JP2009260796A - Information processing method, information processing unit, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify user operation in regard to the setting of a slide show playback time. <P>SOLUTION: Based on image attribute information, a plurality of images are classified into one or a plurality of groups. The slide show playback time is set to each group, and to each image constituting each group, a display time is allocated. Based on the set display time, playback schedule information to control the playback of the slide show is generated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing method, information processing apparatus, and program for displaying a plurality of images as a slide show.

  Conventionally, a slide show function for sequentially displaying a plurality of images is known.

  In recent years, it has become possible to collect and manage many images due to the increase in the storage capacity of nonvolatile memories and the provision of image services such as online albums.

  That is, the case where a user browses many images using a slide show function is considered.

  Currently, as a method for sequentially switching and reproducing a plurality of images to be subjected to a slide show according to display information, an image reproducing apparatus that changes the reproduction state of the images based on related information associated with the target image is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Also, an electronic album display in which at least some images are grouped based on the degree of relevance of the image information, the display time of the first image displayed in the group is set longer, and images are displayed according to the set display time A system is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2006-157324 A JP 2005-348371 A

  However, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, since the display time is individually set for each image that is the target of the slide show, if the number of images increases, the user operation may become complicated. .

  In addition, when the images to be subjected to the slide show include, for example, a large number of high-speed continuous shot images, similar images may continue to be displayed when the slide show is executed.

  Therefore, when executing a slide show, there has been a demand for shortening the display time for, for example, high-speed continuous shot images.

  That is, various measures for setting the slide show playback time with a simple operation have been desired.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a classification step in which a computer having a function for displaying a plurality of images as a slide show classifies the images into groups according to attribute information associated with the plurality of images to be subjected to the slide show. A setting step for setting a slide show playback time for each of the groups, and a distribution for setting the display time of each of the images by allocating the playback time based on the number of the images classified into each of the groups And a generation step of generating reproduction schedule information for controlling to display the image sequentially according to the display time.

  The present invention may be an information processing apparatus and a program.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to simplify a complicated user operation related to setting of a playback time of a slide show.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one configuration of the information processing apparatus.

  Reference numeral 100 denotes an information processing apparatus main body having a function of setting a slide show reproduction time.

  101 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls the operation of the entire system, 102 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) that is a read-only memory, and 103 is a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is a non-volatile memory. .

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a display memory such as a video memory where target images of the slide show are developed during playback of the slide show. Reference numeral 105 denotes a display device such as a liquid crystal display for displaying the slide show.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a recording device such as an HD (hard disk) in which the slide show target images are stored. Reference numeral 107 denotes an input device such as a mouse 108 or a keyboard 109 for the user to perform an input operation. is there.

  In the ROM 102, each step shown in the flowchart described below is expanded in the application program area 1021 in the form of computer readable program code, for example. Alternatively, the application program is stored in the storage device 106 and expanded in the RAM 103 at the time of execution, and each step shown in the flowchart described below is executed.

  The RAM 103 includes a work area 1031, an image classification table area 1032, a reproduction time table area 1033, a display time table area 1034, and the like.

  The work area 1031 is a work area when the CPU 101 performs control, and the image classification table area 1032 stores index information for designating the image classified by the attribute information of the image.

  The playback time table area 1033 stores a playback time for each group, which will be described later, and the display time table 1034 stores a display time for each image.

  The recording device 106 stores an OS (Operating System) and application programs for executing a slide show.

  In addition, the CPU 101 reads out and starts an application program for executing a slide show according to the OS, and executes processing described below.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation performed by the information processing apparatus 100.

  First, in step S <b> 201, the CPU 101 classifies the images into one or more groups based on the attribute information of one or more images stored in the recording device 106, and adds index information to the image classification table area 1032. Remember.

  In step S201, the attribute information is, for example, information in an Exif (Exchangeable image file) format.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an Exif compressed data file structure of an image.

  Next, when the grouping of the images is completed, the playback time for each group is set in step S202, and the playback time information is stored in the playback time table area.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a time setting screen displayed on the display device 105 when setting the playback time for each group in step S202.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which an equal reproduction time (60 seconds) is set for all the groups, and the display time per sheet is allocated from the number of images constituting each group.

