JP4803155B2 - Panorama composition of multiple image data - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for selecting a part of a plurality of image data.

  In recent years, it has become common to take pictures using a digital still camera (DSC) and store image data representing the pictures in a computer. In addition, processing called panoramic image synthesis processing is also performed in which a plurality of image data is synthesized to generate image data representing one continuous image. The contents of such a panoramic image composition process are disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1.

JP 2002-170111 A

  Conventionally, however, the user has to manually select image data to be used for the panoramic image synthesis process. The burden of this sorting operation has increased as more image data can be stored due to an increase in the capacity of the recording medium used by the digital still camera.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems in the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for reducing the burden on the user when selecting image data that can be used to generate a panoramic image. To do.

  In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image file that can be used for generating a panoramic image from among a plurality of image files including image data and image attribute information that is attribute information of the image data. The image attribute information includes position information indicating a geographical position at the time of shooting, and the image file selection apparatus reads the position information from each image file. An image that can be used to generate a panoramic image using a reading unit and a plurality of image files whose geographical positions at the time of shooting are determined to be less than or equal to a predetermined distance according to the read position information And an image file sorting unit for sorting as a file.

  According to the image file selection device of the present invention, a plurality of image files whose geographical positions at the time of shooting are determined to be equal to or less than a predetermined distance from each other are automatically selected as image files that can be used for generating a panoramic image. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user when selecting image data that can be used for generating a panoramic image.

  In the image file sorting device, the image attribute information further includes image direction information indicating a direction of an image at the time of shooting, and the image attribute information reading unit further reads the image direction information from each image file, The image file selection unit determines an overlap amount of a shooting area that is an area recorded in the image data according to the image attribute information, and selects an image file in which the determined overlap amount is a predetermined value or more as the panorama image. Whether the image file can be used to generate

  In this way, it is possible to select a plurality of image files that are more likely to be used for synthesizing panoramic images.

  In the image file selection device, the image file selection unit determines a focal length of an optical system used for generating the plurality of image data for each of the image data according to the image attribute information. A view angle calculation unit that calculates a view angle in the width direction of the image data for each of the image files according to the determined focal length, and according to the view angle and the image direction information, A shooting area calculation unit that calculates a shooting area that is an area recorded in the image data for each image file, and shooting areas that overlap each other in the width direction according to the calculated plurality of shooting areas have a predetermined size. It is preferable that an image file including the above-described image data is provided with a composition availability determination unit that determines that the image file can be used for generating the panoramic image.

  In this way, since image files having image data having areas where image ranges overlap in the width direction are selected, it is possible to select a plurality of image files that are very likely to be used for synthesizing panoramic images. it can.

In the image file sorting device, the image attribute information further includes a lens focal length that represents an actual focal length of the photographing lens, a focal plane resolution unit that defines a unit of resolution in a focal plane of the optical system, and the focal plane resolution. A focal plane width resolution representing the number of pixels in the width direction of the image per unit, and the image attribute information readout unit further includes the lens focal length, the focal plane resolution unit, and the focal plane width. The resolution is read from each image file, the focal length determination unit determines the focal length of the lens as the focal length, and the angle of view calculation unit determines the focal plane resolution unit by the resolution of the focal plane width. The length in the width direction of the image is calculated by multiplying the divided value by the number of pixels in the width direction of the image data, and the calculated length in the width direction of the image and the lens focal length It the angle of the width direction of the image data may be calculated for each of the image file in accordance,
The image attribute information further includes a 35 mm converted lens focal length that is a value of a focal length converted to a 35 mm film camera, and the focal length determination unit determines the 35 mm converted lens focal length as the focal length, The angle-of-view calculating unit may calculate the angle of view of the image data in the width direction for each image file in accordance with the length in the width direction of the 35 mm film size image and the lens focal length.

  In the image file sorting device, the image file sorting unit calculates an angle between the image directions according to the image direction information, and determines an overlap amount of the imaging regions according to the calculated angle. It is preferable to do.

  In this way, the present invention can be easily applied when the image direction can be acquired.

  In the image file sorting device, the image file sorting unit uses a plurality of image files in which the overlapping amount of the shooting areas is equal to or larger than a predetermined size and equal to or smaller than a predetermined size for generating the panoramic image. Judge that it is a possible image file

  In this way, selection of image files having image data that is not intended for panoramic image shooting can be eliminated. In other words, the same subject may be photographed many times, but the image data thus photographed can be excluded from the selection target.

