JP2006085588A - Image storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To configure an image storage device capable of storing data of an image photographed by a digital camera, and grasping a photographed point of the stored image data and a movement route easily. <P>SOLUTION: The image storage device comprises in the device body 1: a position acquiring means 5 which receives radio waves from a GPS satellite at an antenna 4 and acquires position data; a semi-conductor drive 6 which acquires image data from a storage medium Ms; and a processor unit A that stores data and processes the data. The image storage device associates the image data acquired by the semi-conductor drive 6 with the position data by link data, transfers the image data thus associated and map data to a personal computer 31, simulates the movement of the device on a display 35 of the personal computer 31, and displays image data for each photographed point. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes an image data acquisition unit that acquires image data captured by a digital camera, a data storage unit that stores data, and a processing unit that stores image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit in the data storage unit In detail, the present invention relates to an apparatus configured to be portable.

  As related to the image storage device configured as described above, a content data storage unit for storing content such as music and images is built in the main body, and content data (mainly music) is acquired from an external device. After this storage, there is a portable content playback device in which a control unit (processing unit of the present invention) plays back content data (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This patent document 1 describes that a moving image or a still image may be acquired as content data.

JP 2003-281169 A (paragraph numbers [0011] to [0048], FIGS. 1 and 2)

  In recent years, digital cameras that are available on the market can capture images with 5 million pixels of image data, but flash memories for storing image data in digital cameras are still expensive. The number may be limited. When such inconvenience is considered, the image data captured by the digital camera is appropriately stored in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, thereby erasing the image data of the media such as the flash memory provided in the digital camera. In addition, a lot of image data can be taken.

  As digital cameras become more sophisticated and lower in price, there are increasing opportunities to carry digital cameras on sightseeing trips, for example, taking snapshots at tourist sites and taking commemorative photos. When hiking or trekking, you can also take a digital camera and take pictures of the scenery when you travel around the mountain and enjoy the scenery. In hiking and trekking, it is often the case that the mountain field is photographed or a snapshot is taken against the background of the mountain field. However, unlike the sightseeing spots, the image data photographed mainly in the mountain area has few characteristic subjects, and it is often difficult to accurately obtain the photographing point from the photographed image data.

  Ideally, image data taken not only for trekking but also for sightseeing trips is printed on photographic paper and stored as an album. However, since image data taken with a digital camera can be easily displayed on a home computer, for example, as a slide show, the image data is often viewed on a general home personal computer and is often not considered. It was. In this way, when displaying image data in the form of a slide show on a personal computer, for example, the image data is simply switched in the order in which the images were taken, so it is not possible to grasp the shooting point or the route traveled on foot. It is normal and improvement is desired.

  In order to eliminate such an inconvenience, it is conceivable to use a digital camera having a GPS (Global Positioning System) function, which has been recently developed, and clarify the shooting point by utilizing the GPS function. However, digital cameras with a GPS function are more expensive than those without a GPS function, and when considering processing for clarifying shooting points from position data by the GPS function, the position data is converted into map data. A technique for realizing the processing to be displayed above has also been proposed, but even when this technique is used, each image data and the shooting point at which the image data was shot are only displayed on the map data. For example, in order to correlate a plurality of shooting points with a plurality of image data shot at each shooting point in consideration of the passage of time, some artificial editing processing is required. There is room.

  Considering such a real situation, even when image data photographed with a digital camera not equipped with a GPS function is displayed on a personal computer, for example, the image data is saved without performing a special operation such as editing. An apparatus capable of easily grasping a photographed photographing point is desired.

  An object of the present invention is to rationally configure a storage device capable of storing image data captured by a digital camera and processing the image data in a state where the captured point of the stored image data and the route moved can be easily grasped. There is in point to do.

