JP2006319916A - Display control device, display control method thereof, and camera provided with the display control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display control method for executing display control for efficiently and surely searching images for displaying a plurality of reduced images on a screen display section, a display control device to be controlled by this method, and a camera provided with the device. <P>SOLUTION: The display control device causes an image display section 18 to display a reduced image 19 of the image on the basis of date/time information accompanying to the image data. The display control device performs control so that a date/time sequence in which a plurality of date/times in a predetermined range are arranged is displayed; reduced images having the date/time information belonging to the date/time range in each of date/time ranges of this date/time sequence are set as a group of reduced images; the group of reduced images are displayed so as to be arranged in a direction different from the date/time sequence with respect to the date/time sequence; the date/time information accompanying to a reference image is used as the reference date/time among the group of reduced images, when an instruction for switching the date/time range is issued; and a new date/time sequence to be newly set in a predetermined range, on the basis of the reference date/time and a group of reduced images corresponding to the newly set date/time sequence are displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display control device, a display control method thereof, and a camera equipped with the display control device, and more specifically, a screen display unit that performs a display search of a plurality of image data based on date and time information attached to the image data. The present invention relates to a display control method for displaying a reduced image for search, a display control device controlled by the display control method, and a camera provided with the display control device.

  In recent years, various proposals have been made for image display devices configured to display electronic image data acquired by a digital camera or the like as an image, and are generally put into practical use.

  In recent years, image input devices represented by digital cameras and the like for acquiring electronic image data have become widespread. By using an image display device included in these image input devices, the device itself normally functions as an image display device.

  When a desired image is displayed from a plurality of recorded image data using such an image display device, the image data is searched by some method. As an image search method in this case, conventionally, based on date / time information, for example, information such as a shooting date / time recorded along with data of the image itself when the image data is acquired by an action such as shooting. Various proposals have been made regarding the search method.

  As a specific example of a method for searching based on date and time information, for example, when image data recorded by a digital camera or the like and recorded in a plurality of recording media are to be displayed and searched, first, an image based on each image data is selected. There is a method of sequentially displaying on the display unit of the image display device based on the shooting date / time information.

  In addition, there is a method in which a plurality of reduced images corresponding to a plurality of image data are generated, and the reduced images are displayed in a matrix form (for example, 3 rows and 3 columns) in order of shooting date and time on the display unit of the image display device. According to this, since a plurality of (for example, nine) images can be displayed on one screen of the display unit at a time, a desired image can be searched and displayed from a large number of image data in a shorter time. it can.

  However, in recent years, the capacity of a recording medium used for the image display device as described above and mainly for recording a plurality of image data has been increasing. Accordingly, a large number of image data, for example, a large number of image data exceeding several hundreds, is recorded on one recording medium.

  Therefore, for example, a display control method for searching for a large number of image data recorded on a recording medium and displaying a desired image on the display unit of the image display device, or a display for realizing the display control method As for the control device, various proposals have been conventionally made by, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-215457, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-228587, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-331258, and the like.

  The image display control method disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-215457 displays a calendar-like screen, and among the reduced images based on the image data recorded in the date column in the calendar screen This is display control for displaying a representative image and searching for and displaying a desired image with reference to the reduced image.

  In addition, the image display control method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-228487 displays a plurality of different time scale time axes and reduced image sequences in an image search screen, and selects one time axis from the time axes. When selected, the display control is such that the corresponding image sequence is displayed. This facilitates the switching operation of the date and time as the time scale.

The image display control method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-331258 displays a time axis and designates a search range for performing an image search on the time axis, thereby capturing images within the search range. The number of images corresponding to the date and time is displayed as a bar graph for each date. In this way, the display control is such that an image corresponding to an arbitrary shooting date and time in the designated search range can be arbitrarily displayed.
JP 11-215457 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-228587 JP 2003-331258 A

  However, the conventional image display control method performed based on the date information as described above has the following problems.

  The means according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-215457 displays a calendar-like screen and displays on the basis of this, so that a search that spans two screens when performing calendar display, for example, an image If the search range is the period from late January to early February, the search must be made on a screen-by-screen basis, that is, on a monthly basis.

  Further, since the display is performed, for example, every month or every week with reference to the calendar screen, the date column becomes blank when there is no corresponding captured image. Therefore, since the number of reduced images that can be displayed in one screen depends on the size of the date field, there is a problem that efficient display cannot be performed.

