JP5633113B2 - Imaging apparatus, recording control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, a recording control method, and a program particularly suitable for a digital camera.

  In almost all digital cameras sold in the market, image data acquired by shooting is recorded on a memory card, which is a recording medium, in units of images in a file format in accordance with the Exif (Exchangeable image file format) standard. At this time, in addition to thumbnail images, various shooting data such as shooting date / time, shutter speed, aperture, etc. are added and recorded as attribute information in the image data.

  In recent years, with the dramatic improvement in the number of pixels of the image sensor and the multi-functionality of digital cameras, the size of the main image data to be recorded has become very large, and the Exif information added to the image data has also become complicated. ing.

  A technique is also conceivable in which this kind of digital camera can efficiently perform processing such as sorting and searching of captured images stored in a recording medium. (For example, Patent Document 1)

JP 2007-116428 A

  When a general digital camera user publishes captured image data on the Internet, the Exif information is also used to avoid inadvertently searching for privacy from the Exif information added to the image data. It is necessary to delete unnecessary items as much as possible.

  However, the Exif information is added for each image unit as described above, including the technique described in the above-mentioned patent document. Therefore, an operation for deleting unnecessary items from the Exif information must be performed for each image unit, which is very complicated.

  In addition, if an item in Exif information that was originally necessary is deleted, it may not be possible to restore it.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus, a recording control method, and a program capable of easily editing attribute information added to a captured image. There is to do.

An imaging apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an image, a recording unit that records a plurality of pieces of image data to which attribute information related to shooting is individually added, and attribute information related to shooting of a plurality of image data. Management storage means for centrally storing and managing, and classification information for classifying a plurality of items in the attribute information related to shooting into a first item and a second item, which are different for shooting and editing The setting means for setting the classification information in advance, and when the new image data is shot by the imaging means, the plurality of pieces of information acquired at the time of shooting according to the classification information set for shooting by the setting means in advance. Of the item attribute information, the attribute information corresponding to the first item is added to the image data and recorded in the recording means, and the attribute information corresponding to the second item is added to the image data. Performs storage processing of storing in said management storage means without adding to, when the image editing is instructed, in accordance with the classification information set in advance for editing by the setting means, attributes the management storage means for storing And control means for controlling to perform editing processing for editing attribute information added to individual image data recorded in the recording means using the information.

In the invention described in claim 2, the control means further comprises the management unit according to the classification information set for editing by the setting means when the image editing is instructed together with selection of image data to be edited. using the attribute information storage means for storing, you characterized by editing the attribute information added to the image data the selected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the setting means sets the classification information by arbitrarily selecting the first item and the second item from a plurality of items in the attribute information related to photographing. It is characterized by doing.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means further uses the attribute information added to the individual image data recorded in the recording means according to the classification information set for editing by the setting means, The attribute information stored in the management storage means is edited.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the setting means stores a plurality of classification information in which the combination of the first item and the second item is different in association with each of a plurality of selectable modes. When any one of the plurality of modes is selected, classification information corresponding to the selected mode is set.

The invention according to claim 6 further stores a plurality of pieces of classification information associated with each of the plurality of modes so that the number of items of the first item and the second item is different in stages. Has been
The image processing apparatus further comprises mode selection means for selecting the mode according to the disclosure target of the image data recorded in the recording means.

The invention according to claim 7 further comprises image designating means for designating a plurality of image data to be recorded by the recording means, wherein the control means is an attribute added to the plurality of image data designated by the image designating means. It is characterized by automatically editing information at once.

In the invention according to claim 8 , the control means further reads attribute information of items not added to the image data to be recorded in the recording means from the attribute information stored in the management storage means, and the recording means The attribute information added to each image data recorded in the file is automatically edited.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the control means has no item specified in the attribute information added to the image data recorded in the recording means in accordance with the classification information set for editing by the setting means. In this case, the corresponding item is read out from the attribute information stored in the management storage means and additionally recorded. On the other hand, if there is an unspecified item in the attribute information added to the image data recorded in the recording means, the item is selected. It is moved to attribute information stored in the management storage means.

