JP2010182008A - Program and apparatus for image display - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To retrieve an image captured within a retrieval range specified on a map. <P>SOLUTION: A control device 103 specifies the retrieval range of an image file on the map based on a user operation, retrieves an image file captured at a point included in the specified retrieval range, from among the image files recorded in a folder selected by the user, and displays the retrieval result on an application screen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display program and an image display apparatus.

  The following electronic album creation application software is known. This application software sorts city names in order of distance from a preset starting point, and further sorts images belonging to each city name in order of shooting time and displays them on an album viewer (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-120058 A

  However, with conventional application software, images can be searched only within a rough range for each city, and a search range according to the user's preference cannot be specified.

The present invention specifies a search range of an image file on a map based on an operation by a user, and is photographed at a point included in the specified search range from among image files recorded on a storage medium. The image file or the image file associated with the point included in the specified search range is searched, and the search result is displayed.
In the present invention, a range surrounded by graphics drawn on a map by the user may be specified as a search range.
A range from a straight line drawn on the map by the user to a point separated by a predetermined distance may be specified as the search range. At this time, it is preferable that the search results are rearranged and displayed according to the distance from the straight line drawn on the map by the user.
A range including a point designated on the map by the user and specified based on boundary information in the map data may be specified as the search range.
A range up to a point designated by the user on the map as a center and a radius from the center being a predetermined distance may be specified as a search range. At this time, it is preferable that the search results are rearranged and displayed according to the distance from the point designated on the map by the user.
The user may receive an additional designation of the search range, and the image file may be re-searched in consideration of the additional designated search range.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to search for an image file by designating a search range according to the user's preference.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the application screen displayed on the monitor. It is a 1st figure which shows the example of designation | designated of the search range on a map. It is a 2nd figure which shows the example of designation | designated of the search range on a map. It is a 3rd figure which shows the example of designation | designated of the search range on a map. It is a 4th figure which shows the example of designation | designated of the search range on a map. It is a 5th figure which shows the example of designation | designated of the search range on a map. It is a 6th figure which shows the example of designation | designated of the search range on a map. It is a figure which shows the example of a change of the search range at the time of changing the scale ratio of a map. It is a 1st figure which shows the example of additional designation | designated of the search range on a map. It is a 2nd figure which shows the example of addition designation | designated of the search range on a map. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of the image display apparatus 100. FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an image display apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image display device 100 is a personal computer (personal computer), for example, and includes an operation member 101, a connection IF (interface) 102, a control device 103, an HDD (hard disk drive) 104, and a monitor 105.

  The operation member 101 includes various devices operated by the user, such as a keyboard and a mouse. The connection IF 102 is an interface for connecting an external device such as a digital camera. For example, a USB interface for performing a wired connection with a digital camera or a video camera, a wireless LAN module for performing a wireless connection, or the like is used. The In the present embodiment, for example, an image file is captured from a digital camera via the connection IF 102.

  Note that the image file captured from the digital camera includes a header portion for recording header information and an image data portion for recording image data. The header portion stores data related to the image shooting date and time, data related to shooting conditions at the time of shooting the image, position information (for example, latitude / longitude information) indicating the shooting location of the image, and the image data portion. Display image data (for example, thumbnail image data) generated at the time of shooting based on the image data is recorded.

  The HDD 104 is a recording device for recording an image file taken in via the connection IF 102, various programs executed by the control device 103, and the like. In the present embodiment, a plurality of folders are created in the HDD 104, and the image files captured via the connection IF 102 are recorded together in any one folder by the user. Or it is classified and recorded in a plurality of folders.

  In the present embodiment, the HDD 104 records a map database in which map data is stored. The control device 103 to be described later determines at which point on the map each image was shot based on the position information of the shooting point stored in the header part of the image file and the map data stored in the map database. Can be identified. The monitor 105 is a liquid crystal monitor, for example, and displays display data output from the control device 103.