  Further, the means disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-228587 has a problem that the number of images that can be displayed on one screen cannot be increased.

  Further, the means according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-331258 performs an image search based on the number of images corresponding to the shooting date and time on the time axis, and cannot be searched while directly viewing the image. Although it is good for searching based on the above, it is not an appropriate means for searching for the image itself.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and the object of the present invention is to ensure good operability when performing image search display based on date / time information attached to image data. , A display control method capable of performing image search more efficiently and reliably, and capable of executing display control for displaying a plurality of reduced images on the screen display unit, and display control controlled by the display control method An apparatus and a camera provided with the display control device are provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, a display control apparatus according to the present invention is a display control apparatus that displays a reduced image of the image on an image display unit based on date / time information attached to the image data, and displays a date / time in a predetermined range. A plurality of arranged date / time sequences are displayed, and a reduced image having date / time information belonging to the date / time range in each date / time range of the date / time sequence is defined as a reduced image group corresponding to the date / time range, and the reduced image group is associated with the date / time sequence. If the date / time range switching instruction is issued, the date / time information attached to the reference image in the reduced image group is set as the reference date / time, and a new one is created based on the reference date / time. A new date and time string set in a predetermined range and a reduced image group corresponding to the new date and time string are displayed.

  According to the present invention, when performing an image search display based on date and time information attached to image data, it is possible to search for an image more efficiently and reliably while ensuring good operability, and a plurality of A display control method capable of executing display control for displaying a reduced image on a screen display unit, a display control device controlled by the display control method, and a camera including the display control device can be provided.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a schematic internal configuration of a camera provided with a display control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the display control device is mainly realized by a CPU. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence of image search display in the display control apparatus of the present embodiment. 3 to 10 are conceptual diagrams showing an arrangement of image data including an image search screen of the image display unit of the display control device of FIG. 1, and a table of reduced images displayed for each predetermined time axis. An example is shown. FIGS. 11 to 16 are conceptual diagrams showing the displacement state of the image display unit when the display switching of each time axis is performed.

  In the present embodiment, display control executed by a display control device provided in the camera will be described as an example.

  In the following description, the date / time string is mainly composed of time-axis images, and the reduced image group is mainly composed of a plurality of reduced images.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the internal structure of the camera 1 provided with the display control apparatus of this embodiment is as follows. In other words, the camera 1 performs a photographing optical system 21, an image sensor 22, an imaging unit 23, white balance adjustment (WB adjustment), gamma correction (γ correction), compression / decompression processing, and the like when recording image data. In response to the output (original image data) from the image processing unit 24, the image memory 25, and the image processing unit 24, resize processing is performed to generate display image data, and the display position and brightness of the display image on the screen A display processing unit 26 that adjusts the image and the like, and an output from the display processing unit 26 to display an image, various setting screens (such as a menu screen) of the camera 1, and condition information regarding set shooting conditions An image display unit (hereinafter simply referred to as a display unit) 18 including a liquid crystal display device or the like, an operation unit 27 including various operation members provided in the camera 1, In response to the display signal, the photographing condition is set and the display of the image displayed on the display unit 18 is controlled, and at the same time, the CPU 20 is a control unit that controls the operation of the camera 1 as a whole, and various programs and various times. It is mainly configured by a ROM (ROM) 28 in which image data indicating a time axis based on a scale and the like are stored in advance, a strobe unit 29, and a recording medium 30 on which a plurality of image data acquired by photographing operations are recorded. .

  Note that the constituent members such as the CPU 20, the image sensor 22, the imaging unit 23, the image processing unit 24, the image memory 25, the display processing unit 26, and the display unit 18 are electrically connected by a signal line 20a.

  The operation unit 27 includes, for example, a shutter release button, a zoom lever, a cursor moving member (XY operation key, etc.), an operation mode switching button, a menu display button, and a determination button for determining a selection operation instruction when each operation member is operated. Etc.

  The display processing unit 26 performs processing such as displaying a predetermined reduced image group in a predetermined arrangement on the time axis image displayed in the playback mode based on the shooting date / time information.

  The display unit 18 connected to the display control apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above has the function of searching for and displaying a desired image from among a plurality of image data that has been captured. This will be described below with reference to a flowchart.

