JP2006185262A - Electronic album and electronic album system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to easily remember contents of an album only by viewing the title display of the album. <P>SOLUTION: A thumb nail image 42 showing the path data of a moving path on which a user has moved is synthesized with a title bar 41 for displaying the title of an album by a thumb nail image synthesis means 306. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic album and an electronic album system for creating the electronic album, and more particularly to a title display format indicating the contents of the album.

  In recent years, digital cameras and camera-equipped cell phones have become widespread, and images taken with these digital cameras and camera-equipped cell phones are not only printed out as photographic prints by printing devices such as printers, but also CDs, DVDs, etc. It is used in such a way that an electronic album is created by recording on a recording medium, and is displayed sequentially in a slide show format on a computer or a television monitor.

  Here, when creating an electronic album, it is common to give an album title so that the user can easily recall where the album is when traveling. When the electronic album is activated, a title menu screen is displayed first, and a title bar indicating basic information such as the title name of the album and the creation date is displayed on the title menu screen. . By selecting this title bar, the user can view the image data.

  Furthermore, when the data capacity of the album data is relatively small, a plurality of album data is recorded together on a large capacity recording medium such as a DVD or a hard disk. In this case, the title menu is recorded. A plurality of title bars (title display portions) are displayed on the screen.

  However, for example, if you travel to Kyoto several times and record each album data when you travel around different sightseeing spots such as Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji, Kiyomizudera, etc., in one electronic album, “Kyoto Travel 1 ”,“ Kyoto Travel 2 ”, etc. If you try to distinguish them by adding a serial number regardless of where you actually traveled, when you look at the album after a while, only the serial number title However, it was difficult to determine where the album was traveled in Kyoto, and there was an inconvenience that it could not be determined without actually playing it.

In order to solve such a problem, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose one in which one of the image data stored in the album is displayed as a thumbnail and combined and displayed on the title bar. . In the case of such an album title display format, thumbnail images from different sightseeing spots can be distinguished from each other even on a reduced screen.
JP 2001-8149 A JP 2002-82957 A

  However, even if the thumbnail images are as described above, if they are thumbnail images when traveling to a similar sightseeing spot, it is possible to instantly grasp where they were taken just by looking at the images and identify each other. It is considered to be very difficult to do so, eventually the user has to actually reproduce and confirm the album, which is troublesome and unusable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to enable a user to easily recall the contents of an album simply by looking at the title display of the album.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a thumbnail image of route data indicating a travel route at the time of travel is synthesized and displayed on the title display section.

That is, the invention of claim 1 is an electronic album system for creating an electronic album for displaying on a display means digital image data including data taken when a user moves along a predetermined movement route,
Recording means for recording route data of the movement route specified by the navigation device and the digital image data;
Thumbnail image synthesizing means for synthesizing a thumbnail image indicating the whole or a part of the route data recorded in the recording means with a title display portion indicating the title of the electronic album displayed on the display means. It is provided with.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the route data of the movement route traveled by the user is recorded in the recording unit, and the whole or a part of the route data recorded in the recording unit is displayed by the thumbnail image composition unit. The thumbnail image is combined with the title display section of the electronic album.

The invention of claim 2 is the electronic album system according to claim 1,
Map name display means for displaying a map name indicating the position information of the travel route on the route data;
The thumbnail image synthesizing unit is configured to synthesize a thumbnail image of the route data on which the map name is displayed by the map name display unit as image data to be synthesized in the title display unit. And

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the map name display means displays the map name on the route data, and the thumbnail image synthesis means displays the thumbnail image indicating the route data on which the map name is displayed as the title display section of the electronic album. Is synthesized.

The invention of claim 3 is the electronic album system according to claim 1,
A sub-image display area is provided in a part of the image data recorded in the electronic album, and further includes a sub-image combination display means for combining and displaying the thumbnail image of the path data in the sub-image display area;
The thumbnail image synthesizing unit is configured to synthesize image data in which the route data is synthesized and displayed by the sub-image synthesis display unit as image data to be synthesized in the title display unit. .

