JP2007280406A - Information processor, display control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to more easily browse a plurality of images. <P>SOLUTION: When a calendar tab 612 is selected, an image photographed on the same photographing day as that of the selected image file is displayed in an image display area 631 by being associated with the photographing time. When an explorer tab 613 is selected, a directory where the selected image file is stored is displayed in distinction from other directories and image files stored in the same directory as that of the selected image file are listed in the image display area 631. The present invention is applicable to application software for managing the image files. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a display control method, and a program, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus, a display control method, and a program that allow a plurality of image files to be browsed more easily.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is software for capturing and managing image files shot and generated by a digital still camera or the like in a personal computer. With such software, the user can organize a large number of image files relatively easily.

  It is also known to display a list of captured images for each shooting date or for each month (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Also, in an apparatus for recording and managing broadcast programs, still images that are representative of the recorded video are classified by date based on the recording date, and the calendar content is displayed to display the AV content classified by recording date. There is what can be understood at a glance (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 11-215457 A Japanese Patent No. 3284543

  By the way, in recent years, it has been desired that a plurality of images can be browsed more easily.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and allows a plurality of images to be browsed more easily.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that controls display of an image classified and stored for each folder, and the image is based on a predetermined time unit based on time information added to the image. A first display process for displaying the image in a display area divided for each time unit, according to a user operation on the operation means, And display control means for switching and executing a second display process for classifying and displaying the images for each folder.

  In the first display process, the display control unit can display the image by switching the time unit for dividing the display area in accordance with a user operation on the operation unit.

  In the first display process, when a plurality of the images are classified in the same time unit, the plurality of images classified in the same time unit are sequentially displayed in the display area one by one. Selecting means for selecting as an image to be displayed, and causing the display control means to display the image selected by the selecting means in the display area corresponding to the time unit in which the image is classified. Can do.

  The classifying unit further classifies the image into a predetermined category in accordance with a user operation on the operation unit, and the display control unit has the first control unit in accordance with a user operation on the operation unit. The display process, the second display process, or the third display process for classifying and displaying the image for each category can be switched and executed.

  The display control method of the present invention is a display control method of an information processing apparatus for controlling display of images classified and stored for each folder, and sets a predetermined time unit based on time information added to the image. A first display process for classifying the image as a reference and displaying the image in a display area divided for each time unit according to a user operation, and classifying and displaying the image for each folder And a step of switching and executing the second display process to be performed.

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute processing for controlling display of images classified and stored for each folder, based on a predetermined time unit based on time information added to the image. A first display process for classifying the image and displaying the image in a display area divided for each time unit according to a user operation; and a first display process for classifying and displaying the image for each folder. And a step of switching and executing the display processing of No. 2.

  In the information processing apparatus and method, and the program according to the present invention, the images are classified based on a predetermined time unit based on time information added to the images classified and stored for each folder. According to an operation, a first display process for displaying the image in a display area divided for each time unit and a second display process for displaying the image by classifying the image for each folder are switched and executed. Is done.

  According to the present invention, a large number of image files can be displayed in a list. In particular, according to the present invention, a plurality of images can be browsed more easily.

  BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between constituent elements described in the claims and specific examples in the best mode for carrying out the invention are illustrated as follows. Become. This description is intended to confirm that the specific examples supporting the invention described in the claims are described in the best mode for carrying out the invention. Accordingly, even if there are specific examples that are described in the best mode for carrying out the invention but are not described here as corresponding to the constituent elements, the specific examples are not included. However, this does not mean that it does not correspond to the configuration requirements. On the contrary, even if a specific example is described here as corresponding to a configuration requirement, this means that the specific example does not correspond to a configuration requirement other than the configuration requirement. not.

  Further, this description does not mean that the invention corresponding to the specific example described in the best mode for carrying out the invention is all described in the claims. In other words, this description is an invention corresponding to the specific example described in the best mode for carrying out the invention, and is the existence of an invention not described in the claims of this application, that is, in the future. This does not deny the existence of an invention that has been filed for division or added by amendment.

  The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 (for example, the personal computer 1 in FIG. 1) is a time added to the image in the information processing apparatus that controls display of images classified and stored for each folder. A classification unit (for example, the image file classification unit 801 in FIG. 35) that classifies the image on the basis of a predetermined time unit based on information (for example, shooting date and time), and an operation unit that receives an operation from the user (for example, FIG. 4, a first display process for displaying the image in a display area divided for each time unit, and the image in the folder. Display control means (for example, a display screen generation unit 805) for switching and executing the second display processing to be classified and displayed for each. And butterflies.

  The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, in the first display processing, when a plurality of the images are classified in the same time unit, the plurality of images classified in the same time unit. Are sequentially selected as images to be displayed in the display area one by one (for example, the slide display control unit 806 in FIG. 35), and the display control means selects the images selected by the selection means. The image is displayed in the display area corresponding to the time unit in which the image is classified.

  The display control method according to claim 5 is a display control method of an information processing apparatus that controls display of images classified and stored for each folder, and includes time information (for example, shooting date and time) added to the image. ) On the basis of a predetermined time unit (for example, step S403 in FIG. 39), and the image is displayed in the display area divided by the time unit in accordance with a user operation. Including a step of switching and executing a first display process and a second display process for classifying and displaying the image for each folder (for example, step S517 in FIG. 42 to step S528 in FIG. 43). Features.

  The configuration requirements of the program according to claim 6 are the same as the information processing method according to claim 5, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an embodiment of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied.

  In FIG. 1, a digital still camera 2 (hereinafter abbreviated as DSC2) captures a subject and generates an image file at a timing when a shutter button is operated by a user, and records the image file in a memory card 4-1. The DSC 2 attaches a file name including a serial number “001” to the image file created first after the memory card 4-1 is installed. The DSC 2 attaches a file name including a serial number “002” to the next created image file. Similarly, file names including serial numbers that are incremented by 1, such as “003”, “004”, “005”,. Once the memory card 4-1 is removed and then the memory card 4-1 is inserted again and photographing is performed, the DSC 2 again starts from “000” in order “002”, “003”. , “004”, “005”, and so on, file names including serial numbers are assigned to the image files.

  The digital still camera 3 (hereinafter abbreviated as DSC 3) shoots a subject at a timing when the shutter button is operated by the user, generates an image file, and records it in the memory card 4-2. The DSC 3 attaches a file name including a serial number “001” to the image file created first after the memory card 4-2 is installed. The DSC 3 attaches a file name including a serial number “002” to the next created image file. Similarly, file names including serial numbers that are incremented by 1, such as “003”, “004”, “005”,. Then, once the memory card 4-2 is removed and then the memory card 4-2 is inserted again and photographing is performed, the DSC 3 converts the image file into an image file immediately before the memory card 4-2 is removed. The serial number that follows the serial number is assigned to the created image file. Therefore, for example, when five image files are created after the memory card 4-2 is once attached to the DSC 3, image files with serial numbers from “000” to “005” are created. Thereafter, when the memory card 4-2 is removed, the DSC 3 stores the serial number “006” added to the serial number “005” of the image file created before the memory card 4-2 is removed in the nonvolatile memory. Let me. Next time, when the memory card 4-2 is attached to the DSC 3, the DSC 3 attaches a file name including a serial number “006” to the image file generated by photographing.

  Here, the memory cards 4-1 and 4-2 can be, for example, Memory Stick (trademark) developed by Sony Corporation, the applicant of the present application. These memory cards 4-1 and 4-2 are flash memories which are a kind of EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) which is a nonvolatile memory that can be electrically rewritten and erased in a small and thin plastic case. The device stores elements and can write and read various data such as images, sounds and music. The present invention naturally includes a case where a flash memory card other than the memory stick is used as the memory cards 4-1 and 4-2. In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of the memory cards 4-1 and 4-2, they are collectively referred to as a memory card 4. Hereinafter, the same applies to other configurations.

  The memory card 4-1 on which the image file is recorded by the photographing process by the DSC 2 is removed from the DSC 2 by the user and attached to the personal computer 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as PC 1). The PC 1 takes in the image file from the attached memory card 4-1 and stores it in the storage unit 210 (see FIG. 4). Further, the memory card 4-2 on which the image file is recorded by the photographing process by the DSC 3 is removed from the DSC 3 by the user and attached to the PC 1. The PC 1 takes in the image file from the attached memory card 4-2 and stores it in the storage unit 210 (see FIG. 4).

  Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the DSC 2.

  2, the operation unit 101 includes a shutter button, various setting dials and buttons, and notifies the microcomputer 107 of an operation signal corresponding to an operation input by the user. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 stores various programs such as an operating system executed by the microcomputer 107 or application programs. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 appropriately stores information necessary for the microcomputer 107 to execute processing. The EEPROM 104 stores the serial number value included in the file name of the image file.

  When creating an image file, the file name creation unit 105 creates a file name based on the serial number stored in the EEPROM 104. The clock unit 106 outputs the current time (year / month / day / hour / minute / second) as necessary. For example, when the photographing process is executed by the DSC 2, the microcomputer 107 acquires the current time output from the clock unit 106 as the photographing date and time.

  The microcomputer 107 controls the overall operation of the DSC 2 by executing various programs such as an operating system or application program stored in the ROM 102.

  The imaging unit 108 includes a lens, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) imaging device, an A / D conversion circuit, an image processing circuit, and the like. The subject image incident through the lens is photoelectrically converted by the CCD image sensor, and the analog signal of the subject image subjected to the photoelectric conversion is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit. The digital signal of the subject image is subjected to various signal processing (image correction processing) such as gamma correction and white balance adjustment by an image processing circuit.

  The image data created by the imaging unit 108 is stored in the buffer memory 109. The image data stored in the buffer memory 109 is displayed on the display unit 110.

  The display unit 110 is configured by, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays an image corresponding to image data supplied from the buffer memory 109, various setting screens, and the like.

  The image data stored in the buffer memory 109 is compressed by, for example, a JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) system by a compression / decompression circuit (not shown). The file name created by the file name creation unit 105 and information such as the shooting date and time output from the clock unit 106 are added to the compressed image data, and the image file to be recorded on the memory card 4-1. Is created. The created image file is recorded on the memory card 4-1 via the memory controller 111.

  The memory card 4-1 is detachable from the DSC 2.

  Further, the image file recorded on the memory card 4-1 is appropriately read via the memory controller 111 and output to the PC 1 via the interface (I / F) 112 and the connector 113, for example.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the DSC 3. Note that the operation units 151 to 163 constituting the DSC 3 in FIG. 3 have basically the same configuration as the operation units 101 to 113 in FIG. 2, and the corresponding names have corresponding functions. Therefore, those descriptions will be repeated and will be omitted.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the PC 1.