  First, when starting a photographing operation, the user operates a power on / off button (not shown) of the operation unit 27 (see FIG. 1) of the camera 1 to turn on the camera 1. Thereby, the CPU 20 (see FIG. 1) executes a predetermined control operation such as an initialization operation of the internal circuit. As a result, the camera 1 is activated and enters a shooting standby state.

  In this state, the user operates an operation mode switching button (not shown) in the operation unit 27 in order to operate the camera 1 in the reproduction mode. In response to this, the CPU 20 performs a process for switching to the reproduction mode by predetermined control. As a result, the camera 1 starts the operation in the playback mode and functions as a display control device.

  In this state, the display control device of the camera 1 performs initial display in step S1 of FIG. At this time, on the display unit 18, for example, an image search screen which is an initial display screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed.

  FIG. 3 shows an image search screen displayed when the camera is activated in the playback mode with respect to the data arrangement of a plurality of image data recorded on the recording medium in the camera having the display control apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of image data recorded on the recording medium 30 of the camera 1 are arranged in time series based on the shooting date and time, and some of them are arranged in FIG. As shown in a frame indicated by reference numeral 18, it is displayed as a display screen of the display unit 18. Therefore, the portions shown outside the frame of the display unit 18, for example, the portions indicated by reference signs A, B, and C shown in FIG. By performing a predetermined operation using a member, non-display portions can be sequentially displayed.

  In the state shown in FIG. 3, in the screen frame of the display unit 18, a plurality of reduced images 19 corresponding to some of the image data recorded on the recording medium 30 and the ROM 28 are read out. The predetermined time axis image 18a thus displayed is displayed. Note that when the camera 1 operates in the playback mode, the time axis image 18a initially displayed on the display unit 18 of the display control device has “shooting year” as a reference scale as shown in FIG. ing. At the same time, a code representing the reference scale, for example, a code “Y” corresponding to “photographing year” is displayed in the vicinity of the time axis image 18a.

  Each scale part 18b of the time axis image 18a displays the corresponding year, that is, “2003”, “2004”, “2005”. The scale portion 18b of the time axis image 18a is switched and displayed in accordance with a predetermined operation of the cursor moving member as will be described later.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, the reduced images are displayed side by side in a maximum of 3 rows and 3 columns in the screen frame of the display unit 18. In this case, the reduced image (frame number 81) 19 on the lower side of the center column (column “2004” in FIG. 3) is defined as the reference image, and the focus frame 17 serving as a display indicating the reference image is the reference frame. Attached to the peripheral edge of the reduced image 19 of the image.

  Further, each reduced image 19 is displayed with a number 19 a representing a unique frame number assigned to each of a plurality of image data recorded on the recording medium 30 in a form superimposed on each reduced image 19. Yes.

  When the initial display screen (image search screen) of FIG. 3 is displayed on the display unit 18, the display control apparatus proceeds to the next step S2.

  In step S <b> 2, the CPU 20 monitors a signal from the cursor moving member of the operation unit 27 and determines whether or not an image movement instruction has been issued. If an instruction signal is received from the cursor moving member, the process proceeds to step S3. If not, the process proceeds to step S6.

  When the CPU 20 receives the instruction signal from the cursor moving member and proceeds to the next step S3 in the process of step S2, the CPU 20 receives the instruction signal from the cursor moving member by the Y button. It is determined whether or not the signal is [Y] signal (Y direction or vertical direction cursor movement instruction signal). If the instruction signal is a [Y] signal, the process proceeds to the next step S4. On the other hand, if this is not the case, that is, if the instruction signal is an [X] signal from the X button (X direction or lateral movement instruction signal), the process proceeds to the next step S5.

  In step S4, the CPU 20 executes vertical scroll movement of the image. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S6.

  The vertical scroll movement of the image executed in this case is an action executed when the instruction signal from the cursor moving member is the [Y] signal as described above.

  That is, in conjunction with the user performing a vertical operation of the cursor moving member (either upward or downward using the Y button), the CPU 20 displays a column (see FIG. The display of the reduced image displayed in the center column in the example of 3 is switched.

  For example, in the state shown in FIG. 3, a case is considered in which the reduced image with frame number 101 in FIG. 3 is used as a reference image by the user performing an upward operation among the vertical operations of the cursor moving member.

