JP2007280473A - Image file editing method, editing system, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that sequence of image reproduction is inconsitent with the actual photographing sequence when a plurality of digital cameras are used or photographing is performed overseas with time difference from Japan. <P>SOLUTION: A permutation mode is selected, and files are sorted in the order of photographing date and time on the basis of photographing date and time information (S101 to S102). A filename having the oldest photographing date and time is extracted, it is determined whether or not there is an image file having the same fixed character string as the filename, an image file having a smaller numerical string with the same fixed character string is extracted, to be sorted in the ascending order to the earlier of the photographing date and time. (S103 to S105). It is determined whether or not there is a filename having a different fixed character string to acquire its information, an image file having the oldest photographing date and time is extracted, it is determined whether or not there is an image file having a smaller numerical string, and the image files having the smaller numerical strings are sorted in the ascending order (S106 to S110). A folder is created, the filename are replaced, and they are stored in the folder (S111 to S112). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is an image file that allows a subject to be captured with a digital camera and recorded as an image file, and that the recorded image file can be displayed on a personal computer (personal computer) or the like for versatile display. The present invention relates to an editing method, an editing system, and a storage medium storing software for the editing method.

  Image data taken with a digital camera is generally converted into a JPEG format and recorded in a storage medium or the like in an image file format. The DCF standard for ensuring compatibility of image files between digital cameras of different manufacturers and the EXIF standard for recording while ensuring compatibility of information relating to shooting such as shutter speed and shooting date / time data are defined. Therefore, regardless of the manufacturer's digital camera, compatibility between data is ensured under these standards, and the convenience of the user is ensured.

  When saving image data taken with a digital camera to a recording device such as a personal computer (computer), a folder is generally created on the computer, and the image data is copied to the created folder and the image file is saved and recorded. ing. However, in this recording method, since the date and time of creation of the recorded image data is the date and time when the digital camera was saved and recorded on the computer, the date and time of shooting with the digital camera from the recorded image file (actual shooting date and time) It is difficult to manage image files in order of shooting date.

For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-322300 discloses a time stamp of a file to be saved when reading and recording image data stored in a digital still camera so that image data can be sorted in order of shooting date and time. The technique of changing to the shooting date / time data in is described. It also describes that the file name and folder name can be set as the image data creation date, that is, the shooting date and time.
JP 2000-322300 A

  When photographing with a digital camera, the photographed image is recorded as an image file on a storage medium that is detachably attached to the digital camera or built in the digital camera. At this time, in order to maintain the compatibility of the image file, the recording format and the like are generally determined in accordance with the above-mentioned standards. In the image file, the shooting time is recorded together with the file name, and when the image is reproduced and displayed, the shooting date and time can be displayed on the screen.

  The need to display the shooting date and time together with an image has existed for a long time, and even a film camera optically records the shooting date and time on a film so that the shooting date and time can be grasped on a printed photograph.

  By the way, recently, many people have gone abroad for business, travel, etc., and when going abroad with a time difference, the shooting date and time is confused and there is a problem. For example, assuming that it was 18:30 on January 15 that you left Japan, and you arrived in San Francisco on an airplane for 8 hours, the arrival time in San Francisco would be 02:30 on January 16 in Japan time. . However, there is a 17-hour time difference between Japan and San Francisco (San Francisco is 17 hours later), so the local time will be 09:30 on January 15. That is, the local arrival time is earlier than the time of departure from Japan on the same date as the date of departure from Japan. Usually, after arriving at the local area, the life is adjusted to the local time, so the time of the wristwatch or the like is corrected to the local time when arriving at the local area or just before arriving at the local area.

  Considering the digital camera that I brought, if the time of the clock function built in the camera that determines the shooting time recorded in the image file is not corrected, all the time recorded in the shot image will be in Japan time, and the image playback All time displays are in Japan time. Therefore, for example, the time displayed on an image taken during the day at a local tourist spot may be a midnight time due to the time difference between Japan and the time and image displayed together with the image. There is no denying a sense of incongruity with the contents of Since the wristwatch is corrected to the local time locally and lives in accordance with the local time, it is desirable that the local time is also displayed as the time displayed together with the reproduced image.

  Therefore, the time of the clock function built in the digital camera may be corrected to the local time to prevent this discomfort, but in the above example, the departure time in Japan is 18:30 on January 15th. On the other hand, the local arrival time is the same date, 09:30 on January 15, which is earlier than the departure time. In this case, for example, the shooting time of the image taken at the time of departure from Japan is 18:30 on January 15, and after that, board the airplane for 8 hours, and adjust the time of the digital camera in the airplane to the local time, If an image was taken when the plane arrived in San Francisco, the image was taken on January 15th at 9:30. That is, the photographed image upon arrival in San Francisco becomes an image having a photographing time that contradicts the order of photographing, and the order of the photographing time of the recorded image does not match the order of the actual photographing date and time, resulting in confusion. .

  If a large number of images are taken and returned to Japan from overseas, then the images are captured and played back on a recording device such as a personal computer, the order of shooting and the order of shooting times do not match as described above. It is not preferable. Here, if a single digital camera is used for shooting, playback in the order of the names of the image files enables playback of images in the actual shooting order. However, when shooting is performed using a plurality of, for example, two digital cameras, even if the images are reproduced in the order of the names of the image files, the actual shooting order is not achieved. This point will be described in detail.