  Next, when the setting of the reproduction time for each group is completed, the display time is set for each image constituting each group in step S203, and the display time information is stored in the display time table area 1034.

  In the case of FIG. 4, for example, if there are six images in the group, the display time set per sheet in step S203 is 1/6 (10 seconds) of the playback time set for the group. Is set.

  That is, when there are many images constituting a group, the display time per sheet is short, and when there are few images, the display time per sheet is long.

  Next, in step S204, the entire reproduction schedule information is generated based on at least the information stored in the image classification table area 1032 and the display time table area 1034.

  Note that the reproduction schedule information has a configuration in which, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the reproduction order of images to be a slide show, the index information of the images, and the display time of the images are associated with each other. Yes.

  Next, in step S205, images corresponding to the index information are read from the recording device 106 to the display memory 104 in the order of the reproduction schedule information.

  Further, the image read out to the display memory is displayed on the display device 105 while being sequentially switched every set display time.

  Hereinafter, a diagram illustrating an example of the Exif compressed data file structure in FIG. 3 will be described.

  Reference numeral 301 denotes an example of a recording format of a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) file.

  APP1 (application marker segment) is inserted immediately after the SOI (Start Of Image) marker representing the beginning of the file, and Exif additional information is described in APP1.

  302 is an example of the internal configuration of APP1.

  APP1 includes an APP1 marker, an Exif identification code, an attached information body, and the like.

  The attached information has a TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) structure including a File Header, and can be recorded in a maximum of two IFDs (Image File Directory: 0th IFD, 1st IFD).

  In the 0th IFD, attached information regarding the compressed image (main image) is recorded.

  A thumbnail image is recorded in the 1st IFD.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 3, there is an Exif IFD 303 for recording additional information unique to Exif in the 0th IFD.

  In the information attached to the Exif IFD 303, information about the version to user information can be recorded.

  Examples of information attached to the Exif IFD 303 include exposure time, F value, ISO sensitivity, shutter speed, aperture, focal length, photometric method, date information, image compression ratio, and the like.

  In addition, a maker note area is included in the user information, and individual information can be entered in the maker note area.

  In this maker note area, lens type information, drive mode information, position information, power supply information, media information, file size information, subject information, and photographer information are registered.

  Thus, for example, the information processing apparatus 100 can group images using these pieces of information.

  That is, for example, it is possible to classify according to items of subject information, position information, continuous shooting information, and date / time information.

  The subject information is, for example, information based on a well-known face detection function, and the position information is, for example, GPS (Global Positioning System) information.

  For example, when grouping is performed based on subject information, it is possible to prevent a specific subject from being displayed for a long time or from being hardly displayed.

  Further, for example, when grouping is performed based on position information, images taken at the same or similar places can be combined, so that the same scene can be prevented from being displayed endlessly.

  In addition, for example, when grouping is performed based on continuous shooting information, it is possible to classify almost the same image group as a continuous shooting image into the same group, so that similar images are not displayed endlessly. Is possible.

  As described above, since the display time of each image is distributed according to the number of images in the same group classified into groups, there is an effect of preventing monotonous display contents.

  In step S201, when the user selects an image to be a slide show, for example, an image included in the folder may be selected by designating a folder in which the image is stored.

  Further, in step S201, the user operates the input device 107, for example, classifies into a hierarchical group, classifies into a subgroup, or classifies so that another group is nested within the group. May be.

  That is, for example, when classifying according to date and time information, it is possible to classify images to be a slide show into groups for each month, and further classify the images into subgroups according to specific dates of each month. .

  In step S201, the display order, the playback order, and the like can be changed by operating the GUI (graphical user interface) on the time setting screen shown in FIG. Also good.

  For example, by dragging and dropping the group 404 area 404 in FIG. 4 between the group B area 405 and the group C area 406 by the user's input operation to the mouse 108, the reproduction order is changed to the group B, A. , C in this order.

  Also, for example, the display order may be changed to image h, image g, and image i by dragging and dropping the region 406 of the image g in FIG. 4 between the region 407 of the image h and the region 408 of the image i. Is possible.

  Further, for example, by clicking on the area of the image c in FIG. 4, the image c can be deleted from the group A, and the image c can be excluded from the slide show target image.

