JP2010268373A - Time correction system, camera and time correction program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent error occurrence in the time sequence of photographing date/time information of an image file owing to a timing or the like of connection with an external device even if date/time settings of an imaging apparatus are not correct. <P>SOLUTION: In a time correction system, an external device and a camera, which generates an image file including date/time information, are connected. The time correction system comprises a synchronization means for synchronizing a first time of the camera to a second time of the external device, a generation means for generating a differential information file based on a time differential between the first time and the second time in synchronization, a storage means for storing the generated differential information file in association with the image file, a transfer means for transferring the image file and the differential information file to the external device, and a correction means for correcting the date/time information of the image file transferred to the external device on the basis of the differential information file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a time correction system, a camera, and a time correction program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when there is an input / output of date / time from an external device, an imaging device has been known in which shooting date / time information of an image file is added to or added to a date / time difference indicating a date / time difference between devices to obtain new shooting date / time information (For example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-44596 A

  However, when the date and time setting of the imaging device is not correct, there is a problem that an error occurs in the time series of the shooting date and time information of the image file due to the timing of connection with an external device or the like.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a time adjustment system in which an external device is connected to a camera that generates an image file including date and time information, and a synchronization unit that synchronizes the first time of the camera with the second time of the external device. A generation unit that generates a difference information file based on a time difference between the first time and the second time at the time of synchronization, a storage unit that stores the generated difference information file in association with the image file, an image file, It comprises transfer means for transferring the difference information file to the external device, and correction means for correcting the date and time information of the image file transferred to the external device based on the difference information file.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera according to the present invention, wherein the connection detecting means for detecting the connection of the external device, the time measuring means for measuring the first time, and the synchronization for synchronizing the first time with the second time of the connected external device. Means, a generating means for generating a difference information file based on the time difference between the first time and the second time at the time of synchronization, a storing means for storing the generated difference information file in association with the image file, and an image And a transfer means for transferring the file and the difference information file to an external device.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a time correction program for acquiring an image file including date and time information, a time measuring means for measuring a first time, and a synchronization for synchronizing the first time with a second time of an external device. A receiving process for receiving an image file and a difference information file from a camera comprising: means and a generating means for generating a difference information file based on a time difference between the first time and the second time at the time of synchronization; Based on the difference information file, a correction process for correcting the date and time information included in the received image file is executed by a computer included in an external device included in the time correction system.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to generate a difference information file based on a time difference at the time of synchronization, and to correct date / time information included in an image file transferred to an external device based on the difference information file.

The block diagram explaining the principal part structure of the electronic camera and external apparatus by embodiment of this invention The figure which shows an example of the menu screen for the setting at the time of image transfer The figure which shows an example of the information recorded on a difference information file The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the electronic camera by embodiment The figure for demonstrating the calculation method of imaging | photography date difference information Flowchart for explaining the operation of the external device according to the embodiment

  With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of a time correction system according to the present invention will be described using an electronic camera and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer). FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the electronic camera 100 and the personal computer 200. The electronic camera 100 includes a photographing lens 102, a power switch 103, a setting switch 104, a liquid crystal monitor 106, an image sensor 110, an A / D conversion circuit 111, an image processing unit 112, a monitor interface 113, a control circuit 114, a clock 115, and a built-in device. A memory 116, a memory 118, a memory card interface 122, and an external interface 123 are provided.

  When the power switch 103 is turned on, the photographing mode is set, and subject light incident through the photographing lens 102 is guided to the image sensor 110, and a subject image is formed on the imaging surface. The image sensor 110 is configured by a CCD or CMOS image sensor including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements corresponding to pixels. The image sensor 110 captures a subject image formed on the imaging surface, and outputs a color photoelectric conversion signal corresponding to the brightness of the subject image. The A / D conversion circuit 111 converts an imaging signal after analog processing performed by an AFE circuit (not shown) into a digital signal.

