JP2010021921A - Electronic camera and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera capable of performing image processing on a photographed image without trouble. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic camera includes an imaging device, a display section, a face detection section, a face recognition section, identification information adding section, and an image processing section. The imaging device performs photoelectric conversion on a subject image to produce image data. The display section displays the image on the basis of the image data. The face detection section detects a face of a person from the image displayed on the display section. The face recognition section extracts feature points representing features of the face from the face. The identification information adding section adds, to the image data, identification information for identifying the face on the basis of a user input or the feature points. The image processing section collectively performs prescribed working processing on image data to which the same identification information is added. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic camera having a face detection function and an image processing program.

  In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, users can easily create blogs on personal computers. Therefore, there are many personal blog sites. A blog is a general term for a daily Web (World Wide Web) site operated by an individual or a group of several people and updated daily. On the blog, the user can publish not only text information such as a diary but also images taken with an electronic camera.

In addition, with the spread of the Internet, there are companies that provide image storage services for publishing images taken by users with electronic cameras. In this case, an image can be uploaded from an electronic camera equipped with a communication function to an image storage server via the Internet (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-148326 A

  Conventionally, there are cases in which a photographed image is not posted on a blog as it is, but is desired to be posted after image processing. In this case, a user generally takes an image taken with an electronic camera once into a personal computer and performs image processing using image processing software or the like.

  For example, from the viewpoint of privacy protection, there is a case where it is desired to mosaic a specific person's face on an image of a person taken. In some cases, it is desired to perform image processing on a close-up face image by trimming a photographed image of a person.

  However, when it is desired to perform image processing on a plurality of images, if the user performs image processing one by one, there is a problem that it takes time and effort.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera that can perform image processing without taking time and effort on a captured image.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing program that can perform image processing on a captured image without taking time and effort.

  An electronic camera according to a first invention includes an imaging device, a display unit, a face detection unit, a face recognition unit, an identification information addition unit, and an image processing unit. The imaging device generates image data by photoelectrically converting the subject image. The display unit displays an image based on the image data. The face detection unit detects a person's face from the image displayed on the display unit. The face recognition unit extracts feature points representing the features of the face from the face. The identification information adding unit adds identification information for identifying a face to image data based on a user input or a feature point. The image processing unit collectively performs predetermined image processing on the image data to which the same identification information is added.

  In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the predetermined image processing is mosaic processing that mosaics a face area.

  In a third aspect based on the first aspect, the predetermined image processing is digital blurring processing for blurring a face area.

  In a fourth aspect based on the first aspect, the predetermined image processing is trimming processing for changing a composition including a face area.

  According to a fifth invention, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, thumbnail images, which are reduced images generated based on an image subjected to predetermined image processing, are listed according to the predetermined image processing. A display control unit for displaying is further provided.

  In a sixth aspect based on the fifth aspect, the image processing apparatus further includes a communication processing unit that transmits the image data to an external communication destination via the communication interface. The communication processing unit collectively transfers the original image data of the thumbnail images displayed as a list or the original image data of the thumbnail images selected by the user input among the thumbnail images displayed as a list to the communication destination.

  In a seventh aspect based on the second aspect, the mosaic processing is performed for a specific face area or a face area other than the plurality of faces displayed on the display unit.

  In an eighth aspect based on the third aspect, the digital blurring process is performed for a specific face area or a face area other than the plurality of faces displayed on the display unit.

  In a ninth aspect based on the fourth aspect, the trimming process is performed by selecting a specific face from one or more faces displayed on the display unit.

  According to a tenth aspect, in the first aspect, the image processing apparatus further includes an identification information registration unit that stores the image data to which the identification information is added by another name or overwrites and registers the image data for each identification information.

  An image processing program according to an eleventh aspect of the invention is an image processing program for causing a computer having a display unit for displaying an image to execute image processing, and for detecting a face of a person from the image displayed on the display unit And a face recognition step for extracting a feature point representing the feature of the face from the face, an identification information addition step for adding identification information for identifying the face to the image data based on the user input or the feature point, and the same identification information The computer is caused to execute an image processing step for collectively performing predetermined image processing on the image data to which is added.

