JP2003030675A - Image editing device and method, image recording and reproducing device and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To edit moving images in the form that editing contents can be easily and visually understood on the screen of an image recording and reproducing device. SOLUTION: The image recording and reproducing device is provided with: a display control means for controlling a display means so as to arrange and display a plurality of thumbnails respectively representing a plurality of titles or the like constituting the moving images in correspondence in the output order of the titles or the like on the same screen; a specifying means for specifying one of a plurality of the thumbnails on the same screen and also for specifying one of the gaps between the two adjacent thumbnails; and an editing means for performing the editing processing of the moving images corresponding to the thumbnail or the gap specified by the specifying means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image editing apparatus and method for editing a moving image recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD, an image recording / reproducing apparatus and a computer provided with such an image editing apparatus. It belongs to the technical field of computer programs that cause such an image editing apparatus to function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When editing moving images recorded on a traditional video tape (for example, combining or adding or partially deleting moving images), a plurality of video decks are used to control the moving images. The image information itself or the content information itself including the image information and the audio information is edited.

On the other hand, in a DVD recorder which has recently been commercialized by the applicant of the present application, in addition to simply reproducing the image information or content information recorded on the DVD in the recording order, the title recorded on the DVD is also recorded. By sequentially reproducing a plurality of moving image parts divided into units, chapters, scenes, etc. in accordance with a playlist that is registered in the management information table and defines in what order the output or reproduction (play) is performed. , And can be played back as one moving image. Therefore, the editing work in such a DVD recorder is actually a DV
This is done not only by directly editing the image information itself or the content information recorded on D, but also by changing the playlist registered in the management information table.

In particular, in the case of editing with such a DVD recorder, a title name, a title name, a chapter name, a scene name, etc., which indicate the name of the moving image portion, respectively.
The chapter name, scene name, etc. are displayed as text in the same screen on the display side by side in the order of play (output order). By specifying the desired one of these with the remote control operation, etc., by the specified title name etc. It is configured so that the editing process related to the moving image portion shown can be executed.

According to the DVD recorder configured as described above, the play order of each title and each chapter according to the play list can be confirmed at a glance by the arrangement of the title name, the chapter name, etc. on the same screen. Since the edit target can be designated by a title name, chapter name, etc., for example, operability is high and convenient when deleting a moving image portion represented by an arbitrary title name, chapter name, etc.

[0006]

However, according to the above-mentioned DVD recorder, the editing target for a certain editing item has a one-to-one correspondence, and, for example, a moving image portion related to the editing process can be displayed in units such as titles and chapters. Since it is specified, the flexibility in editing operation is lacking, and another title, chapter, etc. cannot be inserted between two titles, chapters, etc. arranged in the order of play. Moreover, even if a title, chapter, or the like is moved to another position (that is, another play order), it is necessary to perform a troublesome operation in the manner of a so-called wedding game, or it is necessary to rearrange from the beginning. It happens. Alternatively, even if a title or chapter related to the editing process is specified, it is difficult for the operator to visually understand whether to add or combine the title or chapter before or after the title or chapter. It may be necessary to do it in stages.

In particular, the edit target for the edit item is one-to-one.
Since it is a correspondence, even if the edited contents are similar items, it is necessary to increase the number of items for each edit target.Therefore, even if the edited contents are equivalent, it is necessary to perform screen transition or the item itself does not exist. Instead, you may have to create something else by using other methods. Further, the contents and results of such work are generally difficult for the operator to visually understand.

As described above, in conventional image editing by designating a title name, chapter name, etc., a variety of flexible or flexible editing operations are performed in a form that is easy for the operator to visually understand. There is a problem that is difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is excellent in operability, and an image in which a moving image can be edited in such a manner that the operator can easily visually understand the edited contents on the screen. An object of the present invention is to provide an editing device and method, an image recording / reproducing device including such an image editing device, and a computer program that causes a computer to function as such an image editing device.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the image editing apparatus of the present invention has a plurality of image representatives which respectively represent a plurality of moving image portions forming a moving image on the same screen of the display means. It is possible to specify one of the plurality of pieces of image representative information on the same screen, with display control means for controlling the display means so as to display information in association with each other in the output order of the plurality of moving image parts. There is also a designating unit capable of designating one of the gaps between two image representative information adjacent to each other among the plurality of image representative information, and the moving image according to the image representative information or the gap designated by the designating unit. And an editing unit that performs an image editing process.

According to the image editing apparatus of the present invention, at the time of editing, under the control of the display control means, the display means respectively displays a plurality of moving image parts (for example, titles, chapters, scenes, etc.) which form a moving image. A plurality of representative image information items, such as thumbnails or title names, chapter names, or scene names, which are representative, are arranged in association with each other in the output order of a plurality of moving image portions and displayed on the same screen. More specifically, thumbnails, title names, etc. are displayed side by side or vertically in one column or one line, or are displayed over multiple lines or multiple columns with line breaks or line breaks. And in such a display state,
The operator designates one of the plurality of image representative information or one of the gaps between two adjacent image representative information of the plurality of image representative information by the designating means. Then, the editing unit edits the moving image in accordance with the image representative information or the gap designated by the designating unit. Therefore, not only can the image representative information such as the thumbnail and the title name be directly specified, but also the gap between the image representative information such as the thumbnail and the title name can be designated, so that the gap is specified for the editing process related to the gap. If it is defined in advance as an editing process in this case, the operability at the time of editing is significantly improved compared to the conventional technology in which the gap cannot be specified, and the operator can visually understand the edited contents on the screen. Editing can be done in a form that is easy to do.

The display control means is provided in the main body of the recording / reproducing apparatus such as a DVD recorder in which the image editing apparatus or the image editing apparatus is incorporated, and the designating means is separated from the main body of the apparatus. It may be provided in the remote controller. Alternatively, both the display control means and the designation means may be provided inside the apparatus main body, or may be provided inside the remote controller.

