JP2006060778A - Image reproduction apparatus and method of reproducing image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable non-reproduced images among stored images to be selectively reproduced with a simple operation. <P>SOLUTION: In reproducing images stored in a removable memory, reproduction history information that discriminates between already reproduced images and non-reproduced images is stored in the removable memory, and in a preferential reproduction mode for non-reproduced images, non-reproduced images are preferentially reproduced by referring to the reproduction history information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for reproducing images such as moving images and still images, and more specifically to an image reproducing apparatus and an image reproducing method such as a digital camera, a camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus, and a dedicated reproduction apparatus.

  Some image reproducing apparatuses such as digital cameras and digital video camcorders can record and reproduce both still images and moving images on removable media. In the playback mode, there is also an image playback device having a function of automatically playing back the most recently recorded (captured) still image or moving image even if the user does not specify the playback target image.

Further, as a method of browsing still images recorded on the recording medium of such an image reproducing device, there is a method of displaying one image on one screen and sequentially switching the display image by an image forwarding operation or an image returning operation. In addition, there are a method of displaying a plurality of images simultaneously in one screen (index display) and a method of sequentially switching and displaying recorded images (slide show display) (see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-339012

  In recent years, with the increase in the capacity of removable memory, a large amount of still image files and moving image files can be recorded on a recording medium of an image reproducing apparatus. When reproducing such an image on a recording medium, it is difficult to reproduce a group of still image files and moving image files that have recently been captured.

  For example, the slide show function targets all still image files / moving image files written in the removable memory, and sequentially displays all still image data. For this reason, it is difficult to selectively browse only recently taken still image files / moving image files.

  In addition, there is no conventional image reproducing apparatus that has a function of extracting only a still image / moving image file that has not been reproduced and quickly reproducing it.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image reproducing apparatus and an image reproducing method capable of selectively reproducing an unreproduced image among recorded images with a simple operation.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, an image reproduction apparatus of the present invention is an image reproduction apparatus that reproduces an image recorded with a file name according to a predetermined naming rule in the recording order in the removable memory, and is recorded in the removable memory. In accordance with the playback of the image, the history recording means for recording the playback history information for identifying the played back image and the unplayed image in the removable memory, and in the unplayed image priority playback mode, the playback history information is referred to and the playback history information is not played back. And reproduction means for preferentially reproducing the image.

  The image reproduction method of the present invention is an image reproduction method for reproducing an image recorded with a file name according to a predetermined naming rule in the recording order in the removable memory, and is reproduced according to the reproduction of the image recorded in the removable memory. A history recording step for recording reproduction history information for identifying a completed image and an unreproduced image in the removable memory, and a reproduction step for preferentially reproducing an unreproduced image with reference to the reproduction history information in the unreproduced image priority reproduction mode. It is characterized by comprising.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to selectively reproduce an unreproduced image among images stored in the removable memory, and to quickly confirm the unreproduced image.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes an imaging unit that converts a subject into a video signal, 2 denotes an image signal processing unit, and 3 denotes a monitor that displays the video signal processed by the image signal processing unit 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a still and moving image compression / decompression unit, and 5 denotes an interface with the memory card 6. The memory card 6 is a removable memory capable of recording an image as a file.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a system controller for controlling the entire main body, and reference numeral 8 denotes an operation switch operated by a user. The operation switch 8 includes a photo switch SW01, a menu switch SW02, a switch SW03 for moving and selecting items in the menu upward, a switch SW04 for moving and selecting items in the menu downward, a selection item determination switch SW05, and the like. It comprises.

  SW06 is a mode switch that activates the reproduction mode, and SW07 is a photographing mode switch that activates the photographing mode. SW08 is a forward switch for manually performing image forward reproduction in the forward direction, and SW09 is a backward switch for manually performing image advance reproduction in the reverse direction.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the file structure recorded in the removable memory 6. Numbers added to directory names and file names increase in the order in which they were taken. An arrow indicates a case where files are sent in the order of shooting and vice versa. Here, a temporary file for recording the reproduced file is stored in the unique directory “playtemp” of the removable memory 6.

  FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the file “playhis.tmp” in the directory “playtemp”. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the image files after the file “IMG — 0205.JPG” in the directory “201ABCD” are unreproduced image files.

  Next, a method for setting a mode for preferentially reproducing an unreproduced image file (still image file or moving image file) in the present embodiment will be described.

  When the menu switch SW02 is pressed, the menu screen shown in FIG. By operating the switches SW03 and SW04, the item “card setting” is selected, and the selection item determination switch SW05 is pressed. Thereby, the screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the monitor 3.

  While the screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, the item “priority of unreproduced image” is selected by the switches SW03 and SW04, and the selection item determination switch SW05 is pressed. Thereby, the screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the monitor 3. In this state, as shown in FIG. 7, the item “Yes” is selected by the switches SW03 and SW04, and the menu switch is pressed again. As a result, the “unreproduced image priority” reproduction mode is designated.

  FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the reproduction operation when the power is turned on in the reproduction mode with the reproduction mode switch SW06 turned ON.

  In step S00, the system controller 7 performs analysis in the removable memory 6 upon turning on the power in the reproduction mode, and recognizes the directory and the image file.

  In step S01, the system controller 7 determines whether or not it is a mode for preferentially reproducing an unreproduced image. The reproduction mode setting information is held in the internal memory of the system controller 7 even when the power is off.

  In step S02, in the non-reproduced image priority reproduction mode, the system controller 7 analyzes the maximum directory name and the maximum file name recorded in “playhis.tmp” of the removable memory 6 and the analysis result in step S00. And compare. As a result of the comparison, a file recorded after the maximum directory name and the maximum file name of “playhis.tmp” is detected as an unreproduced still image file / moving image file.

  In step S03, the system controller 7 determines whether an unreproduced image file is detected.

  In step S04, the system controller 7 reproduces the image file having the old file name in the unreproduced image file. In the example of FIG. 2, since the maximum file name of “playhis.tmp” is “IMG — 205.JPG”, “IMG — 206.JPG” is reproduced.

  In step S05, the maximum directory name and the maximum file name of the reproduced file “playhis.tmp” are updated for the file reproduced in the unreproduced image priority reproduction mode. In the example of FIG. 2, the maximum file name “IMG — 206.JPG” is recorded in “playhis.tmp”.

  In step S03, if there is no unreproduced file even in the unreproduced image priority reproduction mode, the unreproduced image priority mode is canceled in step S06.

  If it is not the unreproduced image priority reproduction mode in step S01, the system controller 7 reproduces the last image file (“IMG_300.JPG”) in a conventional manner in step S207.

  FIG. 9 shows a flowchart for performing image feed reproduction in the unreproduced image priority reproduction mode.

  This image feed reproduction can be executed after switching to the reproduction mode by operating the switch SW06 during operation in the photographing mode. In the playback mode, the image feed may be manually sent one by one by operating the switches SW08 and SW09, or may be automatically continuously played by instructing slideshow playback. Since the setting screen is displayed by operating the menu switch SW02 in the playback mode, the slide show can be executed by inputting an instruction from the switch SW05 on the screen.

  In step S10, the system controller 7 confirms whether or not the non-reproduced image priority reproduction mode is set. In step S11, the system controller 7 determines whether the image feed is forward or backward. It does not work for switch inputs in the reverse direction.

  In step S12, the system controller 7 detects an unreproduced image in the forward direction. Note that the file analysis in S00 of FIG. 8 is executed in advance when the apparatus is activated or when the mode is changed to the reproduction mode.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the file “IMG — 0101.JPG” is sequentially compared with the contents of “playhis.tmp” in response to pressing of the forward switch SW08. Then, an image file after “IMG — 0206.JPG” after “IMG — 0205.JPG” that matches the file name “playhis.tmp” is detected as an unreproduced image file.

  In step S13, the system controller 7 reproduces the detected unreproduced image file “IMG — 0206.JPG”. When the slide show is set, subsequent image files are continuously played back.

  In step S14, the system controller 7 executes Playhis. The reproduced maximum file name of “tmp” is set to “IMG — 0206. Update to “JPG.” If the slide show has been set, the file name of the last image displayed in the slide show is changed.

  If it is determined in step S10 that the non-reproduced image priority reproduction mode is not selected, it is determined in step S15 whether the image feed is forward or backward.

  In step S16, the file is played back in the normal playback forward direction. In this case, playback starts in the forward direction from “IMG — 0101.JPG”.

  In step S17, the file is played back in the reverse direction of normal playback. In this case, playback is performed in the reverse direction from “IMG — 0300.JPG”.

  If an unreproduced image file is also reproduced in step S16, the update process in step S14 may be performed after step S16 in order to match the unreproduced image priority reproduction mode.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, an unplayed image file can be analyzed, and playback of only unplayed image files or playback of all conventional image files can be selected, and only unplayed image files can be played back quickly. It becomes possible to do.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, in the non-reproduced image priority reproduction mode, all unreproduced images are reproduced with priority from the oldest order.

  However, while there are users who want to preferentially reproduce all unreproduced image files, there are users who want to preferentially reproduce unreproduced image files among the more recent files. Here, the definition of “recent” varies depending on the user's preference and purpose.

  In the present embodiment, the range of image files that can be preferentially reproduced for each user can be determined, and the history information can be updated each time shooting is performed.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a detailed setting screen for the unreproduced image reproduction priority mode in the present embodiment. When selecting the non-reproduced image reproduction priority mode, it is possible to specify whether the number of files to be preferentially reproduced is all, up to 500 from the latest image, 100, or 50. it can.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the update process of the history file “Playhis.tmp” in the imaging mode.

