JP2008097435A - Image editing device, image editing method and program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to correctly recognize which file is inserted into which position and perform an operation that is intuitive and simple during rearranging files. <P>SOLUTION: Thumbnail images of image files are arranged and displayed, and first and second thumbnail images are selected among the thumbnail images. Insertion positions are displayed around the first thumbnail image. Any insertion position is selected between the displayed positions, Thumbnail images are rearranged and displayed again so as to display the second thumbnail image at the selected image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image editing apparatus, an image editing method, and a program for rearranging the order of images displayed in a list on a display.

  The user may rearrange the order of files such as icons and thumbnails on various devices. For example, a user uses a pointing device such as a mouse to rearrange files by drag and drop operation. In addition, when the mouse cursor is moved by dragging, whether or not the object can be moved to the place is represented by changing the shape of the mouse cursor (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, small devices that have only a cursor key user interface cannot rearrange files by drag and drop using this pointing device.

Therefore, for example, the user reselects the files in the order in which the files are to be rearranged, or assigns an order to each file. Alternatively, sorting is performed by selecting a file to be moved in the list display and then specifying a destination file.
JP 11-327721 A

  However, even with the drag-and-drop method, it has not been possible to notify whether the file can be moved to the destination until the file is dragged or dropped onto the destination. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the user knows what cannot be done for the first time after performing an operation to rearrange in the order planned in advance, and must perform the operation again from the beginning in a different order.

  In addition, the method of specifying the order for each file has a drawback that it is difficult for the user to visually understand. Also, in order to rearrange some files, it was necessary to reorder all the files and reselect them.

  Also, in the method of selecting the file to be moved in the list display and then specifying the destination file, the user selects the file icon or thumbnail when selecting the destination and destination file. There is a need to. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to know which operation to select the movement target or the movement destination, and an erroneous operation is likely to occur. In addition, since the destination is specified by a file icon or thumbnail, it is difficult for the user to intuitively understand whether the file to be moved is inserted before or after the destination file. In addition, since it depends on the specification of the application, it is confusing for the user.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the image display means for displaying the thumbnail images of the image file side by side, the first image selection means for selecting the first thumbnail image from the displayed images, and the display Second image selecting means for selecting a second thumbnail image from among the positions, position display means for displaying positions that can be inserted around the first thumbnail image, and any one of the displayed positions And a rearrangement display means for displaying the second thumbnail image at the selected position.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a file rearrangement operation easily and accurately without using a drag-and-drop operation by a pointing device.

(First embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a digital camera is taken as an example of a device device having a small display and a poor input operation member that does not include a pointing device such as a mouse. A case will be described in which the order of image files stored in the memory of the digital camera and displayed on the display is rearranged.

<Configuration of digital camera>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a digital camera. The digital camera 100 is configured to capture a subject image via an optical system (imaging lens) 10. The optical system 10 can be configured as a zoom lens (a lens that can change a shooting angle of view). Thereby, an optical zoom function (so-called optical zoom) is provided. The digital camera 100 can further be configured to have an electronic zoom function (so-called electronic zoom) by electronically cutting (trimming) an image captured by the image sensor 14. The digital camera 100 may be configured to have only one function of optical zoom and electronic zoom. The optical system 10 may be replaceable. In this case, by sending an electrical signal from the main body side of the digital camera 100 to the optical system 10, the driving mechanism in the optical system 10 drives the zoom lens to provide a zoom function. Further, a drive mechanism that mechanically drives the zoom lens in the optical system 10 may be provided on the main body side of the digital camera 100.

  A light beam from a subject (light beam incident from within an optical angle of view) passing through the optical system (photographing lens) 10 is imaged by an image sensor (for example, a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor) 14 through an opening of a shutter 12 having a diaphragm function. An optical image of the subject is formed on the surface. The image sensor 14 converts this optical image into an electrical analog image signal and outputs it. The A / D converter 16 converts the analog image signal provided from the image sensor 14 into a digital image signal. The image sensor 14 and the A / D converter 16 are controlled by a clock signal and a control signal provided from the timing generation circuit 18. The timing generation circuit 18 is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50.