In one aspect of the image editing apparatus of the present invention, the image representative information includes at least one of a thumbnail representing the moving image portion and a text representing the moving image portion.

According to this aspect, the image representative information is composed of a still image representing a moving image portion, for example, a still image near the start point of the moving image portion or a thumbnail which is a still image in a representative scene designated in advance. Alternatively, it is composed of text such as a title, a chapter name, a scene name, etc. indicating the name of a moving image portion such as a title, chapter, or scene. Therefore, not only can the thumbnails, title names, etc. displayed side by side on the same screen be specified directly, but also the gaps between thumbnails, title names, etc. can be specified, which significantly improves the operability during editing and further It is possible for a person to perform editing work on the screen so that the edited contents can be visually easily understood.

In another aspect of the image editing apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of moving image parts are registered in a play list indicating at least their output order, and the editing means makes a change to the play list. Thus, the editing process is performed.

According to this aspect, the editing means performs the editing process by changing the playlist in which the output order of the plurality of moving image parts and the like are registered, so that, for example, the recording medium on which the moving image is recorded. Compared with directly editing (erasing, adding, combining, rearranging, etc.) the moving image itself, the editing process can be performed easily. Then, by reproducing or outputting a moving image recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD according to a playlist, the moving image can be reproduced or output in a form in which the editing process by the image editing apparatus is reflected.

In the play list-related aspect, the play list may be recorded on a part of a recording medium on which the moving image is recorded.

According to this structure, since the playlist is recorded in a part of the recording medium such as a DVD (for example, the management information area provided in the lead-in area or the lead-out), the recording medium is exchanged. In addition, even when the recording medium is handled by another DVD recorder or the like, no special handling process is required, which is very convenient in practice.

In the aspect related to the play list, a storage means for storing the play list may be further provided.

According to this structure, the DVD provided with the image editing apparatus according to the playlist temporarily or long-term stored in the storage means provided in the image editing apparatus.
It is possible to output or reproduce a moving image in a recorder or the like. And, in particular, the editing process can be easily performed by changing the play list stored in this way.

Note that such a playlist is, for example, D
It is stored in a predetermined area on a recording medium such as a VD and is read out every time a DVD or the like is set in a DVD recorder or the like.
It is transferred to a storage means such as a built-in RAM, and then, when the performance ends, the disk is replaced, the power is turned off, etc.
It may be configured to be written again in a predetermined area of D.

In the play list-related aspect, the play list may have address information corresponding to the plurality of moving image portions on the recording medium on which the moving images are recorded. Good.

According to this structure, the moving image can be output or reproduced in the DVD recorder or the like having the image editing device according to the address information registered in the playlist. In particular, the editing process can be easily performed by changing the address information registered in this way.

In the play list-related aspect, the image representative information is composed of thumbnails representing the moving image portion, and the playlist further includes address information corresponding to the thumbnails. You may.

According to this structure, each thumbnail can be easily displayed on the same screen according to the address information registered in the playlist. And, depending on the editing process,
By changing the address information corresponding to each thumbnail, each thumbnail can be easily displayed on the same screen even after editing. Such address information may be, for example, address information on a recording medium on which a moving image is recorded (that is, in order to display a thumbnail, a part of the moving image portion may be read out from the recording medium and displayed. ). Alternatively, for example, it may be address information on a memory dedicated to thumbnails, which stores a moving image portion once read from a recording medium (that is, still images may be read from the dedicated memory and displayed for display of thumbnails). .

In another aspect of the image editing apparatus of the present invention, the display control means has signal output means for outputting a display signal.

According to this aspect, according to the display signal output by the signal output means of the display control means,
The display means displays a plurality of pieces of image representative information on the same screen in association with each other in the order of output of the moving image portion.

In another aspect of the image editing apparatus of the present invention, the editing means performs, as the editing process, a process of erasing a moving image portion corresponding to the specified image representative information, and a separate space in the specified gap. A process of moving a designated moving image portion, a process of combining another designated moving image portion with a moving image portion corresponding to the designated image representative information, and a moving image corresponding to the designated image representative information. At least one of a process of selecting an image part as a target to be named and a process of changing the order of moving image parts corresponding to the designated image representative information is performed.

According to this aspect, the editing means allows the operator to perform the editing work relating to the erasing process, moving process, combining process, naming process, order changing process, etc. of the moving image parts on the screen. Can be done in a form that is easy to understand visually.

According to another aspect of the image editing apparatus of the present invention, there is further provided selection means for selecting a desired one from a plurality of preset editing processes.

According to this aspect, a desired one is selected by the selecting means from a plurality of editing processes such as the erasing process of moving image parts, the moving process, the combining process, the naming process, and the order changing process. Before and after this, edit processing is executed by specifying image representative information such as thumbnails, title names, and the gaps between them, so operability is significantly improved, and the operator can see the edited contents on the screen. Editing can be done in a form that is easy to understand.

In this aspect of the selecting means, the specifying means can specify only the image representative information, can specify only the gap, or the image according to the type of the editing process selected by the selecting means. The representative information and the gap may be designated.

According to this structure, when the desired editing process is selected by the selecting means, the specifying device can specify only the image representative information and only the gap depending on the kind of the selected editing process. Either the image representative information or the gap can be designated. For example, when the erasing process is selected, the specifying unit can specify only the image representative information, and when the moving process is selected, the specifying unit can specify only the gap.

According to this aspect of the selecting means, even if the same type of editing process is selected by the selecting means, depending on whether the image representative information is designated or the gap is designated by the designating means. The editing results by the editing means may be different.