  According to the electronic camera of the present invention, it is possible to perform image processing without taking time and effort on a captured image. In addition, the image processing program of the present invention can perform image processing on a captured image without taking time and effort. This improves the convenience for the user.

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

  FIG. 1 is a rear view of the electronic camera 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a release button 2 is disposed on the upper surface of the electronic camera 1. A wide-angle zoom key 3, a telephoto zoom key 4, a power button 5, a mode switch 6, and a menu switching / execution key 7 are disposed on the back of the electronic camera 1. The wide angle zoom key 3 is an operation button for changing the focal length to the wide angle side. The telephoto zoom key 4 is an operation button for changing the focal length to the telephoto side. The mode switch 6 is an operation button for switching the shooting mode to still image shooting or still image playback. The menu switching / execution key 7 is an operation button for selecting or executing a setting condition by freely switching a menu used for still image shooting or still image reproduction.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the electronic camera 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic camera 1 includes a photographing lens 10, a lens driving unit 11, a diaphragm 12, a diaphragm driving unit 13, an image sensor 14, a timing generator (TG) 15, and an analog front end unit ( (Hereinafter referred to as “AFE”) 16, an image signal processing unit 17, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 18, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 19, a display control unit 20, a liquid crystal display monitor 21, and an operation unit. 22, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 23, a recording interface (recording I / F) 24, a bus 25, a recording medium 26, and a communication interface (communication I / F) 27. Among these, the image signal processing unit 17, RAM 18, ROM 19, display control unit 20, CPU 23, recording interface (recording I / F) 24 and communication interface (communication I / F) 27 are connected to each other via a bus 25. . The operation unit 22 is connected to the CPU 23.

  The photographing lens 10 includes a plurality of lens groups including a zoom lens and a focus lens. For the sake of simplicity, FIG. 2 shows the photographing lens 10 as a single lens. Each lens constituting the photographing lens 10 is moved in the optical axis direction by the lens driving unit 11. The input / output of the lens driving unit 11 is connected to the CPU 23.

  The diaphragm 12 adjusts the amount of incident light from the photographing lens 10. The opening amount of the diaphragm 12 is adjusted by the diaphragm driving unit 13. The input / output of the aperture driving unit 13 is connected to the CPU 23.

  The imaging device 14 generates an image signal (analog signal) by photoelectrically converting incident light from the photographing lens 10. In the photographing mode for photographing a subject, the image sensor 14 outputs a recording image at the time of photographing. Further, at the time of shooting standby, the image sensor 14 outputs a through image for composition confirmation every elapse of a predetermined time.

  Further, the timing generator (TG) 15 sends drive signals to each of the image sensor 14 and the AFE 16 according to instructions from the CPU 23, thereby controlling the drive timing of both.

  The AFE 16 is an analog front-end circuit that performs signal processing on an image signal generated by the image sensor 14. The AFE 16 performs image signal gain adjustment, A / D conversion of the image signal, and the like. The image signal (digital signal) output from the AFE 16 is input to the image signal processing unit 17.

  The image signal processing unit 17 temporarily stores the RGB signal image data output from the AFE 16 in the frame memory of the RAM 18. The image signal processing unit 17 converts the RGB signal image data into YC signal image data represented by luminance (Y) and color (C).

  The image signal processing unit 17 performs image signal processing such as white balance correction processing and gain control processing on the image data stored in the frame memory.

  A connector for connecting the recording medium 26 is formed in the recording interface (recording I / F) 24. The recording interface (recording I / F) 24 accesses the recording medium 26 connected to the connector according to an instruction from the CPU 23 and performs image recording processing.

  The communication interface (communication I / F) 27 is a communication interface for realizing a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) that exchanges data by wireless communication, for example.

  The operation unit 22 includes operation buttons (release button 2, wide-angle zoom key 3, telephoto zoom key 4, power button 5, mode switch 6 and menu switch / menu switch provided on the back and top surfaces of the electronic camera 1 already described with reference to FIG. The operation of the execution key 7) is accepted and a processing command is issued to the CPU 23.