  The image processing circuit 20 performs image processing such as pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the image data (digital image signal) provided from the A / D converter 16 or the image data provided from the memory control circuit 22. . The image processing circuit 20 also uses a TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) process, an AE (automatic exposure) process, and an EF (flash pre-flash) based on image data captured by the image sensor 14. Data for automatic light control). Then, the calculation result is provided to the system control circuit 50. The system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit (AF control unit) 42 based on the calculation result to realize an automatic exposure and autofocus function. Further, the image processing circuit 20 also executes TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the image data captured by the image sensor 14.

  The memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32.

  The image data output from the A / D converter 16 is sent via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, or via the memory control circuit 22 without going through the image processing circuit 20. It is written in the memory 30.

  The display image data written in the image display memory 24 is converted into an analog image signal for display by the D / A converter 26 and provided to the image display unit 28, whereby the captured image is displayed on the image display unit 28. Is displayed. An electronic viewfinder function is realized by continuously displaying captured images on the image display unit 28. The display of the image display unit 28 can be arbitrarily turned on / off by a command from the system control circuit 50. By using the display with the display turned off, the power consumption of the digital camera 100 can be greatly reduced.

  The memory 30 is used to store still images and moving images that have been shot (taken as images to be recorded on a recording medium). The capacity of the memory 30 and the access speed (write speed, read speed) can be arbitrarily determined, but in order to enable continuous shooting and panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, it is in accordance with them. It is necessary to give capacity and access speed. The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50.

  The compression / decompression circuit 32 is a circuit that compresses / decompresses image data by, for example, adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like. The image data stored in the memory 30 may be read to perform compression processing or decompression processing, and the processed image data may be written to the memory 30.

  The exposure control unit 40 controls the shutter 12 having an aperture function based on information provided from the system control circuit 50. The exposure control unit 40 can also have a flash light control function in cooperation with a flash (light emitting device) 48. The flash 48 has a flash light control function and an AF auxiliary light projecting function.

  The distance measurement control unit 42 controls the focusing lens of the optical system 10 based on information provided from the system control circuit 50. The zoom control unit 44 controls zooming of the optical system 10. The barrier control unit 46 controls the operation of the barrier 102 that protects the optical system 10.

  The display unit (for example, LCD, LED) 54 and the sound source (for example, speaker) 55 are each composed of one or a plurality of elements, and operate by characters, images, sounds, etc. according to the execution of the program in the system control circuit 50. It is configured to output status and messages. The display unit 54 is disposed at an appropriate position of the image processing apparatus 100. A part of display elements constituting the display unit 54 can be arranged in the optical viewfinder 104.

  Among the information displayed on the display unit 54, the information displayed on the LCD or the like includes, for example, single shot / continuous shooting imaging display, self-timer display, compression rate display, recording pixel number display, recording number display, and remaining imaging. There is a display of the number of possible images and a shutter speed display. In addition, aperture value display, exposure compensation display, flash display, red-eye reduction display, macro imaging display, buzzer setting display, clock battery level display, battery level display, error display, multi-digit number information display and so on. Furthermore, there are a display state of the storage media 200 and 210, a communication I / F operation display, a date / time display, and the like.

  Of the information displayed on the display unit 54, information displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 includes, for example, in-focus display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, and exposure correction display. , Etc.

  The nonvolatile memory 56 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory such as an EEPROM. Image data and object data from an external device may be stored in the nonvolatile memory 56. Also, a setting parameter area for connecting to the network is provided in the nonvolatile memory 56 separately.

  The first shutter switch (SW1) 62 is turned ON while the shutter button 310 is being operated (half-pressed), and the system starts AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and the like. The control circuit 50 is instructed. The second shutter switch SW2 (64) is turned on when the operation of the shutter button 310 is completed (fully pressed). SW2 (64) reads an image signal from the image sensor 14, converts it to digital image data by the A / D converter 16, processes it by the image processing unit 20, and writes it to the memory 30 via the memory control unit 22. The system control unit 50 is instructed to start processing. SW2 (64) also starts a series of processing (imaging processing) including processing of reading out the image data from the memory 30, compressing the image data by the compression / decompression unit 32, and writing the compressed image data into the storage medium 200 or 210. Is instructed to the system control unit 50.

  The zoom operation unit 65 is an operation unit that is operated by a photographer to change a shooting angle of view (zoom magnification or shooting magnification). For example, a slide type operation member or a lever type operation member and its operation are operated. It can be constituted by a switch or a sensor for detecting.

