JP2002057975A - Photographing image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing image recording device that can simply realize how to enjoy a photographed image in terms of digital data in a more excellent way. SOLUTION: The photographing image recording devices 1, 2 are provided with a photographing image data input section 20 that acquires photographing image data brought by a customer, a voice decision section 42 that decides optimum voice on the basis of input information by the customer, a voice data input section 50 that acquires voice data of the voice decided by the voice decision section from a distribution center 3 via a communication network 4, a link forming section 48a that sets a link relation between the photographing image data and the voice data that are received as above, and a data recording section 70 that records the photographing image data and the voice data to a recording medium together with a multimedia reproduction program outputted synchronously with the photographing image data and the voice data on the basis of the link relation set as above.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic film in a silver halide camera or a flash memory in a digital camera. The present invention relates to a captured image recording device that records reproducibly.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital image processing has become familiar. In a DP shop, photographed image data obtained by developing a photographed photographic film received from a customer and then reading the photographed image with a film scanner. Also, the photographed image data directly transferred from the flash memory mounted on the digital camera is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-R, and the customer who brought back the recording medium organizes the photographed image while viewing it on the PC screen. Services are now available that can be stored and sent to friends via email.

[0003]

The photographed image data recorded on the recording medium in this manner is monitored by using a personal computer as a slide show in the form of a slide show, and in some cases, the video output of the personal computer is used. You can watch it on TV. However, simply looking at the displayed photographed image is the same as turning over an old-fashioned photo album, and it is not enough to enjoy the digitized photograph image. Of course, authoring software and CD-
Using a personal computer system equipped with an R drive, a user can independently create a photo CD with audio by combining digitized captured image data with pre-stored music data such as CD and audio data such as environmental sounds. It is possible, but not only is it necessary to have a skillful authoring software and a moderately heavy personal computer system, but above all, the user himself must match the shot images and prepare songs and environmental sounds that suit his tastes. This is not common, as it imposes a heavy burden on both cost and time. In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a captured image recording device that easily realizes a better way of enjoying a digitally converted captured image.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, a photographed image recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a photographed image data input unit for acquiring photographed image data from a photographed image storage medium brought in by a customer; A voice determining unit that determines an optimal voice based on input information from a customer; a voice data input unit that obtains voice data of the voice determined by the voice determining unit from a distribution center via a communication network; A link forming unit that sets a link relationship between the captured image data and the audio data, and a multimedia playback program that synchronously outputs the captured image data and the audio data based on the set link relationship. A data recording unit that records data and audio data on a recording medium.

In this configuration, the photographed image converted into digital data is recorded on a recording medium in a form linked to input information from a customer, that is, audio data determined based on the customer's intention. Since the photographed image data and the audio data recorded on the medium are synchronously output by the multimedia reproduction program, it is possible to listen to a suitable sound from a speaker or the like while watching the photographed image on a monitor or the like. Moreover, since the audio data to be selected uses the data stored in the distribution center, compared to using a CD or MO on which audio is recorded as an audio source, a very large number of types of audio are often used to produce a captured image. Matching ones can be selected.

It is desirable that a photographed image be hard-copyed as a conventional photographic print at any time. Therefore, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, photographed image data recorded on the recording medium is provided. Contains low-resolution data suitable for monitor display and high-resolution data suitable for print output. As a result, even if a negative film or a flash memory as a source of a photographed image is not stored, a conventional photographic print can be produced at any time simply by storing the recording medium. Of course, like a simultaneous printing in a conventional silver halide photographic system, a photographic print is produced using the photographic image data in this photographic image recording apparatus in order to simultaneously perform the photographic print when recording the photographic image data on a recording medium. It is also convenient to have a printing unit.

Further, if the contents of a photographed image, for example, information such as a local festival or a graduation ceremony, is adopted as input information used to determine a sound matching a photographed image, such an event can be used. By linking the environmental sound or the environmental music to be matched to the photographed image, the atmosphere can be enhanced when the photographed image is displayed.

Further, if music data is adopted as audio data and the input information is a music name, music that a customer likes and listens to at the time of photography can be linked to the photographed image. At the same time, the photographed image is displayed on a monitor or the like as if turning the album, and at the same time, the favorite music of the time is played, so that the memories can be deepened.

