JP4561768B2 - Electronic camera device and protection setting method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic camera device, and more particularly to a time limit management function and a protection setting method for captured image data recorded on a recording medium.

A digital camera is one type of electronic camera device that can digitize a captured image and record it as image data on a recording medium, and reproduce and display the recorded image.
Digital cameras can be broadly classified into an exchange type in which the structure of the recording unit is configured so that the recording medium can be attached and detached, and an internal fixing type in which the structure of the recording unit is held in the recording medium. In a recording medium exchange type digital camera, when the recording medium is full of data, the recording medium may be replaced with a new recording medium. However, in a recording medium fixed type digital camera, data is transferred to an external recording medium in a timely manner. Need to save.

  Many digital cameras are configured to display the number of images recorded on a recording medium. Also, when organizing old images, etc., the old images are found based on the memory while sequentially reproducing / displaying the recorded images one by one (or reproducing / displaying a plurality of reduced images (thumbnail images)). Deleted images, important images are protected, or output to an external recording medium.

  However, when an old image is found based on memory, there is a problem that oversight or misunderstanding occurs. Further, each time, the recorded image must be reproduced / displayed, and in some cases, all the recorded images must be sequentially reproduced / displayed from the beginning to the end.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems and inconveniences, and an electronic camera device capable of automatically notifying a user of a fact when a recorded image has passed a certain period of time. For the purpose of providing a protection setting method ,
The Rukoto to be grasp the retention period of the recorded image being, for the purpose of providing an electronic camera apparatus and a protect setting method organized like by adding the performed may manage functions of the recorded image.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic camera device of the present invention is an electronic camera device that reproduces and displays a captured image recorded on a recording medium, and the storage period of the captured image recorded on the recording medium is a predetermined period. Period determining means for determining whether or not the storage period has elapsed, and protection setting means for protecting the captured image after the predetermined period when the storage period has been determined to have elapsed by the period determining means. It is characterized by having.
The period determination means includes means for determining whether a storage period, which is a time difference between a shooting date and a current date and time, has passed a predetermined period for a captured image recorded on the recording medium, and the protection setting The means includes means for protecting the captured image that has passed the predetermined period when it is determined by the period determining means that the storage period, which is the time difference between the shooting date and time and the current date and time, has passed the predetermined period. May be.

The period determining means includes means for determining whether or not there is a captured image whose retention period has passed a predetermined period among a plurality of captured images recorded on the recording medium, and the protection setting means When the period determining unit determines that there is a captured image whose storage period has passed a predetermined period, the period determining unit may include a unit that protects a captured image that has passed the predetermined period.
Further, the period determination means determines whether or not there is a captured image whose storage period has passed a predetermined period among a plurality of captured images recorded on the recording medium when a playback mode is selected by the user. You may comprise so that the means to determine may be included.

Further, it may be configured to have a reproduction control means for starting an image reproduction process based on the reproduction mode after the captured image that has passed a predetermined period is protected by the protection setting means.
The reproduction control unit first reproduces the latest captured image among the plurality of captured images recorded on the recording medium after the captured image that has passed a predetermined period of time is protected by the protection setting unit. You may comprise so that a means may be included.

In addition, when it is determined by the period determination unit that the storage period has passed a predetermined period, the reproduction frequency determination unit that determines the reproduction frequency of the captured image that has passed the predetermined period, and the reproduction frequency determination unit Determining means for determining whether or not the reproduction frequency is greater than a first threshold, and the protection setting means is predetermined when the determination means determines that the reproduction frequency is greater than the first threshold. You may comprise so that the captured image which passed the period may be protected.
The determination means includes means for determining whether or not the reproduction frequency determined by the reproduction frequency determination means is less than a second threshold, and the reproduction frequency is less than a second threshold by the determination means. When it is determined, it may be configured to have a stored image organizing unit that deletes a captured image that has passed a predetermined period.
Further, when the storage period is determined to have passed a predetermined period by the period determination unit, a recording storage state notification unit that notifies the fact may be provided.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic camera device of the present invention is an electronic camera device that reproduces and displays a captured image recorded on a recording medium, and the storage period of the captured image recorded on the recording medium is a predetermined period. Period determining means for determining whether or not the period has passed, and when the period determining means determines that the storage period has passed a predetermined period, guidance notification is made to prompt protection setting for a captured image that has passed the predetermined period Guidance notification means, and protection setting means for protecting and setting a captured image that has passed a predetermined period in accordance with guidance notification by the guidance notification means.