  The detailed method of determining the file name differs depending on the manufacturer. For example, the file name in the digital camera of company A starts with DSCP0001, and the second and subsequent image files increase in DSCP0002 and DSCP0003 by one. The digital camera of company B starts with KIMG0001, and similarly, the numbers of KIMG0002 and KIMG0003 increase.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-177646 discloses a technique for assigning consecutive file numbers to different storage media without resetting the basic information for generating a file name even if the storage media is replaced as long as the same digital camera is used for shooting. ing. This function is a technique that is very commonly used at present, and the digital camera to be used has this function and is assigned consecutive file numbers.

  For example, as a result of going on a trip abroad with one digital camera from each of Company A and Company B, and taking a picture of these two together, the image file captured with the first digital camera of Company A Assume that the file names are DSCP0114 to DSCP0120, and the file names of the image files photographed with the other digital camera of company B are KIMG0001 to KIMG0009. Assume that a total of 16 pieces of image data are taken into a personal computer, stored in one folder for centralized management, and reproduced and displayed in the order of the names of the image files. Then, since the order of reproduction and display of the image file is determined in alphabetical order and numerical order of the character string of the file name, DSCP0114, DSCP0115, DSCP0116,. , KIMG0003 and so on, followed by KIMG0009.

However, unless the digital camera is replaced after the DSCP0114-0120 image file is shot and recorded with the A company's digital camera, and the KIMG0001 to KIMG0009 are shot with the B company's digital camera, this image file name order is played back. This order does not match the actual image capturing order. Further, even if the image files are rearranged and displayed in the order of the photographing times, the actual photographing order and the photographing time due to the time difference described above are not matched, so that the actual photographing order is not achieved. Eventually, no matter how it is handled, it is impossible to set the actual shooting order in the prior art.
The present invention has been made paying attention to such a problem, and provides an editing method and system for enabling reproduction and display of image files in the order of actual shooting dates and times, and a storage medium storing software for the same. It is aimed.

  According to the image file editing method of the present invention, when an object is imaged and a file name having a character string and a numeric string is recorded as an image file and recorded on the recording means, the image file recorded on the recording means is reproduced and displayed. A method of editing a plurality of image files in which shooting time information that can be displayed together with the display image is recorded in the image file; and a plurality of the image files are arranged in the order of the shooting time information. A second step of extracting an image file having the oldest shooting date and time among the plurality of image files rearranged in the first step; a file name of the image file extracted in the second step; Search for an image file that has the same character string part as our character string part, and among the image files obtained by the search, the file name A third step of extracting an image file having a value that is smaller than the number sequence attached to the image file extracted in the second step; the image file extracted in the third step; A fourth step of performing rearrangement by arranging the reproduction display order position at a display order position earlier than the image file extracted in the first step according to the order of the size of the number indicated by the number string; A fifth step of searching for the presence or absence of an image file having a file name having a character string different from the character string of the file name of the image file extracted in step 1, and acquiring the searched file name information; A sixth step of extracting the image file having the oldest shooting date from the image files having the file name information acquired in step 5; The image file having the same character string portion as the character string portion of the file name of the searched image file is searched, and among the image files obtained by the search, the numeric string portion of the file name is the sixth step. A seventh step of extracting an image file having a value smaller than the number sequence attached to the image file with the oldest shooting date and time extracted in step; and the reproduction display order position of the image file extracted in the seventh step Are arranged in the display order position earlier than the image file extracted in the sixth step in accordance with the order of the size of the numbers indicated by the digit string, and are extracted in the third step and the fourth Compare the shooting date / time information of each image file whose display order position is rearranged in step with the shooting date / time information of each image file extracted in the seventh step, An eighth step of rearranging again in order of shooting date and time; and an image playback order that is the same as the playback display order of the image files rearranged in the eighth step when image playback is performed in the order of image file names. A ninth step of generating a new image file name and creating a new image file by replacing the image file name assigned to each image file.

In the image file editing system of the present invention, when a subject is imaged and a file name having a character string and a number string is attached as an image file and the image file is reproduced and displayed, the shooting time that can be displayed together with the display image An image reproduction display device that records and reproduces and displays a plurality of image files input from recording means in which information is recorded in the image file, and an image file that is read into the image reproduction display device and edited An image file editing system comprising software for: a first step of arranging the plurality of image files in the order of the photographing time information;
A second step of extracting an image file having the oldest shooting date and time among the plurality of image files rearranged in the first step; characters in the file name of the image file extracted in the second step; A search is made for an image file having the same character string portion as the row portion, and among the image files obtained by the search, the numeric string portion of the file name is attached to the image file extracted in the second step. A third step of extracting an image file having a smaller value than the first step; the reproduction display order position of the image file extracted in the third step according to the order of the size of the number indicated by the number string; A fourth step of rearranging the images arranged in the display order position earlier than the image file extracted in the step;
A fifth step of searching for the presence or absence of an image file having a file name having a character string different from the character string of the file name of the image file extracted in the first step, and acquiring the searched file name information; A sixth step of extracting the image file having the oldest shooting date from the image files having the file name information acquired in the fifth step; and the file name of the image file searched in the fifth step The image file having the same character string portion as the character string portion is searched, and among the image files obtained by the search, the number string portion of the file name is the oldest shooting date and time extracted in the sixth step. A seventh step of extracting an image file having a value smaller than the number sequence attached to the image file; and the image file extracted in the seventh step When the playback display order position is arranged and rearranged in the display order position earlier than the image file extracted in the sixth step in accordance with the order of the size of the number indicated by the number string, it is extracted in the third step. The shooting date / time information of each image file whose display order position is rearranged in the fourth step is compared with the shooting date / time information of each image file extracted in the seventh step, and the images are rearranged again in the oldest shooting date / time. A new image file name having the same image playback order as the playback display order of the image files rearranged in the eighth step when the image playback is performed in the order of the image file names; A ninth step of creating a new image file generated and replaced with the image file name assigned to each image file.