According to this structure, when the editing process of inserting a separately designated moving image portion into any part of the moving image is selected, for example, when one image representative information is designated by the designating means. In addition, the editing means performs the combining processing, and when the one gap is designated by the designating means, the editing means performs the moving or copying processing. Therefore, the operability at the time of editing is remarkably improved as compared with the conventional technique in which the edit target for the edit item has a one-to-one correspondence.

In another aspect of the image editing apparatus of the present invention, the editing means, when one image representative information is designated by the designating means, a moving image corresponding to the designated one image representative information. Edit processing is performed to combine an image portion and a moving image portion corresponding to other image representative information separately designated by the designating means, and the editing means performs the editing processing when one gap is designated by the designating means. Performs an editing process of moving or duplicating a moving image portion corresponding to other image representative information separately designated by the designating unit to a position corresponding to the designated gap.

According to this aspect, when one representative image information is designated by the designating means, the editing means performs the combining process, and when one gap is designated by the designating means, the designating means is executed. Performs a move or copy process. Therefore,
Compared with the conventional technology in which the edit target for the edit item has a one-to-one correspondence, the operability at the time of editing is remarkably improved, and in addition, the operator can easily understand the edited content visually on the screen. Can edit.

In another aspect of the image editing apparatus of the present invention, the designating unit designates the one image representative information or the one gap with a cursor on the same screen.

According to this aspect, since the designation means designates the image representative information and the gap with the cursor on the same screen, the operator designates the image representative information and the gap by a simple and visually easy operation. it can.

The selection of the image representative information by the designating means is as follows.
Designated by a cursor that intermittently moves from one image representative information to the next image representative information, or by a cursor that intermittently moves from one image representative information to the next gap and further from this gap to the next image representative information Alternatively, it may be designated by a cursor capable of designating an arbitrary position on the screen.

In addition, the display control means may control the display means so as to highlight one image representative information or one gap designated by the designating means.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the image editing method of the present invention provides a plurality of pieces of image representative information representative of a plurality of moving image portions constituting a moving image on the same screen of the display means with the plurality of pieces of image representative information. A display control step of controlling the display means so as to display the moving image portions in association with each other in the output order; and in the same screen, one of the plurality of pieces of image representative information can be designated and the plurality of images A designation step capable of designating one of the gaps between two pieces of representative image information that are adjacent to each other, and the moving image editing process is performed according to the image representative information or the gap designated by the designation step. And an editing process.

According to the image editing method of the present invention, at the time of editing, first, under the control of the display control step, the display means respectively displays a plurality of moving image portions (for example, titles, chapters, scenes, etc.) constituting a moving image. A plurality of representative image information items, such as thumbnails or title names, chapter names, or scene names, which are representative, are arranged in association with each other in the output order of a plurality of moving image portions and displayed on the same screen. Then, in such a display state, the operator designates one of the plurality of pieces of image representative information in the designation step, or a gap between two pieces of image representative information adjacent to each other among the plurality of pieces of image representative information. Specify one of them. Then, the editing process edits the moving image according to the image representative information or the gap designated by the designation process. Therefore, not only can the image representative information such as the thumbnail and the title name be directly specified, but also the gap between the image representative information such as the thumbnail and the title name can be designated, so that the gap is specified for the editing process related to the gap. If it is defined in advance as an editing process in this case, the operability at the time of editing is significantly improved compared to the conventional technology in which the gap cannot be specified, and the operator can visually understand the edited contents on the screen. Editing can be done in a form that is easy to do.

In one aspect of the image editing method of the present invention, a selection step of selecting a desired one from a plurality of preset editing processes is further provided, and the designation step is selected by the selection step. Depending on the type of editing processing, only the image representative information can be designated, only the gap can be designated, or the image representative information and the gap can be designated.

According to this aspect, when the desired editing process is selected in the selecting step, only the image representative information can be specified and only the gap can be specified in the specifying step according to the kind of the selected editing process. Either the image representative information or the gap can be designated. For example, when the erasing process is selected, only the image representative information can be specified in the specifying process, and when the moving process is selected, only the gap can be specified in the specifying process.

In another aspect of the image editing method of the present invention, a selection step of selecting a desired one from a plurality of preset editing processings is further provided, and the same type of editing processing is performed by the selection step. Even if it is selected, the editing result by the editing step differs depending on whether the image representative information is specified or the gap is specified by the specifying step.

According to this aspect, when the editing process for inserting a separately designated moving image portion into any part of the moving image is selected, for example, when one image representative information is designated in the designating step. The edit process performs a join process,
When one gap is designated by the designating process, the editing process performs a moving or copying process. Therefore, as compared with the conventional technique in which the edit target for the edit item is one-to-one correspondence,
The operability during editing is significantly improved.

In another aspect of the image editing method of the present invention, the display control step has a signal output step of outputting a signal for display.

According to this aspect, according to the display signal output by the signal output step of the display control step,
The display means displays a plurality of pieces of image representative information on the same screen in association with each other in the order of output of the moving image portion.

In another aspect of the image editing method of the present invention, in the editing step, when one image representative information is designated by the designating step, a moving image corresponding to the designated one image representative information. Edit processing is performed to combine the image portion and the moving image portion corresponding to other image representative information separately designated in the designation step, and the editing step is performed when one gap is designated in the designation step. Performs an editing process of moving or duplicating a moving image portion corresponding to other image representative information separately designated in the designation step to a position corresponding to the designated gap.

According to this aspect, when one image representative information is designated by the designating step, the editing step performs the combining process, and when one gap is designated by the designating step, the designating step is carried out. Performs a move or copy process. Therefore,
Compared with the conventional technology in which the edit target for the edit item has a one-to-one correspondence, the operability at the time of editing is remarkably improved, and in addition, the operator can easily understand the edited content visually on the screen. Can edit.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes at least the above-mentioned image editing apparatus of the present invention (including various aspects thereof) and the recording and reproducing processing of the moving image. And a recording / reproducing means for performing one of the above.

