JP2003209770A - Image recording and reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording and reproducing apparatus capable of reducing a searching time of an image recorded on a storage medium and also searching images recorded on a plurality of storage media in a short time, and further ensuring correspondence between index data and image data stored in a recording medium so as to prevent the image data from being edited/deleted by mistake. <P>SOLUTION: Storing the index data for searching the image data recorded on a CD-R/RW 10 to an IC card 9 can reduce the searching time of images recorded on the storage medium and search the images recorded on a plurality of the storage media in a short time. Further, the image recording and reproducing apparatus is configured to edit/delete the image data recorded on the CD-R/ RW 10 only when the IC card 9 is loaded to the apparatus so as to ensure the correspondence between the image data and the index data thereby preventing the image data from being edited/deleted by mistake. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for searching an image recorded in an image recording / reproducing apparatus having a plurality of image recording media.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As digital cameras have become more sophisticated, still image images recorded on a memory card built in the digital camera can be recorded on another external recording medium, and at the same time, the memory card or other recording medium can be recorded. The image recording / reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing the still image recorded in the above has started to spread. In addition, the number of pixels and the file size have increased as the image quality of digital cameras has improved. For these reasons, when recording still images and moving images recorded on a memory card on another recording medium, a CD-R / RW or HDD
A high-capacity recording medium such as a (hard disk drive) is required, and a search means for easily and quickly searching for still images and moving images recorded on other recording media such as CD-R / RW and HDD is provided. It is needed. For this reason,
As described in JP-A-2001-216325, the index image data for searching the image data is obtained by using the information of the portable external recording medium in which the index image data which is a part of the image data is recorded in advance. A database for video search was created using the created index image data.

As described above, the portable external recording medium in which the index data, which is a part of the image data, is recorded in advance is a JEIDA (Japan Electronic).
cIndustry Development Assass
DCF (Desi)
gn rule for Camera Filesy
system) and DPOF (Digital Print)
Attribute data, position data, voice data, and index image data are recorded in accordance with an image file format such as Order Format (trademark).

However, digital still cameras and video cameras are often used at the time of travel and seasonal events, and in addition to the index data defined in these standards, the user arbitrarily records information and comments. There was a problem that I could not do it. Further, when the image data is recorded not in the portable external recording medium but in another means such as CD-R / RW, which is generally used in a personal computer or the like and has high versatility, a search for an image is performed. There was a problem that the index data for use could not be generated.
Furthermore, since the video search database is not updated when the original image data is edited / deleted without using the portable external recording medium on which the index data is recorded,
There is a problem that the relationship between the video search database and the index data is inconsistent.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention shortens the search time of the image recorded in the storage medium and records the image in a plurality of storage media. The purpose is to search for images in a short time.

Further, another object of the present invention is to ensure the correspondence between the image data stored in the recording medium and the index data and prevent the image data from being edited or deleted by mistake.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention records image data and index data in the image recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an image. A first storage device built in the image recording / reproducing apparatus, and 1 or 2 connectable to the image recording / reproducing apparatus to record image data.
The second storage device described above, an image output unit that reproduces and outputs the image data recorded in the first storage device and the second storage device, and edits the index data and copies / edits / deletes the image data. An operation unit capable of externally inputting a command of a process to be performed, and a control unit executing a process of editing the index data or copying / editing / deleting image data according to the command input from the operation unit, The index data of the image data recorded in the second storage device is generated as the index data, and the image data of the second storage device is searched using the index data.

An image recording / reproducing apparatus according to a second aspect is the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the index data recorded in the first storage device is the image data recorded in the second storage device. The index data is included in.

An image recording / reproducing apparatus according to a third aspect is the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of the first and second aspects, wherein the first storage device is a semiconductor recording medium. .

An image recording / reproducing apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of the first, second or third aspects, wherein the second storage device is the first storage device. The storage device has a higher capacity than the device.

An image recording / reproducing apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of the first, second, third or fourth aspects, wherein
The storage device is capable of storing index data corresponding to a plurality of the second storage devices.

An image recording / reproducing apparatus according to a sixth aspect is the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth aspects. The storage device is characterized in that the volume label of the second storage device and the identification information unique to the medium are recorded as index data.

An image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 7 is the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6. The process of editing / deleting the image data recorded in the second storage device is performed only when the first storage device is in a usable state.

