JP2009044626A - Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent inefficient data transfer from being performed in such a way as to incur double data transfer when transferring image data stored in a digital camera to a computer and storing the image data in a storage area of the computer by operating the digital camera. <P>SOLUTION: Prior to receiving a transfer instruction from a digital camera, image data are stored in a cache area of a computer beforehand and when the transfer instruction of a user is received, the image data are copied from the cache area to a storage area, thereby achieving transfer of the image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method thereof, a program, and a storage medium, and more particularly to a technique for transferring image data stored in an imaging apparatus to a computer.

  A technique for transferring image data to a computer from a communication device capable of reading and writing image data, such as a digital camera, has become widespread.

  As a transfer method, there is a method in which a user selects arbitrary image data by operating a computer and executes transfer by instructing transfer of the image data.

  There is also a method of executing transfer by operating a digital camera to select arbitrary image data and instructing transfer of the image data.

In such a transfer process, a technique is known in which a thumbnail having a small size is first transferred from a digital camera to a computer to be selected by a user, and only a high-definition image corresponding to the selected thumbnail is transferred to the computer ( For example, Patent Document 1)
JP 2004-48183 A

  In recent years, with an increase in the size of the display, there is a demand for confirming high-definition image data on a computer display even on a transfer data selection screen. However, if high-definition image data is used instead of thumbnails, the high-definition image data is transferred once to be displayed on the selection screen, and when there is a transfer instruction by a user operation, the high-definition image data is again transferred. Must be transferred. The high-definition image data has a large data size and a large communication load, so that the response to the user operation may be deteriorated.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, as one of the features of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, an information processing apparatus capable of accessing a storage medium including a cache area and a storage area different from the cache area A display control unit that displays a thumbnail of image data stored in the imaging device on a display unit, a selection unit that selects the thumbnail, and image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail is acquired from the imaging device. An input unit that receives an instruction to perform, an acquisition unit that acquires image data corresponding to the thumbnail from the imaging device in response to the selection of a thumbnail by the selection unit, and the image data acquired by the acquisition unit Stored in the cache area and stored in the cache area in response to receiving the instruction by the input means. The image data and a storage control means for storing in the storage area.

  Another feature of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of accessing a storage medium including a cache area and a storage area different from the cache area, and is connected to an imaging apparatus. Accordingly, an acquisition unit that automatically acquires image data stored in the imaging device, an input unit that receives an instruction to acquire image data stored in the imaging device from the imaging device, and the acquisition unit Storage control means for storing the acquired image data in the cache area and storing the image data stored in the cache area in the storage area in response to receiving the instruction by the input means;

  According to the present invention, since it is possible to shorten the time from when the user gives an instruction to transfer image data until the transfer is completed, the user can comfortably perform the operation.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as a first embodiment with reference to the drawings.

<System configuration>
An image data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.

  The system according to the present embodiment includes a digital camera 1 that is an example of an imaging device having a function of a communication device, and a computer 2 that is an example of an information processing device that receives image data captured by the digital camera 1. The digital camera 1 and the computer 2 are connected using a communication path 3 such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus).

<Configuration of digital camera>
The configuration of the digital camera 1 is shown in FIG. The CPU 100 controls each part of the digital camera 1 according to the input signal and program, and executes display control processing, storage control processing, and the like. The subject image passes through the condenser lens 101, and the subject image picked up by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 102 is converted into an electrical signal. Then, it is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 103. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 104 temporarily stores data such as shooting data and various parameters. The flash memory 106 is a storage medium for storing the obtained image data, control program, and the like, and may be built in the digital camera 1 or detachable, for example, like a memory card. Note that the image data in this embodiment includes high-definition image data with a large image size (hereinafter “main image”) and image data with a smaller image size than the main image (hereinafter “thumbnail”). An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 109 displays captured image data and displays various GUIs (Graphical User Interface) such as information to be notified to the user. The VRAM 108 stores image data to be displayed on the LCD 109. The input unit 107 is a member mainly operated by the user, and accepts a user input for instructing a release button used at the time of shooting, an image feed at the time of image reproduction, and the like. The input unit 107 can be a button, lever, wheel, touch panel, or the like. The communication device 105 is an interface for connecting the digital camera 1 and the computer 2.