  In the image file sorting device, the image attribute information further includes time information indicating time at the time of shooting, and the image attribute information reading unit further reads the time information from each image file, and the image file sorting unit According to the time information, it is preferable to select a plurality of image files photographed at intervals of not more than a predetermined time and not less than a predetermined time.

  In many cases, panoramic image synthesis photographs are taken continuously in a short period of time, so that a plurality of image files that are more likely to be used for synthesizing panoramic images can be selected.

  In the image file selection device, the image attribute information further includes exposure program information indicating a class of an exposure program used at the time of shooting, exposure time information indicating an exposure time at the time of shooting, and a shutter indicating a shutter speed at the time of shooting. Speed information and aperture value information indicating an aperture value at the time of shooting, and the image attribute information reading unit further includes the exposure program information, the exposure time information, the shutter speed information, and the aperture value information. A function of reading from an image file, and the image file selection unit reads out the exposure time, the shutter speed, and the aperture value when the class of the exposure program used at the time of shooting is manual. To select multiple image files that all have the same information Preferred.

  Since it is preferable to shoot panoramic images with the same exposure with the exposure program set to manual, it can be inferred that images shot under these conditions were taken with the intention of using them for panoramic image synthesis. . Therefore, by doing so, it is possible to select an image file shot with the intention of using it for synthesizing a panoramic image with higher probability.

  The present invention can be realized in various modes, for example, an image file selection method, a computer program for realizing the function of the method or the image file selection device, a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, It can be realized in a form such as a data signal including the computer program and embodied in a carrier wave.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. Image processing system configuration:
B. Image file structure:
C. Image file selection process:
D. Variations:

A. Image processing system configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an image processing system 10 as an embodiment of the present invention. The image processing system 10 includes a digital still camera 12 as an input device that generates an image file, a personal computer PC as an image display control device that performs display control of the image file generated by the digital still camera 12, and an image display And a color printer 20 as an output device for outputting an image to a medium.

  The digital still camera 12, the personal computer PC, and the color printer 20 can be connected to each other with a cable CV. When connected by the cable CV, the digital still camera 12 or the like can transmit and receive an image file via the cable CV. Even when not connected by the cable CV, the digital still camera 12 and the like can exchange image files using the memory card MC.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the digital still camera 12 as an input device for generating image data. The digital still camera 12 is a camera that electrically records a still image by forming an image on a charge coupled device (CCD) through an optical lens.

  The digital still camera 12 includes a circuit group for generating image data, a circuit group for positioning, and a control circuit 124 for controlling them. The circuit group for generating image data includes circuits such as the optical circuit 121, the image acquisition circuit 122, and the image processing circuit 123. The circuit group for positioning includes a GPS circuit 128, a GPS antenna 129, and a mobile phone interface circuit 125. The digital still camera 12 further includes a selection / determination button 126 as a user interface, and a liquid crystal display 127 used as a preview of a captured image and a user interface.

  Each circuit for generating image data has the following functions. The optical circuit 121 converts an optical signal into an electrical signal using a CCD. The image acquisition circuit 122 controls the optical circuit 121 to acquire an image and generate image data. The image processing circuit 123 performs processing on the image data generated in this way.

  Each circuit for positioning has the following functions. A GPS (GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) antenna 129 receives radio waves from GPS satellites. The GPS circuit 128 analyzes the radio wave to acquire position information representing the geographical position of the digital still camera 12. In recent years, since the capability of the GPS positioning system has improved, position information can be acquired with an accuracy of several meters even in a central room away from the window of an office building, for example.

  The cellular phone interface circuit 125 inputs position information acquired by the cellular phone to the GPS circuit. Since location information is acquired by using a mobile phone by using a mobile phone, the location information can be acquired even in places where it is extremely difficult to receive GPS radio waves, such as an underground shopping street. As such a positioning method, for example, there is a method called gpsone (trademark) manufactured by Qualcomm.

  The shooting process (image data acquisition process) by the digital still camera 12 includes (1) update of GPS data, (2) setting of a shooting mode by the user, (3) imaging (input of image data), and (4) image processing. (5) The image files are recorded in this order.

