Patent ID: 7265780

Claim:
An image information obtaining method in which an image information receiving end can select a desired image file according to information about directories presented by an image information transmitting end and receives an image of the selected image file, said method comprising: at the image information transmitting end: classifying a plurality of images recorded in a recording medium under parameters that represent properties of the plurality of images, each image having a plurality of parameters associated therewith; producing directories in which to register image files or file names of the classified images in each parameter associated with images; and registering file names as required for each image, wherein a file name for each image is registered under each directory for which any specific parameter applies to said image, said plurality of parameters associated with said image thereby allowing said image to be registered under a corresponding plurality of directories; and at the image information receiving end: providing a display of at least a portion of a hierarchical tree structure in accordance with said directories, from which can be selected a desired image file of a desired parameter according to the information about the directories produced by said image information transmitting end; and receiving an image of the selected desired image file of the desired parameter from the image information transmitting end, wherein said desired image file can be retrieved from any said directory in said hierarchical tree structure for which a specific parameter for said desired image file applies.