Patent ID: 7460151

Claim:
An image file sharing method implemented by digital cameras and computers possessed by each of a plurality of users, and a center server capable of data communication with the digital cameras and computers via a network, said method comprising the steps of: said center server storing, on a per-user basis, image group information specifying one or a plurality of image groups to which the user belongs, and access information for accessing each computer; each computer storing image group information specifying one or a plurality of image groups to which the user possessing said computer belongs; in upload processing for uploading an image file, said digital camera: receiving the image group information specifying one or plurality of image groups from its own computer in the possession of the user who possesses this digital camera, and transmitting to its own computer an image file, which has been obtained by image sensing using the digital camera, and image group information in which the image file is to be included; and said own computer, which has received the image file and the image group information, storing the received image file in linkage with an image folder corresponding to the received image group information; in download processing for downloading an image file, said digital camera: receiving from said center server the image group information specifying one or plurality of image groups to which the user possessing this digital camera belongs, accepting selection of any one item of image group information from among the items of image group information received, and transmitting the image group information selected to said center server; and said center server transmitting, to said digital camera, access information for accessing other computers possessed by one or a plurality of other users who belong to the image group specified by the image group information received; the digital camera that has received this access information transmitting the selected image group information to another computer based upon the access information received; and the other computer that has received the image group information from the digital camera transmitting an image file, which has been linked to an image folder corresponding to the image group information received, to said digital camera.