JP3983137B2 - Image file editing system, image file editing apparatus, image file editing program, and digital camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image file editing system, an image file editing apparatus, an image file editing program, and a digital camera for adding auxiliary information related to image data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Image data taken with a digital camera is managed in units of image files together with attached information. Among the auxiliary information included in the image file, information on the structure and characteristics of the image data, shooting mode, white balance settings, focus settings, information on shooting conditions such as the presence or absence of a strobe, information about the manufacturer and model of the shooting device, shooting year The date and the like are automatically recorded by the digital camera at the time of shooting. In addition, in the image file, the title of the captured image, the name of the captured location, the captured environment information, and the like can be arbitrarily recorded by the user according to the captured image usage form. However, it is generally not easy to input the title of the captured image, the name of the shooting location, and the shooting environment information in each image file.
[0003]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-155124 discloses a digital camera that can automatically record external environment data such as temperature, direction, humidity, and wind speed in association with captured image data. This digital camera includes various sensors for measuring external environment data, and processes and records the output of the sensor at the time of shooting. However, the information that can be automatically recorded is limited to environmental information that can be measured by various sensors mounted on the camera. Increasing the number of mounted sensors increases the weight of the camera and increases costs. There is a point.
[0004]
In addition, it is not practical to input the shooting point name or shooting target name at the time of shooting, considering the operability of the user interface of the digital camera, etc. There is also a problem that inputting while confirming a photographed image becomes inaccurate depending on the description and memory difference.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image file editing system, an image file editing apparatus, an image file editing program, and a digital camera that can easily edit attached information included in an image file. It is intended.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The image file editing system of the present invention edits an image file including image data and attached information, and is connectable to an information service server connected to a network and the information service server via the network. And the attached information includes service information identification information for specifying the type of service information to be provided from the information service server. The image file editing device transmits the longitude / latitude information in the attached information of the image file to be edited to a specific information service server corresponding to the service information identification information, and receives the information from the information service server Service information is added to the attached information, and the information service server is 1 or Be accessible to several service information in association with longitude and latitude information was stored database, the service information retrieved from the database based on the received latitude and longitude information, and transmits to the editing apparatus .
[0010]
In the image file editing system according to the present invention, the attached information includes date and time information at the time of shooting the image data, and the image file editing apparatus includes the date and time information included in the attached information together with the longitude and latitude information. The information service server is capable of accessing a database storing one or more types of service information corresponding to date information and longitude / latitude information, and the received longitude / latitude The service information retrieved from the database based on the information and the date / time information is transmitted to the editing device.
[0011]
An image file editing apparatus according to the present invention edits an image file including image data and attached information, and includes an input unit for inputting the image file, and an image file input via the input unit. An editing processing unit that performs editing, and a communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from the information service server via a network, and the input information of the input image file includes longitude and latitude information of a shooting point of the image data , And service information identification information that identifies the type of service information to be provided from the information service server , and the editing processing unit sends the longitude / latitude information in the attached information via the communication unit. Service information transmitted to the specific information service server corresponding to the service information identification information and received from the information service server via the communication unit Is added to the attached information.
[0016]
In the image file editing apparatus of the present invention, the attached information includes date and time information at the time of shooting of the image data, and the editing processing unit displays the date and time information included in the attached information together with the longitude and latitude information. Includes information sent to the information service server.
[0017]
The image file editing program of the present invention is for realizing the above-described image file editing apparatus by a computer.
[0018]
The digital camera of the present invention is a digital camera that records captured image data and attached information in association with each other, and includes a file creation processing unit that performs recording processing of the captured image data and the attached information, and the created attached information A file editing processing unit that performs editing, a position detection unit that detects longitude and latitude information of the location of the digital camera, and a communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from an information service server via a network. The creation processing unit includes service information identification information that specifies a type of service information to be provided from the information service server based on longitude and latitude information of the shooting point obtained from the position detection unit and an instruction from the outside , is intended to record included in the auxiliary information, the file editing processing unit, the longitude and latitude information of said auxiliary information, said communication Parts and sent to a particular information service server corresponding to the service information identification information via is a service information received via the communication unit from the information service server shall be recorded as the auxiliary information.
