JP2002232762A - Image processing apparatus, method thereof, record medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow transferring images shot by an electronic camera quickly to another apparatus by changing image sizes. SOLUTION: In an image processing apparatus, thumbnail images to be transferred to another apparatus are selected from thumbnail images displayed on a window 202. With operating a button 205, a window 211 to designate sizes of images to be transferred is displayed. A user selects one size among the sizes displayed on the window 211. When a button 206 is operated, image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail image is converted into image data with a common size designated by the window 211 to be transferred to another apparatus.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a program, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus, method, and recording apparatus capable of transferring image data to another apparatus by simple operation. Media and programs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, digital still cameras have become widespread. The user captures the image captured by the digital still camera into, for example, a personal computer, edits the image, transfers it to a friend as e-mail, prints it on a postcard, etc., and mails it as a New Year's card. Or Alternatively, an image captured by a digital still camera may be posted on a homepage on the Internet.

[0003]

The size of an image captured by a digital still camera is relatively large. Therefore, when the image is transferred by e-mail or used by attaching it to a homepage, the image size is reduced. Need to convert to smaller size.

Conventionally, such conversion processing has been executed on the personal computer side. That is, when performing such conversion processing, the user causes the digital still camera to transfer (copy) image data of a required image to the personal computer. Then, in the personal computer, the user takes in the copied image data with an application capable of converting the size of the image, and instructs the application to specify a conversion size for each image and save the image data in the application. .

As a result, there has been a problem that the operability is poor and it is difficult to quickly perform the size conversion process.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is an object of the present invention to be able to quickly and easily change the size of an image.

[0007]

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a first fetching means for fetching designation information for designating an image to be transferred to another device, and a designation information fetched by the first fetching means. A second capturing unit that captures size information that specifies a specified image size, and a command to transfer image data corresponding to an image specified by the specification information captured by the first capturing unit to another device. A receiving unit that receives the image data and a designation that is received by the first capturing unit based on the size information captured by the second capturing unit when a command to transfer the image data to another device is received by the receiving unit; Changing means for changing the size of the image corresponding to the information; and image data corresponding to the image whose size has been changed by the changing means to another device. Characterized in that it comprises a transfer means for transferring the.

[0008] When designation information for designating a plurality of images to be transferred to another device is designated by the first capturing means, size information for designating a common size of the plurality of images designated in the designation information is stored in the second acquisition unit. The capturing means changes the sizes of the plurality of images corresponding to the designated information captured by the first capturing means to a common size based on the size information.
Image data corresponding to an image whose size has been changed to a common size by the changing unit can be transferred to another device.

[0009] Imaging means for imaging a subject, storage means for storing an image captured by the imaging means, generating means for generating a thumbnail image of the image stored in the storage means, and thumbnail image generated by the generating means And display control means for controlling the display of the thumbnail image. The first capture means can capture the designated information designated by the thumbnail image.

[0010] The image processing apparatus may be a digital still camera.

The image processing apparatus further includes third capturing means for capturing the additional information, and the transfer means transfers the additional information captured by the third capturing means in correspondence with each of the specified one or more images. can do.

According to the image processing method of the present invention, a first capturing step of capturing designation information for designating an image to be transferred to another device, and an image designated by the designation information captured by the processing of the first capturing step A second capturing step of capturing size information specifying the size of the
A receiving step of receiving an instruction to transfer image data corresponding to an image specified by the specification information captured by the processing of the first capturing step to another device;
When a command to transfer the image data to another device is received by the processing of the receiving step, the image data is captured by the processing of the first capturing step based on the size information captured by the processing of the second capturing step. The method includes a change step of changing the size of an image corresponding to the designated information, and a transfer step of transferring image data corresponding to the image whose size has been changed by the processing of the change step to another device.

[0013] The program of the recording medium according to the present invention includes a first fetching step of fetching designation information for designating an image to be transferred to another apparatus, and a designation information designated by the designation information fetched by the processing of the first fetching step. A second capturing step of capturing size information for specifying the size of the image, and a command to transfer image data corresponding to the image specified by the specifying information captured by the processing of the first capturing step to another device. A receiving step of receiving, and when a command to transfer the image data to another device is received by the processing of the receiving step, the first capturing step is performed based on the size information captured by the processing of the second capturing step. A change step for changing the size of the image corresponding to the designated information captured by the processing, and a change The image data size by the processing of step corresponds to the modified image, characterized in that it comprises a transfer step of transferring to another device.

