JP3291479B2 - Electronic album device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a relatively small-capacity image recording medium on which image data is recorded by an image recording apparatus such as a digital still camera or the like. The present invention relates to an electronic album apparatus capable of reading data and writing and storing the data in a large-capacity data storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a digital still camera, a small memory card having a capacity of about several tens of MB has been used for recording image data obtained by photographing, and is provided in a camera body. With the memory card loaded in the memory card interface, image data of a plurality of still images can be recorded on the memory card. Also, by loading a memory card on which data has been recorded into a memory card interface of a digital still camera, image data of a plurality of still images recorded on the memory card is read out, and a TV connected to the digital still camera is read. A still image can be displayed on a monitor or the like.

However, the number of still images that can be recorded on one memory card is limited, and a plurality of memory cards are required to store a large amount of still images.
Not only does the management of the memory card become complicated, but when searching for a desired still image from a large number of still images, it is necessary to frequently replace the memory card, and the operation is complicated.

[0004] Therefore, the applicant can load a memory card, read out all the image data recorded on the memory card in response to the operation of the batch save button by the user, and store the image data in a CD-ROM. R (Compact Disc-Recor
dable) has been developed. According to the electronic album device, for example, 640 MB
Memory card for a CD-R with a capacity of
You can write as many still images as you can. In addition, by connecting an image display device such as a TV receiver to the electronic album device, an arbitrary still image recorded on the CD-R can be read and displayed on the screen of the image display device.

[0005]

However, since the electronic album apparatus can record a large number of still images on a CD-R, it is necessary to display a desired one of the still images from among them. However, there is a problem that an image search operation for a large number of still images is required, and this operation is extremely complicated. Therefore, by selecting a plurality of favorite images in advance from a plurality of images recorded on the CD-R and registering them in a favorite image file,
When a desired image is to be displayed, a configuration is possible in which a desired image can be selected from a favorite image file.

However, since data cannot be erased on a CD-R and the original image file cannot be erased after the creation of the favorite image file, the image data of the original image file and the image data of the favorite image file cannot be erased. There is a problem that the image data is duplicated and the storage capacity of the CD-R is remarkably wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic album apparatus capable of recording image data read from a data recording medium on the data storage medium while suppressing waste of the recording capacity of the data storage medium. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic album apparatus capable of reading a desired image from a large number of images recorded on a data storage medium by a simple operation and displaying the image on an image display device.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic album apparatus comprising: a data storage medium;
One data recording menu according to the batch save operation to
One or more image files recorded on media
Data recording media as one album file
Create album files as many as
Means for creating an album file to be stored in the media, favorite image selecting means for selecting any one or a plurality of image files from a plurality of image files recorded on the data storage medium, and selecting a favorite image. For one or more image files selected by the means, create a favorite image management information file including position information indicating the recording position of each image file , and
A favorite image management information recording means for recording an image file on a data storage medium as an album file; and a plurality of image files having information recorded in the favorite image management information file for selecting an image file to be displayed. Display image selecting means, and display image reading means for reading the image file from the data storage medium based on the position information of the image file selected by the display image selecting means , wherein the favorite image selecting means
Is one or more album files depending on the user's operation.
To select one album file from the files
Is displayed, and then the user's album for that screen is displayed.
The selected album file is selected according to the file selection operation.
One image file from multiple image files included in the
Display a screen for selecting a file, and select the display image
The selection means may include one or more selections according to the operation of the user.
One favorite album from the album file
After displaying the screen for selecting the bum file,
User's favorite album file selection operation
Depending on the work, the selected favorite album file
Based on the included image management information file, the image management information
Multiple image files whose management information is recorded in the
Screen for selecting one image file from files
Is displayed .

In the electronic album apparatus of the present invention,
When the user operates the favorite image selection means and selects one or more desired image files from the plurality of image files recorded on the data storage medium, the favorite image management information recording means is selected. One
Alternatively, for a plurality of image files, a favorite image management information file including position information of each image file is created and recorded on a data storage medium. At this time, in the favorite image management information file, management information about the favorite image file such as position information is merely written as text data, and no image data is written.

