JP2005157909A - Device and method for managing image, program, and image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To visually and more accurately comprehend the features of images included in a group by using a combination of information such as characters and a designated image as a representative of the group. <P>SOLUTION: An instruction to select at least one of albums each including at least one image data file 14-n and an instruction to select the image data file 14-n to be associated with the selected album are obtained. The input of related information for providing a playback display is also obtained along with the selected image data file 14-n, and the related information and the selected image data file 14-n are combined to create a front cover image data file. The name of the front cover image data file is inserted at the head of an album list 17 about the selected album so that the relationship between them is indicated and so that when the selected album is displayed the front cover image data file is reproduced first. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for managing images, and more particularly to a technique for managing images in units of groups.

  Album software that manages a large amount of images collected by shooting with a digital camera (hereinafter simply referred to as “camera”) according to events such as shooting date, shooting location, athletic meet, travel, etc. There is something. Previously, album software was used in a form that is executed on a PC installed in a user's house, etc., so the functions provided by the album software, such as creating an album, adding an image to the album, Functions such as deletion, replacement of images with other albums, and browsing of albums could only be performed at the user's home. On the other hand, cameras equipped with an album function have been put on the market in recent years in order to meet the demands of users who want to view an album on the spot where the image was taken or at a travel destination where the PC is not on the spot. Yes.

A method of managing image data in a camera equipped with an album function will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 16 shows a management structure of image data files in a recording medium such as a memory card that stores image data in the camera. FIG. 16A shows a management example in which image data files are duplicated, and FIG. Shows an example of management by an image list file.

In the folder structure shown in (a), the image root folder DCIM and the album root folder ALBUM are arranged immediately below the root directory.
The image root folder is a root folder for storing image data files, and a folder 100 OLYMP is stored immediately below the folder as an image storage folder. In (a), this 100OLYMP folder stores an image data file for an image taken by a camera. That is, in FIG. JPG, 002. JPG, 003. Image data files such as JPG,... Are stored in the 100 OLYMP folder.

  On the other hand, the album root folder is a root folder for storing image data files included in the album, and album folders such as ALBUM1, ALBUM2,... Are stored in the folder. In (a), an XXX. JPG, 003. JPG, YYY. It is shown that image data files such as JPG,... Are stored. Due to this folder structure, images represented by these image data files belong to the album “ALBUM1” (included). It is expressed.

  By the way, in this (a), the image data file 003. JPG is stored in both the image root folder and the album root folder. That is, since there are two image data files having the same data content on this recording medium, the recording area is wasted. In the camera, such a wasteful consumption of the recording area leads to a decrease in the number of shootable images, which is not preferable. Moreover, the consumption of the recording area is further increased when the same image data file belongs to a plurality of albums.

On the other hand, in the folder structure shown in (b), the image root folder DCIM and the album list file ALBUM. PVM is stored directly under the root folder.
The image root folder in (b) is also the root folder for the image data file, as in (a), and a folder 100 OLYMP is stored immediately below it as an image storage folder. However, in (b), the 100 OLYMP folder stores an image data file for an image photographed by the camera, and also stores an image data file included in the album. In the figure, 001. JPG, 002. JPG, 003. JPG, ..., XXX. JPG, YYY. Image data files such as JPG,... Are stored in the 100 OLYMP folder.

  The album list file is a relationship information file indicating the relationship between the image data file stored in the image root folder and the album to which the image data file belongs (including the image data file). As shown in (b), this image list file has a data structure in which the file names of image data files belonging to each album are arranged for each album, and the file name for each album. Dependent relationship between the image data file and the album is shown by the arrangement of. The ALBUM. According to the PVM data example, for example, the image data file belonging to the album “ALBUM1” is XXX. JPG, 003. JPG, YYY. JPG,..., Etc., and the relationship between the image data file and the album is shown as in FIG. In addition, ALBUM. In the PVM data example, information (100OLYMP) indicating the folder in which the image data file is stored is omitted.

  By adopting a technique for representing the dependency between the image data file and the album using the image list file as shown in (b), a plurality of the same image data files as shown in (a) are stored in the recording medium. Since the unnecessary consumption of the recording area is eliminated, it is possible to efficiently use the recording medium of the camera with severe restrictions on the recording capacity.

A method for managing albums using image list files is also proposed in the MPV (Music Photo Video) standard developed by OSTA (Optical Storage Technology Association), which is an optical storage standardization organization.
As another background art, Patent Document 1 discloses, as a series of representative images, images selected under desired conditions from index images extracted from the series of images based on analysis of a series of videos (moving images). By arranging and displaying the list in chronological order, it is easy to grasp the overall flow of the video, and for the representative images in which the telop is displayed in the center, the telop displays the title of the TV program, etc. A technique for automatically creating a book-type electronic video document in which the image is displayed as a cover of a book is disclosed.
JP 11-224266 A (Claim 1, paragraphs [0011]-[0015], [0078], FIGS. 21-22)

  By the way, in the album function, when searching for an album containing a user's desired image from a plurality of albums, one album specified in advance for each album rather than using the name of the album as a clue. It is easier to get a clue to the images that best represent the characteristics of the images (eg, athletic meet photos, travel records, etc.) that are included in the album. There are many cases. Such an image (hereinafter referred to as a “designated image”) corresponds to an album used as a cover of an album in which a silver halide photograph is bound and managed.

  However, as in the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, if an image on which characters such as telop are displayed is simply designated as a designated image, for example, although it is the same television program, the number of airing is different. Even if the contents are completely different, the specified images may be the same, and as a result, the details of the image features included in the album as described above will lack detail. There were cases where it took time and effort to search for the album.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and the problem to be solved is that of the images included in the group so that a combination of information such as characters and the specified image can be represented as a representative of the group. It is to be able to grasp the features more accurately.