  Further, in the storage medium of the present invention, when the subject is imaged and a file name having a character string and a numeric string is attached as an image file and the image file is reproduced and displayed, the shooting time information that can be displayed together with the display image is displayed. Software storing a plurality of image files input from the recording means recorded and recorded in the image file and stored in software for reading and editing the image file for displaying and reproducing the image file In the medium; the software includes: a first step of arranging the plurality of image files in the order of the photographing time information; and the photographing of the plurality of image files rearranged in the first step. A second step of extracting the image file with the oldest date and time; the file name of the image file extracted in the second step; The image file having the same character string part as the character string part is searched. Among the image files obtained by the search, the numerical string part of the file name is attached to the image file extracted in the second step. A third step of extracting an image file having a value smaller than the number sequence; and the reproduction display order position of the image file extracted in the third step according to the order of the size of the number indicated by the number sequence. A fourth step of arranging and rearranging the images in the display order position earlier than the image file extracted in step 1; a character different from the character string of the file name of the image file extracted in the first step A fifth step of searching for the presence or absence of an image file having a file name having a column and acquiring the searched file name information; and the file name acquired in the fifth step A sixth step of extracting the image file having the oldest shooting date and time among image files having information; and a character string portion identical to the character string portion of the file name of the image file searched in the fifth step. The number string part of the file name is smaller than the number string attached to the image file with the oldest shooting date and time extracted in the sixth step. A seventh step of extracting an image file having a value; and a reproduction display order position of the image file extracted in the seventh step is extracted in the sixth step according to the order of the size of the number indicated by the number string. When arranging and rearranging in the display order position earlier than the image file thus obtained, the display order position is rearranged in the fourth step extracted in the third step. An eighth step of comparing the shooting date / time information of each image file and the shooting date / time information of each image file extracted in the seventh step, and rearranging them again in order of old shooting date / time; When the image reproduction is performed in order, a new image file name is generated that has the same image reproduction order as the reproduction display order of the image file rearranged in the eighth step, and the image attached to each image file And a ninth step of newly creating an image file replaced with a file name.

According to the image file editing method of the present invention, it is possible to determine and specify the shooting order based on both the file name of the shot image file and the shooting date / time information recorded as EXIF information. Since the image file is edited by replacing the image file name so that the image reproduction display can be performed in the specified order even if the image reproduction display is performed, the recording means such as a personal computer in which dedicated software is not installed is used. Can also be reproduced and displayed in the order of actual shooting date and time.
Further, since the actual shooting date and time is displayed together with the image, there is no sense of incongruity between the displayed time and the content of the image.

According to the image file editing system of the present invention, the shooting order can be determined and specified based on both the file name of the shot image file and the shooting date / time information recorded as EXIF information. Since the image file is edited by replacing the image file name so that the image reproduction display can be performed in the specified order even if the image reproduction display is performed, the recording means such as a personal computer in which dedicated software is not installed is used. Can also be reproduced and displayed in the order of actual shooting date and time.
Further, since the actual shooting date and time is displayed together with the image, there is no sense of incongruity between the displayed time and the content of the image.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, it is possible to determine and specify the shooting order based on both the file name of the shot image file and the shooting date and time information recorded as EXIF information, and display and reproduce the images in the order of the image file names. Since software that can record the edited image data by replacing the image file name is recorded so that the image can be played and displayed in the specified order even if the Even in a recording means such as a non-personal computer, reproduction and display can be performed in the order of actual photographing dates and times.
Further, since the actual shooting date and time is displayed together with the image, there is no sense of incongruity between the displayed time and the content of the image.

  In the present invention, the shooting time information is recorded in the image file, the image files are rearranged in the shooting time order, the image files with the oldest shooting date / time are extracted, the image file names are compared, and the oldest shooting date / time is rearranged. Replaced with the file name.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, FIG. 1 shows a camera system in one embodiment of the present invention, and this camera system is composed of two digital cameras, a single-lens reflex digital camera 1 and a compact digital camera 2.
Here, it is assumed that the digital camera 1 is a company A camera and the digital camera 2 is a company B camera. In other words, the file name of the image file is numbered from DSCP0001 for the digital camera 1 of company A as described above, and the number portion of the file name increases each time shooting and recording is performed, and DSCP0002, DSCP0003. And increase. Also, for the digital camera 2 of company B, the numbering starts from KIMG0001, and the number portion of the file name increases each time shooting and recording is performed, and increases to KIMG0002 and KIMG0003. As image files photographed by the digital cameras 1 and 2 and recorded and held in the memory cards 12 and 22, the digital cameras 1 and 2 have memory card slots 11 and 21 into which a storage medium can be detachably attached. Memory cards 12 and 22 as media are detachably attached to corresponding memory card slots 11 and 21.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the data structure of the image file data captured by the digital cameras 1 and 2 and recorded in the memory cards 12 and 22, and a plurality of tree structures are provided under a folder named DCIM. Image files are recorded in parallel.
As shown in FIG. 2A, there are seven image files DSCP0114 to DSCP0120 as image files captured by the digital camera 1 and recorded and held in the memory card 12. Similarly, there are nine image files KIMG0001 to KIMG0009 as shown in FIG. 2B as image files that are taken by the digital camera 2 and recorded and held in the memory card 22. That is, a total of 16 image files are distributed and recorded on the two memory cards 12 and 22 attached to the digital cameras 1 and 2 with two digital cameras.