When music data is adopted as audio data, if only the music can be listened to like a normal music CD or MD, the added value of the recording medium will be increased. For this purpose, as one of preferred embodiments of the present invention, a configuration has been proposed in which the audio data is recorded on the recording medium in a format in which only an audio can be reproduced by an audio reproducing device.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an authoring unit for editing by combining various material data for setting a link relationship between photographed image data and audio data is provided. If a function is provided so that the audio output by the audio data is faded out at the end of the reproduction of the image data, even if the reproduction length of the audio data is longer than the reproduction length of the captured image data, By fading out the sound at the end of the reproduction, the reproduction of the next material can be started without giving the listener a sense of incongruity. Other features and advantages according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a system for producing a photo album CD with sound using a photographed image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of this system, and includes a mini-lab type photographed image recording device 1 installed in a DP shop or the like and a vending machine type photographed image recording device installed in a kiosk or a convenience store. 2, a music distribution server 3 installed in a distribution center and having a voice database 3a storing voice data such as music data and environmental sound data and a voice list file 3b listing stored voice data. Networked through line 4.

Vending machine type photographed image recording apparatus 2
Is functionally a substantially subset of the mini-lab-type photographed image recording device 1, and therefore, the mini-lab-type photographed image recording device 1 will be described first as a structural description of the photographed image recording device of the present invention. This photographed image recording device 1
Is substantially constituted by a so-called full digital minilab, which prints an image on a photosensitive material using an optical print head controlled based on digital image data, as is clear from the overall building blocks shown in FIG. I have.

More specifically, input of information necessary for selecting a voice to be combined with a photographed image and a name of a customer requesting simultaneous production of a photo album with sound and, in some cases, printing of the photograph, for example, Input of land,
Alternatively, an information input unit 10 for receiving a music genre input or a direct input of a music title, and a flash for recording photographic film 5a which has been used for shooting by a silver halide camera and has been developed and photographed image data photographed by a digital camera. A photographed image input unit 20 for acquiring photographed image data from a photographed image storage medium 5b such as a memory, a print processing unit 30 for performing image exposure processing and development processing on photographic paper 6 during simultaneous printing, and a photo album with sound CD
A control unit 40 that performs various data processing and device control when producing the audio data, an audio data input unit 50 that downloads audio data through the communication line 4, and a photo album with audio including a download fee for the adopted audio data. CD
A pricing unit 60 that prints out the production fee of the product and a data recording unit 70 that combines the photographed image data and audio data and records the photograph album with sound on the recording medium 7 are listed as constituent elements. In this embodiment, since the CD-R medium is used as the recording medium 7, the data recording unit 70
R drive.

The information input unit 10 is provided as a peripheral device of the control unit 40 having a CPU as a core, a console 11 composed of a keyboard and a mouse connected thereto, and a monitor 40a also serving as a peripheral device of the control unit 40. A touch panel 12 is provided through which various information is input. In particular, a vending machine type photographed image recording device 2
In consideration of operability for customers, substantially all information is input through the touch panel 12.

The photographed image input unit 20 is provided with a film scanner 21 for reading a frame image as a photographed image from a photographic film 5a developed by a film developing machine (not shown) and a recording medium 5b removed from the digital camera. A media reader 22 for directly capturing captured image data is provided. Although not shown here, it is also possible to provide the photographed image input unit 20 with a function of receiving photographed image data using data communication, thereby dramatically expanding the input form of photographed image data. become.

The print processing unit 30 includes a digital optical print head 31 for exposing the photographic paper 6 based on print data generated by the control unit 40 based on the input photographed image data during simultaneous printing; The developing unit 32 for developing the photographic paper 2 and the photographic paper 6 drawn from the paper magazine 33 and cut by the paper cutter 34 according to the print size are conveyed to the horizontal conveyor 35 through the exposure area and the developing unit 32. And a sorter 37 for sorting the photographic paper 6 fed from the horizontal conveyor 35 into photographic prints in order. Considering a relatively short exposure time and a long development time for the photographic paper 6,
The photographic paper transport mechanism 36 forms a photographic paper transport line that can transport the photographic paper 2 in three rows from the development processing unit 32 to a single row of photographic paper transport lines up to the exposure area. For this reason, between the exposure area and the development processing section 32, a sorting device 36a for sorting the exposed photographic paper 6 from single-row conveyance to double-row conveyance of three rows is provided.

The type of the optical print head 31 for exposing the printing paper 6 includes a DMD (digital micromirror device) system, a liquid crystal shutter system, a PLZT shutter system, a FOCRT system, a phosphor emission system, a laser beam system, and the like. It is known and is adopted according to the required exposure specification. Of course, in the vending machine type photographed image recording device 2, in order to reduce the size of the device, a print engine such as an ink jet system or a sublimation type thermal transfer system is generally used instead of a print processing unit that performs a silver halide photographic print. A print processing unit 30 for producing the photographic print 2 is employed.

