JP2000357169A - Device and method for automatically generating image browsing function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically generate an environment for browsing a number of images by automatically generating a folder for describing information regarding image browsing and an HTML file used for image browsing. SOLUTION: With an indication from an input part 106, a CPU 107 starts an image browsing generation program for receiving image data from an electronic camera. Here, 1st to 5th folders 101 to 105 are generated on a memory 108 first. Then a file needed for an image browsing function that does not depend upon the image data transferred from the electronic camera is generated. Then an HTML file for listing by thumbnail images is generated. Further, an HTML file for listing image names is generated. The image data, file information on file names, etc., and image information are obtained from the electronic camera. Then the image files and thumbnail image files are transferred to a transfer destination specified by a user, i.e., the 2nd folder 102 and 5th folder 105.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an automatic generation apparatus and an automatic generation method of an image browsing function suitable for displaying an image captured by an electronic camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an electronic camera called a digital still camera, which can store image data captured by an imaging device such as a CCD in a storage medium, has become widespread. In addition, image transfer application software that can capture image data obtained by imaging with such an electronic camera into a personal computer has become widespread.

As such a technique, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
No. 130726 discloses an "image processing apparatus". In this image processing apparatus, when desired image data among a plurality of image data stored in the electronic camera is arbitrarily selected by the input unit, the CPU transmits the selected image data to a connection cable and an interface. Then, it is taken into the work RAM and displayed on the display unit. Here, when the input unit arbitrarily inputs the attached character information for the displayed image data, the CPU
The image RAM is used as an image file in which the input attached character information is associated with the fetched image data.
To save. Thus, a series of processes from capturing an image from an electronic camera to saving can be smoothly performed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-150523 discloses a "system for storing photographic image data photographed by a digital camera". This storage system enables a variety of means for transferring photographic image data taken by various digital cameras to an image server owned by a photo shop, and enables access and use of the photographic image data stored in the image server. It has various access means. As a result, photos taken with a digital camera can be stored and utilized in a simple manner suitable for various situations.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-320546 discloses an image data processing apparatus and a recording medium. In this data processing device, when a file creation process is designated, an album template stored in an HTML template file in a storage medium is displayed, and text data is input according to input items set in the template. Automatically converts the image file into an HTML document, saves the file in an HTML text file in a storage medium with a file name corresponding to the image file to be linked, and converts the designated image file into a digital camera And linking it with an album template and HTML text data, setting the link data in an index file in a storage medium, and attaching a file name corresponding to the linking to a standard image such as JPEG / GIF. Convert to image format Save to file. This facilitates various processes using image data as a material.

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned conventional image transfer application software merely transfers an image recorded in a digital still camera to a personal computer, and thus has the following disadvantages. Was.

That is, first, the image name given to each image data is determined by the electronic camera as a combination of identification characters and consecutive numbers. For this reason, the user cannot recognize what the image is without using some image display application.

In a recent Windows (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation) environment, Windows 98 and Internet Ex
If you use the Active Desk Top function of plorer, the Internet
You can preview the selected image in Explorer. However, even if this method is used, only one selected image can be seen, and many images stored in the computer cannot be completely seen.

Further, in order to browse all the images stored in the computer at a time, it is common to use a dedicated application such as an electronic album. However, a user who views the images must always use the same application. Therefore, it is impossible to distribute the same application to an unspecified number of people having personal computers.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described various problems, and has an image browsing function capable of automatically generating an environment for browsing many images picked up by an electronic camera. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic generation device and an automatic generation method thereof.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic image browsing function generating apparatus for instructing an operation to be executed in order to achieve the above object. In response to the instruction, a folder for describing image browsing information and image browsing generating means for automatically generating an HTML file used for image browsing, while capturing image data from the electronic camera. .

In the automatic image browsing function generating apparatus, the image browsing generating means stores an HTML file for describing a frame division of a page of image data taken in from the electronic camera and each divided frame. A first folder, a second folder for storing an image file generated based on image data captured from the electronic camera, a third folder for storing an HTML file for displaying an image, and an HTML for displaying image information. A fourth folder for storing a file and a fifth folder for storing a thumbnail image file corresponding to the image file may be generated.

The first folder includes a main HTML file for providing an image browsing function, an HTML file for providing a list display function using thumbnail images, an HTML file for providing a list display function using image names, HTM that provides a function to switch the list display method
And an L file.

Further, the image browsing / generating means designates the thumbnail image file as an image source, and
The description with the HTML file of the folder as the link destination is
In addition to an HTML file that provides a list display function of the first folder by the thumbnail image, a description that links the HTML file of the third folder to a link destination is used for displaying a list of the first folder by the image name. It can be configured to be added to the HTML file.

An automatic generation method of an image browsing function according to a second aspect of the present invention has a first step of instructing capture of image data from an electronic camera for the same purpose as described above, and responding to the instruction. And a second step of automatically generating a plurality of folders for describing information regarding image browsing and a plurality of HTML files used for image browsing, while capturing image data from the electronic camera. .

