JP2007081748A - Imaging apparatus and imaging method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology capable of allowing a user to easily recognize whether processing for recording a picked-up image in a storage medium at an imaging apparatus side and processing for transferring the image to an outer device are successively performed or not when transferring is performed simultaneously by photographing. <P>SOLUTION: When an imaging indication is received from the user via an operation part 108, a digital camera 100 generates an image file 300 based on image data indicating the picked-up image, records the file in the storage medium 106, and also, transfers the file to the outer device such as a PC. When both recording and transferring are successively performed, a data processing module 202 gives a transfer mark which indicates that transferring is terminated to the image file 300 stored in the storage medium 106. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an imaging method, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus and an imaging method for recording a captured image on a storage medium on the imaging apparatus side and simultaneously transferring the image to an external apparatus such as a personal computer.

  Currently, an image captured by an imaging device such as a digital camera is recorded on a storage medium such as a memory card. When transferring a captured image recorded on a memory card to an external device such as a PC (personal computer), the user connects the digital camera and the PC with a USB cable or the like, and digitally captures the captured image stored on the memory card. It was transferred from the camera to the PC.

In recent years, “simultaneous image transfer” has been proposed as one of the functions of a digital camera (see, for example, Patent Document 1). “Simultaneous image transfer” is a function of recording a captured image on a storage medium such as a memory card and simultaneously (or concurrently) transferring the captured image to an external device such as a personal computer. By using this function, not only can the captured image be recorded on the memory card, but the captured image can be immediately transferred to an external device.
JP 2000-137796 A

  The system described in Patent Document 1 describes simultaneous shooting and transfer, but it is not possible to know whether or not a captured image recorded on a memory card is transferred to a PC. If this cannot be known, there is a possibility that the image is transferred to the PC again even though it is a captured image that has already been transferred to the PC by the simultaneous shooting transfer. In this case, there is a disadvantage that many of the captured images are stored in the PC, which makes the management of the images inconvenient. In addition, when an image file with the same file name exists on the PC, there is also a drawback that the image file is overwritten.

  In addition, when performing simultaneous shooting transfer, either or both of the process of recording the captured image on the memory card and the process of transferring to the external device may fail. In particular, when a captured image is transferred to a PC wirelessly, there is a higher possibility of transfer failure than when the captured image is transferred to the PC using a USB cable or the like. If it is determined that the captured image has been transferred to the PC just because the imaged simultaneous transfer is turned on, it may be determined that the image has been transferred to the PC even if the transfer has failed. In this case, if the captured image is erased from the memory card, the transfer to the PC has failed and may be lost forever.

  Therefore, the present invention enables the user to easily recognize whether or not the process of recording the captured image on the storage medium on the imaging apparatus side and the process of transferring to the external apparatus have succeeded when performing simultaneous imaging transfer. It aims at providing the technology to do.

  In order to solve the above problems, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes, for example, a generation unit that generates an image file based on image data indicating a captured image, a storage unit that stores the image file, and the image file. Transfer means for transferring to an external device, identification data storage means for storing identification data indicating whether or not the image file has already been transferred by the transfer means, and the transfer at the time of storing by the storage means When the storage and transfer control means for controlling the storage means and the transfer means to perform transfer by the means, and when both storage and transfer by the storage transfer control means are successful, the transferred image file has been transferred. And an identification data setting means for setting data indicating this in the identification data.

  The imaging method according to the present invention includes, for example, a generation step for generating an image file based on image data indicating a captured image, a storage step for storing the image file, and a transfer for transferring the image file to an external device. An identification data storage step for storing identification data indicating whether or not the image file has been transferred in the transfer step, and transfer in the transfer step when performing storage in the storage step The storage transfer control step for controlling the storage step and the transfer step, and when the storage and transfer by the storage transfer control step are both successful, the data indicating that the transferred image file has been transferred An identification data setting step for setting the identification data.

  Other features of the present invention will become more apparent from embodiments of the invention described below.

  According to the present invention, when simultaneous shooting transfer is performed, the user can easily recognize whether or not the process of recording the captured image on the storage medium on the imaging apparatus side and the process of transferring to the external apparatus have succeeded. It becomes possible.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment]
<Configuration of Digital Camera 100>
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing main components of a digital camera 100 that is an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The imaging apparatus in the present embodiment is not limited to a digital camera, and may be an apparatus that operates as a digital camera. Devices that operate as digital cameras include digital video cameras and camera-equipped mobile phones.

  The digital camera 100 includes an imaging unit 101, an image processing unit 102, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 103, a first storage unit 104, and a second storage unit 105. The digital camera 100 also includes a storage medium 106, a display unit 107, an operation unit 108, and a communication I / F (interface) unit 109.

