JP3869873B2 - Data management method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data management apparatus for managing various data in association with each other, and is suitable for use in managing image and audio data acquired from a digital camera, related data, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, digital cameras that convert images and sound into digital signals and record them on a recording medium have been developed. In such a digital camera, captured image or sound capture data is recorded on a recording medium as an image file or sound file. The digital camera can set a shooting mode, shooting conditions, and the like, and attribute information relating to the capture data, for example, shooting date, shooting mode, and shooting conditions are recorded in each capture data file. There is also a method of recording various setting values of the system together in a system management file.
[0003]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a digital camera.
In FIG. 3, an optical image of a subject captured by a lens 201 is converted into a video electric signal by an imaging device 202 using a CCD or the like located behind. In response to a control signal given by the CPU 207, the imaging device 202 accumulates charges corresponding to the optical image of the subject and reads out the video signal.
The read analog video signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 203. Although not shown, the image pickup device 202 and the A / D converter 203 are provided with means for adjusting video signals such as gamma correction, color signal formation / separation, and white balance processing. Yes.
[0004]
The video signal converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 203 is temporarily stored in the image memory 204. Next, the compression encoding unit 205 compresses and encodes the image data read from the image memory 204. The compressed and encoded image data is written to the built-in recording medium 208 or the removable memory 220 via the recording / reproducing device 206 constituting the recording / reproducing system.
As a method for compressing image data, for example, a JPEG system defined as an international standard system can be used.
[0005]
In addition, when the CPU 207 detects a voice recording command by the user operation unit 209, the CPU 207 supplies the voice encoding unit 212 with data obtained by converting the voice signal input from the voice input unit 210 into digital data by the A / D converter 211, Here, the data is compressed and encoded and then supplied to the recording / reproducing apparatus 206.
[0006]
In such a system, an apparatus for recording recorded image data and audio data in association with each other by a predetermined link method has already been devised by the present applicant. An apparatus using this link method includes a means for recording image data and audio data in association with each other, a specifying means for specifying audio data stored in a recording medium, and image data related to the specified audio data as a file. And a means for searching as information.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional related data linking method, there is only one type of linking method as a method of associating data with each other, and thus it has not been possible to flexibly cope with various related states between data. In particular, when deleting image data, whether or not to delete the related data is determined uniformly regardless of the type of data, so that data that does not exist independently is deleted. However, there is a problem that useful data is deleted even if it is left alone.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can flexibly cope with various related states between various data, and can manage data efficiently. The purpose is to obtain a method and apparatus.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the data management method of the present invention, when image data, audio data, or attribute data are managed in association with each other, the link management that records the plurality of data to be referred to each other is recorded, thereby managing the data to be associated with each other. In the method, when deletion of the image data or audio data is instructed, whether the attribute data associated with the data is associated with other data different from the data instructed to delete by the link information And a control step for controlling not to delete the attribute data when it is determined in the determination step that it is associated with the other data.
The data management device of the present invention is a data management device for recording link information that enables reference to a plurality of data in order to associate and manage image data, audio data, or attribute data. When deletion of the image data or audio data is instructed, it is determined whether or not the attribute data associated with the data is associated with other data different from the data instructed to be deleted by the link information. And determining means, and control means for controlling not to delete the attribute data when it is determined by the determining means that it is associated with the other data.
[0010]
[Action]
According to the present invention, the deletion should be performed by controlling the deletion of the attribute data according to whether or not the attribute data associated with the image data or audio data instructed to be deleted is associated with other data. Non-existent data can be protected and it can be prevented that meaningless data exists on the recording medium, thereby saving recording capacity.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following, an embodiment of the present invention when the present invention is applied to recording data management in an image / audio recording system (digital camera) as an example of a recording management system will be described with reference to the drawings. The block diagram constituting the digital camera is the same as FIG.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that information relating to links between data is recorded in a data management map file (hereinafter simply referred to as a map file).
FIG. 1 shows the structure of the map file 350 according to this embodiment.
The recorded data and the like are managed by this map file 350. An object corresponding to the type of data to be recorded is prepared in the map file 350. Each object stores data itself, a file descriptor for the data file, information related to data related to the object, and the like.
[0012]
In FIG. 1, the recorded image data is stored in an image file 301 and a file descriptor 303 to this file 301 is recorded in an image data object 302 in a map file 350. Similarly, the audio data is stored in the audio file 311, and the file descriptor 313 for this file 311 is recorded in the audio data object 312 in the map file 350.
[0013]
In this embodiment, there are two types of link systems. The first link method is a link method used when the recorded data is described with other related data, and is called an annotation link method. Here, the image file 301 and the audio file 311 are described using this annotation link method. In order to realize this relationship, annotation source indexes 304 and 314 and annotation target indexes 305 and 315 are stored in the image data object 302 and the audio data object 312 respectively.
[0014]
In the annotation source indexes 304 and 314, pointers to data objects that describe data corresponding to the objects storing the indexes are stored. FIG. 1 shows a case where the image file 301 has a relationship described by the audio file 311. A pointer to the audio data object 312 is stored in the annotation source index 304 in the image data object 302, and a pointer to the image data object 302 is stored in the annotation target index 315 in the audio data object 312. Thus, by having an index on both the data side to be explained and the data side to be explained, it becomes possible to search from either side.
