JPH11184892A - Image appreciation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically convert the absolute position information into the place name information without forcing a user to perform any troublesome operation by setting a mode to display the corresponding place name on a display means via a place name data table after detecting that the absolute position information has been read by a position reading means. SOLUTION: When an image recording medium is connected to an image appreciation device and a start switch is turned on, a control circuit starts its operation (#101). An image reading part is operated to read the image information out of the image recording medium (#101). At the same time, a position information reading part is operated to read the absolute position information out of the image recording medium (#102). It's decided whether the absolute position information is included in the read information. If the absolute position information is not included in the read information, the next step (#110) is immediately started and only the read information is shown at a display part (#102). If the absolute position information is included in the read information, a place name conversion mode is set to show the place name information at the display part (#103).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image viewing apparatus which reads image information and place name information of the image from an image recording medium and can display the read information on a display means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a film having a magnetic recording portion has been proposed on a photographic film, and it has become possible to record various information together with a photographic image.

Further, as represented by a digital camera, a camera has been proposed which digitally records various information in addition to image information.

There has been a demand for a camera having the above functions to record a place name of a photographed place where the photograph was taken. This is because, for example, when visiting a temple, the name of the place may not be known later in a similar temple.

Conventionally, the following cameras and the like have been proposed to meet the above-mentioned demands.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-110117 proposes a device having a place name data table and place name data selecting means, and selectively specifying place name information on a magnetically recordable film and magnetically recording the place name on the film. .

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-07737, absolute position information such as latitude and longitude is received from a satellite by radio waves, the place name is converted according to the place name data tabulated, and the place name is recorded on a film. Cameras have been proposed.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-240854 proposes a filing apparatus having a map database and capable of converting a place name into a place name based on position information recorded on a film.

[0009]

However, in JP-A-6-110117, the photographer has to specify a place name at the time of photographing, which imposes a heavy burden on photographing. In addition, since the camera has the place name data table, the storage capacity of the camera is enormous.
That is, it is not appropriate to provide a camera mainly having a photographing function with such a function.

[0010] Also in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-077737, the photographer must specify a place name at the time of photographing based on the absolute position information, which imposes a heavy burden on photographing. In addition, the fact that the camera has the place name data table requires a huge storage capacity of the camera.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-240854, since the filing apparatus has a map database, the storage capacity of the camera is easy. However, it is necessary for the user to convert to a place name every time. Yes, the operation for that was troublesome. Further, since the converted place names are recorded on different media from the image information, there is a problem that the converted place names are not reflected on the medium.

(Object of the Invention) A first object of the present invention is to provide an image viewing apparatus capable of automatically converting absolute position information into place name information without forcing a user to perform a troublesome operation. Is what you do.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image viewing apparatus capable of repeatedly displaying image information and place name information in association with each other.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an image viewing apparatus capable of notifying a user that the place name information cannot be recorded.

[0015] A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an image appreciation apparatus which can easily select place name information to be determined.

[0016]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading means for reading an image from an image recording medium and a location of a place name from the image recording medium. Position reading means for reading absolute position information;
An image appreciation device having display means for displaying information, wherein the place name data table corresponding to the absolute position information and the place name data table are detected by detecting that the absolute position information is read by the position reading means. An image appreciation device having mode setting means for setting a mode for displaying the corresponding place name information on the display means.

In the above-described configuration, when image information is read from an image recording medium, if absolute position information is read as accompanying information, a mode for automatically converting the absolute position information into place name information is set. I am trying to set it.

Further, in order to achieve the second object,
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image viewing apparatus having a recording medium for recording information, converting absolute position information into place name information, and recording the place name information on the recording medium.

In order to achieve the third object,
According to a third aspect of the present invention, when recording place name information on a recording medium, if the recording capacity of the recording medium is insufficient,
This is an image appreciation device that issues a warning.

In order to achieve the fourth object,
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image viewing apparatus for displaying place name information on a display unit in a manner superimposed on image information read by an image reading unit.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image viewing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image viewing apparatus main body, which has a control circuit 1a and a place name database 4, has an image reading section 2, a position information reading section 3, a display section 5 for displaying images and information, and a conversion section. The place name recording unit 6 for recording the place name on the original medium is connected to these parts, thereby constituting an image appreciation device. Reference numeral 7 denotes an image recording medium, for example, a magnetically recordable film 8 or a solid-state memory 9 in which an image and absolute position information are digitally recorded, and a similar floppy disk 10.

The image recording medium 7 can be connected to the image viewing apparatus.

