JP2008104078A - Album creating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an album creating apparatus for relating a place of photographing with display of image data. <P>SOLUTION: An album creating apparatus is equipped with a personal digital assistant, a digital camera, and a PC (arithmetic processing section). The personal digital assistant includes a measuring section which acquires latitude/longitude information in an area corresponding to a map constituted of a plurality of areas with latitude/longitude information of a plurality of reference points, and a first control section which specifies an area including a point corresponding to the latitude/longitude acquired by the measuring section among the plurality of areas. The digital camera acquires image data by performing photographing operation at a point in any one of the plurality of areas. The PC includes a second control section which specifies an area in which photographing operation corresponding to image has been performed, among the plurality of areas based on a relationship between time and date of measurement performed by the measuring section and an area specified with each of the dates and times of measurements and based on the time and date of image data acquisition, and creates an electronic album resulting from combining the image data and information about the area in which the photographing operation corresponding to the image data has been performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an album creating apparatus, and more particularly to an album creating apparatus that creates an electronic album by associating a photographed area with image data photographed by a digital camera.

  There has been proposed an electronic album in which information related to a shooting location is added to image data shot by a digital camera and output on a PC.

Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus that records image data and a place where the image data is acquired in association with each other, and displays the shooting location on a map when displaying the image data.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-160058

  However, the device of Patent Document 1 needs to display a map in order to specify the location where the image was taken.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic album creating apparatus that associates a photographed place with a display of image data without displaying a map.

  An album creating apparatus according to the present invention includes a measurement unit that acquires latitude / longitude information in a region corresponding to a map configured by a plurality of areas having latitude / longitude information of a plurality of reference points, and a measurement among a plurality of areas. An information terminal having a first control unit that identifies an area including a point corresponding to the latitude and longitude obtained by the unit, a digital camera that performs image capturing operation at any point of the plurality of areas, and acquires image data; Based on the relationship between the measurement date / time measured by the measurement unit and the area specified for each measurement date / time and the acquisition date / time of the image data, a shooting operation corresponding to the image data is performed in the plurality of areas. Having a second control unit that identifies an area and creates an electronic album that combines image data and information relating to the area where the shooting operation corresponding to the image data was performed And a processing section.

  Preferably, in the first control unit, a point corresponding to the latitude and longitude obtained by the measurement unit is located in a triangle constituted by three reference points closest to the latitude and longitude obtained by the measurement unit, and 3 When one reference point is included in one of a plurality of areas, an area including a point corresponding to the latitude and longitude obtained by the measurement unit is specified.

  Preferably, the second control unit specifies an area where a photographing operation corresponding to the image data is performed based on the area specified in the measurement by the measurement unit before and after the acquisition of the image data.

  Preferably, the arithmetic processing unit includes a display unit that displays an electronic album, and an operation unit that corrects a relationship between image data in the electronic album and an area where a shooting operation corresponding to the image data is performed.

  Preferably, the information related to the relationship between the measurement date and time and the area specified in the measurement date and time specified by the first control unit is transferred to the arithmetic processing unit via the recording medium.

  Preferably, a thumbnail display in which a plurality of image data are arranged on one screen is performed as a display of the electronic album.

  Preferably, as the display of the electronic album, the image data is switched and displayed every second time, and at the time of displaying the image data, information regarding the area where the shooting operation corresponding to the image data is performed is displayed. Slide display is performed.

  More preferably, the arithmetic processing unit has an audio output unit, and the audio output unit reproduces music related to an area where a shooting operation corresponding to the image data is performed when the image data is displayed.

  Preferably, the second control unit creates an electronic album display program in a form that can be reproduced by another arithmetic processing unit.

  Preferably, the second control unit creates the electronic album in consideration of the difference between the clock of the information terminal and the clock of the digital camera.

  Preferably, the information terminal and the digital camera are housed in one housing.