The CPU 23 is a processor that controls the electronic camera 1. The CPU 23 calculates a parameter for each process and controls each part of the electronic camera 1 by executing a sequence program stored in advance in the ROM 19. In addition, the CPU 23 of the present embodiment
It also functions as a face detection unit 23a, a face recognition unit 23b, an identification information adding unit 23c, an identification information registration unit 23d, an image processing unit 23e, and a communication processing unit 23f.

  The face detection unit 23 a detects a face from a through image or a captured image displayed on the liquid crystal display monitor 21. The face recognizing unit 23b extracts feature points constituting the facial organ based on the detected face. The face detection unit 23a and the face recognition unit 23b are performed by a known technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-16573 as an example. In this case, the face recognition unit 23b extracts facial feature points by a feature point extraction process described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-16573. Examples of feature points include eyebrows, eyes, nose, lips, facial contours, and the like. In the feature point extraction process, for example, the face color, brightness dispersion, intensity distribution, and the like can be detected as the feature amount.

  The identification information adding unit 23c adds the name of the person to the image data as identification information. Here, an Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) format is adopted as the image file (image data).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an Exif image file. In the first embodiment, the image file conforms to the file format of Exif (Exchangeable image file). This Exif is a typical file format of an electronic camera. Exif defines two types of formats, an uncompressed image file in the TIFF file (Tagged Image File Format) format and a compressed image file in the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) file format. FIG. 3 shows the structure of a conventionally known TIFF file.

  The TIFF file has a hierarchical structure starting with a TIFF header. In the TIFF file, an image file directory (IFD: Image File Directory) is arranged following the TIFF header. The image data is divided and recorded in blocks called strips or tiles. In the “Value of IFD area”, pointer values corresponding to the divided image data are stored for the number of strips and tiles.

  The IFD area includes a plurality of data blocks (IFD Entry). Here, in the first two bytes of “IFDEntry”, an identification number representing each additional information is arranged. This identification number is associated with specific additional information (image size, compression method type, resolution, etc.). In Exif, additional information that is not defined in normal TIFF can be defined. In this embodiment, an identification number representing the name of a person is added. Thereby, the name of each person can be recorded in association with the identification number. In addition, as identification information, the name of a person is an example, Comprising: The abbreviation of a person may be sufficient.

  The identification information registration unit 23d creates a folder (face authentication folder) for each person's name, saves the image data with the person's name as an alias or overwrites it, and registers (records) it in the recording medium 26.

  The image processing unit 23e performs mosaic processing, digital blur processing, trimming processing, and the like (details will be described later).

  The communication processing unit 23f transmits the image data by wireless communication to, for example, an external server via the communication interface (communication I / F) 27.

  The display control unit 20 displays an image on the liquid crystal display monitor 21 based on the image data. Further, the display control unit 20 causes the liquid crystal display monitor 21 to display an image on which predetermined image processing has been performed by the image processing unit 23e. Furthermore, the display control unit 20 displays a list of thumbnail images, which are reduced images, on the liquid crystal display monitor 21 according to predetermined image processing.

  Next, an example of the operation of the electronic camera 1 in the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the photographing operation of the electronic camera 1. Here, processing from the face detection function to the identification information registration function will be described first. In the following description, a case where the face detection function and the face recognition function are turned on and the identification information registration function is also turned on will be described.

  Step S101: The CPU 23 starts acquiring a through image by driving the image sensor 14 via the timing generator (TG) 15. This through image is displayed on the liquid crystal display monitor 21.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the face detection function. FIG. 5A shows a state in which a through image (subject: person A) is displayed on the liquid crystal display monitor 21. Using this through image, face detection processing and face recognition processing are performed. Here, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, the face detection of one person is performed, but the same can be done for a plurality of persons.

  Step S102: The CPU 23 determines whether or not acquisition of a through image has started. When acquisition of a through image is started (step S102: Yes), the process proceeds to step S103. On the other hand, if the release button is not half-pressed even after a predetermined time has elapsed (step S102: No), the power saving mode functions and this processing routine ends.

  Step S103: The face detection unit 23a of the CPU 23 performs the face detection process described above on the through image and detects the face from the shooting screen. At this time, the face detection unit 23 a acquires a color component and a luminance value based on an image signal generated by the image sensor 14. In this case, the face detection unit 23a detects the face by specifying a skin color component region or the like. When the face is detected, the CPU 23, based on the coordinate data for specifying the position of the face in the shooting screen, as shown in FIG. 5B, a rectangular mark (face detection frame 21a) surrounding the face. Is displayed on the liquid crystal display monitor 21.

