1. An image processing system, comprising:
an image pickup device for transferring image data obtained by picking up an image of a subject; and
an image processing apparatus for obtaining the transferred image data;
wherein the image pickup device includes:
image pickup means for picking up the image of the subject and generating the image data,
generating means for generating representative image data representing the image data generated by the image pickup means, and
supplying means for supplying the representative image data and the image data to the image processing apparatus, the representative image data being supplied preferentially with respect to the image data so that upon the generating means generating new representative image data representing new image data generated from a newly picked up image, the supplying means interrupts the supplying of the image data to the image processing apparatus, supplies the new representative image data to the image processing apparatus, and then resumes the supplying of the image data to the image processing apparatus after completing the supplying of the new representative image data; and
the image processing apparatus includes:
obtaining means for obtaining the representative image data and the image data supplied from the image pickup device,
displaying means for displaying the representative image data obtained by the obtaining means, and
storing means for storing the representative image data and the image data obtained by the obtaining means in association with each other.
2. An image processing system, comprising:
an image pickup device for transferring image data obtained by picking up an image of a subject;
an image managing apparatus for managing the transferred image data; and
an image processing apparatus for obtaining the image data managed by the image managing apparatus;
wherein the image pickup device includes:
image pickup means for picking up the image of the subject and generating the image data,
generating means for generating representative image data representing the image data generated by the image pickup means, and
first supplying means for supplying the representative image data and the image data to the image managing apparatus, the representative image data being supplied preferentially with respect to the image data so that upon the generating means generating new representative image data representing new image data generated from a newly picked up image, the first supplying means interrupts the supplying of the image data to the image managing apparatus, supplies the new representative image data to the image managing apparatus, and then resumes the supplying of the image data to the image managing apparatus after completing the supplying of the new representative image data;
the image managing apparatus includes:
first obtaining means for obtaining the representative image data and the image data supplied from the image pickup device,
managing means for managing the representative image data and the image data obtained by the first obtaining means in association with each other, and
second supplying means for supplying the representative image data and the image data to the image processing apparatus, the representative image data being supplied preferentially with respect to the image data so that upon the first obtaining means obtaining new representative image data representing new image data generated from a newly picked up image, the second supplying means interrupts the supplying of the image data to the image processing apparatus, supplies the new representative image data to the image processing apparatus, and then resumes the supplying of the image data to the image processing apparatus after completing the supplying of the new representative image data; and
the image processing apparatus includes:
second obtaining means for obtaining the representative image data and the image data supplied from the image managing apparatus,
displaying means for displaying the representative image data obtained by the second obtaining means, and
storing means for storing the representative image data and the image data obtained by the second obtaining means in association with each other.
3. An image pickup device, comprising:
image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject and generating image data;
generating means for generating representative image data representing the image data generated by the image pickup means; and
supplying means for supplying the representative image data and the image data to another apparatus, the representative image data being supplied preferentially supplying means for supplying the representative image data and the image data to the image processing apparatus, the representative image data being supplied preferentially with respect to the image data so that upon the generating means generating new representative image data representing new image data generated from a newly picked up image, the supplying means interrupts the supplying of the image data to the another apparatus, supplies the new representative image data to the another apparatus, and then resumes the supplying of the image data to the another apparatus after completing the supplying of the new representative image data.
4. The image pickup device as set forth in claim 3, wherein:
when the image pickup means generates new image data while the supplying means is supplying the image data to the another apparatus, the generating means generates new representative image data representing the new image data, and the supplying means preferentially supplies the new representative image data to the another apparatus before the image data being supplied.
5. The image pickup device as set forth in claim 3, further comprising receiving means for receiving control information on supply of the image data,
wherein the supplying means supplies the image data to the another apparatus based on the control information received by the receiving means.
6. The image pickup device as set forth in claim 4, wherein:
the supplying means supplies related information on the image data to the another apparatus together with the representative image data or the new representative image data.
7. The image pickup device as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:
receiving means for receiving a first cryptographic key supplied by the another apparatus;
cryptographic key generating means for generating a second cryptographic key for encrypting the image data generated by said image pickup means;
first encrypting means for generating first encrypted data by encrypting the image data generated by the image pickup means using the second cryptographic key; and
second encrypting means for generating second encrypted data by encrypting the second cryptographic key using the first cryptographic key;
wherein the related information on the image data is the second encrypted data.