  In this case, first, when the user performs an upward operation of the vertical movement of the cursor moving member, a reduced image of only the center column (“2004” column) of FIG. It switches sequentially. This display switching is based on a control process by the CPU 20. Then, the user stops the operation when the reduced image having the frame number 101 is arranged at a predetermined position of the reference image as shown in FIG. As a result, the display state of the display unit 18 becomes the state shown in FIG. 4. At this time, the reference image is set to the frame number 101. In addition, the part of the code | symbol D shown in FIG. 4 becomes a non-display part by this operation.

  On the other hand, in step S5, the CPU 20 executes horizontal scroll movement of the image. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S6.

  The horizontal scroll movement of the image executed in this case is an action executed when the instruction signal from the cursor moving member is the [X] signal from the X button as described above.

  That is, the CPU 20 moves the time axis image 18a of the display unit 18 in a specified direction in conjunction with the user performing a lateral operation (either right direction or left direction) of the cursor moving member. Perform switching display. At this time, the reduced image 19 in the column direction associated with each scale unit 18b is also switched and displayed so as to move in the same direction in conjunction with the movement of the scale unit 18b.

  For example, in the state shown in FIG. 3, when the user performs a leftward operation among the lateral operations of the cursor moving member (this series of actions is not particularly shown), the display unit 18 The focus frame 17 moves leftward on the screen, and the reduced image 19 at the lower left end of the display unit 18 is focused. Here, when the cursor moving member is further operated leftward, the scale portions 18b of the time axis image 18a in FIG. 3 are switched to the display of “2002”, “2003”, and “2004”. Accordingly, the reduced image 19 with frame numbers 31 to 33 associated with “2002” is displayed in the left end column of the screen, and the reduced image 19 with frame numbers 50 to 52 associated with “2003” is displayed in the center column of the screen. , “2004” is accompanied by a reduced image 19 with frame numbers 81 to 83 displayed at the right end of the screen. In this case, the reduced image 19 with the frame number 31 is set as the reference image.

  When the process proceeds to the next step S6 after the above-described steps S2, S4, S5 are completed, in this step S6, the CPU 20 confirms the presence / absence of a time width switching instruction signal.

  Here, the time width switching instruction signal is, for example, an instruction signal that is output when the zoom lever of the operation unit 27 is operated, that is, when the user operates the zoom lever in the [T] direction or [W] direction. is there.

  If the time width switching instruction signal is not confirmed in step S6 described above, the CPU 20 ends a series of processes while ensuring the display state at that time, and the display control apparatus enters a standby state in the reproduction mode. .

  On the other hand, when the time width switching instruction signal is confirmed by the CPU 20 in step S6, the process proceeds to the next step S7.

  In step S7, the CPU 20 checks whether or not the time width switching instruction signal is a tele (T) instruction, that is, a [T] signal. If the signal is a [T] signal, the process proceeds to step S8. In this step S8, the CPU 20 changes the time axis image 18 with the previously displayed time width to the time axis image with the shorter time width. 18 is displayed.

  For example, consider a case where the user operates the zoom lever in the [T] direction in the state shown in FIG. In this case, the time axis image 18a is switched from the display in units of “year (Y)” in the state of FIG. 4 to the display in units of “month (M)” in the state of FIG. Accordingly, the display of a plurality of reduced images 19 associated with each scale unit 18b is also switched. In this case, the shooting date / time information attached to the reference image is set as the reference date / time information, and the display is switched based on the new time width based on the reference date / time information.

  For example, the reference image is set to frame number 101 in the state of FIG. Here, it is assumed that the shooting date / time information of the frame number 101 is “August 21, 2004, 12:05”.

  From the state of FIG. 4, the user operates the zoom lever in the [T] direction, and the time axis image 18a is displayed in units of “month (M)” from the display of “year (Y)” (FIG. 4) (FIG. 5). Switch to.

  When the user again operates the zoom lever in the [T] direction from the state of FIG. 5, the time axis image 18a is displayed from the display of the “month (M)” unit (FIG. 5) to the display of the “week (W)” unit ( 6). Here, the start date of each week is displayed on the scale portion 18b. For example, “21” in the scale portion 18b shown in FIG. 6 represents “(August 2004) 21st to (same) 27th”. Therefore, the image whose scale part 18b is included in the column “21” includes “August 21 to 27, 2004” in the shooting date / time information.

  When the user again operates the zoom lever in the [T] direction from the state of FIG. 6, the time-axis image 18a is displayed from the display in units of “week (W)” (FIG. 6) to the display in units of “day (D)” (FIG. 6). Switch to 7).