A feature of the present invention is that an image data acquisition unit that acquires image data captured by a digital camera, a data storage unit that stores data, and image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit are stored in the data storage unit. An image storage device comprising a processing unit,
A position acquisition unit that acquires position data, a map data storage unit that stores map data indicating the location of the position data acquired by the position acquisition unit, and an output unit that sends out the data stored in the data storage unit In the device body of possible size,
The processing unit continuously acquires position data by the position acquisition unit and stores the position data in the data storage unit, and stores the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit in the data storage unit. An image data storage process, a link data generation process for generating link data for associating the image data with the position data, and a link data storage process for storing the link data in the data storage unit,
The processing unit performs an output process of outputting the position data stored in the data storage unit, map data indicating the location of the position data, and the image data associated with the position data from the output unit. It is in the point which is constituted as follows.

  According to this configuration, when the position data acquired by the position data acquisition unit by the position data storage process is continuously stored in the data storage unit and the image data is acquired by the image data acquisition unit, the image data is stored by the image data storage process. Data is stored in the storage unit, link data is generated by associating the position data with the image data by the link data generation process, and the link data is stored in the data storage unit by the link data storage process. After the data is stored in this way, the position data, the image data, the link data stored in the data storage unit, and the map data stored in the map data storage unit are output by the output process. Is possible. In other words, according to the present invention, when image data is acquired, not only can it be associated with position data as data indicating the shooting point at which the image data was shot, but also these data and the existence of the shooting point Since map data indicating the position can be output, for example, when the output data is displayed on a personal computer, a shooting point at which the image data was captured and a plurality of position data (a plurality of positions acquired continuously) It is also possible to generate routes from (data) and grasp these from map data such as maps and illustrations. As a result, an image storage device that saves image data taken with a digital camera and can output it as image data in a state where the shooting point of the saved image data and the moved route can be easily grasped visually is reasonable. Configured.

  The present invention includes a link processing unit that performs the link data generation process, and the link processing unit compares timing data that specifies an acquisition date and time when the position data is acquired with imaging date and time data that accompanies the image data. The processing mode may be set so as to generate the link data associating matching or approximated data.

  With this configuration, when the image data is acquired, the link processing means can be automatically associated with the position data, and it is possible to save the operator from performing special editing.

  The present invention includes a display unit in the apparatus main body, and the processing unit performs a display process of displaying the map data corresponding to the position data and image data associated with the position data on the display unit. You may comprise as follows.

  With this configuration, image data can be displayed on the display unit of the apparatus in association with precise map data, schematic map data such as illustrations and sightseeing maps as map data, and the image data stored in the apparatus can be displayed. It is also possible to check the shooting point.

  The present invention may be configured using a GPS unit in which the position acquisition means acquires the position data by receiving radio waves from a plurality of artificial satellites.

  With this configuration, it is possible to acquire accurate position data and improve the accuracy of the shooting point.

In the present invention, the position acquisition unit is configured using a GPS unit that acquires the position data by receiving radio waves from a plurality of artificial satellites. The GPS unit acquires the position data together with the position data. Configured to store date and time as the timing data;
The link processing means uses shooting date / time data included in Exif data attached to image data shot by a digital camera as the shooting date / time data, and the shooting date / time data and the timing data match each other or Processing in automatic link mode for associating approximates, and all shooting date / time data included in Exif data attached to image data shot by the same digital camera are shifted by an equal value, and shooting date / time data after this shift The correction link mode for associating with timing data may be processed.

  With this configuration, it is possible not only to acquire accurate position data and improve the accuracy of the shooting point, but also to the timing data generated by the GPS unit and the Exif attached to the image data captured by the digital camera. Based on the shooting date / time data included in the data, it becomes possible to automatically associate the position data and the image data with high accuracy, and for example, the time between the clock provided in the digital camera and the timing data. Even when there is a misalignment, it is possible to associate the position data and the image data at an appropriate timing by shifting all the shooting date / time data included in the Exif data by the time corresponding to the equal time misalignment. Become.

