CN117176887A - Image reproducing apparatus, control method thereof, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an image reproducing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a storage medium. The image reproduction device includes: a setting unit configured to set whether to perform filter reproduction or to perform reproduction without filtering for reproducing an image by performing filtering for selecting only an image in conformity with the specific attribute information when performing reproduction of the image stored in the storage unit; and a control unit configured to control reproduction of the image stored in the storage unit based on the setting of the setting unit. In the case where an image inconsistent with the specific attribute information is included in the image added to the storage unit before the filtering reproduction is performed, the control unit performs display for drawing attention of the user.

Description

Image reproducing apparatus, control method thereof, and storage medium

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image reproducing apparatus that can reproduce an image.

Background

Conventionally, an image reproducing apparatus for reproducing and displaying an image captured by an image capturing apparatus includes an image reproducing apparatus that can filter and reproduce an image associated with specific attribute information.

Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2008-72499 discloses an image reproducing apparatus that can filter and reproduce an image associated with specific attribute information such as a photographing date. Further, when image capturing is performed in a state in which the filter reproduction mode is ON, the image reproduction apparatus built in the image capturing apparatus releases the ON state of the filter reproduction mode. This is because when the ON state of the filter reproduction mode is continued after image capturing, in the case where an image inconsistent with the filter condition increases, the user cannot recognize such an image increase.

However, the usability of the conventional technique disclosed in the above-described japanese patent application laid-open No. 2008-72499 is not good, so that in the case where the user wishes to keep the filter reproduction mode ON after image capturing, the user needs to reset the filter reproduction mode ON every time the user performs image capturing.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing problems, and provides an image reproducing apparatus that enables a user to recognize an increase in the number of images when filtering images to be reproduced.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reproducing apparatus comprising: a setting unit configured to set whether to perform filter reproduction or to perform reproduction without filtering for reproducing an image by performing filtering for selecting only an image in conformity with the specific attribute information when performing reproduction of the image stored in the storage unit; and a control unit configured to control reproduction of the image stored in the storage unit based on the setting of the setting unit, wherein the control unit performs display for drawing attention of a user in a case where an image inconsistent with the specific attribute information is included in the image added to the storage unit before the filtering reproduction is performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method of an image reproducing apparatus including a setting unit configured to set whether to perform filter reproduction or to perform reproduction without filtering when performing reproduction of an image stored in a storage unit, the filter reproduction being used to reproduce the image by performing filtering that selects only an image in conformity with specific attribute information, the control method comprising: and a control unit configured to control reproduction of the image stored in the storage unit based on the setting set by the setting unit, wherein the control performs display for drawing attention of a user in a case where an image inconsistent with the specific attribute information is included in the image added to the storage unit before the filtering reproduction is performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the above-described image reproducing apparatus.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a digital camera as an embodiment of an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention;

fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment;

fig. 3A and 3B are flowcharts showing procedures of an image capturing operation and a reproducing operation in the embodiment;

fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen of the filter reproduction condition in the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of guidance for attention (guidance) in the embodiment;

fig. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of the out-of-filter reproduction process; and

fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the out-of-filter reproduction process.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention. In the embodiments, a plurality of features are described, but the invention requiring all such features is not limited thereto, and a plurality of such features may be appropriately combined. In addition, in the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar configurations, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a digital camera 100 as an embodiment of an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

In fig. 1, the display unit 28 is a display unit disposed at the back surface of the digital camera 100 and configured to display images and various information. The shutter button 61 is an operation unit configured to provide an image capturing instruction. The mode selection switch 60 is an operation unit configured to switch between various modes. The connector 112 is a connector between the digital camera 100 and the connection cable 111, wherein the connection cable 111 is configured to connect to an external device such as a personal computer or a printer. The operation unit 70 includes operation members such as various switches, buttons, and a touch panel for accepting various operations from a user. A controller wheel (controller wire) 73 is a rotatable operation member included in the operation unit 70.