In addition, when it is determined by the period determination unit that the storage period has passed a predetermined period, the reproduction frequency determination unit that determines the reproduction frequency of the captured image that has passed the predetermined period, and the reproduction frequency determination unit Determining means for determining whether or not the reproduction frequency is greater than a first threshold, and the guidance notification means is predetermined when the determination means determines that the reproduction frequency is greater than the first threshold. You may comprise so that the guidance alert | report which urges the protection setting with respect to the captured image which passed the period may be performed.
The determination means includes means for determining whether or not the reproduction frequency determined by the reproduction frequency determination means is less than a second threshold value, and the guidance notification means is configured to determine whether the reproduction frequency is a second value by the determination means. Storage for deleting a captured image that has passed a predetermined period in accordance with the guidance notification by the guidance notification means, including means for notifying a user to delete a captured image that has passed a predetermined period when it is determined that the captured image is less than the threshold value You may comprise so that an image organization means may be provided.

Further, according to the protection setting method of the present invention, the step of determining whether or not the storage period of the captured image recorded on the recording medium has passed a predetermined period, and the case where it is determined that the storage period has passed the predetermined period And a step of protecting the captured image after a predetermined period has elapsed.
The protection setting method of the present invention includes a step of determining whether or not a storage period of a captured image recorded on a recording medium has passed a predetermined period, and a case where it is determined that the storage period has passed a predetermined period In addition, the method includes a step of performing guidance notification for prompting protection setting for a captured image that has passed a predetermined period, and a step of performing protection setting for a captured image that has passed a predetermined period in accordance with the guidance notification.

As described above, according to the present invention, when there is an image that has passed a predetermined period, it is possible to protect the image. Thereby, it is possible to prevent an important image having a high reproduction frequency from being deleted.

<Circuit configuration example>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of a digital camera as an embodiment of the electronic camera device of the present invention.
The digital camera 100 includes an image data input system 10, a control unit 20, an operation unit 30, a display unit 40, a recording unit 50, an interface 81, and an input / output terminal 82. Further, the digital camera 100 may be provided with an acoustic output device, an acoustic memory (ROM), a character message memory, or a graphic memory (ROM).

  The image data input system 10 includes an optical system 11, a signal conversion unit 12, and a signal processing unit 13.

  The optical system 11 includes an optical system mechanism such as an imaging lens and a diaphragm, and forms an image of light from the subject on the CCD of the signal conversion unit 12 at the subsequent stage.

  The signal conversion unit 12 includes a CCD, a timing signal generation circuit for driving the CCD, and the like. The signal conversion unit 12 converts an image formed on the CCD through the optical system 11 in the previous stage into an electric signal, converts the image into digital data, and has a constant cycle. Output.

  The signal processing unit 13 performs color process processing on the output from the signal conversion unit 12 to obtain digital luminance and color difference multiplexed signals (YUV data), and transfers the YUV data to a designated area of a DRAM (dynamic memory) 14. Further, YUV data written in the DRAM 14 at the time of recording and saving is read out, subjected to data compression processing, and saved and recorded in the flash memory 51. In addition, the image data stored and recorded in the flash memory 51 under the reproduction mode is subjected to expansion processing, is taken in via the recording unit 50, and YUV data is reproduced.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the control unit 20 includes a CPU 21, a RAM 22, a ROM 23, and a timer 24.
The CPU 21 is connected to the above-described circuits and a power supply switch (not shown) via a bus line, controls the entire digital camera 100 by a control program stored in the ROM 23, and outputs a status signal from the operation unit 30. Correspondingly, the execution control of each function of the digital camera, for example, the execution control of each mode processing by the execution of each mode processing means stored in the ROM 23, the notification of the image recording / saving state by the term management means 110 described later, Organize images during recording and storage.
The RAM 22 is used for temporary storage of data or processing results and an intermediate work area.
The ROM 23 is a recording medium for recording the above-described control program and programs for executing the other functions of the time limit management unit 110 and the digital camera 100, and PROM, FROM (flash ROM) or the like is used. These programs can be configured to be stored in a removable recording medium (for example, a flash memory) other than the ROM 23.

  The operation unit 30 includes switches and buttons (not shown) such as a mode selection button, a cursor movement button, a main switch, a shutter button, an output button, and a recording / playback mode switching switch, and these switches or buttons. When is operated, a status signal is sent to the CPU 21.

  The display unit 40 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) 41 and converts the YUV data into RGB and displays it on the screen of the liquid crystal display 41.