The invention according to claim 10 is characterized in that the management storage means records the image data in a medium for recording image data by the recording means.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording control method comprising: an imaging unit that captures an image; a recording unit that records a plurality of image data to which attribute information relating to imaging is individually added; A recording control method in an imaging apparatus including a management storage unit that centrally stores and manages a plurality of items in attribute information related to shooting is classified into a first item and a second item Setting information that sets classification information that is different for shooting and editing, and when new image data is shot by the imaging unit , it is set for shooting by the setting process in advance. According to the classification information, the attribute information corresponding to the first item among the attribute information of the plurality of items acquired at the time of photographing is added to the image data and recorded in the recording unit. The attribute information corresponding to the item performs storage processing of storing in the management storage unit without adding to the image data, when the image editing is instructed, the classification information set in advance for editing by the setting processing And a control process for controlling to perform an editing process for editing the attribute information added to the individual image data recorded in the recording unit using the attribute information stored in the management storage unit. Features.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program that unifies an image capturing unit that captures an image, a recording unit that records a plurality of pieces of image data to which attribute information related to capturing is individually added, and attribute information related to capturing a plurality of pieces of image data. A program executed by a computer built in an imaging apparatus including a management storage unit that stores and manages the computer, the computer includes a plurality of items in attribute information relating to shooting, a first item, and a second item Classification information to be classified into items, and setting means for presetting different classification information for shooting and for editing, and when the new image data is shot by the imaging unit, shooting is performed in advance by the setting means. In accordance with the classification information set for use, attribute information corresponding to the first item among the attribute information of the plurality of items acquired at the time of shooting is attached to the image data. And thereby recorded in the recording unit, the attribute information corresponding to the second item performs storage processing of storing in the management storage unit without adding to the image data, when the image editing is instructed Editing to edit attribute information added to individual image data recorded in the recording unit using attribute information stored in the management storage unit according to the classification information set for editing in advance by the setting unit It is characterized by functioning as storage control means for controlling to perform processing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily edit attribute information to be added to a photographed image by managing the attribute information separately from the image.

1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an electronic circuit of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 9 is a flowchart showing processing contents mainly related to Exif information in the shooting mode according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing contents during Exif information editing processing according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating item names according to some Exif recording modes according to the embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the title number of Exif data recorded on the Exif information management table concerning the embodiment, and the path | pass of this image data which is link information corresponding to it.

  An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration of a digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment. In the figure, a light image of a subject is formed on the imaging surface of a CCD 12 that is a solid-state imaging device by an optical lens unit 11 disposed on the front surface of the camera casing.

  In the monitor state, also referred to as through image display or live view image display, the image signal obtained by imaging with the CCD 12 is sent to the image processing unit 13 to execute correlation square sampling, automatic gain adjustment, and A / D conversion processing. And digitize. The image processing unit 13 further performs color process processing including pixel interpolation processing and γ correction processing on the digital image data, and then temporarily stores the digital data in the image buffer 14 via the system bus SB.

  The image data held in the image buffer 14 is read out to the image processing unit 13 via the system bus SB, the image size is greatly reduced, and then sent again to the display unit 15 via the system bus SB to be displayed as a through image. .

  Similarly to the optical lens unit 11, a microphone 16 having an acoustic directivity substantially equal to the shooting angle of view of the optical lens unit 11 is disposed on the front surface of the camera housing, and audio in the subject direction is input. The microphone 16 converts the input sound into an electrical signal and outputs it to the sound processing unit 17.

  The voice processing unit 17 converts the voice signal input from the microphone 16 into digital data at the time of voice recording, and compresses the data in a predetermined data file format, for example, AAC (moving picture experts group-4 Advanced Audio Coding) format. Is sent to a recording medium to be described later.

  In addition, the sound processing unit 17 includes a sound source circuit such as a PCM sound source, and uncompresses and converts the sound data file sent during sound reproduction into an analog signal, and drives a speaker 18 provided on the back side of the digital camera 10. Then, a loud sound is emitted.

