JP2006126953A - Electronic album preparing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prepare an electronic album having a structure in which route data moved at photographing and a photographic point at which image data are photographed are easily grasped from map data and quantity of data is suppressed. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic album preparing device prepares an electronic album that displays route data 110 on map data corresponding to the location data at reproduction, and displays the image data each time a vehicle symbol 111 is made to move on the route data and reaches a photographic point P, by generating route data by acquiring location data from a navigation system, and generating link data for associating image data with the location data. When the electronic album is stored in a storage medium, the map data with a little quantity of data are stored by such a contraction scale that it is possible to display all the photographic points P from a start point SP. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic album creating apparatus that stores a plurality of image data and map data associated with the image data in a storage medium that can be reproduced by a personal computer.

  As a technique related to the above-described electronic album creating apparatus, data is not stored in a storage medium reproducible by a personal computer, but an electronic image connected to a GPS apparatus or taken by a camera equipped with a GPS apparatus (the present invention) There is a system for creating an electronic album by acquiring a mount via the Internet and pasting an electronic image on the mount (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this Patent Document 1, an electronic map (map data of the present invention) is downloaded as mount data, and an electronic image to which longitude, latitude, and date / time information is added is pasted as a thumbnail to the shooting point of the mount, thereby providing an electronic album. Is created, and the created electronic album is disclosed on the Internet. Further, this Patent Document 1 describes that an electronic album can be incorporated into a portable information terminal or a photo viewer, or can be displayed so as to be turned.

JP 2002-329191 A (paragraph numbers [0024] to [0080], FIGS. 1 and 4)

  Opportunities to use digital cameras are increasing in ordinary households as digital cameras become more sophisticated and less expensive. For example, snapshots, souvenir photos, and opportunities to take landscape photos at tourist spots also increase. ing. Ideally, the image data shot in this way should be printed and saved as an album. However, the work of organizing and pasting a large amount of image data into an album is time-consuming, and it is considered to create an electronic album having a structure that can be played back by a personal computer.

  In addition, when an electronic album is created, as described in Patent Document 1, if the position where image data is captured is displayed on map data, the shooting point can be visually grasped, and the album can be recorded. This is effective in recalling memories when viewing. Also, as described in Patent Document 1, there is room for improvement in that the display is switched by turning the mount (map data) so that the operation is troublesome.

  For this reason, for example, a route traveled during a trip is displayed on map data, and a symbol such as a private car used for the travel is displayed so that the route is traced (moved). It may be possible to display map data each time the symbol reaches the shooting point. However, for example, considering the process of creating an electronic album using map data used in a car navigation system as it is, the map data used for car navigation has a large amount of data for the purpose of showing details of road conditions with high accuracy. Therefore, when an electronic album is created using this map data, there is room for improvement in terms of creating an electronic album, for example, the amount of data in the electronic album increases and the number of image data to be stored decreases. .

  An object of the present invention is to rationally provide an apparatus that can easily grasp a route moved at the time of shooting and a shooting point at which image data was shot from map data, and at the same time, can create an electronic album having a structure in which the amount of data is suppressed. The point is to configure.

A feature of the present invention is an electronic album creating apparatus that stores a plurality of image data and map data associated with the image data in a storage medium that can be reproduced by a personal computer.
Route data storage means for grouping a plurality of position data acquired by the position acquisition means within a predetermined time and storing them as route data in the route data storage section, and image data acquired by the image data acquisition section as image data storage section Image data storage means for storing the image data, and link processing means for storing link data for associating the image data with the position data corresponding to the photographing point of each image data in the link data storage unit,
An electronic album creating means for creating an electronic album by storing data in a storage medium set in the media drive;
The electronic album creating means includes route data stored in the route data storage unit, image data stored in the image data storage unit, link data stored in the link data storage unit, and a plurality of pieces constituting the route data And a process of storing the rough map data corresponding to the position data and the simulation program in the storage medium,
The simulation program displays an index corresponding to the plurality of position data constituting the route data on the personal computer on the schematic map data, and image data associated with the position data corresponding to the index by link data The processing mode is set so as to display the above.

  With this configuration, the storage medium stores route data composed of a plurality of position data, image data, link data, schematic map data, and a simulation program. This storage medium is set in a personal computer. When the simulation program is executed, a plurality of position data constituting the route data is designated, and schematic map data corresponding to the position data is displayed on the display of the personal computer. The image data displayed in the form of moving on the data route and associated with the position data corresponding to the index by the link data is displayed. Further, the amount of data stored in the storage medium can be reduced by reducing the amount of data of the schematic map data as compared with the detailed map data displayed on the display during navigation. As a result, the route that was moved at the time of shooting and the shooting point at which the image data was shot can be easily grasped from the map data, and at the same time, a device that can create an electronic album with a structure that suppresses the amount of data has been rationally configured. It is.