  The operation unit 70 includes buttons or switches 251 to 262 shown in FIG. 2, and turns on / off the power, sets or changes shooting conditions, checks shooting conditions, and checks the state of the digital camera 100. It is used when checking captured images.

  The power supply control unit 80 includes, for example, a power supply detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches blocks to be energized, and the like. Then, the presence / absence of a power source, the type of power source, and the remaining battery level are detected, the DC-DC converter is controlled according to the detection result and a command from the system control circuit 50, and a necessary voltage is supplied to each block in a necessary period . The main body of the digital camera 100 and the power source 86 have connectors 82 and 84, respectively, and are connected thereto. The power source 86 is, for example, a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, or an AC adapter.

  The recording media 200 and 210 are connected to connectors 92 and 96 of the main body of the digital camera 100 by connectors 206 and 216, respectively. The recording media 200 and 210 include, for example, recording units 202 and 212 such as a semiconductor memory or a hard disk, and interfaces 204 and 214, and a bus in the digital camera 100 via the interfaces 90 and 94 on the main body side of the digital camera 100. Connected to. The recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit 98 detects whether or not the recording mediums 200 and 210 are connected to the connectors 92 and 96.

  In this example, the interface and the connector for attaching the recording medium are described as having two systems, but these may be one system or three systems or more. When a plurality of interfaces and connectors are provided, they may have different specifications. As the interface and connector, for example, a connector conforming to a standard such as a PCMCIA card or a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card can be adopted.

  As the interfaces 90 and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96, those compliant with a standard such as a PCMCIA card or a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card can be adopted. In this case, various communication cards such as a LAN card, a modem card, a USB card, an IEEE 1394 card, a P1284 card, a SCSI card, a communication card such as a PHS, and the like can be connected. The image data and management information attached to the image data can be transferred to and from other computers and peripheral devices such as a printer.

  The optical viewfinder 104 enables photographing without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28. In the optical viewfinder 104, a display element constituting a part of the display unit 54, for example, a display element for performing focus display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, and exposure correction display. Can be arranged.

    FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external configuration of the digital camera 100. In FIG. 2, unnecessary components are omitted for explanation.

  The power button 251 is a button for starting and stopping the digital camera 100 or turning on / off the main power of the digital camera 100.

  The menu button 252 is a menu for setting various imaging conditions and for displaying the state of the digital camera 100 (the menu includes a plurality of items that can be selected and / or whose values can be changed. This is a button for displaying “Uru”. For example, when the menu button 252 is pressed, the system control circuit 50 causes the image display unit 28 to display a menu. The menu may be synthesized and displayed on the image being captured, or may be displayed alone (for example, displayed on a predetermined background color). When the menu button 252 is pressed again while the menu is displayed, the system control circuit 50 ends the display of the menu on the image display unit 28.

  In addition, the thumbnail images read from the image display memory 24 are displayed in multiple on the image display unit 28.

  A left button 255, a right button 256, an up button 257, and a down button 258 (direction selection key) are options (for example, items and images) selected from a plurality of options such as a cursor or a highlight portion. Used to change It can also be used to increase or decrease a numerical value (for example, a numerical value indicating a correction value, date, etc.) in order to change the position of an index that identifies the selected option. Here, the left button 255, the right button 256, the up button 257, and the down button 258 select only one item from among a plurality of items, and the user interface so that two or more items can be selected. Is preferably configured. For example, when the left button 255, the right button 256, the upper button 257, and the lower button 258 are operated while the determination button 253 is pressed, the system control circuit 50 displays two or more items specified by the operation. It may be configured to recognize that it has been selected.

  The determination button 253 is pressed when determining a mode or an option. When the determination button 253 is pressed, the system control circuit 50 sets the mode or option selected at that time.

  In the present embodiment, the user selects a thumbnail image by pressing the left / right / up / down buttons 255 to 258 while viewing the thumbnail image displayed in multiple on the image display unit 28, and operates the determination button 253 to input a determination instruction. .

  The display button 254 is used to select display / non-display of shooting information for a captured image and to switch whether the image display unit 28 functions as an electronic viewfinder.

  As described above, the shutter button 260 is, for example, half-pressed, and the system starts AF (auto focus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, EF (flash pre-flash) processing, and the like. The control circuit 50 is instructed. In addition, the system control circuit 50 can be instructed to shoot in the fully pressed state.

  The recording / playback switch 261 is used to switch the recording mode to the playback mode and the playback mode to the recording mode.