  The GPS data is updated using a user interface such as the liquid crystal display 127 or the selection / determination button 126. When an update instruction is given by the user, the GPS circuit 128 is activated, and position information is generated according to radio waves from GPS satellites. When the position information is generated, this information is stored in a nonvolatile memory (not shown) included in the image acquisition circuit 122 and “GPS_OK” is displayed on the liquid crystal display 127.

  As described above, the position information is updated in accordance with an instruction from the user, so that the power consumed to acquire the position information is saved and the power consumption of the battery included in the digital still camera 12 is reduced. Because. However, it is more preferable to provide a mode in which position information is constantly updated. This is because such operation is also expected.

  In the mode in which the position information is constantly updated, if the position information cannot be acquired at the time of shooting, the shooting position is estimated based on the position information of the image file GF shot before and after the time. It is preferable to make it.

  When the mobile phone PP is connected to the digital still camera 12, position information is also generated using information from the mobile phone PP. However, when radio waves from GPS satellites are not received, position information is generated using only information from the mobile phone PP.

  Imaging is performed by the user pressing the shutter after obtaining the position information and setting the shooting mode. When the shutter is pressed, the image acquisition circuit 122 generates an original image by controlling the optical circuit 121 and converting the input light into an electrical signal. When the original image data is generated, image processing for storage is performed on the image data.

  This image processing is a preprocessing for saving in the memory card MC. Generally, the original image data is converted into a JPEG format suitable for storing a photographic image. After conversion to the JPEG format, shooting information PI is added to the converted image data to generate an image file.

  The shooting information PI is information indicating shooting conditions, and includes position information indicating a shooting position and time information indicating a shooting time. The position information is information stored in the nonvolatile memory included in the image acquisition circuit 122 as described above. The photographing process in the digital still camera 12 is completed by recording the image file on the memory card MC. The configuration of the image file will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the computer PC and the color printer 20 as output devices for outputting image data. The computer PC includes a slot 22 that can read an image file from the memory card MC, and a print data generation circuit 23 that generates print data for causing the color printer 20 to perform printing.

  The print data generation circuit 23 includes an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) 231 that executes arithmetic processing for generating print data, a hard disk 232 that stores programs executed in the CPU 231, arithmetic processing results in the CPU 231, and other data. And a random access memory (RAM) 233 for temporarily storing the programs and data. The print data generation circuit 23 further has a function of performing image processing and image file classification performed prior to generation of print data.

  The hard disk 232 of the computer PC stores an image management file used for managing each image file, a geographic information database to be described later, and panoramic image composition processing software capable of organizing image files and generating albums. . These roles will be described later.

  The color printer 20 is a printer that can output a color image. The color printer 20 forms, for example, a dot pattern by ejecting four colors of ink of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) onto a print medium. An ink jet printer to be formed.

B. Image file structure:
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the structure of the image file GF in each embodiment of the present invention. The image file GF has a file structure in accordance with the digital still camera image file format standard (Exif). This standard is set by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA). This standard stipulates that a JPEG-Exif file that stores compressed JPEG data as image data is included in an Exif file (Exif standard file).

  The image file GF includes an SOI marker segment 101 indicating the head of the compressed data, an APP1 marker segment 102 that stores Exif attached information, an APP2 marker segment 103 that stores Exif extension data, and a DQT marker that defines a quantization table. A segment 104, a DHT marker segment 105 that defines a Huffman table, a DRI marker segment 106 that defines a restart marker insertion interval, an SOF marker segment 107 that indicates various parameters related to a frame, and an SOS marker that indicates various parameters related to a scan A segment 108, an EOI marker segment 109 indicating the end of the compressed data, and an image data storage area 110 are included.