  A rear view of the digital camera 1 is shown in FIG. A lens 101 is provided on the back side of this surface. On the back surface of the digital camera 1, an LCD 109 and various input units 107 are provided. For example, a release button 401 and a shooting / playback mode changeover switch 402 are provided. Furthermore, a cross button 403 for moving a cursor corresponding to a menu item displayed on the LCD 109 of the digital camera 1 and a determination button 404 for selecting and executing an operation hit by the cursor are provided. In addition, a zoom lever 405 for instructing enlargement / reduction of an image displayed on the LCD 109 is provided.

<Computer configuration>
Next, the configuration of the computer 2 is shown in FIG. Similar to the digital camera 1, the computer 2 includes a CPU 200, a RAM 202, an input unit 203, a VRAM 204, a display unit 205, and a communication device 206. As the input unit 203 of the computer 2, a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse can be used. A hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) 201 stores image data received from the digital camera 1 and various data such as a program for controlling the computer 2. An application for transferring and displaying image data (hereinafter simply referred to as “application”) in the present embodiment is also stored in the HDD 201. Although the input unit 203 and the display unit 205 are described as components of the computer, the input unit 203 and the display unit 205 may be connected to the computer as an external device, and the CPU 200 may control them.

  In this embodiment, the communication path 3 uses a USB cable, but is not necessarily limited to wired communication. For example, wireless communication such as a wireless LAN represented by IEEE 802.11b may be used.

<Display screen on the computer>
This system connects a digital camera 1 and a computer 2 and transfers image data stored in the digital camera 1 to the computer 2. In this system, in addition to the process of transferring the image data, the process of setting the image data stored in the digital camera 1 as the wallpaper of the computer 2 or outputting from the printer connected to the computer 2 is executed. be able to.

  Instructions for executing these processes are performed based on user operations. In this system, a user operation can be received from the input unit 107 of the digital camera 1 or the input unit 203 of the computer 2.

  First, FIG. 5 shows a browsing screen displayed on the display unit 205 of the computer 2 when the digital camera 1 and the computer 2 are connected.

  Reference numeral 500 denotes a thumbnail display area. In the thumbnail display area 500, thumbnails 502 of image data stored in the flash memory 106 of the digital camera 1 are displayed in a list in a state in which the thumbnails are arranged in order of shooting date and time. The thumbnail displayed here can be acquired when the computer that has detected that the digital camera 1 and the computer 2 are connected requests the thumbnail from the digital camera 1.

  A shooting date and time as shown at 501 is displayed at the boundary of the shooting date and time. By this display, thumbnails are separated for each shooting date and time, so that the user can easily search for thumbnails based on the shooting date and time.

  Reference numeral 503 denotes a shooting year button. When the user selects the shooting year button 503 using the input unit 203, thumbnails of image data shot in the selected shooting year are displayed in a list.

  Reference numerals 504 to 507 denote operation units for instructing processing on image data, and the user can instruct various types of processing using the input unit 203 of the computer.

  Reference numeral 504 denotes an enlarged display button. When the user selects an arbitrary thumbnail using the input unit 203 and presses the enlargement display button 504, image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail is displayed in an enlarged manner on the display unit 205.

  Reference numeral 505 denotes an image transfer button. When the user selects an arbitrary thumbnail using the input unit 203 and presses the image transfer button 505, an image corresponding to the selected thumbnail is stored in the HDD 201. Reference numeral 508 denotes a transferred icon. When image data corresponding to the thumbnail 502 is stored in a predetermined area of the HDD 201, the icon 508 is added to the thumbnail. The image transfer process will be described later.

  Reference numeral 506 denotes a print button. When the user selects an arbitrary thumbnail using the input unit 203 and presses the print button 506, image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail is transmitted to a printer (not shown) and printed.

  Reference numeral 507 denotes a wallpaper button. When the user selects an arbitrary thumbnail using the input unit 203 and presses the wallpaper button 507, image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail is set as a background image on the desktop of the computer 2, that is, a so-called wallpaper.

  Reference numeral 508 denotes a delete button. When the user selects an arbitrary thumbnail using the input unit 203 and presses the delete button 515, the image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail is deleted from the flash memory 106 of the digital camera 1.

  Reference numeral 509 denotes a main image display area. When the user selects an arbitrary thumbnail 501, a main image 509 corresponding to the selected thumbnail is displayed in the main image display area 512. This is realized by the computer 2 requesting a corresponding main image from the digital camera 1 in response to the selection of the thumbnail, and the digital camera 1 transmitting the main image to the computer 2 in response thereto.

  Reference numerals 511 and 512 denote main image feed buttons, which are buttons for instructing to sequentially display the main image 509.