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the thumbnail image of the route data is synthesized by the sub-image synthesis display means in the sub-image display area provided in a part of the image data image recorded in the electronic album, and the thumbnail image synthesis is performed. By the means, the image data obtained by combining the route data as the sub-image is combined with the title display portion of the electronic album.

The invention of claim 4 is the electronic album system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image processing apparatus further includes a composite image changing unit that changes the thumbnail image combined and displayed on the title display unit by the thumbnail image combining unit to other image data based on a user operation.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the thumbnail image indicating the route data combined with the title display section of the electronic album is changed to other image data by the composite image changing means.

The invention of claim 5 is an electronic album for displaying digital image data including data taken when the user moves along a predetermined movement path on a display means,
The route data of the movement route specified by the navigation device and the digital image data are recorded,
A thumbnail image of route data indicating at least the whole or a part of the moving route is synthesized with a title display portion indicating a title of the album displayed on the display means.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, an electronic album is configured in which thumbnail images indicating the route data of the whole or a part of the moving route traveled by the user are combined with the title display portion of the album.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the thumbnail image indicating all or part of the route data of the moving route is combined with the title display portion of the electronic album, the album is actually reproduced. Even if it is not, it is possible to instantly determine where the album is traveled by just looking at the title display. For example, even if multiple album data are recorded in one electronic album, the user can watch Can quickly find the album you want, which improves user convenience.

  According to the invention according to claim 2, since the thumbnail image in which the name (map name) of the sightseeing spot visited when the user traveled is displayed on the route data is combined and displayed on the title display unit, for example, Even in the same trip to Kyoto, album data for “Kinkaku-ji” and “Kiyo-ji” and “Kinkaku-ji” and “Ginkaku-ji” can be easily identified from the difference in the route. The album that the user wants to watch can be played smoothly.

  According to the invention of claim 3, a sub-image display area is provided in the image data recorded in the electronic album, and a thumbnail image indicating route data at the time of travel is synthesized in the sub-image display area. Is displayed in the title display area, so that the album contents can be recalled from the route data at the time of the trip and the image data taken at that time, and the album that the user wishes to view can be easily identified. be able to.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the user can arbitrarily change the thumbnail image synthesized and displayed on the title display section, the user can change the album content to a more easily recalled thumbnail image, so that the user can You can easily select the album you want to watch.

  In the invention according to claim 5, since the thumbnail image indicating the route data of the moving route is synthesized in the title display part of the electronic album, it is possible to determine where the album is traveled without actually reproducing the album. Just look at the title display, you can determine instantly.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or its application.

[System configuration]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic album system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic album system 100 includes an input / output unit 200 for inputting / outputting data related to creation and reproduction of an electronic album, and a processing unit 300 for processing and recording data.

  The input / output unit 200 outputs a voice information, a display 201 that displays image data and a menu screen, a key input unit 202 that performs a key input process for realizing a necessary operation on the processing unit 300, and the like. Access to the speaker 203, a remote controller 204 that performs necessary operations such as playback of the electronic album at a position away from the electronic album system 100, an infrared sensor 205 that receives an infrared signal from the remote controller 204, and access to image data Input / output terminal 206 and a drive unit 207 are provided.

  The input / output terminal 206 acquires image data stored in the digital camera Cam via a cable X such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard or an IEEE 1394 standard disposed between the digital camera Cam. It will function. In the present invention, it is not excluded that the image data of the digital camera Cam is acquired wirelessly, but the image data input means may transmit image data using wireless, such as Bluetooth (Bluetooth). Good.

  The drive unit 207 acquires (reads) data from a semiconductor medium Ms such as a flash memory in which image data taken by the digital camera Cam is stored, and a CD-R, DVD-R, or the like. A disk drive 209 that enables acquisition and writing of data from a plurality of types of large-capacity disk-shaped media Md. The semiconductor drive 208 preferably includes a plurality of insertion portions so as to be compatible with the types of flash memories such as CompactFlash (registered trademark), SmartMedia (registered trademark), and Memory Stick (registered trademark).