  In FIG. 4, the CPU 201 executes various processes according to a program stored in the ROM 202 or a program loaded from the storage unit 210 to the RAM 203. The RAM 203 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 201 to execute various processes.

  The CPU 201, the ROM 202, and the RAM 203 are connected to each other via the bus 204. An input / output interface 205 is also connected to the bus 204.

  A mouse 206 as a pointing device and a keyboard 207 are connected to the input / output interface 205 to receive an operation input from the user. The input / output interface 205 includes a display unit 208 made up of a CRT (CathodeRay Tube), LCD, etc., an audio output unit 209 made up of speakers, a storage unit 210 made up of a hard disk, a modem, a terminal adapter, etc. The communication unit 211 to be connected is connected. The storage unit 210 stores various programs such as an OS (Operating System), an image capturing program 232, and a file management program 233, as well as files such as image files, data, and the like. The communication unit 211 performs communication processing via a network including the Internet.

  The input / output interface 205 is also connected to a drive 212, and the memory card 4 is mounted. The image data recorded in the memory card 4 can be imported, the image file recorded in the memory card 4 can be deleted, and the memory card 4 can be deleted. The process of recording the import history file is performed.

  Further, a drive 213 is connected to the input / output interface 205 as necessary, and a magnetic disk 221, an optical disk 222, a magneto-optical disk 223, a semiconductor memory 224, or the like is appropriately mounted, and a computer program read from them is loaded. If necessary, it is installed in the storage unit 210.

  Next, FIG. 5 shows a functional configuration example of the image capturing program 232 of FIG. The functional configuration illustrated in FIG. 5 is realized by the CPU 201 executing the OS 231 and the image capturing program 232 stored in the storage unit 210.

  In FIG. 5, when an instruction to import an image file recorded on the memory card 4 is input via the operation unit 251 including the mouse 206 and the keyboard 207, the history determination unit 261 stores the history file in the memory card 4. It is determined whether it is recorded, and the determination result (history file presence / absence) is notified to the duplication determination unit 262.

  Based on the notification of the determination result from the history determination unit 261, the duplication determination unit 262 and the file name of the image file recorded on the memory card 4 and the image file stored in the storage unit 210 (captured image file) Are compared, and the file names of the image files recorded in the memory card 4 and the file names of the image files stored in the storage unit 210 are the same. Is determined, and the determination result (presence or absence of duplication of file name) is notified to the capturing unit 263.

  Further, the duplication determination unit 262 appropriately determines whether or not the same file exists in the image file recorded in the memory card 4 and the image file stored in the storage unit 210, and the determination result is obtained. The capturing unit 263 is notified.

  The capturing unit 263 captures (reads out) the image file recorded on the memory card 4 based on the determination result notified from the duplication determining unit 262 and supplies the image file to the file name creating unit 264 or the storage unit 210 as appropriate. In addition, when the capturing of the image file from the memory card 4 is completed, the capturing unit 263 transmits a signal indicating that the capturing of the image file is complete to the display control unit 265.

  The file name creation unit 264 creates a new file name to be added to the image file supplied from the capture unit 263, and attaches the created file name to the image file supplied from the capture unit 263. At this time, the file name creation unit 264 deletes the old file name originally attached to the image file. As a result, the file name of the image file taken into the PC 1 is changed. The file name creation unit 264 supplies the image file with the new file name to the storage unit 210 for storage.

  The display control unit 265 displays, on the display unit 208, a guide prompting selection of erasure of the image file recorded on the memory card 4 when the capture unit 263 receives a signal indicating that the capture of the image file is completed. Let

  After the image file is captured from the memory card 4, the post-capture processing determination unit 266 receives an instruction to erase the image file recorded on the memory card 4 based on an operation signal from the operation unit 251, or the memory It is determined whether an instruction to leave the image file recorded on the card 4 without being erased is input. When it is determined that an instruction to delete the image file recorded on the memory card 4 has been input, the post-capture processing determination unit 266 causes the image deletion unit 267 to delete the image file recorded on the memory card 4. To When an instruction to leave the image file recorded on the memory card 4 without erasing it is input, the post-capture processing determination unit 266 records the history file on the memory card 4 in the file generation unit 268. To

  The image erasing unit 267 erases all the image files recorded on the memory card 4 at once when the erasure of the image files recorded on the memory card 4 is instructed from the post-capture processing determination unit 266. If a history file is recorded on the memory card 4, the image erasing unit 267 also erases this history file.

  When the file generation unit 268 receives an instruction to record the history file on the memory card 4 from the post-capture processing determination unit 266, the history file indicating that the image file recorded on the memory card 4 has already been captured. Is recorded on the memory card 4.

  Next, the outline of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 6, the DSC 2 sequentially creates image files 301-1 to 301-5 and records them in the memory card 4-1. The file name of the image file 301-1 is “001.jpg”, the file name of the image file 301-2 is “002.jpg”, and the file name of the image file 301-3 is “003.jpg”. .jpg ", the file name of the image file 301-4 is" 004.jpg ", and the file name of the image file 301-5 is" 005.jpg ".

  7, the memory card 4-1 on which the image files 301-1 to 301-5 are recorded in FIG. 6 is removed from the DSC 2 and attached to the PC 1 (the drive 212). The PC 1 takes in the image files 301-1 to 301-5 recorded on the memory card 4-1, and stores them in the storage unit 210. The PC 1 displays a guidance screen 311 as shown in FIG. 8 at the timing when the image files 301-1 to 301-5 recorded in the memory card 4-1 have been taken in.

  The guidance screen 311 displays a message “Image has been imported. Do you want to delete the original image from the memory card?”, And the user can read the image file from the memory card 4-1 by this guidance. It can be known that the capturing is completed and that the user is prompted to select whether or not to delete the image file recorded on the memory card 4-1. An OK button 312 and a cancel button 313 are also displayed on the guidance screen 311. By selecting the OK button 312 with the mouse 206 or the like, the user deletes the image file recorded on the memory card 4-1. By selecting the cancel button 313, it is possible to select not to erase the image file recorded on the memory card 4-1.

  When the OK button 312 is selected, the PC 1 erases all the image files recorded on the memory card 4-1. When the cancel button 313 is selected, the PC 1 does not delete the image file recorded on the memory card 4-1, but stores a history file (a file indicating that the image file has already been captured) in the memory card 4- Record in 1. In the example of FIG. 8, all the image files recorded on the memory card 4-1 are erased collectively.

  In this way, when the image file 301-1 to 301-5 is recorded on the PC 1 and the memory card 4-1 is again attached to the DSC 2 and shooting is executed by the DSC 2, FIG. 9 shows. As described above, the image files 331-1 to 331-3 generated by the DSC 2 are recorded on the memory card 4-1. The file name of the image file 331-1 is “001.jpg”, the file name of the image file 331-2 is “002.jpg”, and the file name of the image file 331-3 is “003”. .jpg ". That is, when the memory card 4-1 is once removed and attached again, the DSC 2 resets the serial number of the file name and starts from “001”. Accordingly, the file names of the image files 331-1 to 331-3 recorded on the memory card 4-1 are the same as the file names of the image files 301-1 to 301-3 that have been imported to the PC 1, respectively. Therefore, when this memory card 4-1 is removed from the DSC 2 and attached to the PC 1, and the PC 1 tries to take in the image files 331-1 to 331-3, it is already stored in the PC 1 as shown in FIG. The file names overlap with the existing image files 301-1 to 301-3.

  Therefore, in this case, as shown in FIG. 11, the PC 1 changes the file name of the image file 331-1 from “001.jpg” to “006.jpg”, and the file name of the image file 331-2 is “002”. .jpg "is changed to" 007.jpg ", and the file name of the image file 331-3 is changed from" 003.jpg "to" 008.jpg "and stored. That is, if the image file name recorded on the memory card 4-1 has the same name as the image file name already stored in the PC 1, the image file to be loaded is stored in the PC 1. The file name is changed and the image file is captured so that the file name does not overlap with the file name of the image file already stored in the PC 1.

  Conventionally, when capturing without changing the file name, an image file (for example, an image file 301-1) originally stored in the PC 1 and an image file (for example, an image file 301-1) captured from the memory card 4-1. The image file 331-1) may be overwritten and saved. Therefore, there is a problem that the image file originally stored in the PC 1 is erased. Further, in order to avoid such a trouble, the user has to change the file name of each image file to be taken in from the memory card 4-1, which is troublesome.

  On the other hand, when an image file having the same name as the image file stored in the PC 1 is recorded on the memory card 4-1, as shown in FIG. By changing and importing it into the PC 1, it is possible to prevent the image file originally stored in the PC 1 from being accidentally erased, and to save the user from extra effort.

  In FIG. 8, after the image files 301-1 to 301-5 are taken from the memory card 4-1 to the PC 1, the image files 301-1 to 301-5 recorded on the memory card 4-1 are deleted. However, if it is not erased at this time, the state shown in FIG. 12 is obtained. In FIG. 12, the memory card 4-1 on which the image files 301-1 to 301-5 are recorded is mounted on the DSC 2. In addition to the image files 301-1 to 301-5, a history file 341 is also recorded on the memory card 4-1. The PC 1 stores the captured image files 301-1 to 301-5.

  In this state, when photographing is further performed with the DSC 2, as shown in FIG. 13, further image files are generated and recorded in the memory card 4-1. In the example of FIG. 13, three shootings are performed, and three image files 351-1 to 351-3 are recorded on the memory card 4-1. FIG. 14 shows a state where the memory card 4-1 is removed from the DSC 2 and attached to the PC 1.

  In FIG. 14, the PC 1 first determines that an image file that has already been captured exists in the memory card 4-1 based on the history file 341 recorded in the memory card 4-1. Then, the PC 1 captures only the image files 351-1 to 351-3 newly recorded on the memory card 4-1 without capturing the already captured image files 301-1 to 301-5. As described above, when the same image file as the image file recorded on the memory card 4-1 has already been stored in the PC 1, the same image file is duplicated by not capturing the image file. It is possible to prevent storage in the PC 1. In addition, it is possible to reduce the time required to transfer the image file from the memory card 4-1 to the PC 1.

  Next, DSC2 imaging processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S101 in FIG. 15, the microcomputer 107 of the DSC 2 monitors the memory controller 111 to determine whether or not the memory card 4-1 is installed, and waits until the memory card 4-1 is installed. When the memory card 4-1 is attached to the DSC 2, the process proceeds to step S102.

  In step S <b> 102, the microcomputer 107 searches for a file recorded on the memory card 4-1 via the memory controller 111. Then, the microcomputer 107 determines whether or not the image file has already been recorded on the memory card 4-1, and if the image file has not been recorded on the memory card 4-1, the process proceeds to step S103.

