JP2013102329A - Digital camera, and method and program of managing image file thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent delay of file processing and other processing due to new acquisition of file management information.SOLUTION: There are provided a caching processing unit 82 for storing prescribed file management information, regarding image files divided and stored into a plurality of directories of an image memory 11, into an inner memory 83 collectively by a unit of the directory; and a main processing unit 81 for executing recording of the image files to the image memory 11 and reading of the image files from a recording medium on the basis of the file management information stored in the inner memory 83. When there is no change in a directory of a usage object, the acquisition of new file management information that causes delay in recording, reading, and other processing of the image files is not necessary.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image file management technique in a digital camera.

  Conventionally, in a digital camera, when image data acquired by shooting is stored in a recording medium, the image data is recorded and managed as a data file in a format corresponding to the DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) standard, that is, an image file. It is carried out.

  In the DCF standard, a plurality of image files are stored in a grouped state in one or a plurality of directories. As the directory, for example, there are a directory with a camera manufacturer name and a directory with a name according to the type and use of an image. The image file has a data structure compliant with the Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) standard, and various additional information accompanying the image data is also stored in the image file.

  In addition, image file management technology in a digital camera includes a predetermined file management information related to an image file in a recording medium, such as a directory name and file name, specific additional information, etc. cached in an internal memory built in the camera. There is a method of accessing a recording medium based on the file management information and performing file processing such as recording and reading of an image file (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

  In the above method, when the file management information necessary for accessing the recording medium is cached in the internal memory, the recording medium is accessed based on the cached file management information, and is necessary for accessing the recording medium. If new file management information is not cached in the internal memory, new file management information is cached in the internal memory. According to such a method, when the file management information necessary for accessing the recording medium is cached in the internal memory, the file processing can be performed at high speed.

JP 2006-121506 A

  However, in the method of performing file processing based on the file management information cached in the internal memory, if the file management information necessary for accessing the recording medium is not cached in the internal memory, the file management required prior to file processing is performed. Information must be newly acquired by accessing the recording medium. In particular, in recent years, the capacity of the recording medium has increased remarkably compared to the cache capacity of data that can be secured in the internal memory, and a large amount of image files are recorded on the recording medium, so that the cache capacity tends to be insufficient.

  Therefore, it is often necessary to newly acquire file management information necessary for file processing from the recording medium. By newly acquiring file management information, not only file processing but also other processing, for example, immediately after startup There has been a problem that there may be a delay in the shooting process.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent delays in file processing and other processing due to new acquisition of file management information.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a recording medium for storing a plurality of image files divided into a plurality of directories, and predetermined file management information relating to the image files stored in the recording medium are temporarily stored. A cache memory, management information control means for storing predetermined file management information related to a plurality of image files recorded on the recording medium in a unit of directory in the cache memory, and a directory in the cache memory. File processing means for accessing the recording medium based on file management information stored in a unit as a unit, recording an image file on the recording medium, and reading the image file from the recording medium. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a delay in file processing and other processing due to new acquisition of file management information.

It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the digital camera which concerns on this invention. It is the figure which showed the recording structure of the image file. (A) is a diagram showing an example of directory names and directory names in the DCF standard, and (b) is a diagram showing examples of file names and file names in the DCF standard. It is the functional block diagram which showed the function of CPU. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed by functioning as a main process part by CPU. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content in the imaging | photography mode following FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content in the reproduction | regeneration mode following FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a directory specific process. It is a flowchart which shows a cache request and standby processing. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed when CPU functions as a caching process part.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration of a digital camera 1 according to the present invention.

  The digital camera 1 has a lens block 2 and an image sensor 3. The lens block 2 includes a retractable lens group housed in a lens barrel (not shown) including a focus lens, a diaphragm, a lens motor that drives the lens group, and an actuator that opens and closes the diaphragm. By being driven by the optical system drive unit 4, the focal position and the amount of light received by the image sensor 3 are adjusted.

  The image sensor 3 is a solid-state image sensor composed of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Meta 10xide Semiconductor) sensor. The imaging device 3 is driven by the drive circuit 5 to photoelectrically convert the optical image of the subject, and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the converted optical image, that is, an imaging signal, to an AFE (Analog Front End) 6.

  The AFE 6 includes a CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) circuit, a PGA (Programmable Gain Amp), an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter), and the like. The AFE 6 performs predetermined analog processing on the imaging signal output from the imaging device 3, converts the imaging signal after the analog processing into a digital signal, and then outputs the converted image data to the image processing unit 7.

  The image processing unit 7 includes a buffer memory that temporarily records pixel data input from the AFE 6, and performs various image processing for recording an image captured by the image sensor 3 with respect to the image data temporarily stored in the memory. I do. Image processing performed by the image processing unit 7 includes gamma correction, white balance adjustment, generation of R, G, and B color component data for each pixel, YUV conversion that generates YUV data from the generated RGB data, and the like. The image processing unit 7 supplies the generated YUV data to the CPU 8 while in the shooting standby state, and supplies it to the CODEC (Coder & Decoder) 9 during shooting.