  The image processing unit 112 is configured, for example, as an ASIC, and performs image processing such as white balance adjustment, saturation correction, and gradation correction on the image signal from the image sensor 110. The control circuit 114 is constituted by a CPU, a memory, and other peripheral circuits. The control circuit 114 receives a signal output from each block, performs a predetermined calculation, and outputs a control signal based on the calculation result to each block. The control circuit 114 functionally includes a synchronization unit 114a, a generation unit 114b, a storage control unit 114c, and a transfer control unit 114d. The synchronization unit 114 a synchronizes the date and time counted by the clock 115 of the electronic camera 100 with the date and time counted by the clock 207 of the personal computer 200. The generation unit 114b generates a difference information file described later. The storage control unit 114c records the difference information file generated by the generation unit 114b on the memory card 130. The transfer control unit 114d generates an image file that duplicates the image file recorded in the memory card 130. Then, the transfer control unit 114 d transmits the copied image file and difference information file to the personal computer 200 via the external interface 123.

  A memory 118 is a working memory of the control circuit 114. The memory 118 is a volatile recording medium composed of SDRAM. The control circuit 114 compresses the image data input from the image processing unit 112 by a predetermined method such as JPEG, generates an image file to which EXIF information or the like is added, and records the image file on the memory card 130.

  The EXIF information is recorded in accordance with the EXIF standard on various pieces of image information attached to an image file. The EXIF information includes an area for recording shooting date / time information, an area for recording various shooting conditions, and an arbitrary area that can be arbitrarily used by each vendor. In the arbitrary area, for example, information indicating whether or not an image file described later can be tampered with, that is, image authenticity information is recorded.

  The clock 115 measures the current date and time. The clock 115 outputs timed date / time information to the control circuit 114. The built-in memory 116 is a non-volatile recording medium such as a RAM, and records a difference information file and the like described later by the control circuit 114.

  The liquid crystal monitor 106 displays a menu screen for performing various mode setting processing of the electronic camera 100 in accordance with the operation of the setting switch 104. The user can perform various settings by operating the setting switch 104 while operating this menu screen. Contents that can be set include a date and time setting for correcting the date and time of the clock 115 and a setting for adding image authenticity information.

  The memory card interface 122 is an interface for performing data communication with a memory card 130 described later. The external interface 123 is an interface for performing data communication with an external device such as the personal computer 200 via a predetermined cable or wireless transmission path.

  The memory card 130 is a card-like removable memory using, for example, a semiconductor memory, and stores image data after image processing. Note that RAW data may be stored. The memory card 130 is detachable from the electronic camera 100. When the memory card 130 is attached to the electronic camera 100, image data can be transmitted to and received from the electronic camera 100 via the memory card interface 122 of the electronic camera 100 as described above. That is, when the memory card 130 is attached to the electronic camera 100, it functions as a storage medium for the electronic camera 100.

  The personal computer 200 is composed of, for example, a personal computer and can store image data of a subject image captured by the electronic camera 100. The personal computer 200 includes an input device 201, an HDD (hard disk drive) 202, an external interface 203, a control circuit 204, a monitor 205, a monitor interface 206, a clock 207, and a memory 208.

  The input device 201 is operated by a user, and includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse. For example, image data acquired by the electronic camera 100 is recorded in the HDD 202. The external interface 203 is an interface for performing data communication with an external device such as the electronic camera 100 via a predetermined cable or wireless transmission path. When the external interface 103 detects the connection of the external device, the external interface 103 outputs a connection signal to the control circuit 204. The personal computer 200 reads an image file or the like from the electronic camera 100 via the external interface 203. The read image file is recorded on the HDD 202 by the control circuit 204.

  The control circuit 204 is a microcomputer configured by a CPU, a memory, and other peripheral circuits that controls the personal computer 200. A memory 208 is a working memory of the control circuit 204. The control circuit 204 functionally includes a correction unit 204a, a detection unit 204b, a prohibition unit 204c, and a reception control unit 204d. Based on the difference information file received from the electronic camera 100, the correction unit 204a corrects the date and time information recorded in the EXIF information of the image file transferred from the electronic camera 100. The detection unit 204b detects whether or not image authenticity information is recorded in the EXIF information of the image file transferred from the electronic camera 100. When the detection unit 204b detects that the image file has image authenticity information, the prohibition unit 204c prohibits the correction unit 204a from correcting the date and time information of the image file. Note that, in the menu screen for setting at the time of image transfer, which will be described later, if the user has set to change the image with image authenticity information, the prohibition unit 204c instructs the correction unit 204a to set the date and time of the image file. Allow modification of information.

