JP2005148777A - System and method for transferring image with annotated information - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for efficiently transferring an image and annotated information applied to the image, according to their corresponding relation. <P>SOLUTION: This transfer system is configured of a digital camera and a personal computer, and when an image and annotated information is transferred from the digital camera to the personal computer, association information showing their corresponding relation is transmitted at first. This personal computer prepares a folder structure based on the association information, and each time an image or annotated information is transferred, the personal computer includes them in the prepared folder structure. Also, the personal computer displays a format screen based on the association information (a), and each time the image or annotated information is transferred, the personal computer displays their thumb-nail images on the format screen (b, c). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a transfer system and transfer method for an image with annotation information, in which annotation information assigned to an image and a partial area of the image is transferred from a recording medium to an image processing apparatus.

  In recent years, it has been proposed to add annotation information to a partial area of an image taken with a digital camera to enhance the information transmission function of the image. Annotation information may be added to the image by the digital camera itself that captured the image, or may be performed on the personal computer by transferring the image to the personal computer. In any case, the user can provide an area of an arbitrary size at an arbitrary position of the image and add an image, sound, character string, etc. as annotation information. It is also possible to give a plurality of annotation information to one image.

  Digital cameras and personal computers record images and annotation information on a recording medium, but since a plurality of images are recorded on the recording medium, in order to effectively use the annotation information given to the images, It is necessary to clarify the correspondence between the information and the annotation information. For this reason, in addition to the image and the annotation information, association information indicating the correspondence between the image and the annotation information is recorded on the recording medium. When the image and the annotation information are transferred from the digital camera to the personal computer, or when the image and the annotation information are transferred from the personal computer to another personal computer, the association information is also transferred.

On the other hand, digital data including image data is generally managed in a hierarchical directory (folder) structure. When digital data is transferred from one device to another device, a transmission-side device is used. The directory structure is also reproduced on the receiving device. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-358228, in a system for transmitting and receiving digital data, in order to efficiently receive digital data while reproducing the directory structure by a receiving apparatus, information indicating the directory structure prior to transmission of each digital data Has been proposed to send. The receiving-side apparatus can create a directory structure based on the received information, and manage each digital data received thereafter using the created directory structure.
JP 2002-358228 A

  When transferring images and annotation information attached to images, it is useful to reproduce the directory structure managing the images and annotation information. However, it is not necessary for the transfer destination device to manage images and annotation information in accordance with the transfer source device or the directory structure of the recording medium. For the transfer destination device, the image and annotation information are determined according to their correspondence. It is more important to manage.

  However, it has not been proposed to consider the correspondence between the image and the annotation information when transferring the image and the annotation information attached to the image, and the image and the annotation information according to the correspondence between them. The current situation is that there is no system for efficient transfer. In addition, there is no system in which a user of a transfer destination apparatus can easily know which image and which annotation information has been transferred during transfer.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and can efficiently transfer an image and annotation information attached to the image from the recording medium to the image processing apparatus in accordance with their correspondence. It is an object to provide a system and method. It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method in which a user of a transfer destination device can easily know the progress of transfer during transfer.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a recording medium on which an image, annotation information given to a partial area of the image, and association information indicating a correspondence relationship between the image and the annotation information are recorded, Transfer of an image with annotation information, comprising: an image processing device that processes an image and annotation information based on association information; and a transfer means that transfers the image and annotation information recorded on the recording medium to the image processing device. In the system, after transferring the association information, the transfer unit transfers an image indicating the correspondence relationship and the annotation information.

  In this transfer system, since the association information indicating the correspondence between the images and the annotation information is transmitted prior to the transfer of the images and the annotation information, the image processing apparatus that receives the image and the annotation information has the correspondence between the images and the annotation information. A directory (folder) structure corresponding to the above can be created, and subsequently transferred images and annotation information can be sequentially included in the directory structure. Therefore, the efficiency of the image processing apparatus at the time of transfer is increased.

  Here, the image processing apparatus has a display unit, and when the association information is transferred by the transfer unit, an area for individually displaying the image and the annotation information based on the transferred association information Is displayed on the display unit, and each time either the image or the annotation information is transferred by the transfer unit, the transferred image or the annotation information is displayed on the display unit. It should be displayed.