  When the user again operates the zoom lever in the [T] direction from the state of FIG. 7, the time axis image 18 a is displayed from “day (D)” units (FIG. 7) to “predetermined time (H)” units. (Fig. 8) Here, the predetermined time is expressed, for example, as a unit every 6 hours. For example, “(August 21, 2004) from 12:00 to (18:00)”.

  Also here, the starting time of each predetermined time is displayed on the scale portion 18b. For example, a group of “12:00” in the scale portion 18b shown in FIG. 8 includes a group of image data acquired within 6 hours starting from 12:00 on August 21, 2004.

  When the user again operates the zoom lever in the [T] direction from the state of FIG. 8, the time axis image 18a is displayed in units of “1 hour (H)” from the display of “predetermined time (H)” (FIG. 8). The display switches to the display (FIG. 9). Also here, the scale portion 18b displays the start time of each predetermined time. For example, the “12:00” column of the scale portion 18b shown in FIG. 9 includes a group of image data acquired within one hour starting at 12:00 on August 21, 2004.

  When the user again operates the zoom lever in the [T] direction from the state of FIG. 9, the time-axis image 18a is displayed in units of “10 minutes (H)” from the display of “1 hour (H)” (FIG. 9). The display switches to the display (FIG. 10). Also here, the scale portion 18b displays the start time of each predetermined time. For example, the “12:00” column of the scale portion 18b shown in FIG. 10 includes a group of image data acquired within 10 minutes starting at 12:00 on August 21, 2004.

  In this way, every time the zoom lever is operated in the [T] direction, “year (Y)” display → “month (M)” display → “week (W)” display → “day (D)” display. → “Predetermined time (H)” display (6 hour units) → “1 hour (H)” display (1 hour unit) → “10 minutes (H)” display (10 minute units) Switch to a shorter time axis.

  On the other hand, if the signal confirmed in step S7 is a [W] signal, the process proceeds to step S9. In this step S9, the CPU 20 displays the time axis image 18 by the time width of the previous display. The time axis image 18 with a long time width is switched and displayed.

  In this case, the operation is reverse to that when the zoom lever is operated in the [T] direction. That is, for example, when the user operates the zoom lever in the [W] direction in the state of FIG. 5, the time axis image 18 a is displayed from “Month (M)” display (FIG. 5) to “Year (Y)”. The display switches to the unit display (FIG. 4). The same applies to other cases.

  Accordingly, every time the zoom lever is operated in the [W] direction, “10 minutes (H)” display (10 minute unit) → “1 hour (H)” display (1 hour unit) → “predetermined time (H ) "Display (6 hours unit)->" Day (D) "display->" Week (W) "display->" Month (M) "display->" Year (Y) "display. Switch to the time axis.

  The setting of the time width on the time axis is not limited to the above example, and various time widths may be set as appropriate.

  When the processes of steps S8 and S9 described above are completed, the CPU 20 ends a series of processes while ensuring the display state at that time, and the display control apparatus enters a standby state in the reproduction mode.

  By the way, the operation when the display of the time-axis image 18a and the reduced image 19 associated therewith is switched by operating the zoom lever is as follows.

  FIGS. 11-16 is a figure which shows the displacement of the display at the time of the screen display switching in a display part when a zoom lever is operated in the camera provided with the display control apparatus of this embodiment.

  Consider a case where the zoom lever is operated in the [T] direction when the display screen of the display unit 18 of the display control device is in the state shown in FIG. 11 (the same as the state in FIG. 4).

  In FIG. 11, the time axis image 18a is displayed in units of “year (Y)”. In this state, when the zoom lever is operated in the [T] direction, it is displaced to the state shown in FIG.

  That is, the reduced image 19 group in the column “2004” (see symbol E) of the scale unit 18b remains stationary, and the column “2003” (see symbol B1) in the scale unit 18b gradually moves in the direction of the arrow X1 in FIG. It appears to move. At the same time, the column “2005” (see C1) of the scale portion 18b is displayed so as to gradually move in the direction of the arrow X2 in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, only the column “2004” (see symbol E) of the scale portion 18b is displayed. At this time, the reduced image 19 is displayed as thin as in a semi-transmissive state. Therefore, in FIG. 13, each reduced image 19 displayed on the display unit 18 is represented by a dotted line.