  The imaging unit 101 includes a lens unit, a diaphragm, an imaging device, and the like, and focuses light from the subject on the imaging device with an appropriate amount and timing, and converts the light into an analog image signal. A CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, or the like can be used as the imaging element.

  The image processing unit 102 includes an A / D converter, and converts the analog image signal received from the imaging unit 101 into a digital image signal using the A / D converter. In addition, the image processing unit 102 performs white balance processing, predetermined image compression processing, and the like on the digital image signal from the A / D converter to generate image data. JPEG and JPEG 2000 can be used for the predetermined image compression processing. The image data generated by the image processing unit 102 is stored in the first storage unit 104.

  The CPU 103 performs various calculations and control of each element constituting the digital camera 100 by executing a control program (including a control program) stored in the second storage unit 105. Further, the CPU 103 generates an image file in a predetermined format from the image data generated by the image processing unit 102, and supplies the generated image file to the storage medium 106 and / or the communication I / F unit 109. The operation of the digital camera 100 and the functions applied by the digital camera 100 are controlled according to a control program stored in the second storage unit 105.

  The first storage unit 104 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) and the like, and has a work area used by the CPU 103. The first storage unit 104 has a buffer area for storing a plurality of image data.

  The second storage unit 105 includes a flash ROM or the like, and stores a control program for controlling the digital camera 100 and various setting information.

  The storage medium 106 includes a nonvolatile memory such as an SRAM, and stores an image file including a captured image. The storage medium 106 is generally detachable from the digital camera 100, and after the image is captured, the storage medium 106 can be detached from the digital camera 100 and mounted on a PC or the like to read the image file. However, in this embodiment, the image file recorded on the storage medium 106 is transferred to an external device such as a PC (personal computer) via the communication I / F unit 109. As the storage medium 106, an SD memory card, a memory card such as a compact flash (registered trademark), a removable HDD, or the like can be used.

  The display unit 107 functions as an electronic viewfinder at the time of image capturing, or displays a menu screen or a captured image. The display unit 107 can display a mark or an icon indicating whether or not the captured image has been transferred to the PC together with the captured image stored in the storage medium 106. Whether or not the data has been transferred to the PC can be determined by the value of a transfer flag described later. The CPU 103 displays the captured image stored in the storage medium 106 on the display unit 107 for each one frame, four frames, or nine frames, and displays a mark or icon indicating whether or not each captured image has been transferred. A mark or icon indicating whether or not the data has been transferred to the PC is displayed on or near the captured image.

  The operation unit 108 includes operation members such as a release button, a menu button, and a cross key, and accepts instructions from the user to the digital camera 100. The operation unit 108 has a user interface for turning on or off the simultaneous photographing transfer mode. The operation unit 108 also has a user interface for confirming whether or not a transferred mark is added to each image file stored in the storage medium 106. The user interface included in the operation unit 108 can be configured by hardware such as a switch, or can be configured by software such as a setting screen.

  A communication I / F unit 109 transmits / receives data such as control commands and image files to / from an external device such as a PC. For the communication I / F unit 109, a wired communication interface compliant with USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE 1394, or the like can be used. As the communication I / F unit 109, a wireless communication interface compliant with IEEE802.11a / b / g or the like can be used. In the present embodiment, the captured image is transferred from the digital camera 100 to an external device using either a wired communication line or a wireless communication line.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software module provided in the digital camera 100. A control program that provides the software modules 201 to 204 in FIG. 2 is stored in the second storage unit 105.

  The imaging module 201 is a module that controls processing for generating image data of a captured image.

  The data processing module 202 is a module that controls processing for generating an image file and the like.

  The recording module 203 is a module that controls processing for recording an image file on the storage medium 106.

  The communication module 204 is a module that controls processing for transferring an image file to an external device such as a PC.

  In this embodiment, the data processing module 202 instructs the recording module 203 to record an image file, and also instructs the communication module 204 to transfer the image file, thereby realizing the simultaneous photographing transfer function.

<Image file structure>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a file structure of an image file generated by the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment and recorded on the storage medium 106.

  The image file 300 includes a header area 301 that stores incidental information related to a captured image, and an image data area 302 that stores image data corresponding to the captured image.

  The header area 301 includes imaging condition data indicating imaging conditions such as the number of pixels 303 and the compression mode 304. The header area 301 also includes a transfer flag 305 that is identification data indicating whether the image file 300 has been transmitted to an external device such as a PC. In this embodiment, the transfer flag 305 is composed of 1-bit data. When the transfer flag 305 is “1”, it indicates that the process of recording the image file 300 on the storage medium 106 is successful and the process of transferring the image file 300 to the external device is successful. When the transfer flag 305 is “0”, the image file 300 has not been transferred to the external device, the process of recording the image file 300 on the storage medium 106 has failed, or the image file 300 has not been transferred to the external device. Indicates whether the process to transfer to fails. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the initial value of the transfer flag 305 is “0”.