  The control device 103 includes a CPU, a memory, and other peripheral circuits, and controls the entire image display device 100. The memory constituting the control device 103 includes SDRAM and flash memory. The SDRAM is a volatile memory, and is used as a work memory for the CPU to develop a program when the program is executed or as a buffer memory for temporarily recording data. The flash memory is a non-volatile memory in which data of a program executed by the control device 103, various parameters read at the time of program execution, and the like are recorded.

  In the present embodiment, the user operates the mouse included in the operation member 101 and clicks or double-clicks an application activation icon displayed on the monitor 105 to thereby display an image display application. Can be activated. When the activation of the image display application is instructed by the user, the control device 103 reads the application execution file from the HDD 104 and executes it, thereby starting the image display application.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of an application screen displayed on the monitor 105 when an image display application is activated. On the application screen, each area includes a folder list display area 2a, a thumbnail list display area 2b, and a map display area 2c.

  The folder list display area 2 a is an area for displaying a list of folders in the HDD 104. When the application screen is displayed, the control device 103 acquires information on folders in the HDD 104 from information on the file system of the HDD 104, for example, FAT information, represents the folder structure in a tree structure, and displays each folder in the HDD 104. Is displayed with the folder icon 2d. The user can select a folder by operating and clicking one of the folder icons 2d displayed in the folder list display area 2a with the mouse included in the operation member 101.

  The thumbnail list display area 2b is an area for displaying a list of thumbnail images of image files recorded in the folder selected by the user in the folder list display area 2a. When the control device 103 detects that the user has clicked on any of the folder icons 2d in the folder list display area 2a, the control device 103 starts from the header portion of each image file recorded in the selected folder. Image data of thumbnail images is acquired and displayed as a list in the thumbnail list display area 2b.

  The map display area 2 c is an area for displaying a map read from the map database recorded in the HDD 104. When the image display application is activated, the control device 103 reads the same map as that displayed in the map display area 2c when the image display application was terminated last time from the map database and displays it. The user can change the map displayed in the map display area 2c by operating the mouse.

  For example, the user can scroll the map by clicking an arbitrary point displayed in the map display area 2c with the mouse and dragging the mouse in an arbitrary direction as it is. Also, the scale of the map even displayed in the map display area 2c can be changed by clicking and sliding the knob 2f on the scale change bar 2e displayed superimposed on the map with the mouse. Can do. Specifically, the user can enlarge the map by sliding the knob 2f upward on the scale change bar 2e, and slide the knob 2f downward on the scale change bar 2e. Can reduce the map.

  The control device 103 changes the map displayed in the map display area 2c based on the operation by the user. In addition, the control device 103 includes a map in the image file recorded in the folder selected in the folder list display area 2a, that is, in the image file in which the thumbnail image is displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b. When there is an image file shot within the range of the map displayed in the display area 2c, a marker 2g indicating that the point is the shooting point of the image at a position corresponding to the shooting point on the map. Is displayed.

  Specifically, the control device 103 acquires position information (photographing point information) indicating the photographing point of the image from the header portion of each image file recorded in the folder selected in the folder list display area 2a. When the shooting point specified based on the acquired position information is located within the range of the map displayed in the map display area 2c, the marker 2g is displayed at that position. In addition, when there are a plurality of image files of images captured within the range of the map displayed in the map display area 2c, the control device 103 sets the marker 2g at a position corresponding to the shooting location of each image file. Is displayed.

  The user can select the marker 2g by clicking with the mouse. When the marker 2g is selected by the user, the control device 103 selects the thumbnail image corresponding to the marker 2g selected on the map by the user from among the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b. That is, the thumbnail image of the image file taken at the point where the marker 2g selected on the map by the user is displayed is set to the selected state. For example, the control device 103 puts the thumbnail image in a selected state by surrounding the thumbnail image corresponding to the selected marker 2g with a frame.

  In addition, when any thumbnail image is selected from the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b by the user, the control device 103 displays the header portion of the image file corresponding to the thumbnail image. The shooting point information is acquired from the above, the shooting point is specified, and the marker 2g displayed at the specified shooting point is blinked. At this time, if the shooting location of the image file corresponding to the selected thumbnail image is outside the range of the map displayed in the map display area 2c, the control device 103 selects the selected thumbnail from the map database. Map data including the shooting point of the image file corresponding to the image is read out and displayed in the map display area 2c, and the marker 2g is displayed blinking on the shooting point.