A program according to the present invention includes a first capturing step of capturing specification information for specifying an image to be transferred to another device, and a size of the image specified by the specification information captured by the processing of the first capturing step. And a receiving step of receiving an instruction to transfer image data corresponding to an image specified by the specification information captured by the processing of the first capturing step to another device. And when an instruction to transfer image data to another device is received by the processing of the receiving step, based on the size information captured by the processing of the second capturing step,
A changing step of changing the size of the image corresponding to the designated information captured by the processing of the first capturing step; and transferring the image data corresponding to the image whose size has been changed by the processing of the changing step to another device. And the steps are executed.

In the image processing apparatus and method and the program according to the present invention, the size of an image can be changed at the time of transfer, and the image is transferred.

[0016]

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an electronic camera (digital still camera) to which the present invention is applied.

The CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 12 has a predetermined number of pixels, and photoelectrically converts the light incident from the photographing lens 11 for each pixel to generate an image signal (electric signal).

The image processing unit 31 has a CPU (Central Process
The image signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 12 is sampled at a predetermined timing.
The analog / digital conversion circuit (A / D conversion circuit) 32
The image signal sampled by the image processing unit 31 is digitized and supplied to a digital signal processor (DSP) 33.

DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 33
Controls the data bus connected to the buffer memory 35 and the memory card 13, temporarily stores the image data supplied from the A / D conversion circuit 32 in the buffer memory 35, and converts the image data into a discrete cosine transform. JPEG (Joint Photog) that combines JPEG, quantization and Huffman coding
The compressed data is recorded in the memory card 13 in accordance with the method of the "rphic Experts Group".

The DSP 33 stores the image data supplied from the A / D conversion circuit 32 in a frame memory 47,
Further, in addition to displaying on the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 15, image data recorded on the memory card 13 is read out, the image data is stored in the frame memory 47, and further displayed on the LCD 15.

The DSP 33 also supplies a CCD horizontal drive pulse to the CCD 12 and controls a CCD drive circuit 39,
The CD 12 is supplied with a CCD vertical drive pulse.

The buffer memory 35 is a memory card 13
The speed of writing or reading data to and from the CP
Data is temporarily stored according to the difference in processing speed between the U36 and the DSP 33.

The memory card 13 is detachable from the electronic camera 1 and has a built-in nonvolatile storage element, and records setting parameters of various functions in addition to image data of a photographed image.

CPU 36 is connected to personal computer 1 via connector 17 and interface (I / F) 48.
01 (FIG. 2).

For example, the CPU 36 transfers the image data recorded on the memory card 13 to the personal computer 10 via the interface 48 and the connector 17.
Output to 1.

Further, the CPU 36 includes a strobe driving circuit 4
In addition to controlling the strobe 1 to appropriately emit light from the strobe 14, the lens drive circuit 30 is controlled to move the photographing lens 11, thereby performing autofocus control.

When the CPU 36 receives a signal from the operation key 16 such as a power switch or a release switch, the CPU 36 performs a process corresponding to the key.

The timer 45 has a built-in backup battery, and outputs data corresponding to the current time to the CPU 36.

The DC / DC converter 49 converts the electric power of the battery 18 into an operating voltage of each circuit built in the electronic camera 1 and supplies the operating voltage to each circuit.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a personal computer 101 connected to the electronic camera 1 of FIG. In the personal computer 101, the CPU 114
Performs various processes according to programs recorded in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 115 or a hard disk device 116. The ROM 115 stores, for example, programs and data used at the time of startup.

The hard disk device 116 stores programs such as an operating system and a program for editing image data taken from the electronic camera 1 connected to the personal computer 101.

A RAM (Random Access Memory) 117 stores C
When various processes are being performed by the PU 114, programs and data are temporarily stored.

A VRAM (Video RAM) 118 stores the image data supplied from the CPU 114 for each pixel, and outputs an image signal corresponding to the image data to the display 111.

The interface 119 is connected to, for example, a connector 122 conforming to PCMCIA, and outputs a signal supplied via the connector 122 to the CPU 114.

The interface 120 includes the keyboard 11
2 and outputs a signal corresponding to an operation on the keyboard 112 to the CPU 114.

The interface 121 is connected to the mouse 113 and outputs a signal corresponding to an operation on the mouse 113.
Output to CPU114.

The operation keys 16 are operated by the user,
When the photographing mode is instructed, the CPU 36 controls the lens driving circuit 30 to control the focus of the photographing lens 11 on a subject (not shown).