<Display screen on the digital camera>
When the digital camera 1 is operated during the display of the browsing screen shown in FIG. 5, the menu shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the LCD 109 of the digital camera 1.

  The menu 600 displays operation items that can be executed by operating the digital camera, and the user can operate the cross button 403 or the determination button 404 provided on the digital camera 1 to instruct execution of the process.

  A process displayed on the menu 600 will be described. When the item 601 “Transfer all images” is selected, all image data stored in the flash memory 106 is transferred to the computer 2. This process is the same as when the user selects all thumbnails and clicks the image transfer button 505 on the browsing screen shown in FIG.

  When the item 602 “Transfer untransferred image” is selected, among the image data stored in the flash memory 106, the image data that has not yet been transferred to the computer 2 is transferred. This is the same processing as when the user selects a thumbnail corresponding to untransferred image data and clicks the image transfer button 505 on the browsing screen shown in FIG.

  When the item 603 “Select and transfer an image” is selected, image data arbitrarily selected by the user among the image data stored in the flash memory 106 is transferred to the computer 2. This process is the same as when the user selects an arbitrary thumbnail on the browsing screen shown in FIG. 5 and clicks the image transfer button 505.

  When the item 604 “Select and print image” is selected, image data arbitrarily selected by the user among the image data stored in the flash memory 106 is transferred to the computer 2, and the computer 2 sends the image data to the printer. Print instructions. This process is the same as when the user selects an arbitrary thumbnail on the browsing screen shown in FIG. 5 and clicks the print button 506.

  When the item 605 “Select an image to set as wallpaper” is selected, image data arbitrarily selected by the user among the image data stored in the flash memory 106 is transferred to the computer 2, and the computer 2 receives the image data. Set as your own wallpaper. This process is the same as when the user selects an arbitrary thumbnail on the browsing screen shown in FIG. 5 and clicks the wallpaper button 507.

  When the items 603 to 605 are selected, the image data stored in the flash memory 106 is displayed on the LCD 109. The user can instruct execution of processing by selecting image data to be processed from the displayed image data and pressing the determination button 404.

<Storage area>
Next, the configuration of the storage area that is one of the features of this embodiment will be described. The computer 2 in this embodiment has two types of storage areas in the HDD 201.

  Here, a conceptual diagram of the storage area of the HDD 201 is shown in FIG. The HDD 201 has a cache area 701 and a storage area 702.

  As the cache area 701, a directory of an application area that is not normally accessed by a user is used. When image data stored in the cache area 701 cannot be communicated with the digital camera 1, such as when the application is terminated, the digital camera 1 is disconnected, or the computer 2 is turned off. It is preferable to delete all of them. The storage area 702 is an area intended to store image data permanently, and an arbitrary directory selected by the user is used.

  The computer 2 can determine whether the image data stored in the digital camera 1 is already stored in the cache area 701 by managing the image data stored in the cache area 701. is there. As a management method, there is a method of storing an ID list of image data stored in the cache area 701. Then, by comparing the ID of the image data stored in the digital camera 1 with the ID list, it can be determined whether the image data is already stored in the cache area 701. The ID of the image data may be any information that can identify the image data. For example, the file name, the file size, the update date and time, the ID uniquely issued by the digital camera 1 or the like can be used.

<Storage processing in cache area (1)>
Hereinafter, transfer processing according to the present embodiment will be described. First, a process in which the computer 2 acquires a main image from the digital camera 1 and displays it in the main image display area 512 when the thumbnail 502 is selected on the browsing screen shown in FIG. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of this process. As a premise of this flowchart, it is assumed that the transfer of thumbnails from the digital camera 1 to the computer 2 has been completed.

  First, in step S801, the CPU 200 determines whether or not the thumbnail 502 has been selected by a user operation. If it is determined that it has been selected, the process proceeds to step S802. If it is determined that it has not been selected, the process is repeated.

  In step S <b> 802, the CPU 200 determines whether image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail is already stored in the cache area 701. If it is determined that it is not stored, the process proceeds to step S803. If it is determined that it is stored, the process proceeds to step S806. The case where it is already stored in the cache area 701 is, for example, a case where a thumbnail that has been selected once is selected again.

  In step S803, the CPU 200 requests the digital camera 1 for image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail.

  In step S <b> 804, the CPU 100 of the digital camera 1 that has received the request transmits the requested image data to the computer 2 in response to the request from the computer 2.

  In step S805, the CPU 200 receives the image data transmitted by the digital camera 1, and stores the image data acquired by the above processing in the cache area 701.