  The jump key 262 functions in the same manner as the direction selection key, and changes or selects an option (for example, an item or an image) selected from a plurality of options such as a cursor or a highlight portion. Used to change the position of the indicator that identifies the choice being made. The cursor movement by the jump key may be set earlier or larger than that by the direction selection key.

  Instead of the operation system as described above, a dial switch may be employed, or another operation system may be employed.

<Flow of image file sorting process>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of image file rearrangement processing executed by the digital camera 100 during playback.

  In step S301, an image rearrangement instruction is input by the operation unit 70 in response to a user operation. Specifically, when the menu button 252 is pressed by the user, a menu including image file rearrangement is displayed on the image display unit 28. Then, the user inputs one of the up, down, left, and right buttons 255 to 258, selects “image file rearrangement”, and presses the enter button 253 to input an instruction.

  In step S302, the system control circuit 50 performs processing for switching to the moving image selection mode.

  In step S303, in the digital camera 100, a thumbnail image of an image file to be moved is selected by the operation unit 70 in response to a user operation.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the image list screen 400 in a state where the thumbnail image of the image file to be moved is selected. In FIG. 4, the image 11 (401) is highlighted as a movement target.

  In step S304, the system control circuit 50 switches to the movement destination selection mode.

  In step S <b> 305, in response to a user operation, the operation unit 70 selects a thumbnail image serving as a reference for the movement destination.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of an image list screen 500 in a state where a thumbnail image of an image file serving as a reference for the movement destination has been selected. In FIG. 5, the image 6 (501) is highlighted in a different manner from the image 11 (401) as a reference for the movement destination.

  In step S306, the system control circuit 50 reads out and acquires from the order information table 600 information about whether or not to insert an image file serving as a reference of the movement destination selected in step S305.

  The setting of the insertability information may be set, for example, by the user operating the digital camera 100 and inputting the insertability before and after each image file. Alternatively, each image file may be automatically set based on shooting information such as Exif information. For example, if it is shown that the shooting information is an image file obtained by continuous shooting or bracket shooting, it is conceivable to set the insertion prohibition between a plurality of continuous image files.

  Here, the insertability information and order assigned to each image file are managed in an order information table 600 as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is an example of the order information table 600. A user ID 601, an album ID 602, an image ID 603, and a file path 604 are stored according to information held by the digital camera 100 or the image file. Further, the order 605 of image files in the album is stored according to the shooting date and time or the file name. Further, flags 606 and 607 indicating whether or not to permit insertion of other image files before and after the image file are stored in accordance with the insertability information received in step S1121. In the flags 606 and 607, “1” is stored when permission is permitted, and “0” is stored when permission is not permitted.

  In step S307, the system control circuit 50 switches to the insertion position presentation mode, and displays the insertable position on the image display unit 28 according to the insertability information acquired in step S306.

  7 and 8 show an example of the image list screens 700 and 800 showing the insertable positions.

  In FIG. 7, the thumbnail image (6) selected in step S305 is arranged in the center, and icons indicating whether or not it can be inserted are displayed before and after. In FIG. 7, the insertion position icon 701 after the thumbnail image (6) is highlighted and shows a selected state. That is, in this case, the image file (11) to be moved is instructed to be inserted between the image file (6) and the image file (7).

  In FIG. 8, the thumbnail image (6) selected in step S305 is arranged in the center, icons indicating the non-insertable positions are displayed on the left and above, and icons indicating the insertable positions are displayed on the right and below. Is displayed. In FIG. 8, the insertion position icon 801 below the thumbnail image (6) is highlighted to show a selected state. That is, in this case, the image file (11) to be moved is instructed to be inserted between the image file (8) and the image file (9).

  In the insertion position presentation mode, the cursor can be moved only on the icon indicating the position where insertion can be performed in response to the operation of the movement key by the user, and other icons and thumbnail images are skipped and controlled not to move. Is done. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the left key 802 and the right key 803 are operated, so that the cursor only moves the left and right icons of the image (6) alternately.

  In the image list screen as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, no icons may be displayed at positions where insertion is impossible.

  In step S <b> 308, the insertion position is designated by the operation unit 70 in response to a user operation in the digital camera 800.

  In step S309, the system control circuit 50 changes the value stored in the order information table 600 so that the image file of the thumbnail image selected in step S303 is at the position specified in step S308.