  The user can also select a plurality of thumbnail images from the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b. In this case, the control device 103 specifies the shooting point of the image file corresponding to each of the plurality of thumbnail images selected by the user, and blinks and displays the marker 2g on each shooting point.

  At this time, the control device 103 reads from the map database so that the shooting points of the image files corresponding to all the thumbnail images selected by the user are within the map range displayed in the map display area 2c. The map data in a range including the shooting locations of the image files corresponding to all the selected thumbnail images is read out. Further, the control device 103 changes the scale of the map so that the range including the shooting points of the image files corresponding to all the thumbnail images can be displayed in the map display area 2c, and displays the map in the map display area 2c. The marker 2g blinks on all shooting points.

  The user designates a predetermined range in the map displayed in the map display area 2c on the above-described application screen, and extracts only an image file photographed within the designated range. Search for files can be performed. In the present embodiment, for example, the user can designate a search range on the map by any one of methods (A) to (E) described below. Hereinafter, a narrowing search process performed by the control device 103 when the user designates a search range on the map by the methods (A) to (E) will be described.

(A) Method for designating search range using figure of specified shape In this method, the user draws a search range of a specified shape, for example, a circle, an ellipse, or a rectangle, on the map by operating the mouse. To specify the search range on the map. Then, the control device 103 extracts images taken within the search range designated by the user from the folder selected in the folder list display area 2a.

  For example, when the user wants to specify a circular search range on the map, the user clicks the position on the map where he wants to be the starting point of the circle and drags the mouse to the position where he wants to end the circle. Draw a circle on top. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, a circular search range 3a is designated on the map. Alternatively, when the user wants to specify a quadrangular search range on the map, the user clicks the position where he wants to be the starting point of the quadrilateral on the map and drags the mouse to the position where he wants to be the end point of the quadrilateral Draw a rectangle on top. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, a rectangular search range 4a is designated on the map.

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, when the search range 3a is designated on the map by the user, the control device 103 is recorded in the folder selected by the user in the folder list display area 2a. The shooting point information is acquired from the header portion of each image file, and it is determined whether or not an image file shot in the search range 3a set on the map is recorded in the folder. As a result, when it is determined that an image file shot in the search range 3a is recorded in the folder, the control device 103 displays a marker 2g indicating the shooting point of the corresponding image file on the map. In the thumbnail list display area 2b, only the thumbnail image 3b of the image file shot in the search range 3a is displayed.

  Similarly, in the example shown in FIG. 4, as a result of searching the image file shot in the search range 4 a by the control device 103, the thumbnail list display area 2 b is shot in the search range 4 a. Only the thumbnail image 3b of the displayed image file is displayed, and a marker 2g corresponding to the thumbnail image 3b is displayed on the map.

  As a result, the control device 103 searches the image files recorded in the folder for image files shot in the search range 3a or 4a designated by the user, and displays the search results as a thumbnail list. It can be displayed in the display area 2b and the map display area 2c.

  The user can move the search range once drawn on the map by clicking and dragging the inside of the search range 3a or 4a with the mouse. The user can enlarge or reduce the once drawn search range by clicking and dragging the frame of the search range 3a or 4a with the mouse. When the search range is moved, enlarged, or reduced by the user and changed by the user, the control device 103 re-searches the image file for the changed search range and displays the result.

  The user can specify a plurality of search ranges 3a or 4a on the map. When a plurality of search ranges 3a or 4a are designated by the user, the control device 103 searches the image file for each search range 3a or 4a as described above and displays the result.

(B) Method for drawing an arbitrary figure and designating a search range In this method, a user draws a figure of an arbitrary shape on a map by a freehand operation with a mouse operation, thereby setting a search range on the map. specify. For example, the user clicks an arbitrary point on the map, designates the point as a starting point, and draws a line by dragging the mouse in an arbitrary direction. Then, by releasing the mouse click in a state where the end point of the line is coincident with the start point, a figure having an arbitrary shape to be a closed area on the map is drawn. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, a search range 5a drawn freehand by the user is designated on the map.

