JP4898344B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique relating to a time stamp when recording image data captured by a digital camera as an image file has been disclosed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a technique for recording a shooting date and time instead of a file creation date and time in a time stamp when an image file is recorded. With this technique, when an image file is transmitted to a personal computer, the shooting date and time can be recorded in the time stamp of the image file created by the personal computer.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 discloses a technique for classifying files created by the own device according to shooting date and time, and files obtained from the outside based on date and time of acquisition.

JP 2000-207262 A JP 2004-320514 A

  However, the technique of Patent Document 1 described above has a problem that only one time stamp area can be held, and classification with a plurality of date data shown in Patent Document 2 described above cannot be realized. In addition, the date data shown in Patent Document 2 described above needs to store information in the image data of the image file, and in order to refer to the data, it is necessary to read the image file and analyze the internal data. . Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to perform image classification at high speed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize classification with a plurality of date data and to perform image classification at high speed.

Therefore, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention uses the image file reading means for reading an image file including shooting date / time information as attribute information, and new image data using the image data stored in the image file read by the image file reading means. It has an image file generation means for generating an image file, and the image file creation unit, the recording area of the creation date and time information in the directory entry corresponding to the new image file created and the image file read unit a shooting date recording means for recording copy the photographing date and time information of the image file read in the recording area of the update date information in the directory entry corresponding to the new image file created, acquired from the image processing apparatus And a creation date and time recording means for recording the current date and time.

  With such a configuration, shooting date / time information can be written as a directory entry creation date / time and file creation date / time information can be written as an update date / time when an image file is created. Therefore, for example, for an image file after file transfer, classification / search based on shooting date and time and file transfer date and time can be performed at high speed. Further, for example, even in an edited image file, the shooting date and time are recorded in the directory entry, so that high-speed sorting by the shooting date and time is possible.

  The image processing apparatus corresponds to, for example, a digital camera described later. The creation includes, for example, editing.

  The present invention may be an image processing method, a program, and a recording medium.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize classification with a plurality of date data and to perform image classification at high speed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment described below, a description will be given using a digital camera capable of capturing still images and moving images.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a digital camera. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a digital camera. Reference numeral 21 denotes an optical system including a photographic lens. Reference numeral 22 denotes an imaging unit composed of a CCD, a CMOS element, or the like that converts an optical image into an electrical signal. Reference numeral 23 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The A / D converter 23 is used when converting an analog signal output from the imaging unit 22 into a digital signal. The A / D converter 23 is also used when converting an analog signal output from the sound control unit 11 into a digital signal.

  A timing generation unit 12 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the imaging unit 22, the audio control unit 11, the A / D converter 23, and the D / A converter 13. The memory control unit 15 and the system control unit 17 Be controlled. An image processing unit 24 performs resize processing such as predetermined pixel interpolation and reduction, and color conversion processing on data from the A / D converter 23 or data from the memory control unit 15. Further, the image processing unit 24 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data. Based on the calculation result obtained by the calculation processing of the image processing unit 24, the system control unit 17 performs exposure control and distance measurement control. Thereby, AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing of the TTL (through-the-lens) method are performed. Further, the image processing unit 24 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained calculation result.

  Output data from the A / D converter 23 is written into the memory 32 via the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15 or directly via the memory control unit 15. The memory 32 is a memory for storing a file header when the audio data recorded by the microphone 10, the captured still image or moving image, and an image file are configured. The memory 32 has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images, a moving image and sound for a predetermined time.

  Reference numeral 16 denotes a compression / decompression unit that compresses and decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like, reads a captured image stored in the memory 32 using an operation in the operation unit 25 as a trigger, and performs compression processing. The processed data is written into the memory 32. The compression / decompression unit 16 reads a compressed image read from the recording unit 19 or the like into the memory 32 and performs expansion processing, and writes the processed data to the memory 32. The image data written to the memory 32 by the compression / decompression unit 16 is filed in the file unit of the system control unit 17 and recorded on the recording medium 200 via the interface (I / F) 18.

  The memory 32 also serves as an image display memory. Reference numeral 13 denotes a D / A converter. Reference numeral 14 denotes an image display unit composed of an LCD or the like. The display image data written in the memory 32 is displayed by the image display unit 14 via the D / A converter 13.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a microphone. The audio signal output from the microphone 10 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 23 via the audio control unit 11 configured by an amplifier or the like, and then stored in the memory 32 by the memory control unit 15. On the other hand, after the audio data recorded on the recording medium 200 is read into the memory 32, a signal controlled by the audio control unit 11 via the D / A conversion unit 13 is generated by the speaker 39.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes a system control unit that controls the entire digital camera 100. A system memory 31 stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for operation of the system control unit 17.