  In step S 103, the microcomputer 107 initializes the serial number of the file name to “001” and stores it in the EEPROM 104. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S105.

  If the microcomputer 107 determines in step S102 that the image file is recorded on the memory card 4-1, the process proceeds to step S104.

  In step S104, the microcomputer 107 sets the serial number of the file name to the serial number of the image file recorded on the memory card 4-1, and stores it in the EEPROM 104. When a plurality of image files are recorded on the memory card 4-1, the microcomputer 107 identifies the largest serial number among the file names of the plurality of image files and adds a value obtained by adding one to the serial number. Store in EEPROM 104. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S105.

  In step S105, the microcomputer 107 determines whether or not the shutter button (operation unit 101) has been pressed. If the shutter button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S106.

  In step S <b> 106, the microcomputer 107 instructs the imaging unit 108 to generate image data. The imaging unit 108 generates image data according to the command and stores it in the buffer memory 109.

  In step S <b> 107, the microcomputer 107 acquires the current time from the clock unit 106 as the shooting date and time.

  In step S108, the microcomputer 107 instructs the file name creation unit 105 to create a file name. The file name creation unit 105 creates a file name according to a command from the microcomputer 107. That is, the file name creation unit 105 first reads the serial number stored in the EEPROM 104, adds a character string such as an extension to the serial number, and creates a file name.

  In step S109, the microcomputer 107 adds the shooting date and time acquired in step S107 and the file name created by the file name creation unit 105 in step S108 to the image data stored in the buffer memory 109 in step S106. One image file is created and recorded on the memory card 4-1 via the memory controller 111.

  In step S <b> 110, the microcomputer 107 reads the serial number stored in the EEPROM 104, increments the serial number by 1 to obtain a new serial number, and stores the new serial number in the EEPROM 104. At this time, the old serial number is deleted.

  After step S110, the process returns to step S105, and the processes after step S105 described above are repeated.

  Returning to step S105, if the microcomputer 107 determines that the shutter button is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S111.

  In step S111, the microcomputer 107 monitors the memory controller 111 to determine whether or not the memory card 4-1 has been removed from the DSC 2. If the memory card 4-1 is not removed from the DSC 2, the process returns to step S105, and the processes after step S105 described above are repeated. In step S111, if the microcomputer 107 determines that the memory card 4-1 has been removed from the DSC 2, the process returns to step S101, and the processes after step S101 described above are repeated.

  As described above, the photographing process of the DSC 2 is executed.

  As described above, in DSC2, when the memory card 4-1 is temporarily removed (YES in step S111) and then the memory card 4-1 is mounted again (YES in step S101), the serial number of the file name is changed. It is initialized to “001” (step S103). Therefore, when an image file taken with DSC2 is taken into PC1, there is a high possibility that an image file with the same name already exists in PC1.

  On the other hand, even if the memory card 4 is removed and the memory card 4 is inserted again in the DSC 3, the serial number of the file name is not initialized.

  Next, DSC 3 imaging processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. A process similar to the DSC 2 imaging process will be described in a simplified manner.

  In step S151 of FIG. 16, the microcomputer 157 of the DSC 3 monitors the memory controller 161 to determine whether or not the memory card 4-2 is installed, and waits until the memory card 4-2 is installed. When the memory card 4-2 is attached to the DSC 3, the process proceeds to step S152. In step S152, the microcomputer 157 determines whether the image file is already recorded on the memory card 4-2. If the image file is not recorded on the memory card 4-2, the process proceeds to step S154. .

  In step S152, if the microcomputer 157 determines that the image file is recorded on the memory card 4-2, the process proceeds to step S153, and the microcomputer 107 sets the serial number of the file name to the memory card 4-2. Is set to +1 of the serial number of the image file recorded in the image file and stored in the EEPROM 154. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S154.

  In step S154, the microcomputer 157 determines whether or not the shutter button (operation unit 151) has been pressed. If the shutter button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S155, and the imaging unit 158 starts from the microcomputer 157. The image data is generated in accordance with the command and stored in the buffer memory 159. In step S156, the microcomputer 157 acquires the current time from the clock unit 156 as the shooting date and time.

  In step S157, the file name creation unit 155 creates a file name according to a command from the microcomputer 157. That is, the file name creation unit 155 first reads the serial number stored in the EEPROM 154 and adds a character string such as an extension to the serial number to create a file name.

  In step S158, the microcomputer 157 adds the shooting date and time acquired in step S156 and the file name created by the file name creation unit 155 in step S157 to the image data stored in the buffer memory 159 in step S155. One image file is created and recorded on the memory card 4-2 via the memory controller 161.

  In step S <b> 159, the microcomputer 157 reads the serial number stored in the EEPROM 154, increments this by 1 to make a new serial number, and stores this new serial number in the EEPROM 154. At this time, the old serial number is deleted. After step S159, the process returns to step S154, and the processes after step S154 described above are repeated.

  Returning to step S154, if the microcomputer 157 determines that the shutter button is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S160.

  In step S160, the microcomputer 157 monitors the memory controller 161 to determine whether or not the memory card 4-2 has been removed from the DSC 3. If the memory card 4-2 has not been removed from the DSC 3, the processing is performed. Returning to step S154, the processing after step S154 described above is repeated. In step S160, if the microcomputer 157 determines that the memory card 4-2 has been removed from the DSC 3, the process returns to step S151, and the processes after step S151 described above are repeated.

  As described above, the photographing process of the DSC 3 is executed.

  Thus, in DSC3, there is no step for initializing the serial number of the file even if memory card 4-2 is once removed from DSC3 (YES in step S160) and then mounted again (YES in step S151). Therefore, the serial number of the file name is not initialized.

  When the image file recorded on the memory card 4-1 (or 4-2) is taken into the PC 1 after the shooting process is executed as described above, the memory card 4-1 (or the image file recorded) is stored. 4-2) is removed from the DSC 2 (or DSC 3) by the user and attached to the drive 212 of the PC 1.

  By the way, before the image data recorded in the memory card 4 is captured in the PC 1, the user can set in advance processing related to the capture of the image file. FIG. 17 shows an import setting window 401 in which setting items related to image file import are displayed.

  In the import setting window 401 of FIG. 17, selection fields 411 and 412 for the import method are displayed. The user can select one of the selection fields 411 and 412 using the mouse 206 or the like.

  In the import setting window 401, check columns 413, 414, and 415 are displayed. When the user operates the mouse 206 or the like and puts a check in the check column 413, the image file once taken from the memory card 4 can be set not to be duplicated. When the user operates the mouse 206 or the like to check the check field 414, the image file recorded on the memory card 4 is set to be erased after the image file is taken from the memory card 4. be able to. Further, when the user operates the mouse 206 or the like and puts a check in the check column 415, it is possible to set to take in only the image file that can be handled by the application program from the memory card 4.

  In addition, a check column 416 is also displayed in the import setting window 401. When the user operates the mouse 206 or the like and puts a check in the check column 416, the user can make a setting so that the capture setting window 401 is displayed every time the memory card 4 is inserted into the drive 212 of the PC1.

  In addition, an OK button 417 and a cancel button 418 are also displayed in the capture setting window 401. When the user selects the OK button 417 by operating the mouse 206 or the like, the setting being input to the capture setting window 401 is determined. Also, when the user operates the mouse 206 or the like and selects the cancel button 418, the settings being input to the capture setting window 401 are discarded.

  When the check fields 413 and 414 shown in FIG. 17 are checked, the operations as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 14 are executed.

  Next, FIG. 18 shows an example of an entrance window 451 that is displayed first when an application program is started.

  Icons 452 to 456 are displayed in the entrance window 451. The user can select a desired icon from the icons 452 to 456 by operating the mouse 206 or the like, and when the icon is selected, processing corresponding to the icon is executed.

  When the icon 452 is selected, the PC 1 executes loading of the image file recorded on the memory card 4 into the PC 1. When the icon 453 is selected, the PC 1 executes processing for classifying and managing image files taken from the memory card 4 or the like into various categories. When the icon 454 is selected, the PC 1 displays an album-like screen in which the image file is pasted on the booklet. When the icon 455 is selected, the PC 1 executes processing related to image printing. When the icon 456 is selected, the PC 1 executes processing for arranging and editing the image and text data at a position desired by the user.

  Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 19 to 21, the PC1 import process, that is, the process of importing the image file recorded on the memory card 4 into the PC1 will be described.

  In step S201 in FIG. 19, the history determination unit 261 determines whether an instruction for capturing an image file has been input based on an operation signal from the operation unit 251, and the instruction for capturing an image file is input. Wait until. When the icon 452 in FIG. 18 is selected, the history determination unit 261 determines that an instruction to import an image file has been input, and the process proceeds to step S202.

  In step S <b> 202, the history determination unit 261 searches the recorded content of the memory card 4 via the drive 212. Then, the history determination unit 261 determines whether or not an image file captured in the past exists in the memory card 4 by determining whether or not a history file is recorded in the memory card 4.

  That is, when an image file that has been captured from the memory card 4 is not erased when the image file is captured from the memory card 4, the file generation unit 268 generates a history file indicating that the image file has been captured, and It is recorded on the card 4 (processing in step S226 described later). Therefore, when a history file exists in the memory card 4, an image file that has been captured in the past is also recorded in the memory card 4. Therefore, based on the presence / absence of the history file, it can be determined whether or not the image file recorded on the memory card 4 is an image file that has already been captured.

  Accordingly, in step S202, the history determination unit 261 determines whether or not a history file is recorded on the memory card 4. If no history file is recorded on the memory card 4, the history determination unit 261 imports the history file into the memory card 4 in the past. It is determined that there is no image file (all image files recorded on the memory card 4 are new image files), and the determination result is notified to the duplication determination unit 262. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S203. Since all accesses (search, import, write, etc.) to the memory card 4 are performed via the drive 212, the description to the effect that the memory card 4 is used is omitted in the following description.

  In step S <b> 203, the duplication determination unit 262 acquires the file names of all the image files recorded on the memory card 4.

  In step S <b> 204, the duplication determination unit 262 acquires the file names of all image files stored in the storage unit 210.

  In step S205, the duplication determination unit 262 acquires the file name of the image file stored in the storage unit 210 acquired in step S204, among the file names of the image files recorded in the memory card 4 acquired in step S203. The same file name as the image file stored in the storage unit 210 exists in the file names of the image files recorded in the memory card 4. If not, the duplication determination unit 262 notifies the acquisition unit 263 of the determination result (there is no image file with the same name), and the process proceeds to step S206.

  In step S <b> 206, the capturing unit 263 captures all image files recorded on the memory card 4. After the image file has been captured, the capture unit 263 notifies the display control unit 265 that the capture has been completed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S209.