After that, when the user operates the display image selecting means and selects an image file to be displayed from a plurality of image files in which the management information is recorded in the favorite image management information file, the display image reading is performed. The means reads the selected image file from the data storage medium based on the position information of the selected image file. The image file read from the data storage medium in this way is output to the image display device, and the image is displayed.

In a specific configuration, the electronic album apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a favorite image management information editing means for editing information of a favorite image management information file recorded on a data storage medium.
According to the specific configuration, after the favorite image management information is recorded on the data storage medium by the favorite image management information recording unit, the management information other than the position information out of the favorite image management information is changed as necessary. Can be rewritten.

[0012]

In the electronic album apparatus according to the present invention, the favorite image management information file records only management information on the favorite image as text data, and does not record image data having a large amount of information. The size of the favorite image management information file can be small. Therefore, while suppressing waste of the storage capacity of the data storage medium, a desired image can be read out from a large number of images recorded on the data storage medium by a simple operation and displayed on the image display device. .

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a state in which an image monitor (3) and an image printer (31) are connected to the electronic album apparatus (1) according to the present invention. The electronic album device (1) has a CD-R (2) to be loaded.
A DR drive (43), a first memory card interface (45) in which the first memory card (21) is to be loaded, and a second memory card interface (44) in which the second memory card (22) is to be loaded. ) Are connected to the first circuit board (41).

The first circuit board (41) includes a control system including a CPU and a RAM, a CD-R (2), and a first memory card.
(21) and a recording system for executing data reproduction processing for the second memory card (22) and a recording system for executing data recording processing for the CD-R (2). Further, a second circuit board (42) is connected to the first circuit board (41). The second circuit board (42) includes an IR receiving unit for receiving an infrared signal from the remote controller (4) and a signal processing unit for processing signals from various operation buttons provided on a front panel of the apparatus main body. A SW and an LED control unit for lighting an LED provided on the front panel are provided. The image data for printing obtained from the first circuit board (41) is output from the printer output terminal (46) to the printer (31). Further, image data and audio data for image display obtained from the first circuit board (41) are supplied from an image output terminal (47) and an audio output terminal (48) to an image monitor.
Output to (3).

In the electronic album device (1), 1
Multiple images recorded on a single memory card
When the data is collectively stored in the R (2), one “album file” including the image data of the plurality of images is recorded in the CD-R (2), and the number of the memory card is the same as the number of memory cards to be collectively stored An “album file” is created. When a plurality of favorite images are selected from a plurality of images recorded on the CD-R (2) in this way, the selected plurality of favorite images are stored on the CD-R (2). Image management information (text data) on the image is recorded as a "favorite album file".

FIG. 2 shows a case where a plurality of images recorded on the memory cards (21) and (22) are collectively stored on the CD-R (2).
It represents the directory structure of "album files" and "favorite album files" recorded on the CD-R (2). In the example of FIG. 2, two memory cards are collectively stored and two album files “100ALBU” are stored.
M ”and“ 101 ALBUM ”have been created, and one of the album files“ 100 ALBUM ”has 3
Image files “PHOTO0001.jpg”
“PHOTO0003.jpg” is created,
An image management information file “INFO100.txt” storing image management information for these image files is created. Also, the other album file “101”
ALBUM ”contains five image files“ PHOT ”
O0001. jpg ”to“ PHOTO0005. jp
g "is created, and the image management information file" I "which stores image management information for these image files.
NFO101. txt "has been created.

Further, in the example of FIG. 2, a favorite album file "102MEMORY" is created, in which an image management information file "INFO102.t" storing image management information on the favorite image file.
xt "has been created.