The absolute position information is recorded in the image recording medium 7 by a GPS receiver (positioning means for receiving a radio wave from a satellite and outputting position information) mounted on the camera together with a photographed image at the time of photographing by the camera. It is possible,
By photographing the absolute position information in a recording state with the camera, it is automatically recorded as specific coded information at the time of photographing. Specifically, when the image recording medium 7 is a magnetically recordable film 8, the image is optically recorded, and the absolute position information is digitally magnetically recorded on a magnetic layer applied to the film. In the case of a solid-state memory 9 or a floppy disk 10, an image is converted into a digital signal by a solid-state image sensor and digitally recorded.
The absolute position information is digitally recorded as coded information together with image information.

Next, the operation of the image viewing apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the image recording medium 7 is connected to the image viewing apparatus 1 and a start switch (not shown) is turned on, the control circuit 1a starts the operation from step # 101. The section 2 is operated to read image information from the image recording medium 7. Also,
At the same time, the position information reading section 3 is operated to read the absolute position information from the image recording medium 7 as well.

If the image recording medium 7 is a magnetically recordable film 8, the image information is read by an image scanner, for example, and the absolute position information is read by a magnetic head, for example. When the image recording medium 7 is a solid-state memory 9 or a floppy disk 10, the image information and the absolute position information are each read as a digital signal by a known technique.

In the next step # 102, it is determined whether or not there is absolute position information in the read information. If not, the process immediately proceeds to step # 110, where only the read image information is displayed on the display unit 5. indicate. This display section 5
May be a known color liquid crystal display unit integrated with the image viewing apparatus, or may be a television or a CRT monitor externally connected to and controlled by the image viewing apparatus.

If it is determined in step # 102 that there is absolute position information, the process proceeds to step # 103, where the display unit 5 displays a place name conversion mode display as shown in FIG. At this time, this display is performed over the image information to improve the operability.

Here, an example of this place name conversion mode display will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 24 denotes an absolute position display unit for displaying the absolute position information, reference numeral 24a denotes a latitude display unit for displaying latitude as an absolute position, and reference numeral 24b denotes a longitude display unit for similarly displaying longitude. In this embodiment, the location of a certain company is shown as an example.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a converted place name display unit for displaying a place name automatically converted in accordance with the absolute position information. Then, the display is divided into five layers of the display units 25a to 25e. More specifically, the display unit 25
a is a display unit for displaying the hierarchy of the smallest unit, there are a display unit 25b and a display unit 25c in order, and a display unit e is a display unit for displaying the largest hierarchy. In the example of FIG. 3, the display unit 25a is blinking, and the display unit 25a that is the lowest hierarchical level is displayed.
Indicates that the place name displayed in is selected.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a selected place name display section for displaying place names of the hierarchy selected by the converted place name display section 25.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the display of the place name conversion mode shown in FIG. 3, and the same reference numerals are given to the parts performing the same display.

The operation in step # 103 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3. The absolute position display section 24 displays the absolute position information read by the position information reading section 3. More specifically, the latitude display section 24a displays “latitude 1
39 ° 41′06 ″ ”is displayed on the latitude display section 24b as“ Latitude 3 ”.
5 ° 33'48 "" is displayed. In the converted place name display section 25, the absolute position information is compared with the place name converted database 4, and the result is displayed in a plurality of layers corresponding to the roughness of geographical decomposition. Specifically, “latitude 139 ° 41′06 ″”, “latitude 35 ° 3
3′48 ″ ”is compared with the place name conversion database 4 and“ 1.
"Company" and "2. Shimomaruko" on the display unit 25b, "3. Ota-ku" on the display unit 25b, "4. Tokyo" on the display unit 25c, and so on so that the decomposition hierarchy becomes coarser in order. Display 2
"5. Japan" is displayed in 5d.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the program is designed such that the display unit 25a of the minimum decomposition hierarchy is selected first, and that the display unit 25a is selected by blinking.

In the selected place name display section 26, "OO" corresponding to the place name selected in the hierarchy of the display section 25a is displayed.
"Company" is displayed, and when the decision button (not shown) is pressed in such a state, the converted place name is determined as "XX company".

In the selected place name display section 26, "1"
When it is desired to convert “4. Tokyo” as a place name instead of “XX company”, the selected hierarchy can be changed by an operation member (not shown). The selected hierarchy is changed by operating an operation member (not shown), and the changed hierarchy blinks as described above. Therefore, "4. Tokyo"
Is operated by operating an operation member (not shown) so as to blink, and by pressing the determination button (not shown), the selected place name display section 2 is displayed.
In 6 the conversion to the place name "Tokyo" is determined.

Next, a case where a plurality of hierarchical place names are connected to convert place names will be described with reference to FIG.

The contents of the display are the same as those in FIG. 3, except that the user selects the hierarchy of the conversion place name display section 25, presses the determination button once, and further changes the selection by the operation member (not shown). By pressing the button, conversion place names are added. The place name of the hierarchy already selected and determined is displayed differently from the selection display.