  The present invention stores, as the electronic album creating means, the schematic map data stored in advance in the electronic album creating apparatus or the schematic map data supplied from outside the electronic album creating apparatus in the storage medium. You may comprise so that the process to perform may be performed.

  With this configuration, when creating an electronic album, not only the schematic map data inside the device can be used, but also the operator selects from any map data that has a different amount of data on the market, illustrations, sightseeing maps, etc. Things can be used as the outline map data.

The present invention comprises a GPS unit in which the position acquisition means acquires position data by receiving a signal from a GPS satellite in a navigation system,
The navigation system may include a display that displays map data corresponding to position data acquired by the GPS unit and the index.

  With this configuration, it is possible to use a vehicle-mounted or portable navigation system, and it is possible to generate route data with high accuracy by acquiring position data based on radio waves from GPS satellites.

  According to the present invention, the schematic map data is constituted by a map having a reduction ratio that can simultaneously display a start end position and an end position of the route data among a plurality of types of map data having a reduction ratio provided in the navigation system. Also good.

  With this configuration, since all routes can be displayed without scrolling the displayed map data, map data with an extremely small amount of data can be set as the approximate map data, and the amount of data recorded on the recording medium can be further reduced. .

  The present invention allows the electronic album creation means to perform a process of assigning identifiable titles to a plurality of route data stored in the route data storage unit, and a plurality of route data to which titles are assigned, and each route data The processing mode may be set so as to perform processing for recording image data, link data, and schematic map data related to the data on a recording medium.

  With this configuration, when an electronic album is created by storing data on a recording medium, map data and image data corresponding to the route with the title can be displayed on a personal computer by designating the title. .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a system main body B to which a signal from a GPS satellite received by an antenna unit A and a vehicle speed pulse signal from a vehicle speed sensor S provided in a vehicle driving system is input. The system main body B includes a processing device D (an example of a navigation unit), and a drive unit E (an example of a media drive: also functions as an image data acquisition unit and an output unit) that is separated from the system main end B. Thus, a navigation system that functions as an electronic album creation apparatus is configured.

  In this navigation system, data such as a plurality of image data, position data, and map data related thereto are stored in a disk-shaped storage medium Md such as a DVD-R or a CD-R using the drive unit E. A simulation program for reproducing image data in a state where shooting points are displayed on map data by setting the created electronic album in a personal computer 120 (see FIG. 19). It has.

  The front surface of the system main body B receives a display C (an example of a display unit), a plurality of switches 1 for inputting necessary information, a speaker 2 for outputting audio information, and an infrared signal from a remote controller 3. An infrared sensor 4 is formed, and an input / output terminal 5 for accessing image data and a connector G connected to a jack 19A of the microphone 19 are formed on the side surface of the system main body B.

  The navigation system of the present invention is attached to the console 102 on the side of the meter panel 101 at the front position of the driver's seat 100 of the private car, and the vehicle travels based on the signal from the GPS satellite and the vehicle speed pulse signal from the vehicle speed sensor S. At the time, the position data (longitude / latitude data) where the vehicle exists is acquired in real time, the map data corresponding to the position data is displayed at the scale set for the display C, and the map It has the capability of displaying the position of the vehicle on the data with a vehicle symbol (an example of an index). Further, this navigation system has a capability of displaying route data to be traveled to reach the destination on the map by designating the destination, and guiding (navigating) during travel.

  The navigation system having such a performance is not fundamentally different from the conventional one. In the navigation system of the present invention, a plurality of image data are associated with the route data on which the vehicle has traveled, and the electronic album is stored in the system. In addition, the data stored in the electronic album is displayed on the display C by the simulation program, and the data converted into the electronic album is electronically stored in, for example, the disk-shaped storage medium Md. It is configured to perform processing for storing as an album.

  The display C includes a liquid crystal display unit 6 that displays necessary data such as the map data and image data, and a touch panel unit 7 that detects a touch operation such as a fingertip. The plurality of switches 1 realize processing such as display mode switching including ON / OFF of the navigation system. The remote controller 3 realizes necessary operations from a position separated from the system main body B. The speaker 2 is used for performing guidance or the like in human language, and for reproducing music data to be described later.

  The drive unit E (an example of an image data acquisition unit) acquires (reads out) data from a semiconductor storage medium Ms such as a flash memory in which image data captured by the digital camera 105 is stored; A disk drive 9 that enables acquisition and writing of data from a plurality of types of large-capacity disk-shaped storage media Md such as CD-R and DVD-R. The semiconductor drive 8 includes a plurality of insertion portions so as to be compatible with a plurality of types of flash memories such as CompactFlash (registered trademark), SmartMedia (registered trademark), and Memory Stick (registered trademark).