  The YUV data supplied to the CPU 8 in the shooting standby state is supplied to the display unit 10 and displayed as a live view image on the display unit 10. The display unit 10 includes a liquid crystal display that displays a live view image and the like, a drive circuit that drives the liquid crystal display, and the like.

  The CODEC 9 encodes the image data (YUV data) supplied from the image processing unit 7 at the time of photographing by a JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) method, and decodes any encoded image data.

  Image data compression-encoded in JPEG format at CODEC 9 at the time of shooting is added to the image memory 11 as still image data (still image file) after being added with various shooting information such as date information and image size by the CPU 8. The The image file has a format corresponding to the DCF standard as will be described later.

  The image memory 11 is, for example, a card-type recording medium that is detachable from the camera body. Still image data recorded in the image memory 11 is appropriately read out by the CPU 8 at the time of reproduction, decoded by the CODEC 9, and then displayed. Sent to the unit 10 and reproduced as a still image.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a recording structure of an image file in the image memory 11. As shown in FIG. 2, in the image memory 11, an image file recording directory (directory name: DCIM) 101 created at the time of initialization in the digital camera 1 (or other digital camera), and its A plurality of directories having a tree structure including a plurality of directories 102, 102,..., 103, 104. In addition, one or a plurality of image files 111 are recorded in each of the directories 102, 102,.

  Each directory 102, 102,..., 103, 104... Is given a directory name defined by the DCF standard, and each image file 111 is also a directory defined by the DCF standard. Each name is given.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of directory names and directory names in the DCF standard. The directory name is composed of a leading three-digit directory number and five free characters following the directory number. Directory numbers are limited to numbers “100” to “999”, but the presence of missing numbers is allowed. In addition, as a free character, use of any character string that is the same as or different from other directories is permitted.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of file names and file names in the DCF standard. The file name is composed of the first four free characters, the file number following the free characters, and the extension (jpg, FIG. 2). Free characters are limited to only single-byte uppercase letters and use of different character strings in the same directory is allowed. Further, the file number is limited to numbers “0001” to “9999”, but the presence of missing numbers is allowed.

  Here, in the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, a shooting mode for auction and a shooting mode for Web are provided as a shooting mode in addition to a normal shooting mode. Directories for recording image files generated in the mode are individually created corresponding to the shooting modes. Each image file is grouped according to the shooting mode and recorded in the corresponding directory.

  For example, among the directories 102, 102,... 103, 104,... Shown in FIG. 2, the directories 102 and 102 having directory names “100ABCDE” and “102ABCDE” are generated in the normal shooting mode. This is a directory in which an image file 111 (“CIMG0001.jpg” in the figure) is recorded. That is, in the digital camera 1, as a directory corresponding to the normal shooting mode, a directory is created in which a directory name obtained by concatenating a predetermined character string consisting of “ABCDE” to a file number is created. Note that the manufacturer name of the digital camera 1 is generally used as the predetermined character string of the directory name used for the image file 111 generated in the normal shooting mode.

  That is, a directory having a directory name including the predetermined character string is always present in a recording medium on which an image file photographed by a digital camera having a function equivalent to that of the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment is recorded. There may be cases where a recording medium on which an image file shot by a camera is recorded does not exist.

  Further, the directory 103 whose directory name is “100_AUCT” shown in FIG. 2 is a directory corresponding to the shooting mode for auction, and the directory name is obtained by concatenating a predetermined character string consisting of “_AUCT” to the file number. It has become a thing. Furthermore, the directory 104 whose directory name is “100_IWEB” shown in FIG. 2 is a directory corresponding to the Web shooting mode, and the directory name is obtained by concatenating a predetermined character string consisting of “_IWEB” to the file number. It has become a thing.

  Here, the normal shooting mode is a higher-level shooting mode that is automatically set in the initial state when the basic operation mode of the digital camera 1 is set to the shooting mode. The shooting mode is a lower shooting mode that can be set by the user as needed while the basic operation mode is the shooting mode.

  The shooting mode for auction is a shooting mode in which shooting conditions suitable for shooting at an auction site are automatically set at the time of shooting, and the shooting mode for Web is posted on the Internet homepage at the time of shooting. This is a shooting mode in which shooting conditions suitable for taking pictures are automatically set.

  Although not shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of image files recorded in the same directory and related to each other are given file names having the same file number. A plurality of image files related to each other include, for example, a series of image files recorded by continuous shooting by the continuous shooting function of the digital camera 1 and editing processing such as enlargement, reduction, and trimming by the editing function of the digital camera 1 These are the image file created along with the image file of the editing process.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, in the digital camera 1, an operation unit 12, a RAM (Random Access memory) 13, and a program memory 14 are connected to the CPU 8. The RAM 13 is a working memory of the CPU 8, and various data are stored in the RAM 13 when the CPU 8 controls the digital camera 1.

  The operation unit 12 includes a power key, a shutter key, a mode switching key for switching between a shooting mode that is a basic operation mode of the digital camera 1 and a playback mode for displaying a recorded image, and a lower mode of the normal shooting mode. These are a plurality of keys (not shown) such as a MENU key and direction keys used for various setting operations including the setting of the specific shooting mode described above, and each key in the operation unit 12 is scanned by the CPU 8 at any time. Is done.

