JP2006345492A - Album creating apparatus, album creating method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an album which is properly laid out based on an imaging position and an imaging time. <P>SOLUTION: This album creating apparatus is provided with an image storage for storing a plurality of images; imaging position storage for storing each of imaging positions in association with each of the images stored in the image storage section; position importance calculator for calculating the importance of the imaging position in each of the images stored in the image storage, on the basis of the imaging position of each of the images stored in the imaging position storage; image classifier for classifying the images stored in the image storage on the basis of the imaging positions, if the importance of the imaging position calculated by the position importance calculator is higher than a previously decided reference value; layout determining section for laying out the images classified by the image classifier into each of layout regions in an album; and positional information inserting section for inserting the position information indicating the imaging positions of the laid-out images on a layout region where the layout deciding section has laid out the images. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an album creating apparatus, an album creating method, and a program. In particular, the present invention relates to an album creating apparatus and album creating method for creating an album, and a program for the album creating apparatus.

Based on the tag information such as location information and shooting time information attached to the image data taken at the travel destination, a map of the travel destination is arranged at the center of the screen, and the image arranged on the map and on the map A technique for creating an album that is laid out so that the relationship between a map and an image can be understood by connecting the image capturing positions with a line (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-126731

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, when the photographer wants to create, for example, a child growth album, an album having an appropriate layout cannot be created. For an album that records the growth of a child, for example, images are divided into pages in the order of the date and time of image capture, and it is desirable that the viewer can feel the growth of the child each time the page is turned. On the other hand, for example, in a travel album created from images taken in a cross-country trip in Europe, it is desirable that the images are paged for each location where the images are taken, for example, by pages for each country. Furthermore, by putting the national flag of each country on each page divided by country, it is possible to make the album more satisfying for the viewer. However, the creator of the album decides whether to divide the images into pages in order of date or time, or to divide the pages for each imaging location based on the contents of the images, and each country or the like where the paged images are captured. There is a problem that it takes time to create an album because it is necessary to judge.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an album creating apparatus, an album creating method, and a program that can solve the above-described problems. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous specific examples of the present invention.

  The album creating apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention stores an image storage unit that stores a plurality of images and an image capturing position in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit. An imaging position storage unit and a position importance calculation unit that calculates importance levels of imaging positions in a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on imaging positions of a plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit An image classification unit that classifies a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on the imaging position when the importance of the imaging position calculated by the position importance calculation unit is higher than a predetermined reference value; A layout determination unit that lays out the images classified by the image classification unit in respective layout areas in the album. You may further provide the positional information insertion part which inserts the positional information which shows the imaging position of the laid-out image in the layout area | region which the layout determination part laid out the image.

  An imaging position distribution calculating unit that calculates the imaging position distribution of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit is further provided. The unit may calculate the importance of the imaging position in the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on the imaging position distribution calculated by the imaging position distribution calculation unit.

  The position importance calculation unit is higher when the imaging position distribution calculated by the imaging position distribution calculation unit is biased to two or more imaging positions and the distance between the biased imaging positions is larger. The importance may be calculated.

  The image classification unit classifies the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit for each page of the album based on the imaging positions stored in the imaging position storage unit, and the layout determination unit includes the image classification unit. Images classified for each page may be laid out on each page in the album, and the position information insertion unit may insert position information indicating the imaging position of the laid out image into the page on which the layout determination unit has laid out the image. .

  Based on the imaging time storage unit that stores the imaging time of the image in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit, and the imaging time of the plurality of images stored in the imaging time storage unit A time importance calculation unit that calculates the importance of the imaging time in a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit, and a time that indicates the imaging time of the image laid out in the layout area in which the layout determination unit laid out the image A time information insertion unit for inserting information, and the image classification unit stores the image storage unit when the importance of the imaging time calculated by the time importance calculation unit is higher than a predetermined reference value. The time information insertion unit indicates the imaging time of the laid out image in the layout area where the layout determining unit laid out the image. The time information may be further inserted.

  Corresponding to each of a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit, a focal length storage unit that stores a focal length when the image is captured, and a plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit An imaging target area identifying unit that identifies each imaging target area of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit based on the focal lengths of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position and the focal length storage unit; Whether or not the imaging target area of the image specified by the imaging target area specifying unit includes the position of the important subject stored in the important subject position storage unit that stores the position of the important subject registered in advance as the imaging target An important subject area determining unit for determining the image, and the position importance calculating unit displays an image determined by the important subject area determining unit to determine that the imaging target area includes the position of the important subject. If the pay unit has stored more, it may be higher importance degrees of the image pickup positions in the plurality of images by the image storage unit is storing.

  The image storage unit further includes an imaging direction storage unit that stores the imaging direction of the image in association with each of the plurality of images stored therein, and the imaging target area specifying unit is stored in the imaging direction storage unit Based on the imaging direction of the plurality of images, each imaging target area of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit may be specified.

  The image storage unit further includes an imaging time storage unit that stores the imaging time of the image in association with each of the plurality of images stored therein, and the important subject position storage unit associates the position of the important subject with the period. The important subject area determination unit is associated with a period in which the imaging target area of the image specified by the imaging target area specifying unit includes the imaging time of the image stored in the imaging time storage unit. The subject position storage unit determines whether or not it includes the position of the important subject, and the position importance degree calculation unit displays the image determined to include the position of the important subject by the important subject area determination unit. When more are stored, the importance of the imaging position in the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit may be calculated higher.

  An area dividing unit that divides the imaging range of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit into a plurality of areas based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit, and the image storage unit stores The imaging time storage unit that stores the imaging time of each image and the imaging position and imaging time storage unit of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit are stored in association with each of the plurality of images that are being stored. The second area divided by the area dividing unit at the time between the imaging times when the plurality of images taken in the first area divided by the area dividing unit based on the imaging times of the plurality of images being divided And an imaging time determination unit that determines whether or not the image storage unit stores the image captured in step (b), and the position importance calculation unit captures a plurality of images captured in the first area. Time between image capture times In this case, when the imaging time determination unit determines that the image storage unit stores the image captured in the second area, the importance of the imaging positions in the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit May be calculated lower.

