JP2004282435A - Method and device for storing and displaying image, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image file storing technology for making it possible to sequentially browse from an image file fetched already even during obtaining image files when fetching a plurality of image files from the outside. <P>SOLUTION: This image file storing technology includes an image fetching step for fetching image files recorded in an external recorder such as an optical disk and a memory card or in a recorder on a network such as the Internet and a LAN, an image recording step for recording the fetched image files in an internal recorder such as a memory and a magnetic recorder, a thumbnail preparing step for reducing the fetched and recorded image files and preparing thumbnails, a thumbnail recording step for recording thumbnails prepared by the thumbnail preparing step in the internal recorder, and a thumbnail displaying step for displaying the recorded thumbnails on a picture display device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image storage and display technique for capturing image data recorded in any external recording area into a recording area in an apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the spread of digital cameras has been steadily increasing with the trend toward lower prices, higher functions, and higher pixels, and the replacement of conventional silver halide cameras is also progressing. The image file recording area of the digital camera body is an internal memory or a memory card, and considering the recording capacity and the image file capacity at present, the image file recording area of the digital camera body is a temporary storage area. Limited to use. That is, it is necessary to sequentially load the image files stored in the digital camera body into a storage device having a sufficiently large capacity with respect to the image file capacity.
[0003]
In the related art, the operability of the user is improved by displaying a thumbnail (for example, see Patent Document 1). However, in a conventional image file storage device having a screen display function, such as a personal computer, as shown in FIG. 6, when capturing a plurality of image files, the image file is being captured in the screen display area. A dialog is displayed indicating that there is, and images cannot be browsed until all images have been captured.
[0004]
In particular, with the recent increase in memory integration, the number of image files that can be recorded in a single memory card has increased, and as a result, it is conceivable that a large amount of time is required for one image capture. In this case, since the image cannot be browsed until all the image files have been captured as described above, the user is kept waiting during that time.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 09-331499 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the related art, as described above, when continuously capturing a plurality of image files in an image file storage device having a screen display function, it is impossible to browse images until all image files have been captured. .
[0007]
This image file storage device is required to be able to sequentially browse image files that have already been captured, even during execution of external image file capture.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image storage and display method and an apparatus for sequentially displaying images from a captured image file even during execution of external image file capture.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides an image capturing step of capturing an image file recorded on an external recording device or a recording device on a network, and recording the image file captured by the image capturing step on an internal recording device. An image recording step, a thumbnail creation step of creating a thumbnail by reducing the image file recorded by the image recording step, a thumbnail recording step of recording the thumbnail created by the thumbnail creation step in an internal recording device, A thumbnail display step of displaying the thumbnail recorded by the thumbnail recording step on the screen display device.
[0010]
Thus, when an image file recorded on an external recording device such as an optical disk or a memory card, or a recording device on a network such as the Internet or a LAN is captured, a plurality of image files are being continuously captured. In addition, it is possible to obtain an image storage and display method capable of displaying an image file for which image capturing and image recording have been completed and a thumbnail thereof.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image capturing step of capturing an image file recorded on an external recording device or a recording device on a network, and recording the image file captured by the image capturing step on an internal recording device. An image recording step, a thumbnail creation step of creating a thumbnail by reducing the image file recorded by the image recording step, a thumbnail recording step of recording the thumbnail created by the thumbnail creation step in an internal recording device, A thumbnail display step of displaying the thumbnails recorded in the thumbnail recording step on a screen display device, wherein the thumbnails are recorded on an external recording device such as an optical disk or a memory card, or on a network such as the Internet or a LAN. Note When capturing the image files recorded in the device, it has the effect of a plurality of image files even while they are being taken continuously, can display thumbnails of image files of the image capture and image recording is completed.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key input interrupt handler that detects an interrupt due to a key input during the image file capture and executes an appropriate process according to the input key, The processing to be executed is characterized by having an input key determining step of determining an input key and a command executing step of executing an operation for the input key, and a plurality of image files are continuously This has the effect that the command input can be accepted and the processing for the input command can be executed even during the fetching.
