Abstract:
An image pickup apparatus comprising an image pickup device, a recording device, a display device, a communication device connectable to a plurality of image pickup apparatuses, an allotting device for allotting unique apparatus information to image data and a control device for controlling the display device to display image data received by the communication device and image data recorded by the recording device in different display configuration, with the unique apparatus information and specific information specifying the image data so that the image data received by the communication device and image data recorded by the recording device can be distinguished from one another.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, an image data display method for the same, a program for implementing the method, and a storage medium storing the program, and in particular to an image pickup apparatus that displays image data transferred (copied or moved) between image pickup apparatuses, an image data display method for the same, a program for implementing the method, and a storage medium storing the program. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, many image pickup apparatuses equipped with communication sections have been proposed. 
     Conventional image pickup apparatuses, such as silver film cameras, cannot copy photographed image data on the spot, and therefore the photographed image data have to be developed and printed before being exchanged. 
     However, in the case of image pickup apparatuses such as digital cameras, it is possible to connect a plurality of imaging apparatuses together via communication sections and directly transfer, that is, copy, swap, or move digital image data of photographed images between the plurality of image pickup apparatuses. 
     For this reason, it has become common for digital image data to be copied between image pickup apparatuses. 
     A technology has been disclosed (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H10-187932) that, in the case where digital image data of an image photographed by an image pickup apparatus is transferred to a personal computer, edited, and then sent back to the image pickup apparatus, a mark (“process flag”) showing that editing has been performed is added to digital image data so that during display it is possible to distinguish between original digital image data and the edited digital image data. However, copied digital image data copied from a digital image data of an image pickup apparatus is not distinguished from such the digital image data of the image pickup apparatus, so that the copied digital image data cannot be displayed distinguishably from the digital image data. 
     In this way, after a plurality of image pickup apparatuses have been interconnected via communication sections and digital image data has been copied between the image pickup apparatuses, when the digital image data is displayed on a particular image pickup apparatus, it is not possible for users to easily distinguish which digital image data was photographed with the particular image pickup apparatus and which digital image data was photographed by another image pickup apparatus and hence it is difficult for users to sort and view the digital image data. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an image pickup apparatus and an image data display method for the same that are capable of easily displaying in a distinguishable manner image data when the image data is photographed by a plurality of image pickup apparatuses, transferred (copied or moved) between the image pickup apparatuses and displayed by one image pickup apparatus, as well as a program for implementing the method and a storage medium storing the program. 
     To attain the above object, in a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus comprising an image pickup device, a recording device that records image data photographed by the image pickup device, a display device that displays the image data recorded by the recording device, a communication device that is connectable to a plurality of image pickup apparatuses, for transmitting and receiving the recorded image data, an allotting device that allots unique apparatus information for identifying the image pickup apparatus to the photographed image data, and a control device that provides control to cause the display device to display the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device, using the unique apparatus information, in a manner such that the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device can be distinguished from one another. 
     Preferably, the control device provides control to cause the display device to display the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device, with frames of respective different colors added thereto. 
     Preferably, the control device provides control to cause the display device to display the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device, with icons different from each other added thereto. 
     Preferably, the control device provides control to cause the display device to display only selected image data out of the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device. 
     Preferably, the control device provides control to cause the display device to display only image data photographed by a same image pickup apparatus as selected image data out of the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device. 
     Preferably, the image pickup apparatus comprises an image number allotting device that allots an image number for identifying image data to the photographed image data. 
     More preferably, the control device is operable when image data is received by the communication device after the image number has been allotted to the photographed image data by the image number allotting device, to provide control to cause the image number allotting device to allot an image number different from the image number allotted to the photographed image data to the received image data and then record the received image data in the recording device. 
     More preferably, the control device is operable when a photographic operation is carried out to produce image data after the image number has been allotted to the image data received by the communication device by the image number allotting device, to provide control to cause the image number allotting device to allot an image number different from the image number allotted to the image data recorded by the recording device to the image data produced by the photographic operation and then record the photographed image data in the recording device. 