An image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 8 detects that the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 7 has edited / deleted the image data recorded in the second storage device, The correspondence between the image data and the index data is maintained by updating the index data recorded in the first storage device.

As described above, the search time for the images recorded in the storage medium can be shortened, and the search for the images recorded in the plurality of storage media can be performed in a short time. Furthermore, the correspondence between the image data stored in the recording medium and the index data can be ensured, and the image data can be prevented from being edited or deleted by mistake.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Embodiment 1) An image recording / reproducing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a usage pattern of the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, the image recording / reproducing apparatus 1 has an IC used as a recording medium of a digital camera.
An IC card drive unit 11 capable of reading and writing files on the card 9 and a CD-R having a relatively large capacity as another recording medium.
CD / R / RW drive unit 12 capable of reading and writing / RW10
have.

The operation section 6 is an input means for the user to edit index data and copy / edit / delete files. The command input from the operation unit 6 is the control unit 1
3, processed, and displayed on the display unit 7.

When the image file recorded on the CD-R / RW 10 is displayed on the external monitor device 8 or the like, the image file is converted into an image file which can be displayed on the external monitor device 8 or the like by the image output section 14. Expand and output to the outside.

The IC card loading means 2 is an insertion port for the IC card 9, and the IC card ejection button 4 is a button for ejecting the IC card 9. The CD-R / RW loading means 3 is an insertion port of the CD-R / RW 10,
The / RW eject button 5 is a button for ejecting the CD-R / RW 10.

In such a structure, the IC card 9 and the CD-R / RW 10 are connected to the IC card loading means 2 and the CD-R / RW 10.
It is loaded in the R / RW loading means 3 and the CD-
The index data of the image data recorded in the R / RW 10 is acquired and recorded in the IC card. Furthermore, the operation unit 6
In addition to the index data of the image data such as the file name, file size, date information, and position information acquired from the image data, the user arbitrarily inputs the title, event name, comment, season, etc. .

As described above, the index data possessed by the image data recorded in the IC card 9 is first set as the title,
By searching the image data in the CD-R / RW 10 by the information for identifying the image data such as the name of the event, the comment, the season, etc., the search condition for searching the image when the image output unit 14 displays it on the monitor device 8 Since the index data increases and the content of the image becomes clear, the image search time can be shortened. Also, due to the widespread use of digital still cameras, the frequency of use has increased and the amount of data to be stored has increased, and in particular, CD-R / RW10
The greater the amount of image data stored in, the greater the effect of this configuration.

Here, as another external storage medium,
CD-R / R generally used by connecting to a personal computer
Although described using W, it is also possible to use a storage medium that is used by being connected to another personal computer or a storage medium that can be directly connected to the image storage / playback apparatus.

As a recording medium of a digital camera, I
Although the C card has been used for the description, it is also possible to use a storage medium that can be directly connected to another image storage / playback apparatus.
Further, since the processing speed is increased by using the semiconductor storage medium as the recording medium of the digital camera, the image search processing can be performed in a shorter time.

(Second Embodiment) Next, an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the same reference numerals are used for FIGS. 1 and 2 described in the first embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted.

First, the IC card 9 and the CD-R / RW 10
The IC card loading means 2 and the CD-R / RW loading means 3
The index data of the image data recorded in the CD-R / RW is acquired by the operation unit 6 and recorded in the IC card. Next, in addition to the index data of the image data such as the file name, file size, date information, and position information acquired from the image data by the operation of the operation unit 6, the user can arbitrarily specify a title, event name, comment, Enter the season etc. In addition, CD-R /
An identification number unique to the medium of the RW 10 and a volume label are also recorded together with the index data.

By this, it becomes possible to search and manage the image data recorded in a plurality of CD-R / RWs with one IC card. Here, as another external storage medium,
CD-R / R generally used by connecting to a personal computer
Although described using W, it is also possible to use a storage medium that is used by being connected to another personal computer, or a storage medium that can be directly connected to the image storage / playback device. Among these storage media, the same storage medium can be used. Index data of a plurality of storage media can be stored in a storage medium of a digital camera such as an IC card. By this,
The recording medium of one digital camera can manage index data of a plurality of other storage media.

As a recording medium of a digital camera, I
Although the C card has been used for the description, it is also possible to use a storage medium that can be directly connected to another image storage / playback apparatus.
Further, since the processing speed is increased by using the semiconductor storage medium as the recording medium of the digital camera, the image search processing can be performed in a shorter time.