[0013]
The invention according to claim 3 has an image reading step of reading an image file or a thumbnail recorded in the internal recording device, and an image displaying step of displaying the read image file or the thumbnail on a screen display device. When called from the key input interrupt handler during image file capture, image files or thumbnails can be displayed while multiple image files are continuously captured. Even when the image file is being captured, the display screen is changed so that the image file can be browsed.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image capturing device for capturing an image file recorded on an external recording device, a communication device for capturing an image file recorded on a recording device on a network, and managing the captured image file. Image recording means for recording the captured image file, a thumbnail management means for creating a thumbnail of the captured image file, and managing a correspondence relationship with the image file. A thumbnail recording area for recording the thumbnail, screen display means for displaying the image file, the thumbnail or GUI, and a display image management means for managing the image file displayed by the screen display means, the thumbnail or the GUI. Optical discs and memory cards. When an image file recorded on an external recording device such as a computer or a recording device on a network such as the Internet or a LAN is imported, even if a plurality of image files are being continuously acquired, the image acquisition and This has the effect that thumbnails of image files for which image recording has been completed can be displayed.
[0015]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key input unit, and screen data to be displayed on the screen display unit even while a plurality of image files are continuously captured according to the input key. , The display screen management means can generate and change.
[0016]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for storing and displaying an image by being executed by the image storage and display device according to the fourth or fifth aspect. With this configuration, an effect is obtained that the image storage and display method according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 3 can be executed.
[0017]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium on which the program according to the sixth aspect is recorded, wherein the recording medium is recorded on the image storage and display device according to any one of the fourth and fifth aspects. By reading the program and executing the program, an effect is obtained that the image storage and display method according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 can be executed.
[0018]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image storage and display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a configuration of functional units.
[0020]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an external recording device such as an optical disk or a memory card on which an image file to be captured by an image storage and display device is recorded, and 2 denotes an image capturing means for capturing the image file from the external recording device 1 described above. Reference numeral 3 denotes communication means for executing communication with the outside in order to capture an image file recorded in a recording device on a network such as the Internet or a LAN. Reference numeral 4 denotes a key for receiving a command from a user, such as a button, a keyboard, and a mouse. Input means, 5 is an image management means for managing the image file captured in the image storage and display device, 6 is an image recording area for recording the image file captured in the image storage and display device, 7 is captured in the image storage and display device, Creates and manages thumbnails of reduced images from the image files recorded in the image recording area 6 described above. A thumbnail recording area 8 for recording thumbnails created by the thumbnail management means 7 described above; 9 an image recording area 6 and image files or thumbnails recorded in the thumbnail recording area 8; A display image management unit that obtains through the thumbnail management unit 7 and creates and manages a layout and the like of a screen displayed by the image storage and display device, and 10 is a screen for displaying the image created by the display image management unit 9 described above. The display unit 11 is a control unit that controls the execution of capturing, recording, and displaying image files or thumbnails.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the image storage and display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a hardware configuration.
[0022]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes a central processing unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CPU) for executing a program, 21 a random access memory (hereinafter abbreviated as RAM) for temporarily recording data, and 22 a program. Read-only memory (hereinafter abbreviated as ROM) for storing data, 23 is a secondary recording device for recording data such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk, 24 is a reading device for reading data from a recording medium 25, 26 Is a display device for displaying on a screen, 27 is an input device for receiving a command input from a user, 28 is a communication control unit for communicating with an external network 29, and 30 is an internal data bus.
[0023]
The correspondence between the functional means of FIG. 1 and the hardware of FIG. 2 will be described.
[0024]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image recording area 6 and the thumbnail recording area 8 are realized by the RAM 21 or the secondary recording device 23. The image capturing unit 2 is realized by the reading device 24, and the communication unit 3 is realized by the communication control unit 28. The image management unit 5, the thumbnail management unit 7, the display image management unit 9, and the control unit 11 are realized by the CPU 20 executing a control program recorded in the ROM 22 while exchanging data with the ROM 22 and the RAM 21. Is done. The screen display means 10 is realized by the display device 26. The key input unit 4 is realized by the input device 27.
[0025]
In the present embodiment, the CPU 20 is configured to execute the control program recorded in the ROM 22. However, the CPU 20 reads the control program from the recording medium 25 on which the control program is recorded via the reading device 24 and reads the control program from the RAM 21 or the RAM 2. The control program may be developed on the next recording device 23 and the developed control program may be executed by the CPU 20. By adopting such an embodiment, the present invention can be easily realized by a dedicated image storage and display device or a general-purpose computer.
[0026]
【Example】
Next, specific examples of the present invention will be described.
[0027]
It is assumed that there are a total of K image files to be imported to the image storage and display device, which are recorded on an external recording device such as an optical disk or a memory card, or a recording device on a network such as the Internet or a LAN. , Etc., in the order of the image file names to be captured. In addition, among the K total image files, the image file that is currently being captured is represented by an identifier N (N = 1... K). N and the like.