  In step S310, the system control circuit 50 reads the order of the image files in the order information table 600 changed in step S309 from the order information holding unit 103, updates the image list screen, and performs re-display.

  In step S <b> 311, the system control circuit 50 determines whether or not a rearrangement end instruction has been received by the operation unit 70 in response to a user operation. If it is determined that an end instruction has been received, the present process is terminated. Specifically, when the system control circuit 50 determines that the menu button has been pressed by the operation unit 70 in response to a user operation, it displays various menus including the end of image file rearrangement on the image display unit 28. Then, in response to the user's operation, one of the up / down / left / right buttons 255 to 258 is pressed by the operation unit 70, “End of image file rearrangement” is selected, and an instruction is input. On the other hand, if an end instruction has not been received, the process returns to step S302.

  In the present embodiment, when the digital camera 100 displays icons in addition to the thumbnail images in the insertion position presentation mode, the number of thumbnail images to be displayed is reduced. Therefore, in the insertion position presentation mode, a thumbnail image having a smaller size than that in the moving image selection mode or the movement destination designation mode may be displayed. Thereby, even when only a small display is provided, more thumbnail images can be displayed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user can rearrange files by a simple operation using a cursor key.

  In this embodiment, an insertion position icon is presented around the thumbnail image that is the reference of the movement destination. Thereby, since an unnecessary icon is not presented, the user can easily know at which position the image file to be moved is inserted, and the number of erroneous operations can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, many thumbnail images are displayed instead of displaying unnecessary icons. As a result, the number of thumbnail images that can be viewed at a time is increased, and the user can consider the relationship with many other thumbnail images at a glance, making it easier to select the insertion position.

  In the present embodiment, the insertion position icon is displayed after the thumbnail image that is the reference of the movement destination is selected. As a result, many thumbnail images are displayed on the display when selecting the destination reference. Therefore, the user does not need to perform a scrolling operation or the like for changing the thumbnail image currently displayed, and this has the advantage of saving the user's trouble.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Image file storage system configuration>
FIG. 9 shows a configuration necessary for the server apparatus 900 arranged on the Internet to realize an image file storage system and execute image file rearrangement processing according to an application program as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

  In FIG. 9, reference numeral 901 denotes an image file storage unit in which an area is allocated to a hard disk or the like. Reference numeral 902 denotes a file information holding unit that holds information about image files stored in the image file storage unit 901. Reference numeral 903 denotes an order information holding unit that holds order information of image files stored in the image file storage unit 901. Reference numeral 904 denotes an insertability information holding unit that holds information indicating whether other image files can be inserted in the order before and after the image file stored in the image file storage unit 901. In this embodiment, the order information holding unit 903 is used. include.

  Reference numeral 905 denotes a rearrangement process start processing unit that receives a request for rearrangement of image files by a user operation from the client apparatus 1000 and starts processing. Reference numeral 906 denotes a mode determination processing unit that determines the rearrangement mode based on the state of the client apparatus 1000 and the like. Reference numeral 907 denotes a display processing unit for each mode that displays information specific to each mode on a display. Reference numeral 908 denotes an insertable position presentation processing unit that explicitly displays a position where an image file can be inserted on the display, and is included in the mode-specific display processing unit 907 in this embodiment.

  Reference numeral 909 denotes a rearrangement information acquisition processing unit that acquires rearrangement instruction information including an image file specified by a user operation from the client apparatus 1000 and an insertion position. Reference numeral 910 denotes an order information change processing unit that performs rearrangement processing according to the rearrangement instruction information acquired by the rearrangement information acquisition processing unit 909 and changes the order information in the order information holding unit 903.

  The server device 900 can be realized by one or a plurality of computers. The server device 900 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the entire server device 900. In addition, it has a Read Only Memory (ROM) that stores programs and parameters that do not need to be changed, and a Random Access Memory (RAM) that temporarily stores programs and data supplied from external devices.

  Further, it has an external storage device including a hard disk and a memory card fixedly installed on the server apparatus 900, or a removable optical disk, magnetic disk, memory card, and the like. The file storage unit 901, the file information holding unit 902, the order information holding unit 903, and the insertability information holding unit are realized by these hard disks and external storage devices. The hard disk also stores an operating system (OS) and a common gateway interface (CGI) program.

