JP2013211059A - Display control device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily confirm not only whether positional information is included in an image file but also a measurement method of the positional information.SOLUTION: Positioning information of an image file is analyzed and it is determined whether a positioning system indicating a measurement method of positional information is described. Furthermore, when it is determined that the positioning system is described, the type of the positioning system is determined. An icon for discriminating the presence/absence of the positioning system and the type of the positioning system is then displayed while being superimposed on a thumbnail of an image indicated by the corresponding image file.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image list display technique.

  Some recent digital cameras and camera-equipped mobile terminals can record position information in attribute information of image data obtained by photographing with the digital camera. Some personal computer (PC) applications display the image data in which the position information is recorded and the image data in which the position information is not recorded separately. For example, in Patent Document 1, an icon indicating whether or not position information is recorded is displayed in the attribute information of image data to be displayed, so that image data and position information in which position information is recorded are not recorded. A technique for distinguishing image data is disclosed.

JP 2007-323543 A

  However, with the existing technology, it is possible to determine whether or not position information is recorded in the image data, but it is impossible to determine what positioning method is used.

  There are multiple types of position information positioning methods. For example, in the case of a digital camera equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, the position information acquired by the signal is recorded as attribute information of image data in a situation where a signal can be received from a GPS satellite. Further, in the case of a digital camera or a portable terminal equipped with a wireless LAN, position information acquired from the nearest wireless base station can be recorded in image data. In other cases, arbitrary position information may be recorded by manual operation of the operation unit in image data in which position information is not recorded. Of course, because of manual operation, incorrect position information may be input. As described above, there are several pieces of position information from the viewpoint of accuracy or credibility, and it is not sufficient to simply determine the presence or absence of position information in order to be able to confirm it. I have to say that.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and intends to provide a technique that makes it possible to easily check the position information measurement method as well as whether or not the image file includes position information. Is.

In order to solve this problem, for example, the display control apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
Holding means for holding image data associated with position information;
Determining means for determining whether positioning method information indicating a type of a method for determining position information associated with image data held by the holding means is associated with the image data;
According to the result of the determination by the determination means, it is possible to identify the positioning method information indicating how the position information associated with the image data is determined, and the type of the method that determined the position information Display control means for controlling the display in such a manner.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily confirm the position information measurement method as well as whether or not the image file includes position information.

1 is a block configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. The figure which shows the data structure of an image data file. The figure which shows the data structure of a positioning information part. The figure which shows the example of an image list display in 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process sequence in 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the detail of S508 of FIG. The figure which shows the example which displays the detail of position information in a balloon format. The figure which shows the example which displays the detail of position information in a balloon format. The figure which shows the example of a display of the edit menu of a positional information. The figure which shows the example of an image list display in 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the detail of S508 of FIG. 5 in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the image list display example in 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a map display in 3rd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Note that a general-purpose information processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a PC) such as a personal computer is taken up as an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. However, any device capable of displaying a list of image files, such as a digital camera, a mobile phone, a so-called tablet terminal, or a car navigation device, can be applied, and the present invention is not limited thereby.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a PC that functions as the image processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

  The image processing apparatus 100 includes a display device 101, an operation device 102, a CPU 103, a primary storage device 104, a secondary storage device 105, and a communication unit 106. The display device 101 is a liquid crystal display, for example, and displays data such as characters and images, and a so-called graphical user interface such as a menu. The operation device 102 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and accepts user operations. In addition, you may comprise with a button, a lever, a touch panel. The CPU 103 performs various calculations and control of each part constituting the image processing apparatus 100, and also performs processing related to display control related to analysis of the image file and list display based on the analysis result. Also, processing related to communication control is performed. The primary storage device 104 is used as temporary data, a program to be executed by the CPU 103, and a work area, and is typically a RAM. The secondary storage device 105 stores an operating system for controlling the image processing apparatus 100, various application programs, various files (including image files), and the like. Typically, the secondary storage device 105 is a hard disk or a nonvolatile semiconductor memory. Etc. The communication unit 106 is a wireless LAN interface for communicating with an external device, but any type can be used as long as it can communicate with the external device such as a wired LAN interface or a USB interface. An image file is received from an external device (for example, a digital camera or a mobile phone) via the communication unit 106 and stored and managed.