  The control unit 19 performs overall control of the above circuit. The control unit 19 is composed of a CPU, and is directly connected to the main memory 20 and the program memory 21. The main memory 20 is composed of SDRAM (synchronous DRAM) and functions as a work memory. The program memory 21 is composed of an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory, and fixedly stores an operation program including various controls at the time of an imaging mode and an Exif information return process, which will be described later, and various data.

  The control unit 19 reads necessary programs, data, and the like from the program memory 21 and executes the control operation of the entire digital camera 10 while being temporarily expanded and stored in the main memory 20.

  Further, the control unit 19 executes various control operations in response to key operation signals directly input from the key input unit 22. In addition to the image processing unit 13, the image buffer 14, and the display unit 15, the control unit 19 further includes a lens driving unit 23, a flash driving unit 24, a CCD driving unit 25, a compression / decompression processing unit 26, and a memory. A card controller 27, a USB interface (I / F) 28, and a GPS receiver 34 are also connected.

  The key input unit 22 includes, for example, a power key, shutter key, zoom key, shooting mode key, playback mode key, menu key, cursor (“↑” “→” “↓” “←”) key, set key, scene program key, and the like. Is provided.

  The lens driving unit 23 receives the control signal from the control unit 19 and controls the rotation of the lens stepping motor (M) 29 to specifically control a part of the plurality of lenses constituting the optical lens unit 11. Moves the position of the focus lens and the zoom lens individually along the optical axis direction.

  The flash drive unit 24 receives a control signal from the control unit 19 during still image shooting, and drives the flash unit 30 including a plurality of white high-intensity LEDs to be lit in synchronization with the shooting timing.

  The CCD drive unit 25 drives the CCD 12 according to the shooting conditions set at that time.

  The compression / decompression processing unit 26 converts the image data held in the image buffer 14 into a predetermined data file format, for example, DCT if it is a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) at the time of shooting an image accompanying the shutter key operation of the key input unit 22. Data compression processing such as (discrete cosine transform) and Huffman coding is performed to create an image data file with a greatly reduced data amount. The created image data file is recorded on the memory card 31 via the system bus SB and the memory card controller 27.

The compression / decompression processing unit 26 receives the image data read from the memory card 31 via the memory card controller 27 in the reproduction mode via the system bus SB, and decompresses the decompression process in the reverse order of the recording process. Thus, the original size image data is obtained and held in the image buffer 14 via the system bus SB. Then, display for reproduction is executed on the display unit 15 by the image data held in the image buffer 14.
The memory card controller 27 is connected to the memory card 31 via the card connector 32. The memory card 31 is detachably attached to the digital camera 10 and is a recording memory such as image data serving as a recording medium of the digital camera 10 and an Exif information management table 31a to be described later. A flash memory, which is an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory, and a controller circuit thereof are provided.

  A USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface 28 controls transmission / reception of data when the digital camera 10 is connected to an external device such as a personal computer via the USB connector 33.

  A GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 34 receives incoming radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites (not shown) by a GPS antenna 35, and analyzes the received signals to obtain latitude information and longitude information of the current position. And altitude information and the current time are acquired.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
The following operations are executed after the control unit 19 reads out the operation programs and data stored in the program memory 21 and expands and stores them in the main memory 20 during the shooting mode and the Exif information editing process. To do.

  For example, when the digital camera 10 is upgraded, the operation program stored in the program memory 21 is stored in the program memory 21 when the digital camera 10 is shipped from the factory. And a new operation program, data, etc. downloaded from the outside via the USB connector 33 and the USB interface 28 and stored.

  FIG. 2 shows processing contents including operations of Exif information in the still image shooting mode. Initially, it is determined whether or not an operation to change the Exif recording mode is designated (step S101).

  This is because “Exif recording mode change” is selected by a cursor key and set key operation from among a plurality of items displayed on the display unit 15 in accordance with a predetermined key operation on the key input unit 22, for example, a menu key operation. Judgment is made based on whether or not specified.

  When it is determined that “Exif recording mode change” is designated, a plurality of Exif recording mode names prepared in advance, which differ depending on the degree of Exif information disclosure, and a guide message for prompting selection of any of them are displayed on the display unit. When the display operation is performed and the selection operation is performed, the Exif recording mode is changed, and the item of Exif information to be added to the image data obtained by photographing is determined according to the recording mode (step S102).