     More preferably, the control device provides control such that a new image number allotted to the received image data by the image number allotting device is incorporated as part of a file name of the received image data and the received image data is recorded in the recording device. 
     More preferably, the control device is operable when a same image number has been allotted to the received image data and the recorded image data, to provide control to compare at least one of respective photographed times, data sizes, and image data contents of the received image data and the recorded image data. 
     To attain the above object, in a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of causing an image pickup apparatus to display image data, the image pickup apparatus including an image pickup device, a recording device that records image data photographed by the image pickup device, a display device that displays the image data recorded by the recording device, a communication device that is connectable to a plurality of image pickup apparatuses, for transmitting and receiving the recorded image data, the method comprising, an allotting step of allotting unique apparatus information for identifying the image pickup apparatus to the photographed image data, and a control step of providing control to cause the display device to display the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device, using the unique apparatus information, in a manner such that the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device can be distinguished from one another. 
     Preferably, the control step comprises providing control to cause the display device to display the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device, with frames of respective different colors added thereto. 
     Preferably, the control step comprises providing control to cause the display device to display the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device, with icons different from each other added thereto. 
     Preferably, the control step comprises providing control to cause the display device to display only selected image data out of the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device. 
     Preferably, the control step comprises providing control to cause the display device to display only image data photographed by a same image pickup apparatus as selected image data out of the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device. 
     Preferably, the method of displaying image data comprises an image number allotting step of allotting an image number for identifying image data to the photographed image data. 
     More preferably, when image data is received by the communication device after the image number has been allotted to the photographed image data in the image number allotting step, in the control step, control is provided to cause the image number allotting step to allot an image number different from the image number allotted to the photographed image data to the received image data and then record the received image data in the recording device. 
     More preferably, when a photographic operation is carried out to produce image data after the image number has been allotted to the image data received by the communication device in the image number allotting step, in the control step, control is provided to cause the image number allotting step to allot an image number different from the image number allotted to the image data recorded by the recording device to the image data produced by the photographic operation and then record the photographed image data in the recording device. 
     More preferably, the control step comprises providing control such that a new image number allotted to the received image data in the image number allotting step is incorporated as part of a file name of the received image data and the received image data is recorded in the recording device. 
     More preferably, when a same image number has been allotted to the received image data and the recorded image data, in the control step, control is provided to compare at least one of respective photographed times, data sizes, and image data contents of the received image data and the recorded image data. 
     To attain the above object, in a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable control program for causing a computer to implement a method of controlling an image pickup apparatus including an image pickup device, a recording device that records image data photographed by the image pickup device, a display device that displays the image data recorded by the recording device, a communication device that is connectable to a plurality of image pickup apparatuses, for transmitting and receiving the recorded image data, the program comprising, an allotting module for allotting unique apparatus information for identifying the image pickup apparatus to the photographed image data, and a control module for providing control to cause the display device to display the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device, using the unique apparatus information, in a manner such that the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device can be distinguished from one another. 
     To attain the above object, in a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a computer-readable control program for causing a computer to implement a method of controlling an image pickup apparatus including an image pickup device, a recording device that records image data photographed by the image pickup device, a display device that displays the image data recorded by the recording device, a communication device that is connectable to a plurality of image pickup apparatuses, for transmitting and receiving the recorded image data, the program comprising, an allotting module for allotting unique apparatus information for identifying the image pickup apparatus to the photographed image data, and a control module for providing control to cause the display device to display the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device, using the unique apparatus information, in a manner such that the image data received by the communication device from respective ones of the plurality of image pickup apparatuses and the image data recorded by the recording device can be distinguished from one another. 