  Here, the file name of the digital camera 1 starts with DSCP0114, and there is no DSCP0001 to 0113 having a smaller number part. This is because the image file itself has not been left in the memory card 12 because the image file has already been moved or deleted, or the memory mounted in the digital camera 1 immediately before the memory card is newly mounted. This is because image files up to DSCP0113 have already been recorded in the card. The digital cameras 1 and 2 will be described as having the function of not resetting the file name described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-177646, which is a prior art of the present invention. However, this function is not essential, and the digital cameras 1 and 2 may not have this function.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows a data structure in the image file, and the image file 50 includes a header portion 51 and an image data portion 52. Various information about image data is stored in the header portion 51, and image information itself which is one piece of image data is stored in the image data portion 52. As various types of information stored in the header section 51, data relating to shooting such as shutter speed and shooting date / time data is stored as EXIF data. In addition to this, classification code related to image data, history information of image data, ID Various information such as information and printing-related information may be stored in the header portion.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the main part of the digital camera 1. As shown in FIG. 4, a subject image obtained through the photographing lens 13 is formed on the CCD 14, and the formed subject image is photoelectrically converted and necessary imaging processing is performed in the imaging processing circuit 15. Further, it is converted into an image file of, for example, JPEG format by the recording processing circuit 16 and recorded on the memory card 12 via the interface 17. The display 19 such as an LCD reproduces and displays an image recorded on the memory card or an image already recorded on the memory card, and displays when performing camera operation or setting various functions and modes of the camera. The CCD 14, imaging processing circuit 15, recording processing circuit 16, interface 17, and LCD display 19 are centrally controlled by a central processing circuit (CPU) 18.
The CPU 18 has a clock function block 18a, and the clock function block 18a has a clock function for generating shooting date / time information of a captured image of the digital camera 1. Further, operation switches 10a to 10f are connected to the CPU 18, and various functions and modes of the digital camera 1 are set and corrected by the operation switches. The digital camera 2 has the same block configuration, and the digital cameras 1 and 2 have the same configuration unless otherwise specified.

  FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the main part of a personal computer (personal computer) 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the personal computer 4 is provided with an interface 41 for acquiring an image file. For example, a personal computer card slot or a USB connector corresponds to the interface, and may be a memory card slot. Further, the personal computer 4 has a buffer memory 42 for temporarily storing the image file acquired from the interface 41, a hard disk drive (HDD) 43 as a large-capacity recording means, a content display of image data, information notification to the user, and the like. A display 44 such as an LCD to be performed and a keyboard 45 as command input means are provided, and these are centrally controlled by a central processing circuit (CPU) 46.

FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the digital camera. In FIG. 6, the digital camera 1 is described as a single-lens reflex digital camera, but the compact digital camera 2 has the same configuration.
As shown in FIG. 6, an LCD display 19 is disposed on the back surface 1 a of the digital camera 1, and a menu key 10 a and an enter key 10 b as operation switches are disposed beside the LCD display 19. Selection keys 10c, 10d, 10e, and 10f are arranged on the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the determination key 10b. Of course, the types and arrangement of operation switches are only examples.

  Next, a procedure for correcting the display time and the specific time will be described. First, the menu key 10a is operated while the digital camera 1 is powered on. Then, the LCD display 19 switches to a menu screen (not shown), and selects the time correction mode using the selection keys 10c to 10f from the menu on the displayed menu screen. When the time adjustment mode is selected, the LCD display 19 is switched to the time adjustment screen shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, 16:34 on March 15, 2006, which is the display time currently set in the digital camera, is displayed on the LCD display 19, and 06 in the last two digits of the year is displayed as a frame. Surrounded by When the selection keys 10c and 10d are operated in this state, the numeral portion 06 is corrected to 07, 08 or 05, 04. Here, for example, when it is desired to correct the local time in San Francisco, the date and time may be set so as to return 17 hours, which is the time difference from Japan. The movement from the year part of the frame part to the month part or the date part can be performed with the selection keys 10e and 10f, and the numerical part can be corrected by operating the selection keys 10c and 10d in the same manner as the correction in the year part. Made by doing. This correction corrects the time information of the clock function that generates the time data recorded in the header portion 51 of the image file as EXIF data for generating time information that can be displayed together with the image.

  When the time adjustment is completed, the enter key 10b is operated to return to the menu screen (not shown), and when the menu key 10a is further operated, the screen returns to the initial initial screen. The initial initial screen is a through-moving image of the subject when the camera is being photographed, and the reproduced image is displayed when the camera is being reproduced.

  As described with reference to FIG. 7, the display time is usually corrected by setting the year, month, day, and hour. However, the world map is displayed on the LCD display 19 of the digital camera 1 or GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) is displayed in a plurality of regions, and the location where the user is located is selected by using the selection key to correct the time difference. You may change to local time. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which mounts GPS (global positioning system) in the digital camera 1, and selects the place where a user exists automatically using the GPS function. If the world map and GMT are displayed on the LCD display 19 or the GPS function is used, the display time can be corrected quickly and accurately.

  When the display time is corrected, the shooting date / time information recorded as EXIF data at the time of shooting becomes the corrected time. That is, since the shooting date / time information for reproducing and displaying an image uses the EXIF data, the corrected date / time is displayed on the LCD display 19 on the back of the digital camera. Even in the above-described example of an overseas trip to San Francisco, the local time is reproduced and displayed together with the captured image, so there is no sense of incongruity between the displayed time and the content of the image. Since the EXIF data is compatible with different manufacturers, it is reasonable to determine the display time based on the EXIF data.