  The album creating method according to the second aspect of the present invention stores an image storage stage for storing a plurality of images, and an image capturing position in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage stage. An imaging position storage stage, and a position importance calculation stage for calculating importance of imaging positions in a plurality of images stored in the image storage stage based on imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage stage And an image classification stage for classifying a plurality of images stored in the image storage stage based on the imaging position when the importance of the imaging position calculated by the position importance calculation stage is higher than a predetermined reference value; Layout determination stage for laying out the images classified in the image classification stage in respective layout areas in the album, and layout Image in the layout layout area in decision step may comprise a position information insertion step of inserting a position information indicating the image capturing position of the image laid.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for an album creating apparatus for creating an album, wherein the album creating apparatus includes an image storage unit for storing a plurality of images, and a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit. A plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit. A position importance calculation unit for calculating the importance of the imaging position in the image, and when the importance of the imaging position calculated by the position importance calculation unit is higher than a predetermined reference value, a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit An image classification unit that classifies images based on the imaging position, a layout determination unit that lays out images classified by the image classification unit in respective layout areas in the album, and a layout determination unit The layout regions layout, to function as a position information inserting section for inserting a position information indicating the image capturing position of the image laid.

  The album creating apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention stores an image capturing time in association with each of an image storage unit storing a plurality of images and a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit. An imaging time storage unit, and a time importance calculation unit that calculates importance of imaging times in a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on imaging times of a plurality of images stored in the imaging time storage unit An image classification unit that classifies a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on the imaging time when the importance of the imaging time calculated by the time importance calculation unit is higher than a predetermined reference value; The layout classification unit lays out the images classified by the image classification unit in the respective layout areas in the album, and the layout determination unit lays out the images in the layout area where the images are laid out. And a time information inserting section for inserting time information representing the imaging time of the image.

  The album creating method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention stores an image storage stage for storing a plurality of images, and an image capturing time in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage stage. An imaging time storage stage and a time importance calculation stage for calculating importance of imaging times in a plurality of images stored in the image storage stage based on imaging times of a plurality of images stored in the imaging time storage stage And an image classification stage for classifying a plurality of images stored in the image storage stage based on the imaging time when the importance of the imaging time calculated in the time importance calculation stage is higher than a predetermined reference value. And a layout determination stage for laying out the images classified in the image classification stage in respective layout areas in the album, Image in the layout layout area in layouts decision step, and a time information inserting step of inserting the time information representing the imaging time of the image laid.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for an album creating apparatus for creating an album, wherein the album creating apparatus includes an image storage unit for storing a plurality of images, and a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit. A plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on the imaging times of the plurality of images stored in the imaging time storage unit. A time importance calculation unit that calculates the importance of the imaging time in the image, and a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit when the importance of the imaging time calculated by the time importance calculation unit is higher than a predetermined reference value An image classifying unit that classifies images based on the imaging time, a layout determining unit that lays out the images classified by the image classifying unit in respective layout areas in the album, and a layout determining unit The layout regions layout image, to function as a time information inserting section for inserting time information indicating imaging time of the image laid.

  Note that the above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be the invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an album that is appropriately laid out based on an imaging position or an imaging time.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the claimed invention, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are inventions. It is not always essential to the solution.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a usage environment of an album creating system 170 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The album creation system 170 includes the imaging device 100, the album creation device 130, and the important subject position storage unit 140. When the image capturing apparatus 100 captures an image, the image capturing position is appended as tag information of the captured image and recorded. For example, the imaging apparatus 100 captures an image at the timing when the release button is pressed by the user 180. Moreover, the imaging device 100 records the latitude and longitude information of the position of the imaging device 100 acquired from the GPS satellite as the imaging position at the timing. The important subject position storage unit 140 stores an important subject position indicating the position of the important subject in advance.

  The album creating apparatus 130 receives an image from the imaging apparatus 100 via the communication line 150 such as the Internet or a wireless LAN, or a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory or a CD-ROM. Then, the album creating apparatus 130 selects and lays out images from the images received from the imaging apparatus 100, and outputs them as an album on a printer, a display, or the like.

  The album creating apparatus 130 allocates an image to each page of the album so that an image captured at a time close to each other or an image captured at a position close to each other can be contained in the page of the album. At this time, the album creating apparatus 130 allocates an image to each page so that images with close imaging positions can be contained in the same page when there is a geographical bias in the distribution of imaging positions where the images are captured, and the imaging is performed. A page title indicating the position is inserted into each page. Note that when the image capturing range of the image by the image capturing apparatus 100 includes the important subject position stored in the important subject position storage unit 140, the album creating apparatus 130 is configured so that images with close image capturing positions can be stored on the same page. May be allocated to each page. In addition, when there is a time bias in the imaging time, the album creating apparatus 130 allocates an image to each page so that images close to each other in the imaging time can be contained in the same page, and also provides a page title indicating the imaging time. Insert on each page.

  Note that the album creating apparatus 130 may be an apparatus that creates and prints an album including a plurality of images, or may be an apparatus that displays a plurality of images on the screen at the same time. For example, the album creating apparatus 130 may be a personal computer, an electronic album, an HDTV, a printer, or the like. The imaging device 100 may be a digital still camera, or may be a mobile phone with a camera, a portable information terminal such as a PDA having an imaging function, or the like. Note that the imaging apparatus 100 may transmit and store the imaging position and the imaging time to the important subject position storage unit 140 via the communication line 150. Then, the album creating apparatus 130 may calculate the distribution of imaging positions or the distribution of imaging times based on the imaging positions and imaging times stored in the important subject position storage unit 140. The important subject position storage unit 140 may store an imaging position and an imaging time when the plurality of imaging devices 100 capture an image. In this way, for example, when the user 180 creates an album using an image captured in a group trip, according to the imaging position and imaging time when a user other than the user 180 included in the group captures the image. The image captured by the user 180 can be classified into pages, and the album or the title of each page can be determined.