  In step S205, when the duplication determination unit 262 determines that the same file name as that of the image file stored in the storage unit 210 exists in the file name of the image file recorded in the memory card 4, The duplication determination unit 262 notifies the acquisition unit 263 of the determination result (there is an image file with the same name), and the process proceeds to step S207.

  In step S <b> 207, the capturing unit 263 captures all the image files recorded on the memory card 4 and supplies the captured image files to the file name creation unit 264. After the image file has been captured, the capture unit 263 notifies the display control unit 265 that the capture has been completed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S208.

  In step S208, the file name creation unit 264 changes the file names of all the files captured in step S207 so as not to overlap with the file names of the image files stored in the storage unit 210 (see, for example, FIG. 11). . Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S209.

  In step S209, the capturing unit 263 (or the file name creation unit 264) supplies the image file to the storage unit 210 and stores it. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S222 in FIG.

  Returning to step S202, if the history determination unit 261 determines that a history file is recorded in the memory card 4, it determines that an image file captured in the past exists in the memory card 4, and this determination result (history File) is notified to the duplication determination unit 262. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S210 in FIG.

  In step S <b> 210, the duplication determination unit 262 acquires the file names, shooting dates and times, and file sizes of all the image files recorded on the memory card 4.

  In step S <b> 211, the duplication determination unit 262 acquires the file names, shooting dates and times, and file sizes of all image files stored in the storage unit 210.

  In step S212, the duplication determination unit 262 acquires the file name of the image file stored in the storage unit 210 acquired in step S211 among the file names of the image files recorded in the memory card 4 acquired in step S210. The same file name as the image file stored in the storage unit 210 exists in the file names of the image files recorded in the memory card 4. If not, the duplication determination unit 262 notifies the acquisition unit 263 of the determination result (there is no image file with the same name), and the process proceeds to step S213.

  In step S <b> 213, the capturing unit 263 captures all image files recorded on the memory card 4. After the image file has been captured, the capture unit 263 notifies the display control unit 265 that the capture has been completed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S221.

  In step S212, when the duplication determination unit 262 determines that the same file name as the image file stored in the storage unit 210 exists in the file name of the image file recorded in the memory card 4, The process proceeds to step S214.

  In step S214, the duplication determination unit 262 compares the shooting date / time and the file size of the image files determined to have the same file name, and stores the image file recorded in the memory card 4 in the storage unit 210. It is determined whether the same file as the image file stored in the file exists. That is, for the same image file, the file name, shooting date and time, and file size are all considered to be the same. Therefore, the image file recorded on the memory card 4 and the image file stored on the storage unit 210 are compared with the shooting date / time and the file size of the image file. It can be determined whether or not a file identical to the stored image file exists. In step S214, when the duplication determination unit 262 determines that the same image file stored in the storage unit 210 does not exist in the image file recorded in the memory card 4, the determination result is displayed. The capturing unit 263 is notified, and the process proceeds to step S215.

  In step S215, the capturing unit 263 captures all the image files recorded on the memory card 4, and supplies the captured image files to the file name creation unit 264. After the image file has been captured, the capture unit 263 notifies the display control unit 265 that the capture has been completed.

  In step S216, the file name creation unit 264 changes the file names of all the files captured in step S215 so as not to overlap with the file names of the image files stored in the storage unit 210. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S221.

  In step S214, when the duplication determination unit 262 determines that the same file as the image file stored in the storage unit 210 exists in the image file recorded in the memory card 4, the process proceeds to step S217.

  In step S217, the duplication determination unit 262 determines whether there is a duplication of file names among the image files that are not the same. That is, when the same image file as the image file stored in the storage unit 210 exists in the image file recorded in the memory card 4, the PC 1 does not take in the same image file and is not the same image file. Only from the memory card 4 (see, for example, FIG. 14). At this time, if an image file having the same name as the image file stored in the storage unit 210 exists in the image file imported from the memory card 4, it is necessary to change the file name of the image file imported from the memory card 4. . Therefore, in step S217, the duplication determination unit 262 determines whether there is a duplication of file names in non-identical image files. If there is no duplication of file names, the determination result is input to the import unit 263. The process proceeds to step S218.

  In step S <b> 218, the capturing unit 263 captures only image files that are not stored in the storage unit 210 among the image files recorded on the memory card 4. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S221.

  In step S217, if the duplication determination unit 262 determines that there are duplicate file names in non-identical image files, the determination result is notified to the capturing unit 263, and the process proceeds to step S219.

  In step S219, the capturing unit 263 captures only image files that are not stored in the storage unit 210 among the image files recorded on the memory card 4, and stores the captured image files in the file name creation unit 264. Supply. After the image file has been captured, the capture unit 263 notifies the display control unit 265 that the capture has been completed.

  In step S220, the file name creation unit 264 changes the file names of all the files captured in step S219 so as not to overlap with the file names of the image files stored in the storage unit 210. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S221.

  In step S221, the capturing unit 263 (or the file name creation unit 264) supplies the image file to the storage unit 210 and stores it. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S222 in FIG.

  In step S222 in FIG. 21, the display control unit 265 displays a guide screen 311 shown in FIG.

  In step S223, based on the operation signal from the operation unit 251, the capture post-processing determination unit 266 has received an instruction to erase the image file recorded on the memory card 4 (selection of the OK button 312 in FIG. 8). Then, it is determined whether an instruction to leave the image file recorded on the memory card 4 without being erased (selection of the cancel button 313 in FIG. 8) is input, and an instruction to erase the image file recorded on the memory card 4 Is input, the image erasure unit 267 is instructed to erase the image file recorded on the memory card 4. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S224.

  In step S224, the image erasing unit 267 collectively erases all the image files recorded on the memory card 4. Thereafter, the process returns to step S201 in FIG. 19, and the processes after step S201 described above are repeatedly executed.

  In step S223, when the post-capture processing determination unit 266 determines that an instruction to leave the image file recorded on the memory card 4 without deleting is input, the post-capture processing determination unit 266 includes the file generation unit 268. The history file is instructed to be recorded in the memory card 4. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S225.

  In step S225, the file generation unit 268 creates a history file indicating that the image file has been fetched, and records the created history file in the memory card 4 in step S226. Thereafter, the process returns to step S201 in FIG. 19, and the processes after step S201 described above are repeatedly executed.

  The capturing process is executed as described above.

  According to the capturing process as described above, since the image files recorded on the memory card 4 can be erased at once after the image files recorded on the memory card 4 are captured on the PC 1, the convenience is further improved. . Further, after the image file recorded on the memory card 4 is taken into the PC 1, the image file recorded on the memory card 4 can be left without being erased. In this case, the image file recorded on the memory card 4 can be left. By recording a history file indicating that the file has already been captured in the memory card 4, the next time the memory card 4 is inserted into the PC 1, whether there is an image file already captured in the memory card 4. Whether or not can be easily determined.

  Further, according to the above-described import process, when the name of the image file to be imported from the memory card 4 is the same as the name of the image file already stored in the PC 1, the file name of the image file to be imported from the memory card 4 is Since the file name is changed so that it does not overlap with the file name of the image file originally stored in the PC 1, the image file stored in the PC 1 can be prevented from being accidentally deleted. .

  Further, according to the above-described capturing process, when an image file that has already been captured in the PC 1 exists in the image file recorded in the memory card 4, the image file is not captured in the PC 1 and does not exist in the PC 1. Since only the image file is captured from the memory card 4, it is possible to prevent duplication of the file in the PC 1.

  In the above-described capturing process, the case where the image file recorded on the memory card 4 is captured by the PC 1 has been described as an example. However, this is an example. For example, the DSC 2 and the PC 1 are connected via the connector 113 to the cable. The present invention can also be applied to the case where the image file is transferred from the DSC 2 to the PC 1 via this cable. The present invention can also be applied to recording media other than the memory card 4 (for example, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, etc.). Furthermore, the present invention can of course be applied to an information processing device other than a personal computer (for example, an electric device including a mobile terminal device or a game machine).

  The image file captured in the PC 1 by the above-described capturing process is managed by a file system such as FAT (File Allocation Tables), NTFS (New Technology File System), HFS (Hierarchical File System), or the like.

  In this file system, the image file recorded in the storage unit 210 is managed by a hierarchical directory structure as shown in FIG. 22, for example.

  In FIG. 22, subdirectories such as My Document 502 and My Computer 503 exist below the desktop 501. Subdirectories such as a 3.5-inch FD (A :) 504, a local disk (C :) 505, and a local disk (D :) 508 exist below the my computer 503. Subdirectories such as My Picture 506 exist below the local disk (C :) 505. Subdirectories of pictures 507-1 to 507-n exist below My picture 506.

  FIG. 23 shows a configuration example of an image file stored in the picture folder 507-1. In FIG. 23, a picture folder 507-1 stores image files 301-1 to 301-5.

  FIG. 24 shows a configuration example of an image file stored in the picture folder 507-2. In FIG. 24, image files 551-1 to 551-6 are stored in the picture folder 507-2. Note that the file name of the image file 551-1 is “015.jpg”, the file name of the image file 551-2 is “016.jpg”, and the file name of the image file 551-3 is “017”. .jpg ", the file name of the image file 551-4 is" 018.jpg ", the file name of the image file 551-5 is" 019.jpg ", and the file name of the image file 551-6 Is “020.jpg”.

  Returning to FIG. 22, subdirectories such as a picture 509 and a digital camera 510 exist below the local disk (D :) 508. Below the digital camera 510 are subdirectories of picture folders 511-1 and 511-2.

  FIG. 25 shows an example of the configuration of an image file stored in a directory below the digital camera 510. In FIG. 25, the picture folder 511-1 stores image files 571-1 to 571-3. The file name of the image file 571-1 is “051.jpg”, the file name of the image file 571-2 is “052.jpg”, and the file name of the image file 571-3 is “053”. .jpg ". In FIG. 25, picture files 571-4 and 571-5 are stored in the picture folder 511-2. Note that the file name of the image file 571-4 is “101.jpg”, and the file name of the image file 571-5 is “102.jpg”.

  As shown in FIGS. 22 to 25, when image files are stored in a plurality of different directories (folders), the user must specify each directory when browsing these image files. , Can not browse.

  That is, for example, when browsing the image files 301-1 to 301-5 stored in the picture folder 507-1 and the image files 571-4 and 571-5 stored in the picture folder 511-2, the user It is necessary to trace a directory in which each image file is stored to find a desired image file and display the image by clicking the icon of the found image file with a mouse.

  Therefore, when image files are distributed and stored in a number of different levels of directories, the user cannot remember the directory in which the image file is stored and requires a great deal of time to find the target image file. There was a problem.