The control unit 40 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM,
A microcomputer system including an I / O interface circuit and the like is configured as a core member, and various functions necessary for the photo album CD-with-audio system are realized by hardware and / or software. The control unit 40 has a function of controlling the operation of various members. Here, a photo album CD with sound combining a photographed image and sound (music or environmental sound) is particularly related to the present invention. Only the main functional elements related to fabrication will be described. As such, the console 11
Device control unit 4 that controls input devices such as a touch panel 12, a touch panel 12, a film scanner 21, and a media reader 22.
1. A voice determining unit 42 that processes information input from the console 11 or the touch panel 12 to determine a voice matching a captured image to be used, and a list of voices that can be used in voice selection in the voice determining unit 42. The recorded voice list file 43, an image pre-processing unit 44 that performs various image processing such as level correction and color correction on input photographed image data to enhance the finish, and performs processing on pre-processed photographed image data. On the other hand, conversion to the resolution suitable for the photo album CD with sound (normally low resolution suitable for the CRT screen) and color matching are performed, and the conversion to the resolution suitable for photo print production (normally high resolution suitable for the print head) Image processing unit 4 that performs conversion and color matching
5. A print control unit 46 that generates print data based on the high-resolution photographed image data for photograph printing and controls the print head 31, and loads the image of the photographed image data and the image of other display items into the video memory as necessary. In both cases, the video controller 47 converts the display image into a video signal by a video controller and sends it to the monitor 40a. Under the operation of the link forming unit 48a, the low-resolution photographed image data and audio data for the photo album CD are input. An authoring unit 48 that combines the information based on the information into a file that can be synchronously reproduced by a predetermined multimedia player software; an audio restoration unit that restores audio data for confirmation of audio data and outputs sound from the speaker 40b 49, Calculate audio data download fee Download the fee calculation unit 61 to give the data to the pricing unit 60 Te, CD-R
A CD-R drive control unit 71 that controls the drive 70 and writes the album file with audio generated by the authoring unit 48 and the high-resolution photographed image data for photo printing to a CD-R medium is included.

Next, the flow of photographed image data and sound data in this system when a customer who has taken a photographed film and ordered a photo album CD with sound and sound will be described with reference to FIG. First, information about the shooting location and the subject, which is heard from the customer, is input through the console. Here, it is assumed that keywords “graduation trip” and “Austria” are given as input information. As shown in FIG. 5, the record structure of the voice list file 43 includes, as shown in FIG. 5, a voice ID code for specifying voice data, a voice name (a song name for a song), some keywords (a region or an event related to the voice, and a song for a song). Composers and singers)
Since the download fee and the like are used as fields, records matching the given keyword can be immediately searched and extracted. The extracted records are displayed in order from the one with the most hit keywords,
One or more voices are selected according to a customer's request or automatically. Here, it is assumed that “Beautiful blue Danube” and “Graduation photo” are selected. Note that the voice list file 4
3 is a voice list file 3b of the distribution server 3 periodically.
Is updated by downloading the latest data from.

The voice ID code of the voice record determined by the voice determination unit 42 is used when the voice data is downloaded from the voice distribution server 3 through the voice data input unit 50. The audio data storage unit 3a of the audio distribution server 3 stores audio data in a searchable manner using the audio ID code as a key.
By transmitting the voice ID code, the corresponding voice data can be downloaded. The downloaded audio data is converted by the audio restoration unit 49 as necessary, and the audio can be emitted from the speaker 40b for checking.

At the same time, the photographic film 5a brought in is developed by a film processor, then converted into a digital image by the film scanner 21 of the photographed image input section 20, and transferred to the image pre-processing section 44 as photographed image data. Image processing well known in the field of digital photographic printing, such as correction, is performed. Further, the photographed image data is subjected to individual photo retouch processing in the image processing section 45, and is adjusted to a resolution and image size suitable for being displayed on a monitor screen or a TV screen of a personal computer like an electronic slide show. Is converted into so-called low-resolution data and so-called high-resolution data adjusted to a resolution and image size suitable for photographic printing.

The low-resolution data and the audio data downloaded through the audio data input unit 50 are multiplexed by the authoring unit 48 in such a manner that the audio data and the image data are reproduced synchronously in a format like a slide show with background music. It is converted into a multimedia file by being incorporated into a media playback program. A representative example of the multimedia reproduction program is, for example, a director of Macromedia. When only one audio data is assigned to a plurality of captured image frames in this multimedia file, the audio data may be restored and the sound may be output together with the reproduction of the captured image. When assigning different audio data to each of the photographed image frame groups or to each of the photographed image frames, it is necessary to link the photographed image data and the sound data with a link code. 48a.