  The memory 208 is a volatile recording medium composed of SDRAM. The monitor 205 is, for example, a liquid crystal monitor or a CRT monitor. The control circuit 204 creates reproduction data to be displayed on the monitor 205 based on the image data instructed to be reproduced and displayed by the user. Then, the control circuit 204 outputs the reproduction data to the monitor interface 206 and causes the monitor 205 to display an image corresponding to the reproduction data. The monitor 205 displays a menu screen for making various settings. The contents that can be set include the setting of date and time setting processing when transferring an image file from the electronic camera 100.

  The clock 207 keeps time information such as the current date and time. The date / time information timed by the clock 207 is configured to be transmitted to a device such as the electronic camera 100 via the external interface 203 by the control circuit 204.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a menu screen for setting during image transfer. The user operates a mouse or the like of the input device 201 to check a check box corresponding to a desired setting item. The setting items checked by the user are recorded in a predetermined memory (not shown) by the control circuit 204 as transfer setting information.

  When the setting item of “automatically change date / time information” in FIG. 2 is checked by the user, the control circuit 204 is included in the image file when the image file is received from the electronic camera 100 or the like as will be described later. Change various date and time information. That is, the correction unit 204 a of the control circuit 204 changes the date and time information measured by the clock 207. As the date / time information to be changed, “file creation date”, “file update date”, “shooting date / time information”, and “digitization date / time” can be selected. Note that changing the “shooting date / time information” and the “digitized date / time” corresponds to alteration of the image file. When the setting item “Do not change the image with image authenticity information” is checked by the user, the correction unit 204a adds the EXIF information to the EXIF information even if the setting is “Automatically change date / time information”. The date / time information is not changed for the image file in which the image authenticity information is recorded. That is, it is a setting item for preventing falsification of the image file.

Next, date / time setting processing when the electronic camera 100 transfers an image file to the personal computer 200 will be described.
When the external interface 123 of the electronic camera 100 and the external interface 212 of the personal computer 200 are connected by, for example, a USB cable, data transmission / reception is started between them. When communication is established, the control circuit 114 of the electronic camera 100 receives a date / time setting command for instructing the start of the date / time setting process from the personal computer 200. When receiving the date / time setting command, the synchronization unit 114a outputs a request signal requesting the personal computer 200 to transmit the date / time information (time) measured by the clock 207.

  When the date and time information output from the personal computer 200 is received in response to the request signal, the synchronization unit 114 a inputs the date and time information (time) from the clock 115. The generation unit 114b of the control circuit 114 calculates the time difference information by subtracting the received date / time information of the personal computer 200 from the date / time information input from the clock 115 of the electronic camera 100. Then, the synchronization unit 114 a of the control circuit 114 synchronizes the date and time counted by the clock 115 with the date and time counted by the clock 207 of the personal computer 200 based on the calculated time difference information. That is, the synchronization unit 114a instructs the clock 115 to correct by adding or subtracting the time corresponding to the calculated time difference information.

  Further, the generation unit 114b records the date / time information immediately before the synchronization of the clock 115, that is, the date / time information input from the clock 115 when the date / time information is received from the personal computer 200, as the synchronization date / time information in the internal memory 116. The generation unit 114b refers to the synchronization date / time information already recorded in the built-in memory 116, and if the previous synchronization date / time (last synchronization date / time) is within 10 days of the current synchronization date / time, Does not record synchronization date and time information.