  The shutter key has a so-called half shutter function capable of two-stage operation including a half-press operation and a full-press operation. The half-press operation of the shutter key is used for an instruction to start an AE (Auto Exposure) operation and an AF (Auto Focus) operation, and the full press of the shutter key is used for an imaging instruction.

  The program memory 14 is a flash memory that is, for example, an EEPROM (Electric Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) in which stored data can be rewritten. The program memory 14 stores a control program for causing the CPU 8 to control the entire operation of the digital camera 1 and various data.

  The control program stored in the program memory 14 includes a program for causing the CPU 8 to perform AE control, AF control, and AWB (Auto white balance) control, and a file management program for managing image files. It is.

  The CPU 8 controls each part of the digital camera 1 by operating the RAM 13 as a working memory in accordance with a control program stored in the program memory 14. Further, the CPU 8 manages the image file stored in the image memory 11 by functioning as the main processing unit 81 and the caching processing unit 82 shown in FIG. 4 in accordance with the file management program.

  That is, FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing functions related to the present invention in the CPU 8. The outline of the main processing unit 81 and the caching processing unit 82 will be described as follows.

  That is, the main processing unit 81 is a part that controls the overall operation of the digital camera 1, and requests the caching processing unit 82 to execute the caching process as necessary. This caching process is a process for acquiring file management information relating to a plurality of image files from the image memory 11 and temporarily storing them in the internal memory 83 functioning as the cache memory of the present invention.

  In response to a request from the main processing unit 81, the caching processing unit 82 executes a caching process in parallel with other processing in the main processing unit 81. In this caching process, file management information related to the image file 111 recorded in the image memory 11 is acquired. The caching processing unit 82 temporarily stores (caches) the acquired file management information in the internal memory 83.

  Here, the file management information acquired by the caching processing unit 82 and temporarily stored in the internal memory 83 is file management information related to all image files recorded in a specific directory that is the target of the file processing at that time. It is.

  Next, processing contents centered on image file management by the CPU 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9 are processes performed when the CPU 8 functions as the main processing unit 81, and FIG. 10 is a process performed when the CPU 8 functions as the caching processing unit 82.

  Note that the processing of the main processing unit 81 and the processing of the caching processing unit 82 are processes that can be executed asynchronously in parallel. The processing may be performed separately by the CPU.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the main processing unit 81 (CPU 8) starts the processing as soon as the power is turned on, and immediately specifies the normal shooting mode and performs the directory specifying processing shown in FIG. 8 (step SA1). After specifying the shooting mode directory and performing the cache request and standby processing shown in FIG. 9 (step SA2), initialization processing common to each operation mode is performed (step SA3).

  The directory specifying process in FIG. 8 is a process for specifying a directory to be processed, and is executed as necessary in the shooting mode and the playback mode. In the directory specifying process, the main processing unit 81 first checks whether or not the designated operation mode directory has been specified. If the directory has been specified (step SA101: YES), the directory specifying process is immediately terminated.

  If the specified operation mode directory has not been specified, the main processing unit 81 first acquires all the directory names existing in the image memory 11 attached to the camera body in the directory specifying process (step S1). SA102).

  Next, the main processing unit 81 confirms the operation mode (step SA103), and when the operation mode is the shooting mode, a directory name including a predetermined character string exists in all the acquired directory names. (Step SA104).

  The predetermined character string corresponds to the operation mode, and is any one of “ABCDE”, “_AUCT”, and “_IWEB” (see FIG. 2), and here, the normal photographing mode is designated as the operation mode. Therefore, the predetermined character string is “ABCDE”.

  If the directory name including the predetermined character string does not exist (step SA104: NO), the main processing unit 81 newly adds a directory name including the predetermined character string and the directory number being a serial number of the existing directory number. Are generated and specified as a shooting mode directory (step SA105), the process returns to the process of FIG.

  If there is a directory name including the predetermined character string (step SA104: YES), the main processing unit 81 identifies the directory having the largest directory number as the shooting mode directory among the directory names including the predetermined character string. After (step SA106), the process returns to the process of FIG.

  When performing directory specifying processing in a playback mode to be described later, the main processing unit 81 specifies the directory having the largest directory number as the playback directory among all the directory names acquired in step SA102 (step SA107). ).

  Further, the cache request and standby process in FIG. 9 are processes for caching the file management information related to the designated operation mode directory in the internal memory 83. The operation mode directory here is the shooting mode directory specified in the process of step SA2, and is the shooting mode directory specified in step SA1 (directory specifying process in FIG. 8). That is, as described above, the predetermined character string is “ABCDE” and the directory number is the largest.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 9, in the cache request and standby processing, the main processing unit 81 first determines whether or not the designated directory has been cached, that is, the file management information of all files in the designated directory is stored in the internal memory 83. Is already cached (step SA201). If the specified directory is already cached (step SA201: YES), the main processing unit 81 immediately ends the process.

