JP2010258712A - Operation control apparatus, operation control method and program for operation control - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily control the number of thumbnail images to be displayed, on a touch panel. <P>SOLUTION: The operation control apparatus includes: a display section 18 on which thumbnail images based on a photographic image are displayed; an operating section which includes a touch panel 14 corresponding to a screen of the display section 18, and to which an instruction relating to display of thumbnail images on the display section 18 is input; and a thumbnail image control section for setting the number of thumbnail images to be displayed in accordance with positions on the screen designated by the input from the operating section or a distance of continuous moving operations input to the operating section and for displaying a thumbnail stream 34 with the set number of images. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation control device, an operation control method, and an operation control program installed in an image device such as a digital camera or an image viewer.

  When searching for an image recorded on a recording medium or searching for a specific desired image, the thumbnail image display is exclusively used rather than sending and displaying the images one by one. The number of thumbnail images to be displayed on the screen can be switched as desired. If you want to check the contents in detail, reduce the number of images per screen and display it in a large size. Conversely, increase the number of images per screen if you can distinguish the contents without enlarging it. Change the display appropriately so that it is displayed in a small size.

  A dedicated switching button may be used as the switching means, but it has been proposed that the camera uses a zoom button for adjusting the zoom magnification of the optical zoom (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such a method is often used in actual digital cameras.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-308490

  On the thumbnail display screen, the operation of changing the number of thumbnail images is frequently performed even during display. As described above, in the digital camera, the operation of the zoom button (telewide button) is assigned to the button for switching the number of images. In any case, good operability is required.

  On the other hand, recent image devices have been equipped with touch panels (including touch sensors such as touch pads and touch screens), and some of the above-described digital cameras have a touch panel mounted on the rear display unit.

  In such an image device with a touch panel, various new operation methods have been proposed by taking advantage of the feature of the touch sensor that the entire screen can be used as an operation area. Also in the switching operation of the thumbnail display, if a new operation method can be proposed, it is expected that the advantage of the thumbnail image display is further improved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an operation control device, an operation control method, and an operation control program capable of easily controlling the number of thumbnail images to be displayed on a touch panel. And

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an operation control apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit that displays a thumbnail image based on a captured image, and a touch panel corresponding to the screen of the display unit, Corresponding to the position on the screen that is designated by the input from the operation unit, the operation unit to which an instruction relating to displaying the thumbnail image on the display unit is input, the number of thumbnail images to be displayed And a thumbnail image control unit configured to display a thumbnail row of the set number of images.

  In the operation control device according to the present invention, in the above invention, the thumbnail image control unit displays the number of the thumbnail images as a diagonal line between a position input from the operation unit and a position set in advance on the screen. It is determined according to the area of a quadrangle as a vertex.

  In the operation control device according to the present invention, in the above invention, the thumbnail image control unit corresponds to an area of a quadrangle whose number of thumbnail images is a vertex of a diagonal line with two points input from the operation unit. It is characterized by determining.

  The operation control apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit that displays a thumbnail image based on a captured image, and a touch panel corresponding to the screen of the display unit, and an instruction related to displaying the thumbnail image on the display unit. The number of thumbnail images to be displayed is set corresponding to the distance between the operation unit to which the image is input and the continuous movement operation input to the operation unit, and the thumbnail row of the set number of images is displayed. And a thumbnail image control unit.

  In the operation control apparatus according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the thumbnail image control unit sets the size of each thumbnail image to be displayed as the thumbnail row to a size according to the set number of thumbnail images. It is characterized by.

  In the operation control apparatus according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the thumbnail image control unit displays a thumbnail image of the first image displayed in the thumbnail row, and the vicinity of the display position of the thumbnail image is the distance. It is characterized by being the starting point of.

  The operation control apparatus according to the present invention further includes an image management unit that manages images belonging to a series of consecutive thumbnail rows as images belonging to the same group in the thumbnail row. And

  The operation control method according to the present invention includes a display unit that displays a thumbnail image based on a photographed image, and a touch panel corresponding to the screen of the display unit, and an instruction related to displaying the thumbnail image on the display unit. An operation control method in an operation control apparatus having an operation unit to which the number of thumbnail images to be displayed corresponds to a position on the screen specified by an input from the operation unit And a thumbnail image control step for displaying a thumbnail row of the set number of images.

  The operation control method according to the present invention includes a display unit that displays a thumbnail image based on a photographed image, and a touch panel corresponding to the screen of the display unit, and an instruction related to displaying the thumbnail image on the display unit. An operation control method in an operation control apparatus having an input unit configured to set a number of thumbnail images to be displayed according to a distance of a continuous movement operation input to the operation unit And a thumbnail image control step for displaying a set of thumbnail rows corresponding to the number of images.

  The operation control program according to the present invention relates to displaying a thumbnail image on the display unit, including a display unit that displays a thumbnail image based on a captured image, and a touch panel corresponding to the screen of the display unit. An operation unit to which an instruction is input, and the number of thumbnail images to be displayed corresponding to a position on the screen specified by an input from the operation unit And a thumbnail image control function for displaying a thumbnail row of the set number of images is executed.