  The nonvolatile memory 20 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory, and for example, an EEPROM or the like is used.

  The first shutter switch SW1 (62), the second shutter switch SW2 (64), and the operation unit 25 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 17.

  Reference numeral 27 denotes a mode switch, which can switch the operation mode of the system control unit 17 to any one of a still image shooting mode, a continuous shooting (continuous shooting) mode, a moving image mode, a reproduction mode, and the like.

  The first shutter switch SW1 (62) is turned ON during the operation of the shutter button provided in the digital camera 100 (halfway). The first shutter switch SW1 (62) instructs the start of operations such as AF (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing.

  The second shutter switch SW2 (64) is turned on when the operation of the shutter button is completed (fully pressed), and instructs to start a series of imaging processing operations from reading a signal from the imaging unit 22 to writing image data on the recording medium 200. To do.

  The operation unit 25 includes various buttons and a touch panel. More specifically, the operation unit 25 includes an erase button, a menu button, a SET button, a four-way key arranged in a cross, and the like. When the menu button is pressed, a menu screen on which various settings can be made is displayed on the image display unit 14. The user can make various settings intuitively by using the menu screen displayed on the image display unit 14, the four-way key, and the SET button.

  The power button 39 switches between power on and power off. A power control unit 30 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like, and detects whether or not a battery is installed, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. Further, the power supply control unit 30 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and the instruction of the system control circuit 17 and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording unit 19 for a necessary period.

  A power supply unit 28 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like. Reference numerals 33 and 34 denote connectors, which connect the power supply unit 28 and the power supply control unit 30.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes an RTC (Real Time Clock), which holds the power supply unit therein separately from the power supply control unit 30 and keeps the clock operation state even when the power supply unit 28 is turned off. The system control unit 17 performs timer control using the date and time acquired from the RTC 40 at the time of activation.

  Reference numeral 18 denotes an interface with a recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. Reference numeral 35 denotes a connector for connecting the recording medium 200 and the interface 18. Reference numeral 38 denotes a recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit that detects whether or not the recording medium 200 is attached to the connector 35.

  Reference numeral 200 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 includes a recording unit 19 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, an interface 37 with the digital camera 100, and a connector 36 for connecting the recording medium 200 and the digital camera 100.

  The communication unit 29 performs various communication processes such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication. A connector (antenna in the case of wireless communication) 63 connects the digital camera 100 to other devices via the communication unit 29.

(Description of operation)
Hereinafter, the operation of the digital camera 100 will be described. 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, and 11 are all stored in the memory 32 by the system control unit 17, read the program according to the following embodiment into a RAM, etc., and perform arithmetic processing and control. It is realized by doing.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation of the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment.

  When the power button 39 is operated to turn on the power, the system control unit 17 initializes flags, control variables, and the like in S201. Subsequently, in S202, the system control unit 17 acquires the date and time from the RTC 40 and sets the system timer.

  Next, in S203, the system control unit 17 determines the set position of the mode switching button 27, and if it is determined that the shooting mode is set, the process proceeds to S204. Details of the shooting mode processing in S204 will be described with reference to FIG.

  If it is determined in S203 that the mode switching button 27 is set to another mode, the system control unit 17 proceeds to S205. In S205, the system control unit 17 executes processing according to the selected mode, and proceeds to S206 when the processing is completed. Here, the other modes include, for example, a playback mode. In the playback mode, playback display of an image file recorded in the shooting mode is performed.

  In S206, the system control unit 17 determines the setting position of the power button 39, and when determining that the power button 39 is set to power on, the system control unit 17 returns to S203. In S206, when the system control unit 17 determines that the power button 39 is set to power off, the system control unit 17 proceeds to S207 and performs a predetermined end process.

  Here, the termination processing includes the following processing. The display on the image display unit 14 is changed to the end state, and parameters, setting values, and setting modes including flags and control variables are recorded in the nonvolatile memory 20. Shut off the power to parts that do not require power supply. When the end process is completed, the system control unit 17 proceeds to S208 and ends the process shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the shooting mode processing in S204 in the first embodiment.