Light from the subject is incident on the CCD 12 via the photographing lens 11. The CCD 12 photoelectrically converts the incident light for each pixel, and supplies pixel data to the image processing unit 31 in synchronization with the driving based on the DSP 3 and the CCD driving circuit 39. After processing the input image data, the image processing unit 31 supplies the processed image data to the A / D conversion circuit 32 to perform A / D conversion. DSP
33 supplies the image data supplied from the A / D conversion circuit 32 to the buffer memory 35 and stores the same.

The DSP 33 supplies the image data supplied from the A / D conversion circuit 32 to the frame memory 47 via the CPU control bus and stores it. Frame memory 47
Stores the input image data in frame units, and outputs the stored frame images to the LCD 15 for display.

By repeating the above operation,
The LCD 15 displays a moving image of the subject.

When the user operates the release button constituting the operation key 16 and instructs the image pickup, the CPU 36 at that time, the frame memory 47 and the buffer memory 3
5 is held. That is, the CPU 36 prohibits updating of the image data in the frame memory 47 and the buffer memory 35.

The DSP 33 has a buffer memory 35
After performing predetermined processing on the image data stored in the memory card 13, the image data is supplied to the memory card 13 and stored therein.

By performing the above-described processing a required number of times, the memory card 13 stores an arbitrary number of image data corresponding to the image of the subject in frame units.

When transferring the image data thus stored in the memory card 13 to the personal computer 101, the user operates the connector 17 of the electronic camera 1.
And the connector 122 of the personal computer 101 are connected by a cord based on the PCMCIA standard. And
The user operates the operation keys 16 to instruct an image transfer mode. When this command is input, the CPU 36
The processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4 is executed.

First, in step S1, the CPU 36
Determines whether a transfer destination has been specified. When the transfer destination is specified, the process proceeds to step S2, and the CPU 36 stores the specified transfer destination.

That is, when the transfer mode is instructed,
The CPU 36 generates image data corresponding to a screen for inputting a transfer destination, supplies the image data to the frame memory 47, stores the image data, and causes the LCD 15 to display the image data. The user operates the operation keys 16 to input a transfer destination to a transfer destination input unit (not shown) displayed on the LCD 15. For example, when a folder stored in the hard disk device 116 of the personal computer 101 is designated as the transfer destination, the folder is stored as the transfer destination.

If it is determined in step S1 that the transfer destination is not specified, or if the transfer destination is stored in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3, where the CPU
36 determines whether a keyword has been input. If it is determined that a keyword has been input, step S4
The CPU 36 stores the input keyword.

That is, the user can instruct the keyword input mode by operating the operation keys 16. At this time, the CPU 36 generates GUI (Graphical User Interface) image data for keyword input, supplies the image data to the frame memory 47, and stores the image data. When this image data is supplied to the LCD 15 and displayed,
For example, as shown in FIG.
The GUI will be displayed. The user operates the operation keys 16 and inputs a keyword using this GUI. FIG.
In this example, ten keywords can be input.

For example, if the user wishes to copy (transfer) a plurality of images taken in an amusement park from among the images stored in the memory card 13 to a folder designated as a transfer destination, the folder Input a keyword common to each image stored in.

If it is determined in step S3 that no keyword has been input, or if it is determined in step S4
In step S5, when the input keyword is stored, the process proceeds to step S5, and the CPU 36 determines whether display of a thumbnail image corresponding to the image stored in the memory card 13 is instructed. That is, after the user inputs the transfer destination and the keyword, the user operates the operation keys 16 to select the image data to be transferred to display the thumbnail images of the plurality of images stored in the memory card 13. The thumbnail display mode to be commanded. If this command has not been input, the process returns to step S1, and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed.

If it is determined in step S5 that the display of a thumbnail image has been instructed, the CPU 36 proceeds to step S6 to display the thumbnail image on the LCD 15. That is, at this time, the CPU 36 controls the DSP 33 to generate image data corresponding to the thumbnail image in order to display a reduced image of each of the plurality of images stored in the memory card 13 as a thumbnail image. . Upon generating the thumbnail image data, the DSP 33 supplies the thumbnail image data to the frame memory 47 and causes the LCD 15 to display the thumbnail image data.

Thus, for example, a thumbnail image is displayed as shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 6, six thumbnail images are displayed in the window 202. In the upper left window 201 of the window 202, the name (NIKAN) of the folder specified as the transfer destination is displayed.

The number following the name indicates the number of images (six in this example) designated to be transferred to the folder.