  According to the album creating system 170 described above, the imaging device 100 records the imaging position and imaging time, and the album creating device 130 allocates images with similar imaging positions or imaging times to the same page, so that the viewer feels uncomfortable. You can create an album without. Further, the album creating apparatus 130 inserts a title indicating the imaging position and imaging time into each page, so that the viewer can indulge in memories during imaging while viewing the album. Therefore, the user 180 can obtain the album without classifying the images or taking time and effort for the layout.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a block configuration of the album creating apparatus 130. The album creating apparatus 130 includes an image storage unit 204, an image classification unit 260, an imaging position storage unit 262, an imaging position distribution calculation unit 264, a position importance calculation unit 266, a position information insertion unit 268, a layout determination unit 270, and an imaging time storage. Unit 272, imaging time distribution calculation unit 274, time importance calculation unit 276, time information insertion unit 278, output unit 256, imaging condition storage unit 280, focal length storage unit 282, imaging direction storage unit 284, area division unit 290, And an imaging time determination unit 292. The imaging condition storage unit 280 includes a focal length storage unit 282 and an imaging direction storage unit 284. The position importance calculation unit 266 includes an imaging target area specifying unit 240 and an important subject area determination unit 250.

  The image storage unit 204 stores a plurality of images. The imaging position storage unit 262 stores the imaging position of the image in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204. The imaging position distribution calculation unit 264 calculates the imaging position distribution of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204 based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit 262.

  The position importance calculation unit 266 calculates the importance of the imaging positions in the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204 based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit 262. Specifically, the position importance calculation unit 266 calculates the importance of the imaging positions in a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204 based on the imaging position distribution calculated by the imaging position distribution calculation unit 264. . More specifically, the position importance calculation unit 266 is a case where the imaging position distribution calculated by the imaging position distribution calculation unit 264 is biased to two or more imaging positions, and the distance between the biased imaging positions. When is larger, the higher importance is calculated.

  When the importance of the imaging position calculated by the position importance calculation unit 266 is higher than a predetermined reference value, the image classification unit 260 selects a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204 based on the imaging position. Classify. Specifically, the image classification unit 260 classifies the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204 for each page of the album based on the imaging positions stored in the imaging position storage unit 262.

  The layout determining unit 270 lays out the images classified by the image classifying unit 260 in the respective layout areas in the album. Specifically, the layout determination unit 270 lays out the images classified by the image classification unit 260 for each page on each page in the album. A page is an example of a layout area, and the layout area may be one page of an album, a spread page, a plurality of pages, and a partial area within one page. When the album creating apparatus 130 outputs an album to a display device such as a display, the layout area may be a display area where images are simultaneously displayed by the display device, and is a part of the display area. May be.

  The position information insertion unit 268 inserts position information indicating the imaging position of the laid out image in the layout area where the layout determining unit 270 has laid out the image. Specifically, the position information insertion unit 268 inserts position information indicating the imaging position of the laid out image into the page on which the layout determining unit 270 has laid out the image. The position information may be, for example, characters indicating the position of the imaging region such as the country where the image was captured, or may be a design indicating the imaging region, such as a national flag or map of the imaging region.

  For this reason, when creating an album from an image group in which the distribution of imaging positions is biased, such as a travel album, the album creating apparatus 130 divides the images into pages for each imaging position, and assigns a title indicating the imaging position, etc. Can be automatically inserted into the page. For this reason, the user 180 can easily obtain an album in which desirable pages are sorted using the album creating apparatus 130.

  The imaging time storage unit 272 stores the imaging time of the image in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204. The imaging time distribution calculation unit 274 calculates the imaging time distributions of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204 based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging time storage unit 272.

  The time importance calculating unit 276 calculates the importance of the imaging time in the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204 based on the imaging time of the plurality of images stored in the imaging time storage unit 272. Specifically, the time importance calculation unit 276 calculates the importance of the imaging time in the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204 based on the imaging time distribution calculated by the imaging time distribution calculation unit 274. . More specifically, the time importance calculation unit 276 is a case where the imaging time distribution calculated by the imaging time distribution calculation unit 274 is biased to two or more imaging times, and the distance between the biased imaging times. When is larger, the higher importance is calculated.

  When the importance of the imaging time calculated by the time importance calculator 276 is higher than a predetermined reference value, the image classification unit 260 further based on the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204 based on the imaging time. Classify. The time information insertion unit 278 further inserts time information indicating the imaging time of the laid out image in the layout area where the layout determining unit 270 has laid out the image. Specifically, the time information insertion unit 278 inserts time information indicating the imaging time of the laid out image into the page on which the layout determining unit 270 has laid out the image. The time information may be characters indicating the imaging time and / or the period including the imaging time, such as year and month. In addition, the time information may be characters indicating information that changes with time, such as the age of the subject. In addition, the time information may be a design that indicates an imaging time and / or a period including the imaging time, such as a chronology.

  Note that the image classifying unit 260 sets a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204 as the imaging time when the importance of the imaging time calculated by the time importance calculating unit 276 is higher than a predetermined reference value. You may classify based on. Then, the layout determination unit 270 may lay out the images classified by the image classification unit 260 in the respective layout areas in the album. Then, the time information insertion unit 278 may insert time information indicating the imaging time of the laid out image in the layout area where the layout determining unit 270 has laid out the image.

  The focal distance storage unit 282 stores the focal distance when an image is captured in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204. The imaging target area specifying unit 240 stores the imaging position based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit 262 and the focal lengths of the plurality of images stored in the focal length storage unit 282. The imaging target area of each of the plurality of images stored in the unit 262 is specified. The important subject area determination unit 250 stores the important subject position storage unit 140 in which the imaging target area of the image specified by the imaging target area specification unit 240 stores the position of the important subject registered in advance as the imaging target. It is determined whether or not the position of the important subject is included. The position importance calculation unit 266 is an image storage unit when the image storage unit 204 stores more images determined by the important subject area determination unit 250 that the imaging target area includes the position of the important subject. The importance of the imaging position in the plurality of images stored in 204 is calculated higher.

  The imaging direction storage unit 284 stores the imaging direction of the image in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204. Then, the imaging target area specifying unit 240 further captures each imaging target area of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit 262 based on the imaging directions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging direction storage unit 284. Is identified. Therefore, the position importance calculation unit 266 can calculate the importance of an image captured from a position where an important subject as an imaging target can be captured higher.