(Third Embodiment) Next, an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same reference numerals are used for FIGS. 1 and 2 described above, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of image data protection processing in the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention. First, the IC card 9 in which the index data of the image data, the information arbitrarily set by the user, the identification number unique to the CD-R / RW 10 and the volume label are recorded, and the CD-R / RW 10 in which the image data is recorded are the IC card. The image is output to the image output unit 1 by loading the loading unit 2 and the CD-R / RW loading unit 3.
4 is displayed on the monitor device 8. Next, a request is made to edit / delete the image data (S1). Next, it is judged whether or not the IC card containing the index data is loaded in the IC card loading means 2 (S2). Next, if the IC card 9 containing the index data is loaded in the IC card loading means 2, the index data stored in the IC card 9 and the image data stored in the CD-R / RW 10 are converted into image data. The contents are edited / deleted so that the contents of the index data match (S4), and the process proceeds to the end process selection (S5). If the IC card 9 containing the index data is not loaded in the IC card loading means 2,
It is displayed that the image data cannot be edited or deleted (S3), and the process proceeds to the end process selection (S5). If the end is selected in the end process selection, the process ends. If the end is not selected, the process returns to the block of the image data edit / deletion request (S1).

By these processes, the image cannot be edited / deleted unless the index data and the image data are in alignment, so that the index data can be deleted even when the image is deleted or another image is newly added. And the image data can be matched. In addition, since the image cannot be edited / deleted without the IC card having the index data recorded, it is possible to prevent the image data from being edited / deleted by mistake, and the effect of protecting the image data can be obtained.

Here, as another external storage medium,
CD-R / R generally used by connecting to a personal computer
Although described using W, it is also possible to use a storage medium that is used by being connected to another personal computer or a storage medium that can be directly connected to the image storage / playback apparatus.

As a recording medium of a digital camera, I
Although the C card has been used for the description, it is also possible to use a storage medium that can be directly connected to another image storage / playback apparatus.
Further, since the processing speed is increased by using the semiconductor storage medium as the recording medium of the digital camera, the image search processing can be performed in a shorter time.

[0034]

As described above, according to the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the index data for searching the image data recorded in the storage medium is stored in the storage medium in order to store the index data in the built-in storage medium. It is possible to shorten the search time for recorded images and also search for images recorded in a plurality of storage media in a short time.

Furthermore, the correspondence between the image data and the index data stored in the recording medium can be ensured, and the image data can be prevented from being edited or deleted by mistake.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a usage pattern of the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of image data protection processing in the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image recording / reproducing device 2 IC card loading means 3 CD-R / RW loading means 4 IC card eject button 5 CD-R / RW eject button 6 Operation part 7 Display 8 Monitor device 9 IC card 10 CD-R / RW 11 IC card drive 12 CD-R / RW drive 13 Control unit 14 Image output section

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an image, which is connectable to a first storage device built in the image recording / reproducing apparatus for recording image data and index data, and to the image recording / reproducing apparatus. One or more second storage devices for recording image data, an image output unit for reproducing and outputting the image data recorded in the first storage device and the second storage device, editing of the index data, and An operation unit capable of externally inputting a command for a process of copying / editing / deleting image data, and executing a process of editing the index data or copying / editing / deleting an image data according to a command input from the operation unit A control unit, and generates index data of the image data recorded in the second storage device as the index data, Image recording and reproducing apparatus characterized by retrieving the image data of the second storage device by using the index data. 2. The image recording / reproducing according to claim 1, wherein the index data recorded in the first storage device is index data included in the image data recorded in the second storage device. apparatus. 3. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first storage device is a semiconductor recording medium. 4. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the second storage device is a storage device having a capacity higher than that of the first storage device. Image recording / reproducing device. 5. The index data corresponding to a plurality of the second storage devices can be stored in the first storage device.
Alternatively, the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 3 and 4. 6. The first storage device records the volume label of the second storage device and identification information unique to the medium as index data.
Alternatively, the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 or 3 or 4 or 5. 7. The process of editing / deleting image data recorded in the second storage device is performed only when the first storage device is in a usable state. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, or claim 6. 8. The image data is recorded by detecting that the image data recorded in the second storage device has been edited / deleted and updating the index data recorded in the first storage device. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the correspondence between the index data and the index data is maintained.