  The operation control program according to the present invention relates to displaying a thumbnail image on the display unit, including a display unit that displays a thumbnail image based on a captured image, and a touch panel corresponding to the screen of the display unit. An operation unit to which an instruction is input, and a computer provided in the operation control device sets the number of thumbnail images to be displayed according to the distance of continuous movement operation input to the operation unit, A thumbnail image control function for displaying a set number of thumbnail rows is executed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an operation control device, an operation control method, and an operation control program that can easily control the number of thumbnail images to be displayed on a touch panel.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example of a digital camera equipped with an operation control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a basic operation example in a preparation stage before displaying a thumbnail row in the thumbnail mode. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an example of a drag operation / display when the trajectory length is short. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an example of a drag operation / display when the trajectory length is slightly longer. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a drag operation / display example in the tip position mode. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the number of images corresponding to the end position to be ended and an example of the display pattern. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an operation example in the case of saving the created thumbnail row. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an operation example when the entire created thumbnail row is unnecessary and is deleted. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an operation example in the case of duplicating the created thumbnail row. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram about the concept of a group of a plurality of thumbnail sequences created and stored. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example in which a plurality of thumbnail rows are displayed in a unified thumbnail image size. FIG. 12 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an example of operation control processing. FIG. 13 is a subroutine showing stack icon movement processing. FIG. 14 is a subroutine showing thumbnail display processing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example of a digital camera equipped with the operation control apparatus of the present embodiment. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 11 including a CPU that performs instructions, data transfer, and the like to each unit configuring the digital camera 1 and comprehensively controls the operation of the digital camera 1. Further, the digital camera 1 includes a program data storage unit 12, a button operation unit 13, a touch panel 14 constituting the operation unit, an imaging unit 15, an SDRAM 16, a display image control unit 17, an image processing unit 19, a compression / decompression unit 20, a recording / decompression unit 20, and the like. Each unit of the playback unit 21 is provided. These units are connected to the control unit 11 by a bus line 25.

  The program data storage unit 12 is an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory. The program data storage unit 12 stores in advance a CPU program and data used during execution of the program. The CPU program is a program for operating the digital camera 1 and realizing various functions provided in the digital camera 1, for example, an operation control program. The data used during the execution of this program is, for example, GUI image data including icons to be displayed on a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen described later.

  The button operation unit 13 includes a release button, a power switch, a T / W (tele / wide) button, and the like that are disposed on the upper surface of the camera body and instruct the photographing timing.

  The imaging unit 15 includes a camera unit and an imaging processing unit. The camera unit is for the digital camera 1 to capture a subject image, and includes a photographing lens, an image sensor, an aperture, a shutter, an AF mechanism, an AF drive circuit, a zoom mechanism, a zoom drive mechanism, and the like. Here, the image pickup device is formed of a two-dimensional solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD or a CMOS sensor, and photoelectrically converts a subject image incident through a photographing optical system including a photographing lens and outputs it as an analog electric signal. In addition to including an image sensor driving circuit, the image processing unit performs analog signal processing such as AGC and CDS on the analog electric signal output from the image sensor, and then converts the analog electric signal into a digital electric signal using an A / D converter. It is for output.

  The SDRAM 16 is a memory used as a temporary storage memory or a working area, and temporarily stores a digital electrical signal output from the imaging unit 15, image data being processed by the image processing unit 19, and the like. The SDRAM 16 is also used for temporarily storing image data being processed and the like when creating a display image.

  The display image control unit 17 includes an encoder, a D / A converter, and the like, and is a driver for displaying various information on the display unit 18. Here, as shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the display unit 18 occupies most of the rear surface of the camera body, and is realized by a thin display device such as an LCD or an ELD. The display unit 18 is for displaying various setting information including a GUI screen in addition to the captured image and the live view image. In particular, in the present embodiment, the display unit 18 displays a thumbnail image based on the captured image. In addition, the display image control unit 17 creates a live view image and a reproduction image to be displayed on the display unit 18, and displays the GUI image for the GUI screen on the display unit 18 alone or superimposed on the live view image or the like. Is for.

  The image processing unit 19 performs various types of image processing such as pixel interpolation processing, color correction processing, and gamma processing on the digital electrical signal output from the imaging unit 15, and image data suitable for recording and display. Process to convert to. That is, at the time of recording (at the time of shooting), the image processing unit 19 performs image processing for recording on the recorded image, and performs simple image processing for display on the live view image for display. .

  The compression / decompression unit 20 records image data based on a well-known JPEG method or the like when recording image data of a captured image in the image storage unit 22 or displaying image data recorded in the image storage unit 22. Perform compression processing and decompression processing.

  The recording / reproducing unit 21 is used for writing image data to the image storage unit 22 and reading image data from the image storage unit 22, and a unit corresponding to the type of the image storage unit 22 is used. Here, the image storage unit 22 is a recording medium detachably attached to the camera body such as an xD-Picture Card (registered trademark) or a Compact Flash (registered trademark) card, or an HDD.

  Here, the control unit 11 of the present embodiment includes functional units of a thumbnail image control unit 11a, an image management unit 11b, and an operation detection unit 11c as functions executed by the operation control program. The operation detection unit 11 c is a functional unit for detecting a user instruction on the GUI screen displayed on the display unit 18 for setting operation conditions of the digital camera 1 and the user operation by the button operation unit 13. In addition, the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment includes a touch panel 14 disposed as an operation unit so as to be superimposed on a display unit 18 on which a GUI screen is displayed. The touch panel 14 receives an instruction regarding displaying a thumbnail image on the display unit 18. And the operation detection part 11c performs the detection operation | movement of the user instruction | indication with respect to a GUI screen by detecting the user's operation with respect to this touch panel 14. FIG. The touch panel 14 is of a type that can perform multi-touch or gesture input by a user's finger operation, but may be of a touch pad type or a pen input type.

