JP2010074611A - Device and method for reproducing image, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrain a specific image from being displayed along with another image by another person against the intention of an owner, and to allow the owner to easily display the specific image at the same time. <P>SOLUTION: In a digital camera 1, a control part 3 sets a time zone designated by a user as a permission time zone for permitting display, on a TFT liquid-crystal monitor 13, of predetermined image data stored in an image memory 17. The control part 3 controls the display of image data by the TFT liquid-crystal monitor 13, and prohibits the display of the predetermined image data by the TFT liquid-crystal monitor 13 in all time zones excluding the permission time zone. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reproduction apparatus, an image reproduction method, and a program suitable for use in, for example, a digital camera.

Conventionally, as an image playback device that plays back and displays image data, for example, when a recorded image being played back is specified, an electronic camera in which a recorded image other than the specified playback image is set to a locked state (display prohibited state) has been proposed. (See Patent Document 1). According to such an electronic camera, an image used for work and a private image (hereinafter referred to as a private image) are mixed even in the camera (built-in memory card or the like). When circulating images used for work to a specific large number of people, it is possible to protect private images by allowing only images other than private images to be displayed.
JP 2004-215103 A

  By the way, if the user is in a private time zone, such as at home, the user wants to appreciate the private image as much as possible. Therefore, it is preferable to display the private image more actively.

  However, in the above-described conventional electronic camera, once the locked state (display prohibited state) of the recorded image is set, the locked state is continuously maintained until the unlocking operation is performed. In order to do this, an operation to release the locked state is indispensable. For this reason, while private images can be protected at the workplace or the like, there is a problem that the display becomes complicated when spending time at home or the like.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and restricts that a specific image is displayed by another person together with another image against the intention of the owner. An object of the present invention is to provide an image reproducing apparatus and an image reproducing method that can be easily displayed, and a program used for realizing them.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the image reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, in an image reproducing apparatus for reproducing and displaying image data, a display unit for displaying the image data, and a predetermined unit in the display unit The permission time setting means for setting a time zone specified by the user as the permission time zone for permitting the display of the image data, and the display of the image data by the display means are controlled and set by the permission time setting means Display control means for prohibiting display of the predetermined image data by the display means in all time zones except for the permitted time zone.

  In the image reproduction device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the predetermined image data is image data accompanied by confidential instruction information indicating that display is restricted, and the display control means The display means prohibits the display means to display the image data accompanied by the concealment instruction information among the image data to be displayed by the display means in all time zones except the permission time zone.

  Further, in the image reproducing device according to the invention described in claim 3, a photographing means for photographing the subject to obtain image data, a recording means for recording the image data obtained by the photographing means, Determination means for determining whether or not the image data acquired by the photographing means is predetermined image data whose display should be restricted, according to a predetermined criterion, and the image data acquired by the photographing means to the recording means Recording the predetermined image data that is determined to be image data whose display should be restricted by the determining means, and recording the concealment instruction information with the predetermined image data at the time of recording to the recording means And a recording control means for recording to the recording medium.

  The image reproduction apparatus according to the invention of claim 4 further comprises environment information acquisition means for acquiring environment information indicating a shooting environment at the time of shooting of the subject by the shooting means, Determining that the image data acquired by the imaging means is predetermined image data whose display should be restricted when the imaging environment indicated by the environment information acquired by the acquisition means satisfies a predetermined confidentiality condition; Features.

  The image reproduction apparatus according to the invention of claim 5 further includes a concealment condition setting unit configured to set a concealment condition of contents designated by a user as the predetermined concealment condition, and the determination unit includes: When the shooting environment indicated by the environment information acquired by the acquisition unit satisfies the secrecy condition set by the secrecy condition setting unit, the image data acquired by the shooting unit is predetermined to be displayed. It is determined that the image data is image data.

  In the image reproduction apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the environment information acquisition unit acquires the shooting time of the subject by the shooting unit as the environment information, and the determination unit includes the environment information acquisition unit. When the shooting time acquired by the above is included in a predetermined time zone, it is determined that the image data acquired by the shooting means is predetermined image data whose display should be restricted.