  The input / output terminal 5 (an example of an image data acquisition unit) is stored in the digital camera 105 via a cable 106 such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard or an IEEE 1394 standard disposed between the digital camera 105 and the digital camera 105. It functions to acquire image data directly. Note that the present invention does not exclude the case where the image data of the digital camera 105 is acquired wirelessly, and adopts an apparatus that transmits image data using wireless as Bluetooth (Bluetooth) as the image data acquisition means. May be.

  The configuration of this navigation system can be shown as shown in FIG. That is, the system main body B includes an input / output interface 10 that realizes information access to the microprocessor. The input / output interface 10 is provided with position acquisition means L (an example of a GPS unit) and the liquid crystal display unit. 6. Access data from the touch panel 7, the plurality of switches 1, the speaker 2, the infrared sensor 4, the input / output terminal 5, the semiconductor drive 8, the disk drive 9, the connector G, and the hard disk HD. A signal system is formed.

  The position acquisition means L captures the radio wave from the GPS satellite received by the antenna unit A and simultaneously captures the vehicle speed pulse signal from the vehicle speed sensor S, thereby obtaining vehicle position data (longitude / latitude data) in real time. And the time when this position data was acquired is acquired as timing data. Further, the position acquisition means L may acquire position information by radio waves from a plurality of radio wave transmission sources on the ground, and may be a gyroscope that detects the attitude of the vehicle, or an acceleration sensor that detects the acceleration of the vehicle. Alternatively, the accuracy of the position information of the vehicle may be improved by using radio waves from a ground source.

  The hard disk HD has functions as a route data storage unit for storing route data, an image data storage unit for storing image data, and a link data storage unit for storing link data, and a map of a preset area. It functions as a map database for storing data, and further functions as a music database for storing music data. In particular, the map database may be configured with a hard disk (an example of a storage unit) that can be attached to and detached from the processing device D, or a DVD-ROM (an example of a storage unit) set in the disk drive 9. When the map database is configured as described above, it is also possible to use an illustration or a tourist map as an area required by the operator, detailed map data, or outline map data described later.

  The processing device D includes a semiconductor memory RAM / ROM connected to a data bus from a microprocessor, a nonvolatile memory EEPROM, a map matching means 11, a navigation means 12, a route data storage means 13, an image data storage means 14, a link process. Means 15, output control means 16, albuming means 17, and album creating means 18 (an example of electronic album creating means). Incidentally, in order to realize control in this processing device D, a control bus and an address bus are required in addition to a data bus, but in order to avoid complication, the drawing shows a control bus and an address bus. Interfaces are not shown.

  The map matching means 11 extracts map data corresponding to the position data from the position acquisition means L from the map database stored in the hard disk HD, and has a scale (enlargement ratio) preset for the display C. Process to display. The navigation means 12 extracts a route to a preset destination from the map data and displays the route on the map data in a line shape. Necessary operations such as a right turn and a left turn at a point such as an intersection are displayed on the display C. A process of displaying and outputting necessary operations such as a right turn and a left turn in the human language from the speaker 2 is performed. When navigation is performed by the navigation means 12, the vehicle symbol 111 (an example of an index; see FIGS. 10 and 11), which will be described later, is selected when the display mode for displaying at the center position of the screen is selected. When the map data is scrolled in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction as the vehicle travels, and the display mode for moving the vehicle symbol 111 on the route data with the map data fixed is selected, the vehicle As the vehicle symbol 111 reaches near the end of the screen as the vehicle travels, the map data is scrolled.

  The route data storage means 13 is a hard disk as the route data storage section that acquires the position data acquired at intervals (within a predetermined time) set by the position acquisition means L for each timing at which each position data is acquired. A process of storing a plurality of position data included in the route traveled by the vehicle as grouped route data by writing in the HD is performed. Incidentally, when the route data 110 stored in the route data storage means 13 is displayed on the display C, it is displayed as shown by a broken line in FIGS. 10 and 11, and a vehicle symbol 111 is displayed on the route data 110. Then, a shooting point P to be described later is shown on the route data 110.

  The image data storage means 14 performs processing for storing the image data acquired via the semiconductor drive 8, the disk drive 9, or the input / output terminal 5 in the hard disk HD as the image data storage unit, When a plurality of image data are stored in the hard disk HD, a selection screen 20 that allows the image data to be captured is displayed on the display C as shown in FIG. 5, and necessary image data is designated on the selection screen 20. It functions to store the selected image data (this function will be described later).

  The link processing unit 15 includes a timing data acquisition unit that acquires timing data for specifying the timing at which the position data is acquired, a shooting date / time data acquisition unit that acquires shooting date / time data from Exif data attached to the image data, A link data generation unit that generates link data from the timing data and the shooting date and time data; The timing data acquisition unit, the shooting date / time data acquisition unit, and the link data generation unit each function effectively when the image data is converted into an electronic album as described later.