<Location information>
FIG. 2 shows the data structure of an image file stored and managed by the image processing apparatus 100. In the present embodiment, a file format according to the Exif standard is adopted.

  The image data 201 is stored and managed as a file in the secondary storage device 205. When the image processing apparatus 100 processes the image data 201, it may be temporarily copied to the primary storage device 204. The image header unit 202 holds information attached to the image data. For example, shooting date / time, shutter speed, aperture value, ISO sensitivity, and the like. The positioning information unit 203 exists as a part of the image header unit 202. The positioning information unit 203 holds GPS-related information handled in this embodiment. The image data section 204 holds the image data body.

  Note that the image header unit 202 and the positioning information unit 203 are not necessarily limited to the Exif format, and may be recorded in a file different from the image data, for example, or may be recorded in a database of the image processing apparatus 100. .

  FIG. 3 shows an example of information held in the positioning information unit 203. North latitude / south latitude information indicates whether the value of latitude information is north latitude or south latitude. Latitude information indicates latitude. The east longitude and west longitude information indicates whether the value of longitude information is east longitude or west longitude. The longitude information indicates longitude. The altitude information indicates the altitude. In the present embodiment, the north latitude / south latitude information, latitude information, east longitude / west longitude information, longitude information, and altitude information are collectively referred to as point information. The positioning method information is information indicating what measurement method is used to measure the position. Note that not all devices necessarily have a function of describing positioning method information, and there are devices that describe only point information in image data.

  The positioning method information in this embodiment can take four types of values. The first of the positioning method information is CELLID. This is a positioning method using base station information of a mobile phone. There are the following methods for acquiring the current position from the mobile phone base station. For example, the method of using the position of the base station with which the mobile phone is communicating as the current position of the mobile phone as it is, the method of estimating the current position from the arrival time difference of radio waves from multiple base stations and the installation position of each base station, etc. It is.

  The second positioning method information is WLAN. This is a positioning method using a wireless LAN. Acquisition of the current position from the wireless LAN is performed as follows. Receives radio waves from one or more wireless LAN access points, and estimates the current position from the strength of each radio wave and the location of the access point.

  The third positioning method information is GPS. This is a method of receiving information from a plurality of satellites and calculating the current position of the own aircraft.

  The fourth of the positioning method information is MANUAL. This generally indicates that the user has manually input location information. When this value is input, the part that depends on the implementation is large. For example, when the latitude / longitude is directly input, or when the latitude / longitude is input by specifying a specific part of the map by the user operation, etc. It is conceivable to use it.

  The horizontal direction error information indicates an error in the horizontal direction of the point information, that is, an error in latitude information and longitude information. This error is set according to positioning conditions. For example, in the case of GPS, an error is estimated from the DOP value, the number of received GPS satellites, and the radio wave intensity.

  The example in FIG. 3 indicates that the latitude is 35 degrees 34 minutes 0.3 seconds north, the longitude 139 degrees 40 minutes 49.5 seconds, the altitude 30.78 m, the positioning method information is GPS, and the horizontal error is 12 m. Yes.

  Here, some mobile phones with cameras in recent years perform so-called hybrid positioning, in which more accurate location information is obtained by combining a plurality of positioning methods. In this embodiment, in such a case, all the used positioning methods are added to the positioning method information. That is, when positioning information is determined based on GPS and wireless LAN access point information, the positioning method information is “GPS WLAN”. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the positioning methods are described in the order of the positioning methods that contribute greatly when determining the positioning information. The magnitude of the contribution is calculated based on, for example, a small error in each positioning and the reliability of a predetermined positioning method itself. The example of “GPS WLAN” described above indicates that the positioning method using GPS contributes more than the positioning method using the wireless LAN of the mobile phone. In the present embodiment, the processing is performed on the assumption that the first positioning method information and the second positioning method information can be described. Of course, three or more description methods may be described.

<Screen display>
Next, a method for displaying image data in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4A shows an example of a screen displayed on the display device 101 when an image display application is operated in this apparatus.

  FIG. 4A shows a list of image data Image 1 to Image 12 stored in the secondary storage device 205. This image is obtained from, for example, a digital camera or a mobile phone. Alternatively, it may be downloaded from a server on the network. It is also possible to use thumbnails of image data without using the image data body.

