JP2005012369A - Data transfer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data transfer apparatus for easily cross-referencing two data such as image data and voice data. <P>SOLUTION: A photographing function attached sound recording apparatus is configured to include a CPU 1 mainly controlling the entire apparatus; a microphone 4 and its input circuit; a speaker and its output circuit; a photographing processing section 3; a display use LCD 13; a PC connection terminal 14; a recording medium 15; and an operating switch group 12. In the case that sound and / or image data recorded on the recording medium 15 are transferred to an external device such as a PC, when the transferred data are the image data, a REC switch 12a is operated during the transfer to allow a memory section 1a of the CPU 1 to record the sound data related to the image data. The sound data recorded in the memory section 1a after the transfer of the image data can automatically be transferred in a state that the sound data are cross-referenced to the image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data transfer device that transfers various data to an external device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a method of recording an image and a sound with one apparatus has been proposed. In such a recording apparatus, the captured image data can be associated with the sound data recorded as a comment. . For example, as described in Patent Document 1, an audio recording camera that can easily associate image data with audio data has been proposed.
[0003]
Also, in a digital data recording device such as a conventional digital camera or digital recorder, data recorded on a recording medium in the device is transferred to an external device such as a PC by wired data communication or wireless data communication. Generally done. In addition, in order to make it possible to associate image data with audio data other than at the time of shooting, a data recording apparatus that can associate data by operating the external device after transferring the data to the external device has also been proposed. Yes.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Patent Document 1 is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-160553.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional data recording device such as a digital camera, image data and audio data are recorded separately, and the data association is performed after the data is transferred to the external device. After that, there is a problem that the operation such as associating must be performed, and the operation is troublesome.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a data transfer apparatus that can easily associate two data such as image data and audio data.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data transfer device for transferring first data stored in a storage unit to an external device, and for transferring the first data from the storage unit to the external device. Recording means for recording second data, and control means for controlling the transfer means so as to transfer the second data to the external device. When transferring the first data, the second data It is recorded in the recording means, and then the second data is transferred to the external device.
[0008]
The data transfer device according to claim 2 of the present invention is the data transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising association information generation means for generating association information from the first data and the second data, and the control The means further controls the transfer means to transfer the association information to the external device.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the data transfer device according to the first aspect, the first data is image data, and the second data is audio data.
[0010]
A data transfer device according to claim 4 of the present invention selects whether or not to record the second data when transferring the first data to the external device in the data transfer device according to claim 1. The second data is recorded by the recording means only when the second data is recorded by the selecting means, and the second data is recorded by the control means. Transfer to device.
[0011]
The data transfer device according to claim 5 of the present invention is the data transfer device according to claim 4, wherein the selecting means is within a predetermined time after the start of the transfer of the first data or after the end of the transfer of the first data. In addition, the operator selects whether or not to record the second data, and selects not to record the second data when the predetermined time has elapsed.
[0012]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the data transfer device according to the first aspect, a predetermined operation is performed after the start of the transfer of the first data or within a predetermined time after the end of the transfer. Only when the recording means records the second data, the control means controls the transfer means to transfer the second data to the external device.