  In the image reproduction device according to the seventh aspect of the invention, the environment information acquisition unit acquires the position information of the device at the time of shooting the subject by the shooting unit as the environment information, and the determination unit includes: When the shooting location of the subject indicated by the position information acquired by the environment information acquisition means is included in a predetermined position range, the image data acquired by the shooting means is a predetermined image whose display should be restricted. It is characterized by judging that it is data.

  Further, in the image reproduction device according to the invention of claim 8, as a shooting mode that can be set at the time of shooting of the subject by the shooting means, a plurality of shooting modes having different intended purposes are provided in advance. The environment information acquisition unit acquires a shooting mode set when the subject is shot by the shooting unit as the shooting environment, and the determination unit acquires the shooting mode acquired by the environment information acquisition unit as a predetermined shooting mode. In some cases, it is determined that the image data acquired by the photographing unit is predetermined image data whose display should be restricted.

  In the image reproducing apparatus according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the image recognizing means for recognizing a predetermined recognition object registered in advance by the user for the image data acquired by the photographing means. The determination means determines that the image data acquired by the photographing means is predetermined image data whose display should be restricted when the predetermined recognition target can be recognized by the image recognition means. It is characterized by that.

  Further, in the image reproducing apparatus according to the invention of claim 10, the image recognizing means recognizes a face of a specific person registered in advance by a user for image data. To do.

  Further, in the program according to the invention of claim 11, a process of setting a time zone designated by the user as a permitted time zone for allowing the computer to display predetermined image data on the display means, Controlling the display of the image data by the display means, and executing a process of prohibiting the display of the predetermined image data by the display means in all time zones except the permission time zone.

  In the image reproduction method according to the invention described in claim 12, in the image reproduction method for reproducing and displaying the image data, the user is permitted as a permitted time zone for allowing the display means to display the predetermined image data. The step of setting the time zone designated by the control unit and the display unit controls the display of the image data and prohibits the display unit from displaying the predetermined image data in all time zones except the permission time zone. And a step of performing.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible for an owner to display a specific image easily while restrict | limiting that a specific image is displayed with another image contrary to an owner's intention by another person.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, a digital camera to which the present invention is applied, that is, an image display device having a photographing function will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an electrical configuration of a digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment. The digital camera 1 includes a CCD 2 as an imaging unit, and is configured with a control unit 3 as a center. The control unit 3 mainly includes a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits, a digital signal processing circuit, an image data compression / decompression circuit, an image recognition circuit, a clock circuit having a calendar function, and the like, and controls the digital camera 1.

  An optical image of the subject is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 2 through an optical system 4 and a diaphragm 6 that constitute a zoom lens, a focus lens, and the like. The optical system 4 is held by a drive mechanism 5 including an AF motor, a zoom motor, and the like, and a drive signal output from the optical system drive unit 7 is supplied to the drive mechanism 5 by a control signal from the control unit 3. Driven back and forth on the optical axis. The diaphragm 6 is driven by a drive signal generated by the diaphragm drive unit 8 based on a control signal from the control unit 3 and adjusts the light quantity of the subject image incident on the CCD 2.

  On the other hand, a TG (Timing Generator) 9 that generates a timing signal is connected to the control unit 3, and the CCD 2 uses a drive signal generated by a V driver 10 (vertical driver) based on the timing signal generated by the TG 9. Driven and outputs an analog imaging signal corresponding to the luminance of the subject image to the analog signal processing unit 11.

  The analog signal processing unit 11 includes a gain adjustment amplifier (AGC) that is an analog amplifier, a CDS circuit (Correlated Double Sampling), and an A / D converter (AD) that converts it into a digital signal. The output signal of the CCD 2 is sampled at the same black level and sent to the control unit 3 as a digital signal.

  Further, an operation key unit 12, a TFT liquid crystal monitor 13, a strobe 14, a DRAM 15, a built-in memory 16, an image memory 17, and a GPS block 18 are connected to the control unit 3.

  The operation key unit 12 includes a power key, a shutter key, a mode setting key, a control key, and the like, and signals associated with these key operations are sent directly to the control unit 3.