  A display switching button 401 is a button for switching display of information related to position information. When the display switching button 401 is designated by an operation such as a click through the operating device 102 in the state of FIG. 4A, the screen transitions to the screen of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, for image data to which position information is added, an icon having a “pin” shape (hereinafter, pin icon) is displayed superimposed on the thumbnail of the image. That is, the pin icon is displayed for an image file having a positioning information section. The example of this screen shows that latitude / longitude information is described as positioning information in Image 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11. Of course, the pin icon does not necessarily have to be completely superimposed on the thumbnail, and it is only necessary to distinguish image files that have / do not have a positioning information section. Therefore, a part of the pin icon is superimposed or the image data is superimposed on the thumbnail. Even if not, it may be displayed in the vicinity. Note that, on this screen, a pin icon is superimposed and displayed on the image data describing the latitude / longitude information regardless of the positioning method information. By confirming this screen, the user can easily confirm to which image data the position information is added.

  In the state of FIG. 4B, if the display switching button 401 is further designated by an operation such as clicking, the screen transitions to the screen of FIG. As shown in the screen of FIG. 4C, the positioning method can be identified by changing to the icon corresponding to the positioning method instead of the pin icon so far. For example, icons 1, 4, 10, and 11 are superimposed and displayed with icons indicating satellites (hereinafter, GPS icons). This is because the positioning method information is “GPS”, that is, image data obtained by using GPS to acquire point information. Images 6 and 8 are superimposed and displayed with icons indicating radio waves (hereinafter, wireless LAN icons). This is to indicate that the positioning method information is “WLAN”, that is, image data obtained using the wireless LAN. In Image 7, an icon indicating a hand (hereinafter, a manual icon) is superimposed and displayed. This indicates that the positioning method information is “MANUAL”, that is, image data obtained manually by the point information. Image3 remains a pin icon. This indicates image data in which positioning method information is not described. In the case of image data whose positioning method information is “CELLID”, it goes without saying that icons (hereinafter referred to as cell icons) different from any of the pin icon, GPS icon, wireless LAN icon, and manual icon are superimposed and displayed.

  As described above, on the screen of FIG. 4C, an icon corresponding to the positioning method is superimposed and displayed on the image data. Thus, the user can easily confirm which image data position information has been measured by which positioning method. When the display switching button 401 is clicked on the display screen of FIG. 4C, the screen transitions to the screen of FIG. That is, each time the display switching button 401 is clicked, the three types of display screens are switched in order.

  Hereinafter, thumbnail list display processing of the image display application according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that this image display application may be activated in response to the reception of the image data file by the apparatus communicating with the external apparatus via the communication unit 106, or an instruction from the operation device 102 by the user. It does not matter if it is given. In any case, when the image display application is activated, the secondary storage device 105 reads the program of the image display application into the primary storage device 104, and the CPU 103 executes the program.

  First, in step S101, the CPU 103 analyzes the image file stored in the designated folder in the secondary storage device 105, and displays the thumbnail on the display unit 101 in a list format as shown in FIG. . At this time, the icon related to the position is not yet superimposed on the thumbnail image.

  In step S502, the CPU 103 determines whether the switching button 401 has been operated, and waits for the operation to be performed. When the operation of the switching button 401 is detected, the CPU 103 advances the process to S503. In S503, the image data file to be displayed is analyzed, and it is determined whether the positioning information part is recorded in each. If it is determined that the positioning information part is described, the process proceeds to S504. If it is determined that the positioning information part is not recorded, the process proceeds to S505. In S504, a thumbnail of the image data on which the pin icon is superimposed is displayed. On the other hand, this processing is not performed for image data files that do not have a positioning information section. These processes are repeated until it is determined in S505 that all the display objects have been performed. When the processing from S503 to S505 is performed, the screen is as shown in FIG.

  In step S506, the CPU 103 waits for the switch button 401 to be operated. If an operation on the switching button 401 is detected, the process proceeds to S507. In S507, the CPU 103 determines whether a positioning information part is recorded in the image data file to be displayed. If it is determined that it is recorded, the process proceeds to S508. If it is determined that it is not recorded, the process proceeds to S509.

  In step S <b> 508, the CPU 103 displays an icon corresponding to the positioning method in which the positioning information unit is described, superimposed on the thumbnail of the image file. This display method will be described later. This process is not performed for image files in which positioning information is not recorded. These processes are repeated until it is determined in step S509 that all display targets have been performed.