Since the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes the above-described image editing apparatus of the present invention, in addition to the normal moving image recording processing and reproducing processing, the operator can be operated on the screen. You can edit moving images in a way that makes it easy to understand the edited contents visually.

The recording / reproducing means of the image recording / reproducing apparatus preferably performs recording processing or reproduction processing on a randomly accessible recording medium such as a DVD.
Then, at the time of editing work, special reproduction such as search, fast forward, and rewind may be performed for each moving image portion represented by a thumbnail or a title name.

In order to solve the above problems, the computer program of the present invention causes a computer to function as the above-described image editing apparatus of the present invention (however, including various aspects thereof). More specifically, the computer is caused to function as each component of the image editing apparatus such as the display control unit, the operation unit, and the editing unit described above.

According to the computer program of the present invention, a CD-RO storing the computer program is stored.
M (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), DVD-RO
If the computer program is read from a recording medium such as an M (DVD Read Only Memory) or a hard disk and executed by the computer, or if the computer program is downloaded to the computer via the communication means and then executed. The image editing apparatus of the present invention described above can be realized relatively easily. It is also possible to transmit such a computer program from the server device together with other data such as image information indicating a moving image and voice information corresponding to the image information.

The operation and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the embodiments described below.

[0058]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is a DV
The present invention is applied to an image recording / reproducing apparatus (that is, a DVD recorder) configured to record and reproduce D and including an image editing apparatus.

First, the overall structure of the image recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is shown.
Are roughly functionally divided into a recording device side for recording content information on the DVD 200 and a reproducing device side for reproducing the content information from the DVD 200, and a system control unit 21 for controlling the entire image recording / reproducing device 100. It is configured to include. In this embodiment, the DVD 200
Is a writable DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD
-It shall be composed of RAM, etc.

On the recording device side of the image recording / reproducing device 100,
A TV receiver 50 for receiving TV (Television) radio waves is provided. The TV receiver 50 receives the T signal through the antenna.
It is configured to receive the V signal and output the video signal and the audio signal, respectively.

On the recording device side of the image recording / reproducing device 100, further, the video input and the audio input from the external input terminal and the video output and the audio output from the TV receiver 50 are switched to the switch control signal from the system control unit 21. Switches 10 and 11 for switching according to Ssw1 and these switches 1
A / D video and audio signals from 0 and 11 respectively
(Analog to Digital) A / D converter for conversion 12
And 13, a video encoder (MPEG encoder) 14 and an audio encoder (AC-3 encoder) 15 for encoding the video signal and the audio signal from the A / D converters 12 and 13, respectively, and the video encoder 14 and the audio. A multiplexer 16 that multiplexes the encoded video signal and audio signal from the encoder 15, and an information recording unit 17 that supplies the multiplexed signal as a drive signal of a writing laser beam,
The optical pickup 20 is configured to irradiate the DVD 200 with a laser beam for writing data based on the drive signal.

On the other hand, the reproducing apparatus side of the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is an optical pickup 20 which is shared with the recording apparatus side and which irradiates the DVD 200 with a laser beam for reading data and receives reflected light from the DVD 200. An information reproducing unit 37 that generates a detection signal from the light reception output of the optical pickup 20, a demultiplexer 36 that demultiplexes the detection signal generated by the information reproducing unit 37 and outputs a video signal and an audio signal, and these images. Video decoder (MPEG decoder) for decoding signal and audio signal respectively
34 and an audio decoder (AC-3 decoder) 35, and switches 30 and 31 that are switched according to a switch control signal Ssw2 from the system controller 21.

The reproducing device side of the image recording / reproducing device 100 is further provided with a video decoder 34 supplied through the switch 30.
Alternatively, for the video signal from the A / D converter 12,
A thumbnail / OSD generation / synthesis unit 38 for generating or synthesizing a thumbnail and an OSD (Operation Status Display), and a D / A converter 32 for D / A (Digital to Analog) converting its digital output. And a D / A converter 33 for D / A converting the audio signal from the audio decoder 35 or the A / D converter 13 supplied via the switch 31. Then, these D / A converters 32
The analog video output and the analog audio output outputted from 33 and 33 are respectively outputted from a display device such as a CRT, a plasma display, a liquid crystal display and the like and a speaker (not shown).

Further, by switching the switch 42 according to the switch control signal Ssw3 from the system control unit 21, it is possible to check whether the video signal and the audio signal are correctly recorded by the video output and the audio output. Has been done.

Further, the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100 has an operation unit 2 having a function key for inputting various operation commands, a multi-dial, etc. on its front panel.
5, a display unit 26 such as a liquid crystal display unit for displaying the operation state of the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100 as text or image data, and a remote control light receiving unit 41. Remote control 4
0 is provided apart from the apparatus main body, and various command signals input by the remote controller 40 and converted into optical signals are received by the remote controller light receiving unit 41 and input to the system control unit 21.

On the other hand, various command signals input by the operation unit 25 are also input by the system control unit 21, and in the system control unit 21, various command signals input by the remote controller 40 or the operation unit 25 according to a preset computer program. It is configured to control the entire image recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to the operation command signal.

The system control unit 21 includes a memory unit 2 including a RAM for storing various data required for control.
2 is connected, and in the present embodiment, a management information table in which the execution mode and the execution state in the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100 are associated with each other is stored. Each title, each chapter, a play list defining the playback order of each scene, and the like are stored.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 25 and the display unit 2 are provided on the front panel of the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100.
6 is provided.