  As described above, the second shutter switch SW2 (64) is turned on when the operation of the shutter button is completed (fully pressed), and instructs the start of a series of imaging processing operations. When shooting starts (S300), the system control unit 17 acquires the current value from the timer set at startup in S202 (S303) and stores it in the system memory 31.

  Subsequently, the system control unit 17 acquires from the system memory 31 the shutter speed obtained by the AE process performed when operating the first shutter switch SW1 (62), opens the shutter (S301), and starts exposure ( S302).

  Subsequently, the system control unit 17 determines whether to end the exposure based on the acquired shutter speed (S303). When it is determined that the exposure is finished, the system control unit 17 closes the shutter (S306), A / D converts the signal accumulated in the imaging unit 22, and writes it in the memory 32 (S307). The system control unit 17 appropriately processes the image signal written in the memory 32 using the memory control unit 15 and the image processing unit 24 (S308), and compresses the image signal in the compression / decompression unit 16 (S309). The main image data is generated.

  At this time, the main image data data is composed of various marker codes and compressed data as shown in FIG.

  Subsequently, the system control unit 17 performs image processing for thumbnails (S310) and compression for thumbnails (S311) using the image data and the like stored in the memory 32, and stores them in the memory 32. Then, the system control unit 17 generates an image file header mainly including shooting date / time information in the memory 32 (S312).

  Subsequently, the system control unit 17 calculates the sum of the compressed data size of the main body image generated in S309, the data size of the thumbnail image data generated in S311 and the header size generated in S312 and stores the sum in the system memory 31. (S315).

  Then, the system control unit 17 performs a captured image recording process (S313), which will be described later, and then ends the process shown in FIG. 3 (S314). Here, the recording process (S313) may be performed synchronously or asynchronously with the imaging process described above.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image data described above.
The image data 701 generated in the photographing process has a marker SOI 702 indicating the start of the image at the head and an application marker APP 1703 after that.
The application marker APP1703 includes an APP1 size 704, an APP1 identification code 705, a DateTime 706 indicating the creation date and time of the image, and a DateTimeOriginal 707 indicating the date and time when the image data was generated. The application marker APP 1703 includes other shooting information 708 and the thumbnail image 710 described above.

  When generating the header in S <b> 312 described above, the system control unit 17 stores the shooting date and time information stored in the system memory 31 in S <b> 303 in the above-described DateTime 707 and DateTimeOriginal 708.

  The main image is composed of a quantization table DQT 712, a Huffman table DHT 713, a frame start marker SOF 714, a scan start marker 715, and compressed data 716, and is terminated with a marker EOI 717 indicating the end of the image data.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a directory structure recorded on the recording medium 200 as a result of the recording process. A DCIM directory 501 is recorded in the root directory, and a subdirectory generated from eight characters is generated in the DCIM directory 501. The names held by the subdirectories are composed of numbers starting with 100 as the first three characters, and each subdirectory name is incremented by 1 each time it is generated (see 502 and 503 in FIG. 5).

  Various files created by the digital camera 100 are created under the subdirectory 502. The file name generated here is composed of an 8-character file name and a 3-character extension indicating the file type. The last four characters of the file name are composed of numbers starting with 0001, and a file name incremented by 1 is given for each shooting. In the case of a still image, JPG is added to the extension.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a recording process of the image data generated in the above-described photographing process. When the recording process is started (S401), the system control unit 17 generates a file name in accordance with the file name generation rule described above (S402), and acquires the shooting date / time information stored in the system memory 31 in S303 (S403).

  Thereafter, the system control unit 17 acquires the data size to be written (S409). If the directory for storing the generated file does not exist in the recording medium 200 (No in S404), the system control unit 17 creates a directory to store, for example, 100CANON (S405). If a directory already exists or if a directory is created in S405, the system control unit 17 creates a directory entry using the file name generated in S402 and the date / time information acquired in S403 (S406).

  At this time, the same value as the shooting date / time information acquired in S403 is recorded in the creation date / time 603 and the update date / time 604 in the directory entry 601 shown in FIG. 8 (described later) (see 607 in FIG. 8). The system control unit 17 records the file size 606 from the image data size stored in the system memory 31 in S315, and records the start cluster number indicating the free data area in the recording medium 200. After completing the generation of the directory entry, the system control unit 17 writes the generated directory entry and the image data generated in the shooting process to the recording medium 200 (S407). Then, the system control unit 17 ends the recording process shown in FIG. 6 (S408).

  A process for creating a new file using an image file recorded in the shooting mode will be described.