  The Exif data is attached to the image data, and an example of the structure can be represented as shown in FIG. The main information of this Exif data stores the manufacturer name and model name of the digital camera. In addition to exposure time, image width, and image height data as sub-information, the original shooting date / time is year, month, day, time. Are stored in units of minutes and seconds, and the shooting date and time acquisition unit of the link processing unit 15 acquires the data of the original shooting date and time as shooting date and time data.

  The output control means 16 is configured to include the simulation program. When the data stored in the system as an electronic album is reproduced in the reproduction mode, the simulation program displays the map data on the display C. And sequentially specifying the position data grouped as the root data and stored in the hard disk HD according to the order of acquisition, and executing the process of displaying the image data associated with the position data on the display C, When data stored as an electronic album in the system is reproduced in the actual driving mode, the position data is acquired from the position acquisition means L in real time as the vehicle travels, and a map corresponding to the position data is acquired. Data is processed by the map matching means 11 Isupurei while displaying on C (while navigation), and performs processing for displaying the image data associated with the location data on the display C.

  The albuming unit 17 includes an index indicating the route data 110, a plurality of image data associated with a plurality of position data (photographing points P) existing on the route data 110, and map data corresponding to the route data 110. When data and associated music data exist, index data indicating the music data is converted into an electronic album and stored in the system (hard disk HD).

  Incidentally, in the case of making an electronic album, a file corresponding to the root data is newly generated, assigned a title and stored in the hard disk HD, and a plurality of position data and a plurality of image data are stored in the file. However, if map data or music data is stored in a file, the amount of data in the file increases too much. Therefore, map data index data and music data index data are stored in advance. In the reproduction process, the processing mode is set so that the map data is extracted and displayed based on the index data and the music data is reproduced based on the index data.

  The album creating means 18 includes selected route data 110, a plurality of image data associated with a plurality of position data (photographing points) existing on the route data 110, map data corresponding to the route data 110, When the associated music data exists, the music data is stored as an electronic album in the disk-shaped storage medium Md or the like (control form will be described later). A storage medium Md (for example, DVD-R) in which data is stored as an electronic album can be played back with map data, image data, and the like in the personal computer 120 shown in FIG.

  When the storage medium Md storing data as an electronic album is reproduced by the personal computer 120, the simulation program displays a reproduction screen 80 on the display 121 as shown in FIG. Data and route data 110 are displayed, and a simulation is performed such that the vehicle symbol 111 travels on the route data 110. Each time the vehicle symbol 111 reaches the shooting point P by this simulation, the shooting point P (position The image data associated with (data) is displayed on the display C.

  In the present invention, the map matching means 11, the navigation means 12, the route data storage means 13, the image data storage means 14, the link processing means 15, the output control means 16, the albuming means 17, and the album creating means 18 are stored on a semiconductor memory RAM. However, some or all of the software (programs) can be configured by logic or other hardware.

  The navigation system of the present invention displays the processing menu 30 shown in FIG. 4 on the display C by operating the switch 1 or operating the remote controller 3, the album generation button 31 displayed in the processing menu 30, the playback mode. By selecting a process in which the finger is brought into contact with any one of the playback button 32 in the (simulation mode), the playback button 33 in the actual driving mode, and the album creation button 34, the selected process is performed. It is configured to run.

  Specifically, the creation of an electronic album is realized by operating the album generation button 31 in the processing menu 30. In this system, before the album generation button 31 is operated, the position where the vehicle has traveled Is automatically acquired, and a processing form is set so as to acquire a plurality of image data at an arbitrary timing.

  That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13, the position acquisition means L acquires position data at predetermined intervals (within a predetermined time), and stores the position data as grouped route data (# 01 Step), an image data acquisition routine (Step # 100) for acquiring image data at any timing is executed. Such a process is continuously performed until a process for generating an electronic album (converting to an electronic album) is selected (step # 02). When a process for generating an album is selected (album generation button 31). The link processing means 15 generates link data (step # 200), sets index data of map data corresponding to the position data associated with the image data by the link data, and generates route data. After the title that can be identified is set and the index data of the music data is set, the generated electronic album is stored in the hard disk HD (steps # 03 to # 04). Further, the albuming means 17 realizes the process of making necessary data into an electronic album and storing it in the hard disk HD.

  In addition, when the process of recording on the storage medium is selected (when the album creation button 34 is operated: Step # 05: Yes), the electronic album is stored in the disk-shaped storage medium Md (for example, DVD-R). Are stored (step # 300: a process for creating an electronic album), and these processes are continuously performed until the operation of the system is completed (step # 06).

  In the image data acquisition routine (# 100 step), as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14, the situation where the image data can be acquired as in the case where the storage medium Ms is set in the semiconductor drive 8 is grasped. Only in this case, the selection screen 20 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display C (steps # 101 and # 102). This selection screen 20 displays the image data stored in the storage medium Ms in the thumbnail format in the image display area 21, and allows all image data to be confirmed by operating the scroll bar 22. It has become. Further, among the image data displayed in the image display area 21 as described above, information that has already been stored from the file number of the image data is displayed with information 23 such as <stored>. Thus, the processing mode is set so that all the remaining image data except the image data already stored in this way is automatically selected as a storage target (step # 103).