  Similarly to the case described above, when the search range 5a is specified on the map by the user, the control device 103 records the image file recorded in the folder selected by the user in the folder list display area 2a. Among them, the marker 2g indicating the shooting point of the image file shot in the search range 5a is displayed on the map. Further, the control device 103 displays only the thumbnail images of the image files photographed within the search range 5a in the thumbnail list display area 2b.

  As a result, the control device 103 searches the image file recorded in the folder for the image file shot within the search range 5a designated by the user, and displays the search result as a thumbnail list display area. It can be displayed in 2b and in the map display area 2c. The user can designate a plurality of search ranges 5a on the map. In this case, the control device 103 searches the image file for each designated search range 5a and obtains the results. indicate.

(C) Method of drawing an arbitrary line and designating a search range In this method, a user draws a line of arbitrary shape on a map by a freehand operation with a mouse operation, thereby setting a search range on the map. specify. For example, the user clicks an arbitrary point on the map, designates that point as the starting point, drags the mouse in an arbitrary direction, and then releases the mouse click at the arbitrary point. By designating, draw a line of arbitrary shape on the map. As a result, a line 6a is drawn on the map as shown in FIG. The line 6a drawn on the map may be either a straight line or a curved line.

  Further, in order to specify the search range based on the drawn line 6a, the user displays in the map display area 2c whether or not the distance from the drawn line 6a is included in the search range. In the distance input field 6b. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, by inputting 30 (m) in the distance input field 6b, it is specified to include in the search range up to a point 30m away from the drawn line 6a. Note that the control device 103 may use a predetermined value set in advance without accepting an input of the distance to the distance input field 6b.

  The control device 103 specifies the search range on the map based on the line 6a drawn on the map by the user and the distance input in the distance input field 6b, and the user is within the folder list display area 2a. Among the image files recorded in the folder selected by, the marker 2g indicating the shooting location of the image file shot within the specified search range is displayed on the map. In addition, the control device 103 displays only thumbnail images of image files shot within the search range in the thumbnail list display area 2b.

  As a result, the control device 103 within the search range specified based on the line 6a designated by the user and the distance input in the distance input field 6b from the image files recorded in the folder. The photographed image file can be searched, and the search result can be displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b and the map display area 2c. The user can specify a plurality of lines 6a on the map. In this case, the control device 103 specifies a plurality of search ranges based on each designated line 6a and the distance input in the distance input field 6b, and searches for an image file for each search range. Line and display the result.

  Further, in this case, the control device 103 arranges the display order of the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b in order from the shooting point closest to the start point of the line 6a. For example, the control device 103 arranges the thumbnail image of the image file whose shooting point is closest to the starting point of the line 6a at the leftmost in the thumbnail list display area 2b, and the shooting point moves away from the starting point as going to the right. Sort thumbnail images and display them.

(D) Method of designating search range using boundary information in map data In this method, the user selects boundary information managed in the map data, for example, the border, prefectural border, city border, ward border, etc. By specifying, the range inside the boundary is specified as the search range on the map. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, there is a search unit selection list box 7b for selecting from the list the size of the boundary designated in the map display area 2c, for example, country, prefecture, city, ward, etc. as a search unit. The user operates the mouse to select one of the search units from the search unit selection list box 7b. After that, the user clicks a point to be included in the search range on the map, thereby selecting a search unit including the point clicked by the user from the search units specified in the search unit selection list box 7b. Can be specified as a search range.

  When the control device 103 detects that the user has clicked the map with the search unit selected, the control device 103 refers to the boundary information of the map data and includes the clicked point on the map. The boundary of the search unit is specified, and the inside of the specified boundary is specified as the search range. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the user selects “ku” as a search unit from the search unit selection list box 7b, and then clicks on any point in Shinagawa ku, thereby the boundary of Shinagawa ku. Is inside the Shinagawa ward, that is, the search range 7a.