[0013]
The data transfer device according to claim 7 of the present invention is the data transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit that determines whether the first data is image data; and the determination unit. When it is determined that the first data is image data, there is provided display means for displaying an image of the first data.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an audio recording apparatus with a photographing function according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0015]
This sound recording device with a photographing function is a sound recording device such as an IC recorder having a photographing function. As shown in FIG. 1, a microphone 4 for converting sound into an analog electric signal and an analog obtained by the microphone 4 are used. An amplifier (AMP) 5 that amplifies an audio signal, a low-pass filter (LPF) 6 that removes unnecessary high-frequency components from the output of the amplifier 5, and an output of the low-pass filter 6 is converted into a digital signal. An analog / digital converter (A / D) 7 that performs the operation and compresses the audio signal digitized by the analog / digital converter 7 during a recording operation and decompresses the audio signal during the reproducing operation. CPU 1 composed of a main control circuit as control means for performing various controls, audio data compressed by the digital signal processing unit, and Alternatively, a recording medium 15 serving as a storage unit that stores image data in a predetermined format under the control of the CPU 1 and a digital / analog converter (D) that converts a digital audio signal output from the CPU 1 into an analog signal. / A) 11, a low-pass filter (LPF) 10 that removes unnecessary quantization noise and the like from the output of the digital / analog converter 11, and an amplifier (AMP) that amplifies the output of the low-pass filter 10 9, a speaker 8 that outputs sound based on an analog signal amplified by the amplifier 9, an LCD 13 that is driven by an instruction from the CPU 1 and displays various information such as an operation mode and the current date and time, An image pickup unit 2 including an image pickup optical system and a CCD is built in, and based on the control of the CPU 1, in particular, still image shooting. Under the control of the CPU 1, the photographing processing unit 3 that performs image processing, and a communication port 1b that is a data transfer means for communicating with an external device (for example, a PC) and the communication port 1b are connected to the external device. A PC connection terminal 14 for connection to a PC (personal computer), a recording switch (REC switch) 12a which is a selection means for instructing recording start, a playback switch (PLAY switch) 12b for instructing playback start, A stop switch (STOP switch) 12c for stopping the reproduction process, a fast-forward switch (FF switch) 12d for rewinding the recording position and the reproduction position, and a rewind switch (REW for rewinding the recording position and the reproduction position) Switch) 12e and an operation switch comprising a release switch (REL switch) 12f for instructing to take a still image. And a switch group 12.
[0016]
The photographing processing unit 3 compresses the image data that is the first data taken in via the imaging unit 2 under the control of the CPU 1 and outputs the compressed image data to the CPU 1.
[0017]
The CPU 1 performs a recording process for writing the above-described compressed audio data and the captured image data into the recording medium 15. Further, the CPU 1 includes a data transfer means for transferring the audio data and image data recorded on the recording medium 15 to an external device, and is further taken in via the microphone 4 and related to the image data. And a memory unit 1a, which is recording means for temporarily recording image-related audio data (hereinafter referred to as image-related audio data), which is audio data as second data for reference of the image data. ing. Furthermore, a determination unit (determination process in steps S31 and 35A described later) for determining whether or not the transfer data at the time of the data transfer process is image data is incorporated. When the image data is determined by the determining means, the image data is displayed on the LCD 13 which is the display means. Further, the CPU 1 incorporates association information generating means for generating association information for associating both from the image data and the image related audio data. This association information is transferred to the external device together with the image-related audio data.
[0018]
The recording medium 15 may be a recording medium built in the apparatus or a detachable recording medium.
[0019]
Details of the data transfer process in the audio recording apparatus of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
When an external device such as a PC is connected to the PC connection terminal 14 via a cable and data transfer permission is received from the external device, when data to be transferred is selected on the CPU 1 side, in the main routine in the audio recording device The data transfer processing as a subroutine shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is called, and the processing from step S1 to step S24 is executed under the control of the CPU1.
[0020]
First, in step S1, it is confirmed whether the selected data is image data. If it is determined that there is image data, the process proceeds to step S2, and the image data is displayed on the LCD 13 as data. In steps S3 and S4, data transfer to the external device is started via the communication port 1b. If it is determined in step S1 that the image data is not image data, the process jumps directly to step S3. The selected data is data recorded on the recording medium 15.
[0021]
Subsequently, in step S5, it is determined whether or not the data transfer is completed. If not completed, the process proceeds to step S6. If completed, the process proceeds to step S16 (FIG. 3).
[0022]
In step S6, it is determined whether or not audio data that is the image-related audio data is being recorded. If the sound is being recorded, the process proceeds to step S7, and the recording of the image-related sound data is continued as it is. If no voice recording is in progress, the process jumps to step S8. This image-related audio data recording process is a process that starts recording in step S13 described later. In addition, the audio | voice or audio | voice data described in FIG.2, 3 has shown the said audio | voice related to an image, or image-related audio | voice data.