  The album creating apparatus according to the present invention is a latitude and longitude measured in an area corresponding to a map constituted by a digital camera that performs image capturing operation to acquire image data and a plurality of areas having latitude and longitude information of a plurality of reference points. Based on the relationship between the measurement date and time and the area including points corresponding to the latitude and longitude information obtained at each of the measurement dates and times and the date and time of the image data acquired by the digital camera. A control unit that identifies an area in which a shooting operation corresponding to the image data has been performed and creates an electronic album that combines the image data and information relating to the area in which the shooting operation corresponding to the image data has been performed. The image data is obtained by performing a photographing operation at any point in a plurality of areas.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic album creating apparatus that associates a photographed place with display of image data without displaying a map.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The album creating apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes a portable information terminal 100, a PC (personal computer: arithmetic processing unit) 200, and a digital camera 300 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The portable information terminal 100 includes a measurement unit 130, a first display unit 140, a first recording unit 150, and a first control unit 190. The PC 200 includes an operation unit 210, a second display unit 240, a second recording unit 250, an audio output unit 260, and a second control unit 290.

  The digital camera 300 is an imaging device that acquires image data by performing a shooting operation at any point of a plurality of areas that form an area corresponding to the simple map 10. The digital camera 300 has a recording medium that is detachable and readable by the PC 200, or has a cable terminal that can transfer data to the PC 200 with a USB cable or the like so that image data recorded with the shooting date and time can be transferred to the PC 200. .

  In the present embodiment, the portable information terminal 100 and the digital camera 300 will be described as separate bodies. Therefore, the digital camera 300 has an advantage that a general-purpose product can be used as long as the imaging device satisfies the above requirements. However, the portable information terminal 100 and the digital camera 300 may be housed in one housing. In this case, it is possible to improve the area specifying accuracy based on the latitude / longitude information acquired by the portable information terminal 100 and the image data acquired by the digital camera 300. When the portable information terminal 100 and the digital camera 300 are separate bodies, the latitude and longitude information acquired by the portable information terminal 100 and the digital camera when the holder of the portable information terminal 100 and the holder of the digital camera 300 are different. Considering that area identification based on the image data acquired in 300 may be inaccurate.

  The measurement unit 130 is a device that measures the actual position (latitude and longitude information) of a person holding the portable information terminal 100 such as GPS and PHS every first time. In the present embodiment, the measurement is performed every 10 minutes, but the measurement is not limited to a certain time (first time).

The first display unit 140 displays the simplified map 10 converted into map data that can be displayed by the first display unit 140. The simple map 10 is a deformed map in which information related to a characteristic shape (information desired by the user) is emphasized and other information is omitted from a map that matches actual terrain. However, the simple map 10 may be an aerial photograph obtained by photographing the actual topography, or a map adapted to the actual topography. The simple map 10 is composed of a plurality of areas (first to fifth areas A to E) on the simple map 10. Latitude / longitude information is set in a plurality of reference points (A _{1 to} A ₆ , B _{1 to} B ₈ , C _{1 to} C ₅ , D _{1 to} D ₉ , E _{1 to} E ₈ ) on each area ( (See FIG. 3).

  When a large number of reference points are set, it is possible to display an accurate self position. However, the distance from the adjacent reference point is set larger than the measurement error of the measurement unit 130.

  A certain area such as an amusement park or a park is used for the simplified map 10.

  The reference point is a place where the user passes in the actual terrain corresponding to the simple map 10 and a place where latitude and longitude information can be obtained in advance using GPS or the like. For example, a place where an actual place such as a corner on a road through which a user passes and a place on the simple map 10 can be clearly associated is set. Three or more reference points are set for each area in order to specify the area described later.

  The first display unit 140 displays the position of the person on the simplified map 10 based on the latitude / longitude information of the actual position by the measurement unit 130. The own position is set to a reference point having a latitude / longitude closest to the latitude / longitude of the actual position. Therefore, it is not possible to specify the actual position strictly on the simple map 10, but it is possible to specify a rough person's position on the simple map 10 whose shape or the like is not accurately represented.