The present invention is configured such that the image data acquisition unit can acquire image data from a storage medium used in the digital camera,
When the processing unit determines that the storage medium is set in the image data acquisition unit, the processing unit identifies a plurality of image data recorded in the storage medium and stores the image data in the data storage unit. The processing mode may be set so that the image data except for the stored data is stored in the data storage unit.

  With this configuration, even when a plurality of pieces of image data are stored, the inconvenience of storing the same image data in duplicate is eliminated, and the necessary image data can be stored reliably.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of operation switches 2 and a liquid crystal display unit 3 (an example of a display unit) are provided on the front surface of a portable device body 1, and a GPS satellite is provided inside the device body 1. The antenna unit 4 that receives the radio wave, the position acquisition unit 5 that is a GPS unit that acquires the position data from the radio wave received by the antenna unit 4, and the image data acquisition unit that acquires the image data stored in the semiconductor medium Ms And a processing unit A for processing data, and an output terminal 7 serving as an output unit for sending data to the outer surface of the apparatus body 1 constitutes an image storage device.

  This image storage device has a function of displaying map data corresponding to the position data acquired by the position acquisition means 5 on the liquid crystal display unit 3 and at the same time displaying the position where the apparatus is present on the map data. Yes. In addition, the image storage device continuously acquires and stores position data by the position acquisition unit 5, and stores a semiconductor-type storage medium Ms such as a flash memory that stores image data captured by the digital camera 21. When set in the semiconductor drive 6, the image data stored in the storage medium Ms is automatically acquired, correlated with the position data, and a predetermined operation is performed, whereby the map data is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 3. Is displayed, the route on which the device has moved is displayed on the map data, and the image data is displayed for each shooting point on the route.

  Further, in this image storage device, the output terminal 7 and the input terminal (not shown) of the personal computer 31 are connected by a cable 25 such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard or IEEE 1394 standard, and a predetermined operation is performed. Thus, the position data, the image data, the link data, the map data, and the simulation program can be transferred from the output terminal 7 to the personal computer 31.

  Incidentally, when the image data taken by the digital camera 21 is stored in the image storage device, in addition to using the semiconductor medium Ms described above, it can be connected with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard or IEEE 1394 standard cable, , Bluetooth (wireless communication technology proposed by IBM, Intel, Nokia, Toshiba, etc.) may be used to transfer image data by wireless communication, and if these technologies are used, The image data acquisition unit of the present invention is configured by means for transferring image data according to technology.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the personal computer 31 includes a keyboard 32, a track pad 33, a disk drive 34 in the main body, and a general configuration including a liquid crystal display 35. Further, as described above, when the position data, the image data, the link data, the map data, and the simulation program are transferred, the personal computer 31 executes the simulation program to execute the personal computer 31. The map data is displayed on the display 35, and the route on which the image storage device has moved is superimposed on the map data, and the state in which the symbol of the device moves on the route is simulated. Each time the symbol reaches the shooting point, a process of automatically displaying the image data shot at that shooting point is executed. If necessary, the image data displayed on the display 35 is designated and the printer is designated. 41 can be printed on the print paper 42, In addition, it is possible to store position data, image data, link data, map data, and a simulation program for a storage medium Md such as a DVD-R set in the disk drive 34 of the personal computer 31. It is configured.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an outline of the configuration of the image storage device can be shown. That is, the processing unit A includes an input / output interface 10 that realizes access to information to a microprocessor (CPU). The input / output interface 10 has a position acquisition unit 5, the liquid crystal display unit 3, and the operation. A signal system capable of accessing data between the switch 2, the semiconductor drive 6, the output terminal 7, and a storage unit 11 (an example of a data storage unit and a map data storage unit) each including a hard disk is provided. Yes.

