JP2011114389A - Imaging apparatus, control method therefor, and program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple method for processing images and simultaneously editing two or more kinds of electronic albums using a common image. <P>SOLUTION: A digital camera determines the presence/absence of editable album data, generates an album shutter button for respective editable album data, and displays it at a display part 105. A photographer instructs photographing to the digital camera by pressing the album shutter button corresponding to the album to which he/she wants to insert an image to be photographed from then. The digital camera photographs the image in response to the photographing instruction, and preserves the photographed image in association with the album data corresponding to the pressed album shutter button. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus capable of editing an electronic album in parallel with performing an imaging process, and a control method and program thereof.

  Conventionally, when an object is photographed and an image is recorded, it is proposed to edit the electronic album by confirming the arrangement of the image on the electronic album (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-17238 A

  In Patent Document 1, only one electronic album can be edited, but there is a demand for a photographer to edit a plurality of types of electronic albums using a common image.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is an imaging apparatus, an imaging unit that executes an imaging process of capturing an image of a subject and generating an image, and a storage unit that stores album data including layout information of the image Display means for displaying a shutter button for instructing execution of the imaging process for each stored album data; and the imaging means performs the imaging process when at least one of the displayed shutter buttons is pressed. And storing means for storing the image generated by the imaging process in association with the pressed shutter button and corresponding album data.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that a photographer can edit a plurality of types of electronic albums using a common image while performing image capturing processing with a simple operation.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure of operation | movement of the digital camera which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on the display part of the back surface of the digital camera which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on the display part of the back surface of the digital camera which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure of operation | movement of the digital camera which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the album data based on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure of operation | movement of the digital camera which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure of operation | movement of the digital camera which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on the display part of the back surface of the digital camera which concerns on one Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

(First embodiment)
The internal configuration of the digital camera in this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The control unit 101 performs overall control of the digital camera 100 and includes, for example, a CPU. The memory 102 is mainly used as a storage area for various data such as a program storage area executed by the control unit 101, a work area during program execution, and a storage area for screen data displayed on the display unit 105 described later. The storage unit 103 includes, for example, a flash memory, a hard disk, and the like, and is used to store captured images, album data, and the like. The imaging unit 104 converts an analog signal acquired by photographing a subject into digital data, and performs data compression processing by ADCT (Adaptive Discrete Cosine Transform) or the like. The imaging unit 104 also performs control such as zoom, focus, and aperture adjustment. The display unit 105 is a touch panel, and has a function of an operation input that detects video display on a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like, and a contact with a photographer's finger or the like and notifies the control unit 101 of the operation content. The operation unit 106 includes, for example, a button, a cross key, a dial, and the like, and notifies the control unit 101 of the operation content by the photographer. In addition, the digital camera 100 may include other modules such as a communication unit for performing communication with an external device and a sound output unit for outputting sound data.

  The procedure of the imaging process and the electronic album editing process in the digital camera 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the following operation is realized by the control unit 101 of the digital camera 100 reading a program stored in the memory 102 and controlling other modules in accordance with the program.

  First, the control unit 101 performs a shutter button display process (S200). In step S <b> 201, the control unit 101 refers to the storage unit 103 and determines whether there is currently editable album data. Then, an album shutter button is generated for each editable album data and displayed on the display unit 105. When there is no editable album data, a normal shutter button 302 is displayed as shown in FIG. When one editable album data exists, one album shutter button 310 is displayed as shown in FIG. If there are three editable album data, three shutter buttons 320 are displayed as shown in FIG. 3C. Although FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C only display the album shutter button, a normal shutter button may also be displayed.

  Next, the control unit 101 displays an album setting button, an image quality setting button, a memory card setting button, and a browsing button on the display unit 105 (S201). Further, the control unit 101 displays the live view video obtained from the imaging unit 104 in the live view area 301 (S202). Then, the control unit 101 determines whether there is a button press notification from the operation unit 106 (S203).

  If there is a button press notification in step S203 and the pressed button is the album setting button 304, the control unit 101 executes an album setting button pressing process (S204). If it is the shutter button 302 or the album shutter button 310, 320, the shutter button pressing process is executed (S205). If it is the image quality setting button 305, image setting processing is executed (S206), and the size and exposure of the captured image are set. If it is the memory card setting button 306, a memory card setting process is executed (S207), the memory card is initialized, the remaining capacity is confirmed, and the like. If it is the image browsing button 303, an image browsing button pressing process is executed (S208), and an image stored in association with the selected album is laid out and displayed.

  Next, the album setting button pressing process in step S204 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the control unit 101 determines a sub-menu item 402 selected from the album setting menu 401 in FIG. 4A (S500).

  As a result of the determination in step S500, if it is determined that new creation has been selected, the control unit 101 displays a new album creation screen 420 as shown in FIG. 4B on the display unit 105 (S501), to the photographer. The album name 421 and the number of images 422 of new album data are input. Thereafter, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the operation unit 106 has notified that the OK button 423 has been pressed (S502). 6 (a) album data is created (S503). The album data includes a status indicating the editing state of the album, an album name indicating the album title, and layout information indicating the insertion position of the image and the size of the insertion frame. Then, an album shutter button corresponding to the newly created album data is displayed on the display unit 105 (S504).