  The important subject position storage unit 140 stores the position of the important subject in association with the period. Then, the important subject area determination unit 250 associates the important subject area with the period in which the imaging target area of the image specified by the imaging target area specifying unit 240 includes the imaging time of the image stored in the imaging time storage unit 272. It is determined whether the position of the important subject stored in the position storage unit 140 is included. The position importance calculation unit 266 stores the image storage unit 204 when the image storage unit 204 stores more images determined to include the position of the important subject by the important subject area determination unit 250. The importance of the imaging position in the plurality of images is calculated to be higher. For this reason, the position importance calculation unit 266 can determine that the image of the row of cherry trees captured in the spring when the cherry blossoms is more important than the image of the row of cherry trees captured in other seasons.

  The area dividing unit 290 divides the imaging ranges of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204 into a plurality of areas based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit 262. The imaging time determination unit 292 is divided by the area dividing unit 290 based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit 262 and the imaging times of the plurality of images stored in the imaging time storage unit 272. Whether the image storage unit 204 stores an image captured in the second area divided by the area dividing unit 290 at a time between imaging times when a plurality of images captured in the first area are captured. Judge whether or not. Then, in the position importance calculation unit 266, the image storage unit 204 stores images captured in the second area at a time between imaging times when a plurality of images captured in the first area are captured. When the image capturing time determination unit 292 determines that the image capturing time is determined, the importance of the image capturing position in the plurality of images stored in the image capturing position storage unit 262 is calculated to be lower.

  Note that the important subject position storage unit 140 may store the imaging positions of a plurality of images captured by the plurality of imaging devices 100. The imaging position storage unit 262 may acquire and store the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the important subject position storage unit 140 from the important subject position storage unit 140. Then, the position importance calculation unit 266 may calculate the importance of the imaging position based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit 262. In addition, the important subject position storage unit 140 may store imaging times of a plurality of images captured by the plurality of imaging devices 100. The imaging time storage unit 272 may acquire and store the imaging times of the plurality of images stored in the important subject position storage unit 140 from the important subject position storage unit 140. Then, the time importance calculation unit 276 may calculate the importance of the imaging time based on the imaging times of a plurality of images stored in the imaging time storage unit 272.

  According to the album creating apparatus 130 described above, an appropriately laid out album can be automatically created based on the imaging position and / or imaging time. Then, the user 180 can easily obtain, for example, a travel album in which images are divided into pages for each sightseeing spot, and a growth album in which images that record the growth of children are divided into pages by time, using the album creating apparatus 130. Can do. Further, the album creating apparatus 130 can automatically insert an appropriate page title representing each sightseeing spot and an appropriate page title representing the imaging time for each page.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of an album creation flow by the album creation apparatus 130. The imaging position distribution calculation unit 264 calculates the distribution of imaging positions based on the imaging position attached to each image as tag information (S300). Then, the position importance calculation unit 266 calculates the bias of the imaging position distribution from the distribution of the imaging positions calculated in S300, and calculates the importance of the imaging position from the bias (S302).

  Then, the image classification unit 260 determines whether the importance of the imaging position calculated in S302 is greater than the reference value α (S304). If the importance of the imaging position is larger than the reference value α in S304, the image classification unit 260 classifies the image group based on the distribution of the imaging position (S306).

  The imaging time distribution calculation unit 274 calculates the imaging time distribution based on the imaging time attached to each image as tag information (S308). Then, the time importance calculation unit 276 calculates the bias of the imaging time distribution from the imaging time distribution calculated in S308, and calculates the importance of the imaging time from the bias (S310).

  The image classification unit 260 determines whether or not the importance of the imaging time calculated in S302 is greater than the reference value β (S312). In S312, when the importance of the imaging time is greater than the reference value β, the image classification unit 260 classifies the image into a group of images based on the imaging time distribution (S314). Note that when the images are classified into image groups based on the distribution of the imaging positions in S306, the image classification unit 260 selects the image group classified based on the distribution of the imaging positions based on the distribution of the imaging times. And further classify.

  Then, the layout determination unit 270 allocates the image group classified by the image classification unit 260 to each page, and lays out the images of the image group allocated to each page on each page (S316). Then, the position information insertion unit 268 inserts the position information into each page, and the time information insertion unit 278 inserts the time information into each page (S318). Then, the output unit 256 outputs the album data (S320) and ends the process.

  If the importance of the imaging position is equal to or less than the reference value α in S304, the process proceeds to S308 without performing the process in S306. If the importance of the imaging time is equal to or less than the reference value β in S312, the user 180 is classified into an image group (S322), and the process proceeds to S316. In S322, the album creating apparatus 130 may cause the user 180 to select the classification into the image group based on the imaging position and the classification into the image group based on the imaging time. In addition, in S322, the album creating apparatus 130 may receive information indicating an image group classified by the user 180.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a determination method for determining the importance of the imaging time. The imaging time distribution calculation unit 274 calculates a value obtained by dividing the total number of images stored in the image storage unit 204 for album creation by the total number of pages of the album to be created as the number of images per page. Then, the imaging time distribution calculation unit 274 calculates, for each image, an imaging interval indicating a difference between the imaging time of the image and the imaging time of the image captured immediately before the image. Then, the imaging time distribution calculation unit 274 selects an image group composed of images captured at a time earlier than the images captured at the imaging interval in descending order of the imaging interval. Then, the imaging time distribution calculation unit 274 selects the image groups in descending order of the imaging interval so that the selected image group is substantially the same as the number of images per page, so that the number of pages of the album is increased. The image group is divided by extracting a number of image groups. Then, the imaging time distribution calculation unit 274 calculates the imaging time distribution by counting the number of images included in each of the extracted image groups.

  Then, the time importance calculation unit 276 calculates the average value of the imaging intervals in each of the divided image groups. Specifically, in each image group, the difference between the latest imaging time and the oldest imaging time among the imaging times of images included in the same image group is a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of images included in the image group. The divided value is calculated as the average value of the imaging intervals in the image group. For example, in the image group 501, the average imaging interval in the image group is Δt411 / 3. Then, the time importance calculation unit 276 calculates an average value for each image group of the imaging interval average value in each image group as the imaging interval average value in the image group.