  The generation unit 114b acquires file information of all image files recorded on the memory card 130 via the memory card interface 122, for example, file names, and creates a difference information file. The difference information file is a file in which the file name and time difference information of each image file recorded in the memory card 130 are recorded. The generation unit 114b compares the acquired file information with the difference information file, and extracts an image file whose file name is not recorded in the difference information file. Then, the generation unit 114b records the file name of the extracted image file and the time difference information in the difference information file. When the difference information file is created for the first time, the generation unit 114b records the file names and time difference information of all the image files recorded on the memory card in the difference information file.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of contents recorded in the difference information file. As shown in FIG. 3, the model name of the electronic camera 100 and the serial number of the electronic camera 100 (“100001001” in FIG. 3) are recorded in the <header> column of the difference information file. The file name and time difference information described above are recorded in the <list> column of the difference information file. Below the <list> column, the number of file names recorded in the difference information file is recorded. The example of FIG. 3 shows that two file names are recorded. The file name is recorded in the <item> field. FIG. 3 shows a case where file names “DSCN9996.JPG” and “DSCN9997.JPG” are recorded. Then, the time difference information calculated by the generation unit 114b is recorded in the <deltatime> field in seconds. FIG. 3 shows a case where 5026 [sec] is recorded.

  The generation unit 114b creates a file name of the difference information file based on the model name of the electronic camera 100 and the like. FIG. 3 shows a case where the model name of the electronic camera 100 is “S200”, for example, and the file name of the difference information file is “DATE_S200.NJB”, for example. Then, the storage control unit 114c records the created difference information file in the memory card 130. If a difference information file with the same file name has already been recorded in the memory card 130, the generation unit 114b does not create a new difference information file. That is, the generation unit 114c newly records the file name of the image file and the time difference information in the difference information file already recorded in the memory card 130. Note that the generation unit 114b also calculates time difference information when the date and time setting process is performed from the menu screen of the electronic camera 100 without being connected to the personal computer 200. That is, the generation unit 114b acquires time difference information by calculating a difference between date information before the date setting process and date information after the date setting process.

The date setting processing by the electronic camera 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. A program for performing the processing of FIG. 4 is stored in a memory (not shown) in the control circuit 114. When a date / time setting command is received from the personal computer 200 connected via the external interface 123, the control circuit 114 starts and executes the program. .
In step S101, the synchronization unit 114a outputs a request signal for requesting transmission of the date / time information timed by the clock 207 to the personal computer 200, and receives the date / time information output from the personal computer 200 in response to the request signal. Proceed to step S102.

  In step S102, the generation unit 114b calculates time difference information. Then, based on the difference information, the synchronization unit 114a synchronizes the clock 115 with the clock 207 and proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the generation unit 114b refers to the synchronization date information already recorded in the built-in memory 116, and determines whether the last synchronization date is within 10 days of the current synchronization date. If the final synchronization date is within 10 days, step S103 is affirmed by the generation unit 114b, and the process proceeds to step S105. If the last synchronization date is before the 10th, the generation unit 114b makes a negative determination in step S103 and proceeds to step S104. In step S104, the generation unit 114b records the date / time information immediately before the synchronization of the clock 115 as the synchronization date / time information in the built-in memory 116, and proceeds to step S105.

  In step S <b> 105, the generation unit 114 b determines whether a difference information file has already been recorded on the memory card 130. When the difference information file is recorded, step S105 is affirmed by the generation unit 114b, and the process proceeds to step S107. When the difference information file is not recorded, the generation unit 114b makes a negative determination in step S105 and proceeds to step S106. In step S106, the generation unit 114b newly creates a difference information file. Then, the storage control unit 114c records the created difference information file on the memory card 130, and proceeds to step S107.

  In step S107, the generation unit 114b acquires file information of the image file recorded on the memory card 130, and proceeds to step S108. In step S108, the generation unit 114b determines whether there is an image file in which no file name is recorded in the difference information file. When the file information is compared with the difference information file, and there is an image file in which the file name is not recorded in the difference information file, the generation unit 114b makes a positive determination in step S108 and proceeds to step S109. In step S109, the generation unit 114b records the file name of the image file and the time difference information in the difference information file, and returns to step S108. When there is no image file in which no file name is recorded in the difference information file, that is, when the file names of all the image files recorded in the memory card 130 are recorded in the difference information file, the generation unit 114b As a result, a negative determination is made in step S108, and the process ends.