  When the mode is switched to the playback mode using the mode switching button 27, the system control unit 17 performs a playback process of playing back the image file recorded on the recording medium 200 described above to the image display unit 14. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the reproduction process.

  When reproduction is started (S901), the system control unit 17 refers to the directory entry recorded on the recording medium 200 and obtains the name of a file to be reproduced (S902). Then, the system control unit 17 reads the file having the obtained file name into the memory 32 (S903), performs decompression processing using the compression / decompression unit 16 (S904), and stores the decompressed image data in the memory 32 again. Store.

  Subsequently, the system control unit 17 resizes the decompressed image data stored in the memory 32 to a display size by using the image processing unit 24 (S905), and stores it in the memory 32 as VRAM data (S906). . Subsequently, the system control unit 17 outputs the VRAM data stored in the memory 32 to the image display unit 14 using the memory control unit 15 and the D / A converter 13.

  In the above-described playback state, the operator of the digital camera 100 designates the image file recorded on the recording medium 200 using the direction selection key arranged on the operation unit 25, causes the digital camera 100 to sequentially perform playback processing, The image display unit 14 can be used for browsing.

  Here, an image file can be newly recorded by performing image size conversion on the image file displayed on the image display unit 14. This process will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a directory entry recorded on the recording medium 200. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing still image editing processing of the digital camera 100.

  When the editing process is started (S801), the system control unit 17 acquires the file name (see 608 in FIG. 8) of the image data displayed on the image display unit 14 (S802). Subsequently, the system control unit 17 reads the image data recorded on the recording medium 200 from the acquired file name into the memory 32 (S803), and uses the compression / decompression unit 16 to store the decompressed image data in the memory 32. Store (S804).

  The system control unit 17 enlarges / reduces the decompressed image data to a predetermined image size in the image processing unit 24 (S805). Then, the system control unit 17 compresses the resized image in the compression / decompression unit 16 (S806) and stores it in the memory 32.

Here, the system control unit 17 performs a shooting date acquisition process S807. The shooting date and time acquisition process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the shooting date acquisition process. In the shooting date and time acquisition process S121, first, the creation date and time 603 in the directory entry of the original image file read in S803 is acquired (S807). If the acquired date and time is not 0 (S122), the creation date and time is recognized as the shooting date and time ( S123). When the acquired creation date is 0, the file is read (S124), and DateTimeOriginal is acquired (S125). Here, if DateTimeOriginal exists in the file (S126), the acquired value is recognized as the shooting date (S127). If it is not described in the file, the update date / time in the directory entry is acquired (S128). If the update date / time is not 0 (S129), the update date / time is recognized as the shooting date / time (S130). If the update date is 0, the current date is acquired from the system timer (S131), and the current date is recognized as the shooting date (S132). Further, the system control unit 17 acquires the current date and time from the system timer (S813). Subsequently, the system control unit 17 copies the header portion of the original image file read into the memory 32, and changes the area related to the image size and the area of the item DateTime 706 related to the creation date and time to the acquired current date and time (S808). .

In the processing up to S808, since the generation of the newly created image data is completed, the system control unit 17 assigns the newly created file name to IMG_0003. JPG is created (S809), and a directory entry is created with the file name (see 609 in FIG. 8). At this time, the system control unit 17 sets the shooting date and time of the original image acquired in S807 as the file creation date and the date and time acquired in S813 as the file update date and time. Further, the system control unit 17 sequentially generates the file size to be generated and the start class number of the recording medium 200 on which the image data is recorded (S810). Then, after generating the directory entry, the system control unit 17 writes the image data and the directory entry in the recording medium 200 (S811), and completes the editing process shown in FIG. 9 (S812).

<Embodiment 2>
The digital camera 100 shown in FIG. 1 can perform moving image recording in addition to the still image recording shown in the first embodiment. The digital camera 100 is switched from the still image recording mode to the moving image recording mode when the moving image recording mode is selected by the mode switching button 27.

  When detecting an operation instruction via the second shutter switch SW2 (64) in the moving image recording mode, the system control unit 17 sequentially stores the image data captured by the imaging unit 22 in the memory 32 at a predetermined frame rate. At the same time, the system control unit 17 stores the voice recorded from the microphone 10 in the memory 32 via the voice control unit 11 and the A / D conversion unit 23. In the present embodiment, digital data in the PCM format is assumed. An example of the storage format at this time is shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a moving image file.