  An image management apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a dependency relationship information file creating unit that creates a dependency relationship information file for indicating a dependency relationship between an image data file and a group to which the image data file belongs. An image data file selecting means for selecting an image data file, an information input means for inputting related information to be displayed together with a reproduced image at the time of reproduction of the selected image data file, the related information and the selected Image data file creation means for creating an image data file with related information used for reproducing together with the image data file, and group selection means for selecting a group to which the image data file with related information belongs, The dependency relationship information file creation means is configured to read the image data file with the related information. The image specifying information for specifying the dependency relationship between the selected group and the selected group is created, and the image specifying information is added to the dependency relationship information file so that the image data file with the related information is reproduced in a predetermined order. It is characterized by storing.

  According to this configuration, the image data file with the related information used for reproducing the selected image data file and the related information together is created, and the dependency relationship with the group and the playback of the image data file with the related information are reproduced. Since the image specifying information indicating the order is stored in the dependency relationship information file, the reproduction of the image data file with related information as a representative of the group is performed based on the dependency relationship information file, so that Visual understanding of features can be performed more accurately.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, an image management apparatus includes a file group selection unit that stores at least one image data file and selects a file group in which the image data files are grouped. An image data file selection means for selecting an image data file to be associated with the selected file group, an information input means for inputting related information for reproduction and display together with the selected image data file, the related information and the Representative image creating means for creating a representative image data file by synthesizing the selected image data file, and associating the created representative image data file with the selected file group, and the selected file group Association that defines the playback order when the When and is characterized by comprising a.

  According to this configuration, the representative image data file obtained by synthesizing the related information and the image data file is associated with the file group, and the reproduction order when the file group is reproduced is defined. By performing the reproduction of the representative image data file as the representative of the file based on the association and regulation, it becomes possible to more accurately grasp the characteristics of the images included in the file group.

  In the image management apparatus according to the present invention described above, the image data file selection means includes a reproduction display means for reproducing and displaying the image data file stored in the file group selected by the file group selection means. The above selection may be made from among the reproduced and displayed image data files.

According to this configuration, since it is possible to reproduce the representative image data file as a representative of the file group based on the association and regulation described above in this image management apparatus, it is possible to visually grasp the characteristics of the image included in the file group. Can be performed more accurately.
At this time, the representative image data file may be reproduced first as a cover when the selected file group is reproduced.

  At this time, the file group constitutes an album in which the images represented by the image data files stored in the file group are collected, and the representative image data file is an album that is the selected file group. You may make it comprise the cover of.

This makes it possible to more accurately grasp the characteristics of the images included in the album.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an image management method stores at least one image data file, obtains an instruction to select a file group in which the image data file is grouped, and is selected. An instruction to select an image data file to be associated with the file group is acquired, an input of related information to be reproduced and displayed together with the selected image data file is acquired, and the related information and the selected image data file are To create a representative image data file, associate the created representative image data file with the selected file group, and define a playback order when the selected file group is played back. It is characterized by this.

This method also solves the above-described problem as a result of the same operations and effects as those of the above-described image management apparatus according to the present invention.
It should be noted that at least one image data file is stored, a process for obtaining a selection instruction for a file group in which the image data file is grouped, and an instruction for selecting an image data file to correspond to the selected file group A representative image data file obtained by synthesizing the related information and the selected image data file, and a process for obtaining input of related information for reproduction and display together with the selected image data file. And a process for associating the created representative image data file with the selected file group and defining a playback order when the selected file group is played back. Program for the present invention also relates to the present invention. By running on computer, the result of the same operation and effect as the image management device according to the present invention described above, motive mentioned above can be solved.

  In addition, an image display device according to another aspect of the present invention is configured such that related information for reproduction and display together with an image data file is synthesized with the image data file and is displayed when reproduced and displayed. Image data file storage means for storing representative image data files in which the playback order is defined, and file group selection for selecting a file group to be played back and displayed from a file group in which at least one image data file is grouped And a reproduction display means for reproducing and displaying the representative image data file associated with the selected file group according to the reproduction order.

  According to this configuration, since the representative image data file as a representative of the file group is reproduced and displayed based on the association and regulation given by the image management apparatus according to the present invention described above, the characteristics of the image included in the file group Can be more accurately grasped visually.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a combination of information such as characters and a designated image can be used as a representative of the group, and the visual characteristics of the images included in the group can be more visually understood. There is an effect that it can be done accurately.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, an outline of the album function which is an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a state in which the camera 10 and the PC 40 are connected via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) bus 60, and various data can be exchanged. In the present embodiment, an image captured by the camera 10 is once transferred to the PC 40, an album is created for the image by the PC 40, and the created album is transferred from the PC 40 to the camera 10. Therefore, if the user carries the camera 10, the user can view the album even if the PC 40 is not there.

  1 will be further described. A removable memory card 11 is attached to the camera 10, and various data can be recorded on the memory card 11. The memory card 11 stores an image root folder 12 and an album list file 15, both of which are arranged immediately below the root directory in the recording area of the memory card 11.