  Subsequently, the state shown in FIG. 13 is switched to the state shown in FIG. In other words, in the state of FIG. 14, the time axis image 18a is switched from the “year (Y)” unit display to the “month (M)” unit display, and the reduced image 19 is linked to the shooting information of each month. Are rearranged into a row of reduced images 19 associated with each month. Even in this state, the reduced image 19 is displayed light.

  Further, the state of FIG. 14 is displaced to the state of FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the display of the reduced image 19 gradually shifts from the thin display state to the normal display state, and the column display for each month includes “August” including the frame number 101 as the reference image. As a central column, the column “July” (frame numbers 90 to 92) gradually moves in the direction of arrow X1 in FIG. 15, and the column “September” (frame numbers 111 to 113) gradually moves in the direction of arrow X2 in FIG. Appears to move to. Finally, the state shown in FIG. 16 is obtained. The state of FIG. 16 is the same as the state of FIG. 5 in which the time axis is displayed in units of “month (M)”.

  Thus, the display of the display unit 18 is shifted from, for example, a display in which the time axis is in “year (Y)” units to a display in “month (M)” units. The other cases are substantially the same.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, a desired image to be searched is set as a reference image, and thereafter, the time interval on the time axis with the reference image as a center is gradually shortened, whereby the reference image It is possible to search and display an image taken in the vicinity of the date and time when the image was taken. That is, since the image search is performed based on the shooting date / time information, a desired image can be easily searched by performing a narrowing search for the shooting date / time.

  The reduced images that are arranged and displayed on the screen of the display unit 18 have a display form of 3 columns and 3 rows in the above-described embodiment. However, the display form is not limited to this. For example, a display form of 4 columns 4 rows or 5 columns 5 rows may be used.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment is implement | achieved by the control processing of CPU20 according to a program, that is, this will implement | achieve the function of embodiment mentioned above by the said program itself, and this program itself comprises this invention.

  These programs may be in the form of a recording medium other than the ROM (ROM) 28, or may be stored in a recording medium detachable from the camera. As the recording medium in this case, a magnetic recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or a magnetic tape medium, an optical recording medium such as CD or DVD, a magneto-optical recording medium such as MD or MO, or a semiconductor memory medium such as an IC card. Etc. can be applied. And the recording medium itself which memorize | stored this program also comprises this invention.

  Also, a storage device such as a hard disk medium or a semiconductor memory such as a RAM (RAM) provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet is used as a recording medium, and a program is provided to the camera via the communication network. You may do it.

  Alternatively, it goes without saying that such a program is included in the embodiment of the present invention even when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with other application software or the like.

  Note that the display control apparatus according to the present embodiment realizes the above-described functions by executing a program on a CPU, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a part or all of the display control device may be implemented with the same function by hardware.

  In the above-described embodiment, the camera is described as a single camera. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage.

  Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, a configuration in which some components are removed from all the components shown in each embodiment may be adopted. Furthermore, it can also comprise combining the component covering different embodiment suitably.

The principal part block block diagram which shows the schematic internal structure of the camera provided with the display control apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence of image search display in the display control apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an arrangement of image data including an image search screen of an image display unit of the display control device of FIG. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an arrangement of image data including an image search screen of an image display unit of the display control device of FIG. 1, and is a display example when setting a reference image. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an arrangement of image data including an image search screen of an image display unit of the display control device of FIG. 1, and a display example in which a time axis is displayed in [month (M)] units. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an arrangement of image data including an image search screen of an image display unit of the display control device of FIG. 1, and a display example in which a time axis is displayed in [week (W)] units. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an arrangement of image data including an image search screen of an image display unit of the display control device of FIG. 1, and a display example in which a time axis is displayed in [day (D)] units. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an arrangement of image data including an image search screen of an image display unit of the display control device in FIG. 1, and a display example in which a time axis is displayed in [predetermined time (H)] units. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an arrangement of image data including an image search screen of an image display unit of the display control device of FIG. 1, and a display example in which a time axis is displayed in [1 hour (H)] units. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an arrangement of image data including an image search screen of an image display unit of the display control device of FIG. 1, and a display example in which a time axis is displayed in [10 minutes (H)] units. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a displacement state of the image display unit when display switching of a time axis of the image display unit of the display control device of FIG. 1 is performed, and a diagram illustrating an initial state. The conceptual diagram which shows the displacement state of the image display part when the display switching of the time-axis of the image display part of the display control apparatus of FIG. 1 is performed. The conceptual diagram which shows the displacement state of the image display part at the time of the display switching of the time-axis of the image display part of the display control apparatus of FIG. The conceptual diagram which shows the displacement state of the image display part when the display switching of the time-axis of the image display part of the display control apparatus of FIG. 1 is performed. The conceptual diagram which shows the displacement state of the image display part when the display switching of the time-axis of the image display part of the display control apparatus of FIG. 1 is performed. The conceptual diagram which shows the displacement state of the image display part when the display switching of the time-axis of the image display part of the display control apparatus of FIG. 1 is performed.

