JP2003333467A - Image management apparatus and program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image storing apparatus capable of easily searching prescribed image data without requiring a intricate registration operation or the like. <P>SOLUTION: An image management apparatus is provided with a searching means for searching image data, a selecting means for automatically selecting image data to be registered from among the image data searched by the searching means, and a registration means for registering information about the image data selected by the selecting means as management data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image management device and an image management program for managing a plurality of image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Photographing environment information in association with image data,
There is an image management device that stores keywords and manages image data. Then, the conventional image management apparatus can search and extract image data from the shooting environment information, keywords, and the like.

[0003]

However, when a large amount of image data is accumulated in the conventional image management apparatus, it is very difficult to find a predetermined image data from the accumulated image data. . In addition, in order to easily find out, it is necessary to carefully and in detail register the keywords and the like when registering the image data in the image management device.
The present invention provides an image storage device capable of easily searching for predetermined image data without requiring complicated registration work or the like.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an image management apparatus, search means for searching image data and image data to be registered automatically from the image data searched by the search means are automatically generated. The configuration includes a selecting unit for selecting and a registering unit for registering information about the image data selected by the selecting unit as management data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image management apparatus according to the first aspect, the selecting means is configured to select image data that matches a predetermined condition. According to a third aspect of the invention, in the image management apparatus according to the second aspect, the predetermined condition is set by a user.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the image management apparatus according to the second or third aspect, the predetermined condition is
The configuration is related to the shooting information added to the image data.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the image management apparatus according to the second or fourth aspect, the predetermined condition is
It is configured to be shooting date and time information. According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the image management apparatus according to the second or fourth aspect, the predetermined condition is image title information.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the image management apparatus according to the first aspect, the selection means is configured to select the image management data based on the user information of the image management apparatus.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in the image management apparatus according to the first or seventh aspect, the selecting means is
The configuration is such that selection of image data is specified based on login information of the image management device.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image management apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the login information is associated with a predetermined condition for retrieving image data, and the selection means is the login information. It is configured to select image data that meets a predetermined condition associated with.

According to the tenth aspect of the invention, the image management program has a configuration in which the control executed by the image management apparatus according to the first to ninth aspects is described.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An image management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image management apparatus 1 and various devices connected to the image management apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A monitor 2, a digital camera 3, an electronic notebook 4, a mobile phone 5, a portable storage device 6, a printer 7, a server computer 8 and the like are communicably connected to the image management device 1.

The image management device 1 is a device for managing image data generated by a digital camera or the like. The monitor 2 is a device that displays a video based on the video signal output by the image management device 1. The digital camera 3 is a camera that generates digital image data. Electronic notebook 4
Is a mobile terminal equipped with schedule management function software. The mobile phone 5 is a phone having a call function, an electronic mail function, a schedule management function and the like. The portable storage device 6 is a portable storage device having a built-in hard disk having a certain memory capacity. Portable storage device 6
Take it outdoors with a terminal such as a digital camera,
It is a device for accumulating data generated by a terminal.

The printer 7 is a device for printing based on the output signal from the image management device 1. The server computer 8 is a computer that is communicably connected to the image management apparatus 1 via a network such as the Internet and performs data communication of image data and the like. The server computer 8 also communicates with the digital camera 2 via a network such as the Internet to receive and store image data generated by the digital camera 2.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the image management apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image management device 1 includes a CPU 101, a hard disk 102, a disk drive 103, a memory card slot 104, a connection terminal 105, and a communication circuit 106. CPU 101
Executes various functions executed by the image management device 1. The hard disk 102 is a large-capacity memory that stores image data. In addition, the hard disk 102,
Various programs executed by the image management device are recorded.

The disk drive 103 has a mounted C
It is a drive for reproducing image data recorded on a D, a CD-R, a CD-RW, or the like. Further, the disc drive 103 is capable of writing image data and the like to the CD-R and CD-RW as well as reproducing. Also, C
In addition to D, CD-R, and CD-RW, DVD standard discs can be used. The memory card slot 104 records image data recorded in the attached memory card,
It is a slot for playing. The memory card includes a rewritable memory and a non-rewritable write-once memory.

The connection terminal 105 is a terminal for connecting to other devices such as a digital camera and an electronic notebook in a wired or wireless communicable manner. The communication circuit 106 is a circuit for communicating with a server computer or the like via the Internet.

The image management device 1 according to the present embodiment may be a device dedicated to image management in which an image management program is installed in advance, or a personal computer to which a user later installs the image management program. It may be an equivalent device. For example, the image management program is provided by being downloaded from a CD-ROM or the Internet.

Next, a management method for managing image data in the image management apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described. Figure 3
FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing an image data management method of the image management device 1.

It is composed of original image data, management data, and thumbnail image data. The original image data is image data generated by a digital camera or the like.
The management data and the thumbnail image data are created by the registration work by the image management device 1.

The thumbnail image is management image data for displaying a list on the image management device 1. Also, the thumbnail image data is Exif (Exchangeable Image F
ile) format file, and E in the file header
The xif tag has shooting information similar to the original image data.

As the management data, information acquired from image data, input information, information generated by operation, etc. are registered for each image data. Further, the management data also registers the storage destination information of the original image data.

These data are stored in the hard disk 102.
Be stored in. The original image data may be stored in a medium such as a CD-R, instead of being stored in the hard disk 102.

Next, various controls executed by the image management apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described. First, management control of image data executed by the image management apparatus 1 will be described. A device connected to the connection terminal of the image management device, the disk drive 103, or the memory card slot 1
A different control is executed depending on the memory installed in 04.

In the image management control executed by the image management apparatus 1, the type of the disk loaded in the disk drive 103 is determined and different control is performed. Disc type not only discriminates the type of media such as CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD, but also disc contents such as commercially available photo book CD, lab-made CD-R, and personal-made CD-R. To determine. These are discriminated from the type of data recorded in the disc, the volume label of the disc, the serial number, and the like.

Here, the lab-produced CD-R will be described. By the laboratory dealing with the development and printing of silver salt film,
We provide a service to digitize film image data and record it on storage media such as CD-Rs. Lab made CD
-R is a disc created by the lab by the above service. With this service, silver salt camera users can easily handle image data taken by a personal computer or the like.

In the image management control executed by the image management apparatus 1, for example, when the mounted disk is a CD-R, the volume label or serial number attached to the CD-R and the image data are displayed. It is detected and it is determined whether it is already registered. In the determination using only the serial number, if there is image data additionally written from the previous registration, it may be determined that it has already been registered because it has the same serial number. It is also possible that disks with the same serial number exist. If it is a disc that has not been detected and accumulated, it is detected whether it has a volume label created according to a specific rule that the lab seems to have attached. It is judged from the volume label whether it is a CD-R created in the lab. Also, identify the created lab from the volume label. When the lab is specified, the image storage device 1 stores the tendency information of the image data for each lab in advance, and therefore, when executing the display, the print, etc., the correction processing is performed according to the specified lab. Can be given.