  The APP1 marker segment 102 stores an APP1 marker 1021, an Exif identification code 1022, a TIFF header and other attached information 1023, and a thumbnail image 1024. The attached information 1023 has a TIFF structure including a file header (TIFF header). In Exif-JPEG, the 0th IFD that stores attached information about compressed image data, shooting information PI, and audio information are included. It includes an Exif IFD that stores Exif-specific auxiliary information, a GPS Info IFD that stores GPS measurement information, and a 1st IFD that stores auxiliary information related to thumbnail images. The GPS Info IFD is pointed by an offset from the TIFF header stored in the 0th IFD. In GPS Info IFD, a tag is used to specify each piece of information, and each piece of information may be called by a tag name.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of attached information stored in the Exif IFD of the image file GF. The attached information includes various tags including a tag relating to a version and a tag relating to shooting conditions. For tags related to shooting conditions, the exposure time, lens F value, ISO sensitivity, shutter speed, aperture value, exposure program, exposure time, lens focal length, brightness value, light source, photometric method, and other parameter values are in accordance with the default offset. Stored as shooting information PI.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of attached information stored in the GPS Info IFD of the image file GF. In the attached information, in addition to position information (tag numbers: 1 to 4) indicating a geographical position such as latitude and longitude at the time of shooting, the direction of the shot image (tag numbers: 16 to 17) and the speed at the time of shooting It is also possible to include information representing time (Coordinated Universal Time). The recording of the shooting information PI including the attached information is performed at the time of shooting in the digital still camera 12 as described above.

C. Image file selection process:
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing routine of panorama image synthesis processing in the computer PC. The panorama image combining process is a process of selecting an image file GF that can be used for combining panoramic images (steps S110 to S160) and combining a plurality of image data respectively included in the plurality of selected image files GF. And a process of generating two panoramic images (step S170).

  In step S110, the user activates the panoramic image composition processing software after copying each image file GF from the memory card MC to a predetermined area of the hard disk 232. When the panorama image composition processing is activated, a start window W1 (FIG. 8) of the panorama image composition processing software is displayed.

  In the window W1, thumbnail images of the respective image files GF copied to a predetermined area of the hard disk 232 are displayed. The thumbnail image is displayed using the thumbnail image data 1024 (FIG. 4) read from the image file GF. In this window W1, when the user selects “automatic selection” from the image selection menu, a process for automatically selecting an image file GF that can be used for the panoramic image synthesis process from the plurality of image files GF is performed. Be started.

  When “manual selection” is selected from the image selection menu, panorama image synthesis processing is performed using a plurality of image files GF selected by the user. In FIG. 7, the routine when “manual selection” is selected by the user is omitted for easy understanding of the drawing.

  In step S120, the CPU 231 reads shooting information PI from each image file GF. The read shooting information PI includes information indicating a geographical position where each image is shot, information such as a lens focal length, and a direction of the shot image. The information representing the geographical position is information such as latitude and longitude at the time of shooting. The direction of the captured image is information indicating the direction of the digital still camera 12 at the time of shooting. These pieces of information are all information stored in the GPS Info IFD. The lens focal length is information stored in the Exif IFD as the actual focal length of the photographing lens.

  In step S <b> 130, the CPU 231 performs a positional relationship determination process according to information representing the geographical position read from each image file GF. The positional relationship determination process is a process of selecting a plurality of image files whose geographical positions when the images of the respective image files GF are taken are equal to or less than a predetermined distance from each other.

  Specifically, for example, the CPU 231 can calculate the distance between the shooting positions in accordance with the position information, and can select a plurality of image files GF whose calculated distance is within 10 m. In this case, the maximum distance of the selected plurality of image files GF may exceed 10 m. For example, the distance between the two image files GF1 and GF2 and the distance between the two image files GF2 and GF3 are both 9 m, and the two image files GF1 and GF3 are selected so that the distance between them is 18 m. You may do it.

  In step S140, the CPU 231 performs shooting area calculation processing according to the direction of the captured image read from each image file GF and the lens focal length. The shooting area calculation process is a process of calculating the shooting area recorded in the image data from the direction of the shot image and the angle of view in the width direction calculated using the lens focal length. Here, the method of calculating the angle of view in the width direction from the lens focal length is as follows.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the angle of view of two image data with different lens focal lengths during shooting. FIG. 9A shows the angle of view when the lens focal length is relatively short, and FIG. 9B shows the angle of view when the lens focal length is relatively long. These drawings show the positional relationship between the optical system of the digital still camera 12 and the image sensor. This optical system is shown as a lens L. The image sensor is configured as a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) having a planar light receiving surface.