The power switch 72 is a push button configured to turn on and off the power supply. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium slot 201 is a slot for accommodating the recording medium 200. The recording medium 200 accommodated in the recording medium slot 201 can communicate with the digital camera 100, and thereby recording and reproduction can be performed. The cover 202 is a cover of the recording medium slot 201. Fig. 1 shows a state in which the cover 202 is opened and a part of the recording medium 200 is taken out from the slot 201 and exposed. In addition, the recording medium slot 201 may also accommodate a plurality of recording media 200. When a plurality of recording media 200 are accommodated, the system control unit 50 can use one of the recording media 200 in a preferential manner, and can switch the selection of the preferential recording medium 200.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an example configuration of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment. In fig. 2, the image pickup lens 103 is a lens group including a zoom lens and a focus lens. The shutter 101 is a shutter having an aperture function. The image pickup unit 22 includes an image pickup element (image sensor) having a CCD or CMOS element for converting an optical image into an electric signal. The a/D converter 23 converts an analog signal output from the image pickup unit 22 into a digital signal. The barrier 102 covers the image pickup system of the digital camera 100 including the image pickup lens 103 to prevent contamination and damage of the image pickup system including the image pickup lens 103, the shutter 101, and the image pickup unit 22.

The image processing unit 24 performs resizing processing or color conversion processing such as predetermined pixel interpolation or reduction on the data from the a/D converter 23 or the data from the memory control unit 15. In addition, the image processing unit 24 performs predetermined calculation processing using captured image data. The system control unit 50 performs exposure control and ranging control based on the calculation result obtained by the image processing unit 24. Accordingly, auto Focus (AF) processing, auto Exposure (AE) processing, and flash pre-Emission (EF) processing by a lens (TTL) method are performed. The image processing unit 24 also performs predetermined calculation processing using captured image data, and performs TTL method Automatic White Balance (AWB) processing based on the obtained calculation result.

The output data from the a/D converter 23 is directly written into the memory 32 via the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15, or via the memory control unit 15. The memory 32 stores image data obtained by the image capturing unit 22 and converted into digital data by the a/D converter 23, or image data to be displayed on the display unit 28. The memory 32 has a sufficient storage capacity to store a predetermined number of still images, moving images of a predetermined duration, and sound.

The memory 32 also serves as a memory for image display (video memory). The D/a converter 13 converts the image display data stored in the memory 32 into an analog signal, and supplies the analog signal to the display unit 28. Thereby, the data for image display written in the memory 32 is converted into an analog signal by the D/a converter 13, and then the analog signal is displayed by the display unit 28. The electronic viewfinder may be implemented such that the digital signal once a/D-converted by the a/D converter 23 and accumulated in the memory 32 is converted into an analog signal by the D/a converter 13, and the analog signal is sequentially transferred to the display unit 28 and displayed. In this way, through image display (live view display (LV display)) can be performed. Hereinafter, an image displayed by live view is referred to as an LV image.

The nonvolatile memory 56 is, for example, a memory such as an EEPROM serving as an electrically erasable and recordable recording medium. The nonvolatile memory 56 stores constants, programs, and the like for the operating system control unit 50. The program mentioned here refers to a computer program for executing various flowcharts described below in the present embodiment.

The system control unit 50, which is a control unit including at least one processor and/or at least one circuit, controls the entire camera 100. The programs recorded in the above-described nonvolatile memory 56 are executed so that the respective processes according to the present embodiment described below are realized. RAM is used, for example, as the system memory 52. In the system memory 52, constants, variables, programs read from the nonvolatile memory 56, and the like for the operating system control unit 50 are developed. In addition, the system control unit 50 also performs display control by controlling the memory 32, the D/a converter 13, the display unit 28, and the like.

The system timer 53 is a clock unit for measuring the time used for various controls and the time of the built-in clock.