  In addition, the thumbnail image control unit 11a performs screen control, in particular, thumbnail image display control in accordance with a user operation instruction on the GUI screen of the display unit 18, and executes various control processes as will be described later regarding the GUI screen. It is a functional part for doing. That is, the thumbnail image control unit 11a displays the number of thumbnail images to be displayed corresponding to the distance on the screen specified by the input from the touch panel 14 or the distance of the continuous movement operation input to the touch panel 14. Display control is performed to display a thumbnail row of the set number of images on the screen.

  The image management unit 11b is a functional unit for managing a group related to thumbnail images according to a user operation instruction and managing an image selected in the selection area. As for group management, the image management unit 11b manages each thumbnail image belonging to a series of consecutive thumbnail rows as an image belonging to the same group. The image management unit 11b manages a series of images recorded in the image storage unit 22 in a predetermined number, for example, the order of shooting date and time.

  Next, as an example of the operation of the digital camera 1, an outline of operation / control of the GUI screen and the like by the thumbnail image control unit 11a and the like in the thumbnail mode during the playback mode will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a basic operation example in a preparation stage before displaying a thumbnail row in the thumbnail mode. First, when the thumbnail mode is selected, the thumbnail image control unit 11a displays the initial screen of the thumbnail mode GUI screen 30 on the display unit 18. FIG. 2A shows an initial screen example of the GUI screen 30 in the thumbnail mode. The initial screen includes a stack area 31, a selection area 32, and a thumbnail area 33.

  The stack area 31 is an area that occupies, for example, the vicinity of the left end of the display unit 18. The stack area 31 is used to display head information that is information for setting a head thumbnail image that is the head of the display when the display of the thumbnail image is started in the middle of a series of images recorded in the image storage unit 22. Functions as the head information setting area to be displayed. In the stack area 31, the thumbnail image control unit 11a displays the icon of the first stack 31a, the icon of the second stack (see FIG. 2B and subsequent figures) 31b, the feed icon 31c, and the return icon 31d. .

  The icons of the first stack 31a and the second stack 31b are the topmost in a state in which a series of images recorded in the image storage unit 22 is stacked in two places as a trump-like lump with the size of the thumbnail image. It is displayed in a state where only the image can be confirmed. Here, in the present embodiment, the image management unit 11b manages a series of images recorded in the image storage unit 22 in order of increasing image numbers in chronological order, for example, from the oldest shooting date and time. Correspondingly, the thumbnail image control unit 11a causes the first stack 31a to superimpose and display a row of images including the number of the first thumbnail image and a number before this number (smaller than this number). In addition, the thumbnail image control unit 11a causes the second stack 31b to superimpose and display an image sequence including numbers after the number of the first thumbnail image (greater than the number of the first thumbnail image). In the initial screen shown in FIG. 2A, only the first stack 31a is displayed in the stack area 31, and the latest image number, for example, the thumbnail image “206” is displayed as the number of the first thumbnail image as the head information. To do. The send icon 31c is an operation icon for sending the images on the first stack 31a side by side to the second stack 31b. The return icon 31d is an operation icon for returning the images on the second stack 31b side to the first stack 31a one by one.

  The thumbnail area 33 is an area that occupies most of the display unit 18 adjacent to the right side of the stack area 31. The thumbnail area 33 is a distance on the screen designated by an input from the touch panel 14 accompanying the drag operation when a drag operation is performed on the thumbnail area 33 starting from the position of the first stack 31a. Alternatively, the number of thumbnails set by the thumbnail image control unit 11a is displayed in correspondence with the distance of the continuous movement operation input to the touch panel 14. That is, the touch panel 14 portion corresponding to the thumbnail area 33 functions as an input operation area for instructing the user with a desired number of thumbnail rows by a drag operation. Further, the display unit 18 corresponding to the thumbnail area 33 functions as a display area for displaying a thumbnail row composed of the number of images designated by the input operation. Further, the thumbnail image control unit 11a displays a scroll bar 33a indicating the outline of the position of the thumbnail row currently displayed on the screen in the entire thumbnail row at the right end in the thumbnail area 33.

  Further, the selection area 32 is an area provided in the stack area 31 so as to occupy the middle between the first stack 31a and the second stack 31b. For example, a printing icon 32a is displayed as an example of selection processing. The selection area 32 is used for selecting an image to be printed by selecting a desired thumbnail image from the thumbnail row displayed in the thumbnail area 33 and moving it to the selection area 32 by a drag operation. .

  Next, on the initial screen as shown in FIG. 2A, the user touches the feed icon 31c with a finger to move the thumbnail images sequentially from the first stack 31a to the second stack 31b one by one. . With this operation, the top information displayed at the top of the first stack 31a is sequentially changed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the thumbnail image control unit 11a sequentially moves a plurality of thumbnail images in an animated manner between the first stack 31a and the second stack 31b according to the moving direction of the thumbnail indicated by the arrow. Display. When the user touches the return icon 31d with a finger, the thumbnail images are returned one by one from the second stack 31b to the first stack 31a.

  FIG. 2C illustrates a state at the time when the inter-stack movement process is completed by releasing the finger from the feed icon 31c (or the return icon 31d). In the illustrated example, for example, thumbnail images from the number “206” to the last number “152” are sent to the second stack 31b, and the thumbnail image number “151” is set as the first thumbnail image in the first stack 31a. It is shown that. That is, each of the first and second stacks 31b and 31b displays an icon of two partial image groups each composed of a part of a series of images recorded in the image storage unit 22. Accordingly, the first stack 31a functions as, for example, a group of undisplayed partial images with numbers “151” to “1”, and the second stack 31b functions as a group of confirmed partial images with numbers “206” to “152”. That's right. Thereby, the user is not limited to the head of the series of images recorded in the image storage unit 22 (for example, the image with the number “206”), but the image position with an arbitrary number (for example, the image with the number “151”). Can generate and display thumbnail rows.