  In step S806, the CPU 200 reads the main image included in the image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail from the cache area 701 and displays it in the main image display area 512. At this time, the transferred icon 508 is not displayed.

  In addition, although the computer 2 in this embodiment is set as the structure which acquires the image data corresponding to the thumbnail selected by the user among the thumbnails displayed on the browsing screen shown in FIG. 5, it is not necessarily limited to this structure. For example, image data corresponding to a thumbnail that is likely to be selected next may be acquired in advance, such as a thumbnail whose display order is within a plurality of images before and after the thumbnail selected by the user. For example, when the thumbnail 502 is selected, not only image data corresponding to the thumbnail 502 but also image data corresponding to the thumbnail 513 and the thumbnail 514 can be acquired in advance.

  In this way, by acquiring in advance image data corresponding to a thumbnail that is highly likely to be selected, it is possible to reduce the time taken from the selection of the thumbnail to the display of the main image, thereby reducing the waiting time of the user. Can be reduced.

<Storage processing in cache area (2)>
Next, processing in which the digital camera 1 transmits a main image to the computer 2 in response to the user operating the digital camera 1 will be described. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of this processing.

  Similar to the flowchart of FIG. 8, it is assumed that the transfer of thumbnails from the digital camera 1 to the computer 2 has been completed as a premise of this flowchart. This flowchart is executed when the user operates the digital camera 1 and selects items 603 to 605 from the menu shown in FIG.

  First, in step S <b> 901, the CPU 100 displays predetermined image data on the LCD 109. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the most recently captured image data is displayed. In response to the user's operation of the cross button 403 in this state, the CPU 100 can execute so-called image feed, in which image data is sequentially displayed on the LCD 109.

  In step S <b> 902, the CPU 100 transmits an event indicating that the image data displayed on the LCD 109 of its own device has changed (hereinafter, “display change event”) to the computer 2.

  In step S903, the CPU 200 of the computer 2 receives the display change event.

  In step S904, the CPU 200 requests the digital camera 1 for information on the image data currently displayed on the LCD 109.

  In step S905, the CPU 100 of the digital camera 1 transmits the ID of the image data as information of the image data currently displayed on the LCD 109 in response to a request from the computer 2.

  In step S906, the CPU 200 of the computer 2 compares the ID of the received image data with the ID list, and determines whether or not the image data is already stored in the cache area 701. If it is determined that it has already been stored, the process proceeds to step S911. If it is determined that it is not stored, the process proceeds to step S907.

  In step S907, the CPU 200 requests the digital camera 1 for image data corresponding to the received image ID.

  In step S <b> 908, the CPU 100 of the digital camera 1 reads the image data from the flash memory 106 and transmits the image data to the computer 2 in response to a request from the computer 2.

  In step S909, the CPU 100 determines whether or not an image feed is instructed by a user operation. If no operation is detected, display continues. If an operation is detected, the process returns to step S901, new image data is displayed, and a display change event is transmitted to the computer 2.

  On the other hand, in step S 910, the CPU 200 of the computer 2 receives the image data transmitted from the digital camera 1 and stores it in the cache area 701. In step S911, the CPU 200 reads the main image of the image data stored in the cache area and displays it in the main image display area 512. That is, the same image data as the image data displayed on the LCD 109 of the digital camera 1 is displayed following the display unit 205 of the computer 2.

  If the item 604 or 605 is selected in the menu of FIG. 6, after performing the processing shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 200 of the computer 2 instructs the printer to print the received data, or sets the received data as wallpaper. Perform the process.

<Transfer processing based on user operation>
As described above, the computer 2 in the present embodiment stores the image data in which the thumbnail 502 is selected by the user and the image data displayed on the LCD 109 in the cache area 701. In this way, there occurs a state where two types of image data in which only thumbnails are transferred to the computer 2 and image data in which the main image is transferred to the cache area 701 are mixed. Hereinafter, a case where an instruction to transfer image data is issued from the user in such a case will be described.

  An image data transfer process executed in response to the user operating the digital camera 1 will be described. FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of this processing.

  As a premise of this flowchart, it is assumed that the transfer of thumbnails from the digital camera 1 to the computer 2 has been completed. This flowchart is for the case where the user operates the digital camera 1 and selects the item 601 or 602 from the menu shown in FIG. 6, or when image data transfer is instructed during the execution of the flowchart of FIG. 8 or FIG. Executed. The image data transfer instruction can be input by pressing the enter button 404 in a state where the image data is displayed in step S901, for example.