  The processing unit A includes a semiconductor memory RAM / ROM connected to a data bus from a microprocessor (CPU), a nonvolatile memory EEPROM, a map matching means 12, a navigation means 13, a route storage means 14, and an image data storage means. 15, a link processing unit 16 and a transfer control unit 17 are provided. Incidentally, in order to realize the control in this processing unit A, a control bus, an address bus, etc. are required in addition to the data bus. Does not show interfaces.

  The position acquisition means 5 acquires the position data (longitude / latitude data) of the image storage device in real time by acquiring radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites received by the antenna unit 4 and the time when the position data is acquired. To obtain the timing data. The position acquisition means 5 may acquire position information by radio waves from a plurality of ground radio wave sources, and improve the accuracy of the position information by using radio waves from the ground source. It may be.

  The storage unit 11 stores a plurality of position data acquired by the position acquisition unit 5 in a folder for position data, stores map data at a plurality of types of scales in a folder for map data, and stores a plurality of image data Are stored in a folder for image data, and a plurality of link data are stored in a folder for link data. The map data folder stores preset map data and is used as a database.

  The map matching unit 12 extracts map data at a preset scale from the map data corresponding to the position data acquired by the position acquisition unit 5 from the storage unit 11 and displays it on the liquid crystal display unit 3. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the location of the image storage device is displayed as a symbol 51 on the map data, and the route 52 on which the symbol 51 has moved is displayed on the map.

  As shown in the figure, the navigation means 13 searches for a route 54 to a preset destination 53 and displays it on the map data in a line.

  The route storage unit 14 provides the map matching unit 12 with the position data continuously acquired at intervals set by the position acquisition unit 5 to the map matching unit 12 as data connected in a line, and at the same time, the data of the route Is stored in the storage unit 11.

  The image data storage means 15 performs processing for storing the image data acquired via the semiconductor drive 6 in the storage unit 11, and after storing a plurality of image data in the storage unit 11, FIG. Is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 3, and the operator selects what should be deleted from the list of image data in this screen.

  The link processing unit 16 compares the timing data for specifying the timing at which the position data is acquired with the shooting date / time data included in the Exif data attached to the image data, and matches or approximates them. A process of automatically generating and storing link data for associating the URL is performed.

  The Exif data is attached to the image data photographed by the digital camera 21, and an example of the structure can be represented as shown in FIG. The main information of this Exif data stores the manufacturer name and model name of the digital camera. In addition to exposure time, image width, and image height data as sub-information, the original shooting date / time is year, month, day, time. The link processing means 16 acquires the original shooting date / time data as shooting date / time data and the timing data stored in the storage unit 11 together with the position data. As described above, the comparison process is performed.

  The transfer control unit 17 performs processing for transferring position data, image data, link data, map data corresponding to the position data, and a simulation program to the personal computer 31 as a set.

  The image storage device of the present invention is a software (program) that can be developed on a semiconductor memory as the map matching means 12, navigation means 13, route storage means 14, image data storage means 15, link processing means 16, and transfer control means 17. However, it is also possible to configure a part or all of it with hardware such as logic.

  An outline of the control mode of the processing unit A can be shown as a flowchart of FIG. That is, position data is acquired at intervals set by the position acquisition means 5, processing for saving the position data and timing data for acquiring the position data is performed, and navigation processing is performed (# 01, # 100 steps). ). The # 01 step corresponds to the position data storage process of the processing unit A.

  Next, when it is determined that the storage medium Ms is set in the semiconductor drive 6 (step # 02: Yes), the image data stored in the storage medium Ms is read out and the storage unit 11 is read out. A newly stored image data storing process is performed (# 200 step), and a link data generating process for storing the newly stored image data in association with the position data is performed (# 300 step).

  In addition, when the process for reproduction is selected by operating the operation switch 2 of the image storage device (step # 03: Yes), the reproduction process for displaying the already stored image data on the liquid crystal display unit 3 is performed. Execute (Step # 400).