  Next, processing when transferring an image file from the electronic camera 100 to the personal computer 200 will be described. In the following description, it is assumed that “shooting date information” is set as date information for changing transfer setting information in the personal computer 200.

  When the transfer control unit 114d transfers the image file of the memory card 130 to the personal computer 200 described later, the generation unit 114b calculates shooting date / time difference information for each image file. For each date / time information (for example, shooting date / time information) included in the image file, the generation unit 114b uses the shooting date / time information of each image file and the date / time by the clock 207 based on the time difference information recorded in the difference information file. The photographing date / time difference information, which is a difference from the information, is calculated. That is, the generation unit 114b calculates the error included in the shooting date / time information based on the clock 115 in which the error has occurred. Then, the generation unit 114b records the calculated shooting date / time difference information in the difference information file in association with the file name of each image file. The generation unit 114b does not calculate the shooting date / time difference information when the date / time setting process is not performed twice or more. When the transfer control unit 114 d receives a request signal for requesting transmission of an image file output from the personal computer 200 described later, the transfer control unit 114 d transmits the difference information file generated as described above and the image file via the external interface 123. Send to PC 200.

  With reference to FIG. 5, the calculation method of the imaging | photography date difference information by the production | generation part 114b is demonstrated. In the following description, it is assumed that the date / time information measured by the clock 115 of the electronic camera 100 has an error at a predetermined rate of change. In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis represents the time axis, and the vertical axis represents the date and time error measured by the clock 115.

First, a method of calculating the shooting date / time difference information of the image file F (2) shown in FIG. 5 will be described. By explaining the calculation method of the shooting date / time difference information of the image file F (2), a plurality of date / time setting processes are performed before acquisition, and at least one date / time setting process is performed after acquisition This will be described as a representative. Based on the proportional relationship between the triangle DEF and the triangle GEH in FIG. Note that time t0 in FIG. 5 indicates synchronization date information on which the first date setting process has been performed.
Δtx2 = (T2−t1) ・ Δt2 / (t2−t1) (1)
t1: Synchronization date / time information when the second date / time setting process is performed [sec]
t2: Synchronization date / time information [sec] when the third date / time setting process was performed
T2: Shooting date and time information [sec] of image file F (2)
Δt2: Time difference information [sec] calculated when the third date / time setting process is performed

Next, a method of calculating the shooting date / time difference information of the image file F (1) shown in FIG. 5 when the time t0 is not set will be described. By describing the calculation method of the shooting date / time difference information of the image file F (1), the date / time setting process is performed once before acquisition, and the date / time setting process is performed at least twice after acquisition. This will be described as a representative. Based on the proportional relationship between the triangle ABC and the triangle DEF in FIG. 5, the generation unit 114b calculates the shooting date / time difference information Δtx1 as shown in the following equation (2).
Δtx1 ＝ Δt1− (t1−T1) ・ Δt2 / (t2−t1) (2)
t1: Synchronization date and time information when the first date and time setting process is performed [sec]
t2: Synchronization date / time information [sec] when the second date / time setting process was performed
T1: Date and time information [sec] of image file F (1)
Δt1: Time difference information [sec] calculated when the first date / time setting process is performed
Δt2: Time difference information [sec] calculated when the second date / time setting process is performed

  Next, image file reception processing and image file shooting date / time information correction processing by the personal computer 200 will be described. When the control circuit 204 activates the image transfer software in response to the operation of the input device 201 by the user, the image file reception process is started. The reception control unit 204d of the control circuit 204 reads transfer setting information recorded in a memory (not shown) and stores it in the memory 208. In the following description, it is assumed that “shooting date / time information” is set as the date / time information to be changed in the transfer setting information. Then, the reception control unit 204d outputs a request signal for requesting transmission of the difference information file to the control circuit 114 of the electronic camera 100 via the external interface 203. When the difference information file is received from the electronic camera 100 in response to the request signal, the reception control unit 204d stores the received difference information file in the memory 208.