Further, in the lab-produced CD-R, dedicated browsing software for browsing the image data is recorded. When this software is running, the automatic startup of the dedicated browsing software recorded on the CD-R is prohibited. In addition, setting up the dedicated browsing software that is started when the CD-R is installed is prohibited in an environment where the dedicated browsing software is not set up. That is, when the management software is running, the auto-run function when the disc is loaded is stopped.

The image management control executed by the image storage device 1 will be specifically described below. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the image management control executed by the image management device. This flow starts when it is detected that the disc in which the image data is recorded is loaded in the disc drive 103.

First, in step S101, the auto-run function in which a predetermined program is automatically started in response to the mounting of the disk is stopped. Thus, when the image management control is functioning, an unnecessary program is not automatically started, and the user does not feel bothered.

Next, in step S102, it is detected whether or not all the image data in the loaded disk have already been registered in the image management data in the hard disk 102. Here, first, the serial number and the volume label are detected to detect whether or not the disk is already registered in the management data. If you are registered,
Further, the image data stored in the disk is searched. For example, the loaded disc is CD-R, CD-R
This is because in the case of W or the like, image data can be additionally written, so that even if the serial number and volume label of the disc have already been registered, there is a possibility that unregistered image data will exist. By executing such processing, if all the image data stored in the disc are already registered, the process proceeds to step S107, and if there is unregistered image data, the process proceeds to step S103.

Next, in step S103, it is detected whether or not the mounted disc is a CD such as a commercial photo book.
If the CD is a commercial photo album, it is determined that the image data need not be registered in the management data, and the process proceeds to step S107. If the CD is not a commercially available CD, the process proceeds to step S104.

In step S107, the fact that it has already been registered or that it is a commercially available photo album is displayed on the monitor. Further, a display for inquiring whether or not to store the image data in the hard disk is displayed. Here, the reason to inquire whether to store it is that the already registered disk is again
The disk drive 103 is mounted on the disk drive 103 because it may be desired to store the image data recorded in the disk in the hard disk as well as registering the management data. In the case of a commercially available CD, for the same reason, a display asking whether to store the image data in the hard disk is displayed.

Then, in step S108, it is detected whether or not there is an instruction to store in the hard disk in response to the inquiry, and if there is an instruction to store it, step S1
The flow advances to 09 to end this flow if there is an instruction not to store.

In step S109, the image data in the disc is stored in a predetermined location in the hard disc. Subsequently, in step S110, it is detected whether or not the storage work is completed. If the storage work is completed, this flow is terminated, and if not completed, the process returns to step S109 to continue the storage work.

On the other hand, in step S104, it is detected whether or not the disc mounted in the disc drive 103 is a write-once medium such as a CD-R. If the loaded disc is a CD-R, step S10
5, the process proceeds to step S106 if it is not a CD-R. In step S105, registration control for write-once media is executed. Registration control for write-once media will be described with reference to FIGS.

In step S106, registration control for normal media that is not write-once is executed. Here, the normal medium is a medium such as a CD-RW in which recorded image data can be rewritten. Registration control for normal media will be described with reference to FIG.

Next, the registration control executed by the image management apparatus 1 will be described. First, an example of registration control in the write-once medium executed in step S105 of the flow shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the registration control for the image data recorded in the write-once medium. First, in step S201, a management data registration operation is performed. In the registration work performed here, a thumbnail image of the original image data is created, and the shooting time information added to the original image data at the time of shooting and the thumbnail image are registered in the management data. The management data is
It is stored in the hard disk 102. Information when shooting,
When the original image data is generated in an Exif format file, it is recorded as an Exif tag in the header part of the file. More detailed registration work will be described later.

Next, in step S202, an inquiry is displayed as to whether or not the original image data recorded in the disc is to be stored in the hard disc 102. Here, the reason for inquiring whether to store in the hard disk is, for example, the original image data recorded on the write-once medium such as a CD-R is erased because new image data cannot be overwritten and recorded. Never. Therefore, when the CD-R is owned by the user, the CD-R can be stored in the disk drive 103 without storing the original image data in the hard disk.
It is enough to be attached to. Also, because it is registered in the management data, even if the CD-R is not installed, the CD-
It is possible to search and extract the image data recorded in R.

Then, in step S203, it is detected whether or not the inquiry is instructed to be stored in the hard disk 102. If instructed, the process proceeds to step S204, and if not instructed, step S2
Proceed to 07.

In step S204, the work of downloading the original image data in the CD-R is executed. And
In step S205, the downloaded original image data is stored in a predetermined location in the hard disk 102. Then, in step S206, it is detected whether or not the siphoning and storing work has been completed, and if it is detected that the work has been completed, this flow is ended, and if not completed, the process returns to step S204.

On the other hand, in step S207, an input form for inputting where to store the mounted CD-R is displayed. In the input form, not only the storage location but also information such as the owner can be input. Subsequently, in step S208, it is detected whether or not the information such as the storage location and the owner is input to the input form by the user. If the information is input, the process proceeds to step S209. If not, the process proceeds to step S210. .

In step S209, the input storage location and owner information are additionally recorded in the management data. On the other hand, in step S210, an inquiry is made as to whether a label or a CD jacket to be attached to the CD-R is created and printed. Explain the reason for making labels and CD jackets. Since the original image data is not stored in the hard disk 102, when the image data in the CD-R is searched and extracted based on the registered management data, the image management device 1 is searched and extracted. Instruct to mount the CD-R on which the image data is recorded. The user has to find out the specified CD-R and mount it on the disc drive 103, but the label and the CD jacket will be helpful when finding out. Label, C
Information such as a serial number and a title is printed on the D jacket.

In step S211, it is determined whether or not a label is instructed. If the label is instructed, the process proceeds to step S212. If not instructed, the flow is terminated. In step S212, label creation processing is performed. In step S213, it is detected whether or not the label production process is completed. If it is completed, this flow is terminated, and if it is not completed, the process returns to step S212.

Next, another example of registration control for write-once media executed in step S105 of FIG. 4 will be described. In this example, the original image data recorded in the disc loaded in the disc drive 103 is not downloaded.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the registration control for the image data recorded in the write-once medium. First, in step S301, a management data registration operation is performed. Then, in step S302,
The input form for registering the storage location and owner of the CD-R, which is a write-once medium, is displayed. Subsequently, in step S303, it is detected whether or not the user has input information such as the storage location and the owner in the input form,
If it is input, the process proceeds to step S304, and if it is not input, the present flow ends. And step S3
At 04, the input information is additionally registered in the management data.

As described above, when the mounted disc is the write-once medium, only the registration work is performed,
Since the original image data is not stored in the hard disk 102, the capacity of the hard disk 102 will not be reduced.