  Moreover, it is good also as a structure which sets arbitrary reproduction time to the reproduction time input form 401 of each group by input operation to the input device 107 by a user by step S202.

  In step S202, the total reproduction time may be calculated by calculating the total reproduction time of each group input to the reproduction time input form 401.

  In step S202, first, the total playback time input in the total playback time input form 402 may be set, and the playback time may be equally assigned to each group.

  In step S202, first, the total playback time input in the total playback time input form 402 is set, and the user can arbitrarily set the percentage for each group regardless of the number of images included in the group. A playback time may be assigned.

  In step S203, a lower limit value or an upper limit value of the display time per image may be set in each group.

  An example when the lower limit value or upper limit value of the display time per image is set is shown below.

  First, it is assumed that Tmax is set as the upper limit value of the display time per image and Tmin is set as the lower limit value.

  At this time, when a certain group includes five images and the reproduction time Tsc is allocated, the display time per image is Tsc / 5 seconds.

  Therefore, it is determined whether Tsc / 5 is set so that Tmin <Tsc / 5 <Tmax.

  Next, when Tsc does not satisfy the above relationship, for example, Tmin or Tmax may be reset as the display time per image.

  FIG. 5 shows another example of the time setting screen. By operating the setting area 501, the first first image in each group can be set to be fixed at a predetermined time.

  The reproduction schedule information may be stored in the recording device 106.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the RAM 103 further includes an indicator area 1035 that is a buffer memory for displaying an indicator.

  The RAM 103 further includes a pointer area 1036 in which information indicating a pointer position for a user to perform an operation input is stored.

  As a result, it is possible to display the reproduction schedule information as an indicator by overlaying it on the screen on which the slide show is being executed, and to control the state of execution of the slide show by an input operation to the input device 107 by the user.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a slide show execution screen on which an indicator is displayed.

  In the lower part of the screen in FIG. 7, an indicator bar 700 displays the slide show target images divided into groups.

  In this way, it is possible to visually grasp how much playback time exists in each group during the slide show playback time.

  Further, for example, it is possible to understand sensibly which part of the time series of the entire slide show the image displayed in the display image area 702 by the indicator mark 701.

  Furthermore, when an arbitrary area of the indicator bar 700 is designated, an image corresponding to the reproduction schedule corresponding to the position can be displayed in the display image area 702.

  That is, it is possible to change the playback status in real time.

  As described above, it is possible to provide a function variation such as changing the playback speed or skipping the playback schedule by a predetermined operation on the indicator bar 700.

  In addition, the user can change the playback schedule at an arbitrary time point to realize a more flexible playback effect.

  The series of processing described above is realized by storing an application program (software) in the information processing apparatus 100 and executing the application program, but may be realized by hardware.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing apparatus realized by hardware.

  Reference numeral 800 denotes an information processing apparatus main body having a function for setting a playback time of a slide show.

  Reference numeral 801 denotes an image classification unit, 802 denotes a reproduction time setting unit, 803 denotes a display time distribution unit, and 804 denotes a display control unit.

  Further, the display may include an indicator display unit 805 that overlays and displays the playback schedule information as an indicator on a screen on which a slide show is being executed, and an operation control unit 806 for accepting a user operation input to the indicator. Good.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example in which the present invention is realized via a network.

  Reference numeral 900 denotes an application server on which the application program of the present invention is developed, and reference numeral 901 denotes a file server in which images to be subjected to a slide show are stored.

  Reference numeral 902 denotes a client computer having an input device 903 for a user to perform an input operation.

  Reference numeral 904 denotes a network in which at least the application server 900 and the client computer 902 are connected, and reference numeral 905 denotes a display device for displaying a slide show.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing operations performed by the application server 900 and the client computer 902.

  First, in step S1001, a signal for causing the application server 900 to execute the application program of the present invention is transmitted from the client computer 902.

  Next, in step 1002, based on the attribute information of a plurality of images stored in the file server 901, the attribute information is classified into one or a plurality of groups.

  Next, when the grouping of the plurality of images is completed, the playback time for each group is set in step S1003.

  Next, when the setting of the reproduction time for each group is completed, in step S1004, the display time is set for each image constituting each group.