The mode selection switch 60, the shutter button 61, and the operation unit 70 are operation units configured to input various operation instructions to the system control unit 50. The mode selection switch 60 switches the operation mode of the system control unit 50 to one of a still image recording mode, a video capturing mode, a reproducing mode, and the like. The modes included in the still image recording mode are an automatic mode, an automatic scene mode, a manual mode, an aperture priority mode (Av mode), a shutter speed priority mode (Tv mode), and a program AE mode. There are various scene modes, custom modes, and the like as image capturing settings of respective image capturing scenes. The user can directly switch to any of these modes by operating the mode selection switch 60. Alternatively, the user may use the mode selection switch 60 to temporarily switch to a screen for listing the image capturing modes, and then the user may use other operation members to select and switch to one of the modes being displayed. Similarly, the video capture mode may also include multiple modes.

The first shutter switch 62 is turned on by operating the shutter button 61 provided in the digital camera 100 halfway, or so-called half-pressing (image pickup preparation instruction), to generate a first shutter switch signal SW1. The first shutter switch signal SW1 starts operations of processes such as an Auto Focus (AF) process, an Auto Exposure (AE) process, an Auto White Balance (AWB) process, and a flash pre-Emission (EF) process.

When the operation of the shutter button 61 is completed, that is, so-called full-press (image capturing instruction), the second shutter switch 64 is turned on, thereby generating the second shutter switch signal SW2. In response to the second shutter switch signal SW2, the system control unit 50 starts an operation of a series of image capturing processes from reading a signal from the image capturing unit 22 to writing image data to the recording medium 200.

By selecting and operating the various function icons displayed on the display unit 28, functions are appropriately assigned to the respective operation members of the operation unit 70 for the respective scenes, and the operation members function as the various function buttons. The function buttons include, for example, an end button, a return button, an image feed button, a skip button, a filter button, an attribute change button, and the like. For example, when a menu button is pressed, a menu screen capable of various settings is displayed on the display unit 28. The user can intuitively make various settings using the menu screen, the four-way (up, down, left, and right) buttons, and the Setting (SET) button displayed on the display unit 28. In addition, the operation unit 70 further includes a touch panel 70a disposed at the surface of the display unit 28.

The controller wheel 73 is a rotatable operation member included in the operation unit 70, and is used together with a direction button to indicate a selection item. When the controller wheel 73 is rotationally operated, an electric pulse signal is generated according to the operation amount, and the system control unit 50 controls the respective portions of the digital camera 100 based on the pulse signal. The angle of the turning operation of the controller wheel 73 and the number of turns may be judged from the pulse signal. Here, the controller wheel 73 may be any operation member capable of detecting a rotation operation. For example, the controller wheel 73 itself may be a dial operating member for rotating and generating a pulse signal in response to a rotation operation by a user. Alternatively, the controller wheel 73 may also be an operation member including a touch sensor (so-called "touch wheel") that does not rotate itself but is used to detect a rotational operation of the user's finger on the controller wheel 73.

The power supply control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switching circuit configured to switch blocks to be energized, and the like, and the power supply control unit 80 detects whether a battery, the type of the battery, and the remaining battery power are mounted. In addition, the power supply control unit 80 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and the instruction from the system control unit 50, and supplies a required voltage to each unit including the recording medium 200 for a required period. The power supply unit 30 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery; secondary batteries such as NiCd batteries, niMH batteries, or Li-ion batteries; an AC adapter.

The recording medium I/F18 is an interface with the recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium configured to record a photographed image, such as a memory card, and includes a semiconductor memory, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, and the like.

The communication unit 54 is connected to an external device wirelessly or via a wired cable to transmit and receive video signals and sound signals. The communication unit 54 may also be connected to a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) or the internet. In addition, the communication unit 54 can also communicate with an external device via Bluetooth (trade name) (Bluetooth) or Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth low energy). The communication unit 54 may transmit an image (including a real-time image) captured by the image capturing unit 22 and an image recorded in the recording medium 200, and receive image data or other various types of information from an external device.