  In addition, when a process for transferring is selected by operating the operation switch 2 of the image storage device (step # 04: Yes), the data stored in the storage unit 11 is transferred from the output terminal 7 to the personal computer. Processing to be transferred to the computer 31 is performed (# 05 step: output processing of the present invention), and these processing are continued until reset (step # 06).

  The navigation process (# 100 step), the image data storage process (# 200 step), the link data generation process (# 300 step), and the reproduction process (# 400 step) are all set in the form of a subroutine. Each processing mode will be described below.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the navigation processing routine (# 100 step) continuously acquires position data (longitude data and latitude data) from the position acquisition means 5 at preset intervals ( The position data acquisition process of the present invention and the acquired timing data (data representing the date and time) are stored in the storage unit 11 (step # 101). The route data is constituted by a plurality of position data acquired at intervals set in this way, and the process of acquiring and storing the plurality of position data in this way is the process by the route storage means 16.

  Further, when the position data is acquired from the position acquisition means 5, the position data is given to the map matching means 12, and the map matching means 12 extracts the map data corresponding to the position data from the storage unit 11, As shown in FIG. 8, the map data is displayed on the navigation screen displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 3, and the point where the position data exists on the map data (the current location of the image storage device) is represented by the symbol 51 of the image storage device. The route 52 (the trajectory on which the symbol 51 has moved) is displayed on the map data (step # 102).

  Next, when the destination 53 is set, as shown in FIG. 8, position data (longitude data and latitude data) of the destination 53 is given to the navigation means 13 and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 3. If it can be displayed in the map data, the navigation means 13 displays the destination 53 as a symbol 53 and extracts a route from the symbol 51 indicating the current location of the image storage device to the destination 53. The route 54 is displayed on the map data (# 103, # 104 steps).

  The image data storage processing routine (step # 200) is already stored in the storage unit 11 when the storage medium Ms is set in the semiconductor drive 6, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. The file name of the image data is compared with the file name of the storage medium Ms, and only the image data not stored in the storage unit 11 is extracted and stored in the storage unit 11. When image data is newly stored in this way, an image selection screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 3 as shown in FIG. 9, and the newly stored image data is given priority over the display area 60 as a thumbnail image. A list is displayed (steps # 201 and # 202). Of the image data displayed in the display area 60 of the selection screen, the image data determined by the operator to be unnecessary is selected by the operation of the operation switch 2 and set as a deletion target by the processing button 61 in the screen. Even if the item is set as the deletion target, it can be released from the deletion target by operating the processing button 61. After this setting, the processing can be performed by operating the OK button 62 in the screen by operating the operation switch 2. The form is set (steps # 203 to # 205).

  In the link data generation processing routine (# 300 step: also serving as link data storage processing), the link processing means 16 extracts timing data stored in the storage unit 11 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. At the same time, the shooting date / time data is extracted from the Exif data attached to the image data stored in the storage unit 11, and a plurality of timing data and a plurality of shooting date / time data that coincide with each other and those that approximate each other are extracted. Link data to be associated is automatically generated (Steps # 301 and # 302). After the link data is generated in this way, a confirmation screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 3 as shown in FIG. 10, and a route 51 is displayed in this screen (details will be described later). The shooting point P of the image data (which coincides with the symbol 52: either single or plural) may be displayed (step # 303).

  When the shooting point P is displayed in this way, the operator determines whether there is an error from the actual shooting position. This error is caused by a time error between the timing data generated by the position acquisition means 5 and the clock built in the digital camera 21. If there is an error, it is necessary to correct the shooting date / time data. By performing the operation, the shooting date and time of all the image data shot by the corresponding digital camera 21 are collectively corrected (steps # 304 to # 306), link data is generated again, and shot on the route 51. The point P is displayed for confirmation and the process ends when the error is resolved.