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the construction of an image pickup apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a front side thereof; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the image pickup apparatus of  FIG. 1  as viewed from a rear side thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a view showing an example of display of digital image data by the image pickup apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view showing an image of the digital image data displayed in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing the internal construction of the image pickup apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 6A to 6E  are diagrams collectively showing a digital image data management method for digital image data photographed by a plurality of image pickup apparatuses according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing a flow of photographic operations carried out by a plurality of image pickup apparatuses according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing when a copy operation for image data of one image; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram showing an example of the connection between digital cameras; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are flowchart showing the procedure of processing when a copy operation is carried out; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing when a photographic operation is carried out; 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing when a copy operation is carried out; 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram showing digital image data managed by a transfer destination digital camera; 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing when digital image data is displayed; 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing when one image is displayed according to a display image number; 
         FIG. 16  is a view showing an example of display of digital image data by an image pickup apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a an view showing on an enlarged scale an image of the digital image data displayed in  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram showing a state where an icon “My Camera” has been selected from the image display state in  FIG. 16  so that only icons of all the digital image data photographed by the user of the present digital camera and currently stored in the recording medium  109  are displayed; 
         FIG. 19  is a diagram showing a state where a list of device numbers and user names of digital image data recorded in the recording medium  109  is displayed on the display section  107 ; and 
         FIG. 20  is a diagram showing a state where icons of only digital image data photographed by digital cameras for which the display valid state checkbox  1901  is selected in the screen shown in  FIG. 19 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments thereof. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the construction of a digital camera as an image pickup apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a front side thereof, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the digital camera of  FIG. 1  as viewed from a rear side thereof. 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , reference numeral  100  designates a digital camera main body (image pickup apparatus main body),  101  a shutter button for photographic operations,  102  a lens barrel that includes lenses,  103  an optical finder for photographic operations,  104  a flash emitting section,  105  a communication connector,  106  an internal microphone for recording audio,  107  a display section implemented by a TFT liquid crystal display device or the like that displays various kinds of information and photographed digital image data,  108  various operating switches (an operating section),  109  a recording medium (recording section) that records photographed digital image data, and  110  an internal speaker for reproducing audio and operation sounds. 
       FIG. 3  is a view showing an example of display of digital image data by the image pickup apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  shows the digital camera  100  as viewed from the display section  107  side (the rear side). 
     In  FIG. 3 , the operating switches  108  include a reproduction operating button “PLAY”  301  for reproducing digital images, a menu operating button “MENU”  302  for displaying various kinds of information, a first operating button “←BACK”  303  that selects digital image data or selects a menu item, a second operating button “SET”  304  that determines a selection of digital image data or a menu item selection, a third operating button “→FORWARD”  305  that selects digital image data or selects a menu item, a fourth operating button “MULTI”  306  that performs a switching operation between display of digital image data of one image and display of digital image data of multiple images on the display section  107 , and a fifth operating button “DEL”  307  that deletes designated digital image data. 
     In  FIG. 3 , digital image data of nine images is displayed on the display section  107 , with reference numeral  308  designating a first display row in the row direction, reference numeral  309  designating a second display row, and reference numeral  310  designating a third display row. In the column direction, reference numeral  311  designates a first column, reference numeral  312  designates a second column, and reference numeral  313  designates a third column. The respective images are referred to using grid positions expressed in (row, column) format. That is, the upper left image is expressed as image ( 308 , 311 ), the lower right image is expressed as image ( 310 , 313 ), and the center image is expressed as image ( 309 , 312 ). 