  Next, in step S1005, the entire reproduction schedule information is generated based on the display time information set for each image.

  In step S <b> 1006, the application server 900 reads information on the images to be displayed from the file server 901 in the order of the reproduction schedule information, and transmits the information on the images and the reproduction schedule information to the client computer.

  In step S <b> 1007, the client computer 902 displays the image to be displayed transmitted from the application server 900 on the display device 905 by sequentially switching the set display time in the order of the reproduction schedule information.

  In step S1003, the application server 900 may set a playback time for each group in response to a user input to the client computer 902.

  According to this embodiment, it is possible to simplify complicated user operations relating to settings when displaying image data uploaded to a file server on a network as a slide show.

It is the block diagram which showed one structure of information processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of information processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of an Exif compression data file structure. It is a figure which shows the example of the time setting screen which an information processing apparatus provides. It is a figure which shows the example of the time setting screen which an information processing apparatus provides. It is a figure which shows the example of the form of reproduction | regeneration schedule information. It is a figure which shows the example of an indicator display. It is the block diagram which showed one structure of information processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the information processing apparatus via a network. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the information processing apparatus via a network.

Explanation of symbols

801 Image classification unit 802 Playback time setting unit 803 Display time distribution unit 804 Display control unit 805 Indicator display unit 806 Operation control unit

Claims (16)

An information processing method executed by a computer having a function for displaying a plurality of images as a slide show,
A classification step of classifying the images into groups according to attribute information associated with a plurality of images to be a slide show;
A setting step for setting a slideshow playback time for each of the groups;
A distribution step of allocating the playback time based on the number of the images classified into each of the groups and setting a display time of each of the images;
And a generation step of generating reproduction schedule information for controlling to display the image sequentially according to the display time.   The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein in the distribution step, the reproduction time is equally distributed to the images classified into the same group as a display time.   3. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein, in the classification step, the images are classified into groups according to one or more attribute information of subject information, position information, continuous shooting information, and date / time information. .   4. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein in the classification step, another group can be set in the classified group. 5. And a designation step for designating a fixed display time for at least a part of the images,
The distribution step equally distributes the reproduction time or the time obtained by removing the fixed display time designated by the designation step from the reproduction time for the image for which the fixed display time is not designated by the designation step. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the display time is set. Classification means for classifying the images into groups according to attribute information associated with a plurality of images to be a slide show;
Setting means for setting the playback time of the slide show for each of the groups;
Distributing means for allocating the reproduction time based on the number of the images classified into each of the groups and setting a display time of each of the images;
An information processing apparatus comprising: generation means for generating reproduction schedule information for controlling to display the images sequentially according to the display time.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the distribution unit distributes the reproduction time equally to the images classified into the same group to obtain a display time.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the classification unit classifies the images into groups according to one or more attribute information among subject information, position information, continuous shooting information, and date / time information. .   The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the classification unit can set another group in the classified group. Furthermore, it has a designation means for designating a fixed display time for at least a part of the image,
The distribution unit equally distributes the reproduction time or the time obtained by removing the fixed display time designated by the designation unit from the reproduction time for the image for which the fixed display time is not designated by the designation unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a display time is set.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a transmission unit configured to transmit a plurality of images to be a slide show and the reproduction schedule information to a client computer via a network. . On the computer,
A classification step of classifying the images into groups according to attribute information associated with a plurality of images to be a slide show;
A setting step for setting a slideshow playback time for each of the groups;
A distribution step of allocating the playback time based on the number of the images classified into each of the groups and setting a display time of each of the images;
A program for executing a generation step of generating reproduction schedule information for controlling to sequentially display the images according to the display time.   13. The program according to claim 12, wherein in the distribution step, the reproduction time is equally distributed to the images classified into the same group to be a display time.   The program according to claim 12 or 13, wherein in the classification step, the images are classified into groups according to one or more attribute information among subject information, position information, continuous shooting information, and date / time information.   The program according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein in the classification step, another group can be set in the classified group. And a designation step for designating a fixed display time for at least a part of the images,
The distribution step equally distributes the reproduction time or the time obtained by removing the fixed display time designated by the designation means from the reproduction time for the image for which the fixed display time is not designated by the designation step. The program according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein a display time is used.

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