Imaging Apparatus And Imaging Method

Abstract

This invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an imaging method for supplying an optimum amount of image data to another apparatus. When a PDA 91 has a maximum transfer rate of 1.5 Mbps, a mobile phone 1 determines that a maximum speed of communication with the PDA 91 is low, reduces accordingly the amount of moving image data captured by a CCD of the mobile phone, and supplies the captured moving image data to the PDA 91. The PDA 91 displays a low-quality moving image 93 on its display unit. When the PDA 91 has a maximum transfer rate of 480 Mbps, the CPU of the mobile phone leaves unchanged the amount of moving picture data captured by the CCD and supplies the captured moving image data to the PDA 91. The PDA 91 then displays a high-quality moving image 94 on the display unit. This invention applies advantageously to digital cameras.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method for controlling transmission of image data to a communication device over one or more communication networks comprising:
 encoding image signal into encoded image data; and   adjusting an encoding rate of encoding the image signal into the encoded image data based on a change in a network condition of a specific one of the one or more communication networks in communicating with the communication device.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein adjusting the encoding rate comprises adjusting a resolution of the encoded image data that is to be transmitted to the communication device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein adjusting the encoding rate comprises adjusting an amount of encoded image data that is to be transmitted to the communication device. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein adjusting the amount of encoded image data that is to be transmitted comprises adjusting a compression rate used in encoding the image signal. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the change in the network condition comprises a change in a communication speed or available bandwidth of the specific one of the one or more communication networks. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising determining the network condition based on a response signal from the communication device. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus for controlling transmission of image data to a communication device over one or more communication networks, comprising:
 circuitry that:
 encodes image signal into encoded image data, and 
 adjusts an encoding rate of encoding the image signal into the encoded image data based on a change of a network condition of a specific one of the one or more communication networks in communicating with the communication device. 
   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the circuitry adjusts the encoding rate by adjusting a resolution of the encoded image data that is to be transmitted to the communication device. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the circuitry adjusts the encoding rate by adjusting an amount of encoded image data that is to be transmitted to the communication device. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the circuitry adjusts the amount of encoded image data that is to be transmitted by adjusting a compression rate used in encoding the image signal. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the circuitry adjusts the amount of encoded image data based on a change in a communication speed or available bandwidth of the specific one of the one or more communication networks. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the circuitry determines the network condition based on a response signal from the communication device. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the network condition comprises an available bandwidth or communication speed of. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the network condition comprises a traffic status of the specific one of the one or more communication networks. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the circuitry comprises a processor. 
     
     
         46 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which computer readable instructions are stored, the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for controlling transmission of image data to a communication device over one or more communication networks, the method comprising:
 encoding image signal into encoded image data; and   adjusting an encoding rate of encoding the image signal into the encoded image data based on a change in a network condition of a specific one of the one or more networks in communicating with the communication device.   
     
     
         47 . A method for controlling transmission of image data to a communication device over one or more communication networks comprising:
 encoding image signal into encoded image data; and   adjusting an amount of encoding the image signal into the encoded image data based on a change in a network condition of a specific one of the one or more communication networks used for communicating with the communication device,   wherein the amount of encoding is performed by adjusting one of image quality or encoding rate of the encoded image data.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein both image quality and encoding rate are adjusted in order to adjust the amount of encoding. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the network condition comprises a communication speed of the specific one of the one or more networks. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising determining the network condition based on a response signal from the communication device. 
     
     
         51 . An apparatus for controlling transmission of image data to a communication device over one or more communication networks comprising:
 circuitry that:
 encodes image signal into encoded image data; and 
 adjusts an amount of encoding the image signal into the encoded image data based on a change in a network condition of a specific one of the one or more networks used for communicating with the communication device, 
   wherein the amount of encoding is performed by adjusting one of image quality or encoding rate of the encoded image data.   
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein both image quality and encoding rate are adjusted in order to adjust the amount of encoding. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein an amount of encoding is based on a change in a communication speed of the specific one of the one or more networks. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the network condition comprises an available bandwidth condition of the specific one of the one or more networks. 
     
     
         55 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which computer readable instructions are stored, the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for controlling transmission of image data to a communication device over one or more communication networks, the method comprising:
 encoding image signal into encoded image data; and   adjusting an amount of encoding the image signal into the encoded image data based on a change in a network condition of a specific one of the one or more networks used for communicating with the communication device,   wherein the amount of encoding is performed by adjusting one of image quality or encoding rate of the encoded image data.