     Also, in  FIG. 3 , reference numeral  314  designates a cursor for selecting digital image data selection. Reference numeral  315  designates a scroll bar that indicates an approximate position of the digital image data presently being displayed within all of the digital image data recorded in the digital camera  100 . 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of image ( 309 , 312 ), out of the digital image data displayed by the display section  107  in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 4 , image ( 309 , 311 ), or a succeeding image, image ( 309 , 313 ), according to an operation of the first operating button  303  or the third operating button  305 . Reference numeral  401  designates a color frame that identifies the digital camera that photographed the digital image data being displayed, and reference numeral  402  designates an image of the digital image data. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing the internal construction of the digital camera  100 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , reference numeral  100   a  designates another digital camera and reference numeral  105   a  designates a connection line to the digital camera  100   a.    
     Also, reference numeral  500  designates a microcomputer (control section),  501  a flash ROM (read only memory),  502  a memory,  503  a lens control section,  504  an aperture control section,  505  a shutter control section,  506  an image pickup element control section,  507  a first (image) A/D conversion section,  508  an image processing section,  509  a second (audio) A/D conversion section, and  510  a first signal processing section. Reference numeral  511  designates a second signal processing section,  512  a display control section,  513  a third signal processing section,  514  a D/A conversion section, and  515  a communication control section. 
     In  FIG. 5 , various control programs stored in the flash ROM  501  are executed by the microcomputer  500 . 
     When the microcomputer  500  executes a control program with a still image photography function that is stored in the flash ROM  501 , if the shutter button  101  is pressed, image data is read from an image pickup element by the lens control section  503 , the aperture control section  504 , and the image pickup element control section  506 , focus information and exposure information are calculated by the first A/D conversion section  507  and the image processing section  508 , and the lens barrel  102  is operated to perform focusing (auto-focus) and set the exposure (auto exposure). Once preparations for photography have been completed in this way, exposure of the image pickup element is carried out by the aperture control section  504  and the shutter control section  505  using a predetermined exposure control value. Image data produced by the exposure of the image pickup element is read from the image pickup element by the image pickup element control section  506 , the read analog data is converted into digital data by the first A/D conversion section  507 , and digital image data is generated by the image processing section  508 . This digital image data is temporarily stored in the memory  502  and is stored in the recording medium  109  thereafter. 
     According to settings made when a photographic operation is carried out, the digital image data stored in the memory  502  can be converted into display data by the second signal processing section  511  and displayed on the display section  107  by the display control section  512 . The digital camera  100  is also able to photograph and reproduce moving images. 
     When the microcomputer  500  executes a control program with a moving image photography function stored in the flash ROM  501 , if the shutter button  101  is pressed, image data is read from the image pickup element by the lens control section  503 , the aperture control section  504 , and the image pickup element control section  506 , focus information and exposure information are calculated by the first (image) A/D conversion section  507  and the image processing section  508 , the lens barrel  102  is operated to perform focusing (auto-focus) and set the exposure (auto exposure), and exposure of the image pickup element is carried out by the aperture control section  504  and the shutter control section  505  using a predetermined exposure control value. The image data produced by the exposure of the image pickup element is read from the image pickup element by the image pickup element control section  506 , the read analog data is converted into digital data by the first (image) A/D conversion section  507 , and digital image data is generated by the image processing section  508 . This digital image data is temporarily stored in the memory  502  and is stored in the recording medium  109  thereafter as moving image data. 
     Audio data that is inputted from the internal microphone  106  in synchronization with the photographing of images is converted from analog data to digital data by the second (audio) A/D conversion section  509 , and after a filtering process has been carried out by the first signal processing section  510 , the digital data is temporarily stored in the memory  502 . The audio data stored in the memory  502  is stored in the recording medium  109  together with the moving image data. While the shutter button  101  is depressed, images are sequentially read in synchronization with predetermined timing (frame rate) to photograph moving images. 
     When moving images are being photographed, focus information and exposure information are calculated from the photographed image data, and the lens barrel  102  is moved to continuously perform focusing (auto-focus) and set the exposure (auto exposure). 
     When the microcomputer  500  executes a control program with a moving image reproduction function stored in the flash ROM  501 , if the operating switches  108  are selectively operated, moving image data recorded in the recording medium  109  is temporarily written in the memory  502  and the image data is converted into display data by the second signal processing section  511  in synchronization with predetermined timing (frame rate) and is displayed on the display section  107  by the display control section  512 . 
     Audio data is subjected to signal processing for reproduction by the third signal processing section  513  in synchronization with the image data, is converted into an analog signal by the D/A conversion section  514  and is reproduced by the internal speaker  110 . 
     Also, when the microcomputer  500  executes a control program with a communication function stored in the flash ROM  501 , the communication control section  515  performs communication with the other digital camera  100   a  via the communication connector  105  and connection line  105   a , to transfer and copy image data. 