  First, in step S20, the system controller 7 monitors whether or not there is a transition to the reproduction mode due to the switch SW06 being pressed after the transition to the photographing mode by the switch SW07. In step S21, it is monitored whether or not an imaging instruction is issued by pressing the switch SW01.

  If it is determined in step S21 that the switch SW01 has been pressed, the system controller 7 controls photographing using the imaging unit 1 and controls processing for recording the obtained image on the removable medium 6 (S22). ). Also, the newly recorded file is named “IMG — 0301.JPG” and added to the file management information in FIG.

  Next, in step S23, the system controller 7 determines whether or not the number of files “all” is specified in the detailed settings of FIG. If “all” is not specified here and a specific number of files is specified, the history file “Playhis.tmp” is updated.

  For example, when the number of files “50” is designated in FIG. 10, the file is updated to “IMG — 0251.JPG” 50 files before “IMG — 0301.JPG”.

  If it is determined in step S23 that the number of files “all” is designated, “Playhis.tmp” is not updated.

  When the above update process is performed and the switch SW01 is operated (step S21), the update process is performed again (step S23), and “IMG — 0252.JPG” is written in “Playhis.tmp”.

  If it is determined in step S20 that the switch SW06 has been pressed, the system controller 7 shifts the operation mode to the reproduction mode (step S25). If history update processing has been performed in step S24, playback is performed from a file (IMG — 0252.JPG, IMG — 0253.JPG, etc.) next to the file written by the update processing. The details of the reproduction method in the reproduction mode are the same as those described in the first embodiment, and the history information is updated each time each file is reproduced in the 50 files.

  Further, when the update process is not performed in the shooting mode, that is, when the image is captured in a state where “all” is set in FIG. 10, the reproduction based on the history information before shifting to the shooting mode is performed. That is, playback from “IMG — 0206.JPG” described in the first embodiment is performed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the number of files to be preferentially reproduced can be specified according to the user's preference and purpose, and reproduction based on the reproduction history can be performed within the range.

  In addition, since the history information is automatically updated when a new image is recorded by imaging, the user can always reproduce the latest recorded image in the specified range without being forced to perform extra operations. become.

  The present invention has been described above with reference to specific illustrative embodiments. However, various changes and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the technical scope of the present invention defined in the claims. What can be performed is obvious to those skilled in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, and such changes and modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image reproduction apparatus according to the present invention. A configuration example of a directory, a file, and a temporary file written in the memory 6 is shown. The structural example in a temporary file is shown. It is the 1st figure which shows the setting screen which sets the priority reproduction | regeneration of an unreproduced image. It is the 2nd figure which shows the setting screen which sets the priority reproduction | regeneration of an unreproduced image. It is the 3rd figure which shows the setting screen which sets the priority reproduction | regeneration of an unreproduced image. It is the 4th figure which shows the setting screen which sets the priority reproduction | regeneration of an unreproduced image. 6 is a flowchart of a reproduction operation after the apparatus is activated in the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of a reproduction operation at the time of image feed reproduction in the first embodiment. It is the 5th figure which shows the setting screen which sets the priority reproduction | regeneration of an unreproduced image. 10 is an operation flowchart of an imaging mode in the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging part 2 Image signal processing part 3 Monitor 4 Compression / decompression part 5 Memory card interface 6 Removable memory 7 System controller 8 Switch part

Claims (9)

An image reproduction device for reproducing an image recorded with a file name according to a predetermined naming rule in a recording order in a removable memory,
History recording means for recording reproduction history information for identifying a reproduced image and an unreproduced image in the removable memory according to reproduction of an image recorded in the removable memory;
An image reproduction apparatus comprising: reproduction means for preferentially reproducing an unreproduced image with reference to the reproduction history information in the unreproduced image priority reproduction mode.   The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction unit automatically reproduces an unreproduced image in a forward direction in time series.   The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the removable memory is a semiconductor memory.   4. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for selecting whether or not to execute the non-reproduced image priority reproduction mode at the time of activation.   5. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when there is no unreproduced image, the mode is changed to a normal reproduction mode in which all images recorded in the removable memory are to be reproduced. The predetermined naming rule is a rule for adding a consecutive number to a file name according to the order recorded in the removable memory,
2. The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction history is a name of an image file to which a largest number is added among reproduced files and a storage directory name of the file.   2. The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising designation means for designating a number of files to be the target of the reproduction history information.   The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an updating unit configured to update the reproduction history information based on the designated number of files when a new image is obtained in the shooting mode. An image reproduction method for reproducing an image recorded with a file name according to a predetermined naming rule in a recording order in a removable memory,
A history recording step of recording reproduction history information for identifying a reproduced image and an unreproduced image in the removable memory in accordance with reproduction of an image recorded in the removable memory;
In the unreproduced image priority reproduction mode, an image reproduction method comprising: a reproduction step of preferentially reproducing an unreproduced image with reference to the reproduction history information.

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