  The control device 103 captures an image file captured in the search range 7a designated as described above, among the image files recorded in the folder selected by the user in the folder list display area 2a. Is displayed on the map. In addition, the control device 103 displays only thumbnail images of image files shot within the search range in the thumbnail list display area 2b.

  As a result, the control device 103 searches the image file recorded within the boundary on the map data designated by the user from the image files recorded in the folder, and displays the search result as a thumbnail list. It can be displayed in the display area 2b and the map display area 2c. The control device 103 specifies the scale of the map displayed in the map display area 2c based on the search unit selected in the search unit selection list box 7b and the point clicked by the user. Enlarge or reduce according to the size of the search range 7a.

  In addition, the user can specify the inside of the boundary of the search unit including each point as a plurality of search ranges by clicking on a plurality of points on the map. The image file is searched for the search range, and the result is displayed.

  Alternatively, the user can select the entire line by clicking on a point on the map, such as a road, railroad, river, etc. In order to specify a search range based on lines (roads, railways, rivers, etc.) on the map, it may be specified how far away from the selected line is to be included in the search range. When a point on the map is clicked by the user, the control device 103 refers to the map data and identifies a line element (road, railroad, river, etc.) on the clicked point. Then, the search range is specified so as to include from the specified line to a point within the distance specified by the user.

(E) Method of designating a search range by designating an arbitrary point In this method, the user designates a single point on the map by clicking an arbitrary point on the map by operating the mouse, and further Specify the search range on the map by specifying how many meters of radius from the point are included in the search range. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the user clicks and designates a point 8a that is the center point of the search range on the map. In addition, the user inputs the radius of the search range centered on the designated point 8a in the distance input field 8b.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 8, by inputting 1000 (m) in the distance input field 8b, a range with a radius of 1000 m centering on the point 8a is designated as the search range 8c. Note that the control device 103 may use a predetermined value set in advance without receiving an input of the distance to the distance input field 8b.

  Based on the point 8a specified on the map by the user and the distance input in the distance input field 8b, the control device 103 specifies the range to be the search range 8c and uses it in the folder list display area 2a. Among the image files recorded in the folder selected by the user, a marker 2g indicating the shooting location of the image file shot in the specified search range 8c is displayed on the map. Further, the control device 103 displays only the thumbnail images of the image files photographed within the search range 8a in the thumbnail list display area 2b.

  As a result, the control device 103 searches the image range recorded in the folder based on the point 8a designated by the user and the distance input in the distance input field 8b. The image file photographed within can be searched, and the search result can be displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b and the map display area 2c. Note that the user can designate a plurality of points 8a on the map. In this case, the control device 103 identifies a plurality of search ranges 8c based on the designated points 8a and the distances input in the distance input field 8b, and targets each search range 8c to the image file. Perform a search and display the results.

  In this case, the control device 103 arranges the display order of the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b in order from the point closest to the point 8a that is the center of the search range 8c. For example, the control device 103 arranges the thumbnail image of the image file whose shooting point is closest to the point 8a at the leftmost position in the thumbnail list display area 2b, and moves the shooting point away from the point 8a as it goes to the right. Arrange and display thumbnail images.

  In this case, when the scale of the map is changed by the user, the control device 103 may change the search range along with the change. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, when a map is displayed at a certain scale, a point 8a is designated on the map by the user, and 100000 m, that is, 100 km is input in the distance input field 8b. Thus, it is assumed that a search range 8c having a radius of 100 km centered on the point 8a is set.

  In this case, when the user changes the scale of the map to double, that is, when the map display magnification is doubled, the control device 103 may change the scale before and after the change of the scale. The radius of the search range 8c is changed to ½ so that the size of the search range 8c on the map does not change. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9B, a search range 8c ′ having a radius of 50 km centered on the point 8a is newly set on the map.

