Patent ID: 7593044

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a data storage device that stores a plurality of data; a searching device that carries out a searching process for searching at least one desired data from the plurality of data stored in said data storage device; a shooting start instructing device that instructs start of shooting; an operation detecting device that detects an operation on said shooting start instructing device; an interruption process executing device that is operable when said operation detecting device detects the operation on said shooting start instructing device, to interrupt the searching process carried out by said searching device and execute an interruption process; an interruption and searching storage device that is shared as a working memory by the interruption process and by the searching process; and an interruption information storage device that stores interrupted searching process information relating to the interrupted searching process, wherein said interruption process executing device saves the interrupted searching process information stored in said interruption and searching storage device, in accordance with the interruption of the searching process in response to the operation on said shooting start instructing device, in said interruption information storage device, and uses said interruption and searching storage device for the interruption process.