  In the present embodiment, the mode setting key is a key for setting the basic operation mode of the digital camera to a shooting mode or a playback mode for displaying a recorded image. Further, the control key is a key having a structure that allows a general direction instruction operation and confirmation operation of the up / down / left / right direction in the digital camera, and is a menu screen or setting screen for setting various operation contents in the digital camera 1. This is used for selecting items, selecting setting values of selected items, determining setting contents, and the like. The strobe 14 includes an arc tube that emits auxiliary light at the time of photographing based on a command from the control unit 3 and a drive circuit thereof.

  The DRAM 15 is a working memory, and the image memory 17 is an image recording memory including various memory cards. A digital signal (imaging signal) sent from the CCD 2 to the control unit 3 is temporarily stored in the DRAM 15. After various image processing and compression are performed in the control unit 3, the image is finally recorded in the image memory 17 as an image file conforming to the Exif format, which is an image format used as a standard.

  The image data recorded in the image memory 17 is read out to the control unit 3 as necessary, and is generated into a digital video signal or an analog video signal through processing such as expansion processing, addition of a luminance signal and a color signal, and TFT Displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 13. In addition, on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 13, an image periodically captured in the recording mode is displayed as a through image. Further, the menu screen and setting screen described above are also displayed.

  The built-in memory 16 is a non-volatile memory that can rewrite stored data. The built-in memory 16 includes a program data storage area 16a, a setting data storage area 16b, and a best shot data storage area as shown in FIG. 16c, a face image data storage area 16d is secured.

  In the program data storage area 16a, various programs necessary for control of each unit and data processing in the control unit 3, and an aperture value (F) corresponding to an appropriate exposure value (EV) at the time of photographing and a shutter speed are stored. Program AE data or the like constituting a program diagram showing the combination is recorded. By using the program AE data or the like, the control unit 3 in the recording mode can perform basic AE control, AF (autofocus) control, A photographing process including AWB (auto white balance) control is performed. In addition, the program includes a program for recognizing a face for causing the control unit 3 to recognize a face of a specific person from a photographed image, and a program for performing a process described later. The unit 3 follows these programs, and operates according to the operation of each key in the operation key unit 12, thereby permitting time setting means, display control means, determination means, recording control means, environment information acquisition means of the present invention. It functions as a concealment condition setting unit and an image recognition unit. Also, it functions as a photographing means of the present invention together with the CCD 2.

  The setting data storage area 16b stores various setting data related to the operation content of the digital camera 1, and data that can be rewritten as appropriate, such as data set by the user and automatically set data. .

  The best shot data storage area 16c stores data used during shooting using the best shot shooting function of the digital camera 1. The best shot shooting function is a well-known function. Prior to shooting, the best shot shooting function matches a specific shooting scene such as a specific subject to be shot and a shooting environment, and a plurality of previously prepared shot images are shown by sample images. Lets the user select from the shooting scenes, shoots under shooting conditions according to the selected shooting scene, and further processes the image after shooting (such as correcting the shape of business cards and documents shot from an angle) A function that makes it possible to easily and accurately select a number of shooting modes with different usage purposes, such as automatically.

  In the best shot data storage area 16c, sample images corresponding to a plurality of selectable shooting scenes prepared in advance, a focus control method, shooting parameters for exposure adjustment (shutter speed, aperture, etc.), Shooting condition data consisting of shooting parameters for image quality adjustment (color adjustment, various filter processing contents, etc.), title name indicating the contents of the shooting scene displayed on the selection screen together with the sample image when selecting the shooting scene, and detailed description Character data is stored.

  The face image data storage area 16d stores face image data of a person (family etc.) registered in advance by the user, that is, face portion image data. Then, as necessary, the control unit 3 performs face recognition including subject identification using the face image data in accordance with a face recognition program stored in the program data storage area 16a. More specifically, image recognition processing by binarization, contour extraction, pattern matching, etc. is performed on image data (subject image) obtained during display of a through image or by shooting processing, and a human face portion is obtained from the subject image. Is detected, and the degree of similarity between the detected face portion data and the face image data is calculated, thereby performing face recognition to determine whether the detected face is a face of a person registered in advance.