  Also, for those that are not automatically reflected from the automatically selected ones or that are judged to be unnecessary for the album, the operator designates the image data displayed in the form of touching the finger and then presses the button on the deselect button 24. The selection can be canceled by operating in the form of touching. When the selection is canceled after this selection is canceled, the selection can be performed by operating the selection switch 25, and the image data is designated. When the rotation button 26 is operated after the operation, the designated image data can be rotated in units of 90 degrees. After the selection is made as described above, the selected image data is stored in the hard disk HD (step # 105) by operating the OK button 27 (step # 104). In addition, although the process which selects image data in this way is implement | achieved by operation via the touch panel part 7 of the display C, operation of the switch 1 or operation of the remote controller 3 designates image data. The interface may be set to perform necessary operations.

  The link data generation routine (step # 200) can be shown as in the flowchart of FIG. That is, when this process is executed, an association screen 40 including an automatic button 41 and a manual button 42 is displayed on the display C as shown in FIG. The automatic button 41 performs a process of automatically associating shooting points, and the manual button 42 performs a process of associating a plurality of image data with a sightseeing spot.

  That is, when the automatic button 41 is operated, the timing data acquisition unit of the link processing unit 15 extracts the timing data stored in the hard disk HD, and the shooting date acquisition unit of the link processing unit 15 The shooting date / time data is extracted from the Exif data accompanying each image data and compared. Next, the link generation unit of the link processing unit 15 generates link data for associating a plurality of timing data with a plurality of shooting date / time data that match and those that approximate each other (steps # 201 to # 203). This is stored in the hard disk HD (step # 208).

  That is, Exif data is attached to image data captured by a general digital camera 105, and when the position acquisition means L is of the GPS type, time data is required when acquiring the position. The processing mode is set so that this time data is stored as timing data together with the position data. Then, by comparing the stored timing data with the shooting date / time data extracted from the Exif data and associating or matching with the associated link data, for example, the position data and the image data are associated with each other. A plurality of pieces of image data can be associated with a plurality of pieces of position data in a lump without taking time and effort as in the case where the association is performed by displaying on the screen and editing.

  In addition, when the manual button 42 is operated, a process of associating a plurality of image data with a sightseeing spot already registered as a sightseeing spot on the hard disk HD is performed, and an edit screen is displayed to correct the link data. (Steps # 204 to # 206). In this process, as shown in FIG. 7, an image display unit 51, selection buttons 52 and 52 for switching image data displayed on the image display unit 51, a sightseeing spot display unit 53, and this sightseeing spot display unit 53. A manual setting screen 50 on which change buttons 54 and 54, a registration button 55, a cancel button 56, a voice input button 57, and an OK button 58 are displayed is displayed. C, and the association is performed manually through the manual setting screen 50.

  That is, in step # 205, if there is a sightseeing spot corresponding to position data including timing data corresponding to shooting date / time data included in the Exif data, the sightseeing spot is temporarily set as a shooting point, and The link data for associating the sightseeing spot with the image data referring to the Exif data is temporarily generated. When this processing is performed, the image data first captured at the tourist spot is displayed on the image display unit 51, and the tourist spot photographed at the center of the tourist spot display unit 53 is displayed. Thereafter, by operating the selection button 52 on the manual setting screen 50, the image data displayed on the image display unit 51 is switched, and the sightseeing spot associated with the image data is displayed at the center of the sightseeing spot display unit 53. It can be confirmed by the displayed sightseeing spot name. In this process, since the association is performed by an automatic process, it is possible to reduce the operation of the operator. If the image data and the sightseeing spot match from the display content of the manual setting screen 50, the operator operates the registration button 55 after confirmation, so that the link data and the shooting point that have been temporarily generated are displayed. Determine. If an error is found from the display contents of the manual setting screen 50, the operator operates the change button 54 to change the sightseeing spot associated with the image data, and operates the registration button 55 to link the shooting point. Data is confirmed.

Further, when canceling the association or returning the processing, the cancel button 56 is operated, and when changing the tourist destination to be associated, the change button 54 is operated as described above. Further, when the voice input button 57 is operated, the microphone 19 can be used to associate the voice with the image data or the sightseeing spot.

  When the editing on the manual setting screen 50 is finished, the processing is finished by operating the OK button 58, and the link data is stored (step # 208). Incidentally, the link data is data having a simple structure recorded by comparing position data (longitude and latitude data) with a file number of image data.

  As described above, the processing in step # 205 has been described in which the sightseeing spot is associated with the image data by automatic processing as described above. However, in the present invention, each individual image displayed on the image display unit 51 is manually processed. The processing form may be set so that the operator associates the image data and the sightseeing spot displayed on the sightseeing spot display unit 53 by human operation.