  Then, the control device 103 searches the image range for the search range 8c ′ after the change, and displays the search results in the thumbnail list display area 2b and the map display area 2c. If the radius of the search range is not changed even if the scale of the map is changed, the search range may not be displayed in the map display area 2c when the map is enlarged. In this case, there is a possibility that an image file taken at a point not displayed in the map display area 2c is extracted as a search result. However, when the user changes the scale of the map as described above, the size of the search range on the map is made constant by changing the radius of the search range according to the degree of change of the scale rate. This can avoid the problem that the search range cannot be displayed in the map display area 2c.

  The user can search the image file recorded in the folder by specifying the search range by any of the methods described above. It should be noted that the method for specifying the search range may be selected by the user on the menu screen, or only one of the specifying methods is previously provided in the image display device 100. It is set as a fixed designation method, and the user may designate the search range by the designated designation method.

  In the present embodiment, the user designates the search range by any of the methods (A) to (E), and the search results are displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b and the map display area 2c. In the displayed state, a new search range can be additionally specified using any one of the methods (A) to (E). For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the user can search by any of the methods (A) to (E) while holding down the Shift key on the keyboard while the search range 10a is already specified on the map. By designating the range, a new search range 10b can be designated on the map.

  In this case, the control device 103 includes the newly set search range 10b in the search range and searches again for the image file, and displays the search results in the thumbnail list display area 2b and the map display area 2c. Specifically, when an image file shot in the search range 10b is recorded in the folder, the control device 103 displays the marker 2g at the shooting point on the map and displays it in the thumbnail list display area 2b. A thumbnail image corresponding to the image file is displayed. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 10, the thumbnail list display area 2b has a newly set search range 10b in addition to the thumbnail images 10c and 10d of the image files shot in the search range 10a that has already been set. A thumbnail image 10e of the image file shot in the screen is displayed. In FIG. 10, the display of the marker 2g on the map is omitted for simplification of description.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the user can search by any of the methods (A) to (E) while pressing the Ctrl key on the keyboard while the search range 11a is already specified on the map. By designating a range, a new search range 11b can be designated inside the search range 11a. In this case, the control device 103 performs a re-search of the image file for a range obtained by excluding the newly set search range 11b from the set search range 11a, and the search result is displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b and Displayed in the map display area 2c.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing of the image display apparatus 100 in the present embodiment. The processing shown in FIG. 12 is executed by the control device 103 as a program to be started when the user designates the search range while the image display application is running.

  In step S10, the control device 103 determines whether or not the user has specified the search range on the map. The user designates a search range on the map by any one of the methods (A) to (E) described above. If a negative determination is made in step S10, the process proceeds to step S40 described later. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S10, the process proceeds to step S20.

  In step S20, as described above, the control device 103 within the search range designated by the user from the image files recorded in the folder selected by the user in the folder list display area 2a. The photographed image file is searched, and the process proceeds to step S30.

  In step S30, the control apparatus 103 displays the search result in step S20 on the application screen. That is, the control device 103 displays the marker 2g indicating the shooting location of the searched image file on the map, and further displays only the thumbnail image of the searched image file in the thumbnail list display area 2b. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S40.

  In step S40, as described above with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the control device 103 determines whether or not a search range is additionally designated by the user. If a negative determination is made in step S40, the process proceeds to step S70 described later. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S40, the process proceeds to step S50.

  In step S50, as described above, the control device 103 performs a re-search of the image file by adding the search range additionally designated by the user. At this time, for example, as described above with reference to FIG. 10, when the new search range 10b is specified as a range different from the already specified search range 10a, the control device 103 captures images within the search range 10a. In addition to the image file thus obtained, the image file taken within the search range 10b is searched again. On the other hand, as described above with reference to FIG. 11, when a new search range 11b is specified inside the already specified search range 11a, the control device 103 excludes the search range 11b from the search range 11a. Search the image file again for. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S60, the control apparatus 103 displays the re-search result in step S50 on the application screen. That is, the control device 103 displays a marker 2g indicating the shooting location of the re-searched image file on the map, and further displays only the thumbnail image of the re-searched image file in the thumbnail list display area 2b. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S70.