  Conventionally, a plurality of image files are classified into several categories (for example, “fishing”, “excursion”, “dad”, etc.), and a folder (directory) is created for each category. In such a case, one image file may be classified into a plurality of categories. For example, an image obtained by catching a fish with a father can be classified into a “fishing” category, and can also be classified into a “dad” category. In this case, conventionally, the image file is copied and another identical image file is created and stored in the respective folders (“fishing” and “dad”). Therefore, there is a problem that the image files are duplicated.

  Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, the PC 1 to which the present invention is applied assumes that all image files are in the same hierarchy in parallel with the file management in the hierarchical directory structure. Classify by category in the same hierarchy. Thus, by virtually setting the same hierarchy and managing a plurality of image files in this hierarchy, the user can easily organize the plurality of image files.

  Hereinafter, file management different from the directory structure will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 26 shows an example of a window displayed on the display unit 208.

  A category tab 611, a calendar tab 612, and an explorer tab 613 are displayed on the upper left side of the photo collection window 601 shown in FIG. 26. The user operates the mouse 206 or the like to select these tabs. be able to.

  FIG. 26 shows a display example in a state in which the category tab 611 is selected, and category buttons 621-1 to 621-4 are displayed below the category tab 611.

  The user can select a desired category button from these category buttons 621-1 to 621-4 by operating the mouse 206 or the like. When the category button 621-1 “all photos” is selected by the user, a list of all images managed by the PC 1 is displayed in the image display area 631 on the right side of the photo collection window 601. FIG. 26 shows a display example in a state where all images managed by the PC 1 are displayed as a list.

  Note that a scroll bar 632 is displayed at the right end of the image display area 631, and an image that cannot be displayed at a time in the image display area 631 can be displayed by scrolling the scroll bar 632 up and down. it can.

  The category buttons 621-2 to 621-4 correspond to categories created by the user in order to classify image files. That is, the user can operate the mouse 206 and the keyboard 207 to cause the PC 1 to generate a new category. In the example of FIG. 26, the categories “event”, “sample”, and “people” are three. One category has been generated. The user can classify the image file into the generated category.

  FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an operation for classifying image files into categories. For example, when the image file “001.jpg” at the upper left corner of the image display area 631 is classified into the “event” category, the user operates the mouse 206 to display the image file “001” as shown in FIG. “.jpg” is dragged and dropped onto the category button 621-2 “event”. By this operation, the image file “001.jpg” is classified into the “event” category. Even after the image file “001.jpg” is dragged and dropped onto the category button 621-2 “event”, the image file “001.jpg” continues to be displayed without disappearing from the image display area 631.

  Other image files can also be classified into desired categories by the same operation as described above. That is, when it is desired to classify an image file into a category, the user operates the mouse 206 to drag and drop the image file onto a desired category button. As a result, the image file is classified into a category corresponding to the dragged and dropped category button.

  One image file can be classified into a plurality of categories. For example, an image file “001.jpg” that has been classified into the “event” category can be further classified into the “sample” category. In this case, the user drags and drops the image file “001.jpg” on the category button 621-3 “sample” by performing the same operation as before, that is, the image file “001.jpg” is changed to “sample”. Can be classified into categories.

  In this manner, the image files classified into categories can be displayed as a list for each category. For example, when the mouse 206 or the like is operated and the category button 621-2 is selected, the PC 1 displays a list of images classified into the “event” category in the image display area 631. Further, for example, when the mouse 206 or the like is operated and the category button 621-3 is selected, the PC 1 displays a list of images classified into the “sample” category in the image display area 631. Further, for example, when the mouse 206 or the like is operated and the category button 621-4 is selected, the PC 1 displays a list of images classified in the “people” category in the image display area 631.

  For example, as described above, when one image file “001.jpg” is classified into the “event” category and the “sample” category, the image file “001.jpg” is “event”. It is displayed in both the list display and the “sample” list display. That is, when one image file is classified into a plurality of categories, the image file is displayed in the list display of any category in which the image file is classified.

  The user operates the mouse 206 to move the pointer to a desired image file among the image files displayed in the image display area 631 and click the mouse to select the desired image file. Can do. When an image file is selected by the user, the background color of the immediate area of the selected image file is changed as shown in FIG. FIG. 28 shows an example when the image file “001.jpg” at the upper right end of the image display area 631 is selected. When one image file is selected, a link bar 641 is displayed below the image display area 631.

  28, the link bar 641 includes an explorer bar 651, a calendar bar 652, and category bars 653 and 654. The user can select a desired bar among the explorer bar 651, calendar bar 652, and category bars 653 and 654 by operating the mouse 206 or the like, and the PC 1 is selected when the bar is selected. The display of the photo collection window 601 is switched corresponding to the bar.

  When the explorer bar 651 is selected, the PC 1 displays a directory in which the image file “001.jpg” is stored. When the calendar bar 652 is selected, the PC 1 displays a list of image files shot on the same shooting date as the image file “001.jpg”. When the category bar 653 is selected, the PC 1 displays a list of image files classified into the “sample” category. When the category bar 654 is selected, the PC 1 displays a list of image files classified into the “event” category.

  The category bars 653 and 654 are displayed corresponding to the category into which the selected image file “001.jpg” is classified. That is, when the image file “001.jpg” is classified into “sample” and “event”, a “sample” category bar 653 and an “event” category bar 654 are displayed as shown in FIG. However, for example, when the image file “001.jpg” is classified only in the “people” category, a category bar corresponding to “people” is displayed in the link bar 641. For example, when the image file “001.jpg” is not classified into any category, the category bar is not displayed in the link bar 641.

  That is, when one image file is selected from the list of image files displayed in the image display area 631, the PC 1 displays a link bar corresponding to the selected image file. The link bar includes a category bar corresponding to the category into which the selected image file is classified. The link bar is selected to display a list of image files having the same shooting date as the selected image file and an explorer bar selected to display a directory storing the selected image file. A calendar bar is also included.

  Therefore, after selecting a desired image file from the image files displayed in the image display area 631, the user can browse a list of image files belonging to the category in which the selected image file is classified. . In addition, the user can view a list of image files that have been shot on the same shooting date as the selected image file. Further, the user can easily specify the directory in which the selected image file is stored.

  FIG. 29 shows a display example when the category bar 654 “event” is selected in FIG. In FIG. 29, a list of image files classified in the “event” category is displayed in the image display area 631.

  FIG. 30 shows a display example when the calendar bar 652 is selected in FIG. In FIG. 30, in the image display area 631, an image shot on the same shooting date as the image file “001.jpg” is displayed in association with the shooting time. In FIG. 30, only the display from 5:00 to 13:00 is displayed, but the display can be displayed by scrolling the scroll bar 632 downward after 13:00. In the image display area 631 in FIG. 30, the background color may be different for each time.

  When the calendar bar 652 in FIG. 28 is selected, the display on the left side of the photo collection window 601 is switched as shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 28, the category tab 611 is selected, but in FIG. 30, the calendar tab 612 is selected.

  When the calendar tab 612 is selected, a calendar operation area is displayed below the calendar tab 612. In the calendar operation area, year buttons 671-1 to 671-3, month buttons 672-1 to 672-3, and date / time buttons 673-1 to 673-3 are displayed. The user can operate these buttons to switch the display in the image display area 631 every year, every month, and every day.

  For example, when the month button 672-2 is selected, a photo collection window 601 as shown in FIG. 31 is displayed. In FIG. 31, in the image display area 613, one image file taken in the month selected in FIG. 30 is displayed for each day. In FIG. 31, the images are displayed on the 2nd (Saturday), 3rd (Sunday), 6th (Wednesday), 7th (Thursday), 9th (Saturday), and 10th (Sunday). ), And no image is displayed in the date field where the image was not taken.

  When the year button 671-3 is selected, a photo collection window 601 as shown in FIG. 32 is displayed. In FIG. 32, the image display area 613 displays one image file taken in the selected year, one for each day. In FIG. 32, the captured image is not shown, but actually, the image is displayed in the square of each date.

  Returning to FIG. 30, a link bar 641 below the photo collection window 601 includes a date selection bar 674 operated when displaying a list of images of the day before the currently displayed date, and a date of the currently displayed date. A date selection bar 675 operated when displaying a list of images of the next day and a date selection bar 676 operated when displaying a list of images one year after the currently displayed date are displayed. Can operate the mouse 206 to select these bars as required.

  In FIG. 31, a link bar 641 below the photo collection window 601 displays a month selection bar 691 that is operated when displaying a list of images of the month preceding the currently displayed month. A month selection bar 692 operated when displaying a list of images of the next month of the month and a month selection bar 693 operated when displaying a list of images of the month one year before the currently displayed month are displayed. The user can operate the mouse 206 to select these bars as necessary.

  In FIG. 32, a link bar 641 below the photo collection window 601 displays a year selection bar 693 that is operated when displaying a list of images of years before the currently displayed year. The user can operate the mouse 206 to select this bar as necessary.

  When the explorer bar 651 included in the link bar 641 below the photo collection window 601 shown in FIG. 28 or FIG. 29 is selected, the PC 1 displays the photo collection window 601 as shown in FIG. Let

  In FIG. 33, the display on the left side of the photo collection window 601 is switched. That is, in FIG. 33, the Explorer tab 613 is selected.

  When the explorer tab 613 is selected, a directory in which the selected image file is stored is displayed below the explorer tab 613 so as to be distinguished from other directories as indicated by reference numeral 711. Thereby, the user can easily grasp in which directory the selected image file is stored. The image display area 631 displays a list of image files stored in the same directory as the selected image file.

  As described above, the user can manage image files by classifying them into a plurality of categories. The concept of the image file management method described above is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 34, an explorer view 751, a calendar view 752, and a category view 753 are shown above. The explorer view 751 represents a screen displayed when the explorer bar 651 (or explorer tab 613) is selected, and the calendar view 752 is displayed when the calendar bar 652 (or calendar tab 612) is selected. Represents a screen. The category view 753 corresponds to the category buttons 621-1 to 621-4.

  In the lower part of FIG. 34, image files 761-1 to 761-9 managed by the PC 1 are shown.

  In FIG. 34, the lines from the image files 761-1 to 761-9 to the directories of the explorer view 751 indicate the directories in which the image files 761-1 to 761-9 are stored. A line from each of the image files 761-1 to 761-9 to the calendar view 752 indicates a shooting date on which each of the image files 761-1 to 761-9 is classified. In addition, a line from each image file 761-1 to 761-9 to the category view 753 indicates a category into which each image file 761-1 to 761-9 is classified.