  Further, the time importance calculation unit 276 calculates the average value of the imaging intervals between the image groups as the average value of the imaging intervals between the image groups. In the example of FIG. 4, the average imaging interval between image groups is (Δt421 + Δt422) / 2. In addition, the time importance calculation unit 276 calculates the average values t431, t432, and t433 of the imaging time in each image group, and calculates the average value (Δt441 + Δt442) / 2 of the average value as the image group. It is good also as an imaging interval average value between.

  Then, the time importance calculation unit 276 calculates a value obtained by dividing the imaging interval average value between the image groups by the imaging interval average value in the image group as the bias of the imaging time. Then, the time importance calculation unit 276 calculates a value obtained by dividing the bias of the imaging time by a predetermined bias reference value as the importance of the imaging time. As shown in the example of FIG. 4, it is calculated that the imaging time distribution is biased as the imaging interval average value between the image groups is longer than the imaging interval average value in the image group. The importance is calculated higher.

  Then, as in the example of FIG. 4, the images of the image group 501, the image group 502, and the image group 503 captured by the image classification unit 260 based on the imaging time distribution are close to each other on the same page. It is distributed to. As described above, the album creating apparatus 130 can appropriately page the images based on the imaging time. Therefore, the album creating apparatus 130 can automatically create albums that are paged in order of imaging time, for example, when creating an album of a child's growth record.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of classification into image groups based on the imaging position. The imaging position distribution calculation unit 264 calculates a value obtained by dividing the total number of images stored in the image storage unit 204 for album creation by the total number of pages of the album to be created as the number of images per page. Then, the imaging position distribution calculating unit 264 calculates, for each image, a movement interval indicating a difference between the imaging position of the image and the imaging position of the image captured immediately before the image. Then, the imaging time distribution calculation unit 274 selects an image group including images captured at a time earlier than images captured at the movement interval in order of increasing movement interval. Then, the imaging position distribution calculation unit 264 divides and selects the image groups in descending order of the movement interval so that the selected image group is substantially the same as the number of images per page, so that the album of the album is selected. The image group of the number of pages is extracted. Then, the imaging position distribution calculation unit 264 calculates the imaging position distribution by counting the number of images included in each of the divided image groups.

  Then, the position importance calculation unit 266 calculates the average value of the movement intervals in each of the divided image groups. Then, the position importance calculation unit 266 calculates the average value of the movement intervals in each image group for each image group as the movement interval average value in the image group.

  In addition, the position importance calculation unit 266 calculates center coordinates (P551, P552, and P553) of imaging positions of a plurality of images included in the image group in each of the extracted image groups. Then, the position importance calculation unit 266 obtains the distance between the center coordinates of each image group as the movement interval between the image groups. Then, the position importance calculation unit 266 calculates the average value of the movement intervals between the image groups as the movement interval average value between the image groups. Then, the time importance calculation unit 276 calculates a value obtained by dividing the movement interval average value between the image groups by the movement interval average value in the image group as the bias of the imaging position. Then, the position importance calculation unit 266 calculates a value obtained by dividing the bias of the imaging position by a predetermined bias reference value as the importance of the imaging position. As shown in the example of FIG. 5, it is calculated that the imaging position distribution is biased as the average value of the movement intervals between the image groups is larger than the average value of the movement intervals in the image group. The importance of is calculated higher.

  Then, as in the example of FIG. 5, the images of the image group 501, the image group 502, and the image group 503 captured by the image classification unit 260 based on the imaging position distribution are close to each other on the same page. Sorted. As described above, the album creating apparatus 130 can appropriately page the images based on the imaging position. Therefore, the album creating apparatus 130 automatically creates albums that are paged in the order of image capturing positions when, for example, the user 180 creates an album of travel records using images captured while moving between tourist spots. Can be created.

  FIG. 6 shows another classification example for classifying images. In this figure, images of 4, 3, 5, 3, 3, and 4 are taken in the order of areas A, B, C, A, B, and C, respectively. Areas A, B, and C are areas classified by the area dividing unit 290. The area dividing unit 290 may determine an area where the imaging position is biased based on the imaging position calculated by the imaging position distribution calculating unit 264. For example, the area dividing unit 290 may determine a range of a plurality of areas such that a density indicating the number of images captured in the area with respect to the area of the area is equal to or higher than a predetermined density. The area dividing unit 290 may store a plurality of areas to be classified in advance in association with the positions included in the areas. Then, by assigning an image to an area including the imaging position stored in the imaging position storage unit 262, the imaging range of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit 204 may be divided into a plurality of areas.

  Then, the imaging time determination unit 292 determines whether there is an image captured in another area at a time between the imaging times of images captured in the same area. In the example of this figure, images are captured in areas B and C at a time between the capturing times of images captured in area A. In such a case, the position importance calculation unit 266 subtracts a predetermined value from the importance of the imaging position calculated from the deviation of the distribution of the imaging positions in S302 of FIG.

  Note that the imaging time determination unit 292 may determine the number of areas captured in another area or the number of images captured in another area at a time between imaging times captured in the same area. Then, the position importance calculation unit 266 may calculate the importance of the imaging position smaller when the number of areas or the number of images calculated by the imaging time determination unit 292 is larger. In addition, the imaging time determination unit 292 may calculate the randomness of the arrangement order of the areas with respect to the time axis when the areas where the images are captured are arranged in time series. Then, the position importance calculation unit 266 may calculate the importance of the imaging position smaller when the randomness calculated by the imaging time determination unit 292 is larger. In addition, the imaging time determination unit 292 may determine whether or not the specific arrangement order is repeated a predetermined number of times or more in the arrangement order of the areas when the areas are arranged in time series. Then, the position importance calculation unit 266 may subtract a predetermined value from the importance of the imaging position when the specific arrangement order is repeated a predetermined number of times or more.