The recording unit 50 accommodates a recording medium (flash memory 51 in the embodiment), and records image data from the image data input system 10 on the flash memory 51 under the control of the CPU 21. Further, the recording unit 50 may be configured so that an exchangeable recording medium such as a memory card can be attached and detached.
As will be described later, an image information recording area (image information memory 60 (FIG. 2)) may be provided on the flash memory 51. Further, the recording unit 50 reads out the image data and the term management information stored in the image information memory 60 from the flash memory 51 and transfers them to the RAM 22 (or DRAM 14).

  The interface 81 is used when serially transmitting image data (YUV data) recorded and stored in the digital camera 100 to an external recording medium via the input / output terminal 82.

<Image information memory area>
The image information memory 60 is secured on the flash memory 51, and information including the time limit management information and setting values of the image is written into the image information memory 60 when the image is stored in the flash memory 51.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of time limit management information stored in the image information memory 60. The image information memory 60 includes time limit management information including an image number column 61 and a shooting date / time column 62 as shown in FIG. Blocks are provided. As shown in (b), the image number field 61, the shooting date / time field 62, the number of times of image reproduction (except when scrolling) field 63, and a flag field 64 for writing a code indicating whether protection is necessary or not are stored in the image information memory 60. A time limit management information block may be provided.

<Time limit management means>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of one embodiment of the term management unit of the digital camera 100. The term management unit 110 includes a period calculation unit 120, a period determination unit 130, a record storage state notification unit 140, Image management means 150.

  The period calculation unit 120 calculates a period during which the reproduced image is stored when the image stored in the flash memory 51 is reproduced. The saved period is calculated based on the current date and time obtained from the shooting date and time written in the shooting date and time column 62 of the image information memory 60 and the time signal from the timer 24 when the image is recorded and saved. Is a calculated value. The date and time can be calculated based on the time signal by a well-known calendar calculation module (program).

  The period determining unit 130 determines whether the period calculated by comparing the period obtained by the period calculating unit 120 with a predetermined period (threshold) exceeds the threshold. In addition, the period determination unit 130 may be configured to compare the period obtained by the period calculation unit 120 with a plurality of periods (a plurality of thresholds) to determine a period category to which the image belongs.

The record storage state notification unit 140 notifies the user of the fact when there is an image that has passed a predetermined period (when determined by the period determination unit 130). Announcement of the fact, for example,
The display color of an image that has passed a predetermined period may be changed and displayed to be differentiated to notify the user of the passage of the period (FIGS. 4A and 9).
When the playback mode is entered, or when an image that has passed a predetermined period has been reproduced and displayed, a voice guidance message, music, or caution sound may be emitted to notify the user of the passage of the period (FIG. 4B). ),
When the playback mode is entered, or when an image that has passed a predetermined period has been reproduced and displayed, a guidance message, a figure, or the like may be displayed on the screen to notify the user of the passage of the period (FIG. 4 (c), (D), FIG. 10).
Further, when the playback mode is entered, the stored images may be classified by, for example, monthly elapsed periods, and the number of images for each period may be displayed as a list to notify the user of the image storage status. (FIG. 4 (e), FIG. 11).

The image management unit 150 outputs images from a recording medium to an external device or a memory card mounted on the recording medium, and deletes or deletes images from the recording medium after the predetermined period. Image management such as prohibition (protection setting) is performed.
The image management means 150 may be configured to automatically execute the above-described operation when there is an image that has passed a predetermined period (FIG. 5), or the above-described recording / storing state notification means 140. The user who knows the fact that the period has passed through this notification may input an instruction as to whether or not the image can be transmitted to the external recording medium, deleted, or the write prohibition measure can be executed (FIG. 6).

  The term management means 110 can be constituted by a hardware circuit, but is constituted by a program in this embodiment. A certain module among the modules of the term management unit 110 may be configured by a hardware circuit, and the other modules may be configured by a program. Further, when the term management unit 110 is configured by a program, each module is recorded on a recording medium such as the ROM 23, and is executed and controlled by the CPU under the control of the control program, thereby realizing the term management function of this embodiment. .

<Recording storage state notification means>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the recording / storing state notifying unit 140. FIG. 4 (a) differentiates the recording / storing state notifying unit 140 by changing and displaying the display color of an image after a predetermined period of time. It is a block diagram at the time of comprising so that a user may pass the progress of a period, (b) is a record preservation | save state alerting | reporting means 140, A voice guidance message, a music, or an audible sound is emitted, and progress of a period is shown to a user. It is a block diagram at the time of having comprised so that it may alert | report, and (c) is the case where the recording preservation | save state alerting | reporting means 140 is comprised so that the progress of a period may be alert | reported by displaying a guidance message, a figure, etc. on a screen FIG.
Further, (d) shows that when the recording / storing state informing means 140 is in the playback mode, the images stored in, for example, the monthly elapsed period are listed and the number of images for each period is displayed as a list. FIG. 6 is a block diagram when configured to notify the storage state of an image.