  In addition, the mobile information terminal 100 may include a sensor that can specify a direction (a direction in which the mobile information terminal 100 is held) such as a gyro sensor or a azimuth magnet, and may display a traveling direction in addition to the self-position display. Examples of the traveling direction include a direction in which the upper surface portion of the display unit 140 faces substantially the same as the direction in which the user holding the portable information terminal 100 faces. FIG. 1 shows that the upper surface portion of the display unit 140 (the user who holds the portable information terminal 100) faces diagonally downward on the simplified map 10 and is diagonally below the person's own position mark in the shape of a person. The example which displays the arrow of a direction is shown.

  In addition, it is desirable that the display of information related to the area on the display unit 140 is performed in the language selected by the user. In this case, operation means (not shown) for the user to set the language is further provided.

  Further, the first display unit 140 displays information related to the area where the user (user of the portable information terminal 100) is on the simple map 10 based on the latitude and longitude information of the actual position by the measurement unit 130. The first control unit 190 identifies the area where the person is present. Specifically, when the actual position is located in a triangle composed of the three reference points closest to the latitude and longitude of the actual position and the three reference points belong to the same area, the actual position is the area. If not, the area in which the person is present is not specified as being near the boundary between adjacent areas.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the three reference points closest to the latitude and longitude of the actual position are A ₂ , A ₃ , and A ₄ (the closest reference point is A ₄ ), and these reference points are configured. When there is an actual position (white square display) in the triangle (dotted line display), the area where the person is present is specified as the first area A. In this case, the first display unit 140 displays the self's position mark on the vicinity of the reference point A _4, and the area name own person is present, and displays the information about the area in which the own user is present (see Figure 1). The self position mark is not limited to the shape of a person.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the three reference points closest to the latitude and longitude of the actual position are A ₂ , A ₄ and C ₂ (the closest reference point is A ₄ ), and these reference points are configured. If there is an actual position (black square display) in the triangle (dotted line display), the area where the person is located is not specified as being near the boundary between the first area A and the third area C. In this case, the first display unit 140 is displaying the self's position mark on the vicinity of the reference point A _4, the area name own person is present is not displayed.

The reference points (A _{1 to} A ₆ , B _{1 to} B ₈ , C _{1 to} C ₅ , D _{1 to} D ₉ , E _{1 to} E ₈ ) in FIGS. 3 to ₅ , the triangles indicated by the above dotted lines, and white The actual positions indicated by the blank squares and the black squares are shown for the above description and are not displayed on the simplified map 10 displayed on the first display unit 140.

  In the present embodiment, a mode in which the display of the simple map 10, the self-position display, and the area name display is performed using the first display unit 140 will be described. However, in order to simplify the portable information terminal 100, You may abbreviate | omit the self position display in the 1 display part 140 and the 1st display part 140. FIG. This is because, in the present embodiment, identification of the area corresponding to the position of the person is necessary for creating an electronic album for thumbnail display or album display described later, and the position of the person is not essential.

  Information about the area specified by the first control unit 190 is recorded in the first recording unit 150 together with the corresponding measurement date and time (see Table 1). As information about the area, the measurement date and time and the area name at the measurement date and time are used for creating an electronic album described later. When the area where the person is present is specified, the area name is written. When the area where the person is located is not specified, nothing is written in the orchid of the area name.

  The first recording unit 150 is a recording medium that records measurement date and time, an area name at the measurement date and time, and map data for displaying an image corresponding to the simple map 10 on the first display unit 140. Does not matter. However, the measurement date and time and the area name data at the measurement date and time can be transferred to the PC 200. The portable terminal can be a detachable recording medium that can be read by the PC 200, or a cable terminal that can transfer data to the PC 200 with a USB cable or the like. The terminal 100 needs to have.

  The map data recorded in the first recording unit 150 includes image data related to the simple map 10, latitude / longitude information of the reference point, and information related to the area (name of each area and information related to the area).

  The image data related to the simple map 10 is data digitized by reading the simple map 10 with a scanner (not shown), and is associated with a location corresponding to the reference point (setting of latitude and longitude information). . Therefore, the map data of the simplified map 10 in the present embodiment is simplified compared to the map data of a car navigation system having a plurality of scale maps, road layers, and the like.

  The first control unit 190 controls each unit. In particular, the first control unit 190 performs a calculation for identifying the position of the person displayed on the first display unit 140 and the area where the person is present.