8A shows the shooting time recorded as EXIF data of each image shot and recorded by the digital camera 1, and FIG. 8B shows the EXIF data of each image shot and recorded by the digital camera 2. Indicates the recorded shooting time.
As mentioned above, I left Japan at 18:30 on January 15th and arrived in San Francisco on an airplane for 8 hours, at 2:30 on January 16th in Japan time. There is a 17 hour time difference between and San Francisco (17 hours behind San Francisco). Therefore, the following description will be given on the assumption that the local time was taken in the situation of 9:30 on January 15. Also, the photographer shall adjust the display time of the digital camera to the local time at 1:30 on January 16th, Japan time, which is close to the local arrival in the plane, and at that time the local time will be 8:30 on January 15th. Minutes.

Next, image reproduction on a personal computer when the captured images recorded on the memory cards 12 and 22 of the two digital cameras 1 and 2 are copied to a personal computer (personal computer) 4 will be described.
The image playback function in a personal computer is usually selectable either in order of image file name or in order of creation date and time of the image file. EXIF data, which is compatible date and time information, is applied to the creation date and time of the image file. Therefore, in the case of the actual shooting in the embodiment in which shooting in Japan and shooting in overseas (San Francisco) with a time difference are mixed, it is not possible to reproduce images in the actual shooting order with a normal personal computer. Therefore, in the present invention, the reproduction display of the photographed image is operated by starting dedicated software for image reproduction, and this dedicated software (the present software) will be described.

  First, the user of this software copies or moves in advance a single folder in the personal computer for all the image data to be displayed and reproduced in the actual shooting order. Next, the folder to be displayed and displayed is selected on the display 44a. This procedure will be described below.

When the present software is activated after the personal computer 4 is activated, the display 44 displays as shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 shows a state in which several folders have been created in the past and a plurality of image files are recorded in each folder. Each folder may be classified by shooting year, for example, an image file taken in the year 2003 or an image file taken in the year 2004, or may be created for each event such as a wedding or a trip. Good. In the embodiment, it is assumed that the 16 image files DSCP0114 to 0120 and KIMG0001 to 0009 are already copied and stored in the folder titled “Travel in the United States” in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, on the display screen 44a displayed on the display 44, a plurality of operation instruction areas 44b to 44e and a display area 44f for displaying a tree structure of recorded image files are arranged. . The operation instruction area 44b is a switch for selecting a mode for reproducing and displaying captured images in the order of the image file names, 44c is a switch for selecting a mode for reproducing and displaying the captured images in order of image capturing times that can be displayed on the images, and 44d is This is a switch for selecting a mode for replaying and displaying captured images in the actual shooting order. Further, the operation instruction area 44e is arranged so that the image data is rearranged in the actual shooting order of the shot images and the rearrangement state is possible even in an environment where the present software is not used. This is a switch that selects the function that automatically replaces. By selecting one of these three switches 44b to 44d, a mode for performing playback display is determined and executed, and when the switch 44e is further operated, image file rearrangement and image file name automatic replacement are performed. Is executed.

  In the display area 44f, a tree structure in which each folder and image file is recorded is displayed, and the image file is recorded in a lower layer of each folder. A scroll bar 44g is displayed at the right end portion of the display area 44f, and a tree structure portion that cannot be displayed at a time can be scrolled and viewed.

  First, the user selects a folder to be displayed from the display area 44f. The selection operation is achieved by selecting and clicking a desired folder in the display area 44f with a mouse or a keyboard. Next, select any one of the switches (operation instruction areas) 44b to 44d to determine and execute a mode for reproduction display, or select image file rearrangement and image file name automatic change by the switch 44e. And run. Until the selection by the user is performed, playback display in order of image file name is automatically selected as a default, but the present invention is not limited to this. When any one of the switches 44b to 44d is operated, the screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed.

  FIG. 10 shows a display on a personal computer started up under dedicated software. As shown in FIG. 10, in addition to operation instruction areas 44b to 44d for selecting and specifying the same image reproduction order as described in FIG. 9, an operation instruction area (switch) for returning to FIG. 44h, a display area 44i that reproduces and displays a captured image, and display areas 44j to 44n that display reduced images of images before and after the image displayed in the display area 44i are arranged. Of the reduced images displayed in the display areas 44j to 44n, the reduced image in the central display area 44l is a reduced image of the image currently displayed in the normal size in the display area 44i, and 44k is the previous image playback order. 44j is a reduced image in the previous image reproduction order, 44m is a reduced image in the next image reproduction order after 44l, and 44n is a reduced image in the next image reproduction order.

  For example, when the switch 44b is selected in FIG. 9, image data arranged in the order of image file names is displayed in the display area 44i in FIG. 10. When the switch 44c is selected in this state, the display order is taken from the file name order. Switch in order of date.

Next, the operation when the switch 44d for displaying the actual shooting order in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10 is selected will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, a mode is selected in S001. Here, the actual shooting order mode is selected by selecting and operating the switch 44d, and the shooting is performed based on the shooting date / time information stored in the header portion 51 for all the image files recorded in the personal computer 4 in S002. Sort by date. In the embodiment, the 16 images shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B are rearranged, and as a result, the DSCP0118 having the oldest shooting date and time is the head, and the following is continued as KIMG0004 to KIMG0006. Then, DSCP0119, DSCP0120, KIMG0001, and KIMG0002 follow, and the last is KIMG0009. The image file rearranged in S002 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, the order in the shooting date / time order is an order ignoring the time difference between Japan and the United States (San Francisco) (San Francisco is 17 hours later), and the actual shooting order (actual shooting order) Is different.