  The processing unit 300 includes an input / output interface I / O that realizes information access to the microprocessor. The display 201, the key input unit 202, the speaker 203, and the like are connected to the input / output interface I / O. A signal system for accessing data from the infrared sensor 205, the input / output terminal 206, the semiconductor drive 208, the disk drive 209, and the hard disk HD is formed.

  The hard disk HD (recording means) stores the image data acquired from the semiconductor drive 208 or the like grouped for each electronic album for creating the image data, and indicates the movement path that the user has moved when the image data was captured. Route data is acquired from a navigation device (not shown) and stored. The hard disk HD functions as a map database as a map data storage unit for storing map data and a music database for storing music data.

  Note that a semiconductor memory may be used instead of the hard disk HD. Further, the route data of the travel route during the travel period is not limited to that acquired from the navigation device. For example, the travel route is specified by displaying the map data on the screen of the display 201 and specifying the travel range by the user. You may make it.

  Further, the processing unit 300 includes a semiconductor memory RAM / ROM connected to a data bus from the microprocessor, a nonvolatile memory EEPROM, a map matching unit 301, an image storage processing unit 302, a path storage processing unit 303, a storage processing unit 304, Title setting means 305, thumbnail image composition means 306, map name display means 307, sub-image composition display means 308, and composite image change means 309 are provided.

  In order to realize control in the processing unit 300, a control bus, an address bus, and the like are required in addition to the data bus, but for the purpose of avoiding complexity, the control bus, the address bus, In addition, description of interfaces is omitted.

  The map matching unit 301 performs processing for extracting map data corresponding to position data acquired from a navigation device (not shown) from a map database stored in the hard disk HD.

  The image storage processing unit 302 performs processing for storing image data acquired via the input / output terminal 206, the semiconductor drive 208, or the disk drive 209 in the hard disk HD.

  The route storage processing unit 303 performs processing for storing route data R (see FIG. 10) corresponding to a route traveled by a user in a vehicle or the like in the hard disk HD. The route data R is assumed to be a file having a structure in which data indicating the coordinates of the vehicle at each sampling timing is stored. The route data R includes a plurality of coordinates serving as a base point, a traveling direction and a traveling speed set for each coordinate. It may be a vector data structure. Further, when the route data R stored by the route storage processing unit 303 is displayed on the display 201, the route indicated by the broken line in FIG.

  The storage processing unit 304 includes a plurality of image data used for creating an electronic album, route data R indicating a travel route traveled during a travel period, map data corresponding to the route data R, and associated music data. If present, the music data and title setting means 305, thumbnail image composition means 306, map name display means 307, sub-image composition display means 308, and composite image change means 309, which will be described later, configured as a program are stored on the disc. A process of saving in a storage medium such as the shape medium Md is performed.

  The title setting means 305 automatically sets an album title based on a sightseeing spot title indicating a sightseeing spot visited during a trip, or sets an album title based on a user operation.

  The thumbnail image synthesizing unit 306 performs a process of synthesizing the thumbnail image of the path data recorded on the hard disk HD with the title bar 41 (see FIG. 7) indicating the album title.

  The map name display means 307 performs processing for displaying the sightseeing spots P1, P2, P3... (Map name) that the user has visited on the route data R.

  The sub-image composition display means 308 provides a sub-image display screen 33 on a part of the image data recorded in the album, and synthesizes the route data R on the sub-image display screen 33 to obtain the composite image data. It is created (see FIG. 4).

  The composite image changing unit 309 performs a process of arbitrarily changing the thumbnail image combined and displayed on the title bar 41 based on a user operation.

  The map matching means 301, image storage processing means 302, path storage processing means 303, storage processing means 304, title setting means 305, thumbnail image composition means 306, map name display means 307, sub-image composition display means 308, and The composite image changing unit 309 is assumed to be software (program) developed on the semiconductor memory RAM, but a part or all of it may be configured by hardware such as logic.