     Next, a management method for digital image data photographed by a plurality of digital cameras will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6A to 6E  and  FIG. 7 . 
       FIGS. 6A to 6E  are diagrams showing the management method for digital image data photographed by a plurality of digital cameras according to the present embodiment. In  FIGS. 6A to 6E , a digital camera ( 1 )  601 , a digital camera ( 2 )  602 , a digital camera ( 3 )  603 , a digital camera ( 4 )  604 , and a digital camera ( 6 )  605  store respective device numbers unique thereto. The digital cameras ( 1 )  601  to ( 5 )  605  correspond to the digital camera  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
     When photography is performed by the respective digital cameras ( 1 )  601  to ( 5 )  605  according to the photographic operation described above and digital image data is recorded in the respective recording media  109 , image numbers that are uniquely issued by respective the digital cameras are allotted to images so that digital images can be identified and managed using such image numbers. Device numbers and the image numbers (unique image numbers) that are issued separately by the digital cameras are allotted to digital image data from the respective digital cameras, and are stored in the respective recording media  109 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing a flow of photographic operations carried out by the plurality of the digital cameras ( 1 )  601  to ( 5 )  605  shown in  FIGS. 6A to 6E . 
     In  FIG. 7 , when a photographic operation that takes a single frame photograph is carried out by the digital camera ( 1 )  601 , an image number 0001 that indicates a first image of the digital camera ( 1 )  601  is issued as shown in  FIG. 6A , the digital image data of the first image is managed as the image number 0001, and a device number ID:0001 and a unique image number 0001 are written into the digital image data (step S 701 ). 
     When a photographic operation that takes a single frame photograph is carried out by the digital camera ( 2 )  602 , a image number 0001 that indicates a first image of the digital camera ( 2 )  602  is issued as shown in  FIG. 6B , the digital image data of the first image is managed as the image number 0001, and a device number ID:0002 and a unique image number 0001 are written into the digital image data (step S 702 ). Next, when another photographic operation that takes a single frame photograph is carried out by the digital camera ( 2 )  602 , an image number 0002 that indicates a second image of the digital camera ( 2 )  602  is issued, the digital image data of the second image is managed as the image number 0002, and a device number ID:0002 and a unique image number 0002 are written into the digital image data (step S 703 ). 
     Next, a photographic operation that takes a single frame photograph is carried out by the digital camera ( 3 )  603 , an image number 0001 that indicates a first image of the digital camera ( 3 )  603  is issued as shown in  FIG. 6C , the digital image data of the first image is managed as the image number 0001, and a device number ID:0003 and a unique image number 0001 are written into the digital image data (step S 704 ). 
     When a photographic operation that takes a single frame photograph is carried out by the digital camera ( 4 )  604  in the case where an image number 0001 that indicates a first image of the digital camera ( 4 )  604  already has been issued, as shown in  FIG. 6D , an image number 0002 that indicates a second image of the digital camera ( 4 )  604  is issued, the digital image data of the second image is managed as the image number 0002, and a device number ID:0004 and a unique image number 0002 are written into the digital image data (step S 705 ). Next, when another photographic operation that takes a single frame photograph is carried out by the digital camera ( 4 )  604 , an image number 0003 that indicates a third image of the digital camera ( 4 )  604  is issued, the digital image data of the third image is managed as the image number 0003, and the device number ID:0004 and a unique image number 0003 are written into the digital image data (step S 706 ). 
     Next, when a photographic operation that takes a single frame photograph is carried out by the digital camera ( 5 )  605  in the case where image numbers 0001 to 0004 that indicate first to fourth images of the digital camera ( 4 )  604  already have been issued, as shown in  FIG. 6E , an image number 0005 that indicates a fifth image of the digital camera ( 4 )  604  is issued, the digital image data of the fifth image is managed as the image number “0005”, and a device number “ID:0005” and a unique image number “0005” are written into the digital image data (step S 707 ). After this, the present process is terminated. 
     Next, the procedure of processing when a copy operation for digital image data of one image is carried out between the plurality of digital cameras ( 1 )  601  to ( 5 )  605  according to the present embodiment, for example, between any two digital cameras, out of the digital cameras ( 1 )  601  to ( 5 )  605 , will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6A to 6E  and  FIG. 8 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , described later, the digital cameras ( 1 )  601  to ( 5 )  605  are assumed to be connected to one another via the respective communication connectors  105 . 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing the procedure of the processing when a copy operation for digital image data of one image is carried out by two of the plurality of digital cameras ( 1 )  601  to ( 5 )  605  shown in  FIGS. 6A to 6E . 
     In  FIG. 8 , the copying of digital image data of one image between the two digital cameras is performed as follows. A receiver digital camera issues a new image number that is unique to the receiver digital camera (step S 801 ). The receiver digital camera copies the device number ID and the unique image number of a sender digital camera (step S 802 ), and then copies the image data (step S 803 ). After this, the present process is terminated. 
     Next, the procedure of processing when digital image data of a plurality of images is copied to a digital camera from some of the plurality of digital cameras ( 1 )  601  to ( 5 )  605  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 ,  10 A and  10 B. 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram showing an example of the connection between the digital cameras ( 1 )  601  to ( 5 )  605  and another digital camera via respective communication connectors  105 . 