  In step S70, the control device 103 determines whether any one of the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b has been selected by the user's mouse operation. If a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S90 described later. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made, the process proceeds to step S80. In step S80, as described above, the control device 103 causes the marker 2g corresponding to the thumbnail image selected by the user in the thumbnail list display area 2b to blink, and proceeds to step S90.

  In step S90, the control device 103 determines whether any of the markers 2g being displayed on the map has been selected by the user's mouse operation. If a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S110 described later. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made, the process proceeds to step S100. In step S10, as described above, the control device 103 puts a thumbnail image corresponding to the marker 2g selected by the user out of the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b in a selected state. To do. Then, it progresses to step S110.

  In step S110, the control device 103 determines whether or not the user has instructed termination of the image display application. Note that the user can instruct the end of the application, for example, by operating and pressing a “Close” button arranged on the application screen. If a negative determination is made in step S110, the process returns to step S10 and is repeated. On the other hand, when an affirmative determination is made in step S110, the process ends.

According to the present embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The control device 103 specifies the search range of the image file on the map based on the operation by the user, and specifies the image file recorded in the folder selected by the user. Image files shot at points included in the search range were searched, and the search results were displayed on the application screen. As a result, the user can specify a favorite search range on the map, and can extract only image files taken within the specified search range.

(2) The control device 103 is configured to specify a range surrounded by a graphic drawn on the map by the user as a search range. That is, the control device 103 can be used within the range of the figure of the prescribed shape drawn on the map by the user as described above in (A), or on the map by the user as described above in (B). The range of figures drawn freehand was specified as the search range. Thus, the range intended by the user can be specified as the search range.

(3) The control device 103 is configured to specify a range from the straight line drawn on the map by the user to a point separated by the distance input in the distance input field 6b as the search range. Thus, the range intended by the user can be specified as the search range. In this case, the control device 103 rearranges the thumbnail images so that the display order of the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b is arranged in order from the shooting point closest to the starting point of the line 6a. To be displayed. Thereby, the arrangement order of the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b can be set in accordance with the distance from the starting point of the line 6a.

(4) The control device 103 is configured to specify, as a search range, a range that includes a point designated on the map by the user and that is specified based on boundary information in the map data. Accordingly, the user can specify a search range for each search unit managed on map data such as a country, a prefecture, a city, or a ward.

(5) The control apparatus 103 specifies the range up to the point where the point designated on the map by the user is the center and the radius from the center is the distance input in the distance input field 8b as the search range. did. Thus, the range intended by the user can be specified as the search range. Further, in this case, the control device 103 arranges the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b in order from the closest shooting point to the point 8a corresponding to the center of the search range. The thumbnail images are rearranged and displayed. Thereby, the arrangement order of the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b can be set in accordance with the distance from the center point 8a.

(6) As described above with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the control device 103 accepts the additional designation of the search range by the user, and re-searches the image file in consideration of the additional designated search range. did. As a result, the user can perform a finer search.

-Modification-
The image display device according to the embodiment described above can be modified as follows.
(1) In the embodiment described above, when the image display application is activated, the control device 103 displays thumbnail images of image files recorded in a folder designated in the folder list display area 2a as a thumbnail list. Displayed in the display area 2b. And when there exists an image file image | photographed within the range of the map currently displayed in the map display area 2c among those image files, the control apparatus 103 will be in the position corresponding to the imaging | photography point on a map. The example which displays the marker 2g was demonstrated. In addition, when a search range is specified on the map by the user, the control device 103 searches the specified search among the image files recorded in the folder specified in the folder list display area 2a. Image files shot within the range were searched, and thumbnail images of the searched image files were displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b. And the control apparatus 103 demonstrated the example which displays the marker 2g in the position corresponding to the imaging | photography point of the searched image file. However, when the number of markers 2g displayed on the map is large, the map may be difficult to see. Therefore, the control device 103 may not display the marker 2g on the map when the number of markers 2g to be displayed on the map is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, for example, 10 or more. In this case, the user can instruct to display the marker 2g corresponding to the selected thumbnail image on the map by selecting one of the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b. You may do it.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the image file and the map database are recorded in the HDD 104 has been described. However, the image file and the map database may be recorded in an external device connected via a communication line, such as a server. In this case, the image display device 100 is equipped with a communication device for communicating with an external device via a communication line, for example, a wired LAN module or a wireless LAN module. Control to obtain image file data and map data from an external device.

