Note that the control unit 38 comprises a RISC type microcomputer (CPU). 
This RISC type microcomputer (CPU) is a so-called "Reduced Instruction Set 
Computer", which can execute one instruction at one clock of a clock 
oscillation frequency. 
In contrast to this, a conventional CPU is called a CISC (i.e., "Complexed 
Instruction Set Computer"), which requires four clocks to execute one 
instruction even in a high-speed operation. 
The conventional CISC type CPU cannot therefore input/output high-speed 
complicated control signals such as a driving control signal for the CCD 
line sensor and a control signal for controlling an interface circuit 
constituted by an amplifier, a clamping circuit, and an A/D converter, by 
utilizing the CPU ports. 
Further, it is difficult for the conventional CISC type CPU to execute 
output processing of a plurality of types of high-speed control signals 
for motor driver control, CCD control, and the like, data input 
processing, and calculation processing of input data in a multi-task 
manner. 
For this reason, it is a common practice in the conventional film scanner 
that a dedicated control IC for controlling the CCD line sensor, the 
interface IC, and the motor driver is arranged, and the CPU performs the 
respective control operations via this IC. As a result, the conventional 
film scanner requires a larger number of ICs to be mounted and a larger 
occupied area, which obstructs size and cost reductions of the film 
scanner. 
The embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the RISC 
type CPU is employed in consideration of the above problem. 
The above control signals are directly assigned to the I/O ports of the 
RISC type CPU to eliminate the external circuit. 
Consequently, according to the present invention, the number of components 
of the apparatus which constitute the system, and the total occupied area 
of the respective components are decreased, thereby realizing a compact 
film scanner at low cost. 
For the above purpose, the RISC type microcomputer of this embodiment 
performs predetermined control while generating various signals (not 
shown) as follows. 
That is, the various signals are mainly a stepping motor control signal, 
CCD control signals such as a read transfer pulse (.PHI.ROG), a shift 
clock (.PHI.CLK), and a reset pulse (.PHI.RS), control signals STOP, LOAD, 
UP/DOWN, and CK to set the gate of the amplifier for amplifying an output 
from the CCD line sensor, a control signal CMP for clamping the output 
level immediately after resetting the output from the CCD line sensor, a 
control signal S/H for sampling/holding the output level, a control signal 
BCMP for clamping the black level of the output from the CCD line sensor, 
and an A/D conversion timing control signal. The signals also include a 
control signal for data communication with the PC 36, and the like. The 
respective control signals, which are generated at the same time, are 
produced and identified in a software manner. 
The film scanner 600 is connected to the PC (Personal Computer) 36 via the 
bidirectional communication unit 37, and transmits captured image data to 
the PC 36 or captures a command from the PC 36 to perform a processing 
operation in accordance with the command request of the PC 36. 
The PC 36 includes a main body, a monitor, and an input operation keyboard. 
Further, the PC 36 incorporates a central processing unit (CPU) and an 
internal storage device (e.g., a hard disk or a RAM). The CPU performs 
predetermined processing for executing a predetermined series of 
processing steps required for film image data storage/accumulation 
processing of the main body in accordance with a computer readable program 
code means for executing the predetermined series of processing steps 
required for the film image data storage/accumulation processing shown in 
a flow chart (to be described later) stored in the computer readable 
storage medium 500, such as an FD or a CD-ROM, loaded in the main body. 
Further, the CPU performs predetermined processing with respect to 
peripheral devices such as the film scanner 600, a printer, an external 
storage device, and the like. The internal storage temporarily stores 
data. 
The film scanner 600 constituting the image filing system of the present 
invention, and the PC 36 may be connected using an SCSI, a PCI bus, an ISA 
bus, or the like. This embodiment however uses especially a printer port 
as a bidirectional communication means. 
As a result, bidirectional communication is possible only by connecting the 
film scanner 600 and the PC 36 via a printer cable without using any 
special interface board. 
In this system, therefore, the total system cost can be reduced, and the 
user easily connects the film scanner 600 and the PC 36 without any 
resource distribution setting work of the PC 36. 
FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing an electronic unit around the 
cartridge holder 16 of the film scanner 600. 
Information from the film cartridge 40 can be read by driving the stepping 
motor 20 by the cartridge holder driving unit 42 via the control unit 38 
and adjusting the film cartridge 40 to a predetermined position. 