  Images captured most recently by the camera 10 are stored in the image storage folder (“100 OLYMP” folder) 13 in the image root folder (“DCIM” folder) 12 in the image data files 14-1, 14-2,. n,... (hereinafter, representatively shown as “14-n”). As will be described later, in the image root folder 12, not only the image most recently taken by the camera 10, but also the image data file for the image registered in the album (included in the album) is particularly shown. Since they are stored without distinction, the file name of the image data file 14-n for the image most recently shot by the camera 10 is stored in the shooting list ("SHOT") 16 shown in the album list file 15. Added in the order of shooting. Therefore, when transferring an image most recently shot by the camera 10 from the camera 10 to the PC 40, the camera 10 searches the image root folder 12 for the image data file 14-n having the file name shown in the shooting list 16. The process of transferring to the PC 40 is performed. In the PC 40, the image data file 14-n sent from the camera 10 is taken image data files 43-1, 43-2, ..., 43-n, ... (hereinafter, represented as "43-n" as a representative). And stored in a photographed image folder (“MYCAMERA” folder) 42. The captured image folder 42 is provided in a storage area of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 41 included in the PC 40.

  The album list file (“ALBUM.PVM” file) 15 includes the relationship between each image data file 14-n and the album containing the image data file 14-n (to which the image data file 14-n belongs). The relationship is represented by an album list 17 in which the file names of the files are arranged for each album including the file. In the list of file names in the album list 17, the file name of the image data file for the cover image corresponding to the cover of the album is described at the top. This cover image corresponds to the above-mentioned designated image.

As described above, the album list file 15 also includes the shooting list 16.
In the present embodiment, the number of albums managed in the album list 17 is determined in advance, and names such as “ALBUM1”, “ALBUM2”, “ALBUM3”,. It shall be.

  The album list file 15 is sent from the PC 40 together with the image data file 14-n representing the images included in the album. When the image data file 14-n and the album list file 17 are sent from the PC 40, the camera 10 stores the image data file 14-n in the image storage folder 13 and the album list file 15 for the memory card 11. Overwrite directly under the root directory in the recording area. However, at this time, the shooting list 16 is kept as it is before being overwritten. When a memory card 11 that does not have an album list file 15 is inserted into the camera 10, it is necessary to write information about images taken by the camera 10 in the shooting list 16, so that an album list file 15 is newly generated. Stored in the memory card 11.

  As described above, the management structure of the image data file in the memory card 11 in the camera 10 according to the present embodiment employs the management structure based on the image list file shown in FIG. 17 is characterized in that the file name of the image data file for the cover image corresponding to the cover of the album is written at the top of the file name sequence in FIG.

  In order to simplify the description, it is assumed in the present embodiment that file names of data files having different data contents are not duplicated in the image root folder 12. Therefore, only one image data file 14-n in the image root folder 12 can be specified by only the file names shown in the shooting list 16 and the album list 17. Here, for example, information indicating the file creation date and time, the file name, and the storage location of the file is shown in the shooting list 16 and the album list 17 so that the image data file 14-n is stored in the image root folder 12. Even if the names overlap, the image data file 14-n may be uniquely identified.

Next, FIG. 2 will be described. This figure shows the hardware configuration of the camera 10 and the PC 40 shown in FIG. 1, (a) shows the configuration of the camera 10, and (b) shows the configuration of the PC 40.
In (a), the imaging processing unit 23, the image processing unit 24, the RAM 25, the memory I / F 26, the display control unit 27, the USB I / F 29, and the CPU 30 are all connected to the bus 33 and are managed by the CPU 30. Various data can be exchanged between each other.

  The subject image formed by the lens 21 is converted into an electrical signal by an imaging unit 22 which is, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and input to the imaging processing unit 23. The imaging processing unit 23 amplifies the input electrical signal to a predetermined magnitude, performs analog-digital conversion, and outputs image data indicating an image representing the subject image.

  The image processing unit 24 performs image processing such as γ correction, edge enhancement, and white balance correction of the image expressed by the image data on the image data output from the imaging processing unit 23. When image data is recorded on the memory card 11, data compression processing is performed on the image data as necessary. Further, when reproducing and displaying an image represented by image data recorded on the memory card 11, data expansion processing is performed on the image data read from the memory card 11 as necessary.

The RAM 25 is a random access memory used for work as necessary when the image processing unit 24 or the CPU 30 performs various processes.
A memory I / F (interface) 26 is an interface for connecting the memory card 11 to the bus 33, and allows various data to be read from and written to the memory card 11 under the control of the CPU 30.

The display processing unit 27 performs digital-analog conversion on the image data sent via the bus 33 and supplies the converted data to the display unit 28.
The display unit 28 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays an image represented by the image data input to the display processing unit 27.

A USB (Universal Serial Bus) I / F 25 is an interface that connects the USB bus 60 and the bus 33 shown in FIG. 1, and allows various data to be exchanged between the camera 10 and the PC 40.
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 30 controls the operation of the entire camera 10.

The ROM 31 is a read-only memory in which a control program executed by the CPU 30 and various data used as necessary when executing the control program are stored. The CPU 30 executes the control program as described above. Operation control is possible.
The operation input unit 32 is a switch operated by the user of the camera 10, acquires an instruction from the user associated with the content of the operation, and passes it to the CPU 29.

Next, the configuration of the PC 40 shown in FIG.
In (b), the CPU 51, ROM 52, RAM 53, HDD 41, input unit 54, data reading device 55, display unit 56, and USB I / F 57 are all connected to the bus 58. You can exchange data.

The CPU 51 controls the operation of the entire PC 40.
The ROM 52 is a read-only memory in which a basic control program executed by the CPU 51 and various data used as necessary when executing the CPU 51 are stored. The CPU 51 executes the basic control program. Operation control of the entire PC 40 is possible.

The RAM 53 is a random access memory that is used for work as necessary when the CPU 51 performs various processes.
The HDD 41 is a magnetic disk storage device, and stores various control programs executed by the CPU 51 and various data used when necessary in addition to the above-described captured image data file 43-n. You can also.