In FIG. 2, the operation section 25 includes a function key 25a for selecting an execution mode (for example, a recording mode, a reproduction mode, a TV reception mode, an editing mode, etc.) of the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100, and a function key 25a.
The multi-dial 25b for setting an execution state (for example, a volume volume setting value, a recording level setting value, a channel setting value, etc.) that can be executed in the execution mode selected by. Operation unit 25
In addition to these, various operation switches 25c for starting playback, stopping playback, etc. are included.

It should be noted that such execution mode selection and execution state setting can be performed simply and quickly by referring to the management information table stored in the memory section 22.

In addition, the display unit 26 is thus operated by the operation unit 2.
The execution mode or operation state selected in 5 and the execution state set in the selected execution mode are represented by, for example, text data consisting of short phrases such as English and Katakana, and image data such as symbols, graphs, and indicators. It is configured to display.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
It is configured to include various operation keys and operation switches, and in particular, a disc navigation key 40a for selecting an edit mode, a multi-dial 40b capable of setting execution states in some execution modes, and other playback keys. ,
It is configured to include various operation switches 40c including a stop key, a fast-forward key, a fast-return key, a ten-key switch, and the like.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in this embodiment, thumbnails and OSD (Operati
The video data for "on Status Display" is generated by the thumbnail / OSD generation / combination unit 38 under the control of the system control unit 21 and the video output can be performed instead of the normal video signal. ing. Such an edit mode is activated, for example, by operating the disc navigation key 40a shown in FIG. 3, and in this edit mode, when the edit operation using the thumbnail is performed, the multi-dial 40b is turned to be an edit target. You can move the cursor to a thumbnail, move the cursor to a gap between thumbnails that shows the destination, or move the cursor to a thumbnail. By pressing the center button of the multi-dial 40b with the cursor at the desired item, you can select or set It is configured to make a decision.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, according to the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, T
The video signal and the audio signal input from the V receiver 50 or the external input terminal can be recorded on the DVD 200.
The video signal and audio signal recorded on the DVD 200 can be output as video and audio to the outside. And the operation unit 2
5 (see FIG. 2) and the remote control 40 (see FIG. 3), various editing operation command signals are used to perform edit processing using thumbnails described below.

Next, the editing process in the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be described with reference to.

The editing process described below is mainly performed in FIG.
It is executed by the system control unit 21 shown in FIG. More specifically, the computer program for controlling the editing process is mainly executed by the system control unit 21. Then, this computer program includes the system control unit 21, the operation unit 25 controlled by the system control unit 21, the thumbnail / OSD generation / synthesis unit 38, and the like (i) a plurality of moving images forming a moving image on the same screen. A plurality of thumbnails representing each moving image part (for example, title, chapter, scene, etc.)
For example, a display control unit that generates a video signal so as to be displayed side by side in association with each other in the output order of a plurality of moving image portions defined by a playlist stored in the memory unit 22,
(ii) a designation means capable of designating one of the plurality of thumbnails on the same screen and one of the gaps between two adjacent thumbnails; and (iii) the designation means It functions as an editing unit that edits a moving image according to a thumbnail or a gap.

It should be noted that such a computer program can be executed by the memory unit 22, the DVD 200, or another built-in R
It may be stored in the AM or the like, or may be downloaded to the memory unit 22 or the like via a communication device such as a modem or a mobile phone.

In the present embodiment, the editing of the content information recorded on the DVD 200 (that is, the information including both the image information represented by the video signal and the audio information video represented by the audio signal corresponding thereto) is edited. It is assumed that the recording addresses of titles, chapters, scenes, etc. on the DVD and the play list that defines the reproduction order of these titles, chapters, scenes, etc. are rewritten. If the editing process is performed by rewriting the playlist as described above, it is not necessary to rewrite the original content information recorded on the DVD 200, which is practically convenient, and the editing process itself is stored in the memory unit 22. The relatively simple process of updating the playlist is sufficient.

However, as long as the DVD 200 is a rewritable recording medium, it is possible to edit by directly rewriting the content information recorded on the DVD 200.

Then, such a playlist is
When the D200 is replaced or the power is turned off, the memory unit 22
And is recorded in the management information area provided in the lead-in area or the lead-out of the DVD 200, for example. Then, the playlist recorded on the DVD 200 in this way is read every time the DVD 200 is set in the image recording / reproducing apparatus 100 and stored in the memory section 22. Playback is performed according to this playlist.

First, with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, various editing processes in general that can be performed in this embodiment, which are performed by designating a thumbnail with a cursor and a gap between thumbnails with a cursor, will be described. Here, FIG.
(A), (b) and (c) and FIG. 5 are plan views of the display device showing various states in which a plurality of thumbnails are displayed on the same screen, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the system controller is provided on the screen 301 of the display device for inputting the image output from the image recording / reproducing device 100 shown in FIG. 1 and displaying the image based on the image output. 21 and operation unit 25 controlled by the system control unit 21 and thumbnail / OSD generation
Based on the video signal generated by the synthesizing unit 38 and the like, a plurality of thumbnails 311 are displayed in association with each other in the output order of the corresponding moving image portions. Then, in the gap bar 312 of the plurality of thumbnails 311 on the screen 301, a bar-shaped gap bar 31 indicating a gap is displayed.
2 is displayed respectively. In addition, the display area 3 on the left edge
At 30, a text or a symbol such as "XXX" indicating the currently executed editing process is displayed.

In the display areas 341 and 342,
For example, the text and image data related to the editing process and each thumbnail 311 such as the title, chapter name, description, and length represented by each thumbnail 311 are appropriately displayed.

In this embodiment, in particular, in addition to the thumbnail 311, the desired one of the gap bars 312 is
It can be designated by an external operation on the operation unit 25 or the remote controller 40.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4B, first, a desired editing process is selected by the operation unit 25 or the remote controller 40. Here, for example, processing of deleting titles, chapters, scenes, etc. represented by thumbnails 311, moving processing, combining processing, naming processing, order changing processing, etc.
A desired one is selected from a plurality of editing processes.