  In the present embodiment, even a map that does not have latitude / longitude information is converted (digitized) into data that can be displayed on the first display unit 140, and latitude / longitude information on the map can be identified (corresponding to actual terrain). By setting a plurality of arbitrary points (reference points), it is possible to display a map and the position of the person. In addition, since the name of the area where the person is located is displayed as information about the area where the person is located, the information regarding the person's position is visually displayed using characters (area name) and figures (map and person position mark). It becomes possible to recognize.

  The operation unit 210 is a device that sends a command to the second control unit 290 by a user operation. In particular, an operation for correcting the relationship between the image data in the electronic album and the area where the shooting operation corresponding to the image data is performed is performed via the operation unit 210.

  The second display unit 240 displays the electronic album created by the second control unit 290 based on the image data read from the digital camera 300 and the relationship between the measurement date and time read from the portable information terminal 100 and the area name at the measurement date and time. indicate. As the display of the electronic album, thumbnail display (see FIG. 6) is performed in which image data is arranged in time series and displayed on a single screen, and the display of image data is switched every second time and displayed in time series. A slide display (see FIG. 7) is performed. When displaying these electronic albums, based on the measurement date and area name at the measurement date and time, information about the area where the user was present when acquiring the image data (area corresponding to the image data) is displayed along with the image data. Is displayed.

  The second recording unit 250 records, as an electronic album, image data to which the shooting date and time read from the digital camera 300 is attached, and information related to the measurement date and time and the area name at the measurement date and time transferred from the first recording unit 150. In particular, the second recording unit 250 records image data in a format including a program that can be slid and displayed as an electronic album on another PC or the like.

  The audio output unit 260 is a speaker or the like that outputs music related to an area corresponding to the image data displayed on the second display unit 240 in slide display.

  The second control unit 290 specifies an area where the user is present when acquiring the image data, and uses it for thumbnail display and slide display. Specifically, the second control unit 290 captures the image data in the area corresponding to the same area name if the area names at the measurement date and time by the measurement unit 130 immediately before and after the acquisition of the image data are the same. It is estimated that The second control unit 290 determines that the area where the image data is captured is unknown when the area names at the measurement date immediately before and immediately after the acquisition of the image data are not the same.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of thumbnail display displayed on the second display unit 240. The shooting date and time (date is omitted) is shown under each of the 20 pieces of image data, and the area name is further shown for the image data in which the shot area is specified. For example, the photograph 4 has a shooting date and time of 11:04, and it is determined that both the measurement date and time 11:00 by the immediately preceding measurement unit 130 and the immediately following measurement date and time 11:10 are in the second area B. (See Table 1), it is presumed that the photograph 4 was taken in the second area B.

  However, even when the area cannot be identified from the position information based on the table 1, the area may be identified by confirming the photograph. Even if the user is in the second area B, the photograph 4 may photograph a subject in another area. In the thumbnail display, it is desirable to perform a checking operation while viewing an actual image, and to appropriately correct the specified area name using the operation unit 210.

  In the slide display, information related to the specified area is displayed on the display of the image data (for example, display of an area name or a background color or a graphic related to the area). As an example of the slide display, FIG. 7 displays the shooting date and time (the acquisition date and time of the image data of the photo 1) and the area name on the image of the photo 1. In the slide display, the display of the image data is switched every second time, and music related to the area corresponding to the display of the image data is reproduced via the audio output unit 260. The second time is set according to the number of shots and the slide display time.

  For example, in the slide display, in the display of the photograph 1 and the photograph 2 taken when the user is in the first area A, the graphic (facility) related to the first area A is displayed on the photograph 1 and the photograph 2. During this display, music related to the first area A is reproduced.

  An electronic album including image data used for thumbnail display and slide display and music data related to the area is created through the second recording unit 250 so that the user can play it on another PC, and the recording medium To be recorded.

  Note that the clock of the portable information terminal 100 and the clock of the digital camera 300 may not match. In this case, at the start and end of use of the portable information terminal 100, an electronic album is created (particularly, the area where the image was taken) is determined in consideration of the time lag compared to the clock of the digital camera 300. .