The input unit 54 includes, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard device, and the like, and obtains an instruction from the user associated with the operation content for them.
The data reader 55 is, for example, a CD (Compact Disc) -ROM drive or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) -ROM drive, and reads various data recorded on a recording medium 59 such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. Device. Image management software, which will be described later, is recorded on the recording medium 59 and distributed. In the PC 40, the image management software is read from the recording medium 59 by the data reading device 55 and stored in the HDD 41 in advance. When an instruction to execute the management software is given to the input unit 54 by the user, the CPU 51 is stored in the HDD 41. This image management software is read and executed.

  The recording medium 59 may be a storage device provided in a computer system that functions as a program server connected to a communication line such as the Internet. In this case, a transmission signal obtained by modulating a carrier wave with a data signal representing image management software is transmitted from the program server to the computer through a communication line as a transmission medium. The image management software can be executed by the CPU 51 by reproducing the image management software by receiving and demodulating the transmission signal.

The display unit 56 is an LCD, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), or the like, and displays a predetermined image in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 51.
The USB I / F 25 is an interface for connecting the USB bus 60 and the bus 58 shown in FIG. 1 and enables various data to be exchanged between the PC 40 and the camera 10.

It should be noted that the configuration of the PC 40 is a configuration that most of standard computers have.
Next, image management software executed by the CPU 51 of the PC 40 will be described. This software provides the PC 40 with functions such as capturing images taken by the camera 10 to the PC 40, creating and editing an album, creating a cover image corresponding to the cover of the album, and transferring the album to the camera 10. . Hereinafter, various control processes performed by the CPU 51 by executing the image management software will be described.

  First, FIG. 3 will be described. This figure shows the processing contents of the captured image acquisition processing in a flowchart. This process is a process of receiving an image data file 14-n for an image captured by the camera 10 from the camera 10 and storing it in the captured image folder 42 in the HDD 41 as a captured image data file 43-n. This process is displayed on the display unit 56 by executing the image management software, for example, when an instruction indicating the start of the process is given to the input unit 54 in the PC on which the image management software is executed. Execution is started when the input unit 54 is operated to click the button display indicating “image read” with the pointer on the screen. Alternatively, it may be automatically started when the CPU 51 detects that the PC 40 and the camera 10 are connected via the USB bus 60.

First, in S101, processing for sending data addressed to the camera 10 requesting transfer of a captured image from the USB I / F 57 is performed.
When the camera 10 receives the transfer request data transmitted via the USB bus 60, the camera 10 refers to the shooting list 16 stored in the memory card 11 and the image data file 14- in which the file name is indicated there. The CPU 30 performs a process of reading n from the image root folder 12 and sending the read image data file 14-n to the PC 40 from the USB I / F 29. After that, when the transfer of all the image data files 14-n whose file names are shown in the shooting list 16 is completed, data indicating the completion of transfer of the shot image is sent to the PC 40 from the USB I / F 29. Processing to send out is performed by the CPU 30.

  In S102, the image data file 14-n thus sent from the camera 10 via the USB bus 60 is acquired by the USB I / F 57. In the subsequent S103, the acquired image data file 14-n is stored in the HDD 41. A process of storing in the captured image folder 42 as a captured image data file 43-n is performed.

  Thereafter, in S104, a process for determining whether or not the data indicating the notification of the completion of the transfer of the captured image has been sent from the camera 10, and if the notification is received (the determination result is Yes), the captured image is displayed. The acquisition process ends. On the other hand, if the notification has not been received yet (the determination result is No), the process returns to S102 and the above-described process is repeated.

The process so far is the captured image acquisition process.
Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 will be described. This figure is a flowchart showing the contents of the album operation process. This processing is processing for album editing, creation of a cover image corresponding to the cover of the album, composition of title characters on the cover image, and transfer of the album to the camera 10. This process is displayed on the display unit 56 by executing the image management software, for example, when an instruction indicating the start of the process is given to the input unit 54 in the PC on which the image management software is executed. Execution is started when an instruction to operate the album is given to the input unit 54 by an operation of clicking with a pointer or the like.

First, in S111 of FIG. 4, a process for displaying the album operation screen on the display unit 56 is performed.
An album operation screen is illustrated in FIG. In this embodiment, at this time, the photographed image data file 43-n stored in the photographed image folder 42 in the HDD 41 is read and represented by each of the photographed image data file 43-n. A list of images (referred to as “photographed images”) is displayed on the photographed image display unit 71 in FIG.

In S <b> 112, a process for obtaining from the input unit 54 an instruction to select an album to be the target of the album operation performed by the user is performed. The album is selected by a pointer click operation on the album selection display 73 in FIG.
In S113, a process of referring to the folder stored in the HDD 41 corresponding to the album according to the instruction acquired by the process in the previous step (this folder is referred to as “album folder”) is performed. .

  In S114, the image data file stored in the album folder being referred to is read out, and a list of images represented by the read image data file (this image is referred to as “album image”) is displayed on the display unit. A process of displaying on the album operation screen currently displayed in 56 is performed. In the screen example shown in FIG. 6, the list of images is displayed on the album image display unit 72. If the album folder includes an image data file of a cover image, the cover image represented by the image data file is displayed on the cover image display unit 74.

  In S115, processing for obtaining an instruction from the user corresponding to the operation performed on the input unit 54 is performed. In the screen example shown in FIG. 6, this instruction is any of the image addition instruction button 75, the image deletion instruction button 76, the cover image selection instruction button 77, the title input instruction button 78, and the album transfer instruction button 79. This is a click operation for.