[0023]
In step S8, it is determined whether image data is being transferred. If image data is being transferred, the process proceeds to step S9. If the image data is not being transferred, the process returns to step S4 to continue the data transfer.
[0024]
In step S9, the operation state of the operation switch group 12 is detected. If any switch is not operated, the process returns to step S4 to continue the data transfer. If any one of the switches is operated, the process proceeds to step S10 to determine whether or not audio data (image-related audio data) is being recorded. If recording is in progress, the process jumps to step S11 to continue recording of the image-related audio data, and proceeds to step S14. If not recording, the process proceeds to step S12.
[0025]
In step S12, it is determined whether the REC switch 12a has been turned on. If it has not been turned on, the process proceeds to step S14. If it has been turned on, the process jumps to step S13 to start recording of image-related audio data. To do. The image-related audio data is audio data related to the image data being transferred as described above, and is taken in via the microphone 4 during the data transfer by the start of recording and recorded in the memory unit 1a of the CPU 1. Go. After the recording of the image related audio data is started, the process returns to step S4 to continue the data transfer.
[0026]
In step S14, it is determined whether the STOP switch 12c has been turned on. If the STOP switch 12c has been turned on, the process proceeds to step S15, recording of the image-related audio data is stopped, and the process returns to step S4. If it is not turned on, the process directly returns to step S4 to continue data transfer.
[0027]
When it is determined in step S5 that the data transfer is completed and the process jumps to step S16 in FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not audio data (image-related audio data) is recorded in the memory unit 1a. If there is no recording, this routine is terminated as it is, and the processing returns to the main routine. However, if image-related audio data has been recorded, the process proceeds to step S17 to determine whether image-related audio data is currently being recorded. If recording is in progress, the process proceeds to step S18. If not, the process jumps to step S22 described later.
[0028]
In step S18, the operation state of the operation switch group 12 is checked, and if any switch is operated, the process proceeds to step S19, and if any switch is not operated, the process jumps to step S20.
[0029]
In step S19, it is determined whether or not the STOP switch 12c is turned on. If the STOP switch 12c is turned on, the process proceeds to step S21. If not turned on, the process jumps to step S20.
[0030]
If the process jumps to step S20, recording of the image-related audio data in the memory unit 1a is continued, and the process returns to step S18. The recording of the image-related audio data is continued until the STOP switch 12c is turned on.
[0031]
When the process proceeds to step S21, the recording of the image related audio data is stopped, and the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, a process for transferring the image-related audio data recorded in the memory unit 1a by the above-described recording process to the external device via the communication port 1b is started.
[0032]
At the time of transferring the image-related audio data, association data for associating the transferred image data with the image-related audio data is generated by the association information generating means of the CPU 1 and transferred to the external device together with the image-related audio data.
[0033]
The image-related audio data is transferred until the end of the data transfer is detected in steps S23 and S24. If the end of the transfer of the image-related audio data is detected, this routine is terminated and the control returns to the main routine of this apparatus.
[0034]
Note that the image-related audio data transferred to the external device can be reproduced as necessary when processing such as display of the related image data, further transfer, or printing is performed in the external device.
[0035]
In the image transfer process of the sound recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, when it is detected that image data is present in the data after the start of transfer of sound data or the like to an external device such as a PC, the image During the data transfer, the image-related audio data related to the image can be recorded in the memory unit 1a according to the switch operation, and can be automatically transferred in a state in which the image-related audio data is associated after the image data transfer. . Then, the recording of the image-related audio data can be easily performed on the audio recording device side at the time of data transfer after image capturing.