In the automatic generation method of the image browsing function, the second step includes a step of storing a frame of the page of the image data captured from the electronic camera and an HTML file for indicating each divided frame. A third step of generating one folder, a fourth step of generating a second folder for storing an image file generated based on image data captured from the electronic camera, and an HTML file for displaying an image. A fifth step of generating a third folder for storing, a sixth step of generating a fourth folder for storing an HTML file for displaying image information, and a fifth step of storing a thumbnail image file corresponding to the image file And a seventh step of generating a folder.

The third step is a step of generating a main HTML file for providing an image browsing function, and a step of providing a list display function using thumbnail images.
A step of generating a TML file, a step of generating an HTML file providing a list display function by image name,
Generating an HTML file that provides a function of switching the list display method.

Further, in the third step, the thumbnail image file is designated as an image source, and a description in which the HTML file in the third folder is a link destination is displayed in a list by the thumbnail image in the first folder. Adding to the HTML file providing the function;
The description with the HTML file of the folder as the link destination is
HT for displaying a list of the first folder by the image name
Adding to the ML file.

[0019]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic image browsing function generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; In this embodiment, an example in which an automatic generation device for an image browsing function is formed on a personal computer will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic generation apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as an automatic generation apparatus) for an image browsing function according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the automatic generation apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a folder structure used in the generation device, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are diagrams illustrating an operation of the automatic generation device illustrated in FIG. 1.

This automatic generation device includes first to fifth folders 101 to 105, an input unit 106, a CPU 107, and a memory 108.

The input unit 106 corresponds to the instruction means of the present invention, and includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The input unit 106 is used to give various instructions to the CPU 107. Further, the CPU 107 includes the input unit 10.
6 executes various processes in response to the instruction from the control unit 6. For example, the CPU 107 executes an image browsing generation program corresponding to the image browsing generation unit of the present invention, that is, a program for capturing image data from an electronic camera. The memory 108 is configured by a disk device, for example, and is used to store various data. The first to fifth folders 101 to 105 are formed in the memory 108.

The first folder 101 stores an HTML file for describing a frame division of a page of image data captured from the electronic camera and each divided frame. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the first folder 101 has a main HT for providing an image browsing function.
ML file 110, HTML file 111 for providing a list display function by thumbnail images, HTML file 1 for providing a list display function by image names
12 and an HTML file 113 for providing a function of switching a list display method.

The second folder 102 stores image files in JPG format created based on image data taken from the electronic camera. FIG. 2 shows an example in which image files 120 and 121 are stored in the second folder 102.

The third folder 103 is an HT for displaying images.
ML file, H for displaying images one by one
Stores a TML file. FIG. 2 shows that the third folder 103 contains HTML files 130 and 1 for displaying images.
31 shows an example in which 31 is stored.

The fourth folder 104 stores an HTML file for displaying image information for each image data. FIG. 2 shows an example in which HTML files 140 and 141 for displaying image information are stored in the fourth folder 104.

The fifth folder 105 stores thumbnail image files of images captured from the electronic camera in a JPG format. FIG. 2 shows an example in which thumbnail image files 151 and 152 are stored in the fifth folder 105.

In this embodiment, the SEG / CIF
The format for storing image data in the electronic camera, such as F / DCF, is stored in the second folder 102.
A structure similar to these can be provided. Alternatively, a unique format may be used.

Next, the operation of the automatic generation device configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in response to an instruction from the input unit 106, the CPU 107 activates an image browsing generation program for capturing image data from the electronic camera.
When an image is selected, a transfer destination is specified, or the like from the input unit 106 in a state where the image browsing generation program is activated, a transfer process of image data is started.

In the image data transfer processing, first, first to fifth folders 101 to 105 having a folder structure necessary for the image browsing function as shown in FIG. 2 are generated in the memory 108 (step 201). . Next, a file necessary for the image browsing function independent of image data transferred from the electronic camera is generated (step 202).

Next, an HTML file 111 for displaying a list of thumbnail images is generated (step 20).
3) Then, the HTML file 112 for displaying the list by the image name is generated (step 204). Then
The main HTML file 110 is generated in the first folder 101 in consideration of the total number of images transferred from the electronic camera (step 205).

Next, it is determined whether or not the number of untransferred images is zero (step 212). If not, file information such as image data, file name, shooting date and time, and image information are obtained from the electronic camera. (Step 206). When these pieces of information are obtained, the image files 120 and 121 and the thumbnail image files 151 and 152 are stored in the transfer destination designated by the user, that is, in the second folder 102 and the fifth folder 105, respectively.
Is transferred (step 207).

Next, the image files 120 and 121 are designated as image sources, and the HTML file 1 for image display is designated.
30 and 131 are created in the third folder 103 (step 208). Next, the HTML file 1 for displaying image information related to the image transferred in step 207 described above.
40 and 141 are generated in the fourth folder 104 (step 209).