  In S116, a process for determining whether or not the instruction acquired in the process of S115 is an instruction for the image addition instruction button 75 in FIG. 6, that is, an instruction to add the photographed image to the album, is performed. Only when YES is selected, in S117, a process of moving the image data file for the photographed image according to the instruction to the currently referenced album folder is performed.

  In FIG. 6, an “add all” button and an “add” button are provided as the image addition instruction buttons 75. The “add all” button is an instruction to move the image data file of the photographed image to the album folder currently being referenced, and the “add” button is an item selected in advance among the photographed images by the operation on the input unit 54. This is an instruction to move the image data file for only the album folder currently being referred to.

Further, in the screen example shown in FIG. 6, in conjunction with the movement of the image data file, the display location of the photographed image according to the instruction is moved from the photographed image display unit 71 to the end of the image list of the album image display unit 72. .
In S118, a process is performed to determine whether or not the instruction acquired by the process of S115 is an instruction for deleting the album image from the album in FIG. Only when is YES, in S119, a process of deleting the image data file for the designated album image from the currently referenced album folder is performed.

In FIG. 6, clicking on the image deletion instruction button 75 is an instruction to delete the image data file for only the album image selected in advance by the operation on the input unit 54 from the currently referenced album folder. Become.
In the screen example shown in FIG. 6, the display of the album image according to the instruction is deleted from the image list of the album image display unit 72 in conjunction with the deletion of the image data file.

  In S120, a process for determining whether or not the instruction acquired by the process of S115 is related to the creation of a cover image, and in FIG. 6 is related to the cover image selection instruction button 77 or the title input instruction button 78 is performed. Only when the determination result is Yes, cover image processing is performed in S121. Details of the cover image creation process will be described later.

  The process proceeds to FIG. 5. In S122, it is determined whether or not the instruction acquired by the process of S115 in FIG. 4 is for the album transfer instruction button 79 in FIG. 6, that is, an instruction to transfer the album to the camera 10. Only when the determination process is performed and the determination result is Yes, the album transfer process is performed in S123. Details of the album transfer process will also be described later.

  In S124, a process of determining whether or not the instruction acquired by the process of S115 of FIG. 4 is an instruction indicating the end of the album operation process is performed. When the determination result is Yes, in S125, processing for closing the album operation screen displayed on the display unit 56 is performed, and thereafter, the album operation processing ends. On the other hand, when the determination result in S124 is No, the process returns to S115 in FIG. 4 and the above-described process is repeated.

The above processing is the album operation processing.
Next, the cover image creation process that is the process of S121 (FIG. 4) in the album operation process described above will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of the cover image creation process.
First, in S141, whether or not the instruction acquired by the process of S115 in the album operation process described above is for the title input instruction button 78 in FIG. 6, that is, an instruction for inputting a title for a cover image that has already been set. If this determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S149. On the other hand, if the result of this determination is No, that is, for the cover image selection instruction button 77 in FIG. 6, the process proceeds to S142.

In S142, a cover image creation screen is opened (displayed on the display unit 56). A cover image creation screen is illustrated in FIG.
In S143, the process of reading all the image data files in the currently referenced album folder is performed. In subsequent S144, a list of album images represented by each of the read image data files is displayed on the display unit 56. Processing to be displayed on the inside cover image creation screen is performed. In the screen example of FIG. 8, this album image list is displayed on the cover image candidate display portion 81. Here, these album images are candidates for the cover image, and when the user performs an operation corresponding to an instruction to temporarily select one of the images on the input unit 54, the image is displayed on the cover image display unit. 82.

  In S145, whether or not an instruction to change a cover image candidate image by changing a folder to be referred to is acquired, or an instruction to change a folder to be referred to by an operation such as clicking on the folder setting unit 83 in the screen example of FIG. The process of determining whether or not has been acquired is performed. If the determination result is Yes, in S146, after referring to the folder related to the acquired instruction, the process returns to S143 and the above-described process is repeated. This process makes it possible to select the cover image of the album that is the target of the album operation from those other than the album images included in the album. On the other hand, if the result of the determination process in S145 is No, the process proceeds to S147.

  In S147, processing is performed to determine whether or not an instruction to determine a cover image has been acquired, and whether or not an operation has been performed on the determination button 84 in the screen example of FIG. If the determination result is Yes, in S148, the file name of the image data file for the image related to the decision instruction is read as an image data file (cover image data file) for the cover image, and temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 53. In the subsequent S149, the title composition process is performed, and thereafter, the process proceeds to S151. Details of the title composition processing will be described later. In the screen example of the album operation screen shown in FIG. 6, the image displayed on the display image display unit 74 until this time is replaced with the cover image related to this determination instruction.

On the other hand, when the result of the determination process in S147 is No, the process proceeds to S150.
In S150, processing is performed to determine whether or not an instruction to cancel the cover image creation processing has been acquired, and whether or not an operation has been performed on the cancel button 85 in the screen example of FIG. If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S151. If the determination result is No, the process returns to S145 to repeat the above-described process.

In S151, processing for closing (erasing) the cover image creation screen being displayed on the display unit 56 is performed. Thereafter, the cover image creation process is terminated, and the process returns to the album operation process of FIG.
The process so far is the cover image creation process.
Next, the title composition process that is the process of S149 in the cover image creation process described above will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of the title composition process.

First, in S161, processing for opening a title input screen (displaying on the display unit 56) is performed. A title input screen is illustrated in FIG.
In S <b> 162, a process for acquiring the input content of the character string corresponding to the operation performed on the input unit 54 by the user is performed. In the screen example shown in FIG. 10, the contents of the character string acquired at this time are displayed on the input text display unit 86.