The posture detecting unit 55 detects the posture of the digital camera 100 with respect to the gravitational direction. Based on the posture detected by the posture detecting unit 55, it is possible to determine whether the image captured by the image capturing unit 22 is captured with the digital camera 100 held horizontally or with the digital camera 100 held vertically. The system control unit 50 may add orientation information corresponding to the posture detected by the posture detecting section 55 to an image file of an image captured by the image capturing unit 22, record the image in a rotating manner, or the like. As the posture detecting unit 55, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like may be used. The movement (whether panning, tilting, lifting, stationary, etc.) of the camera 100 may also be detected using an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensor disposed at the gesture detection unit 55.

Next, fig. 3A and 3B are flowcharts showing the procedure of the image capturing operation and the reproducing operation according to the present embodiment. In the following, an image capturing operation and a reproducing operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 3A and 3B. The operations of the flowcharts shown in fig. 3A and 3B are realized by the system control unit 50 expanding a control program stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 into the system memory 52 and executing the expanded program.

When an image is displayed in the reproduction mode, the digital camera 100 has a filtering reproduction function capable of filtering the image into an image associated with specific attribute information such as a shooting date. The filter reproduction function operates when the filter reproduction mode is ON, and does not operate when the filter reproduction mode is OFF. The term "do not operate" means that an image to be displayed in the reproduction mode is not filtered. The setting of the filter reproduction mode is stored in the memory 32.

At the start of the operation of the flowcharts shown in fig. 3A and 3B, it is assumed that the filter reproduction mode recorded in the memory 32 is OFF.

At step S301, the system control unit 50 determines whether the operation unit 70 instructs to start the reproduction mode. When the start of the reproduction mode is instructed, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S302, or when the start of the reproduction mode is not instructed, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S306.

At step S302, the system control unit 50 starts the reproduction mode and displays the latest image data among the image data recorded in the recording medium 200 on the display unit 28.

At step S303, the system control unit 50 determines whether the operation unit 70 instructs termination of the reproduction mode. When the termination of the reproduction mode is instructed, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S304, or when the termination of the reproduction mode is not instructed, the system control unit 50 remains waiting.

At step S304, the system control unit 50 terminates the reproduction mode, and terminates the operation of displaying the image data recorded in the recording medium 200 on the display unit 28.

At step S305, the system control unit 50 acquires the clock time at which the reproduction mode is terminated from the system timer 53, and records the clock time in the memory 32.

At step S306, the system control unit 50 determines whether the operation unit 70 instructs to change the filter reproduction condition. When the change of the filter reproduction condition is instructed, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S307, or when the change of the filter reproduction condition is not instructed, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S308.

At step S307, the system control unit 50 records the filter reproduction condition, which is indicated to be changed at step S306, in the nonvolatile memory 56.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen of the filter reproduction condition displayed on the display unit 28 according to the present embodiment. The setting screen enables setting of image data and attribute information 415 of the image data recording position (such as a level 410, a photographing date 411, an image data storage folder 412, a protected/unprotected 413, a still image/video 414, and the like in the recording medium 200) as filter reproduction conditions. In addition, whether or not to make these attribute information valid as a filter reproduction condition may be set by providing check marks 402 to 407. Additionally, selecting the setting button 422 enables the user to record the content set at the setting screen in the nonvolatile memory 56. Here, the filter reproduction condition may be other than the attribute information listed above.

At step S308, the system control unit 50 determines whether the operation unit 70 instructs to change the filter reproduction mode setting. When the change of the filter reproduction mode setting is instructed, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S309, and when the change of the filter reproduction mode setting is not instructed, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S311.

At step S309, the system control unit 50 changes the setting of the filter reproduction mode recorded in the memory 32 to ON.

At step S310, the system control unit 50 acquires the clock time at which the filter reproduction mode is changed to ON from the system timer 53, and records the clock time in the memory 32.

At step S311, the system control unit 50 determines whether the shutter release button 61 is fully pressed, thereby turning on the second shutter switch 64 and generating the second shutter switch signal SW2 (whether or not an imaging instruction is made). When the second shutter switch signal SW2 is generated, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S312, or when the second shutter switch signal SW2 is not generated, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S313.