In FIG. 4A, the recording / storing state notifying unit 140 includes a display color changing unit 141 and a display unit 142 for displaying an image whose display color has been changed on the liquid crystal display 41.
When the display color changing unit 141 reads out an image recorded in the flash memory 51 exceeding the predetermined period and stores it in the display work area of the DRAM 14, the display color changing unit 141 changes the proportion of the component (YUV). The display color of the image is changed to a color (for example, sepia) that makes the user feel the passage of time. The display color changing unit 141 does not update the image in the flash memory 51 with the changed data. That is, it is only necessary to temporarily change the ratio of the color components of the image data in the work area to make it appear as if it has changed over time on the display.
The display unit 142 receives the image data after changing the display color, sends it to the display unit 40, converts the YUV data with the changed color component into RGB data, and displays it on the liquid crystal display 41. FIG. 9 is an example in which the display color of an image that has passed 6 months has been changed to a sepia color, and FIG. 9A shows an image at the time of shooting, and FIG. 9B shows an image that has passed 6 months. An image displayed in a sepia color is shown.

In FIG. 4B, the recording / storing state notifying unit 140 includes an acoustic output unit. Further, the digital camera 100 has a configuration in which a voice memory 143 (ROM) in which a voice message for notification, music, or warning sound data (acoustic signal (digital signal)) is registered in advance and a voice output device 144 are added to the configuration of FIG. There is no.
When there is an image that has passed a predetermined period, the sound output means 140 reads out the notification voice message (or music or warning sound) data registered in advance in the sound memory 143 and gives it to the sound output device 144. The sound output device 144 converts the received data into analog form and outputs it to the outside to notify the presence of an image after a predetermined period.

In FIG. 4C, the recording / storing state notifying unit 140 includes a message display unit. Further, the digital camera 100 has a configuration in which a message registration memory 145 (ROM) in which messages are registered in advance is added to the configuration of FIG.
When there is an image that has passed a predetermined period, the message display means 140 displays a message character string registered in advance in the message registration memory 145 on the liquid crystal display 41 to notify the presence of an image that has passed the predetermined period.

FIG. 10A shows an example in which the presence of an image that has passed six months after shooting is displayed as a message 45. Any one of “output”, “delete”, and “protect” of the instruction input display button 46 displayed on the screen is displayed. This is an example in which when the cursor is pointed with a cursor, transition to image management means 150 described later is made. Note that when the display button 46 is pointed to “Keep as it is”, the process does not shift to the image management unit 150 but shifts to an image reproduction process.
In FIG. 4D, the recording / storing state notifying unit 140 is composed of a graphic display unit. The digital camera 100 has a configuration in which a graphic registration memory 146 (ROM) in which a graphic (graphic image) is registered in advance is added to the configuration of FIG.
When there is an image that has passed a predetermined period, the graphic display means 140 displays a graphic registered in advance in the graphic registration memory 146 on the liquid crystal display 41 to notify the presence of an image that has passed the predetermined period. FIG. 10B is an example in which the presence of an image that has been passed for six months has been graphically displayed.

In FIG. 4E, the recording / storing state notifying unit 140 includes a counting unit 147 and a list display unit 148.
The counting means 147 counts the number of images for each period section.
The list display means 148 edits the number of images counted for each period section and displays the list as shown in the example of FIG. In the example of FIG. 11, the elapsed period is divided up to 6 months every month, and the number of corresponding images is displayed as a list.

<Image Management Unit (1)> Automatic Processing with Period Elapsed FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image management unit 150. FIG. When there is an image that has passed a period, an example in which processing for automatically excluding the image from the flash memory 51 is performed is shown, and (b) shows that when there is an image that has passed a predetermined period, An example is shown in which a write prohibition measure (protection setting) is automatically performed on the image.

Further, (c) shows an example in which the image management unit 150 is configured to automatically check the reproduction frequency of an image and perform processing based on the reproduction frequency when there is an image that has passed a predetermined period. .
In FIG. 5A, the image management means 150 has a saved image organizing means 153.
The stored image organizing means 153 automatically excludes images whose storage period has exceeded a predetermined period (6 months in the embodiment) from the recording medium.
Exclusion from the recording medium is performed for a predetermined period when the recording unit 50 is configured so that an exchangeable recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a memory card) such as a memory card can be attached and detached, and the memory card is mounted. In the example, an image exceeding 6 months) is automatically written to the memory card, and then the image is deleted from the flash memory 51. If no replaceable memory card is installed, an image exceeding the predetermined period is simply used. Can be done by automatically deleting.