8. An image pickup method, comprising:
generating image data obtained by picking up an image of a subject;
generating representative image data representing the generated image data; and
controlling supply so as to supply the representative image data and the image data to another apparatus, the representative image data being supplied preferentially with respect to the image data so that upon the generation of new representative image data representing new image data generated from a newly picked up image, the supplying of the image data to the another apparatus is interrupted, the new representative image data is supplied to the another apparatus, and then the supplying of the image data to the another apparatus is resumed after completing the supplying of the new representative image data.
9. The image pickup method as set forth in claim 8, wherein:
when the image data generating step generates new image data while the generated image data is being supplied to the another apparatus, the representative image data generating step generates new representative image data representing the new image data, and the supply controlling step controls the supply so as to preferentially supply the new representative image data to the another apparatus before the image data being supplied.
10. The image pickup method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising receiving control information on supply of the image data,
wherein the supply controlling step controls the supply so as to supply the image data to the another apparatus based on the control information.
11. The image pickup method as set forth in claim 9, wherein:
the supply controlling step controls the supply so as to supply related information on the image data to the another apparatus together with the representative image data or the new representative image data.
12. The image pickup method as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:
receiving a first cryptographic key supplied by the another apparatus;
generating a second cryptographic key for encrypting the generated image data;
generating first encrypted data by encrypting the generated image data using the second cryptographic key; and
generating second encrypted data by encrypting the second cryptographic key using the first cryptographic key;
wherein the related information on the image data is the second encrypted data.
13. A recording medium recorded with a computer readable program for performing an image pickup method, the method comprising:
generating image data obtained by picking up an image of a subject;
generating representative image data representing the generated image data; and
controlling supply so as to supply the representative image data and the image data to another apparatus, the representative image data being supplied preferentially with respect to the image data so that upon the generation of new representative image data representing new image data generated from a newly picked up image, the supplying of the image data to the another apparatus is interrupted, the new representative image data is supplied to the another apparatus, and then the supplying of the image data to the another apparatus is resumed after completing the supplying of the new representative image data.
14. An image processing system, comprising:
an image pickup device operable to transfer image data obtained by picking up an image of a subject; and
an image processing apparatus operable to obtain the transferred image data;
the image pickup device including:
an image pickup unit operable to pick up the image of the subject and generate the image data,
a generator operable to generate representative image data representing the image data generated by the image pickup unit, and
a supplying unit operable to supply the representative image data and the image data to the image processing apparatus, the representative image data being supplied preferentially with respect to the image data so that upon the generator generating new representative image data representing new image data generated from a newly picked up image, the supplying unit interrupts the supplying of the image data to the image processing apparatus, supplies the new representative image data to the image processing apparatus, and then resumes the supplying of the image data to the image processing apparatus after completing the supplying of the new representative image data; and
the image processing apparatus including:
an obtaining unit operable to obtain the representative image data and the image data supplied from the image pickup devices,
a displaying unit operable to display the representative image data obtained by the obtaining unit, and
a storage unit operable to store the representative image data and the image data obtained by the obtaining unit in association with each other.