  In this way, the user of the image processing apparatus can know how many images and annotation information are to be transferred before they are transferred, and each time an image or annotation information is transferred. , You can know that they have been transferred.

  The transfer unit may transfer the image to which the annotation information is added before the annotation information. When the annotation information is transferred before the image, if the transfer is unsuccessful for some reason, the image is not transferred. At this time, even if the transfer of the annotation information is successful, the annotation information has little meaning if there is no image to which the annotation information is added. However, if the image is transferred first, even when the transfer is unsuccessful, the transfer of the image more useful than the annotation information may be successful. In addition, when a plurality of annotation information is assigned to the same image, there is a high possibility that the image and at least a part of the annotation information are successfully transferred.

  When the recording medium records a plurality of images and a plurality of annotation information attached to the images, the transfer unit transfers all the association information indicating the correspondence between all the images and the annotation information. It is preferable to transfer the image and the annotation information later. In this way, it is possible to create a directory structure for all images and annotation information, and subsequently include images and annotation information transferred thereafter in the directory structure.

  Any of the above image transfer systems with annotation information captures an image, adds annotation information to a partial area of the captured image, and generates association information indicating a correspondence between the image and the annotation information. The recording medium and the transfer means are provided in the imaging device, and the recording medium records an image photographed by the imaging device, annotation information added to the image, and generated association information. Can be.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention also provides an image, an annotation information given to a partial area of the image, and a recording medium that records association information indicating a correspondence relationship between the image and the annotation information. In the transfer method of an image with annotation information for transferring the image, the annotation information, and the association information to the image processing apparatus that processes the image and the annotation information based on the association information, the association information is transferred after the association information is transferred. The image indicating the image and the annotation information are transferred.

  According to the present invention, prior to the transfer of the image and the annotation information, the association information indicating the correspondence between them is transferred. Therefore, the image processing apparatus on the side receiving the image and the annotation information A directory structure corresponding to the relationship can be created, and images and annotation information transferred thereafter can be sequentially included in the directory structure. Therefore, the efficiency of the image processing apparatus at the time of transfer is increased.

  In particular, the image processing apparatus has a display unit, and when the association information is transferred by the transfer unit, a format representing an area for individually displaying the image and the annotation information based on the transferred association information A screen is displayed on the display unit, and each time either the image or the annotation information is transferred by the transfer unit, the transferred image or the annotation information is displayed on the format screen displayed on the display unit. Then, the user of the image processing apparatus can know how many images and annotation information are supposed to be transferred before they are transferred, and can check the progress status during the transfer of the images and annotation information. I can know.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A digital camera 100 included in the transfer system of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a rear view of the digital camera 100, respectively.

  The digital camera 100 has a photographing lens 1, a finder front window 3, a flash light emitting unit 4, a release button 5, a liquid crystal display 6, two photographing mode setting buttons 7, and a removable recording medium 101 on the side. And a liquid crystal display 9, a finder rear window 10, a zoom button 11, three operation buttons 12, a cross button 13, a microphone 14, and a speaker 15. The digital camera 100 has a built-in CCD area sensor 2 and forms an image on the CCD sensor 2 with light from a subject to be photographed by the photographing lens 1 and converts it into an electrical signal to photograph an image.

  Annotation information (annotation) can be given to the photographed image in an area designated by the user. There are three types of annotation: image, character string, and sound. Hereinafter, an image, a character string, and a sound as an annotation are referred to as an annotation image, an annotation character string, and an annotation sound, respectively, and an image with an annotation and an image with an annotation are also referred to as a parent image. Annotation images are obtained by photographing as with other images. The annotation character string is input by operating the operation button 12 and the cross button 13 while the keyboard image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 9. The annotation sound is input via the microphone 14.

  All the images including the annotation image can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 9. Annotation character strings can also be displayed on the liquid crystal display 9. The annotation sound can be output from the speaker 15.