  In addition, the server apparatus 900 includes an input device such as a pointing device and a keyboard for inputting data in response to an operator's operation and an interface thereof. In addition, the server apparatus 900 includes a display for displaying data such as image files and the supplied data, and an interface thereof. In addition, it has a network interface for connecting to a network line 920 such as the Internet. The system also has a system bus for connecting the above-described units so as to communicate with each other.

  The server apparatus 900 can communicate with the client apparatus 1000 via the network line 920. The server apparatus 900 performs an operation in response to a request from the client apparatus 1000 according to the CGI program. Then, multimedia information (hereinafter also referred to as screen information) described in a language such as Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), eXtensible Markup Language (XML), or Java (registered trademark) Script is transmitted to the client apparatus 1000.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the client apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment. The client device can be realized by a computer.

  In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the entire client apparatus 1000. Reference numeral 1002 denotes a read only memory (ROM) that stores programs and parameters that do not need to be changed. A random access memory (RAM) 1003 temporarily stores programs and data supplied from an external device or the like. Reference numeral 1004 denotes an external storage device including a hard disk and memory card fixedly installed in the computer apparatus 1000, or a removable optical disk, magnetic disk, memory card, and the like. The hard disk stores an OS and a web browser program. The client device 1000 requests multimedia information from the server device 900 according to the Web browser program, receives the multimedia information from the server device, and displays the screen on the display or changes the display content of the screen. Do.

  In addition, the client apparatus 1000 includes an interface 1005 with an input device such as a pointing device or a keyboard 1009 that receives a user operation and inputs data. Reference numeral 1006 denotes an interface with a display 1010 for displaying data held by the client apparatus 1000 and supplied data. Reference numeral 1007 denotes a network interface for connecting to a network line 920 such as the Internet. A system bus 1008 connects the units 1001 to 1007 so that they can communicate with each other.

  Further, the client apparatus 1000 can transmit and receive various types of information to and from the server apparatus 900 using File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

<Uploading image files>
With reference to FIG. 11, processing in which the client apparatus 1000 in the present embodiment uploads an image file to the server apparatus 900 will be described. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the operation of the client device is performed by the CPU 1001 according to the OS and the Web browser program. The operation of the server apparatus 900 is assumed to be performed by the CPU according to the OS and the CGI program.
The client device and the server device 900 start communication via the network 920 (step S1101).

  The client apparatus 1000 selects some image files from those stored in the storage device 1004 (step S1111).

  Next, the client apparatus 1000 selects the upload order of the image files (step S1112). For example, the order of file name, the order of shooting date and time, or the order of selection in step S1111 can be considered. Note that the upload order may be determined in advance, and this step S1112 may be omitted.

  Next, for each image file, the client apparatus 1000 sets insertability information indicating an instruction as to whether or not to allow other image files to be inserted before and after the image file (step S1113). The setting of the insertability information may be set, for example, by the user operating the client apparatus 1000 and inputting insertability before and after each image file. Alternatively, in the client apparatus 1000, each image file may be automatically set based on shooting time information such as Exif information. For example, it is conceivable that no insertion is set between a plurality of continuous image files obtained by continuous shooting or bracket shooting.

  Then, the client apparatus 1000 uploads image files to the server apparatus 900 in the order specified in step S1112 (step S1114). In step S1114, the client apparatus 1000 also uploads the insertability information set in step S1113 together with the image file. Here, instead of uploading the insertability information for all the image files, the server apparatus 900 may be notified of only the image files for which disapproval is instructed. In step S1114, a user ID for uniquely identifying the user of the client apparatus 1000 is also uploaded.

  The server apparatus 900 receives image files from the client apparatus 1000 in order (step S1121). In addition, information on whether or not each image file can be inserted is also received.

  The server apparatus 900 stores the image file received in step S1121 in the file storage unit 901 and also stores information related to the image file in the file information holding unit 902 (step S1122). Here, the server apparatus 900 stores the insertability information in the insertability information holding unit 904.

  The information related to the image file is, for example, an image ID issued by the server device 901 to uniquely identify the image file. Alternatively, it is an album ID issued by the server apparatus 900 to manage the series of image files received in step S1121 as an image file group belonging to one album and uniquely identify the album. Alternatively, a file path indicating the storage location of the image file in the image file storage unit 901, Exif information, a user ID, and the like.