  Next, the user performs an operation for setting the number of thumbnail images to be displayed as a thumbnail row. Here, in the present embodiment, two types of operations for setting the number of thumbnail images can be selected: a trajectory length mode based on the trajectory length of the drag operation and a tip position mode based on the tip position where the drag operation is finished. And is set to any of the previous menu screen operations.

  First, the trajectory length mode is a mode in which the number of thumbnail images to be displayed is set in accordance with the trajectory length (distance) of the user's continuous drag operation (moving operation) input to the touch panel 14. In the trajectory length mode, the position of the first stack 31a in the stack area 31 that displays the thumbnail image of the first image displayed in the thumbnail row is the starting point for measuring the trajectory length. Further, when the input trajectory length is L, the horizontal length of the thumbnail area 33 is a, and the vertical length is (3/4) a (see FIG. 3A), the thumbnail image to be displayed is displayed. The number of images N is set in advance as a table as shown in Table 1 according to the locus length L and stored in the program data storage unit 12 or the like (in Table 1, the length a = 1 is converted). ). Further, in the case of the enlarged display mode, when N = 12 or less, it is set to automatically become an object of enlarged display.

  Next, a drag operation / display example in the locus length mode will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an example of a drag operation / display when the trajectory length L is short. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the user performs a drag operation with a short locus length L on the thumbnail area 33 starting from the position of the top thumbnail image of the first stack 31a. The tip position of the drag operation is determined when the user releases the finger from the screen. The thumbnail image control unit 11a performs the process of detecting the trajectory length L by tracking the trajectory 35 of the drag operation with continuous movement. In this case, for example, the length is (1/2) a or less. judge. Then, the thumbnail image control unit 11a calculates four as the number N of thumbnail images to be displayed by referring to a table such as Table 1 stored in the program data storage unit 12.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the thumbnail image control unit 11a displays a thumbnail row 34 composed of four thumbnail images in the thumbnail area 33, for example, in a horizontal one row state. In this case, the top image of the thumbnail row 34 is the image displayed at the top of the first stack 31a, for example, the thumbnail image with the number “151”. The top of the first stack 31a is the number next to the last image in the thumbnail row 34 displayed in the thumbnail area 33, for example, the image with the number “147” is the first thumbnail for the next and subsequent thumbnail rows. Changed to image.

  Furthermore, if the thumbnail image control unit 11a can display an enlarged thumbnail image and is set to the thumbnail automatic enlargement mode, the thumbnail image size is set to a size corresponding to the number N of the images. To do. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3C, the thumbnail image control unit 11a sets each thumbnail image in the thumbnail row 34 displayed in the size corresponding to the first stack 31a to the maximum size that matches the size of the thumbnail area 33. Enlarge and display. This makes it easier to check the contents of each thumbnail image while saving the trouble of setting the size of the thumbnail image separately.

  As for the thumbnail image enlargement display, regardless of the setting of the thumbnail automatic enlargement mode, for example, when the number of images is as small as four, it is automatically enlarged to the maximum size according to the number of images. May be. Alternatively, in the basic size thumbnail image display screen shown in FIG. 3B, for example, when the user double-clicks the screen, the screen may be enlarged.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an example of a drag operation / display when the trajectory length L is slightly longer. FIG. 4A shows a case where the user performs a zigzag continuous drag operation so that the locus length L is slightly longer with respect to the thumbnail area 33 starting from the position of the first thumbnail image of the first stack 31a. The state of is shown. The tip position of the drag operation is determined when the user releases the finger from the screen. The thumbnail image control unit 11a performs a process of detecting the locus length L of the locus 35 of the drag operation with continuous movement. In this case, for example, it is determined that the length is 1 <L ≦ (3/2) a. To do. Then, the thumbnail image control unit 11a calculates eight as the number N of thumbnail images to be displayed by referring to a table as shown in Table 1 stored in the program data storage unit 12.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the thumbnail image control unit 11a displays the thumbnail row 34 composed of eight thumbnail images in the thumbnail area 33, for example, in a state of two horizontal rows. Also in this case, the top image in the thumbnail row 34 is the image displayed at the top of the first stack 31a, for example, the thumbnail image with the number “151”. The top of the first stack 31a is the number next to the last image in the thumbnail row 34 displayed in the thumbnail area 33, for example, the image with the number “143” is the first thumbnail for the next and subsequent thumbnail rows. Changed to image.

  Furthermore, if the thumbnail image control unit 11a can display an enlarged thumbnail image and is set to the thumbnail automatic enlargement mode, the thumbnail image size is set to a size corresponding to the number N of the images. To do. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4C, the thumbnail image control unit 11 a sets each thumbnail image in the thumbnail row 34 displayed in the size corresponding to the first stack 31 a to the maximum size suitable for the size of the thumbnail area 33. Enlarge and display. This makes it easier to check the contents of each thumbnail image while saving the trouble of setting the size of the thumbnail image separately.

  Although not particularly illustrated, an arbitrary locus 35 in which the user makes full use of the thumbnail area 33 so that the locus length L is further longer than the thumbnail area 33 starting from the position of the top thumbnail image of the first stack 31a. When a continuous drag operation is performed, a thumbnail row composed of N thumbnail images corresponding to the locus length L is displayed in the thumbnail area 33.