More specifically, a circular data disk 49 is attached to the bottom 
portion of the film cartridge 40 in an interlocked manner with a film 
rotary shaft. The film F is rewound to rotate the data disk 49 and 
optically read its predetermined bar-code-shaped black-and-white pattern 
by a PR (Photo-Reflector) 51. 
The data disk 49 records "the number of frames" of a film stored in the 
film cartridge 40, "negative-positive information", "ISO information", and 
other information about the film cartridge. 
The film F has a magnetic track 47 formed in the longitudinal direction. 
While traveling the film F in a predetermined direction, information 
recorded on the magnetic track 47 is detected by a magnetic reproduction 
head 45 and transmitted to the control unit 38 via a magnetic reproduction 
circuit 41. 
The control unit 38 recognizes the magnetic information and sends it to the 
PC (Personal Computer) 36 via the communication unit 37. 
The PC 36 comprises a directly accessible storage medium such as a hard 
disk or a floppy disk serving as a film image data storage/accumulation 
means which can accumulate data sent from the film scanner 600 in 
accordance with a predetermined rule. 
As the magnetic information, the maker recognition code of the film 
cartridge 40 is recorded on the tongue portion (i.e., lead portion) of the 
film F. 
Each frame of the film F records the photographing date, the aspect ratio 
of the frame, the presence/absence of the use of the electronic flash, and 
other information, as photographing information upon using the film. 
The control unit 38 not only recognizes the recorded information but also 
can write and record management information (i.e., the number of prints, 
caption designation, a film cartridge management code, and a film frame 
album editing control code) about the frame of the film F on the magnetic 
track 47 via a magnetic write head 46. 
The read and write operations of the magnetic information are executed by 
the control unit 38 on the basis of timing signals from a PR 44 for 
detecting perforations 48 of the film F and a PI 43 for outputting a 
shorter pulse in response to the driving amount of the film F. 
Next, the operation of an embodiment in which the image filing system of 
the present invention is applied to a film scanner will be described with 
reference to FIG. 5 to FIGS. 7A and 7B, and FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D. 
FIG. 5 to FIGS. 7A to 7B are flow charts showing the operations of the film 
scanner 600 side and the PC 36 side which constitute the image filing 
system of this embodiment, respectively. 
FIGS. 8A to 8D exemplify display operation changes on the monitor display 
screen of the PC 36 which constitutes the image filing system of this 
embodiment. 
The operation of this embodiment according to the present invention will be 
described in detail below based on the reference numerals shown in FIGS. 
2, 3, and 4 described above. 
The flow chart in FIG. 5 represents the steps of a processing routine which 
is started when the film scanner 600 side is powered on. 
When the film scanner 600 is powered on, the processing is started from 
step S100 (S101). First, when the film cartridge 40 shown in FIG. 2 is 
loaded in the cartridge holder 16, a switch (not shown) for detecting the 
presence/absence of the film cartridge 40 is turned on, the control unit 
38 detects this change and advances to the next step S102. 
On the other hand, if the film cartridge 40 cannot be detected, the control 
unit 38 shifts to step S104. 
In step S102, when the film F comes out from the film cartridge 40, the 
control unit 38 performs "rewind processing" for storing the film F coming 
out in the film cartridge 40 by the film driving unit 19 (step S102). 
Note that whether the film F comes out from the film cartridge 40 may be 
determined by calculation comparison based on information about the 
current film frame count information stored in the EEPROM 50. 
In step S103, the control unit 38 continues the film rewind operation by 
the film driving unit 19 until the information of the data disk 49 is 
completely read via the PR (Photo-Reflector) 51. 
The read data of the data disk 49 are temporarily stored in the storage 
means (internal RAM) of the control unit 38 in FIG. 2, and at the same 
time transferred to the PC 36 via the communication unit 37 (step S103). 
After the information of the data disk 49 is completely read, while reading 
magnetic information recorded near the tongue portion of the film F via 
the magnetic reproduction circuit 41, the control unit 38 causes the film 
driving unit 19 to drive the film F to the first frame position and enable 
image data capture. 
The control unit 38 checks whether the film cartridge 40 is inserted (step 
S104). 
If the film cartridge 40 is inserted in this step for the first time, the 
control unit 38 performs "automatic load processing" (step S105). 