  Exif information items include, for example, “shooting date / time”, “shooting location (GPS information)”, “weather at the time of shooting”, “shooting device manufacturer name”, “shooting device model name”, “photographer name (registered user name)”, “image”. "Total resolution (number of pixels)" "Resolution per unit in vertical and horizontal directions" "Compression mode" "Shooting direction" "Shutter speed" "Aperture (F) value" "ISO sensitivity" "Photometry mode" "Presence of flash" “Exposure correction step value”, “exposure correction step value”, “focal length”, “color space (color space)”, and “thumbnail” can be set.

  FIG. 4 exemplifies item names according to several Exif recording modes. Here, it is assumed that a plurality of items are specified for each Exif recording mode by setting a corresponding number with each item as a tag.

  FIG. 4A shows Exif storage tag items for the “Web Up Mode” in which the degree of disclosure is relatively high, and thus the number of items of Exif information added to image data is kept low. Here, Exif information includes a total of three items: “number of pixels” with tag number “1”, “compression mode” with tag number “2”, and “aperture value” with tag number “5”.

  FIG. 4B shows an Exif storage tag item for “friend mode” that has a moderate degree of disclosure and has a certain number of items of Exif information added to image data. Here, “number of pixels” of tag number “1”, “compression mode” of tag number “2”, “shooting date / time” of tag number “3”, “aperture value” of tag number “5”, and tag number A total of five items of “thumbnail” of “6” are defined as Exif information.

  FIG. 4C shows Exif storage tag items for “family mode” that do not presuppose disclosure and do not suppress the number of items of Exif information added to image data. Here, “number of pixels” of tag number “1”, “compression mode” of tag number “2”, “shooting date / time” of tag number “3”, “photographing device model name” of tag number “4”, tag A total of seven items of “aperture value” of the number “5”, “thumbnail” of the tag number “6”, and “GPS position information” of the tag number “7” are Exif information.

  Regardless of the presence or absence of the processing in step S102, the shooting environment information is acquired as a scheduled update thereafter (step S103). As specific photographing environment information, for example, date, weather, GPS information, photographer information, photographing equipment model name, and the like are conceivable.

  Subsequently, the imaging parameter is acquired as a regular update (step S104). Specific imaging parameters include, for example, the number of pixels, compression mode, shutter speed, aperture value, white balance (WB) value, ISO sensitivity, and the like.

  Next, it is determined whether or not an instruction to shoot a still image has been given based on whether or not the shutter key of the key input unit 22 has been pressed (step S105). If the shutter key is not operated, the process returns to step S101.

  By repeatedly executing the processing of steps S101 and S103 to S105 in this manner, the Exif recording mode changing operation is performed or image shooting is instructed while the shooting environment information and shooting parameters are regularly updated. To do.

  When an instruction for shooting a still image is issued by operating the shutter key, it is determined in step S105, and shooting is immediately executed according to the shooting conditions set at that time, image data is acquired, and compression / decompression is performed. The data is compressed by the processing unit 26 and then stored in the image buffer 14 (step S106).

  Thumbnail image data is created from the image data held in the image buffer 14 (step S107).

  Then, according to the Exif recording mode selected at that time, the Exif information is added to the captured image data held in the image buffer 14 and recorded in the memory card 31 (step S108).

  In addition, according to the selected Exif recording mode, the Exif information consisting of the remaining items not recorded with the image data is collected and recorded in the Exif information management table 31a of the memory card 31 together with the link information of the recorded image data. (Step S109).

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the title number of Exif data recorded in the Exif information management table 31a of the memory card 31 and the path of the main image data which is link information corresponding to the title number. The title number of Exif data and the main image data path are recorded in the Exif information management table 31 a by the number of image data recorded in the memory card 31.

