JP2007079043A - Information display apparatus and control method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make relevance visually recognizable to a user, when a related file exists in files stored in a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: When information regarding the file stored in the recording medium is displayed on a monitor, if a predetermined file in the files stored in the recording medium is the file which is related to a moving image file or a still image file, a moving image thumbnail (a first image) 101 for indicating the moving image file or a still image thumbnail (a second image) 102 for indicating the still image file, is related to an icon 104 for indicating that the information regarding the predetermined file exists, and displayed on the monitor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information display device that displays information related to a file stored in a recording medium, and a control method therefor.

  Conventionally, there is a technique for displaying a list of files stored in a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) on a display monitor. For example, when a plurality of files are stored in a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) of a PC, the normal file is managed in units of folders within the drive and the drive. At this time, by specifying a specific drive or folder on the file management program for displaying the file list, the file management program displays a list of files stored on the designated drive or folder.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a list display using a conventional file management program.
In FIG. 4, 4 is a list display screen by a conventional file management program, and the state of FIG. 4 is a state in which the “Data” folder of the C drive is designated. On the list display screen 4 by the file management program of FIG. 4, the following five file data are displayed as the contents of the data stored in the C drive. A moving image file “FILE0001.mpeg”, a still image file “FILE0002.jpg”, a text file “FILE0001.txt”, “FILE0002.txt”, and “FILE0003.txt”.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a reduced image (hereinafter referred to as “moving image thumbnail”) of the first image of the moving image file “FILE0001.mpeg”. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 402 denotes a reduced image of the still image file “FILE0002.jpg” (hereinafter referred to as “still image thumbnail”). In addition, since the text files “FILE0001.txt”, “FILE0002.txt”, and “FILE0003.txt” are not image files, there is no reduced image. Therefore, an image (icon) 403 corresponding to the text file is displayed for each text file. In this way, when displaying a list, it is common to display individual thumbnails and icons for each file.

  As a technique for creating one or a plurality of reduced images from moving image, still image, document, or audio files and displaying them as icons on a computer monitor, the following Patent Document 1 is proposed. Yes. According to Patent Document 1, in particular, a plurality of reduced images are created from an audio file and are combined into a single reduced image so that it can be displayed as an icon.

JP-A-7-160466

  Here, “FILE0001.txt” in FIG. 4 is a file in which information on “FILE0001.mpeg” is described, and “FILE0002.txt” is a file in which information on “FILE0002.jpg” is described. To do. In such a case, it is desirable to display “FILE0001.txt” and “FILE0001.mpeg”, and “FILE0002.txt” and “FILE0002.jpg” in association with each other.

  However, in the above-described configuration of the related art, even if each file can be displayed on the list screen, it cannot be displayed with emphasis that there is a related file. Therefore, as long as the thumbnails and icons displayed in the list are viewed, the user does not know which file is related.

  Further, in the configuration of Patent Document 1 described above, a plurality of reduced images are displayed as one result, but a plurality of reduced images are newly created from the file, and then combined into one reduced image. And creating an icon. For this reason, a configuration for newly creating an icon and a labor for that are required. Furthermore, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, it is impossible to highlight the relevance of a plurality of related files that exist separately, or to combine a plurality of icons of related files into one.

  On the other hand, the capacity of recording media has been increasing recently, and the number of files stored in the recording medium has become enormous. When the number of moving image files, still image files, and files that contain information related to the moving image file or the still image file stored in the recording medium increases, the number of files when displaying a list The following points are problematic because there are many reasons. That is, when displaying a list, the load of display processing increases and the displayed screen becomes difficult to see. Therefore, it becomes more difficult for the user to identify related files and perform subsequent operations.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and when there is a related file among files stored in a recording medium, an information display device that makes the relevance visible to the user And it aims at providing the control method.

  Another object of the present invention is to display a plurality of related file icons together when displaying a plurality of files stored in a recording medium. Furthermore, when displaying a list of a plurality of files stored on a recording medium, it is a further object to reduce the processing load for display and provide a user with a screen environment that is easy to view and operate. .