  When the release button 5 is half-pressed, it issues an S1 signal that instructs automatic exposure control and automatic focus adjustment. The S2 signal is issued to instruct recording. The liquid crystal display 6 displays the setting status of the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 has a normal shooting mode for shooting a normal image including a parent image and an annotation shooting mode for shooting an annotation image, and the shooting mode setting button 7 is used to instruct switching of these modes. Operated. The recording medium 101 records a photographed image. For example, a thin memory card with a built-in semiconductor memory can be used.

  The liquid crystal display 9 displays captured images and operation guidance. The digital camera 100 has a shooting mode for shooting an image and a playback mode for playing back and displaying an image. The shooting mode includes the normal shooting mode and the annotation shooting mode described above. In the shooting mode, images are repeatedly shot at a substantially constant cycle, and the shot images are immediately displayed on the liquid crystal display 9. This image becomes a live view representing the subject being shot, and is used as a reference for framing and zooming together with an optical image observed through the rear viewfinder window 10.

  In the reproduction mode, an image recorded on the recording medium 101 is read and displayed on the liquid crystal display 9. An image displayed in the playback mode includes a normal image including a parent image and an annotation image. In the reproduction mode, the annotation character string can be reproduced and displayed on the liquid crystal display 9 and the annotation sound can be reproduced and output from the speaker 15.

  The zoom button 11 is operated to set the focal length of the photographing lens 1 that is a zoom lens. The operation button 12 is operated to select or determine an item when an operation guide is displayed on the liquid crystal display 9. The functions of the three operation buttons 12 change according to the displayed operation guidance. The functions of the operation buttons 12 are roughly classified into those relating to shooting conditions and those relating to annotation. If the operation buttons 12 are classified by the function related to annotation, a selection button for selecting the type of annotation and an image (parent image) to which the annotation is added, a size switching button for switching the size of the region to which the annotation is added, and selection And a determination button for determining the size of the changed parent image.

  The cross button 13 has a total of four contacts, two contacts arranged in the left-right direction and two contacts arranged in the up-down direction, and moves the cursor (pointer) displayed on the liquid crystal display 9 up, down, left and right. Operated to direct. The position of the region to which the annotation is added can be changed by operating the cross button 13. Hereinafter, the cross button 13 is also referred to as an up / down / left / right button.

  FIG. 2 shows a flow of processing in annotation shooting, and FIG. 3 shows an example of an image displayed on the liquid crystal display 9 during the processing. Hereinafter, the flow of processing in annotation shooting will be described with reference to these drawings.

  When the annotation shooting mode is set, first, a guidance screen for selecting a parent image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 9 (step # 5 in FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 3A, thumbnail images (reduced images) of images recorded on the recording medium 101 are displayed side by side on this guidance screen. Next, one of the images is selected by the operation of the selection button, and it waits for an instruction to set the selected image as the parent image by the operation of the decision button (# 10).

  When the parent image is determined, a guidance screen is displayed as to which part of the image is to be an annotation area (# 15). On this guidance screen, as shown in FIG. 3B, the entire parent image and a frame F indicating a region predetermined as a default of a region to which an annotation is added are displayed. Then, it is determined whether or not movement of the area has been instructed by operating the up / down / left / right buttons (# 20). When instructed, as shown in FIG. 3C, the area (frame F) is determined according to the instruction. (# 25).

  Next, it is determined whether or not switching of the size of the area is instructed by the operation of the size switching button (# 30). When instructed, as shown in FIG. 3D, the area (frame F) is determined. Is switched (# 35). The size of the area is set in advance in several steps, and is increased by one step each time the size switching button is operated. Note that when the size switching button is operated in a state where the size of the region is the maximum (a state that matches the entire parent image), the size of the region is minimized.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the determination of the position and size of the region to be annotated is instructed by the operation of the determination button (# 40). If there is no instruction, the process returns to step # 20. When instructed, the live view is displayed as shown in FIG. 3 (e) (# 45). Note that shooting of an image displayed as a live view starts when the shooting mode is set, and only the display is paused in the processing from step # 5 to # 40.