  The system control unit 17 arranges a fixed-length header area (11-1) made up of data such as a video frame rate and audio sampling rate at the head of the data, and stores audio data for 1 second immediately thereafter. An audio data area having a fixed length is arranged (11-2). Immediately thereafter, the system control unit 17 sequentially stores the frame data recorded at the predetermined frame rate on the memory (11-3, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6) in units of one second. Generate sequential data.

  When data for one second is accumulated, the system control unit 17 starts in parallel the recording process of the moving image and the sound and the recording process of the moving image data accumulated in the memory 32 on the recording medium 200. The flow of the recording process is the same as the still image recording process shown in FIG.

  That is, the system control unit 17 newly creates a file name MVI_0005. AVI (see 613 in FIG. 8) is generated (S402), and the date and time at the start of recording is acquired from the system timer (S403). Then, the system control unit 17 acquires the write size (S409), and at the time of the first writing (that is, writing of the data including the header area 11-1), the system control unit 17 determines whether or not there is a directory for storing the file to be generated ( S404).

  If it is determined that there is no directory for storing the file (N in S404), the system control unit 17 generates a directory (S405). If it is determined that a directory for storing the file exists (Y in S404), the system control unit 17 proceeds to step S406.

  The system control unit 17 creates an entry in the directory (S406) and writes to the recording medium 200 (S407). The moving image recording process is continued until the operation instruction is re-detected via the second shutter switch SW2 (64), the recording medium 200 has no free space, or the memory 32 has no free space.

  When the moving image recording process is stopped under such conditions, the system control unit 17 writes the remaining moving image data in the memory 32, and then stores index information (11-18) that stores the offset and size of each audio data / video data. ). Then, the system control unit 17 describes the total data size in the directory entry and records the information on the recording medium 200, thereby completing the recording of the moving image file.

  In addition, the system control unit 17 changes the management information of the moving image file to another file MV_0005. It can be generated in THM (see 614 in FIG. 8). This file has the same structure as FIG. 4 described above, and the compressed data is recorded as reduced data of the first frame (11-3) of the moving image data. Further, the system control unit 17 describes the date and time at the start of moving image recording in the DateTime 706 and the DateTimeOriginal 707 in the header. The recording process of this management file (see 614 in FIG. 8) is also as described above with reference to FIG. 6, and the creation date and update date and time stored in the directory entry are the date and time when the moving image recording was started.

  The moving image data generated by the processing as described above can be cut and edited, for example, by a predetermined frame or less in the digital camera 100. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. A description will be given of saving a new file of moving image data that has been rearranged and edited in AVI (see 613 in FIG. 8). FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the moving image editing process.

  After the start of editing (S100), the system control unit 17 determines the cut start position of the moving image file shown in FIG. 10 based on the cut start position information selected by the direction selection button of the operation unit 25 (S101). . Next, the system control unit 17 returns the original moving image file name MVI_0005. The AVI is acquired (S102), and the directory entry (see 613 in FIG. 8) is acquired (S103).

  Subsequently, the system control unit 17 holds the shooting date and time in the system memory 31 in the shooting date and time acquisition process described above (S807). Further, the system control unit 17 obtains the current date and time from the system timer as the editing start time (S111).

  Subsequently, the system control unit 17 reads moving image data from the recording medium 200 into the memory 32 (S105), and records the read data in a new file (S106). The recording process at this time is the same as the process shown in FIG.

  That is, the system control unit 17 newly creates a file name MVI_0005. AVI (see 615 in FIG. 8) is generated (S402), and the date and time at the start of recording is acquired from the system timer (S403). Then, the system control unit 17 obtains the write size (data size to be written) (S409), and at the time of the first write (that is, writing of data including the header area 11-1), the directory of the directory storing the file to be generated is stored. The presence or absence is determined (S404).

  If it is determined that there is no directory for storing the file (N in S404), the system control unit 17 generates a directory (S405). If it is determined that a directory for storing the file exists (Y in S404), the system control unit 17 proceeds to step S406.

  The system control unit 17 creates an entry in the directory (S406) and writes to the recording medium 200 (S407).

  Subsequently, the system control unit 17 determines whether or not the editing start position stored in the system memory 31 in S101 is included in the data read in S105 (S107). When the edit start position is not included, the system control unit 17 continues the data reading (S105) and recording (S106) processes until the edit start position is included.

  When the data including the editing start position is read in S105, the system control unit 17 records the moving image data up to immediately before the editing start position on the recording medium 200 (S106), and an index corresponding to the recorded moving image data and the like. Record the data.