  On the other hand, if the designated directory is not cached (step SA201: NO), the main processing unit 81 further confirms whether or not the designated directory is currently being cached (caching processing by the caching processing unit 82 is being executed). (Step SA202). If the specified directory is being cached (step SA202: YES), the main processing unit 81 waits until the specified directory is cached.

  If the specified directory is not being cached (step SA202: NO), the main processing unit 81 requests the caching processing unit 82 to cache file management information for the specified directory (step SA203).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by the caching processing unit 82 (CPU 8) in response to a cache request. The caching processing unit 82 always checks whether there is a new cache request in parallel with the processing on the main processing unit 81 side after power-on, and if there is a cache request (step SB1: YES), it is designated. The following processing is executed for the directory.

  First, the caching processing unit 82 initializes the file number of an image file (hereinafter also simply referred to as a file) to be processed for acquiring file management information to “1” (step SB2).

  Next, the caching processing unit 82 accesses the image memory 11 to check whether there is a file to which a file name including the file number is assigned, and if there is a corresponding file (step SB3: YES), the file Management information is acquired (step SB4). Specific file management information includes a file name, a storage address of file data, and Exif information required when the digital camera 1 executes operations based on various functions.

  Thereafter, the caching processing unit 82 caches the acquired file management information in the internal memory 83 (step SB5), and then increments the file number by one (step SB6).

  Thereafter, if the new file number after the increase does not exceed “9999” which is the upper limit of the DCF standard (step SB7: NO), the caching processing unit 82 returns to the process of step S3, and adds a new file to the file name. After confirming the presence or absence of the file including the number, the acquisition of the file management information and the caching process to the internal memory 83 are repeated.

  Thereafter, until the file number exceeds the upper limit (step SB8: NO), the caching processing unit 82 repeats the processing of steps SB3 to SB7 and caches the file management information of all files in the designated directory in the internal memory 83. When the file number exceeds the upper limit (step SB7: YES), the process is terminated.

  Then, when the file management information of all the files in the specified directory is cached in the internal memory 83 by the caching processing unit 82 (step SA201: YES), the main processing unit 81 ends the cache request and standby processing.

  On the other hand, when the initialization process in step SA3 is completed, the main processing unit 81 confirms the currently set operation mode (step SA4), and executes a process according to the operation mode. The operation mode is a shooting mode and a playback mode, and other modes, and the operation mode immediately after the power is turned on is either the shooting mode or the playback mode. The other mode is a setting mode for setting details of various functions, for example.

  The main processing unit 81 executes the process shown in FIG. 6 when the operation mode is the shooting mode, and executes the process shown in FIG. 7 when the operation mode is the reproduction mode.

  First, the case where the operation mode is the shooting mode will be described. The main processing unit 81 immediately checks whether or not the lens block 2 is in the retracted state as shown in FIG. When the block 2 is in the retracted state (step SA5: YES), the lens extension process is started (step SA6).

  Next, after the processing of steps SA7 and SA8, the main processing unit 81 waits until the lens extension is completed (step SA9: NO). Here, the processes in steps SA7 and SA8 are the same as the processes in steps SA1 and SA2 described above, and are substantially skipped immediately after the power is turned on.

  When the lens is finally extended (step SA9: YES), the main processing unit 81 continues to check whether there is a shooting instruction from the user (step SA10). Then, if there is no shooting instruction (step SA10: NO), the main processing unit 81 proceeds to step SA15.

  On the other hand, when there is a photographing instruction, the main processing unit 81 performs a photographing process in response to the photographing instruction, and obtains photographed image data (step SA11). Note that the image data acquired in the photographing process is compressed in the JPG format by the CODEC 9.

  Subsequently, the main processing unit 81 designates the shooting mode directory and executes the cache request and standby processing shown in FIG. 9 (step SA12). Here, the shooting mode directory specified in step SA12 is a directory corresponding to the current shooting mode, and immediately after the power is turned on, the predetermined character string corresponding to the normal shooting mode is “ABCDE” as described above. And the directory with the largest directory number.

  In the cache request and standby processing, when the file management information of all files in the specified directory is cached in the internal memory 83 by the caching processing unit 82, the main processing unit 81 stores the file management information in the internal memory 83. Based on the above, a new file name and a storage address are specified (step SA13).

  Although omitted in FIG. 6, when the processing of step SA13, the main processing unit 81 has an image file of “9999” in which the file number of the file name is the upper limit of the DCF standard in the designated directory. A directory name whose directory number is a serial number of the existing directory number is newly created in the image memory 11. Then, the main processing unit 81 specifies a new file name according to the newly created directory.

  Thereafter, the main processing unit 81 assigns a new file name together with other additional information to the compressed image data generated in accordance with the photographing process in step SA11, and previously identifies the image data in the image memory 11 as an image file. Record in the storage address (step SA14). In the process of step SA14, the main processing unit 81 caches the file management information related to the newly recorded image file in the internal memory 83 in addition to the existing file management information.

  Then, the main processing unit 81 checks whether or not the user has changed the operation mode. If there is no change in the operation mode (step SA15: NO), the main processing unit 81 checks again whether or not there is a shooting instruction. On the other hand, if there is a change in the operation mode (step SA15: YES), the process proceeds to step SA4 again, and a process corresponding to the changed operation mode is executed.