[0028]
(Example 1)
First, when the image storage and display device captures a plurality of image files recorded on an external recording device such as an optical disk or a memory card, or a recording device on a network such as the Internet or a LAN, the image files that have been captured and recorded are The operation of sequentially creating and displaying thumbnails will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and a schematic diagram of screen display of FIG.
[0029]
In FIG. 3, the image capturing means 2 or the communication means 3 acquires the total number K of image files to be captured from the external recording device 1 or the network (step 11). When the acquisition of K is completed, the image capturing unit 2 or the communication unit 3 initializes the currently acquired image identifier N (step 12). The initial value of N is, for example, 1.
[0030]
Next, the image capturing unit 2 or the communication unit 3 acquires an image file (hereinafter, referred to as an image N) corresponding to the currently set identifier N from the external recording device 1 or a network, and transfers the image file to the image recording area 6. Recording is performed sequentially (step 13).
[0031]
When the capture and recording of the image N are completed, the thumbnail management unit 7 reads out the image N recorded in the image recording area 6 via the control unit 11 and the image management unit 5, and creates a thumbnail N obtained by reducing the image N. Is recorded in the thumbnail recording area 8 (step 14). When the thumbnail creation and recording are completed, the display image management means 9 reads the thumbnail N already created in step 14 via the control means 11 and the thumbnail management means 7 and informs that the image is being captured as shown in FIG. Is instructed to display the read image of the thumbnail N in the dialog display area where is displayed.
[0032]
When the display is completed, the process proceeds to step 16, where the image capturing unit 2 or the communication unit 3 ends the image capturing if all image files to be captured have been captured (N ≧ K). If not completed, the process proceeds to step 17, where the image capturing unit 2 or the communication unit 3 increments the count of N, and returns to step 13 in order to capture the next image file.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, an example in which the thumbnail image is displayed in the dialog display area has been described, but the display position may be an arbitrary position in the screen display area.
[0034]
(Example 2)
Next, when the image storage and display device captures a plurality of image files recorded on an external recording device such as an optical disk or a memory card, or a recording device on a network such as the Internet or a LAN, the image files that have been captured and recorded are The operation of sequentially creating thumbnails and displaying them in a list will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the screen display schematic diagram of FIG.
[0035]
Since the operation other than the thumbnail display is the same as the operation described in the first embodiment, only the thumbnail reading / display operation in step 15 in FIG. 3 will be described. The display image management means 9 reads the thumbnail N which has been created and recorded in step 14 and instructs the image display means 10 to display the image of the read thumbnail N in a dialog display area as shown in FIG. . At this time, the display location of the thumbnail N is displayed at a position different from that of the thumbnail N-1 previously displayed. For example, as shown in FIG. Can be displayed.
[0036]
In the present embodiment, an example in which the thumbnail image is displayed in the dialog display area has been described, but the display position may be an arbitrary position in the screen display area.
[0037]
(Example 3)
Next, when the image storage and display device captures a plurality of image files recorded on an external recording device such as an optical disk or a memory card, or a recording device on a network such as the Internet or a LAN, the image files that have been captured and recorded are 3, 4, and 5, and screen display schematic diagrams of FIGS. 8, 9, for operations for receiving a command input by a user and performing an arbitrary operation during an operation of sequentially creating and displaying thumbnails of FIG. It will be described using FIG. The operations of taking in, recording, and creating, recording, and displaying an image file are basically the same as those in the flowchart of FIG.
[0038]
In step 15 of FIG. 3, the display image management means 9 reads the thumbnail N created and recorded in step 14, and displays the image of the read thumbnail N in a dialog display area as shown in FIG. An instruction is given to the image display means 10. At this time, the display image management unit 9 instructs the image display unit 10 to display the focus on one of the plurality of thumbnails. The thumbnail that initially displays the focus is, for example, the thumbnail that is displayed first. At this time, the display image management means 9 records the identifier M (M = 1... N) of the focused thumbnail. Note that the identifier M corresponds to the image file (1... N) that has been completely captured.
[0039]
FIG. 4 shows a key input interrupt handler that is called when a user inputs a command such as a button, a keyboard, and a mouse during the operation of FIG. First, the display image management means 9 acquires the key input from the key input means 4 via the control means 11 and determines whether the key is a key corresponding to the focus movement (step 21). If the result of the determination is true, the display image management means 9 changes the focus display position according to the input key, instructs the screen display means 10 to display, updates the focus identifier M, and issues a key input interrupt. finish.