     In  FIG. 9 , reference numeral  600  designates another digital camera ( 0 ), and reference numeral  901  designates a connection line that connects the digital cameras together. The other digital camera ( 0 )  600  corresponds to the digital camera  100   a  shown in  FIG. 5  and an digital camera according to the present embodiment. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  are flowchart showing the procedure of processing when carrying out copy operations for copying from the plurality of digital cameras to the other digital camera ( 0 )  600  shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     In carrying out copy operations, digital image data is transferred from the respective digital cameras ( 1 )  601  to ( 5 )  605  shown in  FIG. 9  to the other digital camera ( 0 )  600  via the connection line  901 . 
     In  FIGS. 10A and 10B , digital image data with the image number 0001 that is recorded in the recording medium  109  of the digital camera ( 1 )  601  is copied into the digital camera ( 0 )  600  (step S 1001 ). Next, an image number 0001 that indicates a first image of the digital camera ( 0 )  600  is issued for the digital camera ( 0 )  600  in the same way as described above with reference to  FIG. 6  (step S 1002 ), the copied digital image data “image number 0001 of digital camera ( 1 )  601 ” for a first copied image is managed using the image number 0001, and a device number ID:0001 and a unique image number 0001 are written into the digital image data (step S 1003 ). At this time, the image number newly issued for the image data transferred from the digital camera ( 1 )  601  may be incorporated as part of a filename and for example the image data may be recorded as an image data file as shown in  FIG. 13 , described later. 
     Next, digital image data with the image number 0001 that is recorded in the recording medium  109  of the digital camera ( 2 )  602  shown in  FIG. 9  is copied into the digital camera ( 0 )  600  (step S 1004 ). Since the digital camera ( 0 )  600  has already issued the image number 0001 that indicates the first image copied by the digital camera ( 0 )  600 , an image number 0002 that indicates a second image of the digital camera ( 0 )  600  is issued (step S 1005 ), the copied digital image data “image number 0001 of digital camera ( 2 )  602 ” for a second copied image is managed as the image number 0002, and a device number ID:0002 and a unique image number 0001 are written into the image data (step S 1006 ). 
     Next, the digital image data with the image number 0002 that is recorded in the recording medium  109  of the digital camera ( 2 )  602  is copied into the digital camera ( 0 )  600  (step S 1007 ). 
     Next, in the digital camera ( 0 )  600 , an image number 0003 that indicates a third image of the digital camera ( 0 )  600  is issued (step S 1008 ), the copied digital image data “image number 0002 of digital camera ( 2 )  602 ” for a third copied image is managed as the image number 0003, and a device number ID:0002 and a unique image number 0002 are written into the image data (step S 1009 ). 
     After this, the digital image data with the image number 0001 that is recorded in the recording medium  109  of the digital camera ( 3 )  603  shown in  FIG. 9  is copied into the digital camera ( 0 )  600  (step S 1010 ). In the digital camera ( 0 )  600 , the image numbers 0001 to 0003 that indicate the first to third images of the digital camera ( 0 )  600  have already been issued, so an image number 0004 that indicates a fourth image of the digital camera ( 0 )  600  is issued (step S 1011 ), the copied digital image data “image number 0001 of digital camera ( 3 )  603 ” for a fourth copied image is managed as the image number 0004, and a device number ID:0003 and a unique image number 0001 are written into the image data (step S 1012 ). After this, the present process is terminated. 
     Next, the procedure of processing when a photographic operation is performed by the digital camera ( 0 )  600  that has been disconnected from the plurality of digital cameras ( 1 )  601  to ( 5 )  605  shown in  FIG. 9  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 11 . 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing when a photographic operation is performed by the digital camera ( 0 )  600  shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     After the execution of the step S 1012  in  FIG. 10B  described above, the digital camera ( 0 )  600  is disconnected from the connection line  901  and two frame photographs are taken by the digital camera ( 0 )  600 . 
     In the digital camera ( 0 )  600 , since the image numbers 0001 to 0004 have already been issued, if a photographic operation is performed to take one frame photograph, an image number 0005 that indicates a fifth image of the digital camera ( 0 )  600  is issued, the digital image data of the fifth image is managed as the image number 0005, and a device number ID:0000 and a unique image number 0005 are written into the digital image data (step S 1101 ). Next, if another photographic operation is performed by the digital camera ( 0 )  600  to take one frame photograph, an image number 0006 that indicates a sixth image of the digital camera ( 0 )  600  is issued, the digital image data of the sixth image is managed as the image number 0006, a device number ID:0000 and a unique image number 0006 are written into the digital image data (step S 1102 ), and after this the present process is terminated. 
     Next, the procedure of processing when a copy operation is carried out by the digital camera ( 0 )  600 , after the photographic operations by the digital camera ( 0 )  600  described above with reference to  FIG. 11  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 12 . Before this copy operation is started, the digital camera ( 0 )  600  is connected to the connection line  901 . 
       FIG. 12  is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing when a copy operation is performed by a plurality of digital cameras. 