  The GPS block 18 includes an antenna that receives radio waves from GPS satellites, an arithmetic circuit that demodulates and decodes the L1 band C / A code (GPS data) from the received radio waves to determine the latitude / longitude of the current position, It consists of a memory that stores data related to the geodetic system, which is indispensable for determining the longitude, and a clock circuit that counts the local time with high accuracy to ensure the demodulation timing of GPS data. Data is sent to the control unit 3 as position information indicating the shooting location. In the present embodiment, the GPS block 18 also functions as the environmental information acquisition means of the present invention.

  Next, an operation according to the present invention of the digital camera 1 having the above configuration will be described. First, the operation of the digital camera 1 in the shooting mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Each process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is executed in cooperation with the control unit 3 and a program recorded in the program data storage area 16a.

  In the shooting mode, the control unit 3 sequentially checks the presence / absence of a condition setting instruction by the user, and if a key operation of the condition setting instruction is detected (YES in step SA1), the condition selection screen 101 shown in FIG. Is displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 13, and the user is allowed to select a condition for specifying a private image (step SA2). Here, the private image is an image that the user desires to restrict display according to the time zone as will be described later, and in such processing, setting conditions for automatically setting a predetermined captured image as a private image are given to the user. Let them choose. In the present embodiment, there are four types of setting conditions that can be selected: “shooting time zone”, “face (registered person) recognition”, “shooting position”, and “best shot”. Let the user select a condition.

  While the condition selection screen 101 is displayed, the control unit 3 displays the following setting screen for setting the specific contents of the setting condition selected at that time in response to a predetermined key operation. The information is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 13 to allow the user to set desired condition contents.

  That is, when “shooting time zone” is selected as the setting condition, the time zone setting screen 201 shown in FIG. 4B is displayed, and an arbitrary time zone is designated for each day of the week. At this time, setting of a plurality of time zones for the same day of the week and setting of all day as the time zone are permitted. That is, it is set at which time zone an image taken in a week should be a private image. Specific time zones include, for example, a time zone that is considered to be out of working hours from Monday to Friday, and a time zone that consists of Saturday and Sunday.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when “Face (registered person) recognition” is selected, the person setting screen 202 shown in FIG. 4C is displayed, and an image showing which person is shown. Let the user set whether to be a private image. That is, the image data stored in the face image data storage area 16c of the built-in memory 16 is read, a list of registered face images of the person is displayed, and one or more persons are selected from the list. FIG. 4C shows an example in which there are five registered persons and three of them are selected.

  When “captured position” is selected as the setting condition, the region setting screen 203 shown in FIG. 4D is displayed, and the user is instructed in which range of images the captured image should be a private image. Let it be specified. That is, an image shot at a point (such as home) that should be the center of the set range is selected from the recorded images, and the size of the range (applied radius) is set.

  When “best shot” is selected as the setting condition, the scene setting screen 204 shown in FIG. 4E is displayed, and an image captured by selecting which shooting scene with the best shot shooting function is a private image. Let the user set what to do. That is, the title names of the shooting scenes stored in the best shot data storage area 16c of the built-in memory 16 are read out and displayed as a list, and one or a plurality of shooting scenes are selected from the list. FIG. 4E shows an example when six types of shooting scenes including the title name “person” are selected.

  As described above, the type of the setting condition selected by the user and the contents of each setting condition set by the user are set together with other setting data related to the operation contents of the digital camera 1 in the setting data storage area 16b of the built-in memory 16. To remember. Also, the type of setting conditions stored here and the setting data of the contents of each setting condition are read out next time when a condition setting instruction is issued by the user, and they are read out as the condition selection screen 101, time zone setting screen 201, person This is reflected in the setting screen 202, the region setting screen 203, and the scene setting screen 204. Note that the setting method related to the contents of each setting condition described here is merely an example, and the setting method may be set by any method other than those described above.

  On the other hand, if the key operation for the condition setting instruction described above cannot be detected (NO in step SA1), the control unit 3 successively checks whether the user has fully pressed the shutter key, and if the shutter key is fully pressed is detected. (YES in step SA3), photographing processing (such as an imaging operation for acquiring a recorded image by the CCD 2) is performed to generate image data of the subject (step SA4).

