JP2010004479A - Image reproducing apparatus, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent content to be reproduced from being reproduced over a long time by a monotonous state when performing slide show reproduction with a plurality of files. <P>SOLUTION: Image files which are related mutually are to be classified into the same group relating to a plurality of image files which becomes an object for slide show reproduction in an image reproducing apparatus.The slide show reproduction of the plurality of image files belonging to the same group is performed by indication on one screen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reproduction apparatus for reproducing a plurality of images as a slide show, a control method thereof, and a program.

  Conventionally, a slide show function for sequentially displaying a plurality of images is known. In recent years, it has become possible to collect and manage many images due to the increase in the storage capacity of nonvolatile memories and the provision of image services such as online albums. That is, the case where a user browses many images using a slide show function is considered.

Currently, as a method of sequentially switching and reproducing a plurality of images to be subjected to a slide show according to display information, an image reproducing apparatus that changes the reproduction time of the images based on related information associated with the target image is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-157324 A

  There are cases in which images to be played back as a slide show include a large amount of images having a similar composition and background, such as images taken continuously. When such images are played back as a slide show, there is a problem that even if the images are sequentially switched, the display continues in a state where the change is poor, and the user gets bored.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, since an image is only reproduced for a length of time corresponding to the related information, and the content and relationship between reproduced images are not considered, a similar image is monotonous. It was sometimes displayed.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to prevent images from being reproduced in order in a monotonous state when a plurality of images are reproduced as a slide show.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, one of the present invention is an image playback apparatus that plays back a plurality of image files as a slide show, and classifies the plurality of image files into groups according to the supplementary information of the image files. Means, layout means for laying out the plurality of image files on one screen for each group, and display control means for controlling to sequentially display the screens on which the plurality of image files are laid out. To do.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of image files are played back as a slide show, it is possible to prevent the content displayed on the playback screen from becoming monotonous.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image reproduction apparatus. The image reproduction apparatus is realized by an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a digital camera, or a mobile phone.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 100 controls the operation of the entire image reproduction apparatus. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 is a memory that stores various data in a read-only manner. The external storage device 103 is a storage device represented by a hard disk or the like. The external storage device 103 stores image files to be subjected to slide show playback, an OS (Operating System), an image playback application program, playback schedule information necessary for slide show playback, and the like. The image file is expanded in the display memory 101 and displayed on the display device 105. A user operation is input via the input device 104 such as a keyboard or a pointing device.

  The CPU 100 reads out the OS and the image reproduction application program from the external storage device 103, activates them, and executes processing as described below.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a module configuration of the image reproducing apparatus.

  First, an auxiliary information reading unit 200 for reading auxiliary information of an image file stored in the external storage device 103 is provided. For example, the image file has an Exif format, and includes image data metadata (photographing date, photographing device model name, resolution, photographing direction, ISO sensitivity, color space, etc.) as supplementary information in addition to the image data. Alternatively, the auxiliary information is information indicating the result of performing face recognition processing and color analysis processing on the image data of the image file.

  Then, an image classification unit 210 is provided for classifying a plurality of image files to be subjected to slide show reproduction into groups according to specific conditions. Furthermore, the image classification unit 210 includes a person determination unit 250 that refers to the result of performing the face recognition process on the image data of the image file and determines an image file obtained by photographing a specific person. Further, the image processing apparatus includes a determination unit 260 that refers to a shooting time included in the incidental information of the image file and determines an image file having a shooting time in a predetermined range. For example, it is possible to determine an image file obtained by continuous shooting by reducing a predetermined range of shooting time. In addition, when there is a flag indicating whether or not continuous shooting is performed in the incidental information, it can also be determined based on the flag. In addition, by increasing a predetermined range of the shooting time, it is possible to determine image files shot in the same season, the same month, and the same day. In addition, when GPS information is also included in the incidental information, a shooting location determination unit 270 that determines an image file whose shooting location is in a predetermined range is provided. In addition, the image data of the image file is analyzed, and a similar image discriminating unit 280 that discriminates the similarity between each other by referring to the obtained feature amount is provided. For example, those having similar colors are determined. The image classification unit 210 uses the discrimination results obtained by these discrimination units to divide a plurality of image files into groups containing the same person, groups for continuous shooting, groups shot at the same place, shooting contents, Sort into groups with similar colors. In addition, the classification conditions such as determining image files having the same shooting direction and classifying them into the same group are not limited to the above examples.