At step S312, the system control unit 50 performs an operation of a series of image capturing processes from reading a signal from the image capturing unit 22 to writing image data to the recording medium 200.

At step S313, the system control unit 50 determines whether the operation unit 70 instructs execution of image editing. When image editing is instructed, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S314, and when image editing is not instructed, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S315.

At step S314, the system control unit 50 performs an operation of applying image editing such as image resizing processing and color conversion processing by the image processing unit 24 to the image data of the recording medium 200, and writing the newly edited image data to a series of image editing processing of the recording medium 200.

At step S315, the system control unit 50 determines whether image reception is instructed. When image reception is instructed, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S316, or when image reception is not instructed, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S317.

At step S316, the system control unit 50 performs a series of image receiving operations of writing the image data received by the communication unit 54 to the recording medium 200.

At step S317, the system control unit 50 determines whether the operation unit 70 instructs to start the reproduction mode. When the start of the reproduction mode is instructed, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S318, or when the start of the reproduction mode is not instructed, the system control unit 50 terminates the process of the flowchart.

At step S318, the system control unit 50 starts the reproduction mode.

At step S319, the system control unit 50 determines whether the filter reproduction mode setting recorded in the memory 32 is ON. When the filter reproduction mode setting is ON, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S320, or when the filter reproduction mode setting is not ON, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S323.

At step S320, the system control unit 50 acquires the termination clock time of the previous reproduction mode recorded at step S305 and the on clock time of the filtered reproduction mode stored at step S310 from the memory 32. Subsequently, the system control unit 50 determines whether any one of the images added to the recording medium 200 after the later one of the above-described clock times (hereinafter referred to as "post-added image") does not satisfy the filter reproduction condition set at step S307. Here, the post-added image may include the image photographed at step S311, the image edited at step S313, and the image received at step S315.

When any one of the later added images does not satisfy the filter reproduction condition, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S321. Alternatively, when none of the images added later satisfies the filter reproduction condition, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S323. Here, the condition to be judged at step S320 may be whether or not the post-added images all do not satisfy the filter reproduction condition.

At step S321, the system control unit 50 displays, on the display unit 28, a guidance (display for drawing the attention of the user) of a text for indicating that the image added later does not satisfy the filter reproduction condition and is not displayed.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen for indicating that the later added image does not satisfy the filter reproduction condition and is not displayed. In the instruction screen 501, a button 502 configured to display a newly added image is displayed, and when the button is selected by the user, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S322. After the user has checked the guidance screen 501, the user performs an operation for terminating guidance through the operation unit 70 without displaying a newly added image. In this case, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S323.

At step S322, the system control unit 50 displays the image newly added to the recording medium 200 on the display unit 28 as an out-of-filter reproduction process described below, indicating that the image is made identifiable as being different from those satisfying the filter reproduction condition. Details of the out-of-filter reproduction process will be described below with reference to fig. 6.

At step S323, when the filter reproduction mode is OFF, the system control unit 50 displays the latest image data among the image data recorded in the recording medium 200 on the display unit 28. Alternatively, when the filter reproduction mode is ON, the system control unit 50 displays the latest image data in accordance with the filter reproduction condition among the image data recorded in the recording medium 200 ON the display unit 28.

At step S324, the system control unit 50 determines whether the operation unit 70 instructs termination of the reproduction mode. When the termination of the reproduction mode is instructed, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S325, or when the termination of the reproduction mode is not instructed, the system control unit 50 remains waiting.

At step S325, the system control unit 50 terminates the reproduction mode, and terminates the operation of displaying the image data recorded in the recording medium 200 on the display unit 28.

At step S326, the system control unit 50 acquires the clock time at which the reproduction mode is terminated from the system timer 53, records the clock time in the memory 32, and terminates the operation of the flowchart.