FIG. 3 shows an image management information file (“INFO1” in the example of FIG. 2) created in each album file.
00. txt "and INFO101.txt"). As shown in the figure, each image management information file has "album file identification data" representing the file name of the album file, "name data" representing the title of the album file, and "date and time when the album file was saved". Saved date data "
And "image management data" for each image file. Here, the “image management data” includes a plurality of “image file data” for a plurality of image files, and each “image file data” includes “image file identification data” indicating a file name of the image file. "Memo data" consisting of arbitrary characters entered for the image file, "Display direction data" representing the rotation angle of the image when the image file is displayed on the screen, and the image data deleted And “deletion data” indicating whether or not the data is deleted.

FIG. 4 shows a favorite image management information file created in a favorite album file.
(In the example of FIG. 2, “INFO102.txt”). As shown in the figure, the favorite image management information file includes “album file identification data” representing the file name of the favorite album file, “name data” representing the title of the favorite album file, and the date and time when the favorite album file was saved. And "image management data" for each favorite image file. Here, the “image management data” is composed of a plurality of “favorite image file data” for a plurality of favorite image files, and each “favorite image file data” is an album file or a favorite album file to which the favorite image file belongs. "Album file identification data" indicating the file name of
, “Image file identification data” representing the file name of the favorite image file, “memo data” obtained by inputting arbitrary characters for the favorite image file, and an image used to display the favorite image file on the screen. "Display direction data" representing the rotation angle of
And "deletion data" indicating whether or not the favorite image data has been deleted.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the electronic album apparatus.
It shows a favorite album file creation procedure executed by the control system of (1). When the power is turned on to the electronic album apparatus (1), first, the image monitor (3) is displayed as shown in FIG.
In the case of creating a favorite album, the user loads the CD-R (2) into the electronic album device (1) and then operates the remote controller (4) to display " Select the "Create Favorite Album" button.

First, in step S1 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the user has selected a favorite album creation button. When the “create favorite album” button is selected as described above, it is determined to be “yes” and step S2 is performed.
Then, a favorite album creation screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed, and a favorite album file is created on the CD-R (2), and album file identification data and the like can be entered in the file at that time. Write data.

From the screen shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to execute either the procedure of creating a new favorite album file or inputting the title of a favorite album file. Operates the "create new" button. In step S3 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether the new creation button has been operated. If the determination is yes, the process proceeds to step S4 to display the album / favorite selection screen shown in FIG.

From the screen of FIG. 11, it is possible to select one of a process of selecting a favorite image file from an album file and a process of selecting a favorite image file from an already created favorite album file. When one of the albums is selected, the process proceeds to step S6 to display a selection screen for the first album among a plurality of albums from which a favorite image file is to be selected. FIG. 12 shows a selection screen for one album, in which a representative image selected and set in advance among a plurality of images included in the album is displayed. When the user operates the arrow buttons of the remote controller (4), the screen is switched to a selection screen for the next album. In the process of repeating this operation, a selection screen for a desired album is displayed, at which point the user operates the remote controller.
By operating the (4) determination button, the album is selected as a favorite image file selection target.

In step S7 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the decision button has been pressed while the album selection screen as shown in FIG. 12 is being displayed. It is determined whether is pressed. If the determination is no, the process returns to step S7 to repeat the same determination. If the determination is yes in step S8, a next album selection screen is displayed in step S9, and the process returns to step S7.

If the answer is affirmative in step S7, the process proceeds to step S10 to display a plurality of reduced still images included in the first page of the selected album as shown in FIG. Here, the user
When the arrow button (4) is operated, the cursor (bordered by a thick line) moves between a plurality of reduced still images displayed on the screen. When the user operates the determination button of the remote controller (4) in a state where the desired reduced still image is selected (specifically displayed) by the cursor, the reduced still image is selected as a favorite image.