  Further, when the recording unit 50 is not configured to be able to mount a memory card, for example, when the recording unit 50 is connected to an external device via a cable via the input / output terminal 82, an image exceeding a predetermined period is automatically displayed on the external device. The image can be deleted from the flash memory 51 after being output, and if the cable is not connected, the image exceeding the predetermined period can be automatically deleted.

In FIG. 5B, the image management unit 150 has a protection setting unit 154.
The protection setting means 154 is a code (for example, “1”) that indicates protection (write prohibition) in the flag column 64 of the image information memory 60 of an image whose image retention period has exceeded a predetermined period (6 months in the embodiment). ) Is automatically written to set protection.

In FIG. 5C, the image management unit 150 includes a reproduction frequency determination unit 151, a stored image arrangement unit 153 ′, and a protection setting unit 154 ′.
The reproduction frequency determination unit 151 checks the number of reproductions stored in the reproduction number column 63 of the image information memory 60, and the reproduction frequency (= number of reproductions / elapsed period) is equal to or less than a predetermined first (organization determination threshold) threshold value. If the frequency is equal to or higher than a predetermined second threshold value (protection determination threshold value), the process proceeds to the protection setting means 154 ′. The functions and configurations of the stored image organizing unit 153 ′ and the protect setting unit 154 ′ are the same as those of the stored image organizing unit 153 and the protect setting unit 154 shown in FIGS.

  For example, assuming that the predetermined period is 6 months, the first threshold is 0.2, and the second threshold is 3, if the number of playbacks for 6 months = 1, playback frequency = 1 / 6≈0.17 <0. 2 to the stored image organizing means 153 ′. If the number of playbacks for 6 months = 35, transition is made from playback frequency = 35 / 6≈5.8> 3.0 to protection setting means 154 '. If the number of times of reproduction for six months = 15, if the frequency of reproduction = 15/6 = 2.5 <3.0, the current state is maintained and the process is terminated.

<Image Management Unit (2)> FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the image management unit 150 based on the notification from the recording storage state notification unit 140. This is an example in which the user's judgment (instruction input) is entrusted with whether or not the transition to the protection setting is possible.
In FIG. 6, (a) indicates that the image management means 150, when the recording / storing state notifying means 140 is notified of the presence of an image after a predetermined period of time, the image is stored in the flash memory based on the user's instruction input. FIG. 5B shows an example of performing processing to be excluded from 51, and FIG. 5B shows a write prohibition measure (protection setting) on an image based on a user's instruction input when the presence of an image after a predetermined period is notified. An example configured to perform is shown.
In (c), when the presence of an image having passed a predetermined period is notified, the image management means 150 checks the reproduction frequency of the image, and performs processing based on the reproduction frequency based on a user's instruction input. An example configured as described above is shown. In FIG. 6, the functions and configurations of the reproduction frequency determination unit 151, the saved image arrangement unit 153, and the protection setting unit 154 are the same as those in FIG.

6 (a) and 6 (b), the instruction input means 152 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 41 in FIG. 10 (a) or FIG. A display input button for input instruction for prompting the user to input an instruction as shown in the example 12 is displayed, and if there is an instruction input (point) by a user's cursor movement or the like, the corresponding processing means is transitioned to.
In the example of FIG. 10A, four display input buttons 46 are displayed in the lower part of the notification message 45. When the user moves the cursor to the position of the display input button 46 and points to a desired button, the process proceeds to a corresponding process.

That is, in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, when the user points to the “output” button, the copy of the image having passed the period to the memory card or the recording medium of the external device and the deletion process from the flash memory 51 are performed. Transition. When the “delete” button is pointed, the process proceeds to a process of deleting an image whose period has elapsed from the flash memory 51.
When the “protect” button is pointed, the protection setting means 154 performs protection setting processing for an image whose period has elapsed.
If the “Keep it” button is pointed, the process ends without making a transition to the saved image organizing unit 153 or the protection setting unit 154.

  In FIG. 6C, when the recording / storing state notifying unit 140 notifies the presence of an image that has passed a predetermined period, the reproduction frequency determining unit 151 is stored in the reproduction number column 63 of the image information memory 60. The reproduction frequency is checked, the reproduction frequency is determined, and the result is passed to the instruction input means 152.