  The image file is stored and managed in a predetermined directory of the hierarchical directory structure, but as shown in the calendar view 752 and the category view 753 in FIG. Or “all photos”, “events”, “samples”, “people”, etc.). Hereinafter, conditions for classifying image files, such as shooting date and time and categories such as “all photos”, “events”, “samples”, “people”, are also referred to as image file attributes.

  The PC 1 classifies the image file into a plurality of categories (including the shooting date / time category) based on the attribute of the image file. As a result, as shown in FIG. 34, links from the image files 761-1 to 761-9 to the explorer view 751, the calendar view 752, and the category view 753 are formed in a mesh shape. With such a management method, even if a large amount of image files exist, the user can easily organize and classify them.

  That is, the PC 1 can classify the image file into any category of the user while the image file itself is stored in a predetermined directory. For example, even when classifying one image file into a plurality of categories. No need to duplicate the image file.

  Such image file management is executed by the file management program 233 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 35 shows a functional configuration example of the file management program 233 of FIG. The functional configuration illustrated in FIG. 35 is realized by the CPU 201 executing the OS 231 and the file management program 233 stored in the storage unit 210.

  An example of data stored in the storage unit 210 is shown on the right side of FIG. 35, the storage unit 210 stores a category database 821, an attribute information database 822, and an image file group 823 (other data such as the OS 231 is also stored in the storage unit 210. 35, illustration is omitted). The category database 821 is a database that manages a list of image files included in each category. An example of the category database 821 is shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 36 shows an example of a database of categories of “event”, “sample”, and “people”. In the left column of FIG. 36, categories are shown in the order of “event”, “sample”, and “people” from the top. In the right column of FIG. 36, a list of image files classified into each category is shown. In other words, in FIG. 36, the “event” category includes “001.jpg”, “016.jpg”, “017.jpg”, “020.jpg”, “101.jpg”, and “102.jpg”. A total of six image files are classified. The category of “Sample” includes “002.jpg”, “003.jpg”, “004.jpg”, “015.jpg”, “016.jpg”, “017.jpg”, and “018.jpg”. A total of seven image files “jpg” are classified. In the “people” category, a total of five image files “051.jpg”, “052.jpg”, “053.jpg”, “101.jpg”, and “102.jpg” are classified. Yes.

  For example, when the category button 621-2 “event” or the category bar 654 “event” in FIG. 28 is selected by the user and an image is displayed based on the category database in FIG. Six images based on a total of six image files, “.jpg”, “016.jpg”, “017.jpg”, “020.jpg”, “101.jpg”, and “102.jpg” are displayed. .

  FIG. 37 shows an example of a category database based on the shooting date and time. On the left side of the table in FIG. 37, the shooting dates and times are finely classified in the order of year, month, and day. Also, on the right side of the table in FIG. 37, a list of image files taken on each date is shown. That is, in FIG. 37, for example, on January 1, 2003, image files such as “201.jpg” and “202.jpg” are classified. For example, on January 2, 2003, image files such as “231.jpg”, “232.jpg”, and “245.jpg” are classified.

  For example, when the calendar bar 652 in FIG. 28 is selected by the user and an image is displayed based on the category database in FIG. 37, images such as “201.jpg” and “202.jpg” are displayed in the image display area 631. An image based on the file is displayed.

  The category database 821 records a list of image files classified for each category according to both tables shown in FIGS. Note that the category database shown in FIG. 36 is set by the user, and the shooting date database shown in FIG. 37 is set in the file management program 233 in advance.

  In FIG. 36 and FIG. 37, classification is performed based on the file name of the image file. However, not only the file name but also information specifying the directory in which the image file is stored is recorded in the category database together with the file name. You may be made to do. Further, the image file may be classified by information that can uniquely identify an image file other than the file name.

  Returning to FIG. 35, the attribute information database 822 is a database for managing the attribute information of each image file. An example of the attribute information database 822 is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 38, the leftmost column shows the file names of the image files. In the second column from the left, a directory in which each image file is stored is shown. In the third column from the left, the shooting date and time of each image file is shown. In the rightmost column, the category to which each image file belongs (category set by the user) is shown.

  For example, in FIG. 38, the image file with the file name “001.jpg” is stored in the directory “¥ C ¥ My picture ¥ Picture” and is taken at “July 29, 2001 10:48”. ”And“ Event ”categories.

  For example, the link bar 641 shown in FIG. 28 is displayed based on this attribute information database. That is, the shooting date “July 29, 2001” displayed on the calendar bar 652 is displayed based on the attribute of “shooting date” in FIG. 38, and the category bars 653 and 654 are “category” in FIG. It is displayed based on the attribute of. When the explorer bar 651 in FIG. 28 is selected, the directory in which the image file is stored is specified based on the attribute of “save directory” in FIG. 38 and displayed as the explorer view 701 in FIG. The In the following description, the storage directory attribute is also referred to as a directory attribute, the shooting date / time attribute is also referred to as a date attribute, and the category attribute is also referred to as a category attribute.

  Returning to FIG. 35, the image file group 823 represents image files that are taken into the PC 1 and stored in a predetermined directory.

  The image file classification unit 801 in the file management program 233 records the category database 821 and the attribute information database 822 when an instruction to classify the image file is input from the operation unit 251 including the mouse 206 and the keyboard 207. Update. That is, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 27, when the image file “001.jpg” is dragged and dropped onto the category button 621-2 “event”, the image file classification unit 801 stores the category “ The image file “001.jpg” is added to the “event”, and “event” is added to the category attribute of the image file “001.jpg” in the attribute information database 822.

  When an instruction to display a list of image files classified into a certain category is input from the operation unit 251, that is, for example, the category buttons 621-1 to 621-4 in FIG. 28, a calendar bar 652, and a category bar 653. , 654 is selected, the category management unit 802 acquires a list of image files classified into the specified category from the category database 821, and stores the acquired list in the attribute information management unit 803. Notice.

  At this time, the attribute information management unit 803 acquires the directory attribute of the image file from the attribute information database 822 for all the image files included in the list notified from the category management unit 802, and the image file management unit 804 is notified. The image file management unit 804 reads all image files included in the list from the image file group 823 based on the directory attribute notified from the attribute information database 822 and supplies the read image file to the display screen generation unit 805. . The display screen generation unit 805 displays a list of images classified into categories in the image display area 631 based on the image file supplied from the image file management unit 804.

  For example, when the explorer bar 651 in FIG. 28 is selected, the attribute information management unit 803 acquires the directory attribute of the currently selected image file from the attribute information database 822 and notifies the display screen generation unit 805 of it. At this time, the display screen generation unit 805 displays an explorer view 701 as shown in FIG. 33, for example, based on the directory attribute notified from the attribute information management unit 803.

  For example, when one image file is selected as shown in FIG. 28, the attribute information management unit 803 reads the date attribute and category attribute of the selected image file and supplies them to the display screen generation unit 805. At this time, the display screen generation unit 805 displays a link bar 641 as shown in FIG. 28 based on the date attribute and category attribute supplied from the attribute information management unit 803, for example.

  When the creation of a new category is instructed via the operation unit 251, the category management unit 802 creates an item corresponding to the new category in the category database 821. When deletion of an existing category is instructed via the operation unit 251, the category management unit 802 deletes the item of the category instructed to be deleted from the category database 821. Thereafter, the category management unit 802 requests the attribute information management unit 803 to delete the instructed category. The attribute information management unit 803 deletes all instructed categories from the attribute information in accordance with a request from the category management unit 802.

  When the slide display control unit 806 executes a list display of images for one month as shown in FIG. 31, the image display to be displayed on each date is sequentially replaced like a so-called slide show and displayed. Execute.

  By the way, the file management program 233 executes processing (hereinafter referred to as image registration processing) for classifying the captured image file based on the shooting date when the image file is captured in the PC 1 by the capture processing.

  Next, the image registration process of the PC 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S401, the image file classification unit 801 acquires the shooting date and time of the captured image file. Note that since this shooting date and time is added to the image file itself as a result of the shooting process shown in FIG. 15 (or FIG. 16), for example, the image file classification unit 801 is added to the captured image file. Get the shooting date and time.

  In step S402, the image file classification unit 801 specifies a storage directory of the image file when the image file is recorded in the storage unit 210 (for example, step S209 in FIG. 19 and step S221 in FIG. 20). Then, the image file classification unit 801 records the specified directory and the shooting date and time acquired in step S401 in the attribute information database 822 as image file attribute information (directory attribute and date attribute).

  In step S403, the image file classification unit 801 registers an image file on the shooting date acquired in step S401 in the category database 821 (for example, the database in FIG. 37).

  As described above, the attribute information of the image file captured by the capture process is recorded in the attribute information database 822, and the captured image file is registered in the item corresponding to the shooting date of the image file in the category database 821. Is done.

  Next, the image management processing of the PC 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  In step S501 of FIG. 40, the file management program 233 determines whether the icon 458 of FIG. 18 is selected and an instruction to manage the image file is given, and waits until an instruction to manage the image file is given. When the icon 458 is selected, it is determined that image file management is instructed, and the process proceeds to step S502.

  In step S502, the display screen generation unit 805 causes the display unit 208 to display a photo collection window 601. On the display unit 208, a photo collection window 601 as shown in FIG. 26 is displayed. At the beginning of the display of the photo collection window 601, all the image files included in the image file group 823 may be displayed in the image display area 631.

  The user can instruct creation of a new category via the operation unit 251. In step S503, the category management unit 802 determines whether creation of a new category is instructed. If creation of a category is instructed, the process proceeds to step S504.

  In step S504, the category management unit 802 adds a new category to the category database 821. For example, when an instruction is given to add the category “Tanabata” via the operation unit 251, the category management unit 802 displays “event”, “sample”, and “sample” in the category database 821 as illustrated in FIG. Under "People", add the category "Tanabata". Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S505.

  If the category management unit 802 determines in step S503 that creation of a new category has not been instructed, the process in step S504 is skipped, and the process proceeds to step S505.

  The user can delete a category via the operation unit 251. Therefore, in step S505, the category management unit 802 determines whether deletion of a category is instructed via the operation unit 251. If deletion of a category is instructed, the process proceeds to step S506.

  In step S506, the category management unit 802 deletes the instructed category from the category database 821. For example, when the deletion of the “event” category is instructed, the category management unit 802 deletes the “event” category from the category database 821 shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 36, “event” and the list of image files associated with “event” are all deleted. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S507.

  In step S507, the category management unit 802 requests the attribute information management unit 803 to delete the category deleted in step S506 from the attribute information database 822. The attribute information management unit 803 deletes the requested category from the attribute information database 822 in accordance with the request from the category management unit 802. For example, when the category management unit 802 requests to delete the “event” category, the attribute information management unit 803 deletes the “event” category from the category attribute of the attribute information database 822 shown in FIG. To do. Therefore, for example, among “sample” and “event” that are category attributes of the image file “001.jpg”, “event” is deleted, and only “sample” remains. After the process of step S507, the process proceeds to step S508 of FIG.