In step S11 of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the determination button has been pressed while the reduced still image selection screen as shown in FIG. 13 is being displayed. It is determined whether the arrow button has been pressed. If it is determined NO, step S
Returning to step 11, the same judgment is repeated. If it is determined to be YES in step S12, it is determined in step S13 whether or not the last reduced still image of the page is specifically displayed by the cursor at that time, and if it is determined to be no, step S14 is performed. After moving to, move the cursor to the next reduced still image and display the reduced still image specifically,
It returns to step S11. If the determination is yes in step S13, a plurality of reduced still images included in the next page of the album are displayed, and the process returns to step S11.

If the answer is affirmative in step S11, the process proceeds to step S16, where a display (for example, a circle) is displayed on the reduced still image selected as the favorite image as shown in FIG. Next, in step S17, it is determined whether the "copy" button displayed on the screen of FIG. 14 has been selected. Remote controller
When the "copy" button is selected by the operation of (4), it is determined YES in step S17, and the process proceeds to step S18, where the favorite album file already created in step S2 is added to FIG. The favorite image file data shown is recorded.

Thereafter, in a step S19, it is determined whether or not the end button of the remote controller (4) is pressed. If the determination is NO, the process returns to the step S5 in FIG. Repeat the selection. Thereafter, when it is determined to be Yes in step S19, the procedure ends. As a result, a favorite album file having the data structure shown in FIG. 4 is created and recorded on the CD-R (2) as shown in FIG.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a favorite image display procedure executed by the control system of the electronic album apparatus (1). When power is supplied to the electronic album apparatus (1) with the CD-R (2) loaded, first,
An initial screen as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the image monitor (3), and when a favorite image is to be displayed, the user selects a “favorite” button on the screen by operating the remote controller (4). I do.

First, in step S21 of FIG. 7, it is determined whether the favorite button has been selected by the user.
When the "favorite" button is selected as described above, it is determined to be yes and the process proceeds to step S22, and a selection screen for the first favorite album among a plurality of favorite albums from which a favorite image to be displayed is selected. Is displayed.

FIG. 16 shows a selection screen for one favorite album, in which a plurality of favorite images specified by the favorite image management information in the favorite album file are selected and set in advance. The image of the representative favorite image being displayed is displayed. When the user operates the arrow buttons of the remote controller (4), the screen is switched to a selection screen for the next favorite album. In the process of repeating this operation, a selection screen for a desired favorite album is displayed, at which point the user operates the remote controller (4).
Is operated, the favorite album is selected as a selection target of a favorite image to be displayed.

At step S23 in FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not the enter button has been pressed while the favorite album selection screen as shown in FIG. 16 is being displayed. It is determined whether the button has been pressed. If the determination is no, the process returns to step S23 to repeat the same determination. Step S
If the determination at 24 is yes, at step S25, a screen for selecting the next favorite album is displayed, and the process returns to step S23.

If it is determined YES in step S23, the process proceeds to step S26, and as shown in FIG.
Among the plurality of favorite images specified by the favorite image management information in the selected favorite album file, reduced still images of the plurality of favorite images included in the first page are displayed. Here, when the user operates the arrow buttons of the remote controller (4), a cursor (bordered by a thick line) is displayed between a plurality of reduced still images displayed on the screen.
Moves. When the user operates the determination button of the remote controller (4) in a state where the desired reduced still image is selected (specifically displayed) by the cursor, the reduced still image is selected as a favorite image to be displayed.

In step S27 of FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not the enter button has been pressed while the reduced still image selection screen as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed. If the determination is no, the process proceeds to step S28. It is determined whether the arrow button has been pressed. If it is determined NO, step S
Returning to step 27, the same judgment is repeated. If the determination is YES in step S28, it is determined in step S29 whether or not the last reduced still image of the page is specifically displayed by the cursor at that time. If the determination is NO, step S30 is performed. After moving to, move the cursor to the next reduced still image and display the reduced still image specifically,
It returns to step S27. If it is determined YES in step S29, a plurality of reduced still images included in the next page of the favorite album are displayed, and then step S2
Return to 7.