Next, the thumbnail image files 151 and 152 transferred in step 207 are designated as image sources, and the HTML files 130 and 131 created in step 208 are described as link destinations in step 203. A process of adding the thumbnail image to the list-displayed HTML file 111 is performed (step 210). Further, a process of adding the description with the HTML files 130 and 131 created in step 208 as a link destination to the HTML file 112 for displaying a list by the image name created in step 204 is performed (step 211). . Thereafter, the processing procedure returns to step 212.

The above procedure is repeatedly executed, and if it is determined in step 212 that the number of untransferred images from the electronic camera is zero, the process ends. As a result, all the environments necessary for image browsing are constructed on the personal computer.

When the image browsing function is built in the personal computer as described above, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the image 304 can be displayed using the web browser 301 installed in the personal computer. it can.

In this case, the list display switching icon 302
When the button is clicked, a list display 303 using images or file names as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 is performed. When an arbitrary one is selected from these list displays 303, the selected image 304 is displayed. At this time, image information 305 is displayed below the screen.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the input unit 1
When the start of the image browsing generation program is instructed by 06, a plurality of folders 101 to 105 for describing information related to image browsing are automatically generated, so that many images captured by the electronic camera can be viewed. An environment that can do this can be created automatically.

Further, since an HTML file is used as an environment for browsing images captured from an electronic camera, images can be browsed without using a dedicated application such as an electronic album. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, since an image to be browsed can be selected from a list of thumbnails, it is possible to browse without worrying about the image name.

In the present embodiment, a case has been described in which, when image data from an electronic camera is transferred to a personal computer, an environment in which images can be browsed is automatically generated. The present invention is not limited to this example, and it is possible to automatically generate an environment in which an image can be browsed even for image data that has already been transferred to the memory 108.

[0042]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an automatic generation device and an automatic generation method of an image browsing function capable of automatically generating an environment for browsing many images captured by an electronic camera.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an automatic generation apparatus of an image browsing function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a folder structure of the automatic generation device of the image browsing function shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the automatic generation device of the image browsing function shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the automatic generation device of the image browsing function shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the automatic generation device of the image browsing function shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

101 to 105 Folder 106 Input unit 107 CPU 108 Memory 110 Main HTML file 111 HTML file providing a list display function by thumbnail images 112 HTML providing a list display function by image name
File 113 HTML file 120, 121 that provides a function of switching a list display method of image browsing function Image file 130, 131 HT for displaying images one by one
ML file 151, 152 Thumbnail image file 301 Web browser 302 List display switching icon 303 List display 304 Image 305 Image information

Claims (8)

[Claims] An instruction means for instructing an operation to be executed, and in response to an instruction from the instruction means, image data is taken in from an electronic camera, and a folder for describing information relating to image browsing and used for image browsing. An image browsing generation means for automatically generating a generated HTML file. 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the image browsing and generating means includes: a first folder for storing a frame of an image data page captured from the electronic camera and an HTML file for describing each divided frame; A second folder for storing an image file generated based on the image data taken from the server, a third folder for storing an HTML file for displaying images, and a fourth folder for storing an HTML file for displaying image information. The apparatus for automatically generating an image browsing function according to claim 1, wherein a fifth folder for storing a thumbnail image file corresponding to the image file is generated. 3. The first folder includes a main HTML file for providing an image browsing function and an HTML for providing a list display function using thumbnail images.
3. The automatic generation apparatus for an image browsing function according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus stores an HTML file providing a list display function based on an image name and an HTML file providing a function of switching a list display method. 4. The image browsing / generating means designates the thumbnail image file as an image source, and displays a list of HTML files in the third folder as link destinations by using the thumbnail images in the first folder. In addition to the HTML file that provides the function,
The description with the HTML file of the folder as the link destination is
HT for displaying a list of the first folder by the image name
4. The automatic generation apparatus for an image browsing function according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus is added to an ML file. 5. A first step of instructing to capture image data from an electronic camera, and in response to the instruction, a plurality of folders for capturing image data from the electronic camera and describing information relating to image browsing. And a second step of automatically generating a plurality of HTML files to be used for image browsing. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second step includes dividing the page of the image data captured from the electronic camera into frames and displaying each divided frame.
Third to generate the first folder for storing the TML file
And a fourth step of generating a second folder for storing an image file generated based on the image data captured from the electronic camera; and generating a third folder for storing an HTML file for image display. A fifth step of generating a fourth folder for storing an HTML file for displaying image information, and a seventh step of generating a fifth folder for storing a thumbnail image file corresponding to the image file. 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of: 7. The third step includes: generating a main HTML file for providing an image browsing function; and HTM providing a list display function using thumbnail images.
7. The image according to claim 6, comprising: generating an L file; generating an HTML file providing a list display function based on an image name; and generating an HTML file providing a function of switching a list display method. Automatic generation method of browsing function. 8. The third step is to specify the thumbnail image file as an image source,
A step of adding the HTML file of the third folder as a link destination to an HTML file of the first folder which provides a list display function by the thumbnail images; and the HTML file of the third folder as a link destination. 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: adding a description to an HTML file for displaying a list based on the image name of the first folder.