  In step S505, when the category management unit 802 determines that deletion of a category is not instructed, the processing in steps S506 and S507 is skipped, and the processing proceeds to step S508 in FIG.

  In step S508 of FIG. 41, the image file classification unit 801 determines whether or not the classification of the image file into the category is instructed via the operation unit 251, and when the classification of the image file into the category is instructed, The process proceeds to step S509.

  In step S509, the image file classification unit 801 adds the specified category to the category attribute of the specified image file in the attribute information database 822. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, when the image file “001.jpg” is dragged and dropped onto the category button 621-2 “event”, the image file classification unit 801 displays the image file “001.jpg” in FIG. “Event” is added to the category attribute of “jpg”.

  In step S510, the image file classification unit 801 additionally registers the specified image file in the specified category in the category database 821. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, when the image file “001.jpg” is dragged and dropped onto the category button 621-2 “event”, the image file classification unit 801 displays the category “event” in FIG. Add the image file “001.jpg”. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S511.

  In step S508, when the image file classification unit 801 determines that the classification of the image file into the category is not instructed, the processes in steps S509 and S510 are skipped, and the process proceeds to step S511.

  As described with reference to FIG. 28, the user can select a desired image from the images displayed in the image display area 631 using the mouse 206 or the like. Therefore, in step S511, the attribute information management unit 803 determines whether one image file is selected with the mouse 206 or the like. If an image file is selected, the process proceeds to step S512.

  In step S512, the attribute information management unit 803 reads the attribute information (date attribute and category attribute) corresponding to the image file selected in step S511 from the attribute information database 822, and supplies it to the display screen generation unit 805.

  In step S513, the display screen generation unit 805 displays the link bar 641 in the photo collection window 601 based on the attribute information supplied from the attribute information management unit 803 in step S512. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S514.

  If the attribute information management unit 803 determines in step S511 that no image file has been selected, the processes in steps S512 and S513 are skipped, and the process proceeds to step S514.

  In step S514, the category management unit 802 determines whether a category bar (for example, the category bar 653 or 654 in FIG. 28) is selected. If the category bar is selected, the process proceeds to step S515.

  In step S515, the category management unit 802 reads a list of image files classified into the category selected in step S514 from the category database 821, and notifies the attribute information management unit 803 of it. For example, when the category bar 654 “event” in FIG. 28 is selected, in step S515, the category management unit 802 reads the image file lists “001.jpg” and “016.jpg” from the category database 821 in FIG. , “017.jpg”, “020.jpg”, “101.jpg”, and “102.jpg” are read out and notified to the attribute information management unit 803.

  In step S 516, the attribute information management unit 803 reads out the directory attributes of all the image files included in the list notified from the category management unit 802 from the attribute information database 822, and supplies them to the image file management unit 804. The image file management unit 804 is included in the list read out in step S515 from the image file group 823 stored in the storage unit 210 based on the directory attribute of the image file supplied from the attribute information management unit 803. All image files to be read are read out and supplied to the display screen generation unit 805. The display screen generation unit 805 displays a list of all the image files supplied from the image file management unit 804 in the image display area 631 of the photo collection window 601.

  Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S517 in FIG.

  If the category management unit 802 determines in step S514 that the category bar has not been selected, the processes in steps S515 and S516 are skipped, and the process proceeds to step S517 in FIG.

  In step S517 in FIG. 42, the category management unit 802 determines whether or not a calendar bar (for example, calendar bar 652 in FIG. 28) has been selected. If the calendar bar has been selected, the process proceeds to step S518.

  In step S518, the category management unit 802 reads a list of image files classified on the date selected in step S517 from the category database 821, and notifies the attribute information management unit 803 of it. For example, when the calendar bar 652 “July 29, 2001” in FIG. 28 is selected, the category management unit 802 selects the image file classified on July 29, 2001 from the category database shown in FIG. Is sent to the attribute information management unit 803.

  In step S519, the attribute information management unit 803 reads the shooting times of all the image files included in the list notified from the category management unit 802 in step S518 from the attribute information database 822, and supplies them to the display screen generation unit 805. At the same time, the directory attributes of all the image files are read and supplied to the image file management unit 804. The image file management unit 804 is included in the list read out in step S518 from the image file group 823 stored in the storage unit 210 based on the directory attribute of the image file supplied from the attribute information management unit 803. All image files to be read are read out and supplied to the display screen generation unit 805.

  In step S520, the display screen generation unit 805 selects all the image files supplied from the image file management unit 804 based on the shooting time supplied from the attribute information management unit 803 in step S519. In the display area 631, it is displayed as shown in FIG. 30, for example. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S521.

  If the category management unit 802 determines in step S517 that no calendar bar has been selected, the processes in steps S518 and S519 are skipped, and the process proceeds to step S521.

  In step S521, the category management unit 802 determines whether a month button (for example, any of the month buttons 672-1 to 672-3 in FIG. 30) is selected, and when the month button is selected, The process proceeds to step S522.

  In step S522, the category management unit 802 reads a list of image files of dates included in the month specified in step S521 from the category database 821 illustrated in FIG. 37, for example, and supplies the list to the attribute information management unit 803. .

  In step S 523, the attribute information management unit 803 reads out the directory attributes of all the image files included in the list notified from the category management unit 802 from the attribute information database 822 and supplies them to the image file management unit 804. The image file management unit 804 is included in the list read out in step S522 from the image file group 823 stored in the storage unit 210 based on the directory attribute of the image file supplied from the attribute information management unit 803. All image files to be read are read out and supplied to the display screen generation unit 805. The display screen generation unit 805 displays all the image files supplied from the image file management unit 804 in the image display area 631 of the photo collection window 601 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S524. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 31, a list display of images included in one month is also referred to as a month display.

  If the category management unit 802 determines in step S521 that the month button has not been selected, the processes in steps S522 and S523 are skipped, and the process proceeds to step S524.

  In step S524, the category management unit 802 determines whether a year button (for example, any one of the year buttons 671-1 to 671-3 in FIG. 30) is selected, and when the year button is selected, The process proceeds to step S525.

  In step S525, the category management unit 802 reads a list of image files with dates included in the year specified in step S524 from the category database 821 shown in FIG. 37, for example, and supplies the list to the attribute information management unit 803. .

  In step S526, the attribute information management unit 803 reads the directory attributes of all the image files included in the list notified from the category management unit 802 from the attribute information database 822, and supplies them to the image file management unit 804. The image file management unit 804 is included in the list read out in step S525 from the image file group 823 stored in the storage unit 210 based on the directory attribute of the image file supplied from the attribute information management unit 803. All image files to be read are read out and supplied to the display screen generation unit 805. The display screen generation unit 805 displays all the image files supplied from the image file management unit 804 in the image display area 631 of the photo collection window 601 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S527 in FIG. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 32, a list display of images included in one month is also referred to as a year display. Further, the month display shown in FIG. 31 and the year display shown in FIG. 32 are collectively referred to as calendar display.

  If the category management unit 802 determines in step S524 that the year button has not been selected, the processes in steps S525 and S526 are skipped, and the process proceeds to step S527 in FIG.

  In step S527 in FIG. 43, the attribute information management unit 803 determines whether an explorer bar (for example, the explorer bar 651 in FIG. 28) is selected. If the explorer bar is selected, the process proceeds to step S528. .

  In step S <b> 528, the attribute information management unit 803 reads the directory attribute of the image file being selected from the attribute information database 822 and supplies the directory attribute to the display screen generation unit 805. The display screen generation unit 805 displays an explorer view 701 as shown in FIG. 33 based on the directory attribute supplied from the attribute information management unit 803, and the directory in which the image file is stored is indicated by reference numeral 711. So that it is highlighted. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S529.

  If the attribute information management unit 803 determines in step S527 that the explorer bar has not been selected, the process of step S528 is skipped, and the process proceeds to step S529.

  In step S529, the display screen generation unit 805 determines whether an instruction to delete the photo collection window 601 is input from the display unit 208. If the instruction to delete the photo collection window 601 is not input, the processing is performed. Returning to step S503 of FIG. 40, the processing after step S503 described above is repeatedly executed.

  In step S529, when the display screen generation unit 805 determines that an instruction to delete the photo collection window 601 has been input, the process returns to step S501 in FIG. 40, and the above-described processes after step S501 are repeatedly executed.

  The image management process is executed as described above.

  As described above, the image file itself is managed in a hierarchical directory structure. Separately, the user can further link the image file and the category so that the user can organize and classify the image file. It is possible to easily manage image files. Further, since the image file can be classified into categories by only one operation of dragging and dropping the image file onto the category button, convenience is improved. Furthermore, according to the image management process as described above, it is possible to classify one image file into a plurality of categories without duplicating. The image file management method described above can of course be applied to images other than images taken with a digital still camera.

  By the way, for example, when displaying a month as shown in FIG. 31, the PC 1 to which the present invention is applied can sequentially change the image file to be displayed when there are a plurality of image files for one date. .

  For example, in the month display shown in FIG. 31, 11 image files having a shooting date of 2 (Saturday) are stored in the storage unit 210, and 24 image files having a shooting date of 3 (Sun) are stored. Three image files stored in the storage unit 210 and having a shooting date of 6th (Wednesday) are stored in the storage unit 210, and one image file having a shooting date of 7th (Thursday) is stored in the storage unit 210. 6 image files having a shooting date of 9 (Sat) are stored in the storage unit 210, and 14 image files having a shooting date of 10 (Sun) are stored in the storage unit 210. And

  At this time, it is assumed that the image file is registered in the category database as shown in FIG. In FIG. 44, a total of 11 image files A1 to A11 are registered in “2 days”, and a total of 24 image files B1 to B24 are registered in “3 days”. A total of three image files C1 to C3 are registered for "day", a total of one image file D1 is registered for "7 days", and image files E1 to E1 are registered for "9 days". A total of 6 image files of E6 are registered, and a total of 14 image files F1 to F14 are registered on “10 days”.

  At this time, for example, the slide display control unit 806 of the file management program 233 sequentially displays the image files A1 to A11 in the column “2 days” in FIG. FIG. 45 shows an example of the display order of image files. In FIG. 45, in the “2 days” column, the image file A1 is displayed first, A2 is displayed next to A1, A3 is displayed next to A2, A4 is displayed next to A3, and A4. A5 is displayed next to A5, A6 is displayed next to A5, A7 is displayed next to A6, A8 is displayed next to A7, A9 is displayed next to A8, and A10 is displayed next to A9. A11 is displayed next to A10, and A1 is displayed again next to A11. Thereafter, display switching is repeated in the same manner as described above.