  Details of the processing in S108 of FIG. 5 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that this processing is processing when the image file of interest has a positioning information section.

  First, in S601, the CPU 103 analyzes the image file of interest and determines whether there is a description of a positioning method. If it is determined that the positioning method is recorded, the process proceeds to S602. If it is determined in S601 that the positioning method is not recorded, the process proceeds to S610.

  In step S602, the CPU 103 refers to the positioning method information in the header information of the image file of interest, and determines whether the first (first described) positioning method information of the image data is “GPS”, that is, the positioning. It is determined whether or not the system uses GPS. If it is determined that it is “GPS”, the process proceeds to S606. If it is determined that it is not “GPS”, the process proceeds to S603. In S605, a GPS icon instead of the pin icon is superimposed on the thumbnail of the image file of interest, and then the process proceeds to S611.

  In step S <b> 603, the CPU 103 determines whether the first positioning method information of the image data is “WLAN”, that is, whether the first positioning method of the image data is a wireless LAN. If it is determined in S603 that it is “WLAN”, the process proceeds to S607. In S607, a wireless icon is superimposed on the thumbnail of the image file of interest instead of the pin icon. Thereafter, the CPU 103 advances the process to S611. On the other hand, if it is determined in S603 that it is not “WLAN”, the CPU 103 advances the process to S604.

  In S604, the CPU 103 determines whether or not the first positioning method information of the image data is “MANUAL”, that is, whether or not the point information of the image data is manually added. If it is determined in S604 that it is “MANUAL”, the process proceeds to S608. In S608, a manual icon is displayed in a superimposed manner on the thumbnail of the image file of interest instead of the pin icon, and the process proceeds to S611. If it is determined in S604 that it is not “MANUAL”, the CPU 103 advances the process to S605.

  In S605, the CPU 103 determines whether or not the first positioning method information of the image file of interest is “CELLID”, that is, whether or not the point information of the image data is given using the mobile phone base station. To do. If it is determined that it is “CELLID”, the process proceeds to S609. In S609, the cell icon is displayed in a superimposed manner on the thumbnail of the image file of interest instead of the pin icon, and the process proceeds to S611. If it is determined in S605 that it is not “CELLID”, the process proceeds to S610.

  In S610, a cell icon and a pin icon are superimposed on the thumbnail of the image file of interest. If it is determined in S605 that the first positioning method information of the image file of interest is not “CELLID”, it is determined that an unknown positioning method is described although the positioning information portion is recorded. May be. In this case, an icon indicating an unknown positioning method may be superimposed and displayed instead of the pin icon, or may not be superimposed and displayed depending on circumstances. As a result, the screen shown in FIG. 4C can be displayed.

<Icon operation>
FIG. 7A shows an example of a display screen when a thumbnail of an image (thumbnail arranged at the upper left) is designated (selected). The designation (selection) method may be a method of switching the selection destination by operating the up / down / left / right keys provided on the controller 102. In addition, a state in which the position of a cursor linked to a pointing device such as a mouse is positioned on a corresponding thumbnail (or an icon on the thumbnail) may be designated (selected). In any case, when a certain thumbnail (Image1) is designated, detailed information 700 of the positioning information section is displayed. In the detailed information 700 in the case of FIG. 7A, in addition to the position information acquired from the GPS satellite signal, information related to GPS positioning such as the number of satellites when the position information is acquired and positioning reliability is displayed. . The number of satellites and positioning reliability are also recorded as part of tag information of the Exif 2.3 standard.

  The display of the detailed information 700 is not triggered by designation of a thumbnail, but detection of a click operation of the GPS icon portion on the thumbnail or detection of a pointer such as a mouse cursor on the GPS icon. May be triggered. In this case, the image data itself can be selected by clicking a portion other than the GPS icon. The same applies to other icons.

  FIG. 7B shows an example of a display screen when the designated thumbnail has a wireless LAN icon. In the example of FIG. 7B, detailed information 701 in the positioning information section of Image 8 is displayed. In the detailed information 701, information on positioning by the wireless LAN such as the address of the wireless LAN access point is displayed in addition to the latitude and longitude.

  FIG. 8A shows a display screen when the designated thumbnail has a manual icon. In the example of FIG. 8A, detailed information 800 of the positioning information section of the image file “Image7” is displayed. In the detailed information 800, in addition to the latitude and longitude, the time when the position information is added to the image data is displayed.