  In this way, for example, when there is a person who appears in a large number of images by classifying into groups according to the photographed person, it is better to display a plurality of images on one screen than to display one image on one screen. It is possible to shorten the reproduction time of a group of images of a person shown in a large number of images. Furthermore, since the difference in reproduction time between a group of people appearing in a large number of images and a person appearing only in a small amount of images is reduced, unfairness in reproduction time can be reduced. In addition, by classifying image files that have been continuously shot into the same group, it is possible to prevent images with the same composition from being displayed endlessly, and by displaying images at once, the user can compare the images with each other. You can browse. Also, by classifying image files into groups for each predetermined time range, it is possible to prevent images with the same composition from being displayed endlessly. For example, when shooting at events such as weddings or athletic meet events, It can be automatically organized and played back. Also, by classifying image files that are close to the shooting location into the same group, it is possible to prevent images with similar backgrounds from being displayed endlessly, and automatically organize them according to the moving location, for example, when shooting on a trip. And will be able to play. Further, by classifying image files with similar colors into the same group, it is possible to prevent images with similar tones from being displayed endlessly. In addition, by classifying image files with the same shooting direction into groups, it is possible to prevent image files in the vertical direction and horizontal direction from being mixed and displayed on one screen, making it difficult for the user to check images. .

  Then, a playback time setting unit 220 for setting the playback time of the slide show and an image counting unit 225 for counting the number of image files classified into each group are provided. The image distribution unit 230 also distributes the image files for each playback screen based on the number of image files belonging to the group and a predetermined maximum display number. A display control unit 240 for laying out each image file on the screen and displaying it on the display device 105 according to the reproduction schedule is provided.

  It should be noted that the maximum display number may hold one value for a series of slide show reproductions, or may be changed for each group classification condition. For example, it can be considered that the maximum number of displayed images is made smaller in the case of a group of the same person than in the case of a group of continuous shooting. This can satisfy the user's desire to view the entire continuous shot image on a single screen or to display a large image of a person. Further, it is conceivable that the group of similar image files increases the maximum display number when the similarity is lower than when the similarity is high. As a result, it is possible to prevent a more monotonous reproduction content from continuing.

  Note that all the image files belonging to the same group may be displayed on one screen without setting an upper limit on the maximum number of displayed images. However, by setting the maximum number of images to be displayed, a large number of image files are displayed on one screen and the overlapping of the image files increases or the display size of each image file decreases, so that the user can view the images. Can be prevented from becoming difficult.

  Next, the operation of executing slide show playback in the image playback apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The following processing is realized by the CPU 100 of the image playback device reading out and starting the OS and the image playback application program from the external storage device 103 and operating according to these program codes. The image playback device displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) according to the image playback application program, and determines an image file to be a slide show in response to a user operation. Note that the user may select the image files individually, or may select a plurality of image files collectively according to the folder to which the image files belong. Alternatively, a predetermined condition may be input and an image file corresponding to it may be selected. For example, the predetermined condition is a keyword, tag, rating, shooting date / time, and the like, and the corresponding image file is searched from the external storage device 103.

  First, in step S <b> 300, the image reproducing apparatus reads the auxiliary information of the image file to be reproduced as a slide show from the external storage device 103 by the auxiliary information reading unit 200.

  Next, in step S301, the image reproduction device classifies the target image files for slide show reproduction into groups according to the incidental information read in step S300 by the image classification unit 210. There may be an image file that does not meet any of the conditions and does not belong to any group. Each group includes one or more image files.