  Subsequently, the photographing state corresponding to the setting condition set at that time is detected (step SA5). That is, if the setting condition is “the time period during which the image was taken”, the shooting time is confirmed. If the setting condition is “face (registered person) recognition”, face recognition is performed on the image data generated in step SA4, and it is determined whether or not the set faces of one or more persons can be detected. Check. If the setting condition is “shooting position”, the shooting position is acquired by the GPS block 18, and if the setting condition is “best shot”, the type of the selected shooting scene is confirmed.

  If the detected shooting condition satisfies the setting conditions set at that time (YES in step SA6), the image (generated image data) captured this time is an image that should be a private image. If it is determined that there is a private tag (confidential instruction information of the present invention) is added to the generated image data (step SA7), the image data to which the private tag is added is compressed and recorded in the image memory 17 (step SA8).

  Here, “when the setting condition is satisfied” in the process of step SA6 means the following case. That is, if the setting condition is “shooting time zone”, the shooting time is included in the time zone set in the process of step SA2. If the setting condition is “face (registered person) recognition”, the face of one or more persons set in the process of step SA2 is detected from the image captured this time. Further, if the setting condition is “captured position”, the photographing position acquired at the time of photographing is included in the position range set in the process of step SA2. Further, if the setting condition is “best shot”, the type of the shooting scene selected at the time of shooting matches the one of the shooting scenes set in the process of step SA2.

  On the other hand, if the detected shooting condition does not satisfy the setting condition set at that time (NO in step SA6), it is determined that the image shot this time is not an image that should be a private image, and is generated. The compressed image data is immediately compressed and recorded in the image memory 17 (step SA8).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of the image data 301 recorded in the image memory 17. The image data 301 has a data structure conforming to the Exif standard, and is mainly composed of main image data 302 that is image data that has been compression-encoded and image additional data 303 that accompanies the main image data 302. The image additional data 303 includes image-related information 311 mainly including data such as a manufacturer name and a camera name, thumbnail data 312, shooting information 313, and GPS information 314 including latitude and longitude data as position information at the time of shooting. Further, the shooting information 313 includes shooting conditions 321 including data such as exposure time, F value, and focal length, shooting date / time data 322, and a manufacturer note 323 in which information unique to the manufacturer of the device is described. Composed.

  In this embodiment, as described above, when it is determined that the image captured this time is an image to be a private image, a private tag is described in the manufacturer note 323 in addition to other information. The maker note 323 also describes information (scene number) of the selected shooting scene at the time of shooting using the best shot shooting function.

  Then, after the image data is recorded in the image memory 17 in step SA8, whether or not the user has detected a key operation for instructing the photographing end, that is, a mode switching operation from the photographing mode to the reproduction mode or a power-off operation is performed. If it cannot be detected (NO in step SA9), the process returns to step SA1 to repeat the above-described processing, and when a key operation for an instruction to end shooting is detected (YES in step SA9), shooting is performed. Terminate all operations by mode.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 1 in the playback mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Each process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is executed in cooperation with the control unit 3 and a program recorded in the program data storage area 16a.

  In the playback mode, the control unit 3 sequentially confirms whether or not there is a time setting instruction by the user, and if a key operation of the time setting instruction is detected (YES in step SB1), the private time is set (step SB2). The private time is a time period during which the above-described private image can be displayed (permitted time period during which display is allowed), and when setting the private time, the same as that used when necessary in the shooting mode A time zone setting screen 201 (FIG. 4B) is displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 13 to allow the user to specify a desired time zone (time zone for each day of the week).

  At this time, in this embodiment, when the private time is set in the shooting mode described above, the private time is automatically set as it is as the initial value of the private time in the playback mode. This is because it is difficult to imagine that the private time in the shooting mode and the private time in the playback mode differ greatly depending on the user. In such processing, the private time set as the initial value (for example, the time zone that is considered to be outside the working hours from Monday to Friday, and the time zone that is the last day of Saturday and Sunday) as necessary. To change.

  Then, the time zone is stored as private time in the setting data storage area 16 b of the built-in memory 16 together with other setting data regarding the operation content of the digital camera 1. The private time setting data stored here is read out next time when a condition setting instruction is issued by the user, and is reflected in the time zone setting screen 201.