  The reception control unit 204d outputs a request signal requesting the electronic camera 100 to transmit an image file recorded on the memory card 130. Note that the image file that the reception control unit 204d requests to transmit may be determined according to a user's operation using the input device 201, or may be determined for a difference image file. When requesting transmission for the difference image file, the reception control unit 204 d receives from the electronic camera 100 a list of file names of all image files (file list in the camera) recorded on the memory card 130. The reception control unit 204d compares the file name list in the camera with the list of file names of all image files recorded in the HDD 202 (file list in HDD), and the file name is recorded in the file list in HDD. Request transmission of unrecognized image files.

  When receiving an image file from the electronic camera 100 in response to the request signal, the reception control unit 204d records the received image file in the HDD 202. The reception control unit 204 d refers to the transfer setting information stored in the memory 208 and reads the image file recorded in the HDD 202 and stores it in the memory 208 if the date / time information is automatically changed.

  The reception control unit 204d refers to the difference information file in the memory 208 and determines whether the image file stored in the memory 208 is an image file having the file name recorded in the difference information file. That is, the reception control unit 204d determines whether or not the shooting date / time information of the image file received from the electronic camera 100 is an image file (hereinafter referred to as a target image file) that is a target of the shooting date / time correction process. If the image file is the target image file, the correction unit 204a performs a shooting date correction process on the image file that is allowed to be tampered with. At this time, the detection unit 204b refers to the EXIF information of the target image file and detects whether image authenticity information is recorded. When the image authenticity information is not recorded, the correction unit 204a performs a shooting date correction process on the target image file. That is, the correction unit 204a adds or subtracts the shooting date / time difference information to the shooting date / time information recorded in the EXIF information of the target image file. Then, the correction unit 204a records the image file on which the shooting date / time correction processing has been performed in the HDD 202.

  When the image authenticity information is recorded in the EXIF information of the target image file, the prohibition unit 204c refers to the transfer setting information stored in the memory 208 and is set so as not to change the image with the image authenticity information. It is determined whether or not. When the setting is made so that the image with image authenticity information is not changed, the prohibition unit 204c prohibits the correction unit 204a from performing the photographing date correction process. As a result, the correction unit 204a does not perform the shooting date correction process on the target image file. If the setting with no change is not made for the image with image authenticity information, the prohibition unit 204c allows the photographing date correction processing by the correction unit 204a. As a result, the correction unit 204a performs the shooting date correction process on the target image file as described above.

The operation of the personal computer 200 in the image file reception process and the image file shooting date / time correction process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. A program for performing the processing of FIG. 6 is stored in a memory (not shown) in the control circuit 204, and is activated and executed by the control circuit 204 when the image transfer software is activated by the user.
In step S201, the reception control unit 204d reads transfer setting information from a memory (not shown), stores it in the memory 208, and proceeds to step S202. In step S202, the reception control unit 204d transmits a request signal for requesting transmission of the difference information file to the electronic camera 100, receives the difference information file from the electronic camera 100, and proceeds to step S203.

  In step S203, the reception control unit 204d determines whether there is an image file for which transmission is requested. If there is an image file requesting transmission, the reception control unit 204d makes a positive determination in step S203, and the process proceeds to step S204. If no image file requesting transmission exists, the reception control unit 204d makes a negative determination in step S203 and ends the process. In step S204, the reception control unit 204d outputs a request signal requesting the electronic camera 100 to transmit an image file, receives the image file from the electronic camera 100, and proceeds to step S205.

  In step S205, the reception control unit 204d refers to the transfer setting information and determines whether or not the setting for automatically changing the date and time information is made. If it is set to automatically change the date and time information, the reception control unit 204d makes a positive determination in step S205 and proceeds to step S206. If the setting for automatically changing the date and time information is not made, the reception control unit 204d makes a negative determination in step S205 and returns to step S203.