[0023]
The digital camera of the present invention includes a timekeeping unit that outputs date / time information, and the file creation processing unit records the date / time information at the time of shooting obtained from the timekeeping unit in the attached information, The file editing processing unit includes a unit that transmits the date and time information included in the attached information together with the longitude and latitude information to the information service server.
[0024]
The file editing processing unit in the digital camera of the present invention includes one that automatically starts processing after the photographing is completed.
[0025]
The digital camera of the present invention is a digital camera that records captured image data and attached information in units of image files, a file creation processing unit that records the captured image data and the attached information, and outputs date and time information A timing unit that detects the longitude and latitude information of the location of the digital camera, and an identification information storage unit that stores service information identification information that identifies the type of service information to be additionally stored as the attached information The file creation processing unit includes shooting date and time information obtained from the timing unit and the position detection unit, longitude and latitude information of the shooting point, and service information identification information obtained from the identification information storage unit. It is recorded by being included in the attached information.
[0026]
In the digital camera of the present invention, the identification information storage unit stores a plurality of service information identification information, and the file creation processing unit uses the service information identification information selected by an external instruction as the attached information. Including what is recorded.
[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image file editing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system in FIG. 1 includes information service servers 1a and 1b connected to a network 3 such as the Internet and an image file editing device 4. The information service server 1a is connected to the databases 2a and 2b, and the information service server 1b is connected to the database 2c. A memory card 5 can be attached to the image file editing apparatus 4.
[0028]
The information service servers 1a and 1b can access the databases 2a, 2b, and 2c, respectively, and transmit service information based on information transmitted from the image file editing apparatus 4 to the image file editing apparatus 4. The databases 2a to 2c record various service information in association with at least longitude and latitude information (meaning position information represented by longitude and latitude). Although two information service servers 1a and 1b are shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is not limited to this, and one or more information service servers may be provided. Further, although the databases 2a to 2c are shown as different from the information service servers 1a and 1b, the databases 2a to 2c may be provided in the information service servers 1a and 1b, and the number thereof is also arbitrary.
[0029]
The service information stored in the databases 2a to 2c and searched by the information service servers 1a and 1b is information specified by at least longitude and latitude information such as weather information, sightseeing spot information, and railway information. Weather information such as temperature, humidity, wind direction, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure is recorded for each observation point and each observation date and time specified by the longitude and latitude information. The tourist spot information is stored in association with the longitude and latitude information and the tourist spot name. Since all the longitude and latitude information is not necessarily a tourist spot, in that case, it is preferable to simply store administrative division information such as a municipality name. In the sightseeing spot information, various events of the sightseeing spot may be additionally stored together with corresponding date and time information. The railroad information is stored in association with longitude and latitude information, railway line names, station names, and the like. In addition, date information and train names may be stored. Correspondence between the longitude / latitude information and date / time information and the train name can be obtained from the train timetable.
[0030]
For these service information, one type of information may be stored in one database, or a plurality of types of information may be stored. One database may be accessible from only one information service server, or may be accessible from a plurality of information service servers. When one information service server can access a plurality of databases, and when the database to be accessed stores a plurality of types of service information, the type of service information transmitted from the image file editing device 4 is changed. The type of database or service information is selected according to the information for specifying.
[0031]
The image file editing apparatus 4 receives an image file including image data and attached information (image attached information) corresponding to the image data via the memory card 5 and edits the attached information. The attached information includes information on the configuration and characteristics of the image data, information on the imaging conditions, information on the manufacturer of the imaging device, information on the model, date of shooting, etc., and longitude and latitude information of the imaging point of the image data. The image file editing device 4 can be connected to the information service servers 1a and 1b via the network 3, and transmits at least longitude and latitude information included in the attached information to the information service servers 1a and 1b. Receive service information from. Then, the received service information is added to the attached information of the image file.