On the other hand, if it is determined that no new film cartridge 40 is 
inserted, the control unit 38 shifts to step S106 to wait a predetermined 
command input. 
That is, the control unit 38 detects whether a predetermined command is 
input from the PC 36 via the communication unit 37 (step S106). 
If YES in step S106, the control unit 38 executes "command processing" 
corresponding to this command (step S107). 
For example, assuming that an "image read command" to be described later is 
input, a command processing routine, shown in FIG. 6, for executing an 
operation of reading image information recorded on the film F from the 
first frame of the film F in units of frames is started. 
Upon completion of the image capture processing of the frames, the control 
unit 38 returns to the processing of step S104 described above and repeats 
similar determination. 
In contrast, if no predetermined command is input from the PC 36 in step 
S106, the control unit 38 returns to step S104, and the loop of checking 
whether the film cartridge 40 is inserted is repeated again to wait input 
of a predetermined command from the PC 36 or insertion of the film 
cartridge 40. 
The flow chart in FIG. 6 shows the "image capture command processing 
routine" on the film scanner 600 side when the "image capture command" 
described above is sent from the PC 36. 
More specifically, when the control unit 38 recognizes an image capture 
command transmitted to the film scanner 600 side in "transmission 
processing of an image capture command" in step S308 of FIG. 7A (to be 
described later), which processing is executed on the PC 36 side, the 
routine shown in FIG. 6 is called to execute a series of processing steps 
as follows (step S200). 
In capturing an image, the control unit 38 first executes initial setting 
of a zoom value, as "zoom processing", on the basis of predetermined 
command data (i.e., each capture parameter preset value) added to the 
command designated by the PC 36 (step S201). 
In this processing, the zoom value is initially set on a normal "wide" 
side. 
In capturing the image, the control unit 38 executes position setting of 
the cartridge holder 16 on the basis of each capture parameter preset 
value of the command data designated by the PC 36 (step S202). 
In this processing, the cartridge holder 16 is normally driven to adjust 
the position of the cartridge holder 16 such that the center of the frame 
of the film F matches with the optical axis of the illumination and 
photographing optical systems, as shown in FIG. 3. 
Subsequently, in capturing the image, the control unit 38 executes setting 
of the capture pixel pitch of the CCD line sensor 7 and setting of the 
capture unit step of the stepping motor 6 on the basis of the command data 
(i.e., each capture parameter preset value) designated by the PC 36 (step 
S203). 
In capturing the image, the control unit 38 executes setting of the capture 
effective image range on the basis of the command data (each capture 
parameter preset value) designated by the PC 36 (step S204). 
More specifically, the capture pixel range of the CCD line sensor 7 in the 
main scanning direction and the capture range of the stepping motor 6 in 
the subscanning direction are set. 
It is assumed that the entire frame of the film F is normally designated as 
the capture frame range. 
In capturing the image, the control unit 38 executes setting of the optimum 
values of R, G, and B gains having set on the basis of maker information 
and the negative-positive information of the film F based on the command 
data (each capture parameter preset value) designated by the PC 36 (step 
S205). 
In capturing the image, the control unit 38 executes setting of the optimum 
value of the reference voltage of the A/D converter for the R, G, and B 
gains having set on the basis of maker information and the 
negative-positive information of the command data (i.e., each capture 
parameter preset value) designated by the PC 36 (step S206). 
With this setting, the optimum gamma characteristics and the optimum 
quantization can be realized in processing an image signal from the CCD 
line sensor 7. 
Finally, the control unit 38 executes image capture processing on the basis 
of each setting described above (step S207). 
More specifically, upon detecting a transmission enable signal supplied 
from the PC 36 via the communication unit 37, the control unit 38 drives 
the stepping motor 6 via the stepping motor driving unit 5 in units of 
predetermined steps to receive a one-line output from the CCD line sensor 
7. 
Then, the control unit 38 sequentially transmits the captured one-line 
image data to the PC 36 side via the communication unit 37. 
The control unit 38 checks whether the current frame is the final frame of 
the film F, and if YES, advances to step S208 to end this processing 
routine and return to the former processing (step S208). 
On the other hand, if the current frame is not the final frame, the control 
unit 38 may shift to the above-described processing in step S204 to 
repeatedly execute a similar series of processing steps. 