[0040]
If the result of the determination is false, the process proceeds to step 23 in order to determine whether or not another key input has been made. In step 23, it is determined whether or not the input key is a key corresponding to one-image display. If the result of the determination is true, the process proceeds to step 24 in order to display one image file designated by focus. If false, it is determined that the key input is not valid, and the key input interrupt is terminated. In step 24, one selected image file is displayed. The operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0041]
In FIG. 5, when the single-image display key is effectively received, the display image management unit 9 reads an image file corresponding to the focus identifier M from the image recording area 6 via the control unit 11 and the image management unit 5, As shown in FIG. 9, the image display unit 10 is instructed to display the image M in the dialog display area.
[0042]
In the present embodiment, an example in which the thumbnail image is displayed in the dialog display area has been described, but the display position may be an arbitrary position in the screen display area.
[0043]
Further, in this embodiment, only the focus movement and the key input for displaying one image are accepted. However, by adding a key to be determined in the key input interrupt handler of FIG. And display.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when an image file recorded on an external recording device such as an optical disk or a memory card or a recording device on a network such as the Internet or a LAN is loaded into the image storage and display device, a plurality of Even while image files are being continuously captured, it is possible to display thumbnails of image files for which image capturing and recording have been completed, and a beneficial effect of reducing the user's waiting time can be obtained. .
[0045]
Further, according to the present invention, even during the image capture as described above, by inputting a key input as an interrupt, it is possible to display an image file for which image capture and recording have been completed, thereby enabling the user The beneficial effect that the waiting time can be reduced is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image storage and display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of an image storage and display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Operation flowchart of thumbnail display during capture [FIG. 4] Operation flowchart of key input interrupt handler during image capture according to an embodiment of the present invention [FIG. 5] Flow chart of image file display during image capture according to an embodiment of the present invention 6) Conceptual diagram of dialog display during image file capture [FIG. 7] Conceptual diagram of captured image thumbnail display during image file capture [FIG. 8] Conceptual diagram of captured image thumbnail list display during image file capture [ Fig. 9: Display of a single captured image during image file capture Conceptual diagram DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 external recording device 2 image capturing means 3 communication means 4 key input means 5 image management means 6 image recording area 7 thumbnail management means 8 thumbnail recording area 9 display image management means 10 screen display means 20 CPU
21 RAM
22 ROM
23 Secondary recording device 24 Reading device 25 Recording medium 26 Display device 27 Input device 28 Communication control unit 29 Network 30 Data bus

Claims (7)

An image capturing step of capturing an image file recorded on an external recording device or a recording device on a network,
An image recording step of recording the image file captured by the image capturing step in an internal recording device,
A thumbnail creating step of creating a thumbnail by reducing the image file recorded by the image recording step;
A thumbnail recording step of recording the thumbnail created by the thumbnail creation step in an internal recording device;
A thumbnail display step of displaying a thumbnail recorded by the thumbnail recording step on a screen display device;
An image storage and display method, comprising: During the image file capture, a key input interrupt handler that senses an interrupt due to a key input and executes an appropriate process according to the input key;
An input key determining step of performing processing in the key input interrupt handler, and determining an input key;
2. The image storage and display method according to claim 1, further comprising a command execution step of executing an operation for an input key. An image reading step of reading an image file or a thumbnail recorded in the internal recording device,
3. An image storage and display method according to claim 2, further comprising an image display step of displaying the read image file or thumbnail on a screen display device. Image capturing means for capturing an image file recorded on an external recording device;
Communication means for capturing an image file recorded on a recording device on a network;
Image management means for managing the captured image file;
Image recording means for recording the captured image file,
A thumbnail management unit that creates a thumbnail of the captured image file and manages a correspondence relationship with the image file;
A thumbnail recording area for recording the created thumbnail,
Screen display means for displaying the image file, the thumbnail or the GUI,
An image storage and display device comprising: a display image management unit that manages an image file displayed by the screen display unit, the thumbnail, or the GUI. Has key input means,
The display screen management means can generate and change screen data to be displayed on the screen display means even during the continuous capture of a plurality of image files in accordance with the input key. The image storage and display device according to claim 4, wherein A program for executing storage and display of an image by being executed by the image storage and display device according to claim 4. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 6 is recorded.

Images