  FIG. 8B shows a display screen when the designated thumbnail has a pin icon. In the example of FIG. 8B, detailed information 801 in the positioning information section of the image file “Image3” is displayed. Latitude / longitude information is displayed on a pin icon indicating that there is no positioning method information.

  In the screen shown in FIG. 4B, all icons are pin icons. When a thumbnail is selected on this screen, latitude and longitude are displayed as shown in the example of FIG. 8B regardless of the positioning method, and information unique to the positioning method is not displayed. This is because it is assumed that the user pays attention to the position information itself in the screen of FIG. 4B, whereas the user pays attention to the positioning method in the screen of FIG. Of course, from the viewpoint of displaying information in as much detail as possible, information corresponding to the positioning method may be displayed even when a thumbnail having a pin icon is selected.

  FIG. 9 is a screen for editing an icon. For example, in response to performing a predetermined operation such as moving the cursor on the GPS icon and right-clicking the mouse, the CPU 103 displays an edit menu 900 having a plurality of edit items. The edit menu 900 includes three edit items “copy”, “add”, and “delete” for editing the detailed information and positioning method information of the GPS icon. When any editing item is designated, the CPU 103 executes editing processing in accordance with the designated editing item. For example, when “Copy” is selected, detailed information such as point information, the number of GPS satellites, and positioning reliability recorded in the image data of the GPS icon 102 that has been right-clicked, and the positioning method are stored in a temporary storage memory (generally a clipboard and the like). Can be copied). When “Delete” is selected, detailed information such as position information, the number of GPS satellites, positioning reliability, and the positioning method recorded in the image data are deleted, and the icon can be deleted from the display screen. When “Add” is selected, the detailed information of the other image data that is the copy source and the positioning method are copied to the copy destination only when “Copy” is selected in the edit menu of the icon of another image data before selecting “Add”. Add to image data. Note that it is not always necessary to add all the detailed information. For example, only the positioning method information may be added.

  Further, an icon indicating the positioning method of the separate image data that is the copy source is additionally displayed on the copy destination image data. The detailed information added to the copy destination image data is recorded in MakerNote, which is one of Exif2.3 tags. The positioning method added to the copy destination image data is recorded in the first GPS Processing Method tag, and the positioning method originally recorded in the copy destination image data before the addition is re-recorded in the second. Then, the icon display is changed, and as described above, an icon indicating a positioning method with a high contribution and a smaller icon indicating a positioning method with a low contribution are displayed.

  Although the above description has been made taking the GPS icon 102 as an example, it is assumed that the same editing menu is displayed when the wireless icon, the manual icon, and the pin icon are right-clicked. In addition, when right-clicking is performed on image data on which no icon is displayed in a state where some icon information is copied, only “Add” is displayed as an editing menu. When “add” is selected here, detailed information such as point information and positioning method information is added to the right-clicked image data. It is not always necessary to add all the detailed information. For example, only the positioning method information may be added.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, by referring to the positioning method information described as the attribute information of the image data, not only whether or not there is positioning information of the image, but also indicates the type of the positioning method. The icon is superimposed on the thumbnail image. As a result, the user can easily recognize the positioning method for the image data obtained by the location information.

  In the above embodiment, every time the switching button 401 is operated, the display form is looped in the order of FIG. 4A → FIG. 4B → FIG. 4C → FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to the above example because one of the display types may be directly designated from the display menu and the display may be performed according to the designated display type.

[Second Embodiment]
In the embodiment described above, an icon indicating the type of positioning information is superimposed and displayed on the thumbnail based on the first positioning information method described in the attribute information of the image file. In the second embodiment, an example will be described in which when there is second positioning method information, it is also displayed.

  FIG. 10 shows a display example of the image list in the second embodiment. In the case of FIG. 10, two image files located in the upper left corner are measured as positioning method information, that is, when positioning is performed by GPS and WLAN. The first positioning method “GPS” is an icon of the first size, and the second positioning method “WLAN” is an icon of the second size smaller than the first size. ing. The reason why the second positioning method icon is made small is to make the hidden area of the thumbnail image small.

  When the display screen of FIG. 10 is a display example in place of FIG. 4C in the first embodiment, the processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. I will. Note that steps S601 to S610 in the flowchart of FIG. 11 are the same as those in FIG.