  As described above, the position importance calculation unit 266 calculates the position importance low when the areas imaged by the user 180 with the imaging apparatus 100 are randomly distributed in time. Then, the image classifying unit 260 determines that the image based on the distribution of the imaging positions if the importance of the time calculated by the time importance calculating unit 276 is higher than the importance of the imaging position calculated by the imaging position distribution calculating unit 264. May be classified. In this figure, the image classification unit 260 classifies the images into image groups 511, 512, 513, and 514 based on the distribution of the imaging time as a result of calculating the importance of the imaging position smaller than the importance of the imaging time. To do.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of data stored in the important subject position storage unit 140 in a table format. The important subject position storage unit 140 stores the position where the important subject is located, the period during which the important subject is considered important, and the importance of the important subject. For example, the important subject position storage unit 140 stores the latitude and longitude indicating the representative position of the important subject as the position of the important subject. The important subject position storage unit 140 stores a period that is considered important. For example, the important subject position storage unit 140 stores the period in which the cherry blossoms bloom in association with the location of the cherry blossoms. If the important subject is important regardless of the period, the important subject position storage unit 140 may store a NULL value for the period. The important subject position storage unit 140 stores the importance of the important subject in the position and period. Note that the important subject position storage unit 140 may store the importance of each important subject in association with each of a plurality of combinations of positions and periods.

  In the drawing, the example in which the important subject position storage unit 140 stores the latitude and longitude indicating the representative point of the important subject as the position of the important subject is shown. May be stored as the position of the important subject. For example, the important subject position storage unit 140 can store a positional range in which an important subject exists by storing latitude and longitude indicating each of the points indicating the diagonal of the rectangle. Further, the important subject position storage unit 140 can store the positional range where the important subject exists by storing vector information connecting a plurality of points indicated by latitude and longitude.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of an imaging range by the imaging device 100. The imaging target area specifying unit 240 specifies the imaging target area 810 based on the imaging position stored in the imaging position storage unit 262 and the imaging conditions stored in the imaging condition storage unit 280. For example, the imaging target area specifying unit 240 specifies the imaging target area 810 at the position in the imaging direction stored in the imaging direction storage unit 284 from the imaging position 801 stored in the imaging position storage unit 262. More specifically, the imaging target area specifying unit 240 determines the distance from the imaging position 801 to the focused subject based on the aperture and focal length stored in the imaging condition storage unit 280 and the imaging position. Calculate the depth of field. The imaging target area specifying unit 240 then displays the imaging target area 810 indicated by the depth of field around the focused subject position in the imaging direction stored in the imaging condition storage unit 280 from the imaging position 801. Identify.

  Then, the important subject area determination unit 250 searches for the positions included in the specified imaging target area 810 among the positions of the important subjects stored in the important subject position storage unit 140. In this figure, the important subject area determination unit 250 determines that the important subject positions 851 and 852 stored in the important subject position storage unit 140 are included in the imaging target area 810. Then, the position importance calculation unit 266 calculates a total value of importance stored in the important subject position storage unit 140 in association with the searched position of the important subject. Then, the position importance calculation unit 266 calculates the importance total value by adding the total value of the importance over all the images, and the calculated importance total value of the imaging position in S302 of FIG. It adds to the importance of the imaging position calculated from the distribution bias. The position importance calculation unit 266 stores the important subject position storage unit 140 in association with the period including the imaging time stored in the imaging time storage unit 272 and the position included in the imaging target area 810. The position of the important subject may be searched.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of an image layout result by the album creating apparatus 130. FIG. 9 shows an example of a page 600 in which images are classified and laid out based on the distribution of imaging positions, and an example of a page 650 in which images are classified and laid out based on the distribution of imaging times. In the page 600, images 612, 614, and 616 classified into one page by the image classification unit 260 are stored. Then, the page title 620 is inserted by the position information insertion unit 268. The page 650 contains images 662, 664, and 666 classified into one page by the image classification unit 260. Then, the page title 660 is inserted by the position information insertion unit 268.

  The album creating apparatus 130 may have a plurality of templates that define the arrangement of images in the album. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the album creating apparatus 130 stores a plurality of image frames (682, 684, and 686) in which positions and sizes into which the respective images are fitted are defined as templates. The layout determining unit 270 may lay out the image by fitting the image into each image frame.

  The position information inserted by the position information insertion unit 268 may be character information such as an area name indicating an imaging position, an image of a national flag, an image of a building representing the area, a schematic map of the area, or the like. It may be an image specifying an area including the imaging position. The time information inserted by the time information insertion unit 278 may be character information such as the age indicating the imaging time, or an image specifying the imaging time, such as an image representing an event or the like. Also good. In addition, the position information insertion unit 268 inserts position information into each of a plurality of layout areas of the album (for example, a title area into which a title in each of a plurality of pages in an album or a plurality of areas in one page of an album) is inserted Alternatively, the position information may be inserted only in one layout area (for example, the album title area into which the album title is inserted). Similarly, the time information insertion unit 278 may insert time information into each of a plurality of layout areas of the album, or may insert time information into only one layout area. The position information insertion unit 268 inserts position information when the importance of the imaging position is higher than the importance of the imaging time, and the time information insertion unit 278 indicates that the importance of the imaging position is less than or equal to the importance of the imaging time. Time information may be inserted into the.

  Further, the position information insertion unit 268 may determine an imaging area including an imaging position where an image to be inserted into one layout area is captured, and may insert position information such as a term related to the imaging area. In addition, the position information insertion unit 268 may store position information related to a region including the position in association with the position. Then, the position information insertion unit 268 determines the imaging region where the image laid out by the layout determination unit 270 is captured, selects the location information stored in association with the position including the determined imaging region, and selects the selected location information. The position information thus obtained may be inserted into the layout area. In addition, the position information insertion unit 268 may store a plurality of pieces of position information related to the area including the position in association with the position.

  In addition, the time information insertion unit 278 may determine an imaging period including an imaging time when an image to be inserted into one layout area is captured, and may insert time information such as a term related to the imaging period. Further, the time information insertion unit 278 may store time information related to a time period in association with the time. Then, the time information insertion unit 278 determines an imaging period in which the image laid out by the layout determination unit 270 is captured, and selects and selects time information stored in association with the time including the determined imaging period. The time information may be inserted into the layout area. Further, the time information insertion unit 278 may store a plurality of pieces of time information related to the period including the time in association with the time.