The authoring section 48 has an audio editing function for fading out audio output by audio data at the end of reproduction of photographed image data.
Thereby, when the playback length of the audio data is longer than the playback length of the captured image data, the audio can be faded out at the end of the playback of the captured image data,
It is possible to shift to reproduction of the next material without giving the listener a sense of discomfort. Further, the authoring unit 48
Has a function of editing the audio data to be repeated as long as the reproduction of the captured image data is continued when the reproduction length of the audio data is shorter than the reproduction length of the captured image data.

The high-resolution data is sent to the print control unit 4.
6 and converted into print data, and by controlling the print head 31, the photographed image is exposed on the photographic paper 6, and a normal photographic print is finally output. The multimedia file created by the authoring unit 48 and the high-resolution data used for the photo print are sent to the CD-R drive control unit 70, converted into the CD format, and transferred to the CD-R medium via the data recording unit 70. The written photo album CD7 with sound is completed. At the time of CD formatting, music data is written to a music track so that music can be reproduced by a normal CD player. Therefore, in the photo album with sound CD7, music downloaded from the distribution center can be reproduced like an ordinary music CD. When the audio data is written on the CD-R media, the download fee calculation unit 61 determines the download fee set for each audio data, and in addition to the basic photo album CD7 production fee with audio and the photo print fee, This is given to the pricing unit 60 to output a charge sheet.

The above is an example of a system employing the mini-lab type photographed image recording apparatus 1 in a photo album CD with sound.
Although the manufacturing process has been described, the system using the vending machine type photographed image recording device 2 has a slightly different process in order to make the configuration compact. That is, only the media reader 22 is provided in the captured image input unit 20,
It is limited to data stored in a flash memory mounted on a digital camera as photographed image data. The sound assigned to the captured image displayed by inserting the flash memory into the reading media slot 81 is only music, but it is possible to allocate music for each captured image frame unit. The selection of music is performed by designating a desired music from a music list such as genre and singer displayed on the touch panel in units of each photographed image frame or common to all frames, and music data of the specified music is It is downloaded from the distribution center via the communication line 4.

In the photo album with sound CD7, the high-resolution data and the multimedia file described above are recorded on the CD-R medium inserted into the writing medium insertion port 83 by inputting a designated charge into the charging port 82. It is produced by. When simultaneous printing is requested, the print processing unit 30 configured by the sublimation type thermal transfer method is used.
Creates a photographic print using the high-resolution data and discharges the photographic print from the photographic print outlet 84.

In the above description of the embodiment, the photographed image recording apparatus according to the present invention is a minilab type photographed image recording apparatus 1
And the vending machine type photographed image recording apparatus 2 have been described separately, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to these two types of embodiments. The invention includes all variants that can be implemented within. An important point of the present invention is to create a multimedia file by authoring a photographed image prepared by a customer and audio downloaded from a distribution center via a communication network, and to create an electronic photo album with audio.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a sound album CD production system with sound using a photographed image recording device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration block diagram of a captured image recording device.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a control unit of the captured image recording device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of captured image data and audio data when a photo album CD with audio is produced.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a voice list file.

[Description of Signs] 1 Minilab type photographed image recording device 2 Vending machine type photographed image recording device 3 Distribution server (distribution center) 3a Audio data storage unit 3b Audio list file 4 Communication line (communication network) 5a Photo film 5b Flash memory (captured image storage media) 10 Information input unit 20 Captured image data input unit 30 Print photographic paper processing unit 40 Control unit 42 Voice determination unit 43 Voice list file 44 Image preprocessing unit 45 Image processing unit 48 Authoring unit 48a Link formation Unit 50 voice data input unit 70 data recording unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A photographed image data input unit for acquiring photographed image data from a photographed image storage medium brought in by a customer, a sound decision unit for deciding an optimal sound based on information input by the customer, and the sound decision An audio data input unit that acquires audio data of the audio determined by the unit from the distribution center via a communication network; a link forming unit that sets a link relationship between the input captured image data and audio data; And a data recording unit that records the photographed image data and the audio data on a recording medium together with a multimedia reproduction program that synchronously outputs the photographed image data and the audio data based on the obtained link relationship. Photographed image recording device. 2. The photographed image data recorded on the recording medium includes low-resolution data suitable for monitor display and high-resolution data suitable for print output. A photographed image recording device. 3. The photographed image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input information is content information of a photographed image. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said audio data is music data, and said input information is a music name.
A photographed image recording device according to any one of the above. 5. The photographed image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said audio data is recorded on said recording medium in a format in which only an audio can be reproduced by an audio reproducing apparatus. 6. The photographed image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a print section for producing a photographic print using the photographed image data. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein when setting the link relationship between the photographed image data and the sound data, the sound output by the sound data is edited so as to fade out at the end of reproduction of the photographed image data. 7. The captured image recording device according to any one of 6.