  After the live view is displayed, the operation waits until the S2 signal is generated by operating the release button 5 (# 50). When the release button 5 is operated, the S1 signal is generated prior to the S2 signal. Therefore, automatic exposure adjustment and automatic focus adjustment are performed when the S1 signal is generated.

  When the S2 signal is generated, an image is photographed and recorded on the recording medium 101 as an annotation image (# 55). Then, an association file indicating the correspondence between the parent image and the annotation image is created and recorded on the recording medium 101 (# 60).

  The structure of the file folder in the digital camera 100 is shown in FIG. In this example, PICT0001. JPG and PICT0004. JPG is the parent image file. These files are placed in 100MLT09, which is a DCF (digital camera format) folder, and annotation folders ANN0001 and ANN0004 exist in folder 100MLT09. The annotation folder numbers 0001 and 0004 are the parent image files PICT0001. JPG, PICT0004. This is the same as the JPG number part, and the parent image and the annotation folder are associated with each other.

  In each annotation folder, an association file, an annotation image file, and an annotation audio file are stored. For example, for the folder ANN0001, ANN0001. TXT is an association file, and ANN0001. JPG and ANN0002. Two of JPG are annotation image files, ANN0001. WAV, ANN0002. Two of the WAVs are annotation sound files.

  FIG. 5 shows some examples of a screen that is displayed first when the parent image with the annotation image is reproduced and displayed in the digital camera 100. When the playback mode is set, the parent image and the annotation image are displayed side by side as thumbnail images, and an image indicating to which parent image the annotation image is assigned is also displayed.

  (A) displays two parent images M1 and M3 and two annotation images M2 and M4. The parent images M1 and M3 are displayed on the left half of the screen, and the annotation images M2 and M4 are displayed on the right side of the screen. A left-pointing triangular image displayed between the annotation image M2 and the parent image M1 indicates that the former is assigned to the latter, and is similarly displayed between the annotation image M4 and the parent image M3. The left-pointing triangle image indicates that the former is assigned to the latter.

  (B) shows one parent image M1 and two annotation images M2 and M4. Two annotation images M2 and M4 are surrounded by a rectangular image, and this rectangular image is connected to a triangular image facing left. These images indicate that the annotation images M2 and M4 are both added to the parent image M1. A downward triangle image N1 is displayed below the parent image M1, and this image N1 indicates that there is a parent image other than the parent image M1. When the parent image is selected with the up / down / left / right keys and the down key (a part of the up / down / left / right keys) is further operated, the next parent image and the annotation image attached thereto are displayed.

  (C) also shows one parent image M1 and two annotation images M2 and M4. The difference from (b) is that another triangular image N2 is displayed instead of the triangular image N1. This image N2 is displayed below the annotation images M2 and M4, and indicates that in addition to the annotation images M2 and M4, there is an annotation image attached to the parent image M1. When the annotation image M4 is selected with the up / down / left / right keys and the down key is further operated, the next annotation image given to the parent image M1 is displayed.

  (D) displays two parent images M1, M4 and four annotation images M2, M3, M5, M6. The annotation images M2 and M3 are displayed side by side on the parent image M1, and the annotation images M5 and M6 are displayed side by side on the parent image M2. The left-pointing triangular image displayed between the annotation image M2 and the parent image M1 indicates that the annotation images M2 and M3 are attached to the parent image M1. Similarly, the annotation image M5 and the parent image The left triangle image displayed during M4 indicates that the annotation images M5 and M6 are attached to the parent image M4.

  By displaying the thumbnail images of the parent image and the annotation image in such a form, the relationship between the parent image and the annotation image can be easily shown. Note that more thumbnail images than the example shown here may be displayed at a time.

  A personal computer 200 which is an image processing apparatus in the transfer system of the present embodiment is schematically shown in FIG. The personal computer 200 includes a main body 21, a keyboard 22, a mouse 23, and a display unit 24 that incorporate a control unit including a CPU, a memory, a hard disk, and the like. The main body 21 can be loaded with the above-described recording medium 101 and other recording media such as an optical disk, and can be connected to a digital camera or the Internet. Although not shown, the main body 21 is provided with a speaker and can be connected to a microphone.