  Step S104: The CPU 23 determines whether or not a face has been detected in the face detection process of step S103. When the face detection unit 23a has detected a face (step S104: Yes), the process proceeds to face recognition processing (step S105).

  On the other hand, when the face detection unit 23a cannot detect the face (step S104: No), the process proceeds to step S106 as the normal shooting mode. In this case, when the full-press operation is performed (step S106: Yes), the process proceeds to the main image acquisition process (step S107). The processing after step S107 will be described later.

  Step S105: The face recognition unit 23b of the CPU 23 extracts feature points constituting the facial organ based on the detected face.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the face recognition function. In FIG. 6, feature points such as eyes, nose, lips, and face outline are extracted from the face area of the face detection frame shown in FIG.

  Step S106: The CPU 23 determines whether or not the release button has been fully pressed. If the release button has not been fully pressed (step S106: No), the process returns to step S102. On the other hand, when the release button is fully pressed (step S106: Yes), the process proceeds to step S107.

  Step S107: Upon receiving the full-press operation from the operation unit 22, the CPU 23 drives the image sensor 14 via the timing generator (TG) 15 for acquiring the main image. The AFE 16 performs gain adjustment of the image signal and A / D conversion of the image signal. The image signal (digital signal) output from the AFE 16 is input to the image signal processing unit 17. The image signal processing unit 17 stores the main image data output from the AFE 16 in the frame memory of the RAM 18. The image signal processing unit 17 performs image signal processing such as white balance correction processing and gain control processing on the main image data stored in the frame memory.

  Step S108: The identification information adding unit 23c of the CPU 23 adds the name of the person whose face is detected as identification information to the image data. Here, identification information is added to image data by two methods.

  The first method is as follows. First, the display control unit 20 displays the image after the image signal processing in step S107 on the liquid crystal display monitor 21, and displays the face detection frame 21a as shown in FIG. 5B. Subsequently, the CPU 23 receives the name of the person input by the user input using the menu switching / execution key 7 shown in FIG. 1, and the identification information adding unit 23c adds the name of the person to the Exif header file. Write.

  The second method is as follows. Based on the feature points extracted by the face recognition unit 23b, the CPU 23 searches the image data that has already been stored to determine whether or not a person image having the same feature points exists. When there is an image of a person having a similar feature point, the identification information adding unit 23c writes the name of the person in the Exif header file as the identification information.

  In the present embodiment, the identification information adding unit 23c may write the person's name in the Exif header file by the first method or the second method, and the first method, the second method, May be combined.

  Step S109: The CPU 23 compresses the main image data and stores it in the recording medium 26. Here, the identification information registration unit 23d creates a folder (face authentication folder) for each person's name, and saves or overwrites the image data with the person's name added, and registers (records) it in the recording medium 26. To do. Then, this processing routine ends.

  Next, processing of the image processing unit 23e and the communication processing unit 23f will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing image data processing in the electronic camera 1. Here, processing that batches mosaic processing for image data with the same identification information added, and uploading images to an external image storage server for image data that has undergone mosaic processing First, the processing to be performed will be described.

  The flowchart shown in FIG. 7 starts when the user selects the mode of the reproduction screen for each person. By selecting the mode of the reproduction screen for each person, batch image processing of image data and image data upload can be performed.

  Step S201: When the user receives a command signal for the reproduction screen for each person, the CPU 23 causes the liquid crystal display monitor 21 to display a menu for the mode for the reproduction screen for each person via the display control unit 20.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of the mode of the reproduction screen for each person. As shown in FIG. 8A, the liquid crystal display monitor 21 displays a menu for the mode of the reproduction screen for each person.

  Step S202: Upon receiving a command signal indicating that the face authentication folder a of the person A has been selected by user input, the CPU 23 reads an image showing the person A from the face authentication folder a of the recording medium 26. The CPU 23 generates a thumbnail image of an image showing the person A. Note that thumbnail images may be recorded in advance in the face authentication folder a of the recording medium 26 separately from the original image.