[0015]
A plurality of pointers can be stored in each index. Thereby, one recording data can be explained by a plurality of recording data, and a plurality of recording data can be explained by one recording data.
[0016]
Next, the second link method is a method of linking recorded data and data representing attribute information of the data and is called a master-slave link method.
In FIG. 1, as an attribute of the image file 301, a camera data object 331 that stores camera data 332 relating to camera settings when the image file 301 is recorded, and a lens data object 341 that stores lens data 342 relating to lens settings. And have. The pointers to these objects 331 and 341 are stored in the slave object index 306 in the image data object 302. Further, as the attribute information of the audio file 311, the camera object 331 for storing the camera data 332 relating to the camera settings when the audio file 311 is recorded is provided. The pointer to the camera object 331 is stored in the slave object index 316 in the audio data object 312. As described above, the master-slave link method can also be searched from either one, and a plurality of slave objects can be linked to one recording data, and one object can be linked to a plurality of recording data as a slave object. It is possible to link.
[0017]
As described above, the first and second link methods have different reference methods (data association method and link method), and link information corresponding to each method is used.
[0018]
Next, the processing of each link when deleting recorded data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the user designates an object of recording data to be deleted (step s101). The system searches for and deletes the data file from the file descriptor in the specified object (step s102). Next, the annotation source object is searched from the annotation source index, and the pointer to the object to be deleted from the annotation target index in the searched object is deleted (step s103).
Next, the annotation target object is searched from the annotation target index, and the pointer to the object to be deleted from the annotation source index in the searched object is deleted (step s104).
[0019]
Next, the slave object is searched from the slave object index, and the pointer to the object to be deleted from the master object index in the slave object is deleted (step s105). Next, the master object index is checked to see if any pointers to other objects remain (step s106) .If not, the slave object is deleted (step s108), and if not, it is not deleted (step s107). ).
[0020]
The above process will be described more specifically with reference to FIG.
First, processing related to the annotation link method will be described. Assume that the system is instructed to delete the image file 301. The system searches the image file 301 by the file descriptor 303 stored in the image data object 302 in the map file 350 and deletes it. Then, the audio data object 312 is searched using the pointer stored in the annotation source index 305 in the image data object 302, and the pointer pointing to the image data object 302 in the annotation target index 315 is deleted. Here, the audio data of the audio file 311 is one piece of capture data, and even if the link relationship with the image file 301 is lost, it is considered that the audio data 311 alone is meaningful, so the audio data object 312 is not deleted.
[0021]
Next, processing related to the master-slave link method will be described. The camera data object 331 is searched from the slave object index 306 in the image data object 302, and the pointer pointing to the image data object 302 in the master object index 333 is deleted. As a result, since the master object index 333 becomes empty, the camera data object 332 itself is also deleted. Further, the lens data object 341 is searched from the slave object index 306, and the pointer pointing to the image data object 302 in the master object index 343 is deleted. At this time, since the master object index 343 is not empty, the lens data object 343 itself is not deleted.
[0022]
When linking information related to camera specifications to image or audio data using this master-slave link method, the data recorded as camera data includes the camera owner name, camera name, body ID, version, sensitivity, ROM Operation mode, image sensor name, infrared filter specifications, etc.
[0023]
In addition, when linking information about lens specifications to image or audio data using the master-slave link method, the data recorded as lens data includes the lens owner name, lens model name, lens specifications, etc. Can be mentioned.
For example, suppose that an interchangeable lens type camera is used and only the first image is taken with lens A, and all subsequent images are taken with lens B. In such a case, when the first image is deleted, the data of the lens A becomes meaningless, and even if this data is left on the recording medium, the memory capacity is wasted. As described above, when sharing data that does not exist by itself alone, the master-slave link method is used.
[0024]
In addition, when linking information about flash specifications to image or audio data using the master-slave link method, the data recorded as flash data includes the flash owner name, flash model name, flash specifications, etc. Can be mentioned.
[0025]
In addition, when linking annotation information for an image or sound to the image or sound data using the annotation link method, when linking image data, sound data, character data, graphic data, etc. to the image data, There are cases where image data, audio data, character data, graphic data, and the like are linked to audio data.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the attribute data associated with the image data or audio data instructed to be deleted is associated with other data by link information, and is associated with the other data. If it is determined that the data has been deleted, it is possible to protect important data on the recording medium on which data is recorded and to eliminate the presence of unnecessary data by controlling not to delete the attribute data. The capacity can be saved and a large amount of data can be managed efficiently.
In addition, by recording an index that can be searched bidirectionally as link information between data, it is possible to specify image data or audio data and display related data, and to specify related data to associate the data. It is possible to search the image data or audio data that is being recorded at high speed.
[0027]
In addition, since a link method in which one piece of related data describes a plurality of recording data is provided, recording media can be saved.
Further, by providing a link method in which one piece of recording data is explained by a plurality of related data, the recording data can be explained in more detail by various data.