The flow chart in FIG. 7A shows the procedure steps of "automatic filing 
processing" to be performed on the PC 36 side. 
When an "automatic filing command" is selected from the menu on the monitor 
screen of the PC 36 by double-clicking an input operation mouse (not 
shown), the PC 36 starts the automatic filing processing from the 
following step S300 (step S300). 
First, after transmitting a "cartridge information transfer command" to the 
film scanner 600 side, the PC 36 receives film cartridge information from 
the film scanner 600 and ensures a required memory area space in 
consideration of the capture frame count designation value and the film 
frame count in the cartridge (step S301). 
Subsequently, the PC 36 checks whether the required memory area space is 
ensured (step S302). 
If the required space cannot be ensured, the PC 36 outputs and displays a 
predetermined "memory shortage warning display" on the monitor screen of 
the PC 36 (step S303), and this processing routine is ended to return to 
the former processing (step S304). 
On the other hand, if the required memory area space is ensured, the PC 36 
transmits the capture frame number and a "frame feed command" to the 
scanner side to set the scanner so as to read the designated frame, and at 
the same time to cause the scanner to read the magnetic information 
corresponding to the target frame from the magnetic track 47 of the film F 
(step S305). 
Next, the PC 36 receives the magnetic information about the frame of the 
film F from the film scanner 600 side (step S306). 
This frame information includes the aspect information (e.g., "panorama", 
"high-vision", or "normal") of the film F used, and film frame information 
representing the photographing date, the presence/absence of the use of 
the electronic flash in a photographing operation, and the type of an 
external light source (e.g., a fluorescent lamp, a daylight lamp, or a 
tungsten lamp). 
Subsequently, the PC 36 forms the preset values (i.e., a read resolution 
designation value, an automatic exposure selection switch, a capture image 
area designation value, and the like) of image capture parameters on the 
basis of various types of frame information described above and the 
setting values (i.e., a read resolution designation value, a resolution 
fixing/non-fixing selection switch, an automatic exposure selection 
switch, a capture image area designation value, and the like) of the 
automatic filing control panel (step S307). 
The PC 36 transmits the image capture command and the preset values of the 
image capture parameters to the film scanner 600 side (step S308). 
The PC 36 detects whether the film scanner 600 can perform image capture, 
and if YES, outputs a so-called "transmission enable signal" to the film 
scanner 600 side to capture one-line image data from the film scanner 600 
in accordance with a predetermined "handshake" defined between the PC 36 
and the film scanner 600, and to display this image data on the monitor 
(step S309). 
That is, the PC 36 outputs and displays the image data captured from the 
film scanner 600 side to and on thumbnail display windows, as shown in 
FIGS. 8A to 8D, on the monitor of the PC 36 in units of lines. 
With such display, the "impatient" feeling of the user due to the waiting 
time during the execution of automatic filing can be released, and the 
systematic image filing system having good operability can be provided. 
Note that the case wherein the image data are displayed in units of lines 
has been exemplified. However, the image data may be displayed in units of 
several lines as far as the above object is attained. 
Next, the PC 36 performs systematic filing processing (to be described 
later) with respect to a predetermined internal or external storage device 
existing in the PC 36 side on the basis of the image data and the film 
information which are sent from the scanner (step S310). 
The PC 36 checks whether the image data is the final data of the frame 
subjected to processing (step S311), and if YES, advances to processing in 
step S312. 
If NO, the PC 36 returns to the processing in step S309 and repeats similar 
processing as described above (step S311). 
In step S312, the PC 36 checks whether the filing processing is ended (step 
S312). 
If the filing processing is ended, the PC 36 returns to a predetermined 
control routine (not shown; step S313). 
In contrast, if the filing processing is not ended yet, the PC 36 returns 
to the above processing in step S305 and repeats a similar series of 
processing steps. 
FIG. 7B is a flow chart showing a detailed processing procedure of the 
filing processing in step S310 of FIG. 7A. 
First, in step S401, the PC 36 receives attribute information to be applied 
to the image data on the basis of a keyboard input of the operator. 
The attribute information to be applied to the image data includes the 
photographing date and time information, the film frame number 
information, the cartridge identifier (random ID code) as random code 
information, the cartridge number, the data capture time information on 
the PC 36, and the like, as described above. 