(3) In the embodiment described above, the user draws a figure freehand as described above in (B) and designates a search range, and draws a line as described above in (C). In the case where the search range is specified, the example in which the figure or the line is drawn by dragging the mouse from the start point to the end point has been described. However, the user may click a plurality of points on the map with the mouse in order, and draw a figure or a line by the clicked points. That is, in this case, the control device 103 may specify the search range based on a figure or a line drawn by connecting dots in the order clicked by the user.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, in the case of (C) described above, the control apparatus 103 displays the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b in the order in which the shooting point is close to the start point of the line 6a. I arranged them in order. In the case of (E) described above, the display order of the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b is arranged in order from the one closest to the point 8a that is the center of the search range 8c. However, in either case, the thumbnail image increase may be arranged in the reverse order. Also, the user may be able to select in which order they are arranged.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the example has been described in which the control device 103 searches for an image file recorded in a folder selected in the folder list display area 2a. However, the control device 103 may search for all image files recorded in the HDD 104.

(6) In the above-described embodiment, the control device 103 has described the example in which the search result of the image file is displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b and the map display area 2c. That is, the control device 103 has described the example in which only the thumbnail image of the searched image file is displayed in the thumbnail list display area 2b and the marker 2g is displayed at the shooting location of the searched image file. However, the control device 103 may display the file name of the searched image file, the number of searched image files, and the like on the application screen as text data.

(7) In the above-described embodiment, the control device 103 has described an example in which the image file is searched for an image file whose shooting point is within the search range, and the marker 2g is displayed at the shooting point on the map. However, when the image file is recorded in association with a specific point on the map, the control device 103 searches for an image file in which the point with which the image file is associated is within the search range, and You may make it display the marker 2g in the upper point matched. In this case, the association between the image file and the points on the map may be performed using a database, or information on the associated points, such as latitude / longitude information, is stored in the header of the image file. You may carry out by recording.

(8) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a personal computer is used as the image display device 100 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other devices capable of displaying recorded images, such as a portable terminal such as a digital camera or a PDA, may be used as the image processing apparatus 100.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the configurations in the above-described embodiments as long as the characteristic functions of the present invention are not impaired. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which combined the above-mentioned embodiment and a some modification.

100 image display device, 101 operation member, 102 connection IF, 103 control device, 104 HDD, 105 monitor

Claims (9)

On the computer,
A search range specifying procedure for specifying a search range of an image file on a map based on a user operation,
Among the image files recorded in the storage medium, an image file taken at a point included in the search range specified by the search range specifying procedure, or within the search range specified by the search range specifying procedure A search procedure for searching for an image file associated with an included point;
An image display program for executing a display control procedure for displaying a search result by the search procedure. The image display program according to claim 1,
The search range specifying procedure specifies a range surrounded by a graphic drawn on a map by a user as the search range. The image display program according to claim 1,
The search range specifying procedure specifies, as the search range, a range from a straight line drawn on a map by a user to a point separated by a predetermined distance. In the image display program according to claim 3,
The display control procedure rearranges and displays search results obtained by the search procedure according to a distance from a straight line drawn on a map by a user. The image display program according to claim 1,
The image display program characterized in that the search range specifying procedure specifies a range including a point designated on a map by a user and specified based on boundary information in map data as the search range. The image display program according to claim 1,
The search range specifying procedure specifies, as the search range, a range from a point designated on a map by a user to a point where a radius from the center is a predetermined distance. . The image display program according to claim 6,
The display control procedure rearranges and displays search results obtained by the search procedure according to a distance from a point designated on a map by a user. In the image display program as described in any one of Claims 1-7,
The search range specifying procedure accepts an additional designation of the search range by a user,
An image display program characterized in that, in the search procedure, an image file is searched again in consideration of the additionally specified search range.   An image display device comprising processing execution means for executing the image display program according to claim 1.

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