Then, for example, the cursor 321 is aligned with the thumbnail 311 representative of the movement source or the deletion target, or the thumbnail 311 representative of the movement destination or the replacement target by an external operation by the operation unit 25 or the remote controller 40, and further predetermined. This thumbnail 311 is designated by the decision operation (for example, the operation of pressing the multi-dial 40b shown in FIG. 4). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4C, for example, a gap bar 312 representing a moving destination or an inserting destination.
Similarly, the cursor 321 is set by the external operation by the operation unit 25 or the remote controller 40, and the gap bar 312 is designated. At this time, the cursor position or the selected thumbnail 311 or the gap bar 312 is highlighted by using special coloring, blinking display, or the like so that it can be seen immediately.

After the thumbnail 311 or the gap bar 312 is designated as shown in FIG. 4B or FIG. 4C, the designated thumbnail 311 or the gap bar 31 is designated.
According to 2, the system control unit 21 performs editing processing of moving images such as corresponding titles, chapters, and scenes. More specifically, in the playlist stored in the memory unit 22, the address and the reproduction order related to the editing process are rewritten.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the operator
When one of the plurality of thumbnails 311 is designated or one of the plurality of gap bars 312 is designated, the moving image editing process is performed according to the designated thumbnail 311 or the gap bar 312. , Thumbnail 31
If the edit process related to the gap 1 is defined in advance as the edit process when the gap bar 312 is designated, the operability at the time of editing is remarkably improved, and the operator can display the edit contents on the screen. Editing can be done in a form that is visually easy to understand.

Particularly in the present embodiment, even if the same type of editing process is selected, the editing process is performed so that the editing result is different depending on whether the thumbnail 311 or the gap bar 312 is specified. May be. For example, when the thumbnail 311 is specified, the combining process is performed,
When the gap bar 312 is designated, the moving process is performed. According to this structure, the operability at the time of editing is remarkably improved as compared with the conventional technique in which the edit target for the edit item has a one-to-one correspondence.

In the present embodiment, the playlist that is rewritten during the editing process preferably includes address information corresponding to the thumbnail 311 as titles, chapters, start portions of scenes, end portions, or representative portions. Addresses, etc. are recorded. If the addresses corresponding to the thumbnails 311 are stored in this way, a plurality of thumbnails 31 as shown in FIGS.
Video information for displaying 1 on the same screen can be obtained by accessing this address information and performing partial reproduction. That is, since the DVD 200 can be randomly accessed, the plurality of thumbnails 311 can be appropriately displayed based on the address information in this way. However, the image information related to the thumbnail 311 which is once accessed and displayed in this way is stored in the memory unit 22 or another built-in RAM, and when the same thumbnail is displayed, it is stored in the memory unit 22 or the like. Based on the image information, FIG.
It is also possible to display such as (c). According to this structure, it is possible to display the image including the plurality of thumbnails 311 more quickly than reproducing the plurality of image information portions recorded at different addresses and displaying the plurality of thumbnails 311. However, when the thumbnail 311 is displayed for the first time, it is reproduced from the DVD 200 in any case.

In addition, in the present embodiment, when a desired one is selected from a plurality of preset editing processes, for example, an erasing process is selected according to the type of the selected editing process. In the case of selecting or selecting a process for determining the movement source, only the thumbnail 311 can be displayed (that is, the gap bar 312 is not displayed) as shown in FIG. 5, and only the displayed thumbnail 311 can be designated. May be By doing so, an operation that is visually very easy to understand can be performed because the unnecessary gap bar 312 is not displayed.

Alternatively, when the processing for determining the destination is selected, only the gap bar 312 is highlighted (that is, the thumbnail 311 is not highlighted), and only the highlighted gap bar 312 is designated. It may be possible. Even in this case, it is possible to perform an operation that is visually very easy to understand. Alternatively, when performing edit processing capable of designating both the thumbnail 311 and the gap bar 312, the display may be performed as shown in FIG. 4B or 4C. In this case, further, Like, thumbnail 31
Different editing processing (for example, combining processing and moving processing) may be performed depending on whether 1 or the gap bar 312 is designated.

Next, as a concrete example of the above-described editing process, the process of moving the title will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
Will be described with reference to. Here, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the title moving process, and FIG. 7 is a plan view sequentially showing screens displayed in the title moving process.

In FIG. 6, first, a thumbnail list of a plurality of titles registered in the play list is displayed (step S11), and the cursor is set to the first thumbnail (step S12). Here, the remote controller 40 and the operation unit 2
5 (see FIGS. 1 to 3), it is determined whether or not the cursor movement key has been pressed (step S13). If the cursor movement key has been pressed (step S13: YES), further thumbnails are displayed in the direction in which the key is pressed. It is determined whether there is any (step S14). Here, if there is not (step S14: N
O), and returns to step S13.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that there are more thumbnails (step S15: YES), the cursor is moved to the next thumbnail (step S15),
It returns to step S13.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S13 that the cursor movement key is not pressed (step S13: N
O), it is determined whether or not the enter key is pressed on the remote controller 40 or the operation unit 25 (step S16). Here, if the enter key is not pressed (step S16:
NO), and returns to step S13.

If it is determined in step S16 that the determination key has been pressed (step S16: YES), the title to be moved is determined (step S17).

Through the processing of steps S11 to S17, the title to be moved is determined by designating the thumbnail.

FIG. 7A shows the screen when the cursor is set to the first thumbnail (step S11), and FIG. 7B shows the screen when the cursor is moved to the fourth thumbnail (step S11). The screen in (after repeating S13 to S15) is shown.