Further, another example of the registration control for the write-once medium executed in step S105 of FIG. 4 will be described. In this example, even if the disc mounted in the disc drive 103 is a write-once medium such as a CD-R, the image data is automatically sucked up for storage as backup image data, and the hard disk 10
Store in 2.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the registration control for the image data recorded in the write-once medium. First, in step S401, image data in the write-once medium is downloaded. Then, in step S402, the downloaded image data is stored in the backup area of the hard disk 102 as backup image data. Then, step S4
At 03, management data registration work is executed.

Next, the registration operation in the case of a normal medium other than the write-once medium executed in step S106 of FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the registration control executed in the image management device 1.

First, in step S501, the image data in the disc is downloaded. Then, step S502
Then, the image data downloaded for image database registration is stored in a predetermined location in the hard disk 102. Further, in step S503, the image data downloaded to the backup area of the hard disk 102 is stored as backup image data.

Then, in step S504, a thumbnail image is generated, management information is created from the information added to the image data, and registered as management data. In step S505, an inquiry display is made as to whether to delete the image data in the disc. In step S506, it is detected whether or not an instruction to delete is given, and if it is to be deleted, the process proceeds to step S507, and if not to be deleted, this flow is ended. Then, in step S507, the image data in the disc is deleted.

As described above, with the control shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,
The image management device 1 creates a backup by copying the original image data. As a result, even if a problem occurs in the original image data, since it is backed up, there is no problem. Further, as described with reference to FIG. 7, when the mounted medium is the write-once medium, it is stored in the hard disk 102 only for backup, so that the remaining capacity of the hard disk 102 is not wastefully reduced.

Next, the registration work executed in step S201 of FIG. 5, step S301 of FIG. 6, step S403 of FIG. 7, and step S504 of FIG. 8 will be described.
The registration work of the management data recorded in association with the image data will be described. When the information at the time of shooting is recorded in the Exif tag of the header part of the image file recorded in the Exif format at the time of registration, the registration is performed based on that. For example, in the APS film, shooting environment information at the time of shooting is recorded in the magnetic recording portion. The photographing environment information and the like recorded in the magnetic recording portion are recorded in the tag of the image file. On the other hand, in the case of the 135 film, the information at the time of shooting is not recorded and therefore is not recorded in the tag.

The image file in which the tag information is recorded is automatically registered, but if there is no tag information, an input screen is displayed to prompt the user to enter the information. Of the information registered here, the information in the Exif standard is not only stored in the database of the image management apparatus, but is added to the tag of the original image data when it is a rewritable memory. As a result, the information added when the image data is handled by a management device other than the image management device 1 can be utilized.

The registration operation in the image management apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be specifically described below. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the registration work executed by the image management device 1.

First, in step S601, the information added to the image data in the disc is examined. Then, in step S602, it is detected whether or not all the information necessary for registration is added as the management data of the image data. If all information is added, step S60
7. If not added, step S603.
Proceed to.

In step S603, the information not added is displayed and a display prompting the user to input the information necessary for registration is displayed. Then, in step S604, it is detected whether or not the information is input. If the information is input, the process proceeds to step S605, and if it is not input, the process proceeds to step S607.

Then, in step S605, it is determined whether or not the input information includes information that can be added to the header portion of the Exif format image file. If there is information that can be added, the process proceeds to step S606, and if there is no information that can be added, the process proceeds to step S607. Step S6
In 06, information is added to the header part of the Exif format file of the original image data.

In step S607, a thumbnail image is created from the original image data. Here, the thumbnail image is created in an Exif format file, and Exif information equivalent to the original image data is added.
In addition, the Exif information and the information input by the user are registered as management data. Naturally, the storage locations of the original image data, thumbnail image data, and backup image data are also registered as management data. In addition,
No single management data or thumbnail image is generated in the backup image data.

As described above, in the image management apparatus 1, the original image data is not stored in the image management apparatus 1 when it is stored in the write-once medium such as CD-R. This prevents the same image data from being stored in two places in the CD-R and the hard disk 102, thereby preventing the hard disk 102 from being wasted.

As another example, the CD-R may be damaged or lost. Therefore, the example in which the image data in the CD-R is stored in the hard disk 102 as the image data for backup has been shown.

If image data stored in the CD-R is instructed to be printed or the like, and the CD-R is not mounted in the disk drive 103, it is not possible to respond instantly. However, by backing up the image data in the CD-R to the hard disk 102, when the image data stored in the CD-R is instructed to print, the CD-R is not mounted. Even in such a case, it is possible to deal with it by using the image data for backup.

The control using the backup image data in the image management apparatus of the present embodiment will be specifically described below. As an example, a case will be described in which there is an instruction to print image data, but the present invention can be similarly performed when there is an instruction such as viewing as well as printing.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing print control executed by the image management apparatus 1. This flow starts when a predetermined image data is instructed to be printed.

First, in step S610, the storage location of the image data for which printing is instructed is detected from the management data. In step S611, it is determined whether it is stored in the hard disk 102. If it is stored in the hard disk 102, the process proceeds to step S616, and if it is not stored, the process proceeds to step S612.

In step S612, it is determined whether the stored medium is loaded in the disk drive 103, the memory card slot 104 or the like. If it is loaded, the process proceeds to step S616, and if it is not loaded, the step Proceed to S613. In step S613, the backup image data in the hard disk 102 is searched. In step S614, print processing is displayed on the monitor using the backup image data.

In step S615, since it is impossible to read the image data from the storage destination, the backup image data is read. In step S616, the image data is read from the storage location. Then, in step S61
At 7, the read image data is printed.

By controlling as described above, printing can be easily performed without performing a complicated work such as searching for a medium such as a CD-R in which image data to be printed is stored and mounting the medium.

Next, functions other than registration in the image management apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Recording control for recording image data managed by the image management device 1 in a storage medium such as a CD-R will be described.

When the image data recorded in the image management apparatus 1 is to be burned onto a CD-R, an inquiry is made as to whether the image data is to be given to another person or to be organized. Alternatively, if the information of the CD-R is registered and the burning of the image data in the hard disk is inquired after the burning to the CD-R is instructed and the deletion is instructed, the registered location data is deleted. Re-register from the hard disk to the CD-R. If the image data has not been deleted, the CD-R information is registered as the copy destination information and the registration operation is completed.

When one or more of the image data to be copied or moved is selected, the same event as the selected image data, according to the free space of the mounted medium,
Automatically select image data with a similar shooting date and time. Also,
The automatically selected image data is candidate image data to be recorded on the CD-R and can be changed.

As described above, by automatically selecting the number of image data that can be recorded on the copy destination medium, the work of selecting a large number of images can be omitted. Further, by dividing according to the event and the shooting date and time, it is possible to create related image data in the same medium, such as grouped for each event.

Specific control will be described below. Figure 11
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing recording control executed by the image management device 1. This flow starts by specifying one image data and executing the copy wizard to the mounted medium.

First, in step S701, the type and capacity of the mounted medium are investigated. Step S70
In 2, the image data of the writing candidate is selected according to the free space of the medium. As the candidate image data, an image data group that is likely to be related to the designated image data is selected in consideration of the event, the shooting date and time based on the management data. The candidate selection control executed here will be described later with reference to FIG.