[0036]
In the data transfer process of the audio recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, when the time required to transfer data including image data is short, the REC switch 12a is turned on during the data transfer period in order to record the image-related audio data. It can be difficult to do. Therefore, as a modified example in which it is easy to record image-related audio data even if the data transfer time is short with respect to the data transfer process, a counter for measuring the data transfer time is provided. Only when it is shorter, it is possible to propose a data transfer process that allows recording and transfer of image-related audio data by turning on the REC switch 12a within a certain time after data transfer.
[0037]
Next, an audio recording apparatus with a photographing function according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The voice recording apparatus with a photographing function of the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a voice recording apparatus) has a configuration substantially similar to the configuration of the voice recording apparatus of the first embodiment shown in FIG. A part of the subroutine data transfer processing is different from that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the processing of different parts will be described below.
[0038]
The data transfer process of the audio recording apparatus of this embodiment is executed under the control of the CPU 1 as in the case of the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, but the processes of steps S31 to S33 are shown in FIG. Steps S1 to S3 in the first embodiment shown in FIG.
[0039]
Subsequently, data transfer to the external device is executed until the data transfer is completed in steps S34 and S35.
[0040]
After the data transfer is completed, the process proceeds to step S35A, where it is determined whether the transfer data is image data. If the data is image data, the process proceeds to step S36. However, if it is not image data, this routine is terminated and the process returns to the main routine.
[0041]
When the process proceeds to step S36, timer timing is started. In step S37, it is determined whether or not the timer time has passed a predetermined set time. If the set time has passed, this routine is terminated. If the set time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S38, and the operation state of the operation switch group 12 is detected. If it is detected that any one of the switches has been operated, the process proceeds to step S39. If any switch has not been operated, the process returns to step S37 to check whether the set time has elapsed.
[0042]
In step 39, the state of the REC switch 12a is detected, and if it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S40. If it is not turned on, that is, if any operation switch other than the REC switch 12a is operated, this routine is executed. To return to the main routine.
[0043]
In step S40, recording of audio data (image-related audio data) is started, and in step S41, recording of the image-related audio data is continued. The image-related audio data is audio data related to the transferred image data as in the case of the first embodiment, and is taken in via the microphone 4 and recorded in the memory unit 1a of the CPU 1. Go. Note that the audio data described in FIG. 4 indicates the image-related audio data.
[0044]
In step S42, the operation state of the operation switch group 12 is detected. If no switch operation is detected, the process returns to step S41. If any switch operation is detected, the process proceeds to step S43.
[0045]
In step S43, the recording of the image related audio data is stopped, and the process proceeds to step S44. In step S44, a process for transferring the image-related audio data recorded in the memory unit 1a by the above-described recording process to the external device via the communication port 1b is started. Furthermore, image-related audio data is transferred until the end of data transfer is detected in steps S45 and S46. If the end of the transfer of the image-related audio data is detected, this routine ends.
[0046]
According to the sound recording apparatus with a photographing function of the present embodiment, the REC switch 12a is turned on after the transfer of data including image data to the external device is completed until a predetermined set time elapses, and the image If the audio data related to the data is recorded, the image-related audio data is automatically transferred while being associated with the image data. Further, after the predetermined set time has elapsed, the related audio data cannot be recorded and transferred. However, the set time can be changed as appropriate.
[0047]
In the sound recording apparatus with a photographing function of the present embodiment, the image-related sound data can be recorded within a predetermined set time after the transfer of the data including the image data, but the predetermined set time after the data transfer. Not limited to this, it is also possible to perform control so that the image-related audio data can be recorded by turning on the REC switch 12a during the processing of steps S34 and S35 after the start of image data transfer. Also in this case, the recorded image-related audio data is automatically transferred to the external device after the data including the image data is transferred.
[0048]
Next, a sound recording apparatus with a photographing function according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The voice recording apparatus with a photographing function of the present embodiment has a configuration substantially similar to that of the voice recording apparatus of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but the apparatus of the first and second embodiments. However, a part of subroutine data transfer processing is different. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and processing different from the data transfer processing in the second embodiment will be described.