[Electronic album creation procedure]
Next, an electronic album creation procedure using the electronic album system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, a procedure for creating a navigation album which is an example of an electronic album will be described.

  Here, when the electronic album is opened, the navigation album displays the travel route data that the user has traveled with the vehicle on the day of travel on the screen as it is, and the cursor (vehicle) that indicates the current location on the screen as in normal car navigation When the symbol) moves along the travel route at the time of travel and arrives at a sightseeing point visited by the user, digital image data taken at that location is displayed as a slide show.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of associating a snap photo or the like taken with the digital camera Cam during the travel period with the sightseeing spot information where the photo was taken. As shown in FIG. 2, in step S101, image data stored in a storage medium such as the semiconductor medium Ms or the disk-shaped medium Md is transferred to the hard disk via the input / output terminal 206, the semiconductor drive 208, or the disk drive 209. Input to HD.

  In the present embodiment, the image data is read only from the storage medium used by the user for shooting. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, other members who traveled together may take a picture. The image data may also be read from the storage medium that has been used and additionally input to the hard disk HD. Of course, the image data may be input to the hard disk HD only from the storage media of other members.

  In step S102, image data to be recorded in the album is specified from the plurality of image data input to the hard disk HD. Specifically, image data that does not need to be recorded in the album is selected and deleted, or only image data that needs to be recorded in the album is selected and specified.

  In step S103, map data and route data R when the user moves during the travel period are read from the hard disk HD and specified based on the position information acquired from the navigation device.

  Next, in step S104, one of the plurality of image data acquired via the semiconductor drive 208 or the like is displayed on the image acquisition screen 27 shown in FIG. In step S105, candidates for titles (map names) of sightseeing spot information recorded on the hard disk HD are displayed in a list below the image acquisition screen 27. In FIG. 3, “USJ” and “Kaiyukan” are displayed as an example.

  The sightseeing spot title specifies the shooting date and time from the Exif information added to the image data displayed on the image acquisition screen 27, and the location information of the vehicle stopped at the shooting date and time is stored in the route storage processing unit 303. By reading out from the stored route data R, candidates for the nearest sightseeing spot title at the position are displayed as a list. Then, by operating the scroll cursor 26, all the tourist destination title candidates can be confirmed.

  In step S106, it is determined whether the image data displayed on the image acquisition screen 27 needs to be associated with the tourist destination title. If the determination in step S106 is “YES”, the process branches to step S107, and “registration” is performed with the title of the tourist destination where the image data displayed on the image acquisition screen 27 is selected in step S107. "Button 29 is operated. As a result, the association between the image data displayed on the image acquisition screen 27 and the sightseeing spot title of the shooting location ends, and the process proceeds to step S108.

  If the determination in step S106 is “NO” (because the photo is not good or there are many photos with similar angles, etc.), the “Cancel” button 30 is operated to display the title of the tourist destination. The process branches to step S108 without associating the image data with.

  In step S108, it is determined whether the next image data exists. If the determination in step S108 is "YES", the process branches to step S104, and the next image data is displayed on the image acquisition screen 27. . If the determination in step S108 is “NO”, the process of associating the image data with the tourist destination title is terminated.

  In the present embodiment, the tourist destination title on the route data R and the captured image data are associated with each other by the user's operation, but the present invention is not limited to this form. For example, if image data photographed using a GPS function camera or a GPS function and a camera function mobile phone is input to the navigation album system, the Exif information of the image data includes the photographing location in addition to the photographing date and time. Since the location information is recorded, it is possible to automatically associate the tourist destination title of the route data R with the image data, which is advantageous in improving the workability of the user.

  Next, the image editing screen 31 shown in FIG. On the image editing screen 31, the image data associated with the tourist destination title is displayed one by one. A title frame 32 is displayed at a lower position of the image editing screen 31, and a sightseeing spot title (“USJ” in FIG. 4) associated with the image data is displayed at the left end of the title frame 32. The shooting date and time acquired from the Exif information of the image data is displayed at the right center position.