In step S402, the PC 36 checks whether the random ID code is selected as 
the attribute information to be applied to the image data. 
If YES in step S402, the PC 36 advances to processing in step S403, and if 
NO, it advances to step S404. 
In step S403, the PC 36 generates a cartridge identifier ID (random ID 
code) as the random code information. 
In step S404, the PC 36 checks whether the data capture time information on 
the PC 36 is selected as the attribute information to be applied to the 
image data. 
If YES in step S404, the PC 36 advances to processing in step S405, and if 
NO, it advances to step S406. 
In step S405, the PC 36 receives the internal timer information of the PC 
36 as the data capture time information on the PC 36. 
Since this case is based on the assumption that the random ID code is 
selected in step S402 or the data capture time information on the PC 36 is 
selected in step S405, at least either information is selected in the two 
steps. 
In step S406, the PC 36 links the attribute information selected as 
described above and the image data. In step S407, the resultant data is 
stored in a predetermined memory area of the PC 36. 
Then, in step S408, the PC 36 returns to the former processing routine. 
FIG. 9 shows the data structure of an example of filed image data captured, 
stored, and accumulated in the recording means by the image filing system 
of the present invention. 
That is, FIG. 9 represents how the captured image data are filed in the 
above-mentioned processing in step S301 and steps S401 to S408 of FIGS. 7A 
and 7B. 
More specifically, one example shown in FIG. 9 is the first example in 
which photographing dates (.Yen.95-10-26, .Yen.95-10-31, . . . , 
.Yen.95-11-03) are defined as directory names which belong to the root 
directory, photographing times (.Yen.11-10-01, .Yen.11-14-02, . . . , 
.Yen.08-10-25) are defined as file names, and respective corresponding 
film image data are filed. 
Such classification into the directory and file names is due to limitations 
on the number of name characters to eight characters in half size, like in 
a predetermined operating system (OS; e.g., DOS). 
When the number of characters is limited to 256 in half size, like in a 
predetermined OS having a window function, the photographing date and time 
are filed as a file name on the root directory, as a matter of course. 
In the above image filing system, since the film information is 
automatically added by the camera used in a photographing operation. By 
properly utilizing this added information, data can be automatically filed 
in a systematic manner without bothering the user. Further, since film 
information is given a name closely related to the filed image 
information, this image filing system is very preferable for a man-machine 
interface between the user and the system. 
By filing data in this manner, the user can easily estimate the contents of 
a file only by checking its file name among an enormous amount of capture 
image information. In addition, no special so-called "file viewer" and the 
like are required, and desired image data can be retrieved based on only 
the file name. 
According to this embodiment, therefore, the image filing system having 
good usability and good operability can be provided. 
(Modifications) 
The file name shown in FIG. 9 is constituted by the time information and 
the frame number. However, since a user, who does not perform a 
photographing operation such as continuous photography and snapshot, will 
not take a plurality of pictures per minute, the file name constituted by 
only the "time" is sufficiently practical in a normal case. 
If continuous photography is performed, however, files having the same file 
name may be formed only with the time information, and the image data may 
be overwritten with new image data. Therefore, in this modification, such 
a disadvantage is eliminated by constituting the file name with the time 
information including the second, and the frame number information. 
The present invention may be properly modified in accordance with the use 
form. 
Similarly, FIG. 10 shows the second modification of the captured image data 
filing according to the image filing system of the present invention. 
In this modification, overwriting of image data is prevented by producing a 
predetermined "identifier" at the start of automatic filing processing of 
the film and adding the identifier to produce a unique file name. 
In this system, although the identifier may be generated for each captured 
image data, the identifier described in this modification is formed of 
three predetermined letters (e.g., KUN and SHI) and a film frame number in 
the above-mentioned "capture parameter preset value forming processing" in 
step S307 of FIG. 7A. When the presence of files having the same file name 
is detected in the same directory (.Yen.95-10-26, .Yen.95-10-31, or 
.Yen.95-11-01), the above identifier is changed to another identifier. 
By performing filing processing in this manner, the system in which the 
number of types of identifiers which are meaningful but not significantly 
related to each image data is prevented from increasing can be realized. 
The image filing system having good usability in terms of file management 
can be provided. 
FIG. 11 shows the third modification of the captured image data filing 
according to the image filing system of the present invention. 