  In the same manner for other dates, the images to be displayed in the date cell are sequentially switched.

  Thereby, the user can confirm a plurality of images included in each date even in the month display.

  Next, a calendar display process of the PC 1, that is, a process of switching the display of each date image in the month display will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. Note that the slide display control unit 806 acquires a list of image files of dates included in the month to be displayed from the category management unit 802 in advance.

  In step S601, the slide display control unit 806 initializes the date X to X = 1.

  In step S602, the slide display control unit 806 determines whether to replace the image to be displayed on the date X. In this determination step, the slide display control unit 806 determines that the images are to be replaced with a probability of 1/16, and determines that the images are not to be replaced with a probability of 15/16. If it is determined in step S602 that the images are to be replaced, the process proceeds to step S603.

  In step S603, the slide display control unit 806 determines whether there are two or more image files on the date X. That is, when there are only zero or one image file for date X, there is no need to switch the image to be displayed. Therefore, the slide display control unit 806 determines whether or not there are two or more image files on the date X. If there are two or more image files on the date X, the process proceeds to step S604.

  In step S604, the slide display control unit 806 requests the attribute information management unit 803 to display the next image file in the display order. The attribute information management unit 803 reads the directory attribute of the image file requested to be displayed from the slide display control unit 806 from the attribute information database 822 and supplies the read attribute to the image file management unit 804. The image file management unit 804 reads an image file based on the directory attribute supplied from the attribute information management unit 803 and supplies the read image file to the display screen generation unit 805. The display screen generation unit 805 displays an image based on the image file supplied from the image file management unit 804 in the square of the date X of the month display. At this time, the image displayed until then is deleted.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S605.

  If it is determined in step S602 that the slide display control unit 806 does not replace the image to be displayed on the date X, the processes in steps S603 and S604 are skipped, and the process proceeds to step S605.

  In step S603, if the slide display control unit 806 determines that two or more image files do not exist on the date X (zero or one image file exists on the date X), the processing in step S604 is performed. Skipped and the process proceeds to step S605.

  In step S605, the slide display control unit 806 determines whether the date X is the last day of the month (for example, 31st in January). If the date X is not the last day, the process proceeds to step S606.

  In step S606, the slide display control unit 806 increments the date X by 1. Thereafter, the process returns to step S602, and the above-described processes after step S602 are repeatedly executed.

  If the slide display control unit 806 determines in step S605 that the date X is the last day of the month, the process proceeds to step S607.

  In step S607, the slide display control unit 806 waits for m seconds (m is 0.5 seconds, for example). Thereafter, the processing returns to step S601, and the processing after step S601 described above is repeatedly executed.

  As described above, in the month display, a plurality of images included in each date are sequentially switched and displayed. Note that the loop of step S602 to step S606 is repeated, for example, about 30 times per second. Therefore, it is determined whether or not to switch the display of images for all dates about once per second.

  For example, assume that an image is initially displayed as shown in FIG. 47, the image A1 is displayed on the second day, the image B1 is displayed on the third day, the image C1 is displayed on the sixth day, the image D1 is displayed on the seventh day, and the image E1 is displayed on the ninth day. And the image F1 is displayed on the 10th. Images are not displayed on other dates.

  46, first, date X is initialized to X = 1 (that is, one day) (step S601). Next, it is determined whether to replace the image to be displayed on the first day (step S602). If it is determined to replace, it is determined whether there are a plurality of images to be displayed on the first day (step S603). Since no image exists, the process of step S604 is skipped. If it is determined in step S602 that the images are not replaced, steps S603 and S604 are skipped. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not one day is the last day of the month (31st day in FIG. 47) (step S605). Since 1st is not the last day of the month, the process proceeds to step S606, where the date X is incremented by 1 and becomes 2nd.

  Thereafter, the process returns to step S602 to determine whether to replace the image to be displayed on the second day. If it is determined to replace, it is determined whether there are a plurality of images to be displayed on the second day (step S603). Since there are 11 images, the next image A2 in the display order is displayed in the square of the date on the 2nd. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the second day is the last day of the month (step S605). Since the 2nd is not the last day of the month, the process proceeds to step S606, and the date X is incremented by 1 to 3 days (Mika).

  Similarly, the processing from step S602 to step S606 is repeated from the third day to the 31st day. However, when the date X = 31 (that is, 31st), the date X is the last day of the month in step S605. And the process proceeds to step S607.

  In step S607, the process waits for m seconds, and the processes in and after step S601 are repeated again.

  FIG. 48 shows an example when the display of the images of the 2nd and 9th is switched by the above processing. FIG. 49 shows an example in which the display of images for 6 days is further changed from the state of FIG. Further, FIG. 50 shows an example in which the display of images for two days is further changed from the state of FIG.

  In this way, in step S602, images on each date are replaced at random by determining the replacement of images stochastically. Thereby, it becomes possible to improve entertainment. Of course, the above-described calendar display processing can be applied to an image other than an image taken with a digital still camera. In addition to calendar display, the present invention can also be applied to display a list of images included in a plurality of categories.

  The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software executes various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or various programs. For example, a general-purpose personal computer is installed from a network or a recording medium.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the recording medium is distributed to provide a program to the user separately from the main body of the apparatus, and includes a magnetic disk 221 (including a flexible disk) on which the program is recorded, an optical disk 222 ( CD-ROM (compact disk-read only memory), DVD (including digital versatile disk)), magneto-optical disk 223 (including MD (mini-disk)), or semiconductor memory 224, etc. In addition, it is configured by a ROM 202 in which a program is recorded and a hard disk included in the storage unit 210 provided to the user in a state of being incorporated in the apparatus main body in advance.

  In the present specification, the step of describing the program recorded on the recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but is not necessarily performed in chronological order. It also includes processes that are executed individually.

  Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information processing system to which this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the example of an internal structure of the digital still camera 2 of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the example of an internal structure of the digital still camera 3 of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the personal computer in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structural example of the image acquisition program of FIG. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of this invention. It is another figure explaining the outline | summary of this invention. It is a further figure explaining the outline | summary of this invention. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of this invention. It is another figure explaining the outline | summary of this invention. It is a further figure explaining the outline | summary of this invention. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of this invention. It is another figure explaining the outline | summary of this invention. It is a further figure explaining the outline | summary of this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a photographing process of the digital still camera 2; 6 is a flowchart for explaining a photographing process of the digital still camera 3; It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a display part. It is another figure which shows the example of a display of a display part. It is a flowchart explaining the taking-in process of a personal computer. FIG. 20 is a flowchart subsequent to FIG. 19 for explaining a personal computer capturing process; FIG. FIG. 21 is a flowchart following FIG. 20 for explaining a personal computer capturing process; FIG. It is a figure explaining the hierarchical directory structure which stores an image file. It is another figure explaining the hierarchical directory structure which stores an image file. FIG. 10 is still another diagram illustrating a hierarchical directory structure for storing image files. It is a figure explaining the hierarchical directory structure which stores an image file. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a photo collection window. It is another figure which shows the example of a display of a photo collection window. FIG. 14 is still another view showing a display example of a photo collection window. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a photo collection window. It is another figure which shows the example of a display of a photo collection window. FIG. 14 is still another view showing a display example of a photo collection window. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a photo collection window. It is another figure which shows the example of a display of a photo collection window. It is a figure which illustrates the management method of an image file notionally. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structural example of the file management program of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a category database. It is another figure which shows the example of a category database. It is a figure which shows the example of an attribute information database. It is a flowchart explaining the image registration process of a personal computer. It is a flowchart explaining the image management process of a personal computer. It is a flowchart following FIG. 40 explaining the image management process of a personal computer. FIG. 42 is a flowchart following FIG. 41 for explaining the image management processing of the personal computer. 43 is a flowchart for explaining image management processing of the personal computer, following FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a category database. It is a figure which shows the example of the order of the image displayed in the case of month display. It is a flowchart explaining the calendar display process of a personal computer. It is a figure explaining the switching by the calendar display process of the image displayed on the month. It is another figure explaining the switching by the calendar display process of the image displayed on the month. FIG. 12 is still another diagram illustrating switching of the month-displayed image by calendar display processing. It is a figure explaining the switching by the calendar display process of the image displayed on the month.

Explanation of symbols

  1 personal computer, 2, 3 digital still camera, 4-1, 4-2 memory card, 201 CPU, 202 ROM, 203 RAM, 206 mouse, 207 keyboard, 208 display unit, 210 storage unit, 212 drive, 232 image capture Program, 233 file management program, 251 operation unit, 261 history determination unit, 262 duplication determination unit, 263 capture unit, 264 file name creation unit, 265 display control unit, 266 post-capture processing determination unit, 267 image erasure unit, 268 file Generation unit, 641 link bar, 801 image file classification unit, 802 category management unit, 803 attribute information management unit, 804 image file management unit, 805 display screen generation unit, 806 slide display control unit, 21 category database, 822 attribute information database, 823 image files

Claims (6)

In an information processing apparatus that controls display of images classified and stored for each folder,
Classification means for classifying the image based on a predetermined time unit based on time information added to the image;
An operation means for receiving an operation from a user;
A first display process for displaying the image in a display area divided for each time unit according to a user operation on the operation means; and a second display for classifying and displaying the image for each folder. An information processing apparatus comprising: a display control unit that switches and executes display processing. The display control means displays the image in the first display process by switching the unit of time for dividing the display area in accordance with a user operation on the operation means. The information processing apparatus described in 1. In the first display process, when a plurality of the images are classified in the same time unit, the plurality of images classified in the same time unit are sequentially displayed in the display area one by one. A selection means for selecting as an image to be
The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays the image selected by the selection unit in the display area corresponding to the time unit in which the image is classified. apparatus. The classification means further classifies the image into a predetermined category in accordance with a user operation on the operation means,
The display control unit is configured to display the first display process, the second display process, or the image classified and displayed for each category according to a user operation on the operation unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is executed by switching between. In a display control method for an information processing apparatus that controls display of images classified and stored for each folder,
Classifying the image based on a predetermined unit of time based on time information attached to the image;
Switching between a first display process for displaying the image in the display area divided for each time unit and a second display process for classifying and displaying the image for each folder according to a user operation Display control method including steps to be executed. In a program that causes a computer to execute processing for controlling display of images classified and stored for each folder,
Classifying the image based on a predetermined unit of time based on time information attached to the image;
Switching between a first display process for displaying the image in the display area divided for each time unit and a second display process for classifying and displaying the image for each folder according to a user operation A program that includes steps to execute.

Images