In the following, the out-of-filter reproduction process, which is the detailed process at step S322 of fig. 3B, will be described with reference to fig. 6 and 7. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of the out-of-filter reproduction process according to the present embodiment. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed during the out-of-filter reproduction process. The image selection frame 701 is a selection frame for indicating the currently selected image, and the position of the image selection frame may be changed by using a direction button on the operation unit 70 or by a touch operation.

At step S601, the system control unit 50 acquires the end clock time of the reproduction mode recorded at step S305 and the start clock time of the filtered reproduction mode recorded at step S310. Subsequently, the system control unit 50 displays, on the display unit 28, an image (hereinafter referred to as "out-of-filter image") that does not satisfy the filter reproduction condition set at step S307, among the images added after the later one of the above-described clock times. The outside-filter image 703 shown in fig. 7 is an exemplary outside-filter image group displayed at step S601.

At step S602, the system control unit 50 displays, at step S601, on the image displayed on the display unit 28, an object for emphasizing (distinguishing) that the image is an outside-filter image. In this way, it is easier to visually understand that the image is different from the image that satisfies the filter reproduction condition displayed at step S603. An example of an object displayed for emphasis is shown in fig. 7. The image emphasis frame 705 is displayed by surrounding only the outside-filter image at step S602, and the image emphasis frame 705 may be colored in a transparent manner together with the inside thereof. In addition, dedicated icons 706 are displayed only on the outside-filter images to indicate that these outside-filter images are outside-filter images at step S601. At least one of the processes for emphasizing the out-of-filter image is performed.

At step S603, the system control unit 50 displays the latest image data in accordance with the filter reproduction condition among the image data recorded in the recording medium 200 on the display unit 28 in a prioritized manner. The display image group 702 shown in fig. 7 in conformity with the filter reproduction condition is an exemplary image group displayed at step S603. The image displayed at step S603 is preferentially displayed from the latest image data. The image that cannot be displayed on the page is not displayed on the page, but may be displayed by scrolling the image or changing the number of images displayed on the page.

At step S604, the system control unit 50 determines whether a condition for terminating the out-of-filter reproduction operation is satisfied. When the termination condition is satisfied, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S605, or when the termination condition is not satisfied, the system control unit 50 returns the process to step S601. The condition for terminating the out-of-filter reproduction is satisfied by selecting a termination button displayed on the display unit 28.

Here, the condition for terminating the out-of-filter reproduction may also be satisfied by processing such as changing the filter reproduction condition, turning off the power of the camera, removing the recording medium 200, changing the priority recording medium 200, and the like as performed at step S306.

At step S605, the system control unit 50 terminates the out-of-filter reproduction, and terminates the display of the image displayed at step S601 among the image data being displayed on the display unit 28.

Here, for example, a button configured to terminate the out-of-filter reproduction processing at step S604 is displayed on the display unit 28 as an out-of-filter reproduction termination button 704 shown in fig. 7.

For example, the out-of-filter reproduction termination button 704 is displayed at an intermediate image position between the display image group 702 and the out-of-filter image group 703 that satisfy the out-of-filter reproduction condition. Therefore, it becomes easier to distinguish the boundary between the outside-filter image group 703 displayed at step S601 and the display image group 702 that satisfies the filter reproduction condition displayed at step S603.

Alternatively, the arrangement position of the filter out reproduction termination button 704 may be the position of the first image (start position) or the position of the end image (end position) in the filter out image group 703. Further, when there is a space that does not overlap with the display object on the screen and the button can be displayed, the out-of-filter reproduction termination button 704 may also be displayed at the space. Therefore, this improves the degree of freedom in displaying the image. The out-of-filter reproduction termination button 704 is placed at one of such arrangement positions.

As has been described above, according to the present embodiment, during the filter reproduction mode being active, even if an image is newly added, the active state of the filter reproduction mode can be continued, and even when the added image does not satisfy the filter reproduction condition, the user can check the out-of-filter image while continuing the filter reproduction state.