Next, referring again to FIG. 6, a gap bar is set between the beginning and end of the thumbnail and between the thumbnails (step S18). Then, the cursor is set on the gap bar between the first titles (step S19).

Here, it is determined whether or not the cursor movement key is pressed on the remote controller 40 or the operation unit 25 (step S20), and if it is pressed (step S20: YE).
S), it is determined whether or not there is a gap bar in the direction in which the key is pressed (step S21). If not (step S21: NO), the process returns to step S20.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S21 that there is another gap bar (step S21: YES), the cursor is moved to the next gap bar (step S22), and the process returns to step S20.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S20 that the cursor movement key is not pressed (step S20: N
O), it is determined whether or not the enter key is pressed on the remote controller 40 or the operation unit 25 (step S23). Here, if the enter key is not pressed (step S23:
NO), and returns to step S20.

If it is determined in step S23 that the decision key has been pressed (step S23: YES), the moving location is determined (step S24).

Through the processing in steps S18 to S24 described above, the space between titles to be moved is determined by designating the gap bar.

FIG. 7C shows the screen when the cursor is set on the first gap bar (step S19), and FIG. 7D shows the screen when the cursor is moved to the third gap bar. The screen in (after repeating steps S20 to S22) is shown.

Finally, again in FIG. 6, step S17
The playlist in the management information table constructed in the memory unit 22 is rewritten so that the title to be moved decided in step S24 comes to the movement place decided in step S24 (step S25), and a series of title moving processing is completed. To do.

FIG. 7 (e) shows the screen at the time when this series of title moving processes is completed.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, according to the title moving process of this embodiment, the editing process is performed in response to the operator designating the thumbnail or the gap bar. Therefore, the operability at the time of editing is remarkably improved, and the editing work can be performed in a form that allows the operator to easily understand the edited contents visually on the screen.

Next, as another specific example of the above-described editing process, a process of adding a scene will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the scene addition processing.

In FIG. 8, first, a thumbnail list of a plurality of titles registered in the play list is displayed (step S31), and the cursor is set on the gap bar between the first titles (step S32). Here, it is determined whether or not the cursor movement key is pressed on the remote controller 40 or the operation unit 25 (see FIGS. 1 to 3) (step S3).
3) If it is pressed (step S33: YES), it is first determined whether or not the movement is from the gap bar (step S34).

Here, if it is not the movement from the gap bar (step S34: NO), since it is the movement from the thumbnail, the cursor is moved to the gap bar in the pressed direction (step S35), and the process returns to step S33. .

On the other hand, if it is the movement from the gap bar (step S34: YES), it is determined whether or not there is another thumbnail in the key pressing direction (step S36). If not (step S36: NO), step S
Return to 33.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S36 that there are more thumbnails (step S36: YES), the cursor is moved to the next thumbnail (step S37).
It returns to step S33.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S33 that the cursor movement key is not pressed (step S33: N
O), it is determined whether or not the enter key is pressed on the remote controller 40 or the operation unit 25 (step S38). Here, if the decision key is not pressed (step S38:
NO), and returns to step S33.

If it is determined in step S38 that the determination key is pressed (step S38: YES), the title or place to be added is determined (step S39).

By designating the thumbnail or the gap bar by the processing of the above steps S31 to S39,
The title or gap to be added is determined.

Next, after transition to the scene to be added screen (step S40) and the creation of the scene to be added is completed (step S41), this created scene becomes the last of the target titles or a new title at the target location. The playlist in the management information table constructed in the memory unit 22 is rewritten so as to be added (step S4).
2) Then, a series of scene addition processing ends.

As described above with reference to FIG. 8, according to the scene addition processing of the present embodiment, the editing processing is performed according to the operator's designation of the thumbnail or the gap bar. The operability during editing is significantly improved,
Further, the operator can perform the editing work in a form that the edited contents can be easily visually understood on the screen.

In the editing processes described above with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the process of moving the title and the process of adding a scene have been specifically described, but the present embodiment is not limited to these. . In this embodiment, in addition to these editing processes, a chapter moving process, a scene moving process, a title adding / combining process, a chapter adding / combining process, a title erasing process, and a chapter erasing process are performed. Processing, deleting scenes, selecting titles, chapters, scenes, etc., naming, changing the order of titles, chapters, scenes, etc. When performing an arbitrary editing process for any image unit that can be associated, it is possible to perform the editing operation in a visually easily understandable manner by designating a thumbnail or a gap between thumbnails as appropriate.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a plurality of thumbnails are displayed on the same screen and the thumbnails are appropriately designated or the gaps between them are designated, but the present invention is not limited to this. Not a thing. For example, instead of the thumbnails, it is possible to display a title, a chapter name, a scene name, or other text representing a moving image portion such as a title, chapter, or scene, or a symbol or the like indicating each title. . Even with this configuration, if not only the title names displayed side by side on the same screen are directly specified, but also the gaps between the title names and the like can be appropriately specified, operability at the time of editing can be improved. Noticeably improved,
Furthermore, the effect similar to that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained to some extent in that the operator can perform the editing work in a form that the editing contents can be visually easily understood on the screen.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be appropriately modified within the scope of the gist or idea of the invention which can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and such modifications are accompanied. Image editing apparatus and method,
An image recording / reproducing device and a computer program are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0124]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability when performing the editing operation in the image recording / reproducing apparatus, and particularly, the operator can visually confirm the editing content on the screen. You can edit moving images in an easy-to-understand format.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a front panel of an apparatus main body including an operation unit and a display unit of the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the outer appearance of the remote controller of the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a display device showing various states in which a plurality of thumbnails are displayed on the same screen in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the display device showing various states in which a plurality of thumbnails are displayed on the same screen in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an editing process for moving a title in the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the embodiment.