  That is, in the step # 300, the confirmation screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 3, and the route 52 and the shooting point P as the “link position” are displayed on the map data on this screen. Image data associated with the shooting point P by link data is displayed in the display area W. Further, an operation mode is set so that the shooting point P can be moved in an arbitrary direction on the route 51 by operating the operation switch 2, and in the display state described above, for example, from the original shooting point Px where the image data was shot. When the operator confirms that the distance X is offset as shown in the figure, the operation switch 2 is operated to move the shooting point P on the route 51 so as to match the original shooting point Px. Perform the operation. When the photographing point P is moved in this way, the time corresponding to the amount of movement is displayed as a numerical value on the display unit 56 as the shift time, and this numerical value is confirmed and the OK button 57 is operated to finish. As a result, a process of shifting the shooting times of the plurality of image data at a time by the shift time is performed.

  When this processing is performed, the operator is preferably based on the image data in which the photographing point P is accurately stored. In the link data generation processing routine (# 300 step), the operation switch 2 is operated. Accordingly, it is possible to arbitrarily select image data to be displayed in the display area W. Further, in order to properly grasp the positional relationship between the shooting point P and the original shooting point Px, the map data can be enlarged and displayed. Although the processing form is not particularly described, this image storage device can also store image data captured by a plurality of digital cameras 21. When a plurality of digital cameras 21 are used, the Exif data is stored in the Exif data. The digital camera is identified based on the manufacturer name and model included, and the process of correcting the positional relationship between the shooting point P and the original shooting point Px can be performed for each camera.

  In the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the operator checks the shooting point P and the original shooting point Px on the map in order to eliminate the error. You may set a processing form so that it may input. Incidentally, the link data has a simple data structure recorded by comparing position data (longitude and latitude data) with the file number of the image data.

  The reproduction process (step # 400) is performed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, and the reproduction screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 3. When the process is started, the position data stored in the storage unit 11 is extracted at set intervals, map data corresponding to the extracted position data is displayed on the reproduction screen, and the map data is displayed. A symbol 51 of position data corresponding to the initial position is displayed on the map, and displayed on the route 52 map data extracted from the route storage means 14. The symbol 51 moves along the route 52. (Steps # 401 and # 402).

  Each time the position data is updated, the position data and the link data are compared, and if there is link data that matches the position data, the image data associated with the link data is extracted from the storage unit 11. And displayed in the display area W (steps # 404 and # 405). In this playback screen, an indicator 58 indicating the display timing along the time axis is displayed. When this indicator 58 is operated by operating the operation switch 2, the position data is changed, and the changed position data is displayed. Is started (steps # 406 and # 407), and these controls continue until the end (step # 408).

  That is, this reproduction process (step # 400) is executed by the simulation program, and on the reproduction screen, the symbol 51 corresponding to the earliest position data and the corresponding map data are displayed and stored in the memory. Processing in a form in which a plurality of position data stored in the unit 11 is read at a preset interval (time interval) in accordance with the stored order (acquired order) and the read position data is updated in this way The symbol 51 corresponding to the position data is displayed in a form that moves on the map data. When the symbol 51 reaches the shooting point (when link data matching the position data exists), image data associated with the shooting point (position data) is extracted from the storage unit 11 and the display area W The process of displaying on is performed.

  Further, when the symbol 51 is displayed in such a manner that it moves on the map data in this way, the indicator 58 moves along the time axis, and the indicator 58 is displayed at a position reflecting the passage of time. When the indicator 58 is moved by an arbitrary operation of the switch 2, the reproduction process is resumed from the position indicated by the indicator 58.

  Although the route 52 is displayed in advance on the reproduction screen of FIG. 11, the route 52 is not necessarily displayed, and the display form may be set so that the route 52 is displayed only in the area where the symbol 51 has moved.