  The meaning when the transfer flag 305 is “1” and the meaning when it is “0” may be reversed. Further, the transfer flag 305 may be composed of a plurality of bits of data. In this case, the remaining bits of the transfer flag 305 may be used for the number of times the image file 300 is transferred to the external device. Further, the archive bit can be used as the transfer flag 305.

  The image data area 302 includes image data 307 corresponding to the captured image and thumbnail image data 306 corresponding to the thumbnail image.

  Note that each component of the image file 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 is merely an example, and may include other components (other supplementary information). Further, instead of the transfer flag in the image file, a database that associates each image file with the transfer flag may be generated, and the database may be recorded in the storage medium 106. In this case, it is not necessary to include a transfer flag in the image file.

<Imaging procedure>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of imaging processing using the digital camera 100. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the digital camera 100 is connected to a PC via the communication I / F unit 109. Note that the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 are controlled according to the control program stored in the second storage unit 105.

  In step S401, the digital camera 100 determines whether or not the release button included in the operation unit 108 has been pressed by the user. When the release button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S402.

  In step S <b> 402, the imaging module 201 performs imaging using the imaging unit 101, and generates image data using the image processing unit 102.

  In step S403, the data processing module 202 writes the image data generated in step S402 in the first storage unit 104. Next, the process returns to step S401, and the same processing is repeated.

<Procedure for simultaneous transfer processing>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of simultaneous photographing transfer processing using the digital camera 100. Note that the simultaneous photographing transfer process described in FIG. 5 is performed when the simultaneous photographing transfer mode is on. 5 is repeatedly executed for each image data until there is no image data stored in the first storage unit 104.

  In step S <b> 501, the data processing module 202 determines whether image data exists in the first storage unit 104. If unprocessed image data exists in the first storage unit 104, the process proceeds to step S502.

  In step S <b> 502, the data processing module 202 generates an image file of image data existing in the first storage unit 104. The file structure of the image file is as shown in FIG. At this time, the data processing module 202 does not attach the transferred mark to the image file. That is, the value of the transfer flag is not changed from “0” to “1”. In the present embodiment, “no transfer mark is added to the image file” means that the value of the transfer flag is not changed from “0” to “1”. “Applying a transferred mark to an image file” means changing the value of the transfer flag from “0” to “1”.

  In step S503, the data processing module 202 instructs the recording module 203 to perform processing for recording the image file generated in step S502 on the storage medium 106.

  In step S504, the data processing module 202 instructs the communication module 204 to transfer the image file generated in step S502 to an external device such as a PC.

  In step S505, the data processing module 202 determines whether notifications from the recording module 203 and the communication module 204 have been received. If notification from the recording module 203 and the communication module 204 is received, the process proceeds to step S506.

  In step S506, the data processing module 202 determines whether both recording and transfer have been successful based on notifications from the recording module 203 and the communication module 204. If both recording and transfer have succeeded, the process proceeds to step S507, and if at least one of recording and transfer has failed, the process proceeds to step S508. When at least one of recording and transfer fails, the CPU 103 may display a message indicating failure on the display unit 107. A sound indicating failure may be output.

  In step S <b> 507, the data processing module 202 attaches a transferred mark to the image file stored in the storage medium 106. That is, the value of the transfer flag of the image file stored in the storage medium 106 is changed from “0” to “1”. At this time, the CPU 103 may display a message or the like indicating that the recording and transfer are successful on the display unit 107. In addition, a sound indicating success may be output.

  In step S <b> 508, the data processing module 202 deletes the image file from the first storage unit 104. Then, the processing returns to step S501 to process the next image data, and the same processing is repeated.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing performed by the recording module 203 that has received an instruction to record an image file from the data processing module 202.

  In step S <b> 601, the recording module 203 determines whether an image file recording instruction has been received from the data processing module 202. If a recording instruction is received, the process proceeds to step S602.

  In step S <b> 602, the recording module 203 reads an image file from the first storage unit 104 and records the image file on the storage medium 106.

  In step S603, the recording module 203 determines whether the process of recording the image file on the storage medium 106 has succeeded. If successful, the process proceeds to step S604, and if unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step S605. Note that the recording module 203 may be configured to retry the process of recording the image file on the storage medium 106 before proceeding to step S605.

  In step S604, the recording module 203 notifies the data processing module 202 that the process of recording the image file on the storage medium 106 is successful. Next, the process returns to step S601 and the same processing is repeated.

  In step S605, the recording module 203 notifies the data processing module 202 that the process of recording the image file on the storage medium 106 has failed. Next, the process returns to step S601 and the same processing is repeated.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing performed by the communication module 204 that has received an image file transfer instruction from the data processing module 202.

  In step S <b> 701, the communication module 204 determines whether an image file transfer instruction has been received from the data processing module 202. If a transfer instruction has been received, the process proceeds to step S702.