  In S163, the process of determining whether or not the input of the character string has been completed and an instruction to determine the character string to be used as a title has been acquired, and whether or not the determination button 87 has been operated in the screen example of FIG. 10 is performed. . If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S165. On the other hand, if this determination result is No, in S164, processing is performed to determine whether or not an instruction to cancel the title composition processing has been acquired, and whether or not an operation has been performed on the cancel button 88 in the screen example of FIG. . If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S166. If the determination result is No, the process returns to S162 and the above-described process is repeated.

  In S165, a character string image representing the character string acquired by the process of S162 is generated, and the cover image stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 53 by the process of S147 in the cover image creation process (FIG. 7) described above. The generated character string image is superimposed and synthesized on the cover image represented by the data file, and an image data file for the obtained synthesized image is stored as a cover image data file in the area of the RAM 53 again. . In the screen example of FIG. 10, the character string image having the shape, size, and color set by the character style setting unit 89 is generated.

  In S166, a process for assigning a predetermined file name to the cover image data file stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 53 is performed. In S167, the cover image data file is added to the album folder currently being referred to. The storing process is performed. In the screen example of the album operation screen shown in FIG. 6, the image displayed on the display image display unit 74 until this time is replaced with the display image on which the character composition is performed.

In S168, processing for closing (erasing) the title input screen being displayed on the display unit 56 is performed. Thereafter, the title composition process is terminated, and the process returns to the cover image creation process of FIG.
The above processing is the title composition processing. In this way, by synthesizing the image of the character string representing the title with the cover image, even the camera 10 that does not have font data of characters such as kanji can display the title of the album. Representing characters can also be displayed in various styles.

Next, the album transfer process which is the process of S123 (FIG. 5) in the album operation process described above will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of the album transfer process.
First, in S171, processing for obtaining the name of the album corresponding to the album folder currently being referred to is performed.

  In S 172, processing for sending data addressed to the camera 10 indicating a request for sending the album list file 15 stored in the memory card 11 of the camera 10 from the USB I / F 57 is performed. Details of processing performed in the camera 10 that has received this transmission request will be described later.

In S173, processing is performed in which the USB I / F 57 receives and acquires the album list file 15 sent from the camera 10 in response to the request described above.
Although details will be described later, data notifying that the album list file 15 does not exist may be sent from the camera 10 at this time, but when this data is sent, this notification is sent. Processing to receive and acquire is performed. Therefore, in S174, a process for determining whether or not the album list file 15 exists in the camera 10 is performed. Only when the album list file 15 does not exist (the determination result is No), the album list file is determined in S175. 15 is newly created.

  In S176, the list of albums with the album name acquired in the process of S171 in the album list 17 in the album list file 15 is referred to, and the current name is displayed at the end of the list of file names of the image data files indicated in the list. A process of adding the file names of the image data files included in the album folder in the HDD 41 being referred to one by one is performed.

In S177, a process for determining whether or not the image data file of the cover image is stored in the currently referenced album folder is performed. If this determination result is Yes, the process is performed in S178, and if it is No, the process is performed in S181. Proceed.
In S178, a process for determining whether or not a title image transfer instruction has been acquired is performed. If this determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S180, and if No, the process proceeds to S179. This title image transfer instruction is determined by checking whether or not the album cover image creation check box 80 is checked in the screen example of the album operation screen shown in FIG.

In S179, all of the image data files included in the currently referenced album folder except for the cover image are processed to be sent to the camera 10 from the USB I / F 57, and thereafter, the process proceeds to S182. Proceed with the process.
In S180, the file name of the cover image data file stored in the currently referenced album folder is moved to the top of the list and inserted in the list of albums to which the file name has been added in the process of S176. Processing is performed. By this processing, the file name of the image data file of the cover image is shown at the top of the album list in the album list 17.

  Note that the content of the processing in S180 is changed so that the file name of the image data file of the cover image stored in the currently referenced album folder is moved to the end of the list and inserted, so that the album The cover image can be reproduced and displayed at the end of the sequential image reproduction. This makes it possible to handle the cover image created by the above-described process as if it were the back cover of an album.

In S181, processing for sending all the image data files included in the currently referred album folder to the camera 10 from the USB I / F 57 is performed.
In S182, the album list file 15 in which the file name is added to the album list 17 is sent to the camera 10 from the USB I / F 57, and thereafter, the album transfer process is terminated and the album shown in FIG. Return processing to operation processing.

The process so far is the album transfer process.
Next, control processing performed by the CPU 30 of the camera 10 will be described. All of these processes are realized by the CPU 30 executing a control program stored in the ROM 31.

  First, the album receiving process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12 will be described. This process is for the camera 10 to receive data relating to the album sent from the PC 40. The above-mentioned album transfer process is executed by the PC 40 and data indicating a request for sending the album list file 15 is sent to the USB I / O. The process starts when the CPU 30 detects that F29 has been received.

  First, in S201, the memory card 11 is searched to determine whether or not the album list file 15 is stored. When it is stored (when the determination result is Yes), the album list is determined in S202. When the file 15 is read out and sent from the USB I / F 29 to the PC 40 and is not stored (when the determination result is No), data for notifying that the album list file 15 does not exist is stored in the PC 40. Is sent to the USB I / F 29. The data transmitted by the process of S202 or S203 is received by the PC 40 that is executing the process of S173 in the album transfer process described above.

In S204, a process is performed in which the USB I / F 29 receives and acquires data sent from the PC 40 in accordance with the data sent in the process of S202 or S203.
In S205, processing for determining whether or not the data acquired by the processing in the previous step is an image data file is performed. If the determination result is Yes, in S206, the acquired image data file is stored in the image storage folder 13 in the image root folder 12 of the memory card 11, and then the process returns to S204. The above process is repeated.