For example, the main image data path shown in the figure
"MCSD0001 \ DCIM \ 100ABC \ CIMG0001.JPG"
“MCSD0001” is an identification name of the memory card 31, “DCIM” and “100ABC” are hierarchical data folders automatically created in accordance with the Exif standard, and “CIMG0001” is a main image recorded on the memory card 31. A data name indicating the data itself, “.JPG”, indicates that the data file is still image data conforming to the JPEG standard.

  When recording in the Exif information management table 31a is completed, it is then determined whether or not a key operation for ending the shooting mode, that is, a power-off instruction by operating the power key, or a playback mode key operation has been performed (step S110). ).

  If the key operation is not performed and the shooting mode is not terminated, the process returns to step S101.

  If it is determined in step S110 that the key operation for ending the shooting mode has been performed, the processing in FIG.

  In the processing of steps S108 and S109, the items recorded together with the image data are not recorded in the Exif information management table 31a. As a result, the amount of data recorded in the Exif information management table 31a can be reduced. This is particularly effective when the Exif information management table 31a is provided in the memory in the camera body.

  On the other hand, all items including the items added to the image data and recorded may be recorded in the Exif information management table 31a. In this way, even if the Exif information of the image data is deleted by mistake, any Exif information can be restored at any time using the Exif information recorded in the Exif information management table 31a. It becomes possible to do.

  Next, regardless of the shooting mode or the playback mode, Exif information added to image data recorded on the memory card 31 with the digital camera 10 powered on, or Exif information management of the memory card 31 The contents of the editing process operation of the Exif information recorded in the table 31a are shown. The above process is executed by operating the menu key of the key input unit 22 in the shooting mode or the playback mode and designating “Exif information editing” in the menu item displayed as a list.

  At the beginning of the process, one or more images to be edited are selected (step S201). For example, in a state where thumbnail images of all image data stored in the memory card 31 are displayed as a list on the display unit 15, any image data can be edited by operating the cursor key and set key of the key input unit 22. select.

  Thereafter, the Exif recording mode is selected to select the item of Exif information to be added to the selected image data (step S202).

  Next, one piece of image data not yet edited is selected from the image data to be edited selected in step S201 (step S203).

  For the selected image data, the type of the item constituting the added Exif information is compared with the type of the item constituting the Exif recording mode selected in step S202 (step S204).

  As a result of this comparison, it is determined whether or not there is an item type in the Exif information added to the image data that is not in the selected Exif recording mode (step S205).

  Only when it is determined that this is the case, the contents of the corresponding item are read out from the Exif information added to the image data, moved to the Exif information corresponding to the corresponding image data in the Exif information management table 31a, and recorded. Setting is made (step S206).

  At this time, even if the content of the type of the corresponding item is deleted from the Exif information added to the read-out image data and this image data is released later, the item in the corresponding Exif information Prevent it from being published.

  After that, as a result of the comparison in step S204, it is determined whether or not there is an item type that exists in the selected Exif recording mode but not in the Exif information added to the image data (step S207).

  At this time, if it is determined that there is an item type that exists in the selected Exif recording mode but not in the Exif information added to the image data, the content of the Exif information added to the image data is insufficient. Therefore, the contents of the corresponding item are read out from the Exif information corresponding to the corresponding image data in the Exif information management table 31a, copied to the Exif information added to the image data, and set for recording (step). S208).

  In this case, since the contents of the corresponding item type are not deleted from the Exif information recorded in the read-out Exif information management table 31a, the contents of that item are added to the image data. It exists in both the information and the corresponding Exif information in the Exif information management table 31a.

  As described above, it is assumed that the processing for one of the image data to be edited is finished, and it is determined whether there is at least one image data that has not been edited yet (step S209).

If it is determined that there is still unedited image data, the process returns to step S203.
In this way, the processes of steps S203 to S209 are repeatedly executed for the number of selected image data.
If it is determined that there is no more unedited image data, the editing process in FIG.

  As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, Exif information as attribute information added to image data obtained by photographing can be easily edited.

  In particular, in the above-described embodiment, the Exif information item, which is attribute information to be added to the image data, is arbitrarily designated in advance, so that the Exif information of the item designated at the time of shooting is added to the image data and is a recording medium. Since the Exif information of items other than the designated item is recorded in the Exif information management table 31a while being recorded on the card 31, only arbitrary Exif information can be added when the image data is acquired. .