In step S703, a list of the selected image data groups is displayed. In addition, a display is displayed asking whether the selected image data can be written in the mounted medium. Succeedingly, in a step S704, it is detected whether or not there is a write instruction, and when the write instruction is issued, the process proceeds to a step S707, and when there is no write instruction, the process proceeds to a step S705.

Then, in step S705, a display for inquiring whether to change the selected image data is displayed. Then, in step S706, it is detected whether or not there is a change instruction, and if there is a change instruction, step S703.
Then, the list of image data groups including the changed image data is displayed again. If there is no change instruction, the process returns to step S705.

Then, in step S707, writing to the mounted medium is executed. Succeedingly, in a step S708, it is detected whether or not the writing is ended, and when the writing is ended, the present flow is ended, and when the writing is not ended, the process returns to the step S707 and the writing is continued. To do.

Next, the control executed after the flow of FIG. 11 will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the control executed by the image management device 1 after the writing is completed. This flow is executed subsequent to the flow in FIG.

First, in step S710, an inquiry is made as to whether to delete the original image data in the hard disk 102 corresponding to the image data copied to the mounted medium. Here, the reason for deleting the original image data in the hard disk 102 is that the image data in the hard disk 102 may become useless for the user by copying it to the mounted medium.

Then, in step S711, it is detected whether or not the user has instructed to delete in response to the inquiry, and if instructed to delete, the step S7 is performed.
If it is instructed not to delete, the process proceeds to step S712.

In step S712, the fact that the data has been copied to the medium is registered in the management data of the copied image data. Further, in step S713, the original image data in the hard disk 102 corresponding to the image data copied to the medium is deleted. Then, in step S714, the storage destination information of the original image data in the management data is registered and changed from the hard disk 102 to the copied medium.

In step S715, it is inquired whether or not the registration information of the image data copied to the mounted medium should be deleted from the management data. In step S716, it is detected whether or not the user has instructed to delete in response to the inquiry, the process proceeds to step S717 if it is instructed to delete, and this flow if it is instructed not to delete. To finish. In step S717,
The registration information of the image data copied to the medium is deleted from the management data.

Next, the write candidate selection control executed in step 702 of FIG. 11 will be described. The control executed here is to extract the image data group related to the designated image data. Moreover, it is to extract the image data group according to the free space of the mounted medium.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the write candidate selection control executed by the image management apparatus 1. First,
In step S720, preset search conditions,
Acquires condition setting information such as priority. The condition setting information is information preset by the user, and indicates what kind of condition should be selected when selecting the image data group to be written on the medium.

For example, the user sets search conditions used when selecting image data. Specifically, items that are search conditions are set from the information registered in the management data. Items include camera model name, shooting date, image owner, shooting location, image title, keyword, and the like. In addition, the user can select and set items to be emphasized when generating a search formula for selecting image data.

By setting the search items in this way, it is possible to extract image data groups such as the same camera, the same owner, the same place, the same title, within a predetermined shooting interval, etc. as candidates.

Further, the user can set theme emphasis and capacity emphasis in addition to the search items. Focus on the theme,
The emphasis on capacity will be described later. Next, step S721.
Now, generate a search expression. Then, in step S722, the management data is searched by the search formula to acquire the hit image data information.

In step S723, the total capacity of the image data hit by the search is calculated from the acquired image data information. Next, in step S724, it is determined whether or not the calculated total capacity is less than or equal to the free capacity of the mounted medium, and if it is less than or equal to the free capacity, step S7.
26, and if it is not less than the free space, step S7
Go to 25.

Then, in step S725, in order to prevent the total capacity from exceeding the free capacity of the medium, the search condition is tightened and the number of selected image data is narrowed down.
In step S726, it is determined whether or not the difference obtained by subtracting the total capacity from the free capacity is equal to or larger than the predetermined capacity. Here, the value of the predetermined capacity used as the criterion for determination changes depending on whether the theme or the capacity is set by the user. The value of the predetermined capacity is set large when the theme is emphasized, and the value is set small when the capacity is emphasized. When the theme emphasis is set, for example, only the image data captured at a certain event is extracted without worrying about the free space of the medium. In this way, we extract only highly relevant image data,
Prevents extraction of unrelated image data. Also,
When the capacity priority is set, the image data is extracted so as to fill the free space of the medium. If the difference is not less than the predetermined capacity, the process proceeds to step S727, and if it is not more than the predetermined capacity, the process proceeds to step S728.

In step S727, in order to bring the total capacity close to the free capacity of the medium, a procedure for loosening the search condition and increasing the number of selected image data is executed. Then, in step S728, thumbnail image data of the hit image data is extracted.

In the above example, the retrieval formula for retrieving the selected image is generated in consideration of the theme of the image data and the free space of the medium. However, when trying to fill the free space, the images of the consistent theme may not be obtained, and therefore the control for forcibly expanding the search range may not be performed.

Further, in order to eliminate the waste of the mounted medium, the image theme may be ignored and the image data may be simply selected by capacity. The items used for the search may be other than the above-mentioned items.

Further, after the writing to the medium is completed, a label and a jacket to be attached to the medium may be created and printed from the image title, the shooting date and the like. As described above, when the managed image data is copied to the medium, the related image data group is controlled so as to be collected. Further, since the image data is controlled to be selected according to the free space of the medium, it is not necessary to select the image data while checking the free space.

Another management function of the image management apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below. As described above, the image management device 1 registers and manages the storage destination and owner of media such as a CD-R in the management data, in addition to the shooting information of the image data and the like.

The image management device 1 further has a function of registering and managing storage location information of the silver salt film in association with the image data when the image data is image data obtained by scanning and digitizing the silver salt film. Equipped with.

In the case of a laboratory-produced CD-R, since the image data are arranged in the order of frames of the silver salt film, the frame number corresponding to the silver salt film is automatically input.
In addition, it is desirable that the lab supplies the image data with the frame numbers attached.

Specific control executed by the image management apparatus 1 will be described below. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the control executed by the image management device 1. This flow is
It starts when a storage medium such as a CD-R is attached and registration work is executed.

First, in step S730, the attached and connected storage media are investigated. Then, step S7
In step 31, it is determined whether or not it is a lab-created CD-R. If it is a lab-created CD-R, the process proceeds to step S732, and if it is not a lab-created CD-R, step S733.
Proceed to. Whether or not it is a lab-created CD-R is determined by the CD-R serial number, volume label, and image data Exi.
It can be determined from f information. For example, the date and time information digitized from the silver salt film is input to the Exif information.

In step S732, the lab information and the frame number are registered in the management data. In step S733, a display prompting the user to input information that cannot be automatically determined is displayed on the monitor. Here, in addition to the information about the image data such as the frame number, information such as the owner of the silver salt film and the storage location is input. Next, step S7
At 34, it is detected whether or not the input is completed. If the input is completed, the process proceeds to step S735, and if the input is not completed, the process returns to step S733. And
In step S735, the input silver halide film information is registered in the management data.