  An information display device according to the present invention is an information display device for displaying information relating to a file stored in a recording medium, the display means for displaying information relating to the file, and a first file among the files. Is a file related to the second moving image file or the third still image file, the second image indicating the first image indicating the second moving image file or the third still image file. Display control means for performing first display control for associating an image with information related to the first file and displaying the image on the display means;

  The control method of the information display device of the present invention is a control method of an information display device comprising display means for displaying information relating to a file stored in a recording medium, wherein the first file is the first file among the files. If the file is related to the second moving image file or the third still image file, the first image indicating the second moving image file or the second image indicating the third still image file. And display information on the display means in association with the information related to the first file.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when there exists a related file in the file preserve | saved at the recording medium, the relevance can be visually recognized with respect to a user. Thereby, it becomes possible to improve a user's operating environment.

  According to another feature of the present invention, when a plurality of files stored in a recording medium are displayed in a list, related file icons can be displayed together. Furthermore, when displaying a list of a plurality of files stored in a recording medium, it is possible to reduce the processing load for display and provide a user with a screen environment that is easy to view and operate.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information display system including the information display device according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 5, in this information display system, an imaging device 51 such as a digital video camera and a personal computer (PC) 56 are connected or used independently. Here, the imaging device 51 includes a display monitor 52, and the PC 56 includes a monitor 55. The information display device according to the present embodiment can be applied to the imaging device 51 or the PC 56.

  The imaging device 51 and the PC 56 are connected by a wired digital interface 53 such as USB or IEEE1394, or a wireless interface such as a wireless LAN, so that data files can be transmitted and received. In addition, the image pickup apparatus 51 and the PC 56 can transmit and receive data files via a removable recording medium 54 such as a semiconductor memory card that can be used in common.

  The imaging device 51 performs a shooting operation to generate a still image file or a moving image file. In addition, the imaging device 51 can generate a setting information file describing parameters and the like related to shooting settings. The setting information file can be generated for each captured image. In this case, the setting information file is generated in association with a still image file or a moving image file corresponding to each captured image. In the imaging device 51, the moving image file, the still image file, and the setting information file generated in this way are stored in the removable recording medium 54 or transmitted to the PC 56 via the digital interface 53. Referenced during playback.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of the information display apparatus according to the present embodiment. As described above, the information display device according to the present embodiment can be applied to the imaging device 51 or the PC 56 of FIG.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 61 denotes a recording medium such as the above-described removable recording medium 54 or a built-in hard disk. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 62 denotes a DIF unit connected to the digital interface 53. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 63 denotes a CPU composed of a microcomputer or the like, which controls the control operation of the information display device in an integrated manner. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 64 denotes an internal memory used when performing various processes.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 65 denotes a reproduction processing unit that reproduces a data file based on the data file in the recording medium 61 and information input from the DIF unit 62. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 66 denotes a display interface that operates when displaying on the monitor 67. Here, the monitor 67 corresponds to the display monitor 52 or the monitor 55 shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 68 denotes an operation unit used when an input operation is performed on the information display device. Here, the operation unit 68 corresponds to a cross operation button in the case of the imaging device 51 in FIG.

  In the information display apparatus according to the present embodiment, during reproduction display, the CPU 63 executes a file management program using the memory 64 to cause the reproduction processing unit 65 to reproduce the data file and accompanying information. . Then, the display image is output to the monitor 67 via the display interface 66. Here, based on the file management program executed by the CPU 63, the reproduction processing unit 65 reproduces the data file in the recording medium 61 and the data file based on the information input from the DIF unit 62, and the reproduced image is displayed on the monitor 67. The operation when displaying is described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list display using a file management program in the information display apparatus according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a list display screen by the file management program of this embodiment, and the state of FIG. 1 is a state in which the “Data” folder of the C drive is designated. It is possible to refer to data files in different recording media by changing the drive designation destination, or to refer to data files in the recording medium possessed by an external device connected to the DIF unit 62 via the digital interface 53. . Further, by changing the folder designation destination, it becomes possible to refer to data files stored in different locations in the designated drive. For example, data of the following five files is stored in the “Data” folder of the C drive in FIG. A moving image file “FILE0001.mpeg”, a still image file “FILE0002.jpg”, a text file “FILE0001.txt”, “FILE0002.txt”, and “FILE0003.txt”.

  The text file “FILE0001.txt” is a file in which information on the moving image file “FILE0001.mpeg” is described. The text file “FILE0002.txt” is a file in which information about the still image file “FILE0002.jpg” is described.