[0032]
When a plurality of information service servers are provided, the image file editing device 4 selects an information service server to be connected according to service information to be added to the attached information. The information service server may be selected by the user instructing the image file editing apparatus, or service information identification information that specifies the type of service information recorded in advance in the attached information of the input image file is used. You may do it. When the information service server provides a plurality of types of service information, the instruction content by the user or the service information identification information is also transmitted to the information service server.
[0033]
Specifically, the image file editing device 4 is realized by a personal computer having a known configuration including an operation unit, a display unit, an input / output unit, a communication unit, an arithmetic processing unit, an operation unit, and the like (all not shown). Then, an image file editing program for performing the editing process described above is installed.
[0034]
FIG. 2 shows an example of an image file input to the image file editing device 4. In addition to main image data and thumbnail image data, an image file includes image attached information in a tag format. As image attached information, information such as shooting date, shooting mode, white balance, and longitude and latitude information are included. It is recorded. When adding weather information to this image file, it connects to an information service server that provides weather information, sends longitude and latitude information and shooting date, receives the corresponding weather information, and adds it to the image attachment information. FIG. 3 shows an example of image attached information to which weather information is added.
[0035]
Next, a digital camera that creates an editable image file using the image file editing system of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of such a digital camera.
[0036]
The digital camera 100 of FIG. 4 obtains a digital photographed image signal by the imaging unit 11, the signal processing unit 12, and the A / D conversion unit 13. In addition, the flash control unit 14 can cause the flash 15 to emit light and perform flash photography. The digital photographed image signal is subjected to compression processing by the compression / expansion unit 16 and is recorded on the memory card 19 inserted in the memory card slot 18 via the card interface 17. Recording on the memory card 19 is performed in units of image files including compressed image data and attached information.
[0037]
When displaying an image based on the image data recorded on the memory card 19, the image data read from the memory card 19 is expanded by the compression / decompression unit 16 and written to the frame memory 21. The LCD (liquid crystal display) control unit 22 causes the LCD 23 to display an image corresponding to the data in the frame memory 21. The LCD 23 can display not only an image based on the image data of the memory card 19 but also an image based on a digital imaging signal obtained from the A / D conversion unit 13. It is also used for displaying various states of the digital camera 100, displaying an operation menu, and the like.
[0038]
The input / output interface 31 is connected to the switch / LED 32 and inputs status signals of various operation switches of the digital camera 100 and outputs signals to the status display LEDs of the digital camera 100. The GPS module 33 receives radio waves from GPS satellites via the GPS antenna 34 and obtains longitude and latitude information.
[0039]
The control unit 41 controls the entire operation of the digital camera 100, and is configured mainly by a processor that operates according to a predetermined program. The control unit 41 not only controls the shooting operation, the image recording operation, and the image display operation, but also performs recording management of the image attached information. The system memory 42 and the non-volatile memory 43 store data and programs used for various processes in the digital camera 100, and are used as work memories. The timer 44 and the clock 45 include shooting timings. This is used for control of image recording, recording management of image attached information, and the like. The system bus 50 transfers data between the elements of the digital camera 100.
[0040]
The photographing operation, normal image data recording operation, and image display operation of the digital camera 100 having the above elements are basically the same as those of the conventional one, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
[0041]
The digital camera 100 has not only a normal shooting recording mode but also a shooting point information recording mode for recording the longitude and latitude information of the shooting point in association with the shot image data. The shooting point information recording mode is set by operating the corresponding switch. In the shooting point information recording mode, the GPS module 33 is activated, and longitude and latitude information detected at the time of shooting is recorded as image attached information as shown in the example of FIG.
[0042]
In addition, when the above-described service information identification information can be recorded in the shooting point information recording mode, the service information identification information stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory 43 is recorded as image attached information. When a plurality of pieces of service information identification information are stored in the nonvolatile memory 43, they are selected by operating the operation switch.
[0043]
The image file obtained in this way is recorded on the memory card 19, and the memory card 19 is used for inputting the image file as the memory card 5 in the system of FIG.
[0044]
Next, the operation of the image file editing system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the schematic flowchart of FIG. When the personal computer constituting the image file editing device 4 is activated and the memory card 5 storing the image file is inserted into the input / output unit (not shown) (step 101), the image file installed in the personal computer is edited. The program is started (step 102).