  At the right end of the title frame 32, an image associated with a sightseeing spot registered in advance for each sightseeing spot is inserted and combined, and a plurality of images are selected according to the user's preference. And can be switched.

  In addition, a sub-image display screen 33 is provided in the upper right of the screen by the sub-image composition display means 308, and the location information of the sightseeing spot is displayed as map data. The sub-image display screen 33 is displayed so as to overlap the displayed image data, and can be set to non-display when the image data is difficult to see.

[Title input process]
In the next process, the title edit menu 40 is displayed on the display 201 as shown in FIG. An album title bar 41 is previewed at the top of the title editing menu 40, and thumbnail images 42 of route data to be combined with the title bar 41 are listed at the bottom of the screen. The thumbnail image 42 includes an image 42A that displays the entire travel route traveled during the travel period, an image 42B that displays the area around the sightseeing spot that was visited during the travel period, and the captured image data. Examples include an image 42 </ b> C in which an image display screen 33 is provided and route data is combined with the sub-image display screen 33.

  In the title input operation, the tourist destination title selected earlier is input as it is, so there is no need for the user to input it. Here, if the user wants to correct the title name, he / she can input necessary characters using the key input unit 202. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the title name is corrected to “Osaka Travel”. In addition, the date and time information of the travel period is displayed together, so that it is possible to easily recall when the album is traveled.

  Then, image data that the user desires to synthesize is selected from the thumbnail images 42 and dragged and dropped onto the title bar 41 displayed as a preview. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the thumbnail image 42 </ b> A selected earlier is combined and displayed on the title bar 41. Subsequently, by dragging and dropping other thumbnail images 42 in the same manner, a plurality of thumbnail images 42 can be combined with the title bar 41 (see FIG. 8).

  Further, when it is desired to change the thumbnail image 42A synthesized with the title bar 41, the thumbnail image 42A on the title bar 41 is selected, and the thumbnail image selected in the area where the other thumbnail images 42 are displayed in a list. By dragging and dropping 42A, the combined display on the title bar 41 is canceled, and another thumbnail image 42C can be combined again (see FIG. 9).

  When the synthesis of the thumbnail image 42 desired by the user is finished, the “close” button 43 is pressed to finish the synthesis of the thumbnail image 42 to the title bar 41.

  Here, when the data capacity of the created album is relatively small, recording only one album data on a recording medium such as a DVD wastes the medium capacity. A plurality of pieces of album data for a capacity that can be recorded on a medium are created and then recorded on a recording medium.

  In this embodiment, in addition to the album data of “Osaka Travel” created earlier, “Osaka Travel” (travel to Osaka Castle in FIG. 7) or “Kyoto Travel” (FIG. 7) In that case, the album data of “travel to Kinkakuji” is also recorded on one recording medium. As for the title bar 41 of these album data, the thumbnail image 42 of the route data is synthesized by the procedure described above.

[Launch Navigation Album]
As described above, after all of the association between the image data and the sightseeing spot information and the title editing work are completed, the storage processing unit 304 executes the process of storing in the disc-shaped medium Md to create a navigation album.

  When the navigation album is set in a general home computer, a DVD player or the like, a title menu screen 50 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. The title menu screen 50 displays a list of a plurality of title bars 41 indicating the titles of album data recorded in the navigation album. Each title bar 41 has a title name indicating the contents of the album. The date and time when traveling, and the thumbnail image 42 selected from the title editing menu 40 are displayed.

  Here, when one of the title bars 41 is selected, the screen is switched to the map display screen 60 as shown in FIG. On this map display screen 60, a timeline bar 61 and a plurality of playback control buttons 62 are displayed. By operating a playback button of the playback control buttons 62 or operating the timeline bar 61, a timeline bar 61 is displayed. The state in which the vehicle symbol V moves on the route data R is displayed with a reduced time (in a simulated state).