  In step S206, the reception control unit 204d refers to the difference information file and determines whether or not the image file received in step S204 is the target image file. If it is a target image file, the reception control unit 204d makes a positive determination in step S206 and proceeds to step S207. If it is not the target image file, the reception control unit 204d makes a negative determination in step S206 and returns to step S203.

  In step S207, the detection unit 204b determines whether image authenticity information is recorded with reference to the EXIF information of the target image file. When the image authenticity information is recorded, the detection unit 204b makes a positive determination in step S207 and proceeds to step S208. If the image authenticity information is not recorded, the detection unit 204b makes a negative determination in step S207 and proceeds to step S209.

  In step S208, the prohibition unit 204c refers to the transfer setting information and determines whether or not the setting with the image authenticity information is not changed. If the image with image authenticity information is set not to be changed, the prohibition unit 204c makes a positive determination in step S208 and returns to step S203. If the image with image authenticity information is not set not to be changed, the prohibition unit 204c makes a negative determination in step S208 and proceeds to step S209. In step S209, the correction unit 204a performs shooting date / time correction processing by adding or subtracting shooting date / time difference information to / from shooting date / time information recorded in the EXIF information of the target image file. Then, the correction unit 204a records the image file on which the shooting date / time correction processing has been performed in the HDD 202, and returns to step S203.

According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The synchronization unit 114a included in the control circuit 114 of the electronic camera 100 synchronizes the date / time information (time) timed by the clock 115 with the date / time information (time) timed by the clock 207 of the personal computer 200. . The generation unit 114b generates a difference information file based on the time difference information obtained by subtracting the date / time by the clock 115 and the date / time by the clock 207 at the time of synchronization, and the storage control unit 114c converts the generated difference information file into an image file. The data is recorded on the memory card 130 in association with. Then, the transfer control unit 114 d transfers the image file and the difference information file recorded on the memory card 130 to the personal computer 200 via the external interface 123. The correction unit 204a included in the control circuit 204 of the personal computer 200 corrects the date / time information included in the image file transferred to the personal computer 200 based on the difference information file received via the external interface 203. . Therefore, even if the image file is acquired with the electronic camera 100 whose date and time setting is not accurate, the date and time information of the image file is corrected to the correct date and time by the correcting unit 204a of the personal computer 200. No errors occur when sorting according to time series. Further, the correction unit 204a corrects the date and time information of the image file transferred from the electronic camera 100, that is, the image file obtained by copying the image file acquired by photographing, so that the original image file is not corrected and prevents falsification. be able to.

(2) The generation unit 104 b generates a difference information file for each model of the electronic camera 100 and records it on the memory card 130. That is, the generation unit 104b does not generate a difference information file related to an image file acquired by the electronic camera 100 of a different model. As a result, it is possible to prevent the date / time information included in the image file from being corrected based on incorrect time difference information, that is, time difference information of the electronic camera 100 of a different model. Further, no error occurs when the personal computer 200 sorts a plurality of image files acquired by a plurality of electronic cameras 100 whose date and time settings are not accurate based on a time series of date and time information.

(3) The detection unit 204b of the personal computer 200 detects an image file having image authenticity information from among the image files transferred from the electronic camera 100. The prohibition unit 204c prohibits the correction unit 204a from correcting the date / time information of the image file having the image authenticity information. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the image file from being falsified by correcting the shooting date and time of the image file transferred to the personal computer 200 against the user's will.

(4) When an image file having image authenticity information is detected by the detection unit 204c in response to a user's operation on the input device 201, whether or not the correction of the date / time information of the image file by the correction unit 204a is prohibited is determined. The configuration can be set. Therefore, even in the case of an image file having image authenticity information, the date and time information such as the shooting date and time can be corrected if the user desires, so that convenience is improved. Furthermore, according to the operation of the input device 201 by the user, any information among the file creation date, the file update date, the shooting information date and time, and the digitization date and time included in the date and time information of the image file is corrected from the menu screen. It was set as the structure which can be selected. Therefore, since the date / time information according to the user's desire can be corrected, the convenience can be improved.