  Here, for example, the relationship between the text file “FILE0001.txt” and the moving image file “FILE0001.mpeg” corresponds to the relationship between the setting information file and the moving image file described above. Similarly, the relationship between the text file “FILE0002.txt” and the still image file “FILE0002.jpg” corresponds to the relationship between the setting information file and the still image file described above.

  On the list display screen 1 by the file management program, a moving image thumbnail 101 which is an image obtained by reducing the first image of the moving image file “FILE0001.mpeg”, and a still image which is an image obtained by reducing the image of the still image file “FILE0002.jpg”. An image (icon) 103 corresponding to the image thumbnail 102 and the text file “FILE0003.txt” is displayed.

  In the case of the conventional method, as shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the text file “FILE0001.txt” and the text file “FILE0002.txt” are associated with each other because there is an associated image file. Is not displayed in the same form as the text file “FILE0003.txt” that has no image file to be processed.

  Specifically, the text file “FILE0001.txt” and the text file “FILE0002.txt” are files in which information about the moving image file “FILE0001.mpeg” and the still image file “FILE0002.jpg” is described, respectively. Therefore, an icon 104 indicating that a related information file exists is displayed on the thumbnails 101 and 102 in each image file.

  In order to determine the relationship between each text file and image file, for example, a file with the same file name excluding the extension is associated, the associated image file name is described in the text file, Either a method of describing an information file name related to the header portion or footer portion of the file or a combined method is used.

  The text file “FILE0003.txt” does not have an associated image file in the “Data” folder of the C drive, so the image 103 corresponding to the text file is displayed. Since this text file is a file of the same format as the text files “FILE0001.txt” and “FILE0002.txt”, an icon 104 indicating that there is an associated information file is displayed over the image 103. .

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, when a moving image file or a still image file having no related information file exists in the “Data” folder of the C drive, only a moving image thumbnail or a still image thumbnail is displayed. However, the icon 104 is not superimposed and displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the image thumbnail and the icon 104 are displayed in an overlapping manner has been described. However, the method of overlapping can be easily performed by displaying the target image thumbnail and then overlapping the bitmap data of the icon 104. realizable. In the present embodiment, the icons 104 are displayed so as to overlap each image thumbnail. However, the icons 104 may be displayed so as to be displayed side by side or next to the image thumbnail. In this embodiment, an icon is used, but it is also possible to use a symbol or a character indicating that there is a related file.

  Next, an operation for each displayed thumbnail will be described with reference to FIGS. First, an operation for a moving image thumbnail will be described with reference to FIG. 2 that have the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are the same as those in the description of FIG.

  When the user operates the operation unit 68 to move the mouse cursor onto the moving image thumbnail 101 and click the right button of the mouse, for example, the file management program 1 displays a menu. 201 in FIG. 2 is an example of a menu displayed at that time.

  In the present embodiment, the text file stores setting information at the time of shooting a moving image or a still image (camera setting, shooting date and time, shooting location, etc.). Although displayed, other menu contents may be used.

  As already described, since the associated text file “FILE0001.txt” exists in the moving image file “FILE0001.mpeg”, the file management program 1 displays the menu 201. When the user further clicks the “display photographing information” item on the menu 201 with the left button of the mouse, the file management program 1 displays the contents of the text file “FILE0001.txt”.

  Even when the right button of the mouse is clicked on the still image thumbnail 102, the user can confirm the contents of the text file “FILE0002.txt” by the same operation. Here, for example, when a moving image file or a still image file having no associated text file is right-clicked, the menu may be displayed without displaying the menu or clicking the item.

  Next, an operation for an image corresponding to a text file will be described with reference to FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are the same as those in the description of FIG.

  When the user operates the operation unit 68, for example, the mouse cursor is moved onto the image 103 corresponding to the text file and the right button of the mouse is clicked, the file management program 1 displays a menu. 301 in FIG. 3 is an example of a menu displayed at that time.

  The text file “FILE0003.txt” has no associated image file in the same folder, but stores information such as camera settings. The format of the stored data is the same as the text file “FILE0001.txt” and the text file “FILE0002.txt”. Therefore, the contents of the menu 301 are the same as the menu 201 in FIG. Specifically, similarly to the operation on the menu 201 in FIG. 2, when the user further clicks the “display shooting information” item of the menu 301 with the left button of the mouse, the file management program 1 reads the text file “FILE0003. The contents of txt "are displayed.