More specifically, in this modification, overwriting of image data is 
prevented by producing a film cartridge number as the above identifier, 
adding the identifier to a certain file, and generating a unique file 
name. 
In this modification, the identifier is constituted by one letter (F) and a 
film cartridge number formed of four digits (0011, 0012). This identifier 
is changed to another identifier for each film cartridge. 
This identifier is written in a portion near the film tongue portion in 
"film rewind processing" (not shown) which is performed upon completion of 
the processing in FIG. 7A. 
With this processing, the image filing system having good usability because 
of the file name corresponding to the film cartridge can be provided. 
Similarly, the modification shown in FIG. 11 utilizes the film cartridge 
number as a file name. The "thumbnail display window" output and displayed 
on the monitor screen of the PC 36 side in the above processing step of 
"memory shortage display on PC monitor" as step S303 in FIG. 7A is also 
automatically output and displayed upon completion of the processing 
routine in FIG. 7A. Therefore, the information about the film cartridge 
and the information about the memory can be immediately confirmed. 
According to this modification, the file formation system having good 
usability can be provided for an automatic thumbnail display screen. 
FIG. 12 shows the fourth modification of the captured image data filing 
according to the image filing system of the present invention. 
More specifically, in this modification, overwriting of image data due to 
generation of files having the same file name can be prevented by 
utilizing the capture time information (e.g., 16:20'01 to 18;11'25) of the 
PC as the identifier for the above-mentioned object. 
FIG. 13 shows the fifth modification of the captured image data filing 
according to the image filing system of the present invention. 
More specifically, in this modification, this system automatically utilizes 
the capture time information on the PC 36 side when no film information is 
recorded. 
Since the photographing time information and the image capture time 
information are normally changed in units of months, if no film 
information is obtained, the capture time information (e.g., 11:10'01 to 
08:10'25) on the PC 36 side can be sufficiently used to realize the object 
of the present invention. 
In this case, it is set that the photographing time information and the 
capture time information on the PC 36 side are distinguished from each 
other using a hyphen (-) and a slant (/). For example, time information 
hh:mm'nn is automatically converted into a file name .Yen.hh/mm/nn, and 
the obtained file name is used. 
That is, in this modification, the file name is improved to reduce the 
disorder of file names even when a large number of files mixedly exist. 
(Another Modification) 
Note that the operating system (OS) for system control in the image filing 
system of the present invention is not limited to a specific OS and can 
use such an OS which provides an environment having a predetermined window 
function and a database function. 
Moreover, the present invention can be modified without departing from the 
spirit and scope of the present invention. 
A plurality of embodiments have been described above. This specification 
incorporates the following inventions. 
(1) There is provided an image filing system characterized by comprising: 
an image capture means for capturing an image of a photographic film having 
developed; 
an information reading means for reading photographing information recorded 
on the film in a photographing operation; and 
an image data accumulation means for adding the read photographing 
information, as attribute information, to the captured film image and then 
accumulating the image. 
(2) The image filing system defined in (1) is characterized in that the 
photographing information recorded in the photographing operation is 
photographing date information or photographing time information. 
(3) The image filing system defined in (1) is characterized in that the 
photographing information recorded in the photographing operation includes 
at least film cartridge information and film frame count information. 
(4) There is provided an image filing system characterized by comprising: 
an image data capture means for capturing image data of a film; 
an information detection means for detecting photographing date information 
recorded on the film; and 
an accumulation means for adding the detected photographing date 
information, as attribute information, to the captured image data and then 
accumulating the data. 
(5) There is provided an image filing system characterized by comprising: 
an image data capture means for capturing image data of a film; 
an information detection means for detecting photographing date information 
and photographing time information which are recorded on the film; and 
an accumulation means for adding the detected photographing date 
information as first attribute information and the photographing time 
information as second attribute information to the captured image data and 
then accumulating the data. 
(6) There is provided an image filing system characterized by comprising: 
an image data capture means for capturing image data of a film; 
an information detection means for detecting photographing date 
information, photographing time information, and film frame count 
information which are recorded on the film; and 
an accumulation means for adding the detected photographing date 
information as first attribute information and the photographing time 
information and the film frame count information as second attribute 
information to the captured image data and then accumulating the data. 