The embodiment described above can be modified as follows.
(1) Instead of performing synchronization at the timing when the electronic camera 100 is connected to the personal computer 200, synchronization may be performed according to a synchronization instruction from the user. In this case, the setting switch 104 of the electronic camera 100 is configured to be able to output a synchronization instruction signal. Then, when a synchronization instruction signal is input from the setting switch 104 in accordance with a user operation, the synchronization unit 114a may start synchronization.

(2) When the transfer control unit 114d transfers the image file of the memory card 130 to the personal computer 200, the generation unit 114b replaces the shooting date / time difference information for each image file with the difference information file, instead of the correction date / time. Information may be recorded. In this case, the generation unit 114b may calculate correction date / time information obtained by adding or subtracting the shooting date / time difference information to / from the shooting date / time information of the image file and record the correction date / time information in the difference information file. Then, the correction unit 204a of the personal computer 200 may rewrite the shooting date / time information of the image file with the correction date / time information recorded in the difference information file.

(3) Although the case where the electronic camera 100 and the personal computer 200 are connected has been described, the present invention is not limited to the personal computer 200, and an external device such as a printer may be connected to the electronic camera 100.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as the characteristics of the present invention are not impaired, and other forms conceivable within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention are also within the scope of the present invention. included. The embodiments and modifications used in the description may be configured by appropriately combining them.

100 electronic camera, 110 imaging device, 114 control circuit, 114a synchronization unit,
114b generation unit, 114c storage control unit, 114d transfer control unit,
115 clock, 123 external interface, 200 PC,
201 input device, 204 control circuit, 204a correction unit, 204b detection unit,
204c Prohibited part, 207 clock

Claims (11)

A time correction system that connects an external device and a camera that generates an image file containing date and time information.
Synchronization means for synchronizing the first time of the camera with the second time of the external device;
Generating means for generating a difference information file based on a time difference between the first time and the second time at the time of synchronization;
Storage means for storing the generated difference information file in association with the image file;
Transfer means for transferring the image file and the difference information file to the external device;
A time correction system comprising: correction means for correcting the date and time information of the image file transferred to the external device based on the difference information file. The time correction system according to claim 1,
The time correction system, wherein the generation unit records at least a file name of the image file and the time difference in the difference information file. The time correction system according to claim 2,
The time correction system characterized in that the generation means generates the difference information file for each model of the camera. In the time adjustment system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Detecting means for detecting an image file having image authenticity information among the transferred image files;
The time correction system further comprising: prohibiting means for prohibiting correction of the date and time information of the image file having the detected image authenticity information by the correcting means. The time correction system according to claim 4,
The time correction system further comprising: a setting unit that sets whether or not the correction of the date / time information by the correction unit is prohibited when the image file having the image authenticity information is detected by the detection unit. . The time correction system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The time generation system characterized in that the generation means calculates difference information between the date and time information and the second time based on the date and time information and the time difference. The time correction system according to claim 6,
The time correction system, wherein the correction means corrects the date / time information using the difference information. The time correction system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The camera has the generating means;
The time correction system, wherein the external device has the correction means. Connection detection means for detecting connection of an external device;
A time measuring means for measuring the first time;
Synchronization means for synchronizing the first time with a second time of the connected external device;
Generating means for generating a difference information file based on a time difference between the first time and the second time at the time of synchronization;
Storage means for storing the generated difference information file in association with an image file;
A camera comprising: transfer means for transferring the image file and the difference information file to the external device. The camera according to claim 9, wherein
The camera is characterized in that the generation means calculates difference information between the date and time information and the second time based on the date and time information of the image file and the time difference. Acquisition means for acquiring an image file including date and time information; clocking means for timing a first time; synchronization means for synchronizing the first time with a second time of an external device; and the first time at the time of synchronization. A reception process for receiving the image file and the difference information file from a camera including a generation unit that generates a difference information file based on a time difference from the second time;
Based on the received difference information file, a correction process for correcting date information included in the received image file is executed by a computer included in an external device included in the time correction system. Time correction program.

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