  Step S203: The CPU 23 causes the liquid crystal display monitor 21 to display a thumbnail image showing the person A via the display control unit 20. FIG. 8B shows an example of a thumbnail image in which the person A is shown.

  Step S <b> 204: When receiving a command signal for image processing selection by user input, the CPU 23 displays a menu for image processing selection on the liquid crystal display monitor 21 via the display control unit 20.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu for image processing selection. As shown in FIG. 9A, the liquid crystal display monitor 21 displays an image processing selection menu. For example, when a batch mosaic is selected by a user input, as shown in FIG. 9B, specific processing contents of the batch mosaic are displayed in a menu. Here, it is possible to select two types by user input: (1) a case where the mosaic process is performed for the registered person A, and (2) a case where the mosaic process is performed for other than the registered person A. Note that this is an example, and for example, all the persons shown in the image may be used. Further, the mosaic processing level can be set by user input. For example, the level may be set by a bar display (not shown). This mosaic process is performed by a known technique.

  Step S205: When the CPU 23 receives a command signal for executing a batch mosaic by a user input, the image processing unit 23e of the CPU 23 performs a mosaic process on the selected face area.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the mosaic process. FIG. 10A shows an example when a mosaic process is performed on the registered person A. FIG. FIG. 10B shows an example when mosaic processing is performed for persons other than the registered person A. In the mosaic processing, the face coordinates may be stored at the time of face detection so that the image data is read from the recording medium 26 to the RAM 18 and the mosaic processing may be collectively performed in the RAM 18. In this case, since it is not necessary to display an image on the liquid crystal display monitor 21, the processing time is shortened.

  Step S206: For example, the CPU 23 displays a preview of the image shown in FIG. 10 on the liquid crystal display monitor 21 via the display control unit 20. In this case, it is possible to change the mosaic processing parameters and execute the mosaic processing again. Further, the CPU 23 causes the liquid crystal display monitor 21 to display thumbnails on the liquid crystal display monitor 21 through the display control unit 20.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of thumbnail display after mosaic processing. Here, for simplicity, two images after mosaic processing are displayed as thumbnail images. Here, for the thumbnail images displayed as a list, an image to be uploaded can be selected by user input. You may upload the original image of all thumbnail images.

  Step S207: When receiving a command signal for selecting a thumbnail image by user input, the CPU 23 causes the liquid crystal display monitor 21 to display the menu screen shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an example of a batch upload menu screen. Here, when the CPU 23 receives a command signal for selecting batch upload by user input, the processing routine proceeds to step S208.

  Step S208: The CPU 23 starts batch upload.

  FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of batch upload. The communication processing unit 23 f of the CPU 23 first transmits image data to the external wireless LAN access point 100 by wireless communication via the communication interface (communication I / F) 27. Subsequently, the wireless LAN access point 100 uploads image data to the image management server 200 via the Internet.

  Then, the communication processing unit 23f of the CPU 23 receives the upload completion command signal, and the processing routine ends.

  Next, the batch digital blur process will be described. When the batch digital blur processing is selected in step S204, the process proceeds to step S209, and the image processing unit 23e of the CPU 23 performs batch digital blur processing on the selected face area.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of batch digital blurring processing. The digital blur processing is performed by a known technique. FIG. 14A is a diagram illustrating an example in which digital blur processing is performed on a person other than the person A. FIG. 14B is an example of a case where the person A is subjected to digital blurring processing. In this way, the image processing unit 23e of the CPU 23 collectively performs digital blur processing of the face area on the selected person. Since the subsequent processing is the same as the batch mosaic processing, description thereof is omitted. Note that, as the digital blurring process, the process of blurring the background as in the portrait mode may be performed at once.