  Next, in the process in the step # 03, the title / music screen 60 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. The title input unit 61 shown in the figure functions to input a title for specifying route data. When inputting a title, the input button 62 is operated to input alphabets and katakana on the display C. A keyboard (not shown) is displayed, and a title can be input by inputting character information in a form in which a finger touches the keyboard. When inputting the title of the music data to the music data set unit 63, a list of music information titles stored in advance is displayed by operating the pull-down button 64. By doing this, the music information is selected from the list in such a manner that the finger touches the music information to be set in the BGM, so that the title of the selected music is set in the music data set unit 63, and then OK. The input is completed by operating the button 65.

  Also, in the process at step # 04, a file with the above-described title is generated, and position data, image data, link data, map data index data, and music associated therewith are generated for this file. By storing each index data of the data, it is stored in the hard disk HD as electronic album data.

  The storage process in step # 300 can be shown as in the flowchart of FIG. That is, the title selection screen 70 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed, and the titles and song names stored in the hard disk HD are listed and displayed on the title and song name list display unit 71 on this screen. This display content is configured so that the display content can be scrolled by an operation on the scroll unit 72, and can be selected by adding a check to a check unit 73 displayed in the vicinity of the title. When confirming the contents of the selected item, the contents confirmation button 74 is operated to display an outline of route data and top image data (not shown), and thus a plurality of titles are selected. The selection is completed by operating the OK button 75 later (steps # 301 and # 302).

  By the way, the processing mode is set so that the # 300 step processing including this processing is performed by the car navigation system, but this processing acquires position data from a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) or GPS unit equipped with a GPS function. The electronic album creating apparatus may be configured so as to be performed by a notebook personal computer.

  Next, although not shown in the drawing, a confirmation screen is displayed to confirm the contents of the title and music data. At the same time, if necessary, a screen similar to the title / music screen 60 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. The title and music data can be edited (steps # 303 and # 304).

  Next, after performing a process of extracting schematic map data of a scale that can display route data corresponding to each selected title on one screen, route data corresponding to the selected title, image data, The link data, the set music data, and the schematic map data extracted by the above-described processing are stored in a disk-shaped storage medium Md such as a DVD-R, and further a simulation program is stored in the storage medium ( Steps # 305 to # 307). In the present invention, the schematic map data extracted in this way does not necessarily have to be a scale for displaying all of the route data on one screen. For example, the map data is only map data showing only the route data portion where photographing points are concentrated. It may be map data of a scale that scrolls slightly. Moreover, as schematic map data, as long as the geographical positional relationship of route data can be grasped | ascertained, a road and topography may be displayed with a simple line.

  In particular, in the present invention, map data stored in advance in the hard disk HD of the navigation system is used as the outline map data. However, as the outline map data, simple data such as illustrations, simple lines, and tourist maps are used. It is also possible to store a small amount in advance in the hard disk HD of the navigation system and use the rough map data stored in this way. Furthermore, the outline map data may be acquired from the outside via the drive unit E. Specifically, a list of a plurality of types of schematic map data is displayed on the display C, such as illustrations from the outside via the drive unit E, simple line shapes, and sightseeing maps, and what is necessary from this list is displayed. You may set a processing form so that it may select.

  In this navigation system, after the electronic album is generated and stored in the system, the processing menu 30 is displayed on the display C and the playback button 32 in the simulation mode is operated to display the image data in the simulation mode. The image data in the actual travel mode is displayed by operating the playback button 33 in the actual travel mode.

  More specifically, when the playback button 32 is operated in the simulation mode, the playback screen 80 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed, and the simulation program executes the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, when the process is started, a list of titles is displayed on the display C, and by selecting one to be reproduced from the list, the music set corresponding to the title is designated and reproduced from the index data. The simulation program displays the map data indicated by the index data of the map data on the display C, displays the route data 110 in a line shape, and the position data existing on the route data stored in the hard disk HD, The vehicle symbol is updated at a set interval along the time axis (reproduced in the order acquired by the route data storage means 13), and the vehicle symbol is positioned at the position corresponding to the updated position data on the route data 110. 111 is displayed (steps # 401 to # 403).

  Since the plurality of position data are different in latitude data and longitude data, as described above, by updating the position data at set intervals, the vehicle symbols 111 corresponding to the respective position data are routed. The data 110 is displayed in a moving form (simulating form). Also. The interval is set to be shorter than the interval at which the position data is acquired when the vehicle actually travels, and the time for performing the simulation is shortened.

  Next, by comparing the position data and the link data, it is determined whether or not the associated position data exists. If there is matching link data, the image data associated with the position data is displayed in the display area 81. Is displayed (steps # 404 to # 406).