  At this time, if the user does not want to set the private time, a cancellation instruction to cancel (invalidate) the private time is performed by a predetermined key operation, and the private time is set according to the cancellation instruction. A flag indicating that there is no setting is stored in the setting data storage area 16 b of the internal memory 16. This process is the same for the case where the user sets the private time on the time zone setting screen 201 in the playback mode SA2 described above.

  On the other hand, if the key operation for the time setting instruction cannot be detected (NO in step SB1), the control unit 3 detects the current time (reproduction start time) (step SB3), and then the detected time is set at that time. It is confirmed whether or not the private time is included (step SB4). Here, when the current time is included in the private time (YES in step SB4), each image recorded in the image memory 17 is confirmed for each image by checking whether or not the private tag is added. It is confirmed whether it is a private image, and only the private image is set as a selection candidate (step SB5).

  On the contrary, when the current time is not included in the private time and when there is no setting for the private time (NO in step SB4), it is recorded in the image memory 17 based on the presence / absence of the private tag as described above. For each image, it is confirmed whether it is a non-private image (image data not accompanied by a private tag), and only the non-private image is set as a selection candidate (step SB6).

  Thereafter, a process of frame-by-frame display of only one of the selection candidate images set in step SB5 or SB6 is performed (step SB7). That is, in response to a predetermined key operation by the user, a new image of the selection candidate (for example, the image with the next latest shooting date or the next oldest image) is reproduced and displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 13 in full screen. However, immediately after the start of the operation in the playback mode, the image with the latest shooting date is displayed among the selection candidates at that time.

  Then, after the image data is recorded in the image memory 17 in step SA8, whether or not a key operation for a reproduction end instruction by the user is detected, that is, a mode switching operation from the reproduction mode to the photographing mode or a power-off operation is performed. If it is not detected (NO in step SB8), the process returns to step SB1 to repeat the above-described processing, and when the key operation for the reproduction end instruction is detected (YES in step SB8), the reproduction is performed. Terminate all operations by mode.

  Although not shown in the flowchart, during the above operation, when the user detects a key operation for a list display instruction of recorded images, only the thumbnails of private images or non-private images set as selection candidates at that time are detected. Are displayed as a list on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 13. In addition, if any one of the images is instructed to be reproduced in that state, a process for full-screening the image on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 13 is performed.

  As described above, in the playback mode, if a user sets a desired time zone as a private time in advance, a private image (only a private image in the present embodiment) is usually displayed without performing complicated operations during that time zone. It can be displayed by the operation. In addition, display of private images is restricted (prohibited) in all time periods except for the set private time. Therefore, it is possible for the user to easily display a specific image at the same time that the private image is restricted from being displayed by another person together with another image against the user's intention.

  By the way, the time zone used as private time differs for each user. For example, some users work at a company during the time from 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and spend at home from 17:00 to 8:00. On the other hand, if a user works for a company on Saturday or Sunday, weekdays may be all-day private time. Therefore, in this embodiment, the time zone that is the private time in the playback mode is freely set according to the user's operation. Thereby, the private time in the reproduction mode can be flexibly set according to the working mode such as the working time and working day in the user's company.

  In the present embodiment, a time zone that is a private time in the shooting mode is set in accordance with a user operation. Thereby, the private time in imaging | photography mode can be flexibly set according to working modes, such as a working time in a user's company, and a working day.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the private time set in the shooting mode can be automatically set as the private time in the playback mode. Thereby, an appropriate time zone can be set as the private time in the playback mode without bothering the user.

  In the present embodiment, only private images can be displayed during the private time. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and all images including the images may be displayed as usual during the private time. Further, it may be possible for the user to appropriately change whether or not to display an image other than the private image.

  Further, in the present embodiment, it is automatically determined whether or not an image taken in the shooting mode is a private image. When the taken image is a private image, the image data is used for identification from other images. The private tag used is automatically added and recorded. Therefore, the user does not need to set a photographed image desired to be restricted by another person at the time of photographing or after photographing as a private image, which is convenient. Further, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a captured image that is originally a private image is displayed by another person against the intention due to omission of the above setting.