  First, in step S <b> 1001, the CPU 100 transmits to the computer 200 an event signal indicating that transfer processing has been instructed and an ID of image data to be transferred based on an instruction from the user.

  In step S1002, the CPU 100 displays on the LCD 109 a message indicating that image data is being transferred. This message may be a progress bar indicating the progress status.

  In step S <b> 1003, the CPU 200 receives the event signal and the image data ID from the digital camera 1.

  In step S1004, the CPU 200 compares the ID of the received image data with the ID list, and determines whether the image data to be transferred is stored in the cache area 701. If it is determined that the data is already stored in the cache area 701, the process advances to step S1009. If it is determined that it is not stored in the cache area 701, the process proceeds to step S1005.

  In step S1005, the CPU 200 requests image data from the digital camera 1.

  In step S <b> 1006, the CPU 100 of the digital camera 1 reads the requested image data from the flash memory 106 and transmits it to the computer 2.

  In step S1007, the CPU 200 receives the image data transmitted from the digital camera 1.

  In step S1008, the CPU 200 stores the image data acquired by the above processing in the cache area 701.

  In step S <b> 1009, the CPU 200 copies the image data stored in the cache area 701 to the storage area 702.

  In step S1010, the CPU 200 notifies the digital camera 1 that the transfer has been completed.

  In step S1011, the CPU 100 of the digital camera 1 displays a message indicating that the transfer has been completed on the LCD 109. Thereby, the user can know that the transfer is completed.

  In step S1012, the CPU 200 adds the transferred icon 508 to the thumbnail 502 corresponding to the image data copied to the storage area 702. That is, the transferred icon 508 is displayed when the image data is copied to the storage area 702 in step S1009.

  By repeating the processes in steps S1003 to S1012 for the image data to be transferred, the transfer of the image data to the storage area 702 of the HDD 201 is completed.

  The reason why the transferred icon is not displayed when it is transferred to the computer 2 is as follows. That is, when the transferred icon is displayed at the stage of transfer to the computer 2, the transferred icon is also added to the thumbnail 502 corresponding to the image data stored only in the cache area 701. Then, the user thinks that the transfer to the computer 2 has been completed, and the application may be terminated and deleted. In view of this, the computer 2 in the present embodiment displays the transferred icon 708 based on the presence or absence of storage in the storage area 702, not the presence or absence of transfer to the computer 2.

  Accordingly, the menu shown in FIG. 6 is displayed as if new image data is to be transferred from the digital camera 1 to the computer 2, but the image data is actually displayed when the image is displayed on the LCD 109 as shown in FIG. 9. Transfer has been done. When the user instructs transfer, the image data is copied from the cache area 701 to the storage area 702.

  In general, the speed at which the computer 2 reads data from the cache area 701 is faster than the speed at which data is acquired from the digital camera 1. Therefore, by the above processing, it is possible to shorten the time from when the user issues a transfer instruction until the image data is stored in the storage area 702 of the HDD 201.

  It is also possible for the user to instruct transfer of image data by operating the input unit 203 of the computer 2 while viewing the browsing screen shown in FIG. In this case, step S1004 to step S1009 and step S1012 of FIG. 10 are executed in response to the transfer button 505 being pressed.

  In this embodiment, the case where image data is acquired based on a user operation has been described. However, when the application is started, the CPU 200 automatically acquires all image data stored in the digital camera 1 and caches the image data. You may memorize | store in the area | region 701.

  As described above, in the system according to the present embodiment, image data is transferred to the computer 2 and stored in the cache area 701 before a transfer instruction is issued by a user operation. When a transfer instruction is issued by a user operation, the image data is copied from the cache area 701 to the storage area 702.

  With this configuration, it is possible to improve the response from when the user issues a transfer instruction until the transfer is completed, and the user can operate comfortably.

  In order to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, a recording medium in which a program code of software embodying each function is recorded may be provided to the system or apparatus. The functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the recording medium on which the program code is recorded constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for supplying such a program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or the like can be used. Alternatively, a CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like can be used.

  The configuration for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is not limited to executing the program code read by the computer. Including the case where the OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. It is.

  Further, the program code read from the recording medium may be written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by the processing. Is included.