  When the instruction input unit 152 receives the determination result of the reproduction frequency determination unit 151, an input instruction display input button for prompting the user to input an instruction as shown in the examples of FIGS. 10A and 12 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 41. The user prompts the user for an instruction corresponding to the determination by the reproduction frequency determining means 151, and when the user points to the display input button, the instruction input is made and the processing proceeds to the corresponding processing means.

  In the example of FIG. 12, when the determination result of the reproduction frequency determination unit 151 is “organize stored images”, the “output” button, the “delete” button, “ The button is flashed to prompt the user's point. If the determination result of the reproduction frequency determination unit 151 is “protection setting”, the “protect” button and the “as is” button of the display input buttons 126 are blinked to prompt the user to point. Here, when the user points to the flashing button, the corresponding process is performed (however, in the case of the “as is” button, the process ends).

  If the determination result of the reproduction frequency determination unit 151 indicates that neither “arrangement of stored images” nor “protection setting” is performed, “no change” of the display input buttons 126 is blinked. In this case, the process ends when the user points to the “keep” button that blinks, but it is also possible to point to a button that does not blink, in which case a display for re-instruction input is performed.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the digital camera 100 when the time limit management unit 110 is executed, and is an example in the case where automatic processing by the image management unit 150 is performed.

FIG. 7A is a flowchart in the case of notifying the passage of the period by sound, text message or graphic in the notification process of S4.
When the user selects an image reproduction mode, image data is read from the flash memory 51, image expansion, and reproduction image display processing are performed. At this time, various image information recorded in the image information memory 60 is also simultaneously displayed. Read.

7A, in the playback mode (S1), the image information memory 60 is sequentially examined, and the current date and time obtained based on the shooting date and time stored in the shooting date and time column 62 and the time signal from the timer 24 are obtained. The elapsed period from the shooting date to the present is calculated (S2).
Next, the calculated period is compared with a predetermined period, and when there is an image exceeding a predetermined period (for example, 6 months), the process proceeds to S4 (S3). An image exceeding the predetermined period can be identified from the image number (or image storage position) in the image number column of the image information memory 60.

  If the calculated period exceeds the predetermined period in S3, the presence is notified (S4). As a notification method here, for example, notification by changing the display color of an image that has passed a predetermined period (FIG. 4A), notification by sound output (FIG. 4B), message display And notification by graphic display (FIGS. 4C and 4D).

  Next, the reproduction frequency recorded in the reproduction frequency column 63 of the image that has passed a predetermined period is extracted from the image information memory 60 to calculate the reproduction frequency (S5), and the reproduction frequency is compared with the first threshold value. If there is an image whose reproduction frequency is less than the first threshold, it means that the number of times of reproduction is very small. Therefore, it is assumed that there is no point in storing the image in the flash memory 51, and the process proceeds to the stored image arrangement process in S9. If the reproduction frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold, the process proceeds to S10 (S6).

If the reproduction frequency is less than the first threshold value in S6, a stored image arrangement process is executed (S9).
In S6, when the reproduction frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold, the reproduction frequency is further compared with the second threshold, and when there is an image whose reproduction frequency is larger than the second threshold, the number of reproductions is large. Therefore, the process proceeds to the protection setting process in S13 as an important image to be stored in the flash memory 51. If the reproduction frequency is equal to or less than the second threshold value, the process proceeds to the image reproduction process in S14. (S10).

If there is an image whose reproduction frequency is greater than or equal to the second threshold value in S10, a code (eg, “1”) indicating protection setting is written in the flag column 64 of the image information memory 60 of the image (S13). .
In S14, the latest image is reproduced and displayed first, and the reproduced image is sequentially switched by operating the scroll key.

FIG. 7B is a flowchart in the case of notifying the record storage state of the image in the form of a list for the entire image stored in the notification process of S4, and the process of S3 is different from FIG.
In the playback mode, in S2, as in FIG. 7A, the image information memory 60 is sequentially examined and the current date and time obtained from the shooting date and time stored in the shooting date and time column 62 and the time signal from the timer 24 are obtained. The elapsed period from the date and time to the present date is calculated.
Next, the period section and the calculated elapsed time are compared (S3 ′), and if there is an image corresponding to the period section, 1 is added to the counter corresponding to the period section (S4-1). A list table (not shown) for each image created by repeating such operations is edited and displayed as a list on the liquid crystal display 41 (S4-2).