  The lens L is obtained by replacing a plurality of lenses included in the optical system of the digital still camera 12 with one lens having the same effect. The center of the lens L is called a principal point, and the surface passing through the principal point and perpendicular to the optical axis Laxis is called a principal plane. With respect to the lens L, an imaging plane for imaging light from the subject is further defined. The imaging plane is defined at a position away from the main plane by the lens focal length in the optical axis direction.

  The image sensor is arranged so that the light receiving surface coincides with the image plane. As a result, light from the subject on the object plane passes through the lens L and is imaged on the light receiving surface of the image sensor.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 9A and 9B, the angle of view is determined according to the size of the light receiving surface of the image sensor and the lens focal length. For example, in the examples of FIGS. 9A and 9B, the angle of view when the lens focal length is relatively short (FIG. 9A) is larger than when the lens focal length is relatively long.

  The angle of view can be calculated using a trigonometric function using the lens focal length and the size of the light receiving surface of the image sensor. As the lens focal length, the information read from the Exif IFD can be used as it is. The size of the light receiving surface can be calculated using information read from the Exif IFD such as the focal plane resolution unit, the resolution of the focal plane width, and the number of pixels in the width direction of the image data. The number of pixels in the width direction of the image data may be obtained by actually counting the number of pixels in the width direction of the image data, or obtained using the width of the image stored in the image file GF as a JPEG marker. May be.

Specifically, the size of the light receiving surface can be calculated as follows.
(1) Divide the focal plane resolution unit by the resolution of the focal plane width. Thereby, the size of each pixel on the light receiving surface of the image sensor can be calculated.
(2) Multiply the size of each pixel on the light receiving surface of the image sensor by the number of pixels in the width direction of the image data. Thereby, the length in the width direction on the light receiving surface of the image sensor can be calculated.

  The CPU 231 can calculate the shooting area at the time of shooting the image data included in each image file GF using the angle of view calculated in this way and the direction of the shot image.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the imaging areas F1 and F2 of two image data with different lens focal lengths at the time of imaging. FIG. 10A shows shooting areas F1 and F2 which are shooting areas of two image data in the subject View. In the following description, an image file having image data in the shooting area F1 is referred to as an image file GF1, and an image file having image data in the shooting area F2 is referred to as an image file GF2.

  FIG. 10B shows a view of the two shooting areas as seen from the information. N, E, W, and S indicate the north direction, the east direction, the south direction, and the west direction, respectively. The image directions Laxis1 and Laxis2 at the time of shooting of the image data IM1 and IM2 included in the image files GF1 and GF2 are determined according to the image direction information read from the GPS Info IFD. The two image data IM1 and IM2 are data generated by photographing at the lens focal lengths R1 and R2, respectively.

  In step S150, the CPU 231 performs a composition availability determination process according to the calculated shooting area of each image data. The compositability determination process is a process of determining whether each image file has image data that can be combined. The determination of whether or not the image data can be combined is made based on whether or not the shooting areas overlapping in the width direction have a predetermined size. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 10B, it is determined that the composition is possible if the angle θ is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle (for example, 10 degrees). The predetermined angle serving as the threshold is preferably determined according to the size of the overlapped portion desired in the panoramic image synthesis process (step S170) described later.

  In step S160, the CPU 231 displays the images included in the selected plurality of image files GF on the display 14. The reason why it is displayed on the display 14 is to allow the user to make a final determination as to whether or not to perform panoramic image synthesis processing using a plurality of selected image data.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a window W2 of panorama image synthesis processing software for displaying a plurality of selected images. Candidate 1 to Candidate 4 are groups of a plurality of image files that may be used for generating a panoramic image. The reason for “candidate” is that the user makes a final determination as to whether or not it can be used to generate a panoramic image. In the figure, a plurality of images automatically selected as candidate 1 are shown.

  The images shown as candidate 1 are the images of the two image files GF1 and GF2. The size of each image is adjusted so that the size of the subject is substantially the same. The reason for adjusting the size of each image in this way is to make it easy to determine whether panoramic image composition processing is possible using these images. Adjustment of the image size so that the size of the subject is the same can be performed using the lens focal length.

  When the user determines that panorama composition is possible, the user can cause the computer PC to start the panorama image composition process by pressing the button BTN displayed as “composite” (step S170).

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing how a panoramic image is generated by combining two images. FIG. 12A shows the subject and the shooting areas F1 and F2 of each image. FIG. 12B shows a panoramic image PICT generated by the panoramic image synthesis process.