By controlling the registration as described above, the user can search the owner and the storage location of the silver salt film. Further, by managing the silver salt film information and the frame number of the image data in the film, it is possible to make it useful for a search at the time of reprint printing from a silver salt film which is not printed via the Internet. Also, when an image to be reprinted is selected and an order form print operation is performed, an order form to be sent to a photo shop is created.

The silver salt film storage location search and order slip printing functions of the image management apparatus 1 will be specifically described below. Figure 1
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the silver salt film management control executed by the image management device 1. This flow starts by operating the silver salt film management of the management menu in the image management apparatus 1.

First, in step S740, management data is retrieved. Succeedingly, in a step S741, a thumbnail image of the image data in which the silver salt film information is registered in the management data is extracted. Then, in step S742, a list of the extracted thumbnail images is displayed on the monitor 2. In step S743, it is detected whether the selection of the image data is completed. If finished, step S
744, and if not completed, returns to step S742.

Then, in step S744, a screen for inquiring whether to print or to search the storage location is displayed. Succeedingly, in a step S745, it is detected whether or not printing is instructed. In the case of printing, the process proceeds to step S746, and in the case of storage location search, step S746
Proceed to 750.

Next, in step S746, the user is prompted to enter lab information and store information for printing. Then, in step S747, it is determined whether or not lab and store information has been input. If it has been input, the process proceeds to step S748, and if it has not been input, the process returns to step S746. Step S7
At 48, information such as the fact that the print has been reprinted, the order date and time, and the order lab are registered in the management data of the selected image data. Then, in step S749, an order form template corresponding to the lab or store is acquired by connecting to the site of the lab or store input via the Internet. The order form template may be stored in the image management device 1 in advance. Then, in step S750, scheduled finish date / time information of the print is downloaded from the site, and the scheduled finish date / time is displayed.

In step S751, an order form is created in which the order is input to the order form acquired so that the selected image data will be printed in the laboratory. Succeedingly, in a step S752, the printer 7 is instructed to print the order form. Next, in step S753, the management data is searched and the storage location of the silver salt film corresponding to the selected image data is extracted. Then, in step S754, the storage location of the silver salt film is displayed on the monitor 2.

As described above, the image management device 1 not only manages the image data which is digital data, but also the silver salt film and the like. We will also make an order slip for prints from silver halide film.

Next, cooperation control with other function software executed by the image management apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image management device 1 of the present embodiment has a function of cooperating with software in a mobile terminal such as the electronic notebook 4. Here, the cooperation with the schedule data of the schedule software used in the electronic notebook 4 will be described.

The image management device 1 automatically generates information such as an image title and shooting location from the schedule data. When the downloaded image file has no title or keyword, the title and keyword of the image data are created from the schedule data. This allows
In the image management device 1, it helps when searching for image data.

The cooperative control executed by the image management device 1 will be described below. When the image management device 1 downloads image data from a memory card or the like, the E added to the image data
The shooting date / time data of the xif information is collated with the schedule data. If there is schedule data corresponding to the shooting date and time, the schedule contents are displayed. And
Have a title attached. Or add a title automatically. Then, part or all of the words of the schedule data corresponding to the shooting date and time are registered as keywords.

Further, the title is not added from the schedule text, but simply added to the keyword. The contents of the image data and the contents of the schedule may be completely different. It is necessary to confirm whether or not the content of the image data and the text of the schedule match.

There is an advantage in simply using the keyword without performing the confirmation work. For example, “Mr. A's wedding” is described in the schedule, and “Mr. A's wedding” is added to the keyword of the image data photographed other than the wedding photographed on the same day. By doing this,
Even if you don't remember the shooting date and time of the image data you want to see, if you remember that you were shooting on A's wedding day,
You can search for "san's wedding" as a keyword.

The cooperative control executed by the image management apparatus 1 will be specifically described below. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing cooperation control with the schedule software executed by the image management device 1. This flow starts when the registration work is executed.

First, in step S801, shooting information of image data to be registered is searched. Then, step S
In 802, the shooting date / time information of the image data is acquired. Next, in step S803, the schedule data is retrieved by communicating with the electronic notebook 4. Then, it is detected whether or not there is schedule data corresponding to the shooting date / time information of the acquired image data. Next, in step S804, it is determined whether there is schedule data corresponding to the shooting date and time information of the image data. If there is corresponding schedule data, the process proceeds to step S805, and if there is no corresponding schedule data, this flow is executed. finish.

Then, in step S805, the word extracted from the schedule data is displayed with each of the title and the keyword, and an inquiry is made as to whether to register with the word. For example, when the schedule data includes “A's wedding at Hotel H”, “A's wedding” is extracted as the word of the title. In addition, “hotel H”, “Mr. A”, and “wedding” are extracted as keywords.

In step S806, it is detected whether or not an instruction to register the inquiry has been issued. Here, when a registration instruction is given, the extracted word is registered as a title or a keyword. If the user does not register, a screen for the user to manually input the title and keyword is displayed. If an instruction to register is issued, the process proceeds to step S809, and if an instruction to not register is provided, the process proceeds to step S807.

In step S807, an input screen for manually inputting the title and the keyword is displayed. Then, in step S808, it is detected whether or not data is input. If it is input, the process proceeds to step S809. If it is not input, nothing is registered and this flow ends.

In step S809, the title or keyword is registered in the management data in association with the image data. As described above, when the schedule data of the schedule software corresponding to the shooting date and time of the image data exists, the schedule data can be used as the title, keyword, etc. of the image data.

In the above example, when the schedule data corresponding to the shooting date and time of the image data to be registered exists, the image management apparatus 1 registers the title and keyword of the image data in the management data.

Further, in the above-described control, the search is made for the data that matches the shooting date and time. However, the data having similar dates and times may be extracted even if they do not match completely. For example, if there is schedule data before and after the shooting date and time, the preceding data is given priority.

The image management device 1 has a function of utilizing schedule data when searching and extracting image data without registering it in the management data. For example, if the keyword "Mr. A's wedding" is searched, the date and time of "Mr. A's wedding" is acquired from the schedule software.
The image data of the shooting date and time is extracted.

The control executed by the image management apparatus 1 will be specifically described below. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing search and extraction control executed by the image management device 1. This flow starts when a predetermined keyword is input and a search and an extraction are executed.

First, in step S901, the management data of the registered image data is searched. Step S9
In 02, it is detected whether or not image data having the input keyword exists. Step S if it exists
If it does not exist, the process proceeds to step S903.

Then, in step S903, since there is no image data of the keyword input in the management data, the schedule data is retrieved by communicating with the electronic notebook 4. The image management device 1 can retrieve the schedule data used by the schedule software.

In step S904, it is detected whether or not the input keyword is present in the schedule data. When it exists, it progresses to step S906, and when it does not exist, it progresses to step S905. Step S9
In 05, it is displayed that the corresponding image data does not exist. On the other hand, in step S906, a list of relevant image data is displayed.