  Here, as described above, in the shooting mode immediately after the power is turned on, the file management information related to the directory corresponding to the normal shooting mode is automatically cached in the internal memory 83 immediately after the power is turned on. It is performed in parallel with the initialization operation.

  That is, since the main processing unit 81 can determine that the file management information corresponding to any directory is not stored in the cache memory when the power is turned on, in parallel with other initialization operations at the timing immediately after the power is turned on. Immediately, the caching processing unit 82 starts the caching process.

  Therefore, immediately after the power is turned on, the image processing can be performed immediately without causing a delay in file processing due to waiting for the update of the file management information. That is, it is possible to reduce the waiting time until the image can be taken after the start-up, and to take an image without missing a decisive moment.

  Thereafter, the main processing unit 81 does not change the operation mode by the user (step SA15: NO), and when there is a shooting instruction (step SA10: YES), the main processing unit 81 performs the processing of the above-described steps SA11 to SA14. repeat.

  At that time, in the process of step SA12 (FIG. 8), since the file management information related to the shooting mode directory is already cached in the internal memory 83, nothing is performed and immediately after the compression acquired in the shooting process of step SA11. Is recorded in the image memory 11 as an image file having a new file name (step SA14).

  Therefore, after the file management information of the directory to be processed has been cached, the file resulting from waiting for the update of the file management information will be used unless the directory to be processed is changed by changing the operation mode by the user. There is no processing delay, and the next photographing process can be performed without delay.

  On the other hand, when the operation mode is changed by the user during the operation in the photographing mode (step SA15: YES), the main processing unit 81 returns to the process of step SA4 and first checks the changed operation mode. If the changed operation mode is the shooting mode, the above-described processing in FIG. 6 is repeated.

  Note that when the changed operation mode is the shooting mode, the operation mode is changed from the normal shooting mode that is the higher shooting mode to the shooting mode for the auction or Web that is the lower shooting mode. On the contrary, it is a case where either the lower shooting mode is changed to the normal shooting mode or the lower shooting mode type is changed.

  If the changed operation mode is the photographing mode, the lens is not in the retracted state (step SA5: NO), and the main processing unit 81 immediately shifts to the directory specifying process of FIG. 8 described above (step SA7). .

  Then, after specifying the shooting mode directory in the directory specifying process, the main processing unit 81 executes the cache request and standby process described above with reference to FIG. 9 (step SA8). In other words, when the shooting mode is changed to another shooting mode, the file management information of all files in the shooting mode directory corresponding to the changed shooting mode is collectively displayed at the timing when the shooting mode is changed by the user. Then, the internal memory 83 is cached.

  Note that the shooting mode directory corresponding to the changed shooting mode is a directory whose directory name is “100_AUCT” if the changed shooting mode is the shooting mode for auction, and the changed shooting mode is for Web. In this shooting mode, the directory name is “100_IWEB”.

  Thereafter, the main processing unit 81 has completed the lens extension (step SA9: YES), so as described above, whether or not there is a shooting instruction (step SA10) and whether or not the operation mode has been changed (step SA15). Each is confirmed, and the processing described above is performed according to the confirmation result.

  In other words, if there is a change in the processing target directory due to the change in the operation mode, it can be determined that there is a high possibility that the file management information corresponding to the changed directory is not stored in the cache memory. At the timing when the mode is changed, file management information related to the directory to be processed in the new operation mode is cached in the internal memory 83 in advance, before the actual file processing in the operation mode after the change. Therefore, even when the type of operation mode is changed, the update wait time for file management information at the first file access is small, and there is no delay in file processing due to the wait for update of file management information. .

  Next, processing of the main processing unit 81 when the operation mode is changed to the reproduction mode by the user will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the operation mode is changed to the playback mode, the main processing unit 81 immediately specifies the playback mode directory by the directory specifying process of FIG. 8 described above (step SA16). That is, as described above, the directory having the largest directory number among the directory names of all the directories in the image memory 11 is specified as the reproduction directory (step SA206).

  Subsequently, the main processing unit 81 designates the reproduction mode directory as a processing target directory, and stores the file management information of all the files in the reproduction mode directory by the cache request and standby processing of FIG. To cache.

  In other words, even if the directory to be processed changes when the operation mode is changed from the shooting mode to the playback mode, a new file is created prior to actual file processing in the changed operation mode. File management information related to the directory to be processed in the shooting mode is cached in the internal memory 83 at once.

  Therefore, even immediately after the change to the playback mode, the update waiting time of the file management information in the first file access is small, and the delay of the file processing due to the waiting for the update of the file management information does not occur.

  Subsequently, the main processing unit 81 designates the image file reproduced at the end of the previous reproduction mode as a reproduction target (step SA18), reads the image file from the image memory 11, reproduces it, and causes the display unit 10 to display the image. (Step SA19). Information (file name and the like) related to the last reproduced image file is stored in the image memory 11.