  Next, the batch trimming process will be described. If batch trimming processing is selected in step S204, the process proceeds to step S210, and the image processing unit 23e of the CPU 23 performs batch trimming processing of the selected face area.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of batch trimming processing. FIG. 15A shows a diagram in which a face to be trimmed is selected, and a face detection frame 21 is displayed. Here, the person A is selected. The image processing unit 23e of the CPU 23 can generate, for example, the image shown in FIG. 15B for the selected person A by a known trimming process. The trimming process may be performed as follows, for example.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of batch trimming processing. FIG. 16A shows an example of a composition for portrait shooting. Here, as shown in FIG. 16B, the side L of the face detection frame 21 may be trimmed so that the length of L is three times as long as one side of the shooting screen. Further, as a trimming method, when the face is enlarged and displayed, the center coordinates of the face are displayed at the center of the screen. If the center coordinates of the face cannot be matched with the center coordinates of the screen due to the position of the face and the magnification, it may be brought closer to the center of the screen. In other words, the CPU 23 may automatically determine the trimming composition according to the composition, or the user may specify the trimming composition.

  Here, the image processing unit 23e of the CPU 23 sequentially performs a trimming process collectively on the image data of the person A registered in the face authentication folder. Since the subsequent processing is the same as the batch mosaic processing, description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the electronic camera 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to perform image processing in a lump without taking time and effort on the captured image. This improves the convenience for the user.

  In this embodiment, the image data subjected to batch image processing is uploaded to the external image management server 200 by wireless communication. However, the present invention is not limited to wireless communication, and wired communication using a wired LAN may be performed. Alternatively, the USB cable may be connected from the electronic camera 1 to an external personal computer to transfer the image data subjected to batch image processing. Further, the recording medium 26 on which the image data subjected to batch image processing is recorded from the electronic camera 1 may be taken out and loaded into an external personal computer. Thus, the user does not have to perform predetermined image processing one by one on the personal computer. Then, the image data that has been batch processed on the user's own blog may be updated from the personal computer. Moreover, you may make it select the image published on a blog from the image data processed collectively. Further, thumbnail images may be transferred in a batch according to the capacity of the destination memory.

  In this embodiment, the batch-processed image data is uploaded to the external image management server 200. For example, the electronic camera 1 side performs batch print designation to the external printer by wireless communication or the like. Also good.

In this embodiment, the Exif file format is used. This provides versatility, but it may be applied to other types of files.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, an image (assuming that face detection processing is not performed) taken by the electronic camera 1 is read out to the computer 3 shown in FIG. Perform image processing. When performing this batch image processing, an image processing program according to an embodiment of the present invention is used.

  This will be specifically described below. FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer. The computer 3 shown in FIG. 17 includes a computer CPU 30, a memory 31, a communication interface (I / F) 32, a keyboard 33, and a display monitor 34. The memory 31 also stores an image processing program that is an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the second embodiment, the image processing program A shown in the dotted frame in FIG. 17 is incorporated in the computer CPU 30. That is, the computer CPU 30 includes the face detection unit 30a, the face recognition unit 30b, the identification information addition unit 30c, and the image processing unit 30d by incorporating the image processing program A which is an embodiment of the present invention. Built. Note that the processes of the face detection unit 30a, the face recognition unit 30b, the identification information adding unit 30c, and the image processing unit 30d are the same as the contents described in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the image processing program A which is an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Here, it is assumed that an image recorded by the electronic camera 1 is stored in advance in the memory 31 via the communication interface (I / F) 32. However, it is assumed that a person's face is shown in the recorded image, face detection processing is not performed, and identification information is not added to the Exif file.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image processing program A of the second embodiment. This processing routine is started when the activation of the image processing program A is received from the keyboard 33 shown in FIG.

  Step S301: The CPU 30 reads an image to be processed from the memory 31 and displays it on the display monitor 34.

  Step S302: The face detection unit 30a of the CPU 30 performs a face detection process on the image displayed on the display monitor 34 to detect a face.

  Step S303: The face recognition unit 30b of the CPU 30 extracts feature points constituting a facial organ based on the detected face.

  Step S304: The identification information adding unit 30c of the CPU 23 adds the name of the person whose face is detected to the image data as identification information. Here, the identification information is added to the image data by the two methods described in the first embodiment.

  Step S305: The CPU 30 displays a thumbnail image of a person having identification information designated on the display monitor 34 by a user input.

  Step S305: The image processing unit 30d of the CPU 30 performs mosaic processing on the original image data of the thumbnail images in a lump in response to user input, for example. The batch-processed image data is stored under a different name in the person face authentication folder of the specified identification information.