In the above example, the schedule data is retrieved by communicating with the electronic notebook 4. However, instead of linking with the schedule software in the electronic organizer 4, the image management device 1
You may make it cooperate with the schedule software in the inside.

Further, instead of communicating with the electronic organizer 4 each time a search is executed, the image management device 1 causes the schedule data to be taken up in the image management device 1 when the portable terminal is connected. Good.

In the above control, an example in which the schedule data of the schedule software is linked is shown, but the data is not limited to the schedule data and may be other data. For example, it may be linked with e-mail data in the mobile phone 5.

The cooperation between the image management device 1 and the mobile phone 5 will be described in detail below. In addition to e-mail data, the mobile phone 5 stores various information such as call records and schedule data. The image management device 1 uses such information as management data. In addition, the image management device 1
Uses the management data by prioritizing the information in the mobile phone 5.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing the registration control executed by the image management apparatus 1 in cooperation with the mobile phone 5. This flow starts when the registration work is executed.

First, in step S910, the shooting information of the image data to be registered is searched. Then, step S
At 911, the shooting date / time information of the image data is acquired. Next, in step S912, the schedule data is searched by communicating with the mobile phone 5. Then, it is detected whether or not there is schedule data corresponding to the shooting date / time information of the acquired image data. Next, in step S913, it is determined whether there is schedule data corresponding to the shooting date / time information of the image data. If there is corresponding schedule data, the process proceeds to step S918. If there is no corresponding schedule data, the process proceeds to step S914. move on.

Next, in step S914, the electronic mail data is retrieved by communicating with the mobile phone 5. Then, it is detected whether or not there is electronic mail data received or transmitted at the shooting date and time of the acquired image data. Next, step S9
In step 15, it is determined whether there is received or transmitted e-mail data at the image data shooting date and time. If there is corresponding e-mail data, the process proceeds to step S918, and if there is no corresponding e-mail data, the process proceeds to step S916. move on.

Next, in step S916, the call history data is searched by communicating with the mobile phone 5. Then, it is detected whether or not there is call data at the shooting date and time of the acquired image data. Next, in step S917, it is determined whether or not there is call data at the shooting date and time of the image data. If there is a call, the process proceeds to step S918. If there is no call, there is no new data to be registered. This flow ends.

Then, in step S918, the word extracted from the mobile phone 5 is registered in the management data as a title or a keyword. The word extracted from the electronic mail data may be the word extracted from the mail title or the word extracted from the mail body. Further, the data of the other party of the call is extracted from the call history data.

Next, control of the portable storage device 6 executed in the image management device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image management device 1 according to the present embodiment has a function of acquiring and registering image data stored in the portable storage device 6. Here, the portable storage device 6 has a built-in hard disk for storing data, and includes a connection unit that connects the image management device 1 and a digital camera so as to communicate with each other. Furthermore, the portable storage device 6 includes a card slot for acquiring image data taken by a digital camera via a memory card.
Then, the portable storage device 6 is taken out with the digital camera and stores the image data captured by the digital camera through the connection section or the card slot.

The image data stored in the portable storage device 6 is erased from the internal memory of the digital camera to increase the free space of the memory so that continuous photographing can be performed. Further, the hard disk in the portable storage device 6 has a sufficient capacity for image storage at an event such as one trip.

The image management device 1 is connected to the portable storage device 6 to register and store the image data stored in the portable storage device 6 in the hard disk 102.

In addition, the portable storage device 6 may manage the stored image data independently. Then, the image management device 1 is provided with a program for converting the management information of the various portable storage devices 6 into data that can be used by the image management device 1. The conversion program is stored in the hard disk 102.

Therefore, the image management device 1 can perform more detailed management of the image data by cooperating with the portable storage device 6. Acquire management information, convert management information for own software, and utilize it. For example, the portable storage device 6
When the GPS element is mounted on the vehicle, position information when the image is stored can be obtained.

Then, the image management device 1 receives the image registration data managed by the portable storage device 6, converts it for use by itself, and registers it. As a result, data attached to all image data is not extracted one by one, and new information can be obtained by inputting information not attached to image data.

The image data registration control in the portable storage device 6 executed by the image management device 1 when connected to the portable storage device 6 will be described below. Figure 1
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the control executed by the image management device 1. This flow starts when the portable storage device 6 and the image management device 1 are connected.

First, in step S1101, the information of the portable storage device 6 is acquired, and it is searched whether or not the portable storage device 6 can cooperate. Here, the portable storage device 6 that can be linked is a device that allows the image management device 1 to use management data for managing stored image data.
Naturally, the portable storage device 6 that does not own the management data
Determines that cooperation is impossible.

Next, in step S1102, it is determined whether the connected portable storage device 6 can cooperate with the image management device 1. If cooperation is possible, step S
Proceeding to 1103, if cooperation is not possible, step S11
Go to 05.

In step S1103, the management data in the portable storage device 6 is downloaded. Then step S
At 1104, the management data program corresponding to the downloaded management data is activated to convert the management data.

In step S1105, the image data is downloaded and stored in the hard disk 102. In step S1106, it is detected whether or not the siphoning work is completed, and if it is completed, the process proceeds to step S1107, and if it is not completed, the process returns to step S1105,
Continue the siphoning work.

Next, in step S1107, the image data in the portable storage device 6 is erased. Note that it may be possible to inquire whether to delete the sucked image data without automatically deleting the sucked image data.
Further, the management data in the portable storage device 6 is rewritten. Then, in step S1108, registration work of the sucked image data is performed.

As described above, when the device connected to the image management apparatus 1 carries out its own image management, the image management data is acquired from the device and the registration work is performed based on the acquired image management data. Therefore, detailed management registration can be easily performed.

Next, the function of the image management apparatus 1 in the system for transferring the image data taken by the digital camera 3 to the server computer 8 will be described. Before transferring the image data to the transfer destination such as the server computer 8, the digital camera 3 creates reduced image data for display for reproduction display on the monitor of the digital camera 3, and transfers the image data to the transfer destination. It is stored in the memory of the digital camera 3 together with the information.

Further, the reduced image left in the digital camera 3 is stored in the Exif format, and the information such as the photographing date / time, the shutter speed, and the presence / absence of the strobe have the same information as the original image data. Further, since the information such as the image data size is the size of the reduced image, it is different from the original image data. It also holds information indicating that it is not original image data.

The registration control executed by the image management apparatus 1 will be specifically described below. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing registration control executed by the image management device 1. This flow starts when the digital camera 3 is connected to the connection terminal 105 of the image management device 1. Further, the digital camera 3 sends the image data to the server computer 8
It has been transferred to.

First, in step S1201, transfer destination information is acquired from the digital camera 3. Succeedingly, in a step S1202, based on the acquired transfer destination information, it is tried to connect to the server computer 8 which is the transfer destination.
Then, in step S1203, it is determined whether or not the server computer 8 can be connected. If the server computer 8 can be connected, the process proceeds to step S1204, and if the connection cannot be made, the process proceeds to step S1205.