  Next, in S003, the image file name with the oldest shooting date and time is searched, and DSCP0118 is extracted in the embodiment. In S004, an image file having the DSCP character string of the fixed character portion of the extracted file name DSCP0118 is searched, and only the image file having the DSCP character string is targeted, and its numeric portion 0118 is obtained. Each image file is searched and determined whether or not an image file with an earlier number part order (an image file having a smaller value in the number string) exists in an order position after the order of DSCP0118. .

  In the embodiment, image files having DSCP character strings in the order of DSCP0119, DSCP0120, and DSCP0114 to DSCP0117 are mixed in the order after DSCP0118 in the order of shooting date and time rearranged in S002. Among these, DSCP0114 to DSCP0117 are extracted as image files in order earlier than DSCP0118, and DSCP0114 to DSCP0117 are extracted. In S005, the order of DSCP0114 to 0117 is redefined to an order position (early display order position) older than DSCP0118, and rearrangement is performed. Therefore, at this time, the order of the image files is DSCP0114, DSCP0115, DSCP0116, DSCP0117, DSCP0118, and then proceeds to KIMG0004 and KIMG0005, and finally KIMG0009.

By this redefinition, the photographing order of the image file having the DSCP fixed character is specified. This is because image files having DSCP fixed characters are actually photographed in the order of the image file names, and in the order of the image file name earlier than the image file name with the oldest photographing date and time, the image file name order is the photographing date and time. This is because they match in order.
The image file rearranged in S005 is shown in FIG. If there is no corresponding image file as a result of the determination in S004, the process proceeds to S006.

Next, in S006, it is determined whether there is an image file having a fixed character different from DSCP. In the embodiment, since there is a fixed character KIMG different from DSCP, the process proceeds to S007, where information on the fixed character of KIMG attached to the image file is acquired, and image capturing of the image file having the KIMG character string is obtained. The image file with the oldest date and time is extracted in S008. Here, since KIMG0004 is the oldest, KIMG0004 is extracted, and the process proceeds to S009. If there is no image file having a character string of a different fixed character, the rearrangement in the actual shooting order is completed, and the image is displayed in S011.
In S009, only the image file having the character string of KIMG, which is a fixed character part of KIMG0004, is targeted, and the image file name order is 0004 than the number 0004 of the numerical part of the image file KIMG0004 having the oldest shooting date and time extracted in S008. It is determined for each image file whether or not an image file with an earlier order, that is, an image file with a small number string is present in an order position after the order of KIMG0004.

That is, in FIG. 13, since KIMG0001, KIMG0002, and KIMG0003 exist in the sequential positions after KIMG0004, KIMG0001, KIMG0002, and KIMG0003 are extracted in S009.
Then, in S010, the order is redefined and rearranged in the order of KIMG0004, KIMG0002, and KIMG0003 in the order of KIMG0004. However, in this case, DSCP0114 to DSCP0118 are already arranged at the sequential positions on the side older than KIMG0004. For this reason, when redefining (rearranging) KIMG0001, 0002, and 0003, the shooting date / time information of each image file is used, and the arrangement positions are determined in order from the oldest shooting date / time. FIG. 14 shows an image file at the time when the rearrangement in S010 is completed.

  When the redefinition (rearrangement) in S010 ends, the process returns to S006, and the presence or absence of a different fixed character string is searched, and S006 to S010 are repeated until it is determined that there is no different fixed character string. In the embodiment, there is no image file having a fixed character string other than the fixed character strings of DSCP and KIMG, so the process proceeds to image display, and display in the actual shooting order is executed in S011.

  Next, in the present invention, the image file names are arranged so that the image data is rearranged in the actual shooting order of the shot images and the rearrangement state is possible even in an environment where the present software is not used. It has a function of automatically replacing (renaming function). That is, when the operation instruction area 44e is selected and operated, the image file name is automatically changed so that the image data rearranged in the actual shooting order can be used even in an environment where the present software is not used. The operation when the operation instruction area 44e is selected will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the operation instruction area 44e is selected and the rename mode is selected in S101, the same operations S102 to S110 as S002 to S010 described in FIG. 11 are performed, and the image files are rearranged in the actual shooting order. When the rearrangement is completed, a new folder for storing the image file whose file name is replaced is automatically created in S111 and displayed in the display area 44g of the display 44a of the personal computer.
The image files that have been rearranged in steps S102 to S110 are newly assigned image file names so that the images can be reproduced in that order in step S112. Thus, the image file name is determined. That is, a new fixed character string and an image file name having a numeric part are generated and recorded by replacing the image file name that has been assigned to the image file. That is, the image file name recorded in the header part 51 is replaced. The replaced file name is displayed in the display area 44g.

  In S113, it is determined whether there is an image file whose file name has not been replaced. If there is an image file whose replacement has not been completed, the process returns to S112 to continue the replacement. If there is no image file for which replacement has not been completed, the process proceeds to S114 to indicate that replacement has been completed, and the process ends.

  For example, KIMG0001 is replaced with XAAA0001, KIMG0002 is replaced with XAAA0002, DSCP0114 is replaced with XAAAA0003, and the last KIMG0009 is replaced with XAAAA0016. The replaced image file is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 16, each image file whose file name has been replaced is assigned and edited with an image file name that is in the actual shooting order. Playback display with can be performed. Since any computer can display and display images in the order of image file names, images can be displayed and displayed in the order of actual shooting even on computers that do not have this software installed.