  As a method for generating a panoramic image by combining two images, a method disclosed in Patent Document 1 or other known methods can be used. However, in this embodiment, the resolution adjustment process and the trim process are performed before the panoramic image synthesis process.

  The resolution adjustment process is a process for making the resolutions of two images the same with the same subject size in each image being equal. As can be seen from the figure, the image data having the shooting area F1 and the image data having the shooting area F2 have the same number of pixels but different widths of the shooting area.

  For this reason, if the size of the subject is made equal, the resolution will be different. Specifically, for example, if one of the image data having the shooting area F2 is enlarged so that the size of the subject is equal to that of the image data having the shooting area F1, the resolution of the image is lowered. The resolution adjustment process is a process for increasing the lowered resolution by an interpolation process or other processes.

  The trim processing is processing for deleting a part of an image in order to make the shape of the image rectangular. Specifically, the upper and lower areas of the image data having the shooting area F2 are deleted, and the panoramic image PICT (FIG. 12B) is adjusted to the length of the height direction of the image data having the shooting area F1. It is a rectangle.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, an image file that is very likely to be usable for the panoramic image synthesis process according to information such as position information, lens focal length, and direction of the captured image included in each image file GF. Since GF is automatically selected, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user when selecting image data that can be used to generate a panoramic image.

F. Variations:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

F-1. In the above embodiment, the position information indicating the geographical position used for the classification of the image file is generated using the radio wave from the GPS satellite operated in the United States or the radio wave of the mobile phone base station. For example, it may be generated using a GPS system (Galileo) planned to be developed by Europe. In general, the position information used for selecting an image file in the present invention may be any information that represents an absolute position on the earth at the time of shooting.

F-2. In the above embodiment, the number of pixels actually obtained by counting the number of pixels in the width direction of the image data, or the number of images stored in the image file GF as a JPEG marker, the lens focal length, and the size of each pixel Accordingly, the angle of view in the width direction of the image data is calculated. For example, according to the length in the width direction of the 35 mm film size and the 35 mm equivalent lens focal length stored in the EXIF IFD of each image file GF, The angle of view in the width direction of the image may be calculated.

F-3. In the above-described embodiment, it is determined whether or not it can be used for the panoramic image synthesis process according to the position information at the time of shooting, the image direction, and the lens focal length. For example, information on the lens focal length cannot be obtained. In this case, a plurality of image files whose image directions are not more than a predetermined angle with each other may be selected.

  It is also preferable to select a plurality of image files whose image directions are not more than a predetermined angle with respect to each other but also have a predetermined angle or more. In this way, selection of image files having image data that is not intended for panoramic image shooting can be eliminated. In other words, the same subject may be photographed many times, but the image data thus photographed can be excluded from the selection target.

F-4. In the above modification, it is determined whether or not it can be used for panoramic image composition processing according to the position information at the time of shooting and the direction of the image. A plurality of image files in which the distance between image data shooting positions is a predetermined distance or less may be selected.

F-5. In the above embodiment, the distance between the shooting positions of each image data is calculated and the image file is selected according to the distance. For example, the latitude and longitude are different from each other (for example, the difference between latitude and longitude is 1). Second)) may be selected. In general, the image file sorting unit used in the present invention sorts a plurality of image files whose geographical positions at the time of shooting are determined to be within a predetermined distance from each other as image files that can be used to generate a panoramic image. Anything is possible.

F-6. In the above embodiments and modifications, the image file is selected from the image file among the exposure time, shutter speed, and aperture value at the time of shooting when the exposure program class used at the time of shooting is manual. It is preferable to select a plurality of image files that all have the same information.

  It is preferable to take a photo for panoramic image composition with the exposure program set to manual and the same exposure, so images taken under these conditions were taken with the intention of being used for composition of panoramic images. I can guess. Therefore, by doing so, it is possible to select an image file shot with the intention of using it for synthesizing a panoramic image with higher probability.

  Here, the class of the exposure program used at the time of shooting, the exposure time at the time of shooting, the shutter speed, and the aperture value are all image attribute information stored in the EXIF IFD.

F-7. In the above-described embodiments and modifications, it is preferable to select a plurality of image files that are taken at intervals of not more than a predetermined time and not less than a predetermined time.