  When displaying image data, there are many cases in which a plurality of image data is shot at the same shooting point, and in such a case, the position is displayed until all the display of the image data associated with the position data is completed. Processing for stopping the update of data is performed. The processing for displaying the image data for each shooting point is a display form when the association is performed by operating the automatic button 41 on the association screen 40, and the association is performed by operating the manual button 42 on the association screen 40. When the vehicle symbol 111 reaches a specific tourist spot, a plurality of image data associated with the tourist spot is displayed at set intervals.

  In the present invention, it is assumed that a symbol indicating the shooting point P is displayed on the route data 110 in a dot shape. However, the symbol is not displayed at all, or an image is displayed on the route data 110 in a thumbnail format. It is also conceivable to set the processing mode so as to display data.

  In addition, the playback screen 80 displays a control button 82 that realizes control for executing playback, fast-forward, and the like, and an indicator 83 for displaying the playback status on the timeline. For example, fast-forward, rewind, and indicator If the position data is changed by the operation of 83, the process of setting the changed position data and displaying the image data as described above is continuously performed until this process ends (# 407). , # 408, # 409 steps). The reproduction screen 80 has a counter 84 for displaying the total number of image data and the current display number.

  When the processing menu 30 is displayed on the display C and the playback button 33 in the actual driving mode is operated, the playback screen 90 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed and the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11 is executed. To do. In other words, the map data corresponding to the position data acquired by the position acquisition means L is displayed on the display C, and at the same time, a normal navigation process for displaying the vehicle symbol 111 at the position corresponding to the position data is executed (step # 501). ), The position data acquired by the position acquisition means L during the navigation is compared with the link data, and when there is matching or close link data, the image data associated with the link data is displayed in the display area 91. The processing to be displayed on is continuously performed until this processing is completed (steps # 502 to # 505).

  As described above, in the process of displaying the image data for each shooting point, when one image data is associated with one shooting point P by the link data, one is displayed every time the vehicle symbol 111 reaches the shooting point P. Although it is a simple display form for displaying image data, a plurality of image data are associated with one shooting point P as a result regardless of whether the automatic button 41 or the manual button 42 is operated. When a plurality of image data is associated with one shooting point P (for example, a sightseeing spot), a plurality of image data associated with the sightseeing spot when the vehicle symbol 111 reaches the shooting point P. Is displayed for each set time interval.

  Even in this process, it is assumed that a symbol indicating the shooting point P is displayed on the route data 110 in a dot shape. However, this symbol is not displayed or an image is displayed on the route data 110 in a thumbnail format. It is also conceivable to set the processing mode so as to display data.

  Further, when an electronic album is created by storing data in a storage medium Md such as a DVD-R, when the storage medium Md is set in the personal computer 120 and the simulation program is executed, as described above. Similarly to the case where the electronic album stored in the hard disk HD of the navigation system is reproduced in the simulation mode, the same screen 90 as that in the simulation mode is displayed on the display 121 of the personal computer 120, but only the structure of the map data is displayed. Is different. That is, a list of titles is displayed on the display C, and the music set corresponding to the title is played by selecting one to be played back from the list, and the map data is displayed on the display C. As shown in FIG. 20, this map data includes all shooting points including a start position SP (an example of a start position) and a shooting point P (an example of an end position) farthest from the start position SP on one screen. The map data does not need to be scrolled at all when the vehicle symbol 111 moves on the route data 110.

  Then, as described above, the vehicle symbol 111 is displayed in a form in which the route data 110 is moved by updating the position data at set intervals. If there is link data in which the position data and the link data match, the image data associated with the position data is displayed in the display area 81. When displaying image data in this way, there are many cases where a plurality of image data is shot at the same shooting point P. In such a case, all display of image data associated with the position data is displayed. Until completion, processing for stopping the update of the position data is performed.

  On the playback screen 80, a control button 82 that realizes control for executing playback, fast-forwarding, and the like is displayed, and an indicator 83 for displaying the playback status on the timeline is displayed. When the position data is changed by the operation, the position data after the change is set, and the process of displaying the image data is continuously performed as described above, and the number of the displayed image data is determined by the counter 84. You can figure it out.

  Thus, according to the present invention, route data is generated from position data acquired by a car navigation system or the like, and image data photographed by the digital camera 105 is stored in association with photographing points set on the respective route data. Image data in a form in which a simulation is performed by designating a title corresponding to the route data by performing processing that associates image data with each tourist spot existing on the route data and storing the image data in the system as an electronic album When the electronic album is stored in the storage medium, the rough map data stored in the car navigation system with a small amount of data or the rough map data acquired from the outside is stored. Since it is stored in the medium, the amount of data stored in the storage medium is reduced. , For example, with each other to allow increasing the number of storable image data.

[Another embodiment]
The present invention may be configured as follows in addition to the embodiment described above.