  It should be noted that the first positioning method icon is already superimposed on the thumbnail image in the processing up to S610.

  In S611, the CPU 103 analyzes the positioning information portion of the image file of interest and determines whether or not the second positioning method is recorded. As a result of the determination, the second positioning method is recorded. If so, the process advances to S612. On the other hand, if it is determined that the second positioning method is not recorded, the process (the process of S508) is terminated, and the process proceeds to S509 in the flowchart of FIG.

  In S612, the CPU 103 determines whether the second positioning method information of the image file of interest is “GPS”. If it is determined that it is “GPS”, the process proceeds to S616, and a GPS icon having a size smaller than that of the first positioning method icon that has already been displayed is superimposed on the icon, and this process ends. . If the CPU 103 determines in step S612 that the GPS is not "GPS", the process proceeds to step S613.

  In step S613, the CPU 203 determines whether the second positioning method information of the image file of interest is “WLAN”. If it is determined that it is “WLAN”, the process proceeds to S617, where a wireless LAN icon having a size smaller than that of the already displayed icon is superimposed and displayed, and the process ends. If the CPU 1003 determines in S613 that it is not “WLAN”, the process proceeds to S614.

  In S614, the CPU 203 determines whether or not the second positioning method information of the image file of interest is “MANUAL”. If it is determined that it is “MANUAL”, the process proceeds to S618, a manual icon having a size smaller than that of the icon already displayed is superimposed and displayed, and the process ends. If the CPU 1003 determines that it is not “MANUAL” in S614, the process proceeds to S615.

  In S615, the CPU 203 determines whether or not the second positioning method information of the image file of interest is “CELLID”. If it is determined that it is “CELLID”, the process proceeds to S619, a cell icon having a size smaller than that of the already displayed icon is superimposed, and the process ends.

  If it is determined in S616 that it is not “CELLID”, this process ends. If it is determined No in S616, it is considered that some unknown data (or unknown positioning information) is described in the positioning method information. In this case, since the point information itself is described, a pin icon is continuously displayed or an icon indicating that the positioning information is unknown is superimposed and displayed.

  The above is the processing for displaying the icon corresponding to the positioning method in the second embodiment on the thumbnail image of each image data.

  Note that the display screen of FIG. 10 in the second embodiment has been described as an example that replaces FIG. 4C, but the next screen when the display switching button 401 is operated on the screen of FIG. 4C. The screen may be displayed.

[Third Embodiment]
In the third embodiment, a case where a map can be displayed on the PC side will be described. Since the third embodiment has many parts in common with the first embodiment, description of the common parts will be omitted, and description will be made focusing on parts unique to the present embodiment. The secondary storage device 105 stores in advance a map database that searches using a given position as a key and outputs a map image including the position. That is, it is assumed that map data of a specified scale can be acquired from the database by specifying a position indicated by longitude and latitude. Since the technology itself for searching using a position from a map database is well known as represented by car navigation, its detailed description is omitted.

  FIG. 12 shows an image list screen in the third embodiment. The screen shown in FIG. 12 shows an example in which a list of image files is displayed together with the thumbnail images. Image data that cannot be displayed on the screen can be displayed by scrolling. In the third embodiment, pin icons are superimposed on thumbnails of image files having at least latitude / longitude information. On this screen, regardless of the positioning method information, image data having latitude / longitude information is uniformly displayed with pin icons. Pin icons are not displayed for image files that do not have latitude / longitude information. The image list screen has a map display button 1201.

  It is assumed that this map display button 1201 is clicked with a mouse or the like. In this case, the CPU 103 displays the latitude and longitude average positions (latitude average value and longitude average value), and the maximum and minimum latitude values and the maximum and minimum longitude values of all image files on which pin icons are superimposed. From this, the rectangular range of the map to be displayed is determined. Then, the CPU 103 acquires a map image from the map database based on the map, displays the map image so as to enter the marking area, and displays a pin icon at the latitude and longitude positions of each image data file.

  FIG. 13 shows a display screen example of the map and the pin icons displayed on the map. This screen is roughly divided into a map area for displaying a map image and a list display area 1302 for displaying a thumbnail image list in a vertical direction in a scrollable manner. When the list display button 1301 is clicked, the CPU 103 performs processing for returning from the map display state of FIG. 12 to the list display of FIG. The slider bar 1303 is for adjusting the scale of the map, and the direction key group 1304 is for scrolling in the vertical and horizontal directions of the map.