7A to 7C are plan views sequentially showing an example of a screen showing an editing process for moving a title in the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an editing process for adding a scene in the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 11 ... Switch 12, 13 ... A / D converter 14 ... Video encoder 15 ... Voice encoder 16 ... Multiplexer 17 ... Information recording section 21 ... System control unit 22 ... Memory section 30, 31 ... Switch 32, 33 ... D / A converter 34 ... Video decoder 35 ... Audio decoder 36 ... Demultiplexer 37 ... Information reproducing section 38 ... Thumbnail / OSD generation / synthesis unit 40 ... Remote control 41 ... Remote control light receiving section 200 ... DVD

Continued front page    F term (reference) 5B050 AA08 CA07 EA12 EA17 EA19                       FA02 FA09 FA12 FA19                 5C025 CA02 CA09 CB10 DA10                 5C053 FA06 FA14 FA24 GA11 GB11                       GB37 HA30 KA04 KA25 LA06                 5D110 CA05 CA06 CA16 CA43 CD15                       CD21

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of pieces of image representative information representative of a plurality of moving image portions forming a moving image are displayed on the same screen of the display means in association with each other in the output order of the plurality of moving image portions. And a display control means for controlling the display means, between one of the plurality of image representative information that can specify one of the plurality of image representative information on the same screen, and between two adjacent image representative information of the plurality of image representative information. Image editing, characterized by comprising: a designating unit capable of designating one of the gaps, and an editing unit configured to edit the moving image in accordance with the image representative information designated by the designating unit or the gap. apparatus. 2. The image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image representative information includes at least one of a thumbnail representing the moving image portion and a text representing the moving image portion. 3. The plurality of moving image parts are registered in a play list indicating at least their output order, and the editing means adds a change to the play list,
3. The editing process according to claim 1, wherein the editing process is performed.
The image editing apparatus described in 1. 4. The image editing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the playlist is recorded on a part of a recording medium on which the moving image is recorded. 5. The image editing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a storage unit that stores the playlist. 6. The playlist includes address information corresponding to the plurality of moving image portions on the recording medium on which the moving image is recorded, registered in the playlist. The image editing apparatus according to item 1. 7. The image representative information comprises a thumbnail representing the moving image portion, and the playlist further includes address information corresponding to the thumbnail. 6. The image editing device according to any one of 6. 8. The display control means has a signal output means for outputting a signal for display.
7. The image editing apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 7. 9. The editing means, as the editing process,
A process of deleting a moving image portion corresponding to the designated image representative information, a process of moving a separately designated moving image portion to the designated gap, and a moving image portion corresponding to the designated image representative information. A process of combining other separately specified moving image parts, a process of selecting a moving image part corresponding to the specified image representative information as a target for naming, and a moving image corresponding to the specified image representative information. 9. The image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the processes for changing the order of the parts is performed. 10. The image editing method according to claim 1, further comprising selection means for selecting a desired one from preset plural kinds of editing processing. apparatus. 11. The specifying means can specify only the image representative information, can specify only the gap, or can specify the image representative information and the gap according to the type of the editing process selected by the selecting means. The image editing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image editing apparatus can be designated. 12. Even if the same type of editing processing is selected by the selecting means, the editing by the editing means is performed according to whether the image representative information is specified or the gap is specified by the specifying means. The image editing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the results are different. 13. The editing means, when one image representative information is designated by the designating means, a moving image portion corresponding to the designated one image representative information, and separately designated by the designating means. Edit processing is performed to combine with the moving image portion corresponding to the other image representative information that has been created, and when one gap is designated by the designating means, the editing means corresponds to the designated gap. 13. The image according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein an editing process of moving or duplicating a moving image portion corresponding to other image representative information separately designated by the designation means is performed at the position. Editing device. 14. The image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the designation unit designates the one image representative information or one gap with a cursor on the same screen. apparatus. 15. A plurality of pieces of image representative information representative of a plurality of moving image portions forming a moving image are displayed side by side on the same screen of the display means in association with each other in the output order of the plurality of moving image portions. And a display control step of controlling the display means, between one of the plurality of image representative information which can specify one of the plurality of image representative information on the same screen and which is adjacent to each other among the plurality of image representative information. Image editing, characterized by including a designating step capable of designating one of the gaps, and an editing step for performing the editing processing of the moving image according to the image representative information or the gap designated by the designating step. Method. 16. The method further comprises a selecting step of selecting a desired one from a plurality of preset editing processes, wherein the designating step is performed according to the type of the editing process selected by the selecting step. Only the image representative information can be specified,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein only the gap can be designated, or the image representative information and the gap can be designated.
5. The image editing method described in 5. 17. The method further comprises a selection step of selecting a desired one from a plurality of preset editing processes, and even if the same type of editing process is selected by the selecting step, the designating step is performed by the specifying step. 17. The image editing method according to claim 15, wherein the editing result of the editing step is different depending on whether image representative information is designated or the gap is designated. 18. The image editing method according to claim 15, wherein the display control step includes a signal output step of outputting a signal for display. 19. In the editing step, when one image representative information is designated in the designating step, a moving image portion corresponding to the designated one image representative information and a separate designation in the designating step. Edit processing is performed to combine the moving image portion corresponding to the other image representative information that has been created. In the editing step, when one gap is designated by the designating step, the editing process corresponds to the designated gap. The image according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein an editing process of moving or copying a moving image portion corresponding to other image representative information separately designated in the designation step is performed at the position. How to edit. 20. An image editing apparatus according to claim 1, and a recording / reproducing device for performing at least one of a recording process and a reproducing process of the moving image. Image recording / reproducing device. 21. A computer program causing a computer to function as the image editing apparatus according to claim 1.