  Therefore, in the case of the trajectory length mode, the user can input a wide distance from a short trajectory length to a long trajectory length, so that the number of thumbnail images constituting the thumbnail row 34 can be controlled more easily and finely. be able to. Further, since the position of the first stack 31a displaying the top thumbnail image is set as the starting point of the drag operation, the drag operation is easy to understand by continuously drawing out a desired number of thumbnail images following the top thumbnail image.

  On the other hand, the tip position mode is a mode in which the number of thumbnail images to be displayed is set in accordance with the position on the thumbnail area 33 designated by the input from the touch panel 14. In particular, in the present embodiment, this leading edge position mode is the position of the first stack 31a in the stack area 31 that displays the thumbnail image of the first image displayed in the thumbnail row (fixed position set in advance on the screen). And a mode for setting the number of thumbnail images to be displayed in correspondence with the area of a quadrangle having two points of the tip position where the user's drag operation ends and the vertex of the diagonal line.

  A drag operation / display example in the tip position mode will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a drag operation / display example in the tip position mode. FIG. 5A shows a state where the user performs a linear drag operation on the thumbnail area 33 starting from the position of the first thumbnail image of the first stack 31a. The tip position of the drag operation is determined when the user releases the finger from the screen. The thumbnail image control unit 11a performs processing for detecting the tip position of the drag operation, and displays the position corresponding to the area of the quadrangle having the position of the first stack 31a and the detected tip position of the drag operation as the vertices of the diagonal line. Set the number of thumbnail images. In this case, for example, the number of images is set to nine.

  FIG. 5B shows a state where the user performs a zigzag continuous drag operation on the thumbnail area 33 starting from the position of the top thumbnail image of the first stack 31a. The tip position of the drag operation is determined when the user releases the finger from the screen. However, the tip position of the drag operation shown in FIG. 5B shows an example substantially the same as that in FIG. Therefore, the thumbnail image control unit 11a corresponds to the area of a quadrangle having the position of the first stack 31a and the detected tip position of the drag operation as the vertices of the diagonal line, regardless of the path of the trajectory 35 where the drag operation is performed. Thus, the number of thumbnail images to be displayed is set to nine, for example.

  That is, in the tip position mode, as shown in FIG. 6, the number of images and its display pattern are set according to the tip position at which the drag operation ends in the thumbnail area 33. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the number of images corresponding to the end position to be ended and an example of the display pattern. That is, when the tip position is a position indicated by 1 × 4, it indicates that four thumbnail images are displayed as thumbnail rows of one row and four columns. Similarly, when the tip position is a position indicated by 2 × 2, four thumbnail images are two rows and two columns, and when the tip position is a position indicated by 3 × 1, three thumbnail images are provided. Is a 3 × 1 thumbnail column and the tip position is a position indicated by 3 × 3, and nine thumbnail images are a 3 × 3 thumbnail row and the tip position is a position indicated by 5 × 5. , 25 thumbnail images are displayed like a 5 × 5 thumbnail row.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5C, the thumbnail image control unit 11a displays the thumbnail row 34 composed of nine thumbnail images in the thumbnail area 33, for example, in a state of 3 rows and 3 columns vertically and horizontally. Also in this case, the top image in the thumbnail row 34 is the image displayed at the top of the first stack 31a, for example, the thumbnail image with the number “151”. The top of the first stack 31a is the number next to the last image in the thumbnail row 34 displayed in the thumbnail area 33, for example, the image with the number “142” is the first thumbnail for the next and subsequent thumbnail rows. Changed to image.

  Furthermore, if the thumbnail image control unit 11a can display an enlarged thumbnail image and is set to the thumbnail automatic enlargement mode, the thumbnail image control unit 11a sets the size of the thumbnail image to a size corresponding to the number of images. . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5D, the thumbnail image control unit 11a sets the thumbnail images in the thumbnail row 34 displayed in the size corresponding to the first stack 31a to the maximum size that matches the size of the thumbnail area 33. Enlarge and display. This makes it easy to check the contents of each thumbnail image.

  In this case as well, regarding the enlarged display of thumbnail images, regardless of the setting of the automatic thumbnail enlargement mode, for example, when the number of images is as small as nine, it is automatically enlarged to the maximum size according to the number of images. You may make it display. Alternatively, in the basic size thumbnail image display screen shown in FIG. 5C, for example, when the user double-clicks the screen, the screen may be enlarged.

  Therefore, in the case of the tip position mode, the user can change the number of thumbnail images constituting the thumbnail row 34 according to the tip position at which the drag operation is completed on the thumbnail area 33, and thus the operation is simple. In particular, since the position of the first stack 31a is used as a fixed point, it is only necessary to specify one point at the tip position, which makes the input operation extremely easy. Also, since the position of the first stack 31a displaying the top thumbnail image is the starting point of the drag operation, the drag operation is easy to understand.

  In the tip position mode of the present embodiment, the position of the first stack 31a is used as a fixed point. However, the start position mode uses any start position where the user starts the drag operation in the thumbnail area 33, and starts this operation. You may make it determine the area on a screen according to two points, a position and a front-end | tip position. According to this, the drag operation can be started from the position desired by the user.

  Next, an operation / display example after the generation / display of the thumbnail row 34 according to the user operation will be described. First, a case where the created thumbnail row 34 is stored will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating an operation example when the created thumbnail row 34 is stored. For example, after the generation / display of the thumbnail row 34 is completed as shown in FIG. 3C, the user can perform a specific operation, for example, two fingers, on the margin part of the thumbnail area 33 as shown in FIG. Perform multi-touch operation to scroll by dragging. Then, the thumbnail image control unit 11a stores and saves the created thumbnail sequence 34 in the image storage unit 22 or the SDRAM 16 and deletes it from the screen, returns the thumbnail area 33 to the blank column display, and generates a new thumbnail sequence 34.・ Used for display. The image management unit 11b manages images belonging to a series of consecutive thumbnail rows in the stored and saved thumbnail rows as images belonging to the same group.