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, by selecting one of a plurality of modes having different combinations of items constituting Exif information, which is attribute information added to image data, editing is performed without having to select individual items. Therefore, the effort required by the user can be greatly simplified.

  In particular, in the above-mentioned plurality of modes, the number of items constituting the attribute information is set in stages, and the Exif information can be edited sequentially by selecting the mode according to the disclosure target of the recorded image data. Therefore, the user only has to select the mode in consideration of the disclosure target, and the contents of the Exif information not intended by the user can be surely avoided.

  In the above embodiment, the Exif information of the item specified at the time of image capturing is added to the image data and recorded on the memory card 31 as a recording medium, while the Exif information of items other than the specified item is stored in the Exif information management table. Since the image data is recorded in 31a, it is possible to immediately add only arbitrary Exif information to the image data when the image data is acquired.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the image data recorded on the memory card 31 as the recording medium is designated at an arbitrary timing after the image is captured, and the Exif information as the corresponding attribute information is added at any time, as appropriate. Since attribute information is also stored in the Exif information management table 31a, the degree of freedom in editing can be improved, and it becomes possible to deal with unintentional disclosure of image data at the time of shooting.

  In addition, in the above embodiment, since a plurality of pieces of image data to be recorded on the memory card 31 as a recording medium are specified, the editing process of Exif information as attribute information to be added is collectively processed. Usability can be improved by greatly simplifying troublesome work.

  Although not described in the above embodiment, the item of Exif information as attribute information added to the image data recorded on the memory card 31 that is a recording medium may be arbitrarily specified individually.

  In such a case, inadvertently accompanying the release of the image data, by appropriately selecting only the items that are considered necessary by users who are proficient in handling image data and adding them to the image data as Exif information. Information leakage can be reliably prevented.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, since the Exif information management table 31a is provided in the memory card 31 for recording image data, the management table is recorded together in the medium for recording the image data to be managed. Thus, for example, when the memory card 31 is attached to another digital camera having the same function, the digital camera can immediately edit the Exif information.

  Unlike the case described in the above embodiment, the Exif information management table 31a may be provided in a different location from the memory card 31 as a recording medium for recording image data, for example, in the program memory 21. By doing this, even if a part of the image data in the memory card 31 is moved to another memory card, the Exif information management table 31a stored in the camera body allows the Exif of a plurality of memory cards. Information can be managed uniformly.

  The above embodiment describes the case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other electronic devices that capture and record images and add various attribute information to images, For example, the present invention can be similarly applied to a mobile phone terminal having a camera function, a personal computer provided with a mobile camera, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, the functions executed in the above-described embodiments may be combined as appropriate as possible. The above-described embodiment includes various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by an appropriate combination of a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, if the effect is obtained, a configuration from which the constituent requirements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera, 11 ... Optical lens unit, 12 ... CCD, 13 ... Image processing part, 14 ... Image buffer, 15 ... Display part, 16 ... Microphone, 17 ... Sound processing part, 18 ... Speaker, 19 ... Control part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Main memory, 21 ... Program memory, 22 ... Key input part, 23 ... Lens drive part, 24 ... Flash drive part, 25 ... CCD drive part, 26 ... Compression / decompression process part, 27 ... Memory card controller, 28 ... USB Interface (I / F), 29 ... Lens stepping motor (M), 30 ... Flash unit, 31 ... Memory card, 31a ... Exif information management table, 32 ... Card connector, 33 ... USB connector, 34 ... GPS receiver, 35 ... GPS antenna, SB ... System bus.