The window 203 above the window 202 is provided with a display unit 204 on which information for specifying the size of an image to be transferred is displayed. In the window 203, a button 205 operated when selecting display on the display unit 204 is displayed. Further, on the left side of the display unit 204, a button 206 operated when instructing transfer is displayed.

In step S7, the CPU 36 determines whether or not the image to be transferred is specified by the user by specifying a thumbnail image, and waits until it is determined that the image is specified. If it is determined that a thumbnail image has been specified, the process proceeds to step S8, and the CPU 36 stores the specified thumbnail image.

Next, in step S9, the CPU 36
Determines whether the image size has been designated, and if it is determined that the image size has been designated, proceeds to step S10, where the designated image size is stored.

That is, the user operates the button 205 when designating the size of the image to be transferred. At this time, the CPU 36 causes the LCD 15 to display a window 211 for specifying a size as shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 7, the original size is 1024 × 76
Four sizes of 8,640 × 480 and 320 × 240 are displayed. The user can operate the operation key 16 to select one desired size from the four sizes. The selected size is displayed on the display unit 204
Will be displayed. In the display example of FIG. 6, “original size” is selected and displayed.

In step S9, when it is determined that the image size has not been specified, or in step S1
At 0, after the designated image size is stored, the process proceeds to step S11, and the CPU 36 determines whether or not the button 206 for instructing transfer has been operated. Button 206
If it is determined that is not operated, the process returns to step S7, and the subsequent processes are repeatedly executed.

As described above, the user designates an arbitrary number of thumbnail images to be transferred, and then designates one size as a size common to the designated images. Of course, the user also specifies one size when only one thumbnail image to be transferred is specified. Then, the user operates the button 206 when starting the transfer.
At this time, it is determined in step S11 that the transfer button has been operated, and the process proceeds to step S12, where the CPU 36
Selects one thumbnail image from the one or more thumbnail images stored in the process of step S8. Then, in step S13, it is determined whether or not the image size finally specified and stored in step S10 is an image size other than the original size.

If the designated and stored image size is a size other than the original size, step S14
The CPU 36 fetches image data (original image data) corresponding to the thumbnail image selected in the process of step S12, and converts the image data into image data of the designated size in step S15. , DSP33. In response to this request, the DSP 33 executes a process for changing the designated image data to the designated image size.

When the original size is specified as the size of the image to be transferred, there is no need to perform size conversion processing. Therefore, when it is determined in step S13 that an image size other than the original size is not specified (when it is determined that the original size is specified), the processing in steps S14 and S15 is skipped.

Next, the process proceeds to step S16, where the CPU 36
Sets image data of a designated size as transfer target image data. That is, when the image size conversion is performed, the image data of the image size is set as the transfer target image data, and when the image size conversion is not performed, the original size image data is set as the transfer target image data. You.

Next, in step S17, the CPU 36
Reads the keyword stored in step S4,
The keyword is used as additional information of the image data.
Further, in step S18, the CPU 36 reads out the memory card information stored in the memory card 13 and sets this as the attached information. The memory card information is, for example, information such as the capacity of the memory card 13 and a manufacturer name.

Next, the process proceeds to step S19, where the CPU 36
Converts the transfer target image data set in step S16 and the attached information read in steps S17 and S18 into an IPTC (International Press
lecommunications Council). That is, the CPU 36 causes the transfer target image data attached information to be transferred from the interface 48 to the personal computer 101 via the connector 17.

In step S20, it is determined whether or not all the thumbnail images stored and designated as the images to be transferred in step S8 have been selected.
If it is determined that all the thumbnail images have not been selected, the process returns to step S12, and one next thumbnail image is selected from the stored thumbnail images, and
The processing corresponding to the image is executed in the same manner as in the case described above. If it is determined in step S20 that all the specified thumbnail images have been selected, the transfer process ends.

The transfer process is performed as described above.

CPU 11 of personal computer 101
When the image data transferred from the electronic camera 1 is transferred from the connector 122 via the interface 119, the image data 4 is written in a designated folder of the hard disk device.

As described above, image data corresponding to an arbitrary number of images are simultaneously transferred with the common keyword and memory card information as accessory information.

The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software executes various functions by installing a computer built in dedicated hardware or installing various programs. For example, it is installed in a general-purpose personal computer or the like from a network or a recording medium.