  The personal computer 200 cannot shoot an image, but has a function of adding an annotation to a partial area of the image and a function of reproducing the image and the annotation, like the digital camera 100. The parent image, the annotation image, and the annotation character string are reproduced by being displayed on the display unit 24. All processes performed by the personal computer 200, including processes related to these functions, are recorded on the hard disk.

  The image to which the annotation is added is taken by another device, for example, the digital camera 100 and provided to the personal computer 200. The image is recorded on the recording medium 101 or provided via a cable (not shown). It is also possible to obtain an image as a download from a website on the Internet or as an attached file of an e-mail.

  In the personal computer 200, selection of a parent image when an annotation is added and setting of the position and size of the area to be annotated are performed in the same manner as the digital camera 100 by displaying an operation guide on the display unit 24. . A keyboard 22 or mouse 23 is used for the operation. The annotation image is selected in the same manner as the selection of the parent image.

  FIG. 7 shows a display example when the parent image to which the annotation image is added is reproduced and displayed on the personal computer 200. First, as shown in (a), the parent image and the annotation image are displayed side by side as thumbnail images, and the above-described image indicating to which parent image the annotation image is assigned is also displayed. Note that the annotation character string and the annotation sound cannot be represented as thumbnail images, and therefore are represented by predetermined figures.

  In this example, three parent images M1, M3, M5 and 11 annotation images are displayed. The six annotation images M2 are assigned to the parent image M1, the three annotation images M4 are assigned to the parent image M3, and the two annotation images M6 are assigned to the parent image M5.

  Any thumbnail image displayed can be selected by operating the mouse 23 or the keyboard 22. The same applies to graphics representing annotation character strings and annotation speech.

  When a thumbnail image of any parent image is selected, the image is displayed in a normal form before reduction, and the thumbnail image and file name of the annotation image assigned to the parent image are also displayed. FIG. 7B is an example. The displayed file name can also be selected.

  In this state, when a thumbnail image or a file name of any annotation image is selected, a frame F indicating an area to which the annotation image is assigned is displayed so as to overlap the displayed parent image. FIG. 7C is an example. Thus, by displaying the frame F so as to overlap the parent image, it becomes clear to which part of the parent image the annotation image is assigned.

  When images and annotations are transferred from the digital camera 100 to the personal computer 200 or from the recording medium 101 that is detached from the digital camera 100 and attached to the personal computer 200 to the personal computer 200, the correspondence between the images and the annotations is described. Transfer related files. The digital camera 100 is provided with a control unit that performs processing including these transfers. In the personal computer 200, the above-described control unit performs these transfer processes.

  At the time of transfer, the association file is transferred prior to the image and annotation. If there are a plurality of parent images to which annotations are assigned, and there are a plurality of association files, the parent image file and the annotation file are transferred after transferring all the association files. Further, the annotation file is transferred after all the parent image files are transferred.

  In the personal computer 200 that receives the image, annotation, and association file from the digital camera 100 or the recording medium 101, the image file and the annotation file are based on the correspondence relationship between the image and the annotation recorded in the association file transferred earlier. A folder (directory) structure for managing the association file is created, and each time an image file or annotation file is subsequently transferred, the transferred file is included in the folder structure.

  The personal computer 200 can reproduce the folder structure in the digital camera 100 as it is, but can also create a unique folder structure. For example, in FIG. 4 described above, a plurality of parent image files are accommodated in one folder, and a plurality of annotation folders are accommodated in the folder. However, one parent image and all annotations attached thereto are included. It is also possible to store association information files indicating their correspondence in one folder and create a folder for each parent image.

  In this way, by allowing the folder structure to be changed from that before transfer, the management of images and annotations on the personal computer 200 is facilitated. In addition, by transferring the association file describing the corresponding relationship before the image file and the annotation file, the personal computer 200 can receive the image file and the annotation file after creating the folder structure. Can be included in the folder structure while receiving the file. Therefore, the folder structure is completed at the end of the transfer, and there is no need to change the folder structure after the transfer.