  In step S702, the communication module 204 reads an image file from the first storage unit 104, and transfers the image file to an external device such as a PC. The image file transferred to the external device is stored in a storage medium (such as a hard disk device) on the external device side.

  In step S703, the communication module 204 determines whether or not the process of transferring the image file to the external device has succeeded. If successful, the process proceeds to step S704. If unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step S705. Note that the communication module 204 may be configured to retry the process of transferring the image file to the external device several times before proceeding to step S705.

  In step S704, the communication module 204 notifies the data processing module 202 that the process of transferring the image file to the external device has been successful. Next, the process returns to step S701, and the same processing is repeated.

  In step S705, the communication module 204 notifies the data processing module 202 that the process of transferring the image file to the external device has failed. Next, the process returns to step S701, and the same processing is repeated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following can be performed. In other words, when the process of recording the image file including the captured image in the storage medium 106 is successful and the process of transferring the image file to the external device is successful, the image file is transferred to the image file stored in the storage medium 106 Can be marked. Further, according to the present embodiment, it is also possible to confirm whether or not a transferred mark is added to each image file stored in the storage medium 106.

  Thereby, the user can easily recognize whether or not both recording and transfer are successful for each image file stored in the storage medium 106. In particular, when an image file is transferred to an external device wirelessly, the possibility of transfer failure is higher than when the image file is transferred to the external device by wire, which is more effective.

[Other Embodiments]
The various functions described in the above embodiments can be realized by a computer program executed by a computer (CPU, MPU, etc.) in the system or apparatus constituting the above embodiments. In this case, the computer program itself constitutes the present invention, and the storage medium itself storing the computer program also constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying such a computer program, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or the like can be used. Of course, a CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, memory card, ROM or the like can also be used.

  Further, not only the computer program but also an OS (operating system) running on the computer may be used to realize various functions described in the above-described embodiments. In this case, an example of the embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the OS or the like performs part or all of the actual processing in accordance with an instruction from the computer program.

1 is a functional block diagram illustrating main components of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the module with which the imaging device in one Embodiment of this invention is provided. It is a figure which shows an example of the file structure of the image file produced | generated with the imaging device in one Embodiment of this invention, and recorded on a storage medium. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the imaging process using the imaging device in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the imaging | photography simultaneous transfer process using the imaging device in one Embodiment of this invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing performed by the recording module 203 that has received an instruction to record an image file from the data processing module 202. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing performed by the communication module 204 that has received an instruction to transfer an image file from the data processing module 202.

Claims (7)

Generating means for generating an image file based on image data indicating a captured image;
Storage means for storing the image file;
Transfer means for transferring the image file to an external device;
Identification data storage means for storing identification data indicating whether or not the image file has been transferred by the transfer means;
A storage transfer control means for controlling the storage means and the transfer means so as to perform the transfer by the transfer means together with the storage by the storage means;
And an identification data setting unit that sets data indicating that the transferred image file has been transferred to the identification data when both the storage and transfer by the storage transfer control unit are successful. Imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification data storage unit stores the identification data in the storage unit.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising database generation means for generating a database for associating the image file with the identification data.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification data storage unit stores the identification data in the image file. A generation step of generating an image file based on image data indicating a captured image;
A storage step of storing the image file;
A transfer step of transferring the image file to an external device;
An identification data storage step for storing identification data indicating whether or not the image file has been transferred by the transfer step;
A storage transfer control step for controlling the storage step and the transfer step so as to perform the transfer by the transfer step together with the storage by the storage step;
An identification data setting step for setting, in the identification data, data indicating that the transferred image file has been transferred when both storage and transfer in the storage transfer control step are successful. Imaging method. A generation step of generating an image file based on image data indicating a captured image;
A storage step of storing the image file;
A transfer step of transferring the image file to an external device;
An identification data storage step for storing identification data indicating whether or not the image file has been transferred by the transfer step;
A storage transfer control step for controlling the storage step and the transfer step so as to perform the transfer by the transfer step together with the storage by the storage step;
An identification data setting step for causing a computer to execute an identification data setting step for setting data indicating that the transferred image file has been transferred in the identification data when both storage and transfer by the storage transfer control step are successful. program. A generation step of generating an image file based on image data indicating a captured image;
A storage step of storing the image file;
A transfer step of transferring the image file to an external device;
An identification data storage step for storing identification data indicating whether or not the image file has been transferred by the transfer step;
A storage transfer control step for controlling the storage step and the transfer step so as to perform the transfer by the transfer step together with the storage by the storage step;
An identification data setting step for causing a computer to execute an identification data setting step for setting data indicating that the transferred image file has been transferred in the identification data when both storage and transfer by the storage transfer control step are successful. A storage medium that stores programs.

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