[0049]
The data transfer process of the audio recording apparatus of this embodiment is executed under the control of the CPU 1 as in the case of the second embodiment, but the processes of steps S51 to S55 are the second shown in FIG. This is the same as steps S31 to S35 in the embodiment.
[0050]
After the end of data transfer is detected in step S55, the process proceeds to step S56, where it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to perform image-related audio recording. This instruction is, for example, an instruction by turning on the REC switch 12a. If there is no instruction for image-related audio recording, this routine is terminated as it is. If there is an image-related audio recording instruction, the process proceeds to step S57.
[0051]
In the determination process in step S56, it is further determined whether or not the transferred data is image data. If the transferred data is not image data, the present routine is terminated as it is.
[0052]
In step S57, audio (image-related audio) recording is started. Then, the voice recording is continued until the operation switch group 12 and the REC switch 12a are turned on in steps S58 and S59. If an on operation of the operation switch is detected, the process proceeds to step S60. Note that the audio data described in FIG. 5 indicates the image-related audio data.
[0053]
In step S60, recording of the image-related audio data is stopped, and in step S61, transfer of the recorded image-related audio data to the external device is started. At that time, the association data between the image data and the image-related audio data generated by the CPU 1 is also transferred.
[0054]
When the transfer end of the image-related audio data is detected in steps S61 and S62, this routine is ended, and the control of this apparatus returns to the main routine.
[0055]
According to the sound recording apparatus with a photographing function of the present embodiment, if image-related sound data is recorded only when image-related sound recording is required after completion of transfer of data including image data to an external device, the image It is automatically transferred to an external device in a state associated with the data.
[0056]
In the sound recording apparatus with a photographing function of the present embodiment, the image-related sound data can be recorded after the transfer of the data including the image data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and steps S54 and S55 after the start of the image data transfer are performed. It is also possible to control so that the recording of the image-related audio data can be started by operating the REC switch 12a even during the process. Also in this case, the recorded image-related audio data is automatically transferred to the external device after the data including the image data is transferred.
[0057]
The image data transferred by the audio recording apparatus of each embodiment is handled as still image data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and even when moving image data is transferred, The same effect can be achieved by applying control of recording and transfer of audio data.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily associate two data such as image data and audio data.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a sound recording apparatus with a photographing function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a part of a flowchart of data transfer processing in the audio recording apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 3 is another part of a flowchart of data transfer processing in the audio recording apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of data transfer processing in a sound recording apparatus with a photographing function according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of data transfer processing in a sound recording apparatus with a photographing function according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... CPU
(Control means, transfer means,
Association information generation means, determination means)
1a: Memory section (recording means)
1b: Communication port (communication means)
12a ... REC switch (selection means)
13 ... LCD (display means)
15 ... Recording medium (storage unit)

Claims (7)

Transfer means for transferring the first data stored in the storage unit to an external device;
Recording means for recording second data when transferring the first data from the storage unit to the external device;
Control means for controlling the transfer means to transfer the second data to the external device;
A data transfer device comprising: Association information generation means for generating association information from the first data and the second data, and the control means further controls the transfer means to transfer the association information to the external device. The data transfer device according to claim 1, wherein: The data transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the first data is image data, and the second data is audio data. When transferring the first data to the external device, it comprises selection means for selecting whether or not to record the second data, and only when the selection means records the second data. 2. The data transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second data is recorded by the recording means, and the second data is transferred to the external device by the control means. The selection means allows the operator to select whether or not to record the second data within a predetermined time after the start of the transfer of the first data or after the transfer of the first data, and the predetermined time has elapsed. 5. The data transfer apparatus according to claim 4, wherein if it is selected, the second data is selected not to be recorded. Only when a predetermined operation is performed after the start of the transfer of the first data or within a predetermined time after the end of the transfer, the recording means records the second data, and the control means 2. The data transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer means is controlled to transfer the second data to the external device. And determining means for determining whether the first data is image data;
Display means for displaying an image of the first data when the determination means determines that the first data is image data;
The data transfer apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

Images