  Next, a case where the entire created thumbnail row 34 is deleted will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an operation example when the entire created thumbnail row 34 is unnecessary and is deleted. After the generation / display of the thumbnail row 34 is finished, as shown in FIG. 8, the user touches a finger on the specific operation, for example, the screen to pay out the entire thumbnail row 34 toward the second stack 31b. Perform the correct operation. Then, the thumbnail image control unit 11a absorbs each thumbnail image that has generated the generated thumbnail sequence 34 in the second stack 31b in numerical order, returns the thumbnail area 33 to the blank column display, and creates a new thumbnail sequence 34. Used to generate and display

  A case where the created thumbnail row 34 is duplicated will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an operation example when copying the created thumbnail row 34. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, after the generation / display of the thumbnail row 34 is completed, the user performs a specific operation, for example, an operation of double-clicking the thumbnail area 33 with a finger. Then, the thumbnail image control unit 11a sets the thumbnail row 34 of the first group G1 to the image storage unit 22 or the SDRAM 16 when the created thumbnail row 34 is set to the first group G1 as shown in FIG. 9B. Save and save from the screen. At the same time, the thumbnail image control unit 11a uses the subsequent images of the first stack 31a to create a thumbnail row 34 using the same number of thumbnail images as the first group G1 as a second group G2 by duplication, thereby creating a thumbnail area. 33 is displayed. In the illustrated example, for example, the thumbnail row 34 of the second group G2 is created in which the image with the number “142” is the first thumbnail image and the image with the number “134” is the last image. The image management unit 11b manages images belonging to a series of consecutive thumbnail rows among the thumbnail rows sequentially copied as images belonging to the same group. Accordingly, the user can easily and repeatedly generate a plurality of thumbnail rows 34 having the same number of images.

  Further, the concept of a group by a plurality of thumbnail rows 34 created and stored will be described. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram about the concept of a group formed by a plurality of thumbnail rows 34 created and stored. As described above, according to the present embodiment, among the series of images recorded in the image storage unit 22, a plurality of thumbnail rows 34 having a desired number of images starting from an image having an arbitrary top thumbnail number are included. The thumbnail rows 34 can be sequentially generated, displayed and stored so as to be discontinuous. Then, the image management unit 11b divides each thumbnail image constituting the plurality of thumbnail rows 34 into a group by using the thumbnail row as a group unit, and images belonging to a series of consecutive thumbnail rows belong to the same group. Manage as images.

  As an example, FIG. 10 shows a case where, for example, four thumbnail rows 34 are generated from a series of images recorded in the image storage unit 22 and stored in the image storage unit 22 or the SDRAM 16. Here, these thumbnail rows 34 are divided into four groups of groups A to D that are continuous in the scroll direction and stored under the management of the image management unit 11b.

  Then, by appropriately performing an operation for displaying thumbnail images at a desired time, the thumbnail row 34 of any group can be displayed in the thumbnail area 33. FIG. 10 shows a display state of the thumbnail row 34 of the group C. Therefore, when the user performs an operation of scrolling the screen up or down on the thumbnail area 33 as indicated by the up and down arrows in FIG. 10, the group A to D is scrolled up or down in a state where the groups A to D are connected. . As a result, the thumbnail rows 34 of other groups can be browsed by scrolling.

  In the display example of the group management shown in FIG. 10, the size of the thumbnail image of each group is the size corresponding to the number of each image, but in the case of the list display by the group management, it is shown in FIG. As described above, a single thumbnail image size may be displayed in a unified manner. Reference numeral 37 shown in FIG. 11 is a delimiter indicating the boundary between groups.

  Next, an example of operation control by the control unit 11 for realizing display control associated with a user operation on the GUI screen 30 as described above will be described. FIG. 12 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an example of an operation control process executed by the thumbnail image control unit 11a of the control unit 11. The operation control process targeted in this embodiment is executed by designating a playback mode by an operation of a setting button (not shown).

  First, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the thumbnail mode is set in the playback mode (step S11). If the thumbnail mode is not set (step S11: No), the control unit 11 executes processing in another playback mode (step S12). Then, the control unit 11 determines whether or not switching to the thumbnail mode has been performed (step S13). If there is no switching (step S13: No), it is further determined whether or not there has been a power switch OFF operation (step S13). S14). When there is an OFF operation (step S14: Yes), the control unit 11 ends the process. When there is no OFF operation (step S14: No), the control unit 11 returns to the process of step S12.

  On the other hand, when the thumbnail mode is set (step S11: Yes) or when the mode is switched to the thumbnail mode (step S13: Yes), the control unit 11 causes the display unit to display the display unit. 18 displays the initial screen of the GUI screen 30 (step S20). The display example of the initial screen of the GUI screen 30 shown in FIG.

  Next, the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines whether or not the user has operated the stack icon (the feed icon 31c or the return icon 31d) in the initial screen display (step S21). When there is an operation on the stack icon (step S21: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a executes a movement process between the stack icons (between the first stack 31a and the second stack 31b) according to the operation. (Step S22).

  Further, when there is no operation of the stack icon (step S21: No), the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines whether or not the user has performed a thumbnail drag operation for generating and displaying a thumbnail row (step S23). ). If there is a thumbnail drag operation (step S23: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a executes a thumbnail display process according to the operation (step S24).