  The server apparatus 900 assigns the order to each image file with the order received in step S1121 as the initial order (step S1123). The order assigned to each image file is managed by an order information table 600 as shown in FIG. The order information table 600 is stored in the order information holding unit 903. Here, the order 605 of the image files in the album is stored in accordance with the order assigned in step S1123. Further, flags 606 and 607 indicating whether or not to permit insertion of other image files before and after the image file are stored in accordance with the insertability information received in step S1121.

<Flow of image file sorting process>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of image file rearrangement executed by the server apparatus 900 as an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the operation of the server apparatus 900 is performed by the CPU according to the OS and the CGI program.

  In step S <b> 1201, the server apparatus 900 receives an image file display request from the client apparatus 1000. Along with the display request, the user ID and the album ID of the album to be displayed are also received.

  In step S1202, the server apparatus 900 reads the image file path stored in the order information table 600 and its order from the order information holding unit 903 based on the user ID and album ID received in step S1201. Then, according to the order, image list screen information in which an instruction for displaying a thumbnail image of the image file is described is created. The server apparatus 900 reads an image file from the file storage unit 901 according to the image file path, and generates a thumbnail image.

  In step S1203, the server apparatus 900 transmits the image list screen information created in step S1202 to the client apparatus 1000. As a result, the image list screen 600 is displayed on the display of the client apparatus 1000.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of the image list screen 1300. Reference numeral 1301 denotes an “arrangement” button for inputting an instruction to rearrange image files. When the user presses a “sort” button 1301, the client apparatus 1000 requests the server apparatus 900 to rearrange image files. Reference numeral 1302 denotes an area for displaying a list of thumbnail images. Reference numeral 1303 denotes an “upload” button for instructing the start of processing for uploading an image file to the album displayed in 1302. In step S <b> 1204, the server apparatus 900 receives a request to start image file rearrangement from the client apparatus 1000.

  In step S1205, the server apparatus 900 acquires plug-in information from the client apparatus 1000, and determines whether a plug-in program for rearranging image files by drag and drop operation is installed in the client apparatus 1000. Step S1205 is executed by the mode determination processing unit 906.

  If it is determined in step S1205 that the plug-in program is installed, the process is passed to step S1221. On the other hand, if it is determined that the plug-in program is not installed, the process is passed to step S1206.

  In step S1221, the server apparatus 900 activates the plug-in program in the client apparatus 1000 and switches to the drag and drop rearrangement mode. In the client apparatus 1000, a drag operation for designating a thumbnail image of a movement target image file by a user and a drop operation for designating an insertion position are performed. When the drop operation is performed, the image ID of the thumbnail image that has been dragged and the position where the drop operation has been performed are input to the client apparatus 1000. Step S1221 is performed by the rearrangement processing start unit 905.

  On the other hand, in step S <b> 1206, the server apparatus 900 acquires the insertion permission information of each image file in the order information table 600 from the insertion permission information holding unit 904.

  In step S1207, the server apparatus 900 generates screen information in which an instruction for displaying the image list screen in the insertion position presentation mode is described in accordance with the insertion permission information of each image file acquired in step S1206. Step S1207 is executed by the insertable position presentation processing unit 908.

  In step S1208, the server apparatus 900 transmits the screen information generated in step S1207 to the client apparatus 1000. Based on the received screen information, the client apparatus 1000 displays an image list screen 1400 in the insertion position presentation mode on the display.

  FIG. 14 is an example of an image list screen 1400 in the insertion position presentation mode. 1402 is an icon indicating an insertable position, and 1403 is an icon indicating a non-insertable position.

  It should be noted that no icons may be displayed at positions where insertion is impossible.

  Also, as long as the display allows the user to easily grasp the insertable position and the impossible position, not only icons but also bars may be displayed, and the display color between thumbnail images may be changed. It may be.

  When a thumbnail image of an image file to be moved is selected by a user operation, the thumbnail image is highlighted as indicated by 1404, and the image ID is input to the client apparatus 1000. Note that the number of thumbnail images to be moved is not limited to one, and a plurality of thumbnail images may be selected and instructed to be inserted together.

  Further, when an icon 1402 indicating an insertable position is selected by a user operation, the insertion position of the movement target image file 1404 is input to the client apparatus 1000.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that insertion is impossible between these image files if the insertability information is different between consecutive image files. For example, if the Nth image file A can be inserted later and the N + 1th image file B cannot be inserted before, the insertion of a new image file between the image file A and the image file B is prohibited. It shall be.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that rules may be determined in advance such that, for example, the information on whether or not an image file can be inserted in advance is adopted, and the rule may be determined accordingly.