  When the user operates the mouse to move the cursor to a desired pin position and clicks, the CPU 103 scrolls so that the thumbnail of the image corresponding to the corresponding pin is positioned in the image display area 1302. Further, the CPU 103 displays the thumbnail with a thick frame so that the thumbnail can be distinguished from other thumbnails (the color of the frame may be changed).

  As a result of the above, by specifying a pin icon on the map, it is also possible to confirm an image captured at that position.

  One of the characteristic displays on the screen shown in FIG. 13 is the display of icons in the list display area. In FIG. 12, uniform pin icons are displayed, whereas in FIG. 13, icons (GPS icons, wireless LAN icons, cell icons, pin icons) according to the positioning method of each image data are displayed. This is because it is presumed that more detailed information on the position information is necessary because the user's interest is in the position information as long as the map display state is entered.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, the form of the icon related to position information is changed depending on whether the screen is for displaying a map, that is, whether the screen is for utilizing position information. This increases the possibility that the user can easily confirm the information he needs. Note that the screen of FIG. 12 in the second embodiment may be displayed as one of the screen switchings of FIG. Further, the button 1201 for switching to the map display may be displayed on the display screens of FIG. 4C and FIG. 10 instead of being displayed on the screen of FIG.

  The embodiments according to the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to applications executed on a PC, and can be applied to any apparatus that stores and manages image files and displays them. Is possible. For example, it may be realized by a digital camera or a mobile phone.

  In the above embodiment, when displaying a list of image files, an example is shown in which thumbnails of the respective image files, presence / absence of positioning information, and icons indicating the type of positioning method are superimposed and displayed. However, it may be distinguished by a list of file names and character colors, or a type icon and file name may be displayed. However, since it is desirable to be able to confirm what kind of images are displayed in a list to some extent, it is desirable that icons be superimposed on thumbnails and displayed as in the above embodiment.

(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 (10)

Holding means for holding image data associated with position information;
Determining means for determining whether positioning method information indicating a type of a method for determining position information associated with image data held by the holding means is associated with the image data;
According to the result of the determination by the determination means, it is possible to identify the positioning method information indicating how the position information associated with the image data is determined, and the type of method that determined the position information Display control means for controlling to display in various modes.   The display control means determines the position information as positioning method information indicating how the position information associated with the image data is determined in accordance with a result of the determination by the determination means. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control apparatus controls the display so that the type of method can be identified on the same screen as the image data. The holding means also holds image data not associated with the position information,
The display control means controls to display the image data associated with the position information and the image data not associated with the position information in a distinguishable manner. The display control apparatus according to 2. The display control means includes
For image data not associated with the position information, a thumbnail included in the image data is displayed,
For the image data associated with the position information, an icon corresponding to the type of method for determining the position information indicated by the positioning method information is displayed superimposed on a thumbnail included in the image data. The display control device according to claim 3.   5. The display control unit, when a plurality of positioning method information is associated with the image data, controls to display a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of positioning method information. The display control apparatus according to any one of the above.   6. The display control unit according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit controls to display a list of at least a part of the plurality of image data held by the holding unit. Display control device. Designating means for designating image data displayed as a list by the display control means;
The display according to claim 6, further comprising: detailed display means for displaying detailed information of the position information in a balloon form when position information is associated with the image data specified by the specifying means. Control device. Designating means for designating image data displayed as a list by the display control means;
Menu display means for displaying an edit menu including a plurality of edit items for the position information when position information is associated with the image data designated by the designation means and a predetermined operation is performed;
An editing means for editing an editing process corresponding to the specified editing item with respect to position information of the corresponding image data when one of the displayed editing items is specified. The display control device according to 6 or 7. A holding step for holding image data associated with position information;
A determination step of determining whether or not positioning method information indicating a type of a method for determining position information associated with the image data held in the holding step is associated with the image data;
According to the determination result of the determination step, it is possible to identify the positioning method information indicating how the position information associated with the image data is determined, and the type of the method that determined the position information. And a display control step for controlling the display to be displayed in various modes.   The computer-readable program for functioning a computer as each means of the display control apparatus of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 8.

Images