Next, a method for controlling the information display apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method for controlling the information display apparatus according to the present embodiment.
First, in step S71, the CPU 63 detects a file stored in the recording medium 61.

  Subsequently, in step S72, the CPU 63 determines whether there is an image file among the files detected in step S71. The image file in step S72 corresponds to the above-described moving image file “FILE0001.mpeg” and still image file “FILE0002.jpg”. If it is determined in step S72 that there is an image file, the process proceeds to step S73. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S72 that there is no image file, the process proceeds to step S76.

  In step S73, the CPU 63 determines whether there is an image file related to the first file (in this embodiment, a text file).

  If it is determined in step S73 that there is an image file related to the first file, then in step S74, the CPU 63 monitors the image indicating the image file and the information related to the first file in association with each other. First display control to be displayed at 67 is performed. Thereafter, the process ends.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the first display control in step S73 indicates the moving image file because the text file “FILE0001.txt” is a file in which information on the moving image file “FILE0001.mpeg” is described. A moving image thumbnail (first image) 101 and an icon 104 indicating that information related to the text file exists are displayed on the monitor 67 in association with each other. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the text file “FILE0002.txt” is a file in which information related to the still image file “FILE0002.jpg” is described. Therefore, a still image thumbnail (second image) indicating the still image file is displayed. ) 102 and an icon 104 indicating that information related to the text file exists is displayed on the monitor 67 in association with each other.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S73 that there is no image file related to the first file, in step S75, the CPU 63 monitors the moving image thumbnail (first image) 101 for the moving image file. The third display control for displaying the still image thumbnail (second image) 102 on the monitor 67 is performed on the still image file. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S76.

  In step S76, the CPU 63 determines whether or not there is a file related to the first file (in this embodiment, a text file) among the files detected in step S71.

  If it is determined in step S76 that there is no file related to the first file, then in step S77, the CPU 63 monitors the third image 67 indicating that the first file is a specific information file. Second display control to be displayed on the screen is performed. In the example shown in FIG. 1, an image (icon) 103 is displayed as the third image.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S76 that there is no file related to the first file, then in step S78, the CPU 63 displays information related to the file related to the third image indicating the first file. Are controlled to be displayed on the monitor 67. Thereafter, the process ends.

  In the present embodiment, the moving image thumbnail 101 has been described as a reduced image of the first image of the moving image file. However, an image obtained by reducing the representative image using an arbitrary image in the moving image specified by the user as a representative image, The first image itself of the moving image file, the representative image itself, a reproduced image of the moving image file, or a reduced image of the reproduced image may be used.

  The still image thumbnail 102 has been described as a reduced image of the still image file, but the still image file itself may be used.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when there is a file related to the image file stored in the recording medium 61, the relevance is displayed by displaying an icon or the like on the thumbnail of the image file. Can be made visible to the user. Thereby, it becomes possible to improve a user's operating environment. Furthermore, the number of images displayed on the list display screen 1 can be reduced. Further, since the association between the files is explicitly indicated by the program, it becomes easy to refer to the information related to the file stored in the recording medium 61. Further, even if a file associated with an image file and a file not associated with each other are mixed, a unified user interface can be provided.

  Each unit of FIG. 6 constituting the information display apparatus according to the present embodiment described above and each step of FIG. 7 showing the control method of the information display apparatus operate a program stored in a RAM or ROM of a computer. Can be realized. This program and a computer-readable storage medium storing the program are included in the present invention.

  Specifically, the program is recorded in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, or provided to a computer via various transmission media. As a storage medium for recording the program, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, a nonvolatile memory card, and the like can be used in addition to the CD-ROM. On the other hand, as the transmission medium of the program, a communication medium (wired line such as an optical fiber, etc.) in a computer network (LAN, WAN such as the Internet, wireless communication network, etc.) system for propagating and supplying program information as a carrier wave A wireless line or the like.

  Moreover, not only the function of the information display apparatus according to the present embodiment is realized by executing a program supplied by the computer, but also an OS (operating system) or other application in which the program is running on the computer. When the functions of the information display apparatus according to this embodiment are realized in cooperation with software, etc., or all or part of the processing of the supplied program is performed by a function expansion board or function expansion unit of a computer. Such a program is also included in the present invention when the functions of the information display apparatus according to the embodiment are realized.