Then, in step S1204, all the image data corresponding to the transfer destination information in the digital camera 3 is connected, and the photographing information attached to the Exif tag of the original image data is acquired. Also, step S
In 1205, for images that cannot be connected to the original image data, the Ex of the reduced image in the digital camera 3
The shooting information recorded in the if tag is acquired.

Next, in step S1206, management data is registered based on the acquired information. Then, in step S1207, the thumbnail image data in the digital camera 3 corresponding to the image data for which the management data is registered is deleted.

In the above control, an example in which the registration work is performed without downloading the original image data stored in the server computer 8 has been shown. However, some server computers have a time limit for storing the image data in the server computer. Image data that exceeds this time limit is automatically deleted. In addition, there may be a limit on the amount of image data that can be stored. It is not possible to store more image data than can be stored. In such a server computer, the original image data is downloaded to the hard disk 102 in the image management device 1, and the image data in the server computer is deleted.

The control in the image management apparatus 1 will be described in detail below. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the control executed by the image management device 1. This flow starts by connecting to the server computer 8.

First, in step S1210, use condition information of the server computer 8 is acquired. Succeedingly, in a step S1211, it is determined whether or not the storage limit of the image data in the server computer 8 is within a predetermined period, the process proceeds to a step S1212 if it is within the predetermined period, and the process proceeds to a step if it is longer than the predetermined period. It proceeds to S1214.

Then, in step S1212, the image data whose storage time limit is within the predetermined period is downloaded to the hard disk 102, and the image data downloaded from the server computer 8 is deleted. Then, step S12
At 13, the registered content of the management data regarding the storage location of the downloaded image data is changed.

In step S1214, it is determined whether or not the capacity of the image data stored in the server computer 8 is equal to or larger than a predetermined capacity. If the capacity is equal to or larger than the predetermined capacity, the process proceeds to step S1215. This flow ends. In step S1215, predetermined image data is downloaded to the hard disk, and the image data downloaded from the server computer 8 is deleted. Succeedingly, in a step S1216, the registered content of the management data regarding the storage location of the downloaded image data is changed, and the process returns to the step S1214.

By controlling as described above, the image data stored in the server computer will not be lost.
Further, it is possible to secure a memory capacity that can be newly stored in the server computer at any time.

Next, another function of the image management apparatus 1 of this embodiment will be described. One image management device 1
May be shared and used by multiple people such as family members. If you can access the image data registered by other people, it will violate your privacy.

In addition, one digital camera 3 may be shared by a plurality of people such as family members or friends. When using the digital camera 3 as described above, each of the plurality of people can use its own memory card to prevent privacy infringement. However, digital camera 3
The memory that is built in or installed in has been increased in capacity,
It is conceivable that one memory is shared by a plurality of people. When the digital camera 3 is used by a plurality of people, if all the image data in the digital camera 3 is automatically downloaded and registered, image data taken by another person will also be registered.

In addition, one digital camera 3 may be shared between business and private. Also in this case, it is inconvenient for the image data taken by the business to be automatically registered in the personally owned image management device.

The image management apparatus 1 of this embodiment has various functions to solve the above problems. The function will be specifically described below. The image management device 1 has a function of preventing access to image data registered by others in order to protect privacy. When there are a plurality of users who are using a personal computer or the like, each user has a login ID and a password, and is logged in when the image management apparatus 1 is used. This distinguishes users and limits access to image data. In the image management apparatus 1, the image data registered while a certain user is logged in can be accessed only when the same user is logged in.

Further, the image management apparatus 1 has a function of distinguishing and registering the owner of the image data from the image data photographed by a plurality of persons. The image management device 1 has a function of inputting image data extraction conditions for specifying the owner and registering only image data that meets the conditions. In addition to file management information such as folder name and file name, the conditions that can be entered include Exif such as manufacturer name, shooting model name, image title, keyword, image size, shooting date, user name, etc.
There is tag information, etc.

Specific control executed by the image management device 1 will be described below. FIG. 22 shows the image management device 1.
It is a flowchart figure which shows the control performed by. This flow is for connecting the digital camera 3 to the connection terminal 105,
Alternatively, it is detected that the memory card is mounted in the memory card slot 104 and the operation is started. In the following description, the case where the digital camera 3 is connected is shown.

First, in step S2001, the login user of the image management apparatus 1 is detected. In step S2002, the image data in the connected digital camera 3 is searched.

In step S2003, as a result of searching the image data in the digital camera 3, it is determined whether or not there is image data that matches the condition set by the login user,
If there is image data that matches the conditions of the login user, the process advances to step S2004, and if there is no image data that matches, this flow ends. Then, in step S2004, only image data that matches the conditions set by the login user is downloaded and registered.

The digital camera 3 has the image management device 1 attached thereto.
If the image management apparatus 1 has a function of logging in to identify a user, the registration can be automatically performed from the login information without setting conditions such as condition input in the image management device 1.

Further, in the above control, the example in which the image data of the login user is detected and only the image data of the login user is downloaded and registered is shown. In the control described below, all image data in the digital camera 3 is downloaded and registered. Then, at the time of registration, the login user information is registered in the management data. Then, except for the image data of the login user, access such as display is disabled.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing the registration control executed by the image management apparatus 1. This flow starts when the connection of the digital camera 3 to the connection terminal 105 or the attachment to the memory card slot 104 is detected. In the following description, the case where the digital camera 3 is connected is shown.

First, in step S2010, the login user of the image management apparatus 1 is detected. Next, step S20.
In step 11, all the image data in the digital camera 3 is downloaded and the shooting information data of the image data is registered in the management data. Further, information such as a photographer and an owner of the image data is also registered in the management data.

Then, in step S2012, the registered image data is searched. In step S2013, it is determined whether or not the login user of the image management apparatus 1 has the image data of the photographer and the owner. If the image data exists, the process proceeds to step S2014. If not, there is no image data that can be handled. This flow ends. Also, step S
In 2014, thumbnail images of image data of which the login user is the photographer and the owner are displayed in a list so that they can be handled.

By performing the registration control as described above, the image data can be registered efficiently and the privacy of others is not violated. Next, an example will be described in which original image data is not downloaded and only registered in management data. For example, this is executed when the memory card mounted on the digital camera 3 is a write-once medium.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing the control executed by the image management apparatus 1. This flow starts when a digital camera equipped with a write-once medium is connected to the image management device 1.

First, in step S2020, the login user of the image management device 1 is detected. Next, step S20.
At 21, the image data in the connected digital camera 3 is searched. Then, in step S2022, as a result of searching the image data in the digital camera 3, it is determined whether there is image data that matches the conditions set by the login user, and there is image data that matches the conditions of the login user. In this case, the process proceeds to step S2023, and if there is no matching image data, this flow ends. Then, in step S2023, only image data that matches the conditions set by the login user is registered in the management data.