  In the present embodiment, since an image shot at a private time is naturally likely to be a private image, if the setting condition is “shooting time zone”, the shooting time is preset by the user. The image taken this time is automatically judged to be a private image when it is included in the specified time zone. As a result, once the user has set the private time, a captured image that the user intends to be a private image can be accurately set as a private image without bothering the user.

  An image in which the face of a person (family member, etc.) registered in advance by the user is shown as a private image. Therefore, in the present embodiment, if the setting condition is “face (registered person) recognition”, when a face of a person preset by the user is detected from the image captured this time, the image captured this time is a private image. It was automatically judged that it was. Thereby, after the user once registers a photographed image of a family member, the photographed image that the user intends to be a private image can be accurately set as a private image without bothering the user.

  Also, an image taken near the user's home is likely to be a private image. Therefore, in the present embodiment, if the setting condition is “captured position”, the image captured this time when the captured position is included in a predetermined range of a position (such as the user's home) preset by the user. Automatically determines that is a private image. As a result, once the user sets the position range, the captured image that the user intends to be a private image can be accurately set as a private image without bothering the user.

  Further, an image shot under the setting of a specific shooting scene (for example, a shooting scene of “person” or “child” shown in FIG. 4E) is highly likely to be a private image. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the type of the shooting scene selected at the time of shooting matches the shooting scene set in advance by the user, it is automatically determined that the image shot this time is a private image. I did it. Thus, once the user has set a shooting scene (such as the shooting scene of “person” or “child” shown in FIG. 4E), the user intends to be a private image without bothering the user. The captured image to be set can be accurately set as a private image.

  Note that the determination as to whether or not the captured image is a private image does not necessarily have to be automatically performed, and the user may set an arbitrary captured image as a private image as necessary. Further, it may be configured to automatically determine whether or not the captured image is a private image, and at the same time, the user can set an arbitrary captured image as a private image as necessary.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a plurality of determination criteria for automatically determining whether or not an arbitrary captured image is a private image, that is, selecting from among four types of setting conditions shown in FIG. Therefore, the captured image intended by the user can be accurately set as a private image. Furthermore, since the user can also set the specific contents of each setting condition as appropriate, the captured image intended by the user can be set as a private image more accurately.

  Note that the setting conditions used as the determination criteria when automatically determining whether an arbitrary captured image is a private image are not limited to those described in the present embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate. . Further, when a plurality of setting conditions are prepared, it may be determined whether the image is a private image using two or more setting conditions simultaneously. For example, a captured image that satisfies all of the plurality of setting conditions may be determined as a private image, or a captured image that satisfies any one of the plurality of setting conditions may be determined as a private image.

  In this embodiment, since a private tag used for identifying a private image and other images is added to the image data in advance when the private image is captured, any image can be displayed in the playback mode. When reproducing and displaying, a private image and other images can be identified instantaneously. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the processing load when displaying an image in the playback mode.

  In other words, whether or not an arbitrary captured image is a private image is determined by performing the same processing (steps SA5 and SA6 in FIG. 3) as that performed in the imaging mode in the present embodiment on already recorded image data. Since it can be performed, the above determination can be made as appropriate at the time of displaying an arbitrary image in the reproduction mode. However, in that case, if the above determination is performed for all the images at the same time as in the present embodiment, the processing burden for that is increased, and in particular, an image showing a specific person is taken. In the case of handling as a private image, this becomes conspicuous. However, if a private tag is added in advance as described above, the processing load during such reproduction can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to other camera devices such as a digital video camera and a camera-equipped mobile phone terminal, and any image display device such as a personal computer, as long as it has an image display function. .

1 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the memory space of a built-in memory. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content in imaging | photography mode by a control part. It is the figure which illustrated the selection screen used for selection of the setting conditions of a private image, and the setting screen used for the contents setting of each setting condition. It is the conceptual diagram which showed schematic structure of the image data recorded on an image memory. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content in the reproduction | regeneration mode by a control part.