  The position information insertion unit 268 and / or the time information insertion unit 278 may store the position information and / or time information in advance, respectively, via a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory or a CD-ROM, the communication line 150, or the like. Position information and / or time information may be received respectively.

  According to the album creating system 170 described above, images can be appropriately paged based on the imaging position and / or imaging time. Then, the album creating apparatus 130 can insert appropriate position information and / or time information into each page divided into pages. Therefore, the user 180 can easily create albums of a wide range of genres, such as travel albums and children's growth albums, using the album creation system 170.

  FIG. 10 shows an exemplary hardware configuration of the album creating apparatus 130. The album creating apparatus 130 includes a CPU peripheral unit including a CPU 1505, a RAM 1520, a graphic controller 1575, and a display device 1580 connected to each other by a host controller 1582, and a communication connected to the host controller 1582 by an input / output controller 1584. An input / output unit having an interface 1530, a hard disk drive 1540, and a CD-ROM drive 1560, and a legacy input / output unit having a ROM 1510, a flexible disk drive 1550, and an input / output chip 1570 connected to the input / output controller 1584. .

  The host controller 1582 connects the RAM 1520, the CPU 1505 that accesses the RAM 1520 at a high transfer rate, and the graphic controller 1575. The CPU 1505 operates based on programs stored in the ROM 1510 and the RAM 1520 and controls each unit. The graphic controller 1575 acquires image data generated by the CPU 1505 and the like on a frame buffer provided in the RAM 1520 and displays the image data on the display device 1580. Alternatively, the graphic controller 1575 may include a frame buffer that stores image data generated by the CPU 1505 or the like.

  The input / output controller 1584 connects the host controller 1582 to the hard disk drive 1540, the communication interface 1530, and the CD-ROM drive 1560, which are relatively high-speed input / output devices. The hard disk drive 1540 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1505. The communication interface 1530 is connected to the network communication device 1598 to transmit / receive programs or data. The CD-ROM drive 1560 reads a program or data from the CD-ROM 1595 and provides it to the hard disk drive 1540 and the communication interface 1530 via the RAM 1520.

  The input / output controller 1584 is connected to the ROM 1510, the flexible disk drive 1550, and the relatively low-speed input / output device of the input / output chip 1570. The ROM 1510 stores a boot program executed when the album creating apparatus 130 is started, a program depending on the hardware of the album creating apparatus 130, and the like. The flexible disk drive 1550 reads a program or data from the flexible disk 1590 and provides it to the hard disk drive 1540 and the communication interface 1530 via the RAM 1520. The input / output chip 1570 connects various input / output devices via a flexible disk drive 1550 and, for example, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, and the like.

  A program executed by the CPU 1505 is stored in a recording medium such as the flexible disk 1590, the CD-ROM 1595, or an IC card and provided by the user. The program stored in the recording medium may be compressed or uncompressed. The program is installed in the hard disk drive 1540 from the recording medium, read into the RAM 1520, and executed by the CPU 1505.

  The program executed by the CPU 1505 sets the album creating apparatus 130 to the image storage unit 204, the image classification unit 260, the imaging position storage unit 262, the imaging position distribution calculation unit 264, and the position importance described with reference to FIGS. Degree calculation unit 266, position information insertion unit 268, layout determination unit 270, imaging time storage unit 272, imaging time distribution calculation unit 274, time importance calculation unit 276, time information insertion unit 278, output unit 256, imaging condition storage unit 280, a focal distance storage unit 282, an imaging direction storage unit 284, an area division unit 290, and an imaging time determination unit 292. In addition, the program causes the imaging condition storage unit 280 to function as the focal length storage unit 282 and the imaging direction storage unit 284 described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the program causes the position importance degree calculation unit 266 to function as the imaging target area specifying unit 240 and the important subject area determination unit 250 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

  The program shown above may be stored in an external storage medium. As the storage medium, in addition to the flexible disk 1590 and the CD-ROM 1595, an optical recording medium such as a DVD or PD, a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MD, a tape medium, a semiconductor memory such as an IC card, or the like can be used. Further, a storage device such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet may be used as a recording medium, and the program may be provided to the album creating apparatus 130 via the network.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. Various modifications or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows an example of the utilization environment of the album creation system. It is a figure which shows an example of the block configuration of the album production apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the creation flow of the album by the album creation apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of judgment of the importance of imaging time. It is a figure which shows an example of the classification | category to the image group by an imaging position. It is a figure which shows the other classification example which classifies an image. It is a figure which shows an example of the data which the important subject position storage part 140 has stored. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an imaging range by the imaging device 100. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the layout result of the image by the album creation apparatus. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an album creating apparatus 130. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

100 imaging device 130 album creation device 140 important subject position storage unit 150 communication line 170 album creation system 180 user 204 image storage unit 240 imaging target area identification unit 250 important subject area determination unit 260 image classification unit 262 imaging position storage unit 264 imaging position Distribution calculation unit 266 Position importance calculation unit 268 Position information insertion unit 270 Layout determination unit 272 Imaging time storage unit 274 Imaging time distribution calculation unit 276 Time importance calculation unit 278 Time information insertion unit 256 Output unit 280 Imaging condition storage unit 282 Focus Distance storage unit 284 Imaging direction storage unit 290 Area division unit 292 Imaging time determination unit

Claims (15)