15. An image processing system, comprising:
an image pickup device operable to transfer image data obtained by picking up an image of a subject;
an image managing apparatus operable to manage the transferred image data; and
an image processing apparatus operable to obtain the image data managed by the image managing apparatus;
the image pickup device including:
an image pickup unit operable to pick up the image of the subject and generate the image data,
a generator operable to generate representative image data representing the image data generated by the image pickup unit, and
a first supplying unit operable to supply the representative image data and the image data to the image managing apparatus, the representative image data being supplied preferentially with respect to the image data so that upon the generator generating new representative image data representing new image data generated from a newly picked up image, the first supplying unit interrupts the supplying of the image data to the image managing apparatus, supplies the new representative image data to the image managing apparatus, and then resumes the supplying of the image data to the image managing apparatus after completing the supplying of the new representative image data;
the image managing apparatus including:
a first obtaining unit operable to obtain the representative image data and the image data supplied from the image pickup device,
a managing unit operable to manage the representative image data and the image data obtained by the first obtaining unit in association with each other, and
a second supplying unit operable to supply the representative image data and the image data to the image processing apparatus, the representative image data being supplied preferentially with respect to the image data so that upon the first obtaining unit obtaining new representative image data representing new image data generated from a newly picked up image, the second supplying unit interrupts the supplying of the image data to the image processing apparatus, supplies the new representative image data to the image processing apparatus, and then resumes the supplying of the image data to the image processing apparatus after completing the supplying of the new representative image data; and
the image processing apparatus including:
a second obtaining unit operable to obtain the representative image data and the image data supplied from the image managing apparatus,
a displaying unit operable to display the representative image data obtained by the second obtaining unit, and
a storage unit operable to store the representative image data and the image data obtained by the second obtaining unit in association with each other.
16. An image pickup device, comprising:
an image pickup unit operable to pick up an image of a subject and generate image data;
a generator operable to generate representative image data representing the image data generated by the image pickup unit; and
a supplying unit operable to supply the representative image data and the image data to another apparatus, the representative image data being supplied preferentially with respect to the image data so that upon the generator generating new representative image data representing new image data generated from a newly picked up image, the supplying unit interrupts the supplying of the image data to the another apparatus, supplies the new representative image data to the another apparatus, and then resumes the supplying of the image data to the another apparatus after completing the supplying of the new representative image data.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A variable-capacity store for elongated elements of the tobacco industry, the store (1; 50) comprising
an input station (3) and an output station (4) arranged in series along a path (P) of the elongated elements (2);
a first fixed transmission member (13);
a second fixed transmission member (14);
a third movable transmission member (15) located between the first fixed transmission member (13) and the second fixed transmission member (14);
actuating means (24) which move the third transmission member (15) between the first fixed transmission member (13) and the second fixed transmission member (14); and
an endless conveyor (8) having a conveying branch (9) for transferring the elongated elements (2) from said input station (3) to said output station (4), and a return branch (10) extending from the output station (4) to the input station (3); wherein the conveying branch (9) is wound about the first fixed transmission member (13) and the third movable transmission member (15) for forming a first coil (31) defined by a succession of turns (32) arranged with a given first spacing (P1); and wherein the return branch (10) is wound about the second fixed transmission member (14) and the third movable transmission member (15).
2. The store as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission members (13,14,15) are arranged parallel and side by side.
3. The store as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first coil (31) has an adjustable first length (L1); and the return branch (10) is wound about the second fixed transmission member (14) and the third movable transmission member (15) for forming a second coil (44) defined by a succession of turns (45) and having a second length (L2) adjustable in complementary manner with respect to said first length (L1).
4. The store as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second coil (44) is wound about the second fixed transmission member (14) and the third movable transmission member (15) with a given second spacing (P1) equal to the first spacing (P1).
5. The store as claimed in claim 3, wherein, along the third movable transmission member (15), said first and said second coil (31,44) are arranged in series.
6. The store as claimed in claim 3, wherein, along the third movable transmission member (15), said first and said second coil (31, 44) are arranged with respective turns (32,45) alternating.
7. A variable-capacity store for elongated elements, in particular tobacco articles, the store (1; 50) comprising
an input station (3) and an output station (4) arranged in series along a path (P) of the elongated elements (2);
a first fixed transmission member (13);
a second fixed transmission member (14);
a third movable transmission member (15) located between the first fixed transmission member (13) and the second fixed transmission member (14);
actuating means (24) which move the third transmission member (15) between the first fixed transmission member (13) and the second fixed transmission member (14); and
an endless conveyor (8) having a conveying branch (9) for transferring the elongated elements (2) from said input station (3) to said output station (4), and a return branch (10) extending from the output station (4) to the input station (3); wherein the conveying branch (9) is wound about the first fixed transmission member (13) and the third movable transmission member (15) for forming a first a coil (31) defined by a succession of turns (32) arranged with a given first spacing (P1) and having an adjustable first length (L1); wherein the return branch (10) has a second length (L2) adjustable in complementary manner with respect to said first length (L1).