  Further, when there is no thumbnail drag operation (step S23: No), the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines whether or not the user has scrolled the screen (step S25). If there is a screen scroll operation (step S25: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a executes a process of scrolling the screen according to the screen scroll operation (step S26). A display example as shown in FIG.

  Furthermore, when there is no screen scroll operation (step S25: No), the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines whether or not the user has performed an operation for canceling the thumbnail mode (step S27). If there is an operation for canceling the thumbnail mode (step S27: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a proceeds to step S12. If there is no operation for canceling the thumbnail mode (step S27: No), the thumbnail image control unit 11a proceeds to step S12. The process returns to S21 and subsequent steps.

  Next, the process for moving between stack icons in step S22 will be described. FIG. 13 is a subroutine showing stack icon movement processing. First, the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines whether or not the user has performed a feed operation using the feed icon 31c (step S41). When the forward operation is performed (step S41: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a sets the first image number of the first stack 31a as the image number N (step S42). Then, the thumbnail image control unit 11a reads the image with the smaller number N from the image storage unit 22 by the decrement process of −1 and displays the image at the position of the first stack 31a (step S43). At the same time, the thumbnail image control unit 11a executes an animation process in which the first image before the decrement process in the first stack 31a is animatedly moved from the first stack 31a to the second stack 31b (step S44). The display example shown in FIG. Further, the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines whether or not the sending operation has been completed (step S45). If the sending operation has not been completed (step S45: No), the thumbnail image control unit 11a repeatedly executes the processes of steps S43 and S44. In addition, if the sending operation has been completed (step S45: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a ends the inter-stack icon movement process. The display example shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the forward operation is not performed (step S41: No), the thumbnail image control unit 11a is a return operation using the return icon 31d, and sets the top image number of the second stack 31b as the image number N. (Step S46). Then, the thumbnail image control unit 11a reads the image with the number N, which is one larger by the increment process of +1, from the image storage unit 22 and displays it at the position of the second stack 31b (step S47). At the same time, the thumbnail image control unit 11a executes an animation process for moving the head image before the increment process in the second stack 31b from the second stack 31b to the first stack 31a (step S48). Further, the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines whether or not the return operation is finished (step S49). If the return operation has not been completed (step S49: No), the thumbnail image control unit 11a repeatedly executes the processes of steps S47 and S48. Further, if the return operation has been completed (step S49: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a ends the inter-stack icon movement process.

  Next, the thumbnail display process in step S24 will be described. FIG. 14 is a subroutine showing thumbnail display processing. First, the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines whether or not there is a thumbnail screen on which the thumbnail row 34 has already been generated and displayed (step S61). If there is no thumbnail screen (step S61: No), the thumbnail image control unit 11a recognizes that it is in a standby state for generating a new thumbnail row 34, and the starting point of the thumbnail drag operation is the icon position of the first stack 31a. It is determined whether or not (step S62). For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the thumbnail image control unit 11a performs a drag position detection process if the thumbnail drag operation starts from the first stack 31a (step S62: Yes) (step S62). S63). Then, the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines at any time whether or not the user's finger is released from the screen in the drag position detection process (step S64). If not released (step S64: No), the thumbnail image control unit 11a performs step S63. Continue the drag position detection process.

  When the user's finger is released from the screen in the drag position detection process (step S64: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines that the drag operation has ended, and whether or not the track length mode is set. Is determined (step S65). If the thumbnail image control unit 11a is in the trajectory length mode (step S65: Yes), the trajectory length detection process for the drag operation is performed by tracking the drag position that has moved continuously (step S66). The display examples shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. Then, the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines the number of thumbnail images to be displayed by referring to the table in Table 1 using the detected trajectory length (step S68).

  On the other hand, if the thumbnail image control unit 11a is not in the trajectory length mode but in the tip position mode (step S65: No), the thumbnail image control unit 11a executes a process of detecting the tip position after the drag operation (step S67). The display examples shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B correspond. Then, the thumbnail image control unit 11a calculates the number of thumbnail images to be displayed based on the square area having the detected tip position and the position of the first stack 31a as vertices (step S68).

  Then, the thumbnail image control unit 11a sequentially reads out the calculated number of thumbnail images from the first stack 31a (step S69). Here, the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines whether or not the number of thumbnail images to be displayed can be enlarged (step S70). If the thumbnail image cannot be enlarged (step S70: No), the thumbnail of the basic size is displayed. A thumbnail row is displayed using the image (step S73).

  When the thumbnail image control unit 11a can be enlarged (step S70: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines whether or not the thumbnail automatic enlargement mode is set (step S71). If the thumbnail automatic control mode is not set to the thumbnail automatic enlargement mode (step S71: No), the thumbnail image control unit 11a displays the thumbnail row using the thumbnail image of the basic size (step S73). If the thumbnail image control unit 11a is set to the thumbnail automatic enlargement mode (step S71: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a enlarges and displays the thumbnail image (step S72). The display examples shown in FIG. 3C, FIG. 4C, and FIG. If it is not a thumbnail drag operation starting from the first stack 31a (step S62: No), the processing of steps S63 to S73 is jumped.

  On the other hand, if there is a thumbnail screen (step S61: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a performs various processes according to a specific operation on the generated and displayed thumbnail row 34. First, the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines whether or not the specific operation is an operation for switching screens (step S81). When the operation is for screen switching (step S81: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a executes a thumbnail screen switching process (step S82) and saves the generated / displayed thumbnail row 34 (step S82). Step S83). This corresponds to the example shown in FIG.