Explanation of symbols

1 …… Camera 18 …… Display unit 18a …… Time axis image 18b …… Scale unit 19 …… Reduced image 19a …… Number 20a …… Signal line 24 …… Image processing unit 25 …… Image memory 26 …… Display processing Part 27 …… Operating part 30 …… Recording medium 28 …… ROM

Claims (9)

A display control device that displays a reduced image of the image on the image display unit based on date and time information attached to the image data,
A date and time sequence in which a plurality of dates and times in a predetermined range are arranged is displayed, and a reduced image having date and time information belonging to the date and time range is included in each date and time range of the date and time sequence as a reduced image group corresponding to the date and time range. Display the date and time columns side by side in a different direction,
When the date / time range switching instruction is issued, the date / time information attached to the reference image in the reduced image group is set as the reference date / time, and a new date / time string newly set in a predetermined range based on the reference date / time And a display control apparatus for displaying a reduced image group corresponding to the group. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reduced image groups corresponding to the date and time range are arranged and displayed in order of date and time based on the date and time information. The display control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display of the reduced image group including the reference date and time is switched and displayed based on a display image display switching instruction. 4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the reference date and time is displayed in the vicinity of a substantially central portion of the image display unit when an instruction to switch the date and time range is generated. The display control apparatus according to 1. A display control method for displaying a reduced image of the image on an image display unit based on date and time information attached to image data,
A date and time sequence in which a plurality of dates and times in a predetermined range are arranged is displayed, and a reduced image having date and time information belonging to the date and time range is included in each date and time range of the date and time sequence as a reduced image group corresponding to the date and time range. Display the date and time columns side by side in a different direction,
When the date / time range switching instruction is issued, the date / time information attached to the reference image in the reduced image group is set as the reference date / time, and a new date / time string newly set in a predetermined range based on the reference date / time And a display control method characterized by displaying a reduced image group corresponding thereto. A program for causing a computer to execute a display control method for displaying a reduced image of the image on an image display unit based on date and time information attached to image data,
A date and time sequence in which a plurality of dates and times in a predetermined range are arranged is displayed, and a reduced image having date and time information belonging to the date and time range is included in each date and time range of the date and time sequence as a reduced image group corresponding to the date and time range. Display the date and time columns side by side in a different direction,
When the date / time range switching instruction is issued, the date / time information attached to the reference image in the reduced image group is set as the reference date / time, and a new date / time string newly set in a predetermined range based on the reference date / time And a reduced image group corresponding to the program. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a display control method for displaying a reduced image of the image on an image display unit based on date and time information attached to image data,
A date and time sequence in which a plurality of dates and times in a predetermined range are arranged is displayed, and a reduced image having date and time information belonging to the date and time range is included in each date and time range of the date and time sequence as a reduced image group corresponding to the date and time range. Display the date and time columns side by side in a different direction,
When the date / time range switching instruction is issued, the date / time information attached to the reference image in the reduced image group is set as the reference date / time, and a new date / time string newly set in a predetermined range based on the reference date / time And a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program characterized by displaying a reduced image group corresponding thereto. A camera that displays a reduced image of the image on the image display unit based on the shooting date and time information attached to the image data,
A date / time sequence in which a plurality of dates / times in a predetermined range are arranged is displayed, and a reduced image having each date / time range in the date / time sequence as a shooting date / time is defined as a reduced image group corresponding to the date / time range, and the reduced image group is associated with the date / time sequence. And display them side by side in a different direction,
When the date / time range switching instruction is issued, the date / time information attached to the reference image in the reduced image group is set as the reference date / time, and a new date / time string newly set in a predetermined range based on the reference date / time A camera comprising a display control unit for displaying a reduced image group having shooting date and time information corresponding thereto. 9. The camera according to claim 8, wherein the switching instruction of the date and time range is made by operating a zoom ratio adjusting operation member of the photographing optical system.

Images