1 is a diagram showing an overview of a system in a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of a computer in a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the back surface of the digital camera in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the browsing screen in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the menu displayed on LCD of the digital camera in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the storage area of HDD in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart of image data transfer processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart of image data transfer processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart of image data transfer processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital camera 2 Computer 3 Communication path

Claims (16)

An information processing apparatus capable of accessing a storage medium including a cache area and a storage area different from the cache area,
Display control means for displaying thumbnails of image data stored in the imaging device on a display unit;
Selection means for selecting the thumbnail;
Input means for receiving an instruction to acquire image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail from the imaging device;
An acquisition means for acquiring image data corresponding to the thumbnail from the imaging device in response to the selection of a thumbnail by the selection means;
Storage control means for storing the image data acquired by the acquisition means in the cache area, and storing the image data stored in the cache area in the storage area in response to receiving the instruction by the input means; An information processing apparatus. If the image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail is not stored in the cache area when the instruction by the input unit is received, the acquisition unit acquires the image data from the imaging device;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage control unit stores the acquired image data in the storage area.   When the image data is stored in the storage area by the storage control unit, the display control unit adds an icon indicating that the image data has been acquired from the imaging device to a thumbnail corresponding to the stored image data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus.   4. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein when the communication with the imaging apparatus becomes impossible, the storage control unit deletes the image data stored in the cache area. apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data acquired by the acquisition unit is displayed together with the thumbnail. An information processing apparatus capable of accessing a storage medium including a cache area and a storage area different from the cache area,
An acquisition means for automatically acquiring image data stored in the imaging device in response to connection with the imaging device;
Input means for receiving an instruction to acquire image data stored in the imaging device from the imaging device;
Storage control means for storing the image data acquired by the acquisition means in the cache area, and storing the image data stored in the cache area in the storage area in response to receiving the instruction by the input means; An information processing apparatus. When the image data to be acquired is not stored in the cache area when receiving the instruction by the input unit, the acquisition unit acquires the image data from the imaging device,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the storage control unit stores the acquired image data in the storage area.   When the image data is stored in the storage area by the storage control unit, the display control unit adds an icon indicating that the image data has been acquired from the imaging device to a thumbnail corresponding to the stored image data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein:   9. The information processing according to claim 6, wherein when the communication with the imaging apparatus becomes impossible, the storage control unit deletes the image data stored in the cache area. apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising display control means for displaying the image data acquired by the acquisition means. A control method for an information processing apparatus capable of accessing a storage medium including a cache area and a storage area different from the cache area,
A display step of displaying a thumbnail corresponding to the image data stored in the imaging device on the display unit;
A selection step of selecting the thumbnail;
An input step of receiving an instruction to acquire image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail from the imaging device;
An acquisition step of acquiring image data corresponding to the thumbnail from the imaging device in response to selection of a thumbnail in the selection step;
A storage step of storing the image data acquired in the acquisition step in the cache area;
And a copy step of copying the image data stored in the cache area in the storage step to the storage area in response to receiving the instruction in the input step. A control method for an information processing apparatus capable of accessing a storage medium including a cache area and a storage area different from the cache area,
An acquisition step of automatically acquiring image data stored in the imaging device in response to the connection with the imaging device;
An input step of receiving an instruction to acquire image data stored in the imaging device from the imaging device;
A storage step of storing the image data acquired in the acquisition step in the cache area;
And a copy step of copying the image data stored in the cache area in the storage step to the storage area in response to receiving an instruction in the input step. In an information processing apparatus capable of accessing a storage medium including a cache area and a storage area different from the cache area,
A display step of displaying a thumbnail corresponding to the image data stored in the imaging device on the display unit;
A selection step of selecting the thumbnail;
An input step of receiving an instruction to acquire image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail from the imaging device;
An acquisition step of acquiring image data corresponding to the thumbnail from the imaging device in response to selection of a thumbnail in the selection step;
A storage step of storing the image data acquired in the acquisition step in the cache area;
A computer-readable program that executes a copy step of copying image data stored in the cache area in the storage step to the storage area in response to receiving the instruction in the input step. In an information processing apparatus capable of accessing a storage medium including a cache area and a storage area different from the cache area,
An acquisition step of automatically acquiring image data stored in the imaging device in response to the connection with the imaging device;
An input step of receiving an instruction to acquire image data stored in the imaging device from the imaging device;
A storage step of storing the image data acquired in the acquisition step in the cache area;
A program for executing a copy step of copying the image data stored in the cache area in the storage step to the storage area in response to receiving an instruction in the input step.   A computer-readable program storing the program according to claim 13.   A computer-readable program storing the program according to claim 14.

Images