  Further, the main processing unit 81 displays the image on the display unit 10, whether or not the next image to be reproduced is designated, that is, whether or not the user performs an image sending operation or a returning operation, and the operation mode by the user. The presence or absence of a change is sequentially confirmed (steps SA23 and SA24).

  When the next reproduction target is designated (step SA23: YES), the main processing unit 81 designates the reproduction mode directory as the processing target directory, and performs the reproduction mode use by the cache request and standby processing in FIG. File management information of all files in the directory is cached in the internal memory 83 (step SA20).

  Subsequently, the main processing unit 81 reads the next reproduction target image file from the image memory 11 based on the file management information in the internal memory 83 (step SA21), reproduces the read image file, and displays the image on the display unit 10. Is displayed (step SA22).

  Thereafter, the main processing unit 81 repeats the processing from step SA20 to step SA22 each time the next reproduction target is designated (step SA23: YES).

  Here, in the process of step SA20, when the next reproduction target is an image file recorded in the same directory as the image file being reproduced, the file management information regarding the reproduction mode directory is already cached in the internal memory 83. Therefore, without performing anything, the predetermined image file to be reproduced next is read immediately in the process of step SA21.

  Therefore, in the playback mode, after the file management information of the processing target directory is cached, the file management information is waited to be updated unless an image recorded in a different directory is designated as the next playback target. There is no delay in file processing due to this.

  Thereafter, the main processing unit 81 returns to the processing of step SA4 in FIG. 5 when the operation mode is changed (step SA24: YES) without the next reproduction target being designated by the user (step SA23: NO). The above-described processing is repeated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the file management information of the image file necessary for accessing the image memory 11 is collectively stored in the shooting mode and the playback mode in units of directories to be processed from time to time. The memory 83 is cached.

  Therefore, as described above, during the operation in the shooting mode and the playback mode, after the file management information is once cached, the operation mode is changed to another operation mode in either the shooting mode or the playback mode. Unless this is done, it is possible to prevent a delay in file access due to waiting for the update of the file management information.

  Also, when the directory to be processed is changed by switching the operation mode, etc., when the operation mode is changed, the file management information related to the directory corresponding to the changed operation mode is immediately and collectively stored in the internal memory. 83 was to be cached.

  As a result, even if the directory to be processed is changed as the operation mode is switched, after the file management information is cached, the operation mode is changed to another operation during the operation in the new operation mode. As long as the mode is not changed, it is possible to prevent a delay in file processing due to waiting for update of the file management information.

  Such an effect is obtained even if the operation mode is switched from the shooting mode to the playback mode, or from the playback mode to the shooting mode or the shooting mode type. This becomes conspicuous when the number of image files newly recorded in the directory to be processed increases with the switching.

  In particular, when the operation mode is switched to the playback mode or when the type of shooting mode is switched, it is unlikely that shooting will be performed immediately after the operation mode is switched. There is a low possibility that the shooting process is delayed due to waiting for the update of the file management information. At the same time, the second and subsequent shooting processes can be performed without delay. Therefore, when the changed operation mode is the shooting mode, the shooting process can be performed without delay even after the change of the operation mode.

  Also, in this embodiment, when starting up after turning on the power, a file management information cache regarding the directory used in the shooting mode, that is, the directory used in the normal shooting mode automatically set after turning on the power is stored. It started at the same time as the startup, and was done in parallel with the initialization operation at startup. Thereby, as described above, the waiting time until the photographing can be performed after the activation can be shortened, and the imaging can be performed without missing a decisive moment even immediately after the activation.

  In the present embodiment, immediately after startup, file management information related to the directory used in the normal shooting mode is stored in the internal memory 83 in parallel with the initialization operation at startup. However, when implementing the present invention, the directory for storing file management information in parallel with the initialization operation may be the following directory.

  For example, at the time of activation, the operation mode selected by the user first is specified, and the number of times is counted as the number of times of actual use by the user immediately after activation, and is updated and stored in the RAM 13. However, the RAM 13 is configured to be able to retain stored contents even when the power is off. At the time of activation, the file management information may be stored in the internal memory 83 in parallel with the initialization operation at the time of activation for the directory corresponding to the operation mode having the largest number of times stored in the RAM 13.

  In this case, when using in an operation mode frequently used immediately after startup by the user, it is possible to prevent a delay in file processing due to waiting for update of the file management information immediately after startup.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the file management information related to a single directory is cached in the internal memory 83. However, when the storage capacity of the internal memory 83 is sufficient, the file management information related to each directory is controlled as follows by caching the file management information related to a plurality of directories in the internal memory 83 for each directory. It may be.

  For example, when it becomes necessary to cache file management information for a new directory, the file management information of the new directory is sequentially cached in the internal memory 83. On the other hand, each time the file management information of a directory existing in the internal memory 83 is referred to as a result of arbitrary file processing, the number of times the directory is used is counted and is updated and stored in the internal memory 83. When the file management information for the number of directories that can be stored in the internal memory 83 is stored, when it becomes necessary to cache the file management information for a new directory, the number of uses, that is, the usage frequency is the highest. Update the file management information for a few directories to new file management information.