  In step S302, the image playback apparatus sets a playback time for each group created in step S301 and the image file not belonging to the group (hereinafter referred to as a non-group image file) by the playback time setting unit 220. . Here, after setting the total playback time of the entire slide show playback, the playback time may be automatically distributed to each group or each non-group image file. For example, it is conceivable to automatically assign a playback time in proportion to the number of image files belonging to a group. Alternatively, the playback time may be set individually for each group and for each non-group image file.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a playback time setting screen 400 displayed on the display device 105 of the image playback device in step S302. The playback time setting screen 400 is displayed on the display device 105 after the image files to be played back as a slide show are classified into groups in step S301. In each group and non-group image group, an arbitrary reproduction time 401 is set in response to a user input operation. Group 1 is assigned 20 seconds, and non-group image groups are assigned 10 seconds to each image file. Note that non-group image files are not uniform, and different playback times may be set for each. In addition, thumbnail images 402 corresponding to the image files classified into the groups and the non-group image files are displayed. When the number of images is large, a hidden thumbnail image 402 is displayed by operating the scroll bar. Instead of displaying the thumbnail images 402, only the number 403 of image files belonging to the group may be displayed.

  In step S303, the image reproduction apparatus distributes the target image file for each reproduction screen by the image distribution unit 230. Here, the non-group image files are sorted one by one on one screen. On the other hand, one or more image files belonging to a group are assigned to one screen. First, the image reproduction device counts the number of image files belonging to the group by the image counting unit 225. When the number of image files belonging to the group is smaller than a predetermined maximum display number, all the image files belonging to the group are distributed on one screen. On the other hand, when the number of image files belonging to the group is larger than a predetermined maximum display number, the image files belonging to the group are distributed to a plurality of screens. At this time, the image files to be distributed to one screen are distributed so that the number is less than a predetermined maximum display number and the number of screens is minimized. For example, if there are 10 image files belonging to a certain group and the maximum number of displayed images is 6, 6 image files and 4 image files are allocated to 2 screens. Alternatively, every five image files are divided into two screens.

  In step S304, the image playback apparatus determines the layout of the image file allocated to each playback screen. Here, the layout is stored in advance in the external storage device 103 in association with the number of image files to be posted on the playback screen, and may be automatically determined according to the number of image files and group classification conditions. Alternatively, it may be selected and determined manually according to a user input operation. An arbitrary layout may be created in accordance with a user input operation.

  For example, divide one screen equally and place the image files to be published in the same size, arrange any image files in a large size, and arrange other image files in a smaller size Such a layout can be considered. FIG. 5 shows an example in which six image files out of a group of image files taken continuously are displayed on the playback screen in a layout in which the image files are superimposed on one screen. Also, FIG. 6 shows a group of 13 image files in a group of continuously shot images. One image file is arranged in a large size in the center, and the remaining image files are arranged in a small size around the image file. An example displayed on the playback screen with the layout described above is shown. The layout method is not limited to these.

  FIG. 7 is an example of a layout setting screen 710 for setting a desired layout for each playback screen in response to a user input operation. FIG. 7B shows a layout selection screen 720 for reading out and displaying a plurality of types of layout candidates from the external storage device 103 in accordance with the number of image files included in the slide show screen and selecting one of them. It is. On the layout setting screen 710 in FIG. 7A, the layout 711 selected on the layout selection screen 720 is displayed for each playback screen. A thumbnail image 712 corresponding to the image file to be displayed is also displayed for each group reproduction screen.

  In step S305, the image playback apparatus assigns a playback time to each screen. The playback time of the non-group image file set in step S302 is assigned to the playback screen of the non-group image file as it is. The playback time of the group set in step S302 is allocated to the playback screen of image files belonging to the group. Here, the playback time set for the group may be distributed evenly to the screens of the image files belonging to the group, or may be distributed with a weight depending on the number of image files included in the playback screen. Also good. Further, the playback time of each playback screen may be changed in response to a user operation so as to satisfy the playback time set in step S302. The layout setting screen 710 in FIG. 7A also displays the playback time assigned to each playback screen.

  In step S306, the image playback apparatus generates a playback schedule that describes the image file of each playback screen distributed in step S303, the layout of each screen determined in step S304, and the playback time of each playback screen assigned in step S305. Generate. Then, the reproduction schedule is stored in the memory 102. Note that the playback order of the playback screens is determined according to predetermined conditions such as the order of the average shooting date and time of image files posted on each playback screen, and is described in the playback schedule.

  In step S307, the image playback device reads the playback schedule from the memory 102. Then, according to the playback schedule, image files are acquired from the external storage device 103 in order, and each image file is laid out on a playback screen and displayed on the display device 105 in order, thereby executing slide show playback.