(7) There is provided an image filing system characterized by comprising: 
an image data capture means for capturing image data of a film; 
an information detection means for detecting photographing date 
information, photographing time information, and film frame count 
information which are recorded on the film; 
a film cartridge identification information generation means for generating 
predetermined film cartridge identification information; and 
an accumulation means for adding the detected photographing date 
information, the film cartridge identification information, and the film 
frame count information as attribute information to the captured image 
data and then accumulating the data. 
(8) There is provided an image filing system characterized by comprising: 
an image data capture means for capturing image data of a film; 
an information detection means for detecting photographing date information 
and film frame count information which are recorded on the film; 
a randomized identification information generation means for generating 
predetermined randomized identification information; and 
an accumulation means for adding the detected photographing date 
information, the randomized identification information, and the film frame 
count information as attribute information to the captured image data and 
then accumulating the data. 
(9) There is provided an image filing system characterized by comprising: 
a film image data capture means; 
a film information detection means for detecting photographing date 
information of a film; and 
a storage/accumulation means for storing and accumulating the captured film 
image data, 
wherein the storage/accumulation means uses the photographing date as a 
directory name and stores and accumulates the captured image information 
in correspondence with the directory name. 
(10) There is provided an image filing system characterized by comprising: 
a film image data capture means; 
a film information detection means for detecting photographing date and 
time information of a film; and 
a storage/accumulation means for storing and accumulating the captured 
image data, 
wherein the storage/accumulation means uses the photographing date as a 
directory name and the photographing time as a file name, and stores and 
accumulates the captured image data in correspondence with the directory 
name and the file name. 
(11) There is provided an image filing system characterized by comprising: 
a film image data capture means; 
a film information detection means for detecting photographing date and 
time information of a film; and 
a storage/accumulation means for storing and accumulating the captured film 
image data, 
wherein the storage/accumulation means uses the photographing date as a 
directory name and both the photographing time and a film frame number as 
a file name, and stores and accumulates the captured image in 
correspondence with the directory name and the file name. 
(12) There is provided an image filing system characterized by comprising: 
a film image data capture means; 
a film information detection means for detecting photographing date and 
time information of a film; 
a storage/accumulation means for storing and accumulating the captured film 
image data; and 
a film cartridge identifier generation means for generating a predetermined 
cartridge identifier, 
wherein the storage/accumulation means stores and accumulates the captured 
image in correspondence with a file name constituted by the photographing 
date, the cartridge identifier, and a film frame number. 
(13) There is provided an image filing system characterized by comprising: 
a film image data capture means; 
a film information detection means for detecting photographing date 
information of a film; 
a storage/accumulation means for storing and accumulating the captured film 
image data; and 
a randomized identifier generation means for generating a predetermined 
random identifier, 
wherein the storage/accumulation means stores and accumulates the captured 
image in correspondence with a file name constituted by the photographing 
date, the identifier, and the film frame number. 
(14) There is provided an image filing system characterized by comprising: 
a film image data capture means; 
a capture time information detection means for detecting captured date and 
time information of image data of a film; 
a storage/accumulation means for storing and accumulating the captured film 
image data; and 
a randomized identifier generation means for generating a predetermined 
random identifier, 
wherein the storage/accumulation means stores and accumulates the captured 
image in correspondence with a file name constituted by at least the 
capture time information. 
As has been described above, the image filing system of the present 
invention can provide the following effects. 
That is, for example, the filing processing can be automatized by filing 
captured image data in correspondence with the directory name and the file 
name based on film frame information such as the photographing date and 
time. In addition, since the file name is significantly related to the 
image data contents, the user easily retrieves desired image data with 
good usability. 
Since no special file viewer is required in retrieving the image data, and 
the contents of the image can be estimated from its name, the image can be 
detected and selected at a high speed with good usability. 
Further, since the number of desired images and that of desired files can 
be easily limited with the file manager of a processing unit, e.g., that 
of a normal PC, the filing system is not influenced by the type of an OS 
or the environment, is hardly limited in practical use, and has good 
usability. 
In a data file structure stored and accumulated by the image filing system 
of the present invention, for example, image data can be accessed using 
the photographing time stamp value as a sort key. The image filing system 
which can automatically generate file management information in 
consideration of a man-machine interface convenient for the user can be 
provided. 
Additional embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those 
skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of 
the present invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the 
specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with the true 
scope of the present invention being indicated by the following claims.