An image storage unit for storing a plurality of images;
An imaging position storage unit that stores an imaging position of an image in association with each of a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit;
A position importance calculation unit that calculates importance of imaging positions in a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on imaging positions of a plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit;
An image classification unit that classifies a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on the imaging position when the importance of the imaging position calculated by the position importance calculation unit is higher than a predetermined reference value; ,
An album creating apparatus comprising: a layout determining unit that lays out the images classified by the image classifying unit in respective layout areas in the album. The album creating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a position information insertion unit that inserts position information indicating an imaging position of the laid out image into a layout area where the layout determining unit lays out the image. An imaging position distribution calculating unit that calculates the imaging position distribution of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit;
The position importance calculation unit calculates the importance of imaging positions in a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on the imaging position distribution calculated by the imaging position distribution calculation unit. Album creation device. The position importance calculation unit is a case where the imaging position distribution calculated by the imaging position distribution calculation unit is biased to two or more imaging positions, and when the distance between the biased imaging positions is larger, The album creating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a higher importance is calculated. The image classification unit classifies the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit for each page of the album based on the imaging positions stored in the imaging position storage unit,
The layout determination unit lays out the images classified by the image classification unit for each page on each page in the album,
The album creating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the position information insertion unit inserts position information indicating an imaging position of the laid out image into a page on which the layout determining unit has laid out the image. An imaging time storage unit that stores the imaging time of each image in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit;
A time importance calculation unit that calculates importance of imaging times in a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on imaging times of a plurality of images stored in the imaging time storage unit;
A time information insertion unit that inserts time information indicating an imaging time of the laid out image in a layout area in which the layout determining unit lays out the image;
The image classification unit is further based on the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on the imaging time when the importance of the imaging time calculated by the time importance calculating unit is higher than a predetermined reference value. Classify
The album creating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the time information insertion unit further inserts time information indicating an imaging time of the laid out image in a layout area where the layout determining unit lays out the image. A focal length storage unit that stores a focal length when an image is captured in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit;
The plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit and the focal lengths of the plurality of images stored in the focal length storage unit. An imaging target area specifying unit for specifying each of the imaging target areas,
Whether the imaging target area of the image specified by the imaging target area specifying unit includes the position of the important subject stored in the important subject position storage unit that stores the position of the important subject registered in advance as the imaging target An important subject area determination unit for determining whether or not
When the image storage unit stores more images determined by the important subject area determination unit that the imaging target area includes the position of the important subject, the position importance calculation unit The album creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the importance of the imaging position in a plurality of stored images is calculated higher. The image storage unit further includes an imaging direction storage unit that stores the imaging direction of the image in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit,
The imaging target area specifying unit specifies the imaging target area of each of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit based on the imaging directions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging direction storage unit. The album creating apparatus according to claim 7. The image storage unit further includes an imaging time storage unit that stores the imaging time of the image in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit,
The important subject position storage unit stores the position of the important subject in association with the period,
The important subject area determination unit stores an important subject position in association with a period in which the imaging target area of the image specified by the imaging target area specifying unit includes the imaging time of the image stored in the imaging time storage unit. Determine whether it contains the position of the important subject stored in the
The position importance degree calculation unit stores the image storage unit when the image storage unit stores more images determined to include the position of the important subject by the important subject area determination unit. The album creating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the degree of importance of imaging positions in a plurality of images is calculated higher. An area dividing unit that divides the imaging ranges of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit into a plurality of areas based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit;
An imaging time storage unit that stores the imaging time of each image in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit;
Imaging within the first area divided by the area dividing unit based on the imaging positions of the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit and the imaging times of the plurality of images stored in the imaging time storage unit An imaging time for determining whether or not the image storage unit stores an image captured in the second area divided by the area dividing unit at a time between imaging times when the plurality of captured images are captured And a determination unit,
The position importance calculation unit indicates that the image storage unit stores an image captured in the second area at a time between imaging times when a plurality of images captured in the first area are captured. The album creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when determined by the imaging time determination unit, the importance of the imaging position in the plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit is calculated lower. An image storage stage for storing a plurality of images;
An imaging position storage stage that stores an imaging position of an image in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage stage,
A position importance calculation step for calculating importance of imaging positions in a plurality of images stored in the image storage stage based on imaging positions of a plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage stage;
An image classification stage for classifying a plurality of images stored in the image storage stage based on the imaging position when the importance of the imaging position calculated by the position importance calculation stage is higher than a predetermined reference value; ,
An album creation method comprising: a layout determination step of laying out the images classified in the image classification step in respective layout areas in the album. A program for an album creating apparatus for creating an album, wherein the album creating apparatus is
An image storage unit for storing a plurality of images;
An imaging position storage unit that stores an imaging position of an image in association with each of a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit,
A position importance calculation unit that calculates importance of imaging positions in a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on imaging positions of a plurality of images stored in the imaging position storage unit;
An image classification unit that classifies a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on the imaging position when the importance of the imaging position calculated by the position importance calculation unit is higher than a predetermined reference value;
A program that causes an image classified by the image classification unit to function as a layout determination unit that lays out the images in respective layout areas in the album. An image storage unit for storing a plurality of images;
An imaging time storage unit that stores the imaging time of each image in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage unit;
A time importance calculation unit that calculates importance of imaging times in a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on imaging times of a plurality of images stored in the imaging time storage unit;
An image classification unit that classifies a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on the imaging time when the importance of the imaging time calculated by the time importance calculation unit is higher than a predetermined reference value; ,
An album creating apparatus comprising: a layout determining unit that lays out the images classified by the image classifying unit in respective layout areas in the album. An image storage stage for storing a plurality of images;
An imaging time storage stage that stores the imaging time of each image in association with each of the plurality of images stored in the image storage stage;
A time importance calculation step of calculating importance of imaging times in a plurality of images stored in the image storage step based on imaging times of a plurality of images stored in the imaging time storage step;
An image classification stage for classifying a plurality of images stored in the image storage stage based on the imaging time when the importance of the imaging time calculated in the time importance calculation stage is higher than a predetermined reference value. When,
An album creation method comprising: a layout determination step of laying out the images classified in the image classification step in respective layout areas in the album. A program for an album creating apparatus for creating an album, wherein the album creating apparatus is
An image storage unit for storing a plurality of images;
An imaging time storage unit that stores an imaging time of an image in association with each of a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit,
A time importance calculation unit that calculates importance of imaging times in a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on imaging times of a plurality of images stored in the imaging time storage unit;
An image classification unit that classifies a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit based on the imaging time when the importance of the imaging time calculated by the time importance calculation unit is higher than a predetermined reference value;
A program that causes an image classified by the image classification unit to function as a layout determination unit that lays out the images in respective layout areas in the album.

Images