  Also, by transferring all the parent images prior to the transfer of the annotation file, even if the transfer is unsuccessful in the middle, more parent images that have a higher utility value than the annotation alone can be transferred. Can do.

  When the personal computer 200 receives the association file, the personal computer 200 displays, on the display unit 24, a format screen representing an area for individually displaying an image and annotation received thereafter as a thumbnail image based on the correspondence described therein. . In this format screen, the region of the parent image and the region of the annotation attached to the parent image are displayed side by side, and the above triangle image and rectangle image are displayed, and which annotation is attached to which parent image. Make it clear what it is.

  Here, the areas for displaying a plurality of parent images are arranged in order according to their shooting order (file name serial number order). An area for displaying a plurality of annotations attached to the same parent image is also arranged in order according to the generation order thereof. The parent image file and annotation file are transferred in the order of shooting and generation, that is, in the area in the format screen, under the condition that all parent image files are transferred first and then the annotation file is transferred. Perform in order of placement.

  However, when annotation images, annotation character strings, and annotation sounds are mixed, annotation character strings and annotation sounds with a small amount of data may be transferred before the annotation images. In this way, even when transfer ends unsuccessfully, more annotations can be transferred.

  After creating and displaying the format screen, each time a parent image file or annotation file is received, the thumbnail image of the image or annotation is displayed on the displayed format screen. Therefore, the user of the personal computer 200 knows the number of images and annotations to be transferred before the transfer, and during the transfer, the progress of the transfer, that is, which image and which annotation have already been transferred. I can understand. In addition, the correspondence between annotations and parent images can be seen.

  Since the annotation character string and the annotation sound cannot be displayed as thumbnail images, a predetermined image is displayed on the format screen instead of the thumbnail image.

  An example of the format screen is shown in FIG. 8A shows a state before transfer of the parent image file, FIG. 8B shows a state during transfer of the parent image file, and FIG. 8C shows a state during transfer of the annotation file. A hatched area indicates that a thumbnail image or a predetermined image is displayed.

  FIG. 9 shows the flow of processing in the personal computer 200 when images and annotations are transferred from the digital camera 100 to the personal computer 200. First, an operation guide is displayed on the display unit 24 and waits for a file transfer instruction (step # 105). When transfer is instructed, the digital camera 100 is requested to start file transmission. Transmission of the file from the digital camera 100 is performed in the above-described order.

  Next, the association file is received (# 110), a format screen is generated based on the correspondence between the parent image and the annotation described in the received association file, and the generated format screen is displayed on the display unit 24. (# 115).

  Thereafter, reception of the parent image file is started (# 120). Each time the parent image file is received (# 125), the thumbnail image of the parent image is displayed in the area for the parent image in the format screen being displayed on the display unit 24 (# 130). Then, it is determined whether or not all the parent image files have been received (# 135). If all the parent image files have not been received, the process returns to step # 125.

  When all the parent image files have been received, reception of the annotation file is started (# 140). Each time an annotation file is received (# 145), the thumbnail image of the annotation image is displayed in the region for the annotation image in the format screen being displayed on the display unit 24 (# 150). When the received annotation file is not an image file but an annotation character string or annotation sound file, a predetermined image is displayed instead of the thumbnail image as described above.

  Then, it is determined whether or not all the annotation files have been received (# 155). If all the annotation files have not been received, the process returns to step # 145, and when all the annotation files have been received, the processing is performed. finish.

  The processing when each file is transferred from the recording medium 101 mounted on the personal computer 200 to the personal computer 200 is the same as in FIG. The only difference is that the personal computer 200 itself reads the file from the recording medium 101 after the transfer instruction is given in step # 105. The processing in FIG. 9 can also be adopted by a receiving device when transferring each file from the personal computer 200 to another personal computer or the digital camera 100.

  In this embodiment, the annotation file is transmitted after the entire parent image file is transferred. However, one parent image and all annotations attached thereto are set as one set, and the parent file is sequentially transferred in units of sets. The image file and the annotation file may be transferred. At that time, the annotation image can be displayed when the transfer of all the files in each group is completed.