If the determination in step S27 is YES, the process proceeds to step S32, where the favorite image specified and displayed when the enter button is pressed is displayed on the image monitor (3) as shown in FIG. View full size. Next, in step S33, it is determined whether or not the end button of the remote controller (4) has been pressed. If the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step S34, where it is determined whether or not the arrow button has been pressed. Here, when the determination is yes, the process proceeds to step S35 to display the next favorite image included in the currently selected favorite album, and then returns to step S33. Then, when it is determined YES in step S33, the procedure ends. In this way, a desired favorite image is selected from a plurality of favorite images based on the management information of the favorite album file, and is displayed on the image monitor (3).

As described above, according to the electronic album apparatus (1) of the present invention, when creating a favorite album,
As shown in FIG. 4, information for managing the favorite images is merely written as text data in the favorite album file, and the data amount of the favorite album file is small, so that the CD-R (2)
It is possible to quickly display a desired favorite image without wasting the storage capacity of the user.

When an operation for deleting a specific image from a plurality of images recorded on the CD-R (2) is performed,
Data indicating image deletion is written in the deletion data included in the image file data of the image to be deleted, and subsequent reading of the image is prohibited.
Further, when the image file data of a specific image recorded on the CD-R (2) is edited,
An image management information file including the edited image file data is newly recorded in -R (2), and the subsequent image management is executed based on the edited image management information file.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic album device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a directory structure of an album file and a favorite album file recorded on a CD-R.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data structure of an image management information file.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure of a favorite image management information file.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a first half of a favorite album file creation procedure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a latter half of the above.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a first half of a favorite image display procedure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a latter half of the above.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an initial screen in a favorite album file creation procedure.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a favorite album creation screen in the same procedure.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an album / favorite selection screen in the same procedure.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an album selection screen in the same procedure.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a reduced still image selection screen in the same procedure.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a favorite image confirmation screen in the same procedure.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an initial screen in a favorite image display procedure.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a favorite album selection screen in the same procedure.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a reduced still image selection screen in the same procedure.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a favorite image displayed by the same procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Electronic album device (2) CD-R (21) First memory card (22) Second memory card (3) Image monitor (4) Remote controller

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification symbol FI H04N 5/76 H04N 5/91 N (58) Investigated field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/76-5 / 956 G06F 3/00 656 G06F 12/00 515 G06F 17/30 170 G06T 1/00 200

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for recording and reproducing image data.
Data recording media can be loaded,User operation
In response to the,1 recorded on the data recording medium
Or read multiple image files and save
Data on the media for data storage,
Out of multiple image files recorded in the media
Read the image file and output it to the image display device
Electronic album device capable ofTransfer data from data recording media to data storage media.
One data recording medium according to the batch save operation
One or more recorded image files can be
As many as the number of media for data recording
Create an album file and save it on a data storage medium.
Existing album file creation means,  Multiple image files recorded on data storage media
Files, select one or more image files.
Means for selecting a favorite image, and one or more selected by the favorite image selecting means.
For each image file, the recording position of each image file
Image management information file containing location information
Create a fileAs a favorite album filedata
Recording of favorite image management information recorded on storage media
Means, and the management information is recorded in the favorite image management information file.
Out of multiple image files
Display image selecting means for selecting an image file, and a position of the image file selected by the display image selecting means.
The image file based on the location information.
Display image reading means for reading from the mediaWith The favorite image selecting means is operated in response to a user operation.
One or more album files.
After displaying the screen for selecting the
According to the user's album file selection operation on the screen
Multiple images contained in the selected album file
For selecting one image file from files
Display the screen, The display image selection means may be one or more of the following:
Or one of multiple favorite album files
For selecting a favorite album file Show screen
After showing, the user's favorite album for the screen
The favorite album selected according to the file selection operation
Based on the image management information file included in the bum file
The management information is recorded in the image management information file.
Select one image file from multiple image files
Display a screen for selecting An electronic electronic device characterized by that
Bam device. 2. The electronic album apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a favorite image management information editing means for editing information of a favorite image management information file recorded on the data storage medium.