Claims (12)

Imaging means for taking an image;
Recording means for recording a plurality of image data to which attribute information relating to shooting is individually added;
Management storage means for centrally storing and managing attribute information related to photographing of a plurality of image data;
Setting information for classifying a plurality of items in the attribute information related to shooting into a first item and a second item and setting different classification information for shooting and editing;
When new image data is captured by the imaging unit, the first information among the attribute information of the plurality of items acquired at the time of capturing according to the classification information set in advance for capturing by the setting unit. The attribute information corresponding to the item is added to the image data and recorded in the recording means, and the attribute information corresponding to the second item is stored in the management storage means without being added to the image data When processing is performed and image editing is instructed, each attribute recorded in the recording unit is recorded using the attribute information stored in the management storage unit in accordance with the classification information set in advance by the setting unit for editing. An image pickup apparatus comprising: control means for performing control so as to perform editing processing for editing attribute information added to image data.   The control means uses the attribute information stored in the management storage means according to the classification information set for editing by the setting means when the image editing is instructed together with the selection of the image data to be edited. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information added to the selected image data is edited.   The setting means sets the classification information by arbitrarily selecting the first item and the second item from a plurality of items in the attribute information related to photographing. 2. The imaging device according to 2.   The control means uses the attribute information added to the individual image data recorded in the recording means in accordance with the classification information set for editing by the setting means, and uses the attribute information stored in the management storage means to The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein editing is performed.   The setting means stores a plurality of classification information having different combinations of the first item and the second item in association with each of a plurality of selectable modes, and selects one of the plurality of modes. 5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein classification information corresponding to the selected mode is set when the mode is selected. A plurality of classification information associated with each of the plurality of modes is stored in a plurality so that the number of items of the first item and the second item are different in stages,
6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising mode selection means for selecting the mode according to a disclosure target of image data recorded in the recording means. An image designating unit for designating a plurality of image data to be recorded by the recording unit;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit automatically edits the attribute information added to the plurality of image data designated by the image designating unit collectively.   The control means reads out attribute information of items not added to the image data recorded in the recording means from the attribute information stored in the management storage means, and adds the attribute information to each image data recorded in the recording means. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information being edited is automatically edited.   In accordance with the classification information set for editing by the setting unit, the control unit stores the management storage unit when there is no item specified in the attribute information added to the image data recorded in the recording unit. While the corresponding item is read out from the attribute information and additionally recorded, if there is an unspecified item in the attribute information added to the image data recorded in the recording unit, the item is included in the attribute information stored in the management storage unit The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is moved. Said management storage means, imaging equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the recording in the medium for recording image data in the recording means. An imaging unit that captures an image, a recording unit that records a plurality of image data to which attribute information related to imaging is individually added, and a management storage unit that centrally stores and manages attribute information related to imaging of a plurality of image data A recording control method in an imaging apparatus comprising:
A setting process for preliminarily setting different classification information for shooting and editing, which is classification information for classifying a plurality of items in the attribute information related to shooting into a first item and a second item;
When new image data is shot by the image pickup unit, the first information among the attribute information of the plurality of items acquired at the time of shooting according to the classification information set for shooting in advance by the setting process. The attribute information corresponding to the item is added to the image data and recorded in the recording unit, and the attribute information corresponding to the second item is stored in the management storage unit without being added to the image data. When processing is performed and image editing is instructed, each attribute recorded in the recording unit is recorded using the attribute information stored in the management storage unit according to the classification information set in advance for editing by the setting process. And a control process for performing control to edit the attribute information added to the image data. An imaging unit that captures an image, a recording unit that records a plurality of image data to which attribute information related to imaging is individually added, and a management storage unit that centrally stores and manages attribute information related to imaging of a plurality of image data A program executed by a computer incorporated in an imaging apparatus including:
The above computer
Setting information for classifying a plurality of items in the attribute information related to shooting into a first item and a second item and setting different classification information for shooting and editing;
When new image data is shot by the imaging unit , the first information among the attribute information of the plurality of items acquired at the time of shooting according to the classification information preset for shooting by the setting unit. The attribute information corresponding to the item is added to the image data and recorded in the recording unit , and the attribute information corresponding to the second item is stored in the management storage unit without being added to the image data. When processing is performed and image editing is instructed, the attribute information stored in the management storage unit is used in accordance with the classification information set in advance for editing by the setting unit, and the individual information recorded in the recording unit is recorded. A computer-readable program that functions as a storage control unit that controls to perform an editing process for editing attribute information added to image data.

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