In FIG. 7, when the playback mode is set, all the images stored in the flash memory 51 are processed in steps S2 to S13. You may do it.
In FIG. 7, the processing of S2 to S13 is performed when the playback mode is set. However, the processing of S2 to S13 may be performed constantly (every fixed time), or S2 may be performed at other key operation timings. The process of ~ S13 may be started.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the digital camera 100 by the term management means, and is an example in the case of performing processing in accordance with a user instruction based on the notification.
When the scroll key operation is performed in S1 ′ of FIG. 8, the reproduction display of the next image is disclosed in S2 ′ and the elapsed period is calculated as described above (S3 ′). Next, the period calculated in S4 ′ is compared with the predetermined period, and if there is an image exceeding the predetermined period, the notification process is performed in S5 ′, and the recording and storage state of the image is notified, and then in S5. The number of reproductions recorded in the reproduction number column 63 of images that have passed a predetermined period is extracted from the image information memory 60, and the reproduction frequency is calculated. If the calculation period is equal to or shorter than the predetermined period, the process returns to S1 ′.

Next, the reproduction frequency is compared with the first threshold value. If the reproduction frequency is less than the first threshold, the process proceeds to S7, and if the reproduction frequency is equal to or greater than the first threshold, the process proceeds to S10 (S6).
In S7, an instruction input screen is displayed (FIG. 12), and in this case, it means that the number of times of reproduction is extremely small, so that it is meaningless to store the image in the flash memory 51, and the display button 126 is displayed. The “output” button, the “delete” button, and the “as is” button are highlighted to prompt instructions for organizing the stored images (S7).
If the user moves the cursor and points to the “Output” button or the “Delete” button, the process proceeds to S9 ′ assuming that the stored image organization is instructed, and if the “As is” button is pointed, processing is performed. (If other buttons are pointed, the point result is invalidated).

  If it is determined in S8 that there is an instruction to organize stored images, and if it is an “output” instruction, the process proceeds to S12. If the instruction is “Delete”, the image is deleted from the flash memory 51 and the display button is deleted in S16 (S9 ′).

  If the reproduction frequency is equal to or greater than the first threshold value in S6, the reproduction frequency is compared with the second threshold value in S10. If the reproduction frequency is greater than the second threshold value, the process proceeds to S11. If it is equal to or smaller than the second threshold value, the process proceeds to S14 (S10).

  If the reproduction frequency is equal to or higher than the second threshold value in S10, it means that the number of reproductions is large. Therefore, the “protect” button of the display button 46 is displayed as an important image to be stored in the flash memory 51. An instruction for organizing the stored image is urged by highlighting such as flashing the “Keep it” button (S11).

  In S11, if the user moves the cursor and points to the “Protect” button, the process proceeds to S13 assuming that the protect setting is instructed, and if the “As is” button is pointed, the process proceeds to S15. (S12).

  If there is a protection setting instruction in S12, the process proceeds to S13, and a code (eg, “1”) indicating protection setting is written in the flag column 64 of the image information memory 60 to delete the display button ( S16).

If the reproduction frequency is equal to or lower than the second threshold value in S10, only the “as is” button is highlighted (for example, blinking) to prompt the user to input an instruction to maintain the current state (S14).
If the user points to the “as is” button, the display button is erased in S16, assuming that the current status is instructed. If another point that is not highlighted is pointed, the process returns to S8 to request re-instruction (S15).
After the process of S16 is completed, the process returns to S1 ′.
Note that the processing of FIG. 8 may be performed on all the stored images at other timings, such as when the playback mode is set.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be applied as long as it can store and record captured images, and various modifications can be made. Not too long.

It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structural example of the digital camera as one Example of the electronic camera apparatus of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the term management information memorize | stored in an image information memory area. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Example of a term management means. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a recording preservation | save state alerting | reporting means. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of an image management means. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of an image management means. It is a flowchart which shows the basic operation | movement (automatic process by progress of a period) of the digital camera by a term management means. It is a flowchart which shows the basic operation | movement (process based on alerting | reporting) of the digital camera by a time limit management means. It is explanatory drawing of an example of the image which changed the display color and alert | reported (displayed). It is a figure which shows the example which alert | reported (displayed) period progress by the message or the figure. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the list which displays the number of images for every elapsed period. It is a figure which shows the example of the input screen superimposed on the image which passed the period.