[0045]
Next, an image file editing operation is started by the started image file editing program, and connection processing to the information service server is performed in step 103. FIG. 6 shows a schematic flow of connection processing to the information service server.
[0046]
In step 201, it is determined whether the attached information of the input image file includes service information identification information. When the service information identification information is included, connection processing to the information service server corresponding to the information is performed (step 202). When the service information identification information is not included, from the operation unit (not shown) of the image file editing device 4, the connection destination It is determined whether or not information has been input (step 203). The connection destination information is preferably input by selecting the information service server to be connected or the type of service information displayed on the menu by the image file editing apparatus 4.
[0047]
When the connection destination information is input, connection processing to the corresponding information service server is performed in step 204. When connection destination information is not input, connection processing to a predetermined information service server (default server) is performed. Perform (step 205).
[0048]
Returning to FIG. 5, when the connection processing to the information service server in step 103 is completed, information necessary for receiving provision of service information including longitude and latitude information is transmitted in step 104. The information to be transmitted differs depending on the type of service information to be provided and the connected information service server. When the service information to be provided is weather information, it is necessary to transmit date and time information together with longitude and latitude information. In the case of sightseeing spot information and railroad information, when receiving only the sightseeing spot name, railway line, and station name, send only the longitude and latitude information, and when receiving the event name and train name, also send the date and time information. To do. When the connected information service server is a server that provides a plurality of service information, the service information identification information or the type of service information specified by the operation unit (not shown) of the image file editing device 4 is specified. Information is also sent.
[0049]
Next, service information is received from the information service server connected in step 105, the service information received in step 106 is additionally recorded in the attached information, and the image file editing process is terminated. The edited image file may update the image file in the attached memory card, or another image file on another recording medium (including a memory in a personal computer constituting the image file editing apparatus). May be recorded as
[0050]
The image file editing apparatus 4 in FIG. 1 inputs an image file by connecting a memory card 5 to an input / output unit (not shown), but various methods can be used for inputting the image file. For example, the digital camera may be directly connected by wired communication or wireless communication, or may be transferred from another computer (not shown) via the network 3.
[0051]
The image file editing device 4 is not necessarily a personal computer, and any information processing device can be used as long as it can input or store an image file and can be connected to a network such as the Internet. May be. For example, the digital camera itself can be used as an image file editing device.
[0052]
When the digital camera itself is used as an image file editing device, the digital camera 100 having the configuration shown in FIG. 4 is further provided with a communication unit for connecting to a network. The method for connecting to the network is arbitrary, but wireless communication is preferable. In that case, wireless communication means for connecting to the network may be provided in the digital camera itself, or may be connected to the network by wireless or wired connection with a mobile phone or the like.
[0053]
The digital camera used as an image file editing device has an attached information editing mode, and the control unit 42 transmits at least longitude and latitude information of the attached information to the information service server and receives service information received from the information service server. Is also recorded as additional information. The process for connecting to the information service server, the process for obtaining and recording the service information is the same as the process performed by the image file editing apparatus 4 in FIG.