  Then, this processing routine ends. Thereafter, the mosaic-processed image data is uploaded to the external blog server 300 by user input, for example.

As described above, according to the image processing program A of the present embodiment, it is possible to perform batch image processing without taking time and effort on the captured image. This improves the convenience for the user.
<Supplementary items of the embodiment>
(1) In the present embodiment, mosaic processing, digital blurring processing, and trimming processing are taken up as predetermined image processing, but these are examples, and are not limited to three processing. For example, red-eye image processing for correcting red eyes may be used. A plurality of image processes may be combined.

  (2) In the present embodiment, the identification information is added when the electronic camera 1 is photographed. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and the following method may be adopted. If the face detection function is not performed when the electronic camera 1 is shooting, the identification information of the person specified in the Exif header file is not added. In such a case, in the still image playback mode, the application for the face detection function or the face identification function is executed, and the recorded image is searched based on the facial features, so that it is designated in the Exif header file. A configuration may be added in which identification information of the person is added.

The rear view of the electronic camera 1 of 1st Embodiment 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic camera 1 according to a first embodiment. Schematic representation of an Exif image file Flow chart showing photographing operation of electronic camera 1 Diagram explaining the face detection function Diagram explaining the face recognition function Flowchart representing processing of image data in electronic camera 1 The figure explaining an example of the mode of the reproduction screen according to a person The figure explaining an example of the menu of image processing selection The figure explaining an example of mosaic processing The figure explaining an example of the thumbnail display after mosaic processing Diagram explaining an example of the batch upload menu screen Conceptual diagram of bulk upload Diagram showing an example of batch digital blur processing Diagram showing an example of batch trimming processing Diagram showing an example of batch trimming processing Block diagram showing the configuration of the computer The flowchart showing the operation of the image processing program A of the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 ... Electronic camera, 3 ... Computer, 17 ... Image signal processing part, 23a, 30a ... Face detection part, 23b, 30b ... Face recognition part, 23c, 30c ... Identification information adding unit, 23d ... identification information registering unit, 23e, 30d ... image processing unit, 23f ... communication processing unit

Claims (11)

An image sensor that photoelectrically converts a subject image to generate image data;
A display unit for displaying an image based on the image data;
A face detection unit for detecting a person's face from the image displayed on the display unit;
A face recognition unit for extracting feature points representing the features of the face from the face;
An identification information adding unit for adding identification information for identifying the face to the image data based on a user input or the feature point;
An image processing unit that collectively performs predetermined image processing on image data to which the same identification information is added;
An electronic camera comprising: The electronic camera according to claim 1,
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined image processing is mosaic processing that mosaics the face area. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined image processing is digital blur processing that blurs the face area. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined image processing is trimming processing for changing a composition including the face area. The electronic camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An electronic camera, further comprising: a display control unit configured to display a list of thumbnail images, which are reduced images generated based on the image subjected to the predetermined image processing, according to the predetermined image processing. The electronic camera according to claim 5,
A communication processing unit for transmitting the image data to an external communication destination via a communication interface;
The communication processing unit collectively transfers the original image data of the thumbnail image displayed in a list or the original image data of a thumbnail image selected by a user input among the thumbnail images displayed in a list to the communication destination. An electronic camera characterized by that. The electronic camera according to claim 2,
2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the mosaic process is performed on a specific face area or a face area other than the plurality of faces displayed on the display unit. The electronic camera according to claim 3.
The digital camera is characterized in that the digital blur processing is performed on a specific face area or other face area among the plurality of faces displayed on the display unit. The electronic camera according to claim 4,
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the trimming process is performed by selecting a specific face from the one or more faces displayed on the display unit. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
An electronic camera, further comprising: an identification information registration unit that stores the image data to which the identification information is added by another name or overwrites and registers the image data for each identification information. An image processing program for causing a computer having a display unit to display an image to execute image processing,
A face detecting step of detecting a human face from the image displayed on the display unit;
A face recognition step of extracting feature points representing the features of the face from the face;
An identification information adding step of adding identification information for identifying the face to the image data based on a user input or the feature point;
An image processing program for causing a computer to execute an image processing step for performing predetermined image processing collectively on image data to which the same identification information is added.

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