  In this manner, by selecting and operating the operation instruction area 44e, the image data is rearranged in the actual shooting order of the shot images, and automatically replaced with a unified image file name and edited. For this reason, for example, an image file whose image file name has been replaced so as to be able to reproduce an image in the actual shooting order is copied to a transportable storage medium such as a CD-R, a flash memory, a memory stick, or an FD. If it is sent, the image can be reproduced and displayed in the actual shooting order without installing the software, and the utility of the present invention is very great. Of course, the renamed image file may be sent directly to an acquaintance's personal computer via the Internet or the like.

  When generating and replacing the image file name XAAAA0001, the original file name KIMG0001 that has been assigned to the image file may be recorded in the image file, or an option defined by EXIF May be recorded in the recording area. Of course, the recording location is not limited to EXIF, and may be the header area of the image file. When you replace the image file name, record the original file name at the time of shooting, and leave the file name before replacement, you can always use that information to restore the original file name at the time of shooting and edit Can be done easily. For example, even if the need to manage image files from a completely different point of view for only image files taken with the digital camera 1 occurs after the above replacement processing, the file of the image file whose file name has already been replaced The image file can be easily rearranged by sorting in the order of the file name after returning the name to the original file name before replacement, which is useful for editing. Of course, when returning to the original file name (re-replacement), the file name XAAAA0001 that has been used as the file name immediately before that can also be recorded.

The above-described embodiments are for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. All modifications and alterations other than those described above are included in the present invention within the technical scope of the present invention. Needless to say, it is included.
For example, in the embodiment, image data taken with a digital camera is targeted. However, the present invention is not limited to a digital camera, and image data may be obtained from a device having a function equivalent to that of a digital camera. For example, a mobile phone that records data captured by a camera function in a storage medium and transmits data to a personal computer by a mail function can be used instead of a digital camera. The target image data is not limited to a still image, and may be a moving image, for example, moving image data from a digital video camera.

  Further, in the embodiment, a personal computer (personal computer) is used to collectively store and manage the image data of the digital camera to display a reproduced image. However, it is not limited to a personal computer, and an equivalent function can be used instead of a personal computer. For example, a hard disk or a storage medium such as a card reader having a memory function such as a storage medium, a digital video camera, a DVD recorder player, a television with a built-in hard disk, or the like can be used.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the shooting order can be determined and specified based on both the file name of the shot image file and the shooting date / time information recorded as EXIF information, a plurality of digital cameras of different manufacturers can be identified. In addition to shooting with a camera, even if you switch to a local time that has a time difference with Japan when traveling overseas, you can shoot with multiple digital cameras and edit it in the order of actual shooting date and time. The effect is extremely large.
Further, since the actual shooting date and time is displayed together with the image, there is no sense of incongruity between the displayed time and the content of the image.
An image file that enables image playback in the actual shooting order is generated and edited by dedicated software. Copy it to a storage medium and send it to the storage medium, or send it directly via the Internet. Even in a third-party personal computer in which no software is installed, image reproduction display in the actual shooting order can be performed.

  The present invention can be applied to a wide range of editing of image files in which image files of a digital camera or the like recorded and recorded with a file name, shooting time, etc. added to image data are collectively stored and managed by a personal computer or the like.

1 shows a camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) and (B) show the data structure of the image file data recorded on the memory card of the digital camera. The data structure in an image file is shown typically. The block diagram of the principal part of a digital camera is shown. 1 shows a block diagram of a personal computer. The rear view of a digital camera is shown. The time correction screen of the LCD display on the back of the digital camera is shown. (A) and (B) show the photographing time of each image photographed and recorded by the digital camera. The display display (initial screen) of a personal computer started up under dedicated software is shown. Fig. 4 shows another display display of a personal computer started up under dedicated software. The flowchart which arranges and displays an image file in order of imaging | photography date is shown. An image file in the middle of rearrangement in order of shooting date and time is shown. An image file in the middle of rearrangement in order of shooting date and time is shown. An image file that has been rearranged in order of shooting date and time is shown. The flowchart which rearranges an image file in an actual imaging | photography order and replaces an image file name is shown. An image file that has been rearranged in the actual shooting order and whose image file name has been replaced is shown.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2 Digital camera 1a Digital camera back 4 Personal computer (PC)
10a to 10f Operation switches 12, 22 Memory card 19 LCD display on the back of the digital camera 44 Personal computer display
44a Display screen 44b to 44d Operation instruction area 44e for selecting and specifying the playback order of images 44e Display area for replacing the file name 44h Display area for specifying return to another display screen 44j to 44n Displaying reduced images Display area 50 Image file 51 Header 52 Image data

Claims (6)