[0028]
In addition, it is possible to protect data that exists and should not be deleted by having a link method that does not delete the data to be explained when the data to be explained is deleted from the data in the link relationship. It becomes.
In addition, when the data to be explained is deleted from the data related to the link, if the data to be explained does not have any data explained other than the deleted data, the data to be explained is also deleted. By providing a link method that does not delete the data being described, it is possible to delete data that is not meaningful by itself, thereby saving the recording medium.
[0029]
In addition, by providing the first link method and the second link method, it is possible to select a link method according to the type of related data.
In addition, when it is meaningful that the data to be explained exists independently, the first link method is used for the data, and when it is meaningless that the data to be explained exists independently, On the other hand, by using the link method described in the second link method, it is possible to prevent data that is meaningless to exist independently from occupying a storage medium wastefully and exist independently. It is possible to prevent data that is meaningful to be deleted without being explicitly specified.
[0030]
Also, by linking information about camera specifications as related data to image or audio data using the second link method, information about camera specifications that do not make sense even if they exist without being associated with recorded data is deleted Thus, it is possible to prevent the storage medium from being occupied unnecessarily.
In addition, by linking information relating to photographing lens specifications as related data to image or audio data by the second link method, information relating to photographing lens specifications that do not make sense even if they exist without being associated with recording data Can be deleted to prevent the storage medium from being occupied unnecessarily.
[0031]
In addition, by linking information related to shooting flash specifications as related data to image or audio data by the second link method, information related to shooting flash specifications that does not make sense even if they exist without being associated with recorded data Can be deleted to prevent the storage medium from being occupied unnecessarily.
In addition, the annotation information for the image or sound as the related data of the recording data is deleted without explicitly specifying the annotation information for the image or sound by linking to the image or sound data by the first link method. Can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a file format of a map file for recording information relating to a link relationship between recorded data and related data according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of related data linked to the recording data when the recording data is deleted.
FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating a conventional example of a digital camera.
[Explanation of symbols]
201 lens
202 Imaging device
206 Recording device
207 CPU
208 Recording medium (Built-in recording medium)
220 Removable memory
301 image files
302 Object for image data
303 File descriptor
304 Annotation source index
305 Annotation Target Index
306 Slave object index
311 audio files
312 Audio data objects
313 File descriptor
314 Annotation Source Index
315 Annotation Target Index
316 Slave object index
331 Camera Data Object
332 Camera data
333 Master Object Index
341 Lens Data Object
342 Lens data
343 Master Object Index
350 Map file for data management

Claims (14)

When managing image data, audio data, or attribute data in association with each other, in the data management method for performing the above-mentioned association by recording link information that allows the plurality of data to be referred to each other,
When deletion of the image data or audio data is instructed, it is determined whether or not the attribute data associated with the data is associated with other data different from the data instructed to be deleted by the link information. A decision step;
And a control step of controlling not to delete the attribute data when it is determined in the determination step that the data is associated with the other data.   The data management method according to claim 1, wherein an index that can be searched bidirectionally between the plurality of data is recorded as the link information.   2. The data management method according to claim 1, further comprising a link method in which a plurality of data among the plurality of associated data are described by one related data.   The data management method according to claim 1, further comprising a link method in which one piece of data is described by a plurality of related data.   2. A first link method using link information for preventing data to be explained from being deleted when data to be explained is deleted from the plurality of associated data. How to manage the listed data.   When the explained data is deleted from the plurality of associated data, if there is no explained data other than the deleted data, the explained data is also deleted, otherwise 2. The data management method according to claim 1, further comprising a second link method using link information for preventing the data described above from being deleted.   6. The data management method according to claim 5, wherein the first link method is used for the data to be explained when it is meaningful that the data to be explained exists independently.   7. The data management method according to claim 6, wherein the second link method is used for the explained data when it is meaningless that the explained data exists independently.   7. The data management method according to claim 6, wherein information relating to camera specifications is linked as related data to image data or audio data using the second link method.   7. The data management method according to claim 6, wherein information relating to the specifications of the photographing lens is linked as related data to image data or audio data using the second link method.   7. The data management method according to claim 6, wherein information relating to the specification of the photographing flash is linked to image or audio data using the second link method as related data.   6. The data management method according to claim 5, wherein annotation information for image data or audio data is linked as related data to the image data or audio data using the first link method.   When deletion of the image data or audio data is instructed and control is performed to delete the attribute data associated with the data, the attribute data is determined according to a link method for associating the data instructed with deletion with the attribute data. 2. The data management method according to claim 1, wherein one of a process of deleting the pointer without deleting the data itself or a process of deleting the attribute data itself is selectively executed. In a data management apparatus for recording link information that enables reference to a plurality of data in order to associate and manage image data, audio data, or attribute data,
When deletion of the image data or audio data is instructed, it is determined whether or not the attribute data associated with the data is associated with other data different from the data instructed to be deleted by the link information. Judgment means,
A data management apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls not to delete the attribute data when the determination unit determines that the attribute data is associated with the other data.

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