  In the present embodiment, the parent image, the annotation, and the association information are recorded in separate files in the digital camera 100. However, in the present invention, the parent image, the annotation, and the association information are recorded in other file structures. It is also applicable when recording with An example of the contents of a file when the parent image, annotation, and association information are recorded in one file is shown in FIG. This is a case where two annotation images are given to one parent image.

  In the header A of this file, the file name, the creation date and time of the parent image, the number of annotations attached to the parent image, the position and size of the region of the parent image to which each annotation is attached, and the like are recorded. The file name of the parent image is used as the file name. Each image data B, C, D represents a parent image and an annotation image.

  As described above, the parent image, the annotation, and the association information are recorded in one file, and even when there are a plurality of such files, by first reading the header of each file, Images and annotations can be transferred. First, by transferring the correspondence between all parent images and annotations, it is possible to efficiently create a file structure in the transfer destination device.

The figure which shows typically the digital camera contained in the transfer system of one Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the annotation imaging | photography of the said digital camera. The figure which shows the example of the image which the said digital camera displays during the process of annotation imaging | photography. The figure which shows the folder structure of the file which the said digital camera produces | generates by the process of annotation imaging | photography. The figure which shows the example of the screen displayed initially, when reproducing | regenerating and displaying the parent image to which the annotation image was provided in the said digital camera. The figure which shows typically the personal computer contained in the said transfer system. The figure which shows the example of a display when reproducing | regenerating and displaying the parent image to which the annotation image was provided in the said personal computer. The figure which shows the example of the format screen which the said personal computer displays, when transferring an image and annotation to the said personal computer. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the personal computer when images and annotations are transferred from the digital camera to the personal computer. The figure which shows the example of the other file which the said digital camera produces | generates by the process of annotation imaging | photography.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Digital camera 1 Shooting lens 2 CCD area sensor 3 Finder front window 4 Flash light emission part 5 Release button 6 Liquid crystal display 7 Shooting mode setting button 8 Recording medium insertion port 9 Liquid crystal display 10 Finder rear window 11 Zoom button 12 Operation button 13 Cross button 14 Microphone 15 Speaker 101 Recording medium 200 Personal computer 21 Main body 22 Keyboard 23 Mouse 24 Display unit

Claims (6)

A recording medium that records an image, annotation information given to a partial region of the image, and association information indicating a correspondence relationship between the image and the annotation information;
An image processing apparatus that processes the image and the annotation information based on the association information;
In the image transfer system with annotation information comprising transfer means for transferring the image recorded on the recording medium, the annotation information, and the association information to the image processing device,
The transfer means transfers an image with annotation information, wherein after the association information is transferred, the image indicating the correspondence relationship and the annotation information are transferred.   The image processing apparatus includes a display unit, and when the association information is transferred by the transfer unit, a format representing an area for individually displaying an image and annotation information based on the transferred association information A screen is displayed on the display means, and each time either the image or the annotation information is transferred by the transfer means, the transferred image or the annotation information is displayed on the format screen displayed on the display means. The system for transferring an image with annotation information according to claim 1.   The system for transferring an image with annotation information according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transfer means transfers the image to which the annotation information is added prior to the annotation information.   When the recording medium records a plurality of images and a plurality of annotation information attached to the images, the transfer unit transfers all the association information indicating the correspondence between all the images and the annotation information. The system for transferring an image with annotation information according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image and the annotation information are transferred later.   An imaging device that captures an image, adds annotation information to a partial area of the captured image, and generates association information indicating a correspondence relationship between the image and the annotation information, and the recording medium and the transfer unit include The recording medium provided in the imaging apparatus records the image captured by the imaging apparatus, the annotation information added to the image, and the generated association information. The image transfer system with annotation information according to any one of the above. The image and the annotation information are processed based on the association information from the recording medium in which the image, the annotation information given to a part of the image, and the association information indicating the correspondence between the image and the annotation information are recorded. In a method for transferring an image with annotation information for transferring an image, annotation information, and association information to an image processing apparatus,
A method for transferring an image with annotation information, wherein after the association information is transferred, an image indicating the correspondence relationship and the annotation information are transferred.

Images