Although the above-described embodiment is described with the case where the present invention is applied to the digital camera 100 as an example, the present invention is not limited to such an example, and may be applied to any image reproducing apparatus capable of capturing an image or adding an image. In other words, the present invention can be applied to a cellular phone terminal or a portable image viewer capable of capturing an image or adding an image, a printer device including a viewer, a digital photo frame, a music player, a game machine, an electronic book reader, and the like.

Other embodiments

The embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a method in which software (program) that performs the functions of the above embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, a computer of the system or apparatus or a method in which a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Micro Processing Unit (MPU), or the like reads out and executes the program, through a network or various storage mediums.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims (21)

1. An image reproducing apparatus comprising:

a setting unit configured to set whether to perform filter reproduction or to perform reproduction without filtering for reproducing an image by performing filtering for selecting only an image in conformity with the specific attribute information when performing reproduction of the image stored in the storage unit; and

a control unit configured to control reproduction of the image stored in the storage unit based on the setting of the setting unit,

wherein the control unit performs display for drawing attention of a user in a case where an image inconsistent with the specific attribute information is included in an image added to the storage unit before the filtering reproduction is performed.

2. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the added image is an image added to the storage unit after the setting unit sets a setting for performing the filtering reproduction.

3. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the added image is an image added to the storage unit after a clock time at which reproduction was previously terminated.

4. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets whether to perform the filtering reproduction or to perform reproduction without filtering according to an instruction from a user.

5. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second setting unit configured to set the condition of the filtering reproduction.

6. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display for drawing attention is a guide using text.

7. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image capturing unit configured to capture an image, wherein the added image is an image captured by the image capturing unit.

8. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs display for drawing attention in a case where at least one of the added images is an image inconsistent with the specific attribute information.

9. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs display for drawing attention in a case where the added images are all images inconsistent with the specific attribute information.

10. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where an image inconsistent with the specific attribute information is included in an image added to the storage unit before the filtering reproduction is performed, the control unit controls to display the image inconsistent with the specific attribute information included in the added image.

11. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an editing unit configured to edit an image, wherein the added image is the image edited by the editing unit.

12. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a receiving unit configured to receive an image, wherein the added image is the image received by the receiving unit.

13. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein in the case where at least one of the added images is an image inconsistent with the specific attribute information, the control unit controls to display the image included in the added image inconsistent with the specific attribute information.

14. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit displays in a manner that enables distinguishing between an image that is consistent with the specific attribute information and an image that is inconsistent with the specific attribute information.

15. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit terminates an operation of displaying an image inconsistent with the specific attribute information in the case of one of a change in a condition for performing the filtering reproduction, a disconnection of a power supply of the image reproducing apparatus, and a removal of the storage unit.

16. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit displays a button configured to terminate an operation of displaying the image inconsistent with the specific attribute information at one of a position between the image inconsistent with the specific attribute information and the image inconsistent with the specific attribute information, a start position or an end position of the image inconsistent with the specific attribute information, and a position on the screen that does not overlap with the display object.

17. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein in the case where an image inconsistent with the specific attribute information is included in the image added to the storage unit before the filtering reproduction is performed, the control unit performs display for drawing attention of a user before displaying the image inconsistent with the specific attribute information.

18. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control unit displays, in the display for drawing attention of the user, a button configured to select whether to display an image inconsistent with the specific attribute information.

19. A control method of an image reproducing apparatus including a setting unit configured to set whether to perform filter reproduction or to perform reproduction without filtering at the time of performing reproduction of an image stored in a storage unit, the filter reproduction being for reproducing the image by performing filtering that selects only an image in conformity with specific attribute information, the control method comprising:

controlling reproduction of the image stored in the storage unit based on the setting set by the setting unit,

wherein the control performs display for drawing attention of a user in a case where an image inconsistent with the specific attribute information is included in an image added to the storage unit before the filtering reproduction is performed.

20. The control method of an image reproducing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein in a case where an image inconsistent with the specific attribute information is included in an image added to the storage unit before the filtering reproduction is performed, the control method controls to display an image inconsistent with the specific attribute information included in the added image.

21. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1.