It is a figure which shows the example of the list display using a file management program in the information display apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. In the information display device according to the present embodiment, it is a diagram showing an operation on a moving image file in the file management program. It is the figure which showed operation with respect to the text file in a file management program in the information display apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the list display using the conventional file management program. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information display system including an information display device according to an embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the information display apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control method of the information display apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 File management program 51 Imaging device 52 Display monitor 53 Digital interface 54 Detachable recording medium 55 Monitor 56 Personal computer (PC)
61 Recording medium 62 DIF unit 63 CPU
64 Internal memory 65 Playback processing unit 66 Display interface 67 Monitor 68 Operation unit 101 Movie thumbnail 102 Still image thumbnail 103 Image (icon) corresponding to text file
104 Icon indicating that there is a related information file

Claims (23)

An information display device for displaying information related to a file stored in a recording medium,
Display means for displaying information relating to the file;
Of the files, if the first file is a file related to the second moving image file or the third still image file, the first image indicating the second moving image file or the third image Display control means for performing first display control for associating the second image indicating the still image file with the information related to the first file and displaying the information on the display means. apparatus.   The display control means displays, when the file related to the first file does not exist in the recording medium, a third image indicating that the first file is a specific information file. 2. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein second display control to be displayed is performed.   The display control means displays the first image or the second image when the first file related to the second moving image file or the third still image file does not exist. 3. The information display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein third display control for displaying on the means is performed. The information relating to the first file displayed on the display means in the first display control is an icon,
The display control means displays the icon on the display means by superimposing the icon on the first image or the second image, or arranging the icon on the first image or the second image. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the information display device is a display device. The information relating to the first file displayed on the display means in the first display control is a symbol,
The display control unit displays the symbol on the display unit by superimposing the symbol on the first image or the second image, or arranging the symbol on the first image or the second image. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the information display device is a display device. The information related to the first file displayed on the display means in the first display control is a character,
The display control unit displays the character on the display unit by superimposing the character on the first image or the second image, or arranging the character on the first image or the second image. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the information display device is a display device.   The second operation on the first file can be performed by the first operation on the first image or the second image displayed on the display means by the first display control. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein   When the second display control is performed, the display control unit superimposes information related to the first file on the third image, or displays information related to the first file in the third file. The information display device according to claim 2, wherein the information display device displays the images side by side on an image.   3. The second operation for the first file can be performed by a first operation for the third image displayed on the display means by the second display control. The information display device described in 1.   4. The operation according to claim 3, wherein the first image or the second image displayed on the display unit by the third display control cannot be operated. 5. Information display device.   The information display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first image is a head image of the second moving image file.   The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the first image is a reduced image in a head image of the second moving image file.   The information display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first image is a representative image of the second moving image file.   The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the first image is a reduced image in a representative image of the second moving image file.   The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the first image is a reproduced image of the second moving image file.   The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the first image is a reduced image in a reproduced image of the second moving image file.   The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the second image is a reduced image of the third still image file.   The display control means, based on a detection result whether the file name of the first file matches the file name of the second moving image file or the third still image file, The information display device according to claim 2, wherein one display control or the second display control is selected.   The display control means selects the first display control or the second display control based on a detection result of an associated image file name described in the first file. The information display device according to claim 2.   The display control means may perform the first display control or the second display based on the detection result of the associated file name described in the second moving image file and the third still image file. The information display device according to claim 2, wherein display control is selected. A control method for an information display device comprising display means for displaying information relating to a file stored in a recording medium,
Of the files, if the first file is a file related to the second moving image file or the third still image file, the first image indicating the second moving image file or the third image A control method for an information display device, comprising: performing a first display control for displaying a second image indicating a still image file and information related to the first file in association with each other.   When a file related to the first file does not exist in the recording medium, a second image indicating that the first file is a specific information file is displayed on the display means. The method for controlling an information display device according to claim 21, wherein display control is performed.   When the first file related to the second moving image file or the third still image file does not exist, the third image is displayed on the display unit. 23. The method for controlling an information display device according to claim 21, wherein display control is performed.

Images