  If the operation is not an operation for screen switching (step S81: No), the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines whether or not the specific operation is an erasure instruction operation (step S84). If the operation is an erasure instruction (step S84: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a executes a thumbnail erasure process (step S85). The example shown in FIG. 8 corresponds.

  If the operation is not an instruction to delete (No at Step S84), the thumbnail image control unit 11a determines whether the specific operation is an operation for duplication (Step S86). If the operation is for duplication (step S86: Yes), the thumbnail image control unit 11a executes duplication processing of the thumbnail row 34 (step S87). The display example shown in FIG. 9 corresponds.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, a series of images recorded in the image storage unit 22 is managed in order of increasing image numbers in chronological order, for example, from the oldest shooting date and time. You may make it manage in order. For example, in the case of the digital camera 1 equipped with the GPS function, numbering according to the position information based on the latitude and longitude added to each image by the GPS function may be used. Good.

  Further, for example, in the block diagram shown in FIG. 1, the processing functions as shown in FIG. 12 to FIG. 14 in the present embodiment have been described as being processed by software by the control unit 11. This is not a limitation. It is a design matter to perform these processes in any one of hardware processing and software processing or in an appropriate combination.

  When all or part of the embodiment is executed by software processing, the control unit 11 reads and executes the operation control program stored in the program data storage unit 12 such as a flash memory. Thus, since such software processing is realized, an operation control program relating to such software processing is also the present invention. A recording medium on which such an operation control program is recorded is also the present invention. The recording medium for storing the program is not limited to the flash memory, but an optical recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, a magnetic recording medium such as an MD, a tape medium, or a semiconductor memory such as an IC card. It may be. Further, as a search program, a program obtained from an external recording medium via a network, for example, a program downloaded from a homepage is naturally included. In such a case, a WWW server, an ftp server, and the like that are downloaded by the user are also included in the scope of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the operation control apparatus is described as being mounted on the digital camera 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. The operation control device of the present embodiment may be applied to an image display device such as an image viewer.

11a Thumbnail image control unit 11b Image management unit 14 Touch panel 18 Display unit 34 Thumbnail column

Claims (11)

A display unit that displays thumbnail images based on the captured images;
An operation unit including a touch panel corresponding to the screen of the display unit, and an instruction for displaying the thumbnail image on the display unit;
A thumbnail image control unit configured to set the number of thumbnail images to be displayed corresponding to a position on the screen designated by an input from the operation unit, and to display a thumbnail row of the set number of images;
An operation control device comprising:   2. The thumbnail image control unit according to claim 1, wherein the thumbnail image control unit determines the number of thumbnail images corresponding to a quadrangular area having a vertex input from a position input from the operation unit as a diagonal line. Operation control device.   2. The thumbnail image control unit according to claim 1, wherein the thumbnail image control unit determines the number of thumbnail images corresponding to a rectangular area having two points input from the operation unit as diagonal vertices. Operation control device. A display unit that displays thumbnail images based on the captured images;
An operation unit including a touch panel corresponding to the screen of the display unit, and an instruction for displaying the thumbnail image on the display unit;
A thumbnail image control unit that sets the number of thumbnail images to be displayed in correspondence with a distance of continuous movement operations input to the operation unit, and displays a thumbnail row of the set number of images;
An operation control device comprising:   5. The operation control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thumbnail image control unit sets the size of each thumbnail image to be displayed as the thumbnail row to a size corresponding to the set number of thumbnail images. .   5. The thumbnail image control unit according to claim 4, wherein the thumbnail image control unit displays a thumbnail image of a head image displayed in the thumbnail row, and a vicinity of a display position of the thumbnail image is set as a starting point of the distance. Operation control device.   5. The operation control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image management unit that manages images belonging to a series of successive thumbnail rows in the thumbnail row as images belonging to the same group. An operation having a display unit that displays a thumbnail image based on a photographed image, and an operation unit that includes a touch panel corresponding to the screen of the display unit, and that inputs an instruction for displaying the thumbnail image on the display unit. An operation control method in a control device,
A thumbnail image control step of setting the number of thumbnail images to be displayed in correspondence with the position on the screen specified by an input from the operation unit and displaying a thumbnail row of the set number of images; An operation control method characterized by the above. An operation having a display unit that displays a thumbnail image based on a photographed image, and an operation unit that includes a touch panel corresponding to the screen of the display unit, and that inputs an instruction for displaying the thumbnail image on the display unit. An operation control method in a control device,
A thumbnail image control step of setting the number of thumbnail images to be displayed corresponding to a distance of continuous movement operation input to the operation unit, and displaying a thumbnail row of the set number of images. A characteristic operation control method. An operation having a display unit that displays a thumbnail image based on a photographed image, and an operation unit that includes a touch panel corresponding to the screen of the display unit, and that inputs an instruction for displaying the thumbnail image on the display unit. In the computer provided in the control device,
Set the number of thumbnail images to be displayed according to the position on the screen specified by the input from the operation unit, and execute a thumbnail image control function to display a thumbnail row of the set number of images. An operation control program characterized by being caused to execute. An operation having a display unit that displays a thumbnail image based on a photographed image, and an operation unit that includes a touch panel corresponding to the screen of the display unit, and that inputs an instruction for displaying the thumbnail image on the display unit. In the computer provided in the control device,
The number of thumbnail images to be displayed is set in accordance with the distance of the continuous movement operation input to the operation unit, and the thumbnail image control function for displaying the thumbnail row of the set number of images is executed. An operation control program characterized by

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