  Then, when the vehicle symbol V departs from the departure position St and travels on the route data R and arrives at the first sightseeing spot P1, the image data registered in association with the sightseeing spot P1 is as shown in FIG. Are displayed in a preset order and at preset intervals.

  After all the image data registered in the sightseeing spot P1 has been viewed, the display is switched again to the map display screen 60, and the vehicle symbol V travels toward the next sightseeing spot P2. As described above, the image data registered in each of the sightseeing spots P1 to P3 in chronological order until the vehicle symbol V travels through all the sightseeing spots P1 to P3 and arrives at the arrival position G. I can enjoy it.

  If there is a famous tourist spot in the route data R, if the tourist spot information is registered in the album, the tourist spot information is displayed when the vehicle symbol V travels around the famous tourist spot. You may make it display.

  In the present embodiment, as a navigation device for specifying route data, a plurality of devices installed on the ground are used in the same manner as the position acquisition method using a signal from a GPS satellite or realized by a PHS mobile phone. It is conceivable that the position of the vehicle is acquired with reference to these transmission sources by receiving radio waves from these radio transmission sources.

  Further, in the present embodiment, image data in which a sightseeing spot title is displayed as route data is used as the thumbnail image 42 to be combined with the title bar 41. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is registered in advance for each sightseeing spot. You may make it combine the image which is named after the tourist spot.

  If there is only one shooting point at which the image data was shot during the travel period, a thumbnail to be combined with the title bar 41 is an image in which only the sightseeing spot title indicating the shooting point is displayed on the map. It may be used as the image 42.

  As described above, the present invention provides a highly practical effect that the user can easily recall the contents of the album simply by looking at the title display of the album. Is expensive.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation album system which concerns on this embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart figure of an association process. It is a figure which shows the menu screen which performs an association process. It is a figure which shows the image data displayed on the album. It is a figure which shows a title edit menu. It is a figure which shows the state which combined the thumbnail image with the title bar. It is a figure which shows a title menu screen. It is a figure which shows the state which synthesize | combined the several thumbnail image to the title bar. It is a figure which shows the state which synthesize | combined another thumbnail image with the title bar. It is a figure which shows a map display screen.

Explanation of symbols

100 Electronic Album System 200 Input / Output Unit 201 Display (Display Unit)
300 processing unit 306 thumbnail image composition unit 307 map name display unit 308 sub-image composition display unit 309 composite image change unit HD hard disk (recording unit)

Claims (5)

An electronic album system for creating an electronic album for displaying digital image data including data taken when a user moves along a predetermined movement path on a display means,
Recording means for recording route data of the movement route specified by the navigation device and the digital image data;
Thumbnail image synthesizing means for synthesizing a thumbnail image indicating the whole or a part of the route data recorded in the recording means with a title display portion indicating the title of the electronic album displayed on the display means. An electronic album system characterized by comprising: The electronic album system according to claim 1,
Map name display means for displaying a map name indicating the position information of the travel route on the route data;
The thumbnail image synthesizing unit is configured to synthesize a thumbnail image of the route data on which the map name is displayed by the map name display unit as image data to be synthesized in the title display unit. An electronic album system. The electronic album system according to claim 1,
A sub-image display area is provided in a part of the image data recorded in the electronic album, and further includes a sub-image combination display means for combining and displaying the thumbnail image of the path data in the sub-image display area;
The thumbnail image synthesizing unit is configured to synthesize image data in which the route data is synthesized and displayed by the sub-image synthesis display unit as image data to be synthesized in the title display unit. Electronic album system. In the electronic album system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An electronic album system, further comprising: a combined image changing unit that changes the thumbnail image combined and displayed on the title display unit by the thumbnail image combining unit to other image data based on a user operation. An electronic album for displaying digital image data including data taken when a user moves along a predetermined movement path on a display means,
The route data of the movement route specified by the navigation device and the digital image data are recorded,
An electronic album, wherein a thumbnail image of route data indicating at least all or part of the moving route is synthesized with a title display portion indicating a title of the album displayed on the display means.