  In step # 05, the position data folder storing the plurality of position data, the image data folder storing the plurality of image data, the link data folder storing the plurality of link data, and the simulation program are extracted from the storage unit 11. A map data folder is generated by extracting and storing a map data folder corresponding to the plurality of position data (matching route data) from the map data database, and the map data folder, the position data folder, the image data folder, and the link A processing mode is set so that each of the data folder and the reproduction program is transferred to the personal computer 31. Further, the processing mode may be set so that music is played back as BGM when the simulation program is executed. This music data may be stored in advance in the personal computer 25 or may be stored in the disk drive 34 for music. The compact disc may be set and used, or may be obtained via the Internet.

  After the data is transferred in the personal computer 31, a simulation program is executed to display a screen similar to the reproduction screen in the reproduction processing routine (step # 400) on the display 35 of the personal computer 31. While displaying the symbol 51 corresponding to the shooting point on the data, it is possible to perform a reproduction process in such a manner that image data shot at the shooting point is displayed in the display area W. In particular, when the simulation program is executed in this way, it is effective to reproduce music as BGM. It is also possible to arbitrarily designate image data stored in the image data folder by a printing program installed in the personal computer 31 in advance and print it on the print paper 42 by the printer 41.

  In the personal computer 31, the map data folder, the position data folder, the image data folder, the link data folder, and the reproduction program acquired by the processing in the step # 05 are respectively stored in the DVD-R or CD-R by the disk drive 34. It is also possible to store in the storage medium Md, etc., and by setting the storage medium Md in which the data is stored in this manner in another personal computer and executing the reproduction program, the reproduction processing routine (# 400 step) ) Is displayed on the display of the personal computer and the symbol 51 corresponding to the shooting point is displayed on the map data, and the image data shot at the shooting point is displayed in the display area W. In form It is to perform the current process.

  As described above, the image storage device according to the present invention is carried by an individual for travel or trekking, and by displaying the navigation screen, the position of the individual can be grasped from the symbols displayed on the screen, and the route 52 that has moved is displayed. Can also grasp. In addition, when a landscape or a snapshot is taken with the digital camera 21, a plurality of images stored in the storage medium Ms can be obtained simply by setting the storage medium Ms in which image data is stored at an arbitrary timing to the semiconductor drive 6. It is possible to store each image data in the storage unit 11 while confirming whether the data is necessary. After this storage, each image data is obtained from the shooting date / time data of the stored image data and the timing data of the position data. Image data is automatically associated with a shooting point.

  After storing the image data, a reproduction screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 3 by selecting a reproduction process, and the map data and the route 52 are displayed on the reproduction screen, and the route proceeds on this route. Each time the symbol 51 (position data) is moved, the image data captured at the shooting point P is displayed on the display area W every time the symbol 51 reaches the shooting point. It can be confirmed in the state in relation to. That is, the image data can be displayed while showing the shooting point.

  In addition, since the image storage device uses a hard disk as the storage unit 11, the image storage device is inexpensive and has a storage capacity compared to the flash memory, and the image data stored in the storage medium Ms used in the digital camera 21. Even when the number reaches the limit, the image data is stored in the image storage device, so that all the image data in the storage medium Ms can be erased and new photographing can be performed. .

  Further, after the image data is stored in the image storage device, the image data and related data are transferred to the personal computer 31. Thus, in the personal computer 31, the reproduction processing is performed in the image storage device. The image data can be displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 3 together with the map data and the like. By storing such reproducible data in a storage medium Md such as a DVD-R, the storage medium Md can be handled in the same manner as an electronic album, and the storage medium Md is set in the personal computer 31. As a result, the image 51 can be displayed while the symbol 51 advances on the display and indirectly indicates the shooting point.

[Another embodiment]
The present invention may be configured as follows in addition to the embodiment described above.

(A) Instead of the map data, a schematic map such as an illustration or a tourist map that can grasp the geographical position of the position data may be used. When illustrations and schematic diagrams are used in this way, the amount of data can be reduced compared to map data, so that the usable area in the storage unit 11 can be expanded. In particular, the display on the reproduction screen can be simplified by using a schematic display such as an illustration.