  If it is determined that the completion process has been selected as a result of the determination in step S500, the control unit 101 displays an album completion process screen 430 as shown in FIG. 4C (S511), and completes the photographer. Select the album data that is the target of the. Thereafter, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the operation unit 106 has notified that the OK button 433 has been pressed (S512). If there is a notification, the control unit 101 performs a completion process on the album data designated by the photographer. Specifically, the “editable” status 600 of the album data in FIG. 6A is changed to “completed” in the status 610 of the album data in FIG. 6B (S513). Album data whose status is “completed” cannot be edited, and in step S200, the control unit 101 determines that the album data is not editable. Then, the album shutter button corresponding to the album data for which the completion processing has been performed is not displayed on the display unit 105 (S514).

  If it is determined in step S500 that deletion has been selected, the control unit 101 displays a list of album data on the display unit 105 (S521), and causes the photographer to select album data to be deleted. . Thereafter, the control unit 101 determines whether or not there is a notification of pressing the OK button 443 from the operation unit 106 (S522). If there is a notification, the control unit 101 deletes the album data selected by the photographer (S523). Then, the album shutter button corresponding to the album data subjected to the deletion process is not displayed on the display unit 105 (S524).

  Next, the shutter button pressing process in step S205 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the control unit 101 issues an instruction to the imaging unit 104 to perform imaging, and stores the image obtained from the imaging unit 104 in the memory 102 (S700). The control unit 101 stores the image stored in the memory 102 in the storage unit 103 (S701), displays a preview of the image stored in the storage unit 103 on the display unit 105 (S702), and causes the photographer to check. Thereafter, the control unit 101 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed (S703). Here, the predetermined time is a time sufficient for the photographer to visually recognize the captured image displayed as a preview, for example, 2 seconds. If it is determined in step S703 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 101 identifies the pressed shutter button and determines whether it is an album shutter button (S704). When it is identified as an album shutter button in step S704, the control unit 101 stores the image stored in the storage unit 103. Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the file path of the image is inserted into the layout tag 620 of the album data corresponding to the pressed album shutter button and stored (S705). If it is determined in step S704 that the shutter button is a normal shutter button, this process ends.

  The control unit 101 calculates the remaining insertable number from the number of album data images 422 input by the photographer and the number of images already stored in association with the album data, and the album shutter button corresponding to the album data. May be displayed. If the remaining number of insertable sheets is 0 or less, the control unit 101 may not display the album shutter button on the display unit 105.

  In this embodiment, the XML format is adopted as the album data format. However, the format is not limited to this, and other formats may be used.

  According to the present embodiment, the photographer can designate album data into which a photographed image is to be inserted at the same time as the photographing instruction, and can easily store the photographed image in association with the album data.

(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the album data into which the captured image is inserted is selected when the shutter button is pressed. In the present embodiment, a case where album data is selected after the captured image is captured will be described. . In the present embodiment, the description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted, and the configuration unique to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  The shutter button pressing process in the digital camera 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, after executing the processing of steps S700 to S701, the control unit 101 displays a preview screen 900 as shown in FIG. 9 on the display unit 105 (S801). The preview screen 900 displays an album insertion button 920 corresponding to the album data determined to be editable in step S200, and allows the photographer to select album data into which the photographed image is inserted. Then, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the OK button 930 has been pressed (S802). If the OK button 930 is pressed, the pressed album insertion button 920 is identified (S803). The control unit 101 inserts the image stored in the storage unit 103 into album data corresponding to the pressed album insertion button (S804). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6C, the image stored in the storage unit 103 is stored in association with the album data corresponding to the album insertion button. If the OK button is not pressed, the control unit 101 periodically determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed (S805). Here, the predetermined time is a time sufficient for the photographer to visually recognize the captured image displayed as a preview, and is, for example, 3 seconds. If it is determined in step S805 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the process ends.

  In this embodiment, the album insertion button is displayed in step S801 without distinguishing the type of the shutter button. However, the type of the shutter button is identified and displayed when the normal shutter button is pressed. It may be.

  Also, the control unit 101 calculates the remaining insertable number from the number of album data 422 input by the photographer and the number of images already stored in association with the album data, and an album insertion button corresponding to the album data. May be displayed. If the remaining insertable number is 0 or less, the control unit 101 may not display the album insertion button on the display unit 105.

  According to the present embodiment, when the photographer confirms the photographed image, the photographer can also designate album data into which the photographed image is to be inserted, and can easily store the photographed image in association with the album data.

(Other examples)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (6)

An imaging means for executing an imaging process for imaging an object and generating an image;
Storage means for storing album data including layout information of the image;
Display means for displaying a shutter button for instructing execution of the imaging processing for each stored album data;
The imaging unit executes the imaging process when at least one of the displayed shutter buttons is pressed, and stores the image generated by the imaging process in association with the album data corresponding to the pressed shutter button. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a storage unit that performs storage. After the image capturing unit executes the image capturing process, the image capturing unit further includes a preview display unit that displays an insert button corresponding to the album data together with the image generated by the image capturing process,
2. The storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the image displayed by the preview display unit in association with the album data corresponding to the album data corresponding to the displayed and pressed insertion button. Imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a shutter button corresponding to album data in an editable state.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit further displays a remaining number of images that can be associated with each album data. An imaging step of performing an imaging process of imaging an object and generating an image;
Storing album data including layout information of the images;
Displaying a shutter button for instructing execution of the imaging process for each stored album data;
Executing the imaging process when at least one of the displayed shutter buttons is pressed;
And a step of storing the image generated by the imaging process in association with the pressed shutter button and corresponding album data. On the computer,
An imaging step of performing an imaging process of imaging an object and generating an image;
Storing album data including layout information of the images;
Displaying a shutter button for instructing execution of the imaging process for each stored album data;
Executing the imaging process when at least one of the displayed shutter buttons is pressed;
And a step of storing the image generated by the imaging process in association with the pressed shutter button and corresponding album data.

Images