  Since panorama image composition photographs are often taken continuously at a certain time, in this way, it is possible to select a plurality of image files that are more likely to be used for composition of panorama images. In addition, the image file GF in which the same subject is continuously photographed can be excluded from the selection target by setting the interval more than the predetermined time.

F-8. In the above embodiment, the image file GF that is highly likely to be used for panorama synthesis is automatically selected, and the final determination as to whether or not to actually perform the panorama image synthesis processing is left to the user. You may make it perform automatically to a synthetic | combination process. It is more preferable to leave the selection of the former and the latter to the user.

F-9. In each of the above embodiments, the personal computer functions as an image file sorting device. However, for example, a color printer or a digital camera may have the function of the image file sorting device.

  When some or all of the functions of the present invention are realized by software, the software (computer program) can be provided in a form stored in a computer-readable recording medium. In the present invention, the “computer-readable recording medium” is not limited to a portable recording medium such as a flexible disk or a CD-ROM, but an internal storage device in a computer such as various RAMs and ROMs, a hard disk, and the like. An external storage device fixed to the computer is also included.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an image processing system as one embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the outline of a structure of the digital still camera as an input device which produces | generates image data. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a computer PC and a color printer as output devices that output image data. Explanatory drawing which shows schematically the structure of the image file GF in the Example of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the attached information stored in Exif IFD of the image file GF. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the attached information stored in GPS Info IFD of the image file GF. The flowchart which shows the processing routine of the synthesis process of the panoramic image in computer PC. Explanatory drawing which shows window W1 at the time of starting of the panoramic image composition processing software in the embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the field angle of two image data from which the lens focal distance differs at the time of imaging | photography. Explanatory drawing which shows the imaging area | regions F1 and F2 of two image data from which the lens focal distance differs at the time of imaging | photography. Explanatory drawing which shows the window W2 of the panorama image synthetic | combination processing software which displays the some image selected. Explanatory drawing which shows a mode that two images are synthesize | combined and a panoramic image is produced | generated.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image processing system 12 ... Digital still camera 14 ... Display 20 ... Color printer 22 ... Slot 23 ... Print data generation circuit 110 ... Image data storage area 121 ... Optical circuit 122 ... Image acquisition circuit 123 ... Image processing circuit 124 ... Control circuit 125 ... Mobile phone interface circuit 126 ... Decision button 127 ... Liquid crystal display 128 ... GPS circuit 129. ..GPS antenna 129 ... antenna 231 ... CPU
232 ... Hard disk

Claims (3)

An image file selection device for generating a panoramic image that selects a predetermined image file from a plurality of image files including image data and image attribute information that is attribute information of the image data,
The image attribute information includes position information representing a geographical position at the time of shooting,
The image file sorting device includes:
A display unit capable of displaying an image represented by the image data;
An image attribute information reading unit for reading the position information from each image file;
Based on the read position information, a plurality of image files whose geographical positions at the time of shooting are determined to be equal to or less than a predetermined distance are selected as the predetermined image files, and the selected plurality of image files are selected. A control unit that displays a plurality of images represented by the image file on the display unit;
Receiving means for receiving an instruction as to whether to generate a panoramic image using the displayed plurality of images;
With
When the reception unit receives an instruction to perform panorama synthesis using the displayed plurality of images, the display unit displays a panoramic image created using the displayed plurality of images. Image file sorting device.   The image file selection device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit adjusts the size of each image so that the size of a subject in the plurality of images is the same, and displays the image on the display unit. An image file selection method for generating a panoramic image, wherein a predetermined image file is selected from a plurality of image files including image data and image attribute information that is attribute information of the image data,
The image attribute information includes position information representing a geographical position at the time of shooting,
The image file selection method includes:
Displaying an image represented by the image data;
Reading the position information from each image file;
Based on the read position information, a plurality of image files whose geographical positions at the time of shooting are determined to be equal to or less than a predetermined distance are selected as the predetermined image files, and the selected plurality of image files are selected. and table Shimesuru process a plurality of images represented by the image file,
Receiving an instruction as to whether to generate a panoramic image using the displayed plurality of images;
A step of displaying a panoramic image created using the displayed plurality of images when receiving an instruction to perform panoramic composition using the displayed plurality of images;
An image file selection method comprising:

Images