(B) When associating position data and image data, without using Exif data as described in the embodiment, for example, image data such as timing when the storage medium Ms storing image data is set in the semiconductor drive 6 The processing form may be set so as to associate the image data stored in the storage medium Ms with the position data at the timing of acquiring the image data. That is, every time the digital camera 21 captures an image, an operation for storing the image data in the image storage device causes a slight time error from the position data, but the movement speed is low like trekking. In this case, the association can be performed without any problem in practice.

(C) When reproduction processing is performed, the image data is displayed on the route 52 with dots at positions (corresponding to the shooting points) associated with the image data, or displayed in thumbnail format image data. The display form is set so that the number of existing image data and the position of the photographing point can be visually grasped.

(D) In the embodiment, the digital camera and the image storage device have been described separately. However, the content of the invention is not limited to this, and for example, part or all of the image storage device is digital. It may be mounted on the camera.

A perspective view showing a digital camera or the like related to an image storage device Block circuit diagram of image storage device Flow chart showing basic control mode of image processing apparatus Navigation processing routine flowchart Flowchart of image data storage processing routine Flow chart of link data generation processing routine Reproduction processing routine flowchart Figure showing the navigation screen Figure showing the image selection screen Figure showing a confirmation screen Figure showing the reproduction screen Diagram showing the structure of Exif data

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Display part 5 Position acquisition means 6 Image data acquisition part 7 Output part 11 Data storage part, Map data storage part 16 Link processing means 21 Digital camera A Processing unit Ms Storage medium

Claims (6)

An image data acquisition unit that acquires image data captured by a digital camera, a data storage unit that stores data, and a processing unit that stores image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit in the data storage unit. An image storage device comprising:
A position acquisition unit that acquires position data, a map data storage unit that stores map data indicating the location of the position data acquired by the position acquisition unit, and an output unit that sends out the data stored in the data storage unit In the device body of possible size,
The processing unit continuously acquires position data by the position acquisition unit and stores the position data in the data storage unit, and stores the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit in the data storage unit. An image data storage process, a link data generation process for generating link data for associating the image data with the position data, and a link data storage process for storing the link data in the data storage unit,
The processing unit performs an output process of outputting the position data stored in the data storage unit, map data indicating the location of the position data, and the image data associated with the position data from the output unit. An image storage device configured as described above.   Link processing means for performing the link data generation processing is provided, and the link processing means compares and matches the timing data for specifying the acquisition date and time when the position data is acquired and the shooting date and time data attached to the image data. The image storage device according to claim 1, wherein a processing form is set so as to generate the link data associating things or similar things.   The apparatus body includes a display unit, and the processing unit is configured to perform a display process for displaying the map data corresponding to the position data and image data associated with the position data on the display unit. The image storage device according to claim 1 or 2.   The image storage device according to claim 1, wherein the position acquisition unit is configured using a GPS unit that acquires the position data by receiving radio waves from a plurality of artificial satellites. The position acquisition means is configured by using a GPS unit that acquires the position data by receiving radio waves from a plurality of artificial satellites, and the GPS unit acquires the date and time when the position data is acquired together with the position data at the timing. Configured to store as data,
The link processing means uses shooting date / time data included in Exif data attached to image data shot by a digital camera as the shooting date / time data, and the shooting date / time data and the timing data match each other or Processing in automatic link mode for associating approximates, and all shooting date / time data included in Exif data attached to image data shot by the same digital camera are shifted by an equal value, and shooting date / time data after this shift The image storage device according to claim 2, configured to perform processing in a correction link mode for associating the timing data with timing data. The image data acquisition unit is configured to acquire image data from a storage medium used in the digital camera,
When the processing unit determines that the storage medium is set in the image data acquisition unit, the processing unit identifies a plurality of image data recorded in the storage medium and stores the image data in the data storage unit. The image storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a processing mode is set so as to store image data excluding those being stored in the data storage unit.

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