  On the other hand, when the determination result in S205 is No, in S207, a process for determining whether the data acquired by the process in S204 is the album list file 15 is performed. In the PC 40 executing the above-described album transfer process, the album list file 15 is transmitted after all the image data files to be transferred have been transmitted by the processes of S179, S181, and S182 in FIG. If the result of the determination is Yes, it is considered that the album transfer process being executed by the PC 40 has ended, and the process proceeds to S208. On the other hand, if the determination result in S207 is No, the process returns to S204 and the above-described process is repeated.

  In S208, a process of overwriting the album list file 15 acquired in the process of S204 directly under the root directory of the memory card is performed. At this time, however, the shooting list 16 is retained as it is in the album list file 15 before being overwritten. Thereafter, the album receiving process ends.

The process so far is the album reception process.
Next, the album playback process whose process contents are shown in FIG. This process is a process for browsing the album sent from the PC 40 with the camera 10.

  This album playback process is performed when the user operates the operation input unit 32 to display a function selection screen related to album operation as illustrated in FIG. 14A on the display unit 28. It is started when the function “album playback” is selected by further operation.

First, in S211, album selection processing is performed. This process is a process for selecting one to be browsed from among a plurality of albums held by the camera 10, and details thereof will be described later.
In S212, the album list 17 shown in the album list file 15 stored in the memory card 11 is referred to, and the head of the file names arranged in association with the album selected in the process of S211 is displayed. Processing to acquire the thing is performed.

In S213, a process of searching for and acquiring the image data file 14-n having the file name acquired by the process executed immediately before from the image root folder 12 of the memory card 11 is performed.
In S214, an instruction is given to the image processing unit 24 and the display processing unit 27, and processing for causing the display unit 28 to display an image represented by the file acquired in the previous step is performed.

  In S215, a process is performed to determine whether or not an instruction to change the display image on the display unit 28 from the currently displayed one to the one before and after that is performed by the user's operation on the operation input unit 32 is performed. If this instruction is acquired (determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S216. If this instruction is not acquired (determination result is No), the process proceeds to S217.

  In S216, the album list 17 shown in the album list file 15 stored in the memory card 11 is referred to, and among the file names arranged in association with the album selected in the process of S211, S215 The process of acquiring the order related to the instruction determined to be acquired by the process is performed, and then the process returns to S213 to repeat the above-described process.

  In S217, a process for determining whether or not an instruction for ending album reproduction, which is performed by a user operation on the operation input unit 32, is performed. If this instruction is acquired (determination result is Yes), S218 is performed. In FIG. 14, the album operation function selection screen as shown in FIG. 14A is displayed again, and then the album reproduction process is terminated. On the other hand, if the determination result in S217 is No, the process returns to S215 and the above-described process is repeated.

The process so far is the album playback process.
Next, the album selection process that is the process of S211 in the above-described album reproduction process will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the contents of the album selection process.
First, in S221, processing for reading the album list file 15 from the memory card 11 and referring to the album list 17 is performed.

  In S222, a process is performed to determine what is the content of the instruction regarding the display method of the cover image of the album on the display unit 28, which is performed by the user's operation on the operation input unit 32. Here, if the content of the instruction is an instruction to display a list of cover images (index display) of a plurality of albums as illustrated in FIG. 14B, the process proceeds to S223, while the content of the instruction However, if it is an instruction to display the cover images of the album one by one (one frame display) as illustrated in FIG. 14C, the process proceeds to S228.

  In S223, processing for obtaining the first one of the file name sequence of the image data file 14-n for each album in the album list 17 is performed. The head file name is that of the image data file 14-n of the cover image for each album by the process of S180 (FIG. 11) in the album transfer process described above.

In S224, the image data file 14-n having the file name acquired by the process in the previous step is searched for and acquired from the image root folder 12 of the memory card 11, respectively.
In S225, an instruction is given to the image processing unit 24 and the display processing unit 27, and a process of causing the display unit 28 to display the cover image represented by the image data file 14-n acquired by the processing in the previous step is performed. .

  In S226, a process is performed to determine whether or not an instruction to select one of the cover images displayed in a list on the display unit 28 is given by an operation on the operation input unit 32 by the user, and this instruction is given. Until the determination result is Yes (until the determination result is Yes).

  In S227, a process for determining whether or not an instruction for determining selection of one of the instructed cover images has been acquired by an operation on the operation input unit 32 by the user is performed. When the determination result is Yes, the album selection process is terminated, and the process returns to the album reproduction process of FIG. On the other hand, when this determination instruction is not made (when the determination result is No), the process returns to S226 and the above-described process is repeated.

  In S228, the file name of the image data file 14-n for the album name “ALBUM1” in the album list 17 at the head, that is, the file name of the image data file 14-n that is the cover image for this album. The process of acquiring is performed.

In S229, a process of searching for and acquiring the image data file 14-n having the file name acquired by the process executed immediately before from the image root folder 12 of the memory card 11 is performed.
In S230, an instruction is given to the image processing unit 24 and the display processing unit 27, and a process of causing the display unit 28 to display the cover image represented by the image data file 14-n acquired by the processing in the previous step is performed.

  In S231, a process is performed to determine whether or not an instruction to select another album different from the album whose representative image is being displayed on the display unit 18 is acquired by an operation on the operation input unit 32 by the user. When the instruction is acquired (when the determination result is Yes), the first one in the file name sequence of the image data file 14-n for the album name related to the instruction in the album list 17 is acquired in S232. After that, the process returns to S229 and the above-described process is repeated.