[0054]
When the image file editing process is performed by the digital camera, the attached information editing process may be started by operating the operation unit switch, or may be automatically started when the attached information editing mode is set. In the case of performing automatically, the captured image information is recorded on the memory card 19 and then automatically connected to the information information service server when the digital camera is idle.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily edit the attached information included in the image file.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image file editing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image file to be edited. FIG. 3 is an example of attached information to which weather information is added. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a digital camera. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic operation flow of the image file editing system in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic flow of a connection process to an information service server. [Explanation of symbols]
1a, 1b ... information service servers 2a, 2b, 2c ... database 3 ... network 4 ... image file editing device 5 ... memory card 100 ... digital camera 11 ... imaging unit 12 ... Signal processing unit 13 ... A / D conversion unit 14 ... Strobe control unit 15 ... Strobe 16 ... Compression / decompression unit 17 ... Card interface 18 ... Memory card slot 19 ... Memory card 21 ... Frame memory 22 ... LCD control unit 23 ... LCD
31 ... I / O interface 32 ... Switch / LED
33 ... GPS module 34 ... GPS antenna 41 ... control unit 42 ... system memory 43 ... nonvolatile memory 44 ... timer 45 ... clock 50 ... system bus

Claims (10)

An image file editing system for editing an image file including image data and attached information,
An information service server connected to the network;
An image file editing device connectable to the information service server via the network;
The attached information includes longitude and latitude information of the photographing point of the image data, and service information identification information that specifies a type of service information to be provided from the information service server,
The image file editing apparatus transmits the longitude / latitude information in the attached information of the image file to be edited to a specific information service server corresponding to the service information identification information, and receives the service received from the information service server Information is added to the attached information,
The information service server is accessible to a database storing one or more types of service information corresponding to longitude and latitude information, and the service information retrieved from the database based on the received longitude and latitude information, An image file editing system to be transmitted to the editing device. The image file editing system according to claim 1,
The attached information includes date and time information at the time of shooting the image data,
The image file editing device transmits the date and time information included in the attached information together with the longitude and latitude information to the information service server,
The information service server can access a database storing one or more types of service information corresponding to date / time information and longitude / latitude information, and retrieves from the database based on the received longitude / latitude information and date / time information An image file editing system for transmitting the service information to the editing device. An image file editing apparatus for editing an image file including image data and attached information,
An input unit for inputting the image file;
An editing processing unit for editing the image file input via the input unit;
A communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from the information service server via a network;
The input information of the input image file includes the longitude and latitude information of the shooting point of the image data, and service information identification information that specifies the type of service information to be provided from the information service server,
The edit processing unit transmits the longitude and latitude information in the attached information to a specific information service server corresponding to the service information identification information via the communication unit, and the communication unit is sent from the information service server. An image file editing apparatus for adding service information received via the service information to the attached information. The image file editing device according to claim 3,
The attached information includes date and time information at the time of shooting the image data,
The image processing device is an image file editing device for transmitting the date and time information included in the attached information together with the longitude and latitude information to the information service server.   An image file editing program for realizing the image file editing apparatus according to claim 3 by a computer. A digital camera that records captured image data in association with attached information,
A file creation processing unit for recording the captured image data and the attached information;
A file editing processing unit for editing the created attached information;
A position detection unit for detecting longitude and latitude information of the location of the digital camera;
A communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from the information service server via a network;
The file creation processing unit includes service information identification information for specifying a type of service information to be provided from the information service server based on longitude and latitude information of the photographing point obtained from the position detection unit and an instruction from the outside. , Recorded in the attached information,
The file editing processing unit transmits the longitude / latitude information in the attached information to a specific information service server corresponding to the service information identification information via the communication unit, and the communication unit transmits information from the information service server to the communication unit. A digital camera that records service information received via the network as the attached information. The digital camera according to claim 6,
It has a timer that outputs date and time information,
The file creation processing section records the date and time information at the time of shooting obtained from the timekeeping section, included in the attached information,
The file editing processing unit transmits the date and time information included in the attached information together with the longitude and latitude information to the information service server. The digital camera according to claim 6 or 7,
The file editing processing unit is a digital camera that automatically starts processing after photographing. A digital camera that records captured image data and attached information in units of image files,
A file creation processing unit for recording the captured image data and the attached information;
A timekeeping unit that outputs date and time information;
A position detection unit for detecting longitude and latitude information of the location of the digital camera;
An identification information storage unit for storing service information identification information for specifying the type of service information to be additionally stored as the auxiliary information,
The file creation processing unit includes the date and time information at the time of photographing obtained from the time measuring unit and the position detecting unit, longitude and latitude information of the photographing point, and service information identification information obtained from the identification information storage unit in the attached information. A digital camera that includes and records. The digital camera according to claim 9,
The identification information storage unit stores a plurality of service information identification information,
The file creation processing unit is a digital camera that records service information identification information selected by an instruction from the outside, included in the attached information.

Images