Explanation of symbols

100 Digital camera (electronic camera device)
120 period calculation means 130 period determination means 140 record storage state notification means 140 sound output means (means for notification by sound; record storage state notification means), message display means (means for notification by message; record storage state notification means), figure Display means (means for notifying by graphic; record storage state notifying means), list display means (editing display means; record storage state notifying means))
141 Display color changing means (means for changing display color and displaying)
144 Sound output device (means to notify by sound)
151 Playback frequency determining means 153, 153 ′ Saved image organizing means

Claims (14)

In an electronic camera device that reproduces and displays a captured image recorded on a recording medium,
Period determining means for determining whether or not the storage period of the captured image recorded on the recording medium has passed a predetermined period;
A protection setting unit that protects a captured image that has passed the predetermined period when it is determined by the period determination unit that the storage period has passed the predetermined period ;
An electronic camera device comprising: The period determining means includes means for determining whether or not a storage period that is a time difference between a shooting date and a current date and time has passed a predetermined period for a captured image recorded in the recording medium,
The protection setting unit includes a unit that protects a captured image that has passed a predetermined period when it is determined by the period determination unit that a storage period that is a time difference between the shooting date and the current date and time has passed the predetermined period. The electronic camera device according to claim 1. The period determining means includes means for determining whether or not there is a captured image whose storage period has passed a predetermined period among the plurality of captured images recorded on the recording medium,
The protection setting unit includes a unit that protects a captured image that has passed a predetermined period when the period determination unit determines that there is a captured image whose storage period has passed a predetermined period. Item 3. The electronic camera device according to Item 1 or 2. The period determination unit determines whether there is a captured image whose storage period has passed a predetermined period among a plurality of captured images recorded on the recording medium when a playback mode is selected by a user. 4. The electronic camera device according to claim 3, further comprising means for performing the operation. 5. The electronic camera apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a reproduction control unit that starts an image reproduction process based on the reproduction mode after the captured image that has passed a predetermined period is protected by the protection setting unit. The reproduction control unit is a unit that first reproduces the latest captured image among the plurality of captured images recorded on the recording medium after the captured image that has passed a predetermined period of time is protected by the protection setting unit. 6. The electronic camera device according to claim 5, further comprising: A reproduction frequency determination unit that determines a reproduction frequency of a captured image that has passed the predetermined period when the storage period is determined to have passed the predetermined period by the period determination unit;
Determining means for determining whether or not the reproduction frequency determined by the reproduction frequency determining means is greater than a first threshold;
7. The protection setting unit according to claim 1, wherein when the determination unit determines that the reproduction frequency is greater than a first threshold, the protection setting unit sets protection for a captured image that has passed a predetermined period. An electronic camera device according to claim 1. The determining means includes means for determining whether or not the reproduction frequency determined by the reproduction frequency determining means is less than a second threshold;
8. The electronic camera according to claim 7, further comprising a stored image organizing unit that deletes a captured image after a predetermined period when the reproduction unit determines that the reproduction frequency is less than a second threshold. apparatus. 9. The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a recording storage state notification unit that notifies the fact when the storage period is determined to have passed a predetermined period by the period determination unit. apparatus. In an electronic camera device that reproduces and displays a captured image recorded on a recording medium,
Period determining means for determining whether or not the storage period of the captured image recorded on the recording medium has passed a predetermined period;
Guidance information means for performing guidance notification for prompting protection setting for a captured image that has passed the predetermined period when it is determined by the period determination means that the storage period has passed the predetermined period;
Protection setting means for protecting a captured image after a predetermined period in accordance with guidance notification by the guidance notification means;
An electronic camera device comprising: A reproduction frequency determination unit that determines a reproduction frequency of a captured image that has passed the predetermined period when the storage period is determined to have passed the predetermined period by the period determination unit;
Determining means for determining whether or not the reproduction frequency determined by the reproduction frequency determining means is greater than a first threshold;
The guidance notification unit performs guidance notification for prompting protection setting for a captured image that has passed a predetermined period when the determination unit determines that the reproduction frequency is greater than a first threshold. 10. The electronic camera device according to 10. The determining means includes means for determining whether or not the reproduction frequency determined by the reproduction frequency determining means is less than a second threshold;
The guidance notification means includes means for performing guidance notification for urging deletion of a captured image after a predetermined period when the determination means determines that the reproduction frequency is less than a second threshold,
12. The electronic camera apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a stored image organizing unit that deletes a captured image that has passed a predetermined period in accordance with the guidance notification by the guidance notification unit. Determining whether or not the storage period of the captured image recorded on the recording medium has passed a predetermined period;
When it is determined that the storage period has passed a predetermined period, the captured image that has passed the predetermined period is protected, and
A protection setting method characterized by comprising: Determining whether or not the storage period of the captured image recorded on the recording medium has passed a predetermined period ;
When it is determined that the storage period has passed a predetermined period, performing guidance notification for prompting protection setting for a captured image that has passed the predetermined period;
Protecting the captured image after a predetermined period in accordance with the guidance notification;
A protection setting method characterized by comprising:

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