In this specification, the step of describing a program recorded on a recording medium may be performed in a chronological order according to the described order. This also includes processing executed in parallel or individually.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the size of an image can be changed at the time of transfer, operability is improved. In particular, in the case of a plurality of images designated as the images to be transferred, the plurality of images are changed to a common size,
Since the transfer is performed, the user can specify the image to be transferred, and can complete the transfer process with only one size specification operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic camera to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a personal computer to which an image is transferred by the electronic camera in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing of the electronic camera in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing of the electronic camera in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a GUI for keyword input.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a GUI for selecting a thumbnail.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a GUI for designating an image size.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 CCD 13 Memory card 15 LCD 16 Operation keys 33 DSP 36 CPU

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B057 BA02 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC01 CD05 CH01 5C022 AA13 AB15 AB22 AB68 AC03 AC42 AC69 AC74 5C076 AA21 AA22 BA05 CB01

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image processing device for transferring image data to another device, wherein the first capturing device captures designation information for designating an image to be transferred to the other device; A second capturing unit that captures size information that specifies the image size specified by the specification information, and image data corresponding to the image that is specified by the specification information that is captured by the first capturing unit. Receiving means for receiving a transfer command to the other device; and, when the receiving device receives a command to transfer the image data to the other device, the size captured by the second capturing device. Changing the size of an image corresponding to the designated information captured by the first capturing unit based on information; Further means and an image processing apparatus characterized by comprising a transfer means for transferring the image data corresponding to the image is resized to the other device by the changing means. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said specifying information specifies a plurality of images to be transferred to said another device, and specifies a common size of said plurality of images specified in said specifying information. The size information to be captured is captured by the second capturing means, and the changing means determines the first information based on the size information.
Changing the size of the plurality of images corresponding to the designation information captured by the capture unit to a common size, the transfer unit controlling the image corresponding to the image whose size has been changed to the common size by the change unit 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data is transferred to said another apparatus. 3. An image capturing means for capturing an image of a subject; a storage means for storing the image captured by the image capturing means; a generating means for generating a thumbnail image of the image stored in the storage means; And display control means for controlling the display of the thumbnail image generated by the control unit, wherein the first capturing means captures the specified information specified by the thumbnail image. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image processing apparatus is a digital still camera. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: third capturing means for capturing the additional information, wherein the transfer means corresponds to the one or more designated images to the additional information captured by the third capturing means. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. An image processing method of an image processing apparatus for transferring image data to another device, wherein: a first capturing step of capturing specification information for specifying an image to be transferred to the other device; A second capturing step of capturing size information that specifies the size of the image specified by the specifying information captured by the processing of the step; and a second capturing step that is performed by the specifying information captured by the processing of the first capturing step. A receiving step of receiving an instruction to transfer the image data corresponding to the image to the another device, and a process of receiving the image data to the other device is received by the processing of the receiving step. The first capture is performed based on the size information captured by the process of the second capture step. A changing step of changing the size of the image corresponding to the designation information captured by the processing of the step; and a transferring step of transferring image data corresponding to the image whose size has been changed by the processing of the changing step to the another device. An image processing method comprising: 7. A program for controlling an image processing device for transferring image data to another device, wherein the first capturing step captures designation information for designating an image to be transferred to the other device; A second capturing step of capturing size information that specifies the size of the image specified by the specification information captured by the processing of the capturing step; and the designation information captured by the processing of the first capturing step. A receiving step of receiving an instruction to transfer the image data corresponding to the designated image to the other device; and a case in which an instruction to transfer the image data to the other device is received by the processing of the receiving step. , Based on the size information captured by the processing of the second capturing step, A changing step of changing the size of the image corresponding to the designation information captured by the processing of the inserting step; and transferring the image data corresponding to the image whose size has been changed by the processing of the changing step to the other device. A recording medium having recorded thereon a computer-readable program. 8. A first capturing step of capturing, into a computer that controls an image processing apparatus that transfers image data to another apparatus, designating information that specifies an image to be transferred to the other apparatus, the first capturing step A second capturing step of capturing size information that specifies the size of the image specified by the specifying information captured by the processing of the step; and a second capturing step that is performed by the specifying information captured by the processing of the first capturing step. A receiving step of receiving an instruction to transfer the image data corresponding to the image to the another device, and a process of receiving the image data to the other device is received by the processing of the receiving step. The first capture is performed based on the size information captured by the processing of the second capture step. A step of changing the size of an image corresponding to the designation information captured by the processing of the step (b), and transferring the image data corresponding to the image whose size has been changed by the processing of the changing step to the another device. A program that executes steps.