  When the slide show reproduction is looped, the layout may be changed to a new layout so as to be different from the previous layout determined in step S304 even on the same reproduction screen. This can further prevent the playback content from becoming monotonous.

  If the number of image files belonging to the group is larger than a predetermined maximum display number, an image file having a predetermined maximum display number is selected from the image files belonging to the group, and only the selected image file is reproduced. It may be. This can further prevent the playback content from becoming monotonous.

  In addition, when a plurality of image files belonging to a group are displayed on one screen, if a predetermined input operation (for example, double-click on the playback screen) is detected, these image files are selected in response. It may be switched so that one image is displayed on one screen. As a result, the image desired by the user can be displayed in a large size, and the user can easily confirm each image.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of image files related to each other are displayed together on one screen, so that the displayed content is more varied than when one image is displayed on one screen. This prevents users from getting bored and shortens the playback time of the entire slide show. Note that displaying a plurality of image files related to each other collectively on one screen makes it easier for the user to check the contents of the image files than when displaying image files that are not related to each other collectively on one screen.

(Other embodiments)
Needless to say, the object of the present invention is achieved as follows. First, a recording medium on which software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments are recorded is supplied to a system or apparatus. Then, the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD, etc. Can be used.

  The functions of the above-described embodiments are not only realized by executing the program code read by the computer. For example, an OS (operation system) running on a computer performs part or all of actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by the processing. Needless to say, it is included.

  Furthermore, it goes without saying that the case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the following processing is also included. First, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image reproduction apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the module structure of the image reproduction apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement of the slide show reproduction | regeneration of the image reproduction apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the reproduction time setting screen in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the layout on the reproduction | regeneration screen in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the layout on the reproduction | regeneration screen in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the layout setting screen in one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

200 Additional Information Reading Unit 210 Image Classification Unit 220 Playback Time Setting Unit 225 Image Counting Unit 230 Image Distribution Unit 240 Display Control Unit 250 Person Identification Unit 260 Continuous Shooting Discrimination Unit 270 Shooting Location Discrimination Unit 280 Similar Image Discrimination Unit

Claims (9)

An image playback apparatus that plays a slide show of a plurality of image files,
Image classification means for classifying the plurality of image files into groups according to incidental information of the image files;
Layout means for laying out the plurality of image files on a single screen for each group;
An image reproduction apparatus comprising: display control means for controlling to sequentially display a screen on which the plurality of image files are laid out.   The image classification means is configured to store an image file according to at least one of a person included in the image file of the supplementary information, a shooting time of the image file, a shooting location of the image file, a color tone of the image file, and a shooting direction of the image file. 2. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reproducing apparatus is classified into groups. A setting means for setting the maximum display number of image files on one screen;
2. The image distribution device according to claim 1, further comprising image distribution means for distributing a plurality of image files belonging to the group to a plurality of screens when the number of image files belonging to the group exceeds the maximum display number. 3. The image reproducing device according to 2. A setting means for setting the maximum display number of image files on one screen;
Selecting means for selecting the maximum display number of image files from a plurality of image files belonging to the group when the number of image files belonging to the group exceeds the maximum display number;
3. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the layout unit lays out the selected image file on one screen.   5. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determining unit that determines a reproduction time of the screen according to the number of image files laid out on the screen.   6. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising changing means for changing the layout so as to be different from the previous time when the slide show reproduction is looped.   When a predetermined input operation is detected while the plurality of image files are displayed on one screen, the display control means controls to display the plurality of image files one by one on one screen. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reproducing apparatus is an image reproducing apparatus. A control method for controlling an image playback device that plays a slide show of a plurality of image files,
Classifying the plurality of image files into groups according to incidental information of the image files;
Laying out the plurality of image files on one screen for each group;
And a step of controlling to sequentially display a screen on which the plurality of image files are laid out. In a computer for realizing an image playback apparatus that plays a slide show of a plurality of image files,
Classifying the plurality of image files into groups according to incidental information of the image files;
Laying out the plurality of image files on one screen for each group;
And a step of controlling to sequentially display a screen on which the plurality of image files are laid out.

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