     First, the digital image data with the image number 0002 recorded in the recording medium  109  of the digital camera ( 4 )  604  is copied into the digital camera ( 0 )  600  (step S 1201 ). The digital camera ( 0 )  600  has already issued the image numbers 0001 to 0006 that indicate the first to sixth images of the digital camera ( 0 )  600 , so that an image number 0007 that indicates a seventh image of the digital camera ( 0 )  600  is issued (step S 1202 ), the digital image data of the copied image “image number 0002 of digital camera ( 4 )  604 ” for a seventh image is managed as the image number 0007, and a device number ID:0004 and a unique image number 0002 are written into the digital image data (step S 1203 ). 
     Next, digital image data with the image number 0003 that is recorded in the recording medium  109  of the digital camera ( 4 )  604  is copied into the digital camera ( 0 )  600  (step S 1204 ). An image number 0008 that indicates an eighth image of the digital camera ( 0 )  600  is issued (step S 1205 ), the digital image data of the copied image “image number 0003 of digital camera ( 4 )  604 ” for an eighth image is managed as the image number 0008, and a device number ID:0004 and a unique image number 0003 are written into the digital image data (step S 1206 ). 
     After this, digital image data with the image number 0005 that is recorded in the recording medium  109  of the digital camera ( 5 )  605  is copied into the digital camera ( 0 )  600  (step S 1207 ). The digital camera ( 0 )  600  has already issued the image numbers 0001 to 0008, so that an image number 0009 that indicates a ninth image of the digital camera ( 0 )  600  is issued (step S 1208 ). The digital image data of the copied image data is managed as the image number 0009, a device number ID:0005 and a unique image number 0005 are written into the digital image data (step S 1209 ), and after this the present process is terminated. 
     In this way, the digital cameras ( 1 )  601  to ( 5 )  605  copy pieces of digital image data with the same image numbers into the other digital camera ( 0 )  600 , and even when a copy operation is interrupted by a photographic operation by the digital camera ( 0 )  600 , copying operations for digital image data and photographic operations can be performed without digital image data obtained by the copying operations and digital data image obtained by the photographic operations being overwritten one upon another. 
       FIG. 13  is a diagram showing the digital image data managed by the digital camera ( 0 )  600  as a result of the copy operations and photographic operations described above. 
     When the digital image data recorded in the recording medium  109  of the digital camera ( 0 )  600 , that is, the data shown in  FIG. 13 , is displayed on the display section  107  in order of the image numbers managed by the digital camera ( 0 )  600 , the resulting display is as shown in  FIG. 3 . It should be noted that in  FIG. 13  the digital image data that is shaded is data obtained by the photographic operations described above with reference to  FIG. 11 , and the other digital image data is data obtained by the copy operations described above with reference to  FIGS. 10A ,  10 B and  12 . 
     Next, the procedure of the processing when digital image data is displayed as shown in  FIG. 3  by the digital camera ( 0 )  600  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 14 and 15 . 
     In  FIG. 14 , to display digital image data as shown in  FIG. 3 , the digital camera ( 0 )  600  reads the digital image data to be displayed (first, the digital image date with the image number 0001) from the recording medium  109  (step S 1401 ) and carries out an image display process for a single display image number described later (step S 1402 ). After this, the image number to be displayed is incremented by one (step S 1403 ). When sufficient images to fill one screen have not been displayed, the process returns to the step S 1402 . When sufficient images to fill one screen have been displayed, the present process is terminated. 
     Next, the image display process for a single display image number in the step S 1402  of  FIG. 14  will be described. 
     The digital camera ( 0 )  600  reads image data in ascending order of image numbers from the recording medium  109  and determines a device number ID recorded in each piece of the read digital image data (step S 1501 ). The digital camera ( 0 )  600  determines a color of a frame corresponding to the device number (step S 1502 ). Then, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the frame is displayed (step S 1503 ) and the image data is displayed (step S 1504 ), followed by the process being terminated. 
     As described above, according to the present embodiment, when digital image data photographed by a plurality of digital cameras is copied into one digital camera and the digital image data is then reproduced, it is possible to display the digital image data photographed by the respective digital cameras in such a manner that the respective displayed digital image data can be distinguished with respect to the digital cameras that photographed the displayed digital image data. 
     Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 16 to 20 . An image pickup apparatus according to the second embodiment is identical in basic construction with the image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment described above, and description thereof is, therefore, omitted. 
       FIG. 16  is a diagram showing an example of display of digital image data by a digital camera as an image pickup apparatus according to the second embodiment. In  FIG. 16 , component elements that correspond to those of the first embodiment described above are designated by identical reference numerals. 
     In  FIG. 16 , reference numeral  1601  designates digital image data that is selected for display on an enlarged scale. 
       FIG. 17  is an enlarged view of one piece of digital image data  1601  in the digital image data displayed on the display section  107  of  FIG. 16 . In  FIG. 17 , the display of the digital image data  1601  is comprised of a color icon  1701  for identifying a present digital camera, a digital camera user name  1702 , a unique image number  1703  that is unique for the digital camera shown by the icon  1701 , an image number  1704  used for identifying the image within the present digital camera, and a frame  1705 . In  FIG. 17 , reference numeral  1706  designates the digital image data. 
     In  FIG. 16 , icons are displayed in colors shown in Table 1 below, and respective pieces of digital image data can be displayed with identification information. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Unique 
                   