(B) As an electronic album creation device, for example, position data acquired by position acquisition means such as GPS other than the car navigation system is acquired to generate route data (route data generation means), and media drives, input terminals, etc. Acquire image data via the image data acquisition unit and store it in the image data storage unit (image data storage unit), generate link data and store it in the link data storage unit (link processing unit), and create these electronic albums In this electronic album creating means, a plurality of types of schematic map data are stored in a storage means such as a hard disk HD, and the processing form is set so that the operator selects what is required. Although a good operation form appears, rough map data given from outside via media such as DVD and communication means It is also possible to configure so as to create an electronic album based on.

  That is, the electronic album creating apparatus of the present invention is a component excluding hardware such as a GPS unit for acquiring position data, a terminal for acquiring image data, a terminal for acquiring schematic map data, that is, the route data generation Since the means, image data storage means, link processing means, and electronic album creation means can be configured by software, they are required based on a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) or personal computer installed with these software. It is also possible to configure with hardware.

(B) When the shooting point P that has been visited once is visited again and a picture is taken with the digital camera 105, the image data is stored in a form to be added to the already set shooting point; It is also possible to set the processing form so as to store the image data at the time of previous visit to the shooting point P on the route data at the time of revisit. When such processing is performed, the processing mode when the link processing unit 15 performs association may be changed, and when image data is reproduced, past image data and subsequent image data are combined. It will be displayed in a form and can be viewed.

(C) When the image data is displayed on the display C, a display form with the map data as the background has been adopted. Instead, the image data is displayed on the entire screen of the display C, and the image data It is also possible to set the display form so that the map data is partially displayed.

(D) The personal computer of the present invention is not limited to a notebook type or a desktop type, but reads data from a set storage medium and stores it in the storage medium like the navigation system and game machine shown in the embodiment. By performing processing based on the processed data, it refers to all devices having a function of displaying image data stored in a storage medium on a display.

Diagram showing the configuration of the navigation system The figure which shows the navigation system which is equipped with the passenger car Block diagram of navigation system Diagram showing the processing menu Diagram showing selection screen Diagram showing the association screen Figure showing the manual setting screen Figure showing title / music screen Figure showing the title selection screen The figure which shows the playback screen in reproduction mode The figure which shows the reproduction picture in real running mode Diagram showing the structure of Exif data Flow chart showing the processing when creating an electronic album Flow chart of image data acquisition routine Link data generation routine flowchart Flow chart of storage processing routine Flow chart showing playback processing in playback mode Flow chart showing reproduction process in actual driving mode Perspective view showing a personal computer The figure which shows the playback screen which is displayed on the personal computer

Explanation of symbols

5 Image Data Acquisition Unit 13 Route Data Storage Unit 14 Image Data Storage Unit 15 Link Processing Unit 17 Album Creation Unit 111 Index 120 Personal Computer 121 Display E Image Data Acquisition Unit, Media Drive Md Storage Medium L Position Acquisition Unit P Shooting Point

Claims (5)

An electronic album creating apparatus for storing a plurality of image data and map data associated with the image data in a storage medium reproducible by a personal computer,
Route data storage means for grouping a plurality of position data acquired by the position acquisition means within a predetermined time and storing them as route data in the route data storage section; and image data acquired by the image data acquisition section in the image data storage section Image data storage means for storing, and link processing means for storing link data for associating image data with the position data corresponding to the shooting point of each image data in a link data storage unit,
An electronic album creating means for creating an electronic album by storing data in a storage medium set in the media drive;
The electronic album creating means includes route data stored in the route data storage unit, image data stored in the image data storage unit, link data stored in the link data storage unit, and a plurality of pieces constituting the route data And a process of storing the rough map data corresponding to the position data and the simulation program in the storage medium,
The simulation program displays an index corresponding to the plurality of position data constituting the route data on the personal computer on the schematic map data, and image data associated with the position data corresponding to the index by link data The electronic album creating apparatus in which the processing mode is set so as to display the above.   The electronic album creating means performs a process of storing the schematic map data stored in advance in the electronic album creating apparatus or the schematic map data supplied from outside the electronic album creating apparatus in the storage medium. The electronic album creating apparatus according to claim 1 configured as described above. The position acquisition means is composed of a GPS unit that acquires position data by receiving a signal from a GPS satellite in a navigation system,
The electronic album creating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display on which the navigation system displays map data corresponding to position data acquired by the GPS unit and the index.   4. The map data is composed of a plurality of types of reduction ratio map data provided in the navigation system and having a reduction ratio capable of simultaneously displaying a start end position and an end position of the route data. The electronic album creating apparatus described.   The electronic album creating means permits a process of assigning an identifiable title to a plurality of route data stored in the route data storage unit, and a plurality of route data to which titles are assigned and images related to the respective route data. The electronic album creating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a processing mode is set so as to perform processing for recording data, link data, and schematic map data on a recording medium.

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