  By controlling the file management information as described above, in a configuration in which the storage capacity of the internal memory 83 is sufficient to store file management information related to a plurality of directories, the file management information in units of directories is more It can be efficiently stored in the internal memory 83. As a result, it is possible to more surely prevent a delay in file processing due to waiting for the update of the file management information.

  In the present embodiment, the file management information of the directory corresponding to the changed operation mode is cached in the internal memory 83 at the timing when the directory to be processed is changed as the operation mode is switched. did. However, the file management information caching process for the directory corresponding to the changed operation mode may be performed at a timing different from that of the present embodiment.

  For example, caching of file management information for a directory may be performed immediately after completion of file processing (recording or reading of an image file) in the changed operation mode. That is, immediately after the directory to be processed is changed as the operation mode is switched, the image memory 11 is directly accessed without using the file management information in the cache memory to record or read the image file to be processed. Etc. may be performed.

  In that case, the first file processing after the operation mode is changed can be immediately performed. This effect is a process in which the file processing in the operation mode after the change does not require file management information regarding all image files recorded in the new processing target directory, and the new processing target directory. This is particularly noticeable when the number of image files recorded in is large.

As mentioned above, although several embodiment of this invention and its modification were demonstrated, if these are in the range in which the effect of this invention is acquired, it can change suitably, and embodiment after change is also a claim. It is included in the scope of the invention described in the scope of the invention and the invention equivalent to the invention. The invention described in the claims of the present application will be added below.
[Claim 1]
A recording medium for storing a plurality of image files divided into a plurality of directories, a cache memory for temporarily storing predetermined file management information relating to the image files stored in the recording medium, and the recording in the cache memory Management information control means for collectively storing predetermined file management information relating to a plurality of image files recorded on a medium in units of directories, and file management information stored in units of directories in the cache memory A digital camera comprising: file processing means for accessing the recording medium based on the above, recording an image file on the recording medium, and reading the image file from the recording medium.
[Claim 2]
If the predetermined file management information corresponding to the image file to be recorded or read is not stored in the cache memory, the file processing means until the file management information is stored in the cache memory. Waiting or directly accessing the recording medium without using the file management information in the cache memory to record or read the image file, and the management information control means is a target of recording or reading It is determined whether or not file management information corresponding to an image file is stored in the cache memory. If it is determined that the file management information is not stored, the predetermined file management information for a directory including the image file Are stored in the cache memory collectively The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein.
[Claim 3]
The apparatus further comprises operation mode setting means for selectively setting a plurality of operation modes in which directories for recording or reading image files to or from the recording medium are different, and the management information control means has the operation mode changed by a user 3. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein file management information relating to a plurality of image files recorded in a directory corresponding to the changed operation mode is collectively stored in the cache memory at a timing.
[Claim 4]
The file processing means stores a newly shot image file in the first directory of the storage medium in the shooting mode, and a second directory of the storage medium different from the first directory in the playback mode. 4. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein an image file recorded in the camera is read out.
[Claim 5]
The management information control means starts storing predetermined file management information related to a plurality of image files recorded in the first directory in the cache memory in parallel with the initialization operation at the time of startup. The digital camera according to claim 4.
[Claim 6]
A number storage means for storing the number of times of actual use by the user immediately after startup for each operation mode, and the management information control means corresponds to the operation mode with the maximum number of times stored in the number storage means 6. The digital camera according to claim 5, wherein storage of predetermined file management information relating to a plurality of image files recorded in a directory to the cache memory is started.
[Claim 7]
Directory creating means for creating a new directory in which a directory name obtained by concatenating a specific character string determined in advance and a maximum directory number used for an existing directory and a continuous directory number is assigned to the recording medium is provided. The management information control unit is given a directory name with the maximum directory number linked to the specific character string among all the directories existing in the recording medium immediately after the shooting mode and startup. While the file management information is stored in the cache memory for a directory that is a target, in the playback mode, of all the directories existing on the recording medium regardless of whether or not the specific character string is included. Directory with the directory name with the highest directory number Claims 1 to 6 digital camera according any and to store the file management information to the cache memory as a target.
[Claim 8]
The shooting mode includes a normal shooting mode corresponding to the first directory and a dedicated shooting mode different from the normal shooting mode, and the management information control unit stores the first directory in the normal shooting mode. While the file management information is stored in the cache memory as a target, in the dedicated shooting mode, the file management information is stored for the third directory provided in the recording medium corresponding to the dedicated shooting mode. 8. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein the digital camera is stored in a cache memory.
[Claim 9]
A storage area capable of simultaneously storing the file management information related to different directories is secured in the cache memory, and the management information control unit stores the new file management information in the cache memory in order and stores the file management information in the cache memory. The number of times the file management information used by the file processing unit is individually counted, and when the storage area is full, the file management information used the least number of times by the file processing unit is used as the new file. 9. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera is updated to management information. [Claim 10]
In a digital camera comprising: a recording medium that stores a plurality of image files divided into a plurality of directories; and a cache memory that temporarily stores predetermined file management information related to the image files stored in the recording medium. A step of storing predetermined file management information related to a plurality of image files recorded on the recording medium in a cache memory in a unit of a directory; and a step of storing in the cache memory in a unit of a directory An image file management method comprising: accessing the recording medium based on the file management information stored therein, recording an image file on the recording medium, and reading the image file from the recording medium.
[Claim 11]
A computer included in a digital camera, comprising: a recording medium for storing a plurality of image files divided into a plurality of directories; and a cache memory for temporarily storing predetermined file management information related to the image files stored in the recording medium Management information control means for storing predetermined file management information relating to a plurality of image files recorded on the recording medium in a unit of directory in the cache memory, and a unit of the directory in the cache memory. And functioning as file processing means for accessing the recording medium based on file management information stored in a batch, recording an image file on the recording medium, and reading an image file from the recording medium. A featured program.