It is a block diagram of the portable information terminal in this embodiment. It is a block diagram of a portable information terminal. It is a figure which shows the structure of a simple map. It is a figure which shows the structure of a simple map of the state which can specify the area where the person exists. It is a figure which shows the structure of a simple map of the state which cannot identify the area where the person exists. It is a figure which shows the thumbnail display displayed on the 2nd display part. It is a figure which shows the slide display displayed on the 2nd display part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Simple map 100 Portable information terminal 130 Measurement part 140 1st display part 150 1st recording part 190 1st control part 200 PC
210 Operation unit 240 Second display unit 250 Second recording unit 260 Audio output unit 290 Second control unit 300 Digital camera A _{1 to} A ₆ Reference point of first area B _{1 to} B ₈ Reference point of second area C ₁ to C ₅ Reference point of the third area D _{1 to} D ₉ Reference point of the fourth area E _{1 to} E ₈ Reference point of the fifth area

Claims (12)

A measurement unit that acquires latitude / longitude information in a region corresponding to a map configured by a plurality of areas having latitude / longitude information of a plurality of reference points, and a latitude / longitude obtained by the measurement unit among the plurality of areas An information terminal having a first control unit that identifies an area including a point corresponding to
A digital camera that obtains image data by performing a shooting operation at any point of the plurality of areas;
Shooting corresponding to the image data among the plurality of areas based on the relationship between the measurement date and time measured by the measurement unit and the areas specified in each of the measurement date and time and the acquisition date and time of the image data An operation processing unit having a second control unit that identifies an area in which an operation has been performed and creates an electronic album that combines the image data and information relating to the area in which the shooting operation corresponding to the image data has been performed; An album creating apparatus characterized by that.   In the first control unit, a point corresponding to the latitude and longitude obtained by the measurement unit is located in a triangle composed of three reference points closest to the latitude and longitude obtained by the measurement unit, 2. The area according to claim 1, wherein when three reference points are included in one of the plurality of areas, an area including a point corresponding to the latitude and longitude obtained by the measurement unit is specified. Album creation device.   The second control unit specifies an area where a photographing operation corresponding to the image data is performed based on an area specified in measurement by the measurement unit before and after acquisition of the image data. Item 2. The album creating apparatus according to Item 1.   The arithmetic processing unit includes a display unit that displays the electronic album, and an operation unit that corrects a relationship between the image data in the electronic album and an area where a shooting operation corresponding to the image data is performed. The album creating apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:   The information related to the relationship between the measurement date and time and the area specified at the measurement date and time specified by the first control unit is transferred to the arithmetic processing unit via a recording medium. The album creating device described in 1.   2. The album creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a thumbnail display in which a plurality of the image data are arranged on one screen is performed as the display of the electronic album.   As the display of the electronic album, the image data is switched and displayed every second time, and when the image data is displayed, a slide on which information relating to an area where a shooting operation corresponding to the image data is performed is displayed. The album creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein display is performed.   The arithmetic processing unit includes an audio output unit, and when the image data is displayed, music related to an area where a shooting operation corresponding to the image data is performed is reproduced by the audio output unit. The album creating apparatus according to claim 7.   8. The album creating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second control unit creates the display program for the electronic album in a form that can be played back by another arithmetic processing unit.   2. The album creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit creates the electronic album in consideration of a difference between a clock of the information terminal and a clock of the digital camera.   The album creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information terminal and the digital camera are housed in a single casing. A digital camera that captures image data by performing a shooting operation;
Measurement date and time of latitude and longitude measured in an area corresponding to a map composed of a plurality of areas having latitude and longitude information of a plurality of reference points, and latitude and longitude obtained at each of the measurement dates and times among the plurality of areas An area in which a shooting operation corresponding to the image data is performed among the plurality of areas based on a relationship with an area including a point corresponding to information and a date and time of the image data acquired by the digital camera. And an arithmetic processing unit having a control unit that creates an electronic album that combines the image data and information related to the area where the shooting operation corresponding to the image data is performed,
The album creating apparatus, wherein the image data is obtained by performing the photographing operation at any point in the plurality of areas.

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