In the example of FIG. 4, the numbers 1 to 5 representing the order of the hierarchy are enclosed by squares to indicate the selected position. In addition to this, the color may be changed to display that the selection has been determined. Then, the added place names are displayed on the selected place name display section 26 in order from the highest hierarchy.

In Japan, place names are generally displayed at the highest level, but overseas, they are sometimes displayed in order from the lowest level.
They may be displayed in order from the lowest hierarchy.

Returning to FIG. 2, when the operation of the step # 103 is completed, the process proceeds to a step # 104, where it is determined whether or not the conversion into the place name is performed. This determination is made based on whether or not a cancel button (not shown) is pressed. As a result, if it is determined that the cancel button is pressed and the place name conversion is not performed, the process proceeds to step # 106. Display of the image information is continued. In this case, only the image information may be used, or the display of the place name may be continued for a predetermined time.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step # 104 that the conversion of the place name is performed, the process proceeds to step # 105.
The same operation as in step # 103 is performed. Then, the process proceeds to a step # 106, in which a control mode for writing the determined place name on the image recording medium 7 is set.
In the following step # 107, it is determined whether or not the place name is actually written on the image recording medium 7. This determination is made based on whether or not a cancel button (not shown) is pressed. As a result, if it is determined that the cancel button is pressed and writing is not performed, the above-described step # 1 is performed.
10 and display images and place names (selected place name display section 26).
Location name displayed in).

If it is determined in step # 107 that the place name is to be written on the recording medium 7, the process proceeds to step # 108 to check whether writing on the image recording medium 7 is possible, that is, check the recording capacity. I do. When selecting the place names of a plurality of layers shown in FIG. 4 described above, the writing capacity is large, and such a case is conceivable. Here, as a result of checking the recording capacity allocated to one image, if the recording capacity is sufficient, the process proceeds to step # 109, and the place name converted by the place name recording unit 6 is recorded on the image recording medium 7. . Then, the recorded place name is superimposed and displayed on the image information in step # 110.

If the recording capacity is insufficient in step # 108, the process proceeds to step # 111, and a warning is displayed on the display unit 5. Note that a dedicated warning means may be provided, or a warning by sound or the like may be provided.

Here, an example of a warning display will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 27 denotes a warning display unit for displaying a warning when the capacity of writing the place name to the image recording medium 7 is insufficient, and reference numeral 28 denotes a process selection display unit for selecting a process when the capacity is insufficient. A display unit for selecting not to perform writing, and a display unit 29 for selecting to erase other information and write a place name.

When the warning is displayed in step # 111, the user sees the display of FIG.
# Either the display unit 28 or 29 is selected by operating an operation member (not shown). In step # 112, if the display section 28 is selected, the process proceeds to step # 110 described above. However, if the deletion and writing of other information is selected, the process proceeds to step # 113 and the other information is deleted. Erase, and the operations of steps # 109 → # 110 are executed.

As the information to be deleted in step # 113, for example, one of a plurality of layers in FIG. 4 is deleted. If information such as a date and a title is recorded, the information is also displayed, but any of these may be selected as information to be deleted.

(Modification) In the above embodiment, the absolute position information has been described as GPS information, but may be PHS base station information.

The place name database may be only in Japan or in the world. Furthermore, although the display example is in Japanese, it goes without saying that foreign language display is possible. The place name database can be added, rewritten, and upgraded. Further, at least the output of the image and the place name of the image viewing apparatus can be printed out.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an image viewing apparatus that can automatically convert absolute position information into place name information without forcing a user to perform a troublesome operation.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image viewing apparatus capable of repeatedly displaying image information and place name information in association with each other.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image viewing apparatus capable of notifying a user that the place name information cannot be recorded.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image viewing apparatus capable of easily selecting place name information to be determined.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image viewing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image viewing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display in step # 103 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the display in step # 103 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a warning display in step # 111 of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image appreciation device main unit 1 a control unit 2 image reading unit 3 position information reading unit 4 place name database 5 display unit 6 place name recording unit 7 image recording medium

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 5/91 L

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image reading device that reads an image from an image recording medium; a position reading device that reads absolute position information indicating a location of a place name from the image recording medium; and a display device that displays information. A place name data table corresponding to the absolute position information, and a mode for displaying the place name information corresponding to the place name data table on the display means by detecting that the absolute position information is read by the position reading means. An image viewing apparatus, comprising: a mode setting means for setting. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording medium for recording information, converting the absolute position information into place name information, and recording the place name information on the recording medium. . 3. When recording place name information on the recording medium,
3. The image viewing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a warning is issued when the recording capacity of the recording medium is insufficient. 4. The image viewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the place name information is displayed on the display unit so as to be superimposed on the image information read by the image reading unit. 5. The absolute position information indicating the location of the place name is information of latitude and longitude.
The image viewing device described in the above.