1 Digital Camera 2 Lens Block 3 Image Sensor 8 CPU
11 Image memory 14 Program memory 81 Main processing unit 82 Caching processing unit 83 Internal memory 102 Directory 103 Directory 104 Directory 111 Image file

Claims (11)

A recording medium for storing a plurality of image files divided into a plurality of directories;
A cache memory for temporarily storing predetermined file management information related to the image file stored in the recording medium;
Management information control means for storing predetermined file management information related to a plurality of image files recorded on the recording medium in a unit of directories in the cache memory;
Access to the recording medium based on file management information collectively stored in the cache memory in units of directories, record an image file on the recording medium, and read an image file from the recording medium A digital camera comprising a file processing means. If the predetermined file management information corresponding to the image file to be recorded or read is not stored in the cache memory, the file processing means until the file management information is stored in the cache memory. Waiting or recording or reading the image file by directly accessing the recording medium without using the file management information in the cache memory,
The management information control means determines whether or not file management information corresponding to an image file to be recorded or read is stored in the cache memory. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined file management information is collectively stored in the cache memory for a directory including an image file. An operation mode setting means for selectively setting a plurality of operation modes in which directories for recording or reading image files on the recording medium are different from each other;
The management information control means collectively stores file management information regarding a plurality of image files recorded in a directory corresponding to the changed operation mode in the cache memory at a timing when the operation mode is changed by the user. The digital camera according to claim 2.   The file processing means stores a newly shot image file in the first directory of the storage medium in the shooting mode, and a second directory of the storage medium different from the first directory in the playback mode. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein an image file recorded in the camera is read out.   The management information control means starts storing predetermined file management information related to a plurality of image files recorded in the first directory in the cache memory in parallel with the initialization operation at the time of startup. The digital camera according to claim 4. A number of times storage means for storing the number of times of actual use by the user immediately after startup for each operation mode,
The management information control means starts storing predetermined file management information related to a plurality of image files recorded in the directory corresponding to the operation mode having the maximum number of times stored in the number storage means in the cache memory. The digital camera according to claim 5, wherein: Directory creating means for creating a new directory in which a directory name obtained by concatenating a specific character string determined in advance and a maximum directory number used for an existing directory and a continuous directory number is assigned to the recording medium is provided. ,
The management information control means is provided with a directory name having the largest directory number linked to the specific character string among all the directories existing in the recording medium immediately after the shooting mode and starting. The file management information is stored in the cache memory for a directory that is a target, while in the playback mode, a directory among all the directories existing on the recording medium regardless of whether or not the specific character string is included. The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the file management information is stored in the cache memory for a directory to which a directory number having the largest number is assigned. The shooting mode includes a normal shooting mode corresponding to the first directory and a dedicated shooting mode different from the normal shooting mode,
In the normal shooting mode, the management information control means stores the file management information for the first directory in the cache memory, while in the dedicated shooting mode, the recording corresponding to the dedicated shooting mode. The digital camera according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the file management information is stored in the cache memory for a third directory provided in a medium. A storage area capable of simultaneously storing the file management information regarding different directories in the cache memory is secured,
The management information control means sequentially stores new file management information in the cache memory, counts the number of times the file management information stored in the cache memory has been used by the file processing means, and stores the storage The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein when there is no more space in the area, the file management information that has been used the least number of times by the file processing means is updated to the new file management information. In a digital camera comprising: a recording medium that stores a plurality of image files divided into a plurality of directories; and a cache memory that temporarily stores predetermined file management information related to the image files stored in the recording medium.
Storing predetermined file management information related to a plurality of image files recorded on the recording medium in a unit of directories in the cache memory;
A step of accessing the recording medium based on file management information stored in a unit of directory in the cache memory, recording an image file on the recording medium, and reading an image file from the recording medium; An image file management method comprising: and. A computer included in a digital camera, comprising: a recording medium for storing a plurality of image files divided into a plurality of directories; and a cache memory for temporarily storing predetermined file management information related to the image files stored in the recording medium The
Management information control means for storing predetermined file management information related to a plurality of image files recorded on the recording medium in a unit of directories in the cache memory;
Access to the recording medium based on file management information collectively stored in the cache memory in units of directories, record an image file on the recording medium, and read an image file from the recording medium A program characterized by functioning as a file processing means.

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