               
               
                 Image 
                 Device 
                   
                 Image 
                 Icon 
               
               
                 Number 
                 Number 
                 User Name 
                 Numbers 
                 Color 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 0001 
                 ID: 0001 
                 Hanako 
                 0001 
                 Sky Blue 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Yamada 
               
               
                 0002 
                 ID: 0002 
                 Taro Satoh 
                 0001 
                 Green 
               
               
                 0003 
                 ID: 0003 
                 Taro Satoh 
                 0002 
                 Green 
               
               
                 0004 
                 ID: 0004 
                 Koichi 
                 0001 
                 Purple 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Yamada 
               
               
                 0005 
                 ID: 0005 
                 My Camera 
                 0005 
                 Yellow 
               
               
                 0006 
                 ID: 0006 
                 My Camera 
                 0006 
                 Yellow 
               
               
                 0007 
                 ID: 0007 
                 Tamae 
                 0002 
                 Blue 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Murakami 
               
               
                 0008 
                 ID: 0008 
                 Tamae 
                 0003 
                 Blue 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Murakami 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In the image display state shown in  FIG. 16 , it is possible to select image data using the first operating button  303  and/or the third operating button  305  so that only digital image data photographed by the same digital camera as the selected image data, that is, digital image data that has the same device number, can be selectively displayed. 
       FIG. 18  is a diagram showing a state where an icon “My Camera” (with the device number ID:0005) has been selected from the image display state in  FIG. 16  so that only icons of all the digital image data photographed by the user of the present digital camera and currently stored in the recording medium  109  (each given a name “My Camera”) are displayed. 
       FIG. 19  is a diagram showing a state where a list of device numbers and user names of digital image data recorded in the recording medium  109  is displayed on the display section  107 . 
     In the screen shown in  FIG. 19 , either a display valid state checkbox  1901  or a display invalid state checkbox  1902  can be selected for digital image data photographed by respective digital cameras. By selecting the checkboxes, it is possible to have only digital image data photographed by digital cameras set at “display valid” displayed. 
     A list of user names and icon colors that are used in the screen shown in  FIG. 19  and correspond to the device numbers is shown in Table 2 below. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Device Number 
                 User Name 
                 Icon Color 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 ID: 0000 
                 My Camera 
                 Yellow 
               
               
                   
                 ID: 0001 
                 Hanako Yamada 
                 Sky Blue 
               
               
                   
                 ID: 0002 
                 Taro Satoh 
                 Green 
               
               
                   
                 ID: 0003 
                 Koichi Yamada 
                 Purple 
               
               
                   
                 ID: 0004 
                 Tamae Murakami 
                 Blue 
               
               
                   
                 ID: 0005 
                 David Johnson 
                 Orange 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       FIG. 20  is a diagram showing a state where icons of only digital image data photographed by digital cameras for which the display valid state checkbox  1901  is selected in the screen shown in  FIG. 19 , that is, digital cameras set at “display valid”, are displayed. 
     In  FIG. 20 , icons of only the digital image data photographed by “My Camera” (device number ID:0000), “Koichi Tanaka” (device number ID:0003), and “David Johnson” (device number ID:0005) are displayed. It should be noted that in the screen of  FIG. 20 , only part of the icons of digital image data named “My Camera” of the user of the present digital camera are displayed for the convenience of illustration. 
     In this way, it is possible to distinguish between display images using the device numbers and/or user names of digital cameras and to selectively display images, so that digital image data photographed by a plurality of digital cameras can be sorted and displayed. Such selected image data can also be used when batch copying or deleting multiple images, transferring image data to a communication line, designating images for printing, and the like. 
     According to the above embodiments, when image data photographed by a plurality of digital cameras is transferred between cameras and is displayed together by a single image pickup apparatus, it is possible to easily display images from different cameras differently. 
     At this time, when the same number has been allotted to copied sets of digital image data, at least one of photographed times, data sizes and image data contents of the sets of image data may be compared with one another. 
     Although an example where an image pickup apparatus is implemented by a digital camera is described in the above embodiments, it should be obvious that the present invention is not limited to digital cameras and may be applied to other digital image recording apparatuses, such as digital video cameras. 
     It goes without saying that the object of the present invention may also be accomplished by supplying a system or an apparatus with a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software, which realizes the functions of either of the above described embodiments is stored, and causing a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus to read out and execute the program code stored in the storage medium. 
     In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of either of the above described embodiments, and hence the program code and a storage medium on which the program code is stored constitute the present invention. 
     Further, it is to be understood that the functions of either of the above described embodiments may be accomplished not only by executing the program code read out by a computer, but also by causing an OS (operating system) or the like which operates on the computer to perform a part or all of the actual operations based on instructions of the program code. 
     Further, it is to be understood that the functions of either of the above described embodiments may be accomplished by writing the program code read out from the storage medium into a memory provided in an expansion board inserted into a computer or a memory provided in an expansion unit connected to the computer and then causing a CPU or the like provided in the expansion board or the expansion unit to perform a part or all of the actual operations based on instructions of the program code. 
     Further, the above program has only to realize the functions of either of the above-mentioned embodiments on a computer, and the form of the program may be an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to an OS. 
     Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a RAM, an NV-RAM, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magnetic-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD (a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a DVD−RW, or a DVD+RW), a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM. Alternatively, the program may be supplied by downloading from another computer, a database, or the like, not shown, connected to the Internet, a commercial network, a local area network, or the like.