When a subject is imaged and a file name having a character string and a number string is added and recorded on the recording means as an image file, the image file recorded on the recording means can be displayed together with the display image when reproduced and displayed. A method of editing a plurality of image files in which shooting time information is recorded in the image file,
A first step of arranging the plurality of image files in the order of the photographing time information;
A second step of extracting an image file having the oldest shooting date and time among the plurality of image files rearranged in the first step;
Searching for an image file having the same character string portion as the character string portion of the file name of the image file extracted in the second step, and among the image files obtained by the search, a numerical string portion of the file name A third step of extracting an image file having a value smaller than a numerical string attached to the image file extracted in the second step;
The playback display order position of the image file extracted in the third step is arranged at a display order position earlier than the image file extracted in the first step according to the order of the size of the number indicated by the number string. A fourth step of sorting,
A fifth step of searching for the presence or absence of an image file having a file name having a character string different from the character string of the file name of the image file extracted in the first step, and acquiring the searched file name information;
A sixth step of extracting the image file having the oldest shooting date and time from among the image files having the file name information acquired in the fifth step;
Searching for an image file having the same character string portion as the character string portion of the file name of the image file searched in the fifth step, and among the image files obtained by the search, a numerical string portion of the file name A seventh step of extracting an image file having a value smaller than a numeric string attached to the image file with the oldest shooting date and time extracted in the sixth step;
The reproduction display order position of the image file extracted in the seventh step is arranged at a display order position earlier than the image file extracted in the sixth step according to the order of the size of the number indicated by the number string. When rearranging, the shooting date / time information of each image file extracted in the third step and rearranged in the display order position in the fourth step, and the shooting date / time of each image file extracted in the seventh step An eighth step of comparing the information and rearranging again from the oldest shooting date;
When image playback is performed in the order of image file names, a new image file name having the same image playback order as the playback display order of the image files rearranged in the eighth step is generated and attached to each image file. A ninth step of creating a new image file with the replaced image file name;
An image file editing method characterized by comprising:   The image file editing method according to claim 1, wherein in the ninth step, a new folder is created, and the image file whose image file name is replaced is stored in the folder. When a subject is imaged and a file name having a character string and a number string is attached as an image file and the image file is reproduced and displayed, shooting time information that can be displayed together with the display image is recorded and recorded in the image file. Image file editing comprising: an image reproduction display device that records and reproduces a plurality of image files input from the recording means made; and software that is read into the image reproduction display device and edits the image file In the system,
The software is
A first step of arranging the plurality of image files in the order of the photographing time information;
A second step of extracting an image file having the oldest shooting date and time among the plurality of image files rearranged in the first step;
Searching for an image file having the same character string portion as the character string portion of the file name of the image file extracted in the second step, and among the image files obtained by the search, a numerical string portion of the file name A third step of extracting an image file having a value smaller than a numerical string attached to the image file extracted in the second step;
The playback display order position of the image file extracted in the third step is arranged at a display order position earlier than the image file extracted in the first step according to the order of the size of the number indicated by the number string. A fourth step of sorting,
A fifth step of searching for the presence or absence of an image file having a file name having a character string different from the character string of the file name of the image file extracted in the first step, and acquiring the searched file name information;
A sixth step of extracting the image file having the oldest shooting date from the image file having the file name information acquired in the fifth step;
Searching for an image file having the same character string portion as the character string portion of the file name of the image file searched in the fifth step, and among the image files obtained by the search, a numerical string portion of the file name A seventh step of extracting an image file having a value smaller than a numeric string attached to the image file with the oldest shooting date and time extracted in the sixth step;
The reproduction display order position of the image file extracted in the seventh step is arranged at a display order position earlier than the image file extracted in the sixth step according to the order of the size of the number indicated by the number string. When rearranging, the shooting date / time information of each image file extracted in the third step and rearranged in the display order position in the fourth step, and the shooting date / time of each image file extracted in the seventh step An eighth step of comparing the information and rearranging again from the oldest shooting date;
When image playback is performed in the order of image file names, a new image file name having the same image playback order as the playback display order of the image files rearranged in the eighth step is generated and attached to each image file. A ninth step of creating a new image file with the replaced image file name;
An image file editing system comprising:   4. The image file editing system according to claim 3, wherein the software further includes a step of creating a new folder and storing the newly created image file by replacing the image file name in the folder. When a subject is imaged and a file name having a character string and a number string is attached as an image file and the image file is reproduced and displayed, shooting time information that can be displayed together with the display image is recorded and recorded in the image file. In a storage medium storing software for editing an image file read into an image reproduction display device that records and reproduces a plurality of image files input from the recording means made,
The software is
A first step of arranging the plurality of image files in the order of the photographing time information;
A second step of extracting an image file having the oldest shooting date and time among the plurality of image files rearranged in the first step;
Searching for an image file having the same character string portion as the character string portion of the file name of the image file extracted in the second step, and among the image files obtained by the search, a numerical string portion of the file name A third step of extracting an image file having a value smaller than a numerical string attached to the image file extracted in the second step;
The playback display order position of the image file extracted in the third step is arranged at a display order position earlier than the image file extracted in the first step according to the order of the size of the number indicated by the number string. A fourth step of sorting,
A fifth step of searching for the presence or absence of an image file having a file name having a character string different from the character string of the file name of the image file extracted in the first step, and acquiring the searched file name information;
A sixth step of extracting the image file having the oldest shooting date from the image file having the file name information acquired in the fifth step;
Searching for an image file having the same character string portion as the character string portion of the file name of the image file searched in the fifth step, and among the image files obtained by the search, a numerical string portion of the file name A seventh step of extracting an image file having a value smaller than a numeric string attached to the image file with the oldest shooting date and time extracted in the sixth step;
The reproduction display order position of the image file extracted in the seventh step is arranged at a display order position earlier than the image file extracted in the sixth step according to the order of the size of the number indicated by the number string. When rearranging, the shooting date / time information of each image file extracted in the third step and rearranged in the display order position in the fourth step, and the shooting date / time of each image file extracted in the seventh step An eighth step of comparing the information and rearranging again in order from the oldest shooting date;
When image playback is performed in the order of image file names, a new image file name having the same image playback order as the playback display order of the image files rearranged in the eighth step is generated and attached to each image file. A ninth step of creating a new image file with the replaced image file name;
A storage medium comprising: The software is
6. The storage medium according to claim 5, further comprising the step of creating a new folder and storing the newly created image file by replacing the image file name in the folder.

Images