Explanation of symbols

2 CCD
3 Control section 12 Operation key section 13 TFT LCD monitor 16 Built-in memory 16a Program data storage area 16b Setting data storage area 16c Data storage area 16d Face image data storage area 17 Image memory 18 GPS block 101 Condition selection screen 201 Time zone setting screen 202 Person setting screen 203 Area setting screen 204 Scene setting screen 301 Image data 302 Main image data 303 Image additional data 323 Manufacturer note

Claims (12)

In an image reproduction apparatus that reproduces and displays image data,
Display means for displaying the image data;
An allowed time setting means for setting a time zone specified by the user as an allowed time zone for allowing display of predetermined image data in the display means;
Display control means for controlling display of the image data by the display means and prohibiting display of the predetermined image data by the display means in all time zones excluding the permission time zone set by the permission time setting means. When,
An image reproducing apparatus comprising: The predetermined image data is image data accompanied with concealment instruction information indicating that display is restricted,
The display control means prohibits display by the display means in all time periods except the permission time period for image data accompanied by the confidentiality instruction information among image data to be displayed by the display means. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. Photographing means for photographing a subject and acquiring image data;
Recording means for recording image data acquired by the photographing means;
Determination means for determining whether the image data acquired by the photographing means is predetermined image data whose display should be restricted, according to a predetermined determination criterion;
When the image data acquired by the photographing unit is recorded on the recording unit and the predetermined image data determined to be display data to be restricted by the determining unit is recorded on the recording unit, the confidential instruction information The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a recording control unit that causes the recording unit to record the image with the predetermined image data. An environment information acquisition unit that acquires environment information indicating a shooting environment at the time of shooting the subject by the shooting unit;
The determination unit is configured such that when the shooting environment indicated by the environment information acquired by the acquisition unit satisfies a predetermined confidentiality condition, the image data acquired by the shooting unit is predetermined image data whose display should be restricted. The image reproduction device according to claim 3, wherein the image reproduction device is determined to be present. As the predetermined concealment condition, further comprising a concealment condition setting means for setting the concealment condition of the content specified by the user,
The determination unit displays the image data acquired by the imaging unit when the imaging environment indicated by the environment information acquired by the acquisition unit satisfies the secrecy condition set by the secrecy condition setting unit. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image reproducing apparatus is determined to be predetermined image data to be restricted. The environment information acquisition unit acquires the shooting time of the subject by the shooting unit as the environment information,
The determination means includes predetermined image data whose display should be restricted when the shooting time acquired by the environment information acquisition means is included in a predetermined time zone. 6. The image reproducing device according to claim 4, wherein the image reproducing device is determined to be present. The environment information acquisition means acquires the position information of the apparatus at the time of photographing the subject by the photographing means as the environment information,
The determination means restricts the display of the image data acquired by the imaging means when the shooting location of the subject indicated by the position information acquired by the environment information acquisition means is included in a predetermined position range. 6. The image reproduction device according to claim 4, wherein the image reproduction device is determined to be predetermined image data to be processed. As shooting modes that can be set at the time of shooting of the subject by the shooting means, a plurality of shooting modes having different intended purposes are provided,
The environment information acquisition unit acquires a shooting mode set when the subject is shot by the shooting unit as the shooting environment,
The determination unit determines that the image data acquired by the shooting unit is predetermined image data whose display should be restricted when the shooting mode acquired by the environment information acquisition unit is a predetermined shooting mode. The image reproducing device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein Image recognition means for recognizing a predetermined recognition object registered in advance by a user, with the image data acquired by the photographing means as a target;
The determination unit determines that the image data acquired by the photographing unit is predetermined image data whose display should be restricted when the predetermined recognition target can be recognized by the image recognition unit. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 3.   The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image recognizing unit recognizes an image of a face of a specific person registered in advance by a user for image data. On the computer,
A process of setting a time zone specified by the user as an allowed time zone for allowing display of predetermined image data on the display means;
A program for controlling display of the image data by the display means and for prohibiting display of the predetermined image data by the display means in all time zones except the permission time zone. . In an image reproduction method for reproducing and displaying image data,
A step of setting a time zone specified by the user as an allowed time zone for allowing display of predetermined image data on the display means;
And a step of controlling display of the image data by the display means and prohibiting display of the predetermined image data by the display means in all time zones excluding the permission time zone. Method.

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