  On the other hand, if such an instruction has not been acquired in S231 (when the determination result is No), the selection of one of the instructed cover images is determined by an operation on the operation input unit 32 by the user in S233. A process is performed to determine whether or not an instruction to be acquired has been acquired. Here, when this determination instruction is given (when the determination result is Yes), the album selection process is terminated, and the process returns to the album reproduction process of FIG. On the other hand, when this determination instruction is not made (when the determination result is No), the process returns to S231 and the above-described process is repeated.

The process so far is the album selection process.
Various processes described above are performed by the CPU 51 of the PC 41 and the CPU 30 of the camera 10 respectively, thereby managing the relationship between the album and the cover image of the album while suppressing consumption of the recording amount of the memory card 11. Will be able to.

  In the above-described embodiment, album creation / editing is performed on the PC 40. However, each processing shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7, and 9 is performed by the CPU 30 of the camera 10. By doing so, album creation / editing can be performed on the camera 10. In the embodiment described above, the album including the display of the representative image is reproduced by the camera 10. However, each processing shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is performed by the CPU 51 of the PC 41. Thus, the reproduction of the album including the display of the representative image can be performed on the PC 40.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of the Example of an album function. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the camera and PC shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a picked-up image acquisition process. It is a flowchart (the 1) which shows the processing content of an album operation process. It is a flowchart (the 2) which shows the processing content of an album operation process. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of an album operation screen. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a cover image creation process. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of a cover image creation screen. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a title synthetic | combination process. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of a title input screen. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of an album transfer process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of an album reception process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of an album reproduction | regeneration process. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen with a camera. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of an album selection process. It is a figure explaining the technique of the image data management in an album function loading camera.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Camera 11 Memory card 12 Image root folder 13 Image storage folder 14-1, 14-2, 14-n Image data file 15 Album list file 16 Shooting list 17 Album list 21 Lens 22 Imaging part 23 Imaging processing part 24 Image processing part 25 RAM
26 Memory I / F unit 27 Display processing unit 28 Display unit 29 USB I / F
30 CPU
31 ROM
32 Operation input unit 33 Bus 40 PC
41 HDD
42 Photographed image folder 43-1, 43-2, 43-n Photographed image data file 51 CPU
52 ROM
53 RAM
54 Input Unit 55 Data Reading Device 56 Display Unit 57 USB I / F
58 Bus 60 USB bus 71 Captured image display section 72 Album image display section 73 Album selection display 74 Cover image display section 75 Image addition instruction button 76 Image deletion instruction button 77 Cover image selection instruction button 78 Title input instruction button 79 Album transfer instruction button 80 Album cover creation check box 81 Cover candidate image display section 82 Cover image display section 83 Folder setting section 84 Enter button 85 Cancel button 86 Input text display section 87 Enter button 88 Cancel button 89 Character style setting section

Claims (8)

In an image management apparatus having a dependency relationship information file creating means for creating a dependency relationship information file for indicating a dependency relationship between an image data file and a group to which the image data file belongs,
Image data file selection means for selecting an image data file;
Information input means for inputting related information to be displayed together with a reproduced image at the time of reproduction of the selected image data file;
Image data file creating means for creating an image data file with related information used for reproducing both the related information and the selected image data file;
Group selection means for selecting a group to which the image data file with related information belongs,
Comprising
The dependency relationship information file creating means creates image specifying information for specifying the dependency relationship between the image data file with related information and the selected group, and the image data file with related information is in a predetermined order. An image management apparatus, wherein the image specifying information is stored in the dependency information file so as to be reproduced. File group selection means for selecting a file group in which at least one image data file is stored and the image data file is grouped;
Image data file selection means for selecting an image data file to be associated with the selected file group;
Information input means for inputting related information for reproduction and display together with the selected image data file;
Representative image creation means for creating a representative image data file by synthesizing the related information and the selected image data file;
Associating means for associating the created representative image data file with the selected file group and defining a reproduction order when the selected file group is reproduced;
An image management apparatus comprising: The image data file selection means includes:
Reproduction display means for reproducing and displaying the image data file stored in the file group selected by the file group selection means,
3. The image management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the selection is made from among the reproduced and displayed image data files.   4. The image management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the representative image data file is reproduced first as a cover when the selected file group is reproduced. The above file group constitutes an album that summarizes the images represented by the image data files stored in the file group,
The representative image data file constitutes the cover of the album that is the selected file group.
The image management apparatus according to claim 2. At least one image data file is stored, and an instruction to select a file group in which the image data file is grouped is acquired.
Get the image data file selection instruction to correspond to the selected file group,
Acquire input related information for playback and display together with the selected image data file,
A representative image data file is created by synthesizing the related information and the selected image data file,
Associating the created representative image data file with the selected file group and defining a playback order when the selected file group is played back;
An image management method characterized by the above. Processing for acquiring an instruction to select a file group in which at least one image data file is stored and the image data file is grouped;
Processing for obtaining an instruction to select an image data file to correspond to the selected file group;
Processing for acquiring input of related information for reproduction and display together with the selected image data file;
Processing to create a representative image data file by synthesizing the related information and the selected image data file;
A process of associating the created representative image data file with the selected file group and defining a playback order when the selected file group is played back;
A program that causes a computer to perform Relevant information for playback and display together with the image data file is combined with the image data file, and an image data file storage for storing a representative image data file in which the playback order is specified for playback display Means,
File group selection means for selecting a file group to be reproduced and displayed from among file groups in which at least one image data file is grouped;
Reproduction display means for reproducing and displaying the representative image data file associated with the selected file group according to the reproduction order;
An image display device comprising:

Images