Next, the control corresponding to the case where the image data photographed by the digital camera 3 is transmitted to and accumulated in the server computer using a network such as the Internet will be described.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing the control executed in the image management apparatus 1. This flow is
It starts when a digital camera having a function of transferring to the server computer 8 is connected to the image management device 1.

First, in step S2031, the login user of the image management device 1 is detected. Then, step S2
At 032, the transmission data in the digital camera 3 is searched. The transmission data has destination information of image data, photographer information, and the like. Then, in step S2033, as a result of the search, it is determined whether or not the image data of the login user exists, and if the image data exists, step S2034.
If not, the flow is finished.

Next, in step S2034, the destination server computer 8 based on the destination information of the transmission data.
Try to connect to. Succeedingly, in a step S2035, it is detected whether or not it is connected to the server computer 8, and when it is connected, the process proceeds to step S2037, and when it is not connected, the process proceeds to step S2036 and a message indicating that the connection is impossible is displayed. . Then, in step S2037, the image data captured by the login user is downloaded from the server computer 8. Next, in step S2038,
The management data of the downloaded image data is created, and the management data is registered in the hard disk 102 together with the image data.

By controlling as described above, the image data of the user can be easily acquired from the image data transferred from the digital camera to the server computer.

Next, another function of the image management apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the image management device 1,
In addition to the fixed hard disk 102, a removable hard disk that can be removed and replaced using the connection terminal 105 can be mounted. The removable hard disk can be used as a large capacity exchange medium.

26 to 28 are views for explaining an example of mounting a removable hard disk and a data management method in the hard disk. In the example shown in FIG. 26, the management data is not recorded in the mounted removable hard disk, but the management data is centrally stored in the fixed hard disk 102. The advantage of adopting this management method is that removable hard disks can also be used on other CD-Rs.
It can be managed in the same way as media such as. Moreover, the management data is not lost by centrally storing it in the fixed hard disk 102.

Depending on the device, there is a case where there is no fixed hard disk but only a removable hard disk. In the example shown in FIG. 27, management data is centrally stored in the hard disk in which the management program is recorded. The advantage of adopting this management method is that the management data is centrally stored in the same hard disk as the management program, and because the management data always exists when the program is started, it is possible to prevent duplicate management data creation. .

In the example shown in FIG. 28, management data is stored for each individual hard disk including fixed hard disks. Then, when the management program is activated, all management data stored in each hard disk can be searched. The management data stored in a plurality of hard disks in a predetermined hard disk may be temporarily made into one management data only while the image management apparatus 1 is activated.

Specific control executed by the image management apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below. First,
The control at the time of activation executed by the image management device 1 will be described.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the startup control executed by the image management apparatus 1. This flow is
It starts by activating the image management function in the image management device 1.

First, in step S3001, all mounted disks are searched. Then, step S30
In 02, the management data recorded on each disc is extracted. Then, in step S3003, management data in which the extracted management data is combined is generated in the hard disk storing the management program. The management data combined here is temporarily used data and disappears when the image management function is stopped. Of course, when new image data is registered, it is also registered in the combined management data and also in the management data in each disc.

Next, the control at the time of registration executed by the image management apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing registration control executed by the image management device 1. This flow starts when the user gives an instruction to register image data.

First, in step S3010, the disk designated to store the original image data is searched. Succeedingly, in a step S3011, it is determined whether or not the management data exists, the process proceeds to a step S3012 if the management data exists, and the process proceeds to a step S3013 if the management data does not exist.

In step S3012, the information of the image data to be registered this time is additionally registered in the management data, the management data is updated, and the image data is stored in a predetermined folder. Also, in step S3013,
The management data is newly generated in a predetermined path and the image data is stored in a predetermined folder. Here, the place where the management data is generated and stored is stored in a folder having a predetermined path so that the image management apparatus 1 can identify it.
Then, in step S3014, the image data information is also registered in the combined management data.

By performing management in this way, it becomes possible to manage, for example, by mounting a removable hard disk managed by another image management device in its own management device 1.

As described above, the image management apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention has various functions and can manage image data without causing the user to perform complicated work.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image management apparatus 1 and various devices connected to the image management apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the image management device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing an image data management method of the image management device 1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing image management control executed by the image management device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing registration control for image data recorded in a write-once medium.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing registration control for image data recorded in a write-once medium.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing registration control for image data recorded in a write-once medium.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing registration control executed in the image management device 1.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a registration operation executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing print control executed by the image management apparatus 1.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing recording control executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the control executed by the image management device 1 after the writing is completed.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing write candidate selection control executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing control executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the silver salt film management control executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing cooperation control with schedule software executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 17 shows a search executed by the image management device 1.
It is a flowchart figure which shows extraction control.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing registration control in cooperation with the mobile phone 5 executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing control executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing registration control executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing control executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing control executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing registration control executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing control executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing control executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining a mounting example of a removable hard disk and a data management method in the hard disk.

FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining a mounting example of a removable hard disk and a data management method in the hard disk.

FIG. 28 is a diagram for explaining a mounting example of a removable hard disk and a data management method in the hard disk.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the startup control executed by the image management device 1.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing registration control executed by the image management device 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Image management device 2 ... Monitor 3 ... Digital camera 4 ... Electronic notebook 5 ... Mobile phone 6 ... Portable storage device 7 ... Printer 8 ... Server computer 101 ... CPU 102 ... hard disk 103 ... Disk drive 104 ... Memory card slot 105 ... Connection terminal 106 ... Communication circuit

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/91 H04N 5/91 Z F term (reference) 5B075 ND06 NK04 NK13 5C052 AA01 AA17 AB05 AB09 AC08 CC01 DD02 DD04 5C053 FA08 FA14 FA23 FA27 GB06 GB21 HA29 HA33 KA01 KA24 KA26 LA01 LA03 LA06 LA11 LA14 5D110 AA12 AA21 AA29 BB01 BB07 BB21 DA04 DA10 DA11 DA14 DA17 DA20 DB09 EA05 EB01 FA08

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A search means for searching image data, a selection means for automatically selecting image data to be registered from the image data searched by the search means, and image data selected by the selection means. An image management apparatus comprising: a registration unit that registers information as management data. 2. The image management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects image data that matches a predetermined condition. 3. The image management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined condition can be set by a user. 4. The image management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined condition relates to shooting information added to image data. 5. The image management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined condition is shooting date / time information. 6. The image management apparatus according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the predetermined condition is image title information. 7. The image management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects image management data based on user information of the image management apparatus. 8. The image management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit specifies that the image data is selected based on login information of the image management apparatus. 9. The image management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the login information is associated with a predetermined condition for searching image data, and the selection unit is a predetermined condition associated with the login information. An image management device characterized by selecting image data suitable for 10. An image management program in which the control executed by the image management apparatus according to claim 1 is described.