  In step S1209, the server apparatus 900 acquires the image ID and insertion position of the image file to be moved designated by the user operation from the client apparatus 1000. Step S1209 is executed by the rearrangement information acquisition processing unit 909.

  The client apparatus 1000 changes the order of thumbnail images based on the screen information transmitted in step S1208 and displays the thumbnail images on the image list screen. The image list screen displayed in step S1209 has the same design as the image list screen 1400 in FIG. 14, and the order of the thumbnail images is changed.

  In step S1210, the server apparatus 900 changes the value stored in the order 605 of the order information table held in the order information holding unit 903 for each image file based on the information acquired in step S1209. Step S1210 is processed by the order information change processing unit 910.

  In step S1211, the server apparatus 900 receives from the client apparatus 1000 an instruction to end image file rearrangement. More specifically, when the list display button 1405 on the image list screen 1400 is pressed by the user, the client apparatus 1000 transmits an end instruction to the server apparatus. Then, this process ends.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the image file is indicated by the icons of different display modes at the position where the image file cannot be inserted and the position where the image file can be inserted. Thereby, the user can clearly know the position where the image file cannot be inserted, and thus can suppress unnecessary operations.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the position where the image file can be inserted before the destination of the image file is specified is clearly indicated on the display, so that the user does not need to perform the rearranging operation through trial and error, and efficiently. Work can be done.

(Other embodiments)
Note that the present invention is not limited to an image file, and may be an audio file or the like.

  In addition, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (recording medium) that records software for realizing the functions of the above embodiments to a system or apparatus, and a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus executes the software. Is also achieved. In this case, the software itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the software constitutes the present invention.

  Further, not only the above functions are realized by the execution of the software, but also an operating system (OS) or the like running on a computer performs part or all of the actual processing according to instructions of the software, thereby This includes the case where is realized.

  In addition, the software is written in a function expansion card connected to a computer or a memory of a unit, and the CPU of the card or unit performs part or all of the actual processing according to instructions of the software, thereby Including the case where is realized.

  When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores software corresponding to the flowchart described above.

It is the figure which showed the structure of the digital camera in one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the back surface structure of the digital camera in one Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart figure which showed the procedure of the image rearrangement process in one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the image list screen in one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the image list screen in one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the order information table in one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the image list screen in one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the image list screen in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the system in one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the computer apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart figure which showed the procedure of the image rearrangement process in one Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart figure which showed the procedure of the image rearrangement process in one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the image list screen in one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the image list screen in one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

700 Image list screen 701 Insertion position icon

Claims (7)

Image display means for displaying thumbnail images of image files side by side;
First image selection means for selecting a first thumbnail image from among the displayed images;
Second image selecting means for selecting a second thumbnail image from among the displayed images;
Position display means for displaying positions that can be inserted around the first thumbnail image;
Position selecting means for selecting any position from among the displayed,
An image display device comprising rearrangement display means for displaying the second thumbnail image at the selected position. Image storage means for storing the image file in association with the insertability information;
The icon display means displays the position in a state corresponding to the insertion permission information of the first image file,
The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the position selection unit selects a position from among those displayed in a state indicating that insertion is possible according to the insertion permission / inhibition information. Image storage means for storing the image file in association with the insertability information;
2. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the information on whether or not adjacent image files can be inserted is different, the position display means displays the position in a state indicating that insertion is impossible.   The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the image display unit displays the thumbnail image again in response to the rearrangement instruction with a reduced display size. Image storage means for storing the image file in association with the order information;
The image display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an updating unit configured to update order information of the image file according to the selected position. Displaying thumbnail images of image files side by side;
Selecting a first thumbnail image from the displayed;
Selecting a second thumbnail image from the displayed;
Displaying insertable positions around the first thumbnail image;
Selecting one of the displayed positions;
An image display method comprising the step of rearranging and displaying the second thumbnail image at the selected position. On the computer,
Displaying thumbnail images of image files side by side;
Selecting a first thumbnail image from the displayed;
Selecting a second thumbnail image from the displayed;
Displaying insertable positions around the first thumbnail image;
Selecting one of the displayed positions;
A program for executing a step of rearranging and displaying the second thumbnail image at the selected position.

Images