Patent ID: 7098942

Claim:
An image capture system having an image capture unit for capturing image data representing an image, a display unit for displaying the image captured by the image capture unit, and a recording control unit for executing processing for recording the image data, which has been captured by the image capture unit, from a portable recording medium and processing for recording an image represented by the image data, which has been captured by the image capture unit, from a visible recording medium, said system comprising: one or more detachable input/output units that is able to capture the image data from the portable recording medium; a hot-pluggable input/output interface to which one of the one or more input/output units can be connected; a command input unit for applying a use verification command which verifies use of the image capture unit; a determination unit for determining upon payment by a user of a predetermined monetary value whether a desired input/output unit from the one or more input/output units has been connected to said input/output interface; and a notification unit for giving notification to the user prior to the payment of the monetary value that one of the one or more input/output units can be added to the system and upon payment of the predetermined monetary value giving notification that input/output of the image by the desired input/output unit upon connection to said input/output interface is possible when the use verification command has been applied from said command input unit and said determination unit has determined that the input/output unit has been connected, and for giving notification that the desired input/output unit can be connected to said input/output interface when said determination unit has determined that the input/output unit has not been connected and notifying the user when the system is in a ready state to add the input/output unit.