  When the recording of the moving image data is completed, the system control unit 17 uses the shooting date / time information of the original moving image data acquired in S103 for the directory entry information (see 615 in FIG. 8) and stored in the system memory 31. The creation date 603 is edited (S810). Subsequently, the system control unit 17 writes the image data and the directory entry to the recording medium 200 (S811), and completes the moving image editing process (S812).

  In addition, the system control unit 17 changes the management information of the moving image file to another file MV_0005. THM (616) can be generated. This file has the same structure as FIG. 4 described above, and the compressed data is recorded as reduced data of the first frame (11-3) of the moving image data. Further, the system control unit 17 sets data based on the date and time acquired in S111 as the date and time at the start of editing in DateTime 706 of the header, and describes the date and time at the start of moving image recording in DateTimeOriginal 707. The management file recording process is also as described above with reference to FIG. 6. The creation date and time stored in the directory entry is the date and time when the moving image recording is started, and the update date and time is the editing date and time (616).

  When acquiring the shooting date / time of the original image in S104, if it is determined that the shooting date / time is clearly not set correctly, the system control unit 17 may acquire the update date / time 604 in the directory entry of the original image. . Then, the system control unit 17 may use the acquired update date 604 as a substitute for the shooting date of the original image. For example, if all the directory entry creation dates are set to 0, the system control unit 17 clearly determines that the shooting date is not set correctly.

  Similarly, when the system control unit 17 clearly determines that the shooting date / time is not set correctly, the system control unit 17 may acquire the DateTimeOriginal 707 described in the file header of the original image and use it as a substitute for the shooting date / time of the original image. .

<Other embodiments>
Needless to say, the object of the present invention can be achieved as follows. That is, a recording medium (or storage medium) in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded is supplied to the system or apparatus. Then, the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium on which the program code is recorded constitutes the present invention.

  Also, by executing the program code read by the computer, an operating system (OS) or the like operating on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the process includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

  Furthermore, it is assumed that the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. After that, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU of the function expansion card or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. Needless to say.

  When the present invention is applied to the recording medium, the recording medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above.

  As described above, according to each of the embodiments described above, it is possible to realize classification with a plurality of date data and to perform image classification at high speed. The same effect can be obtained by substituting the shooting date / time information stored in the image data or the file update date / time information for an image file in which the shooting date / time is not recorded as the creation date / time.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

It is the figure which showed an example of the structure of a digital camera. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation of the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a shooting mode process in S204 in the first embodiment. It is the figure which showed an example of the structure of image data. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a directory structure recorded on a recording medium 200 as a result of recording processing. FIG. It is the flowchart which showed the recording process of the image data produced | generated in the imaging | photography process. It is a flowchart which shows a reproduction | regeneration process. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a directory entry recorded on a recording medium 200. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating still image editing processing of the digital camera 100. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a moving image file. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a moving image edit process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of an imaging | photography date acquisition process.

Explanation of symbols

14 Image display unit 17 System control unit 22 Imaging unit 100 Digital camera 200 Recording medium

Claims (6)

Image file reading means for reading an image file including shooting date and time information as attribute information;
Image file creating means for creating a new image file using image data stored in the image file read by the image file reading means;
Have
The image file creating means
In the recording area of the creation date and time information in the directory entry corresponding to the new image file that you created, and the shooting date and time recording means for recording by copying the shooting date and time information of the image file read by the image file read means ,
Creation date and time recording means for recording the current date and time acquired from the image processing device in a recording area of update date and time information in the directory entry corresponding to the created new image file;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   When the creation date / time information in the directory entry of the image file read by the image file reading means is not recorded, the shooting date / time recording means is stored in the application marker of the image file read by the image file reading means The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein shooting date / time information is recorded as creation date / time information in a directory entry corresponding to the created image file.   When the creation date / time information in the directory entry of the image file read by the image file reading means is not recorded and the shooting date / time information stored in the application marker of the read image file is not recorded, The photographing date / time recording means records update date / time information in a directory entry of an image file read by the image file reading means as creation date / time information in a directory entry corresponding to the created image file. The image processing apparatus according to 1. An image processing method executed by an image processing apparatus,
An image file reading step for reading an image file including shooting date and time information as attribute information;
An image file creation step for creating a new image file using the image data stored in the image file read in the image file reading step;
Have
The image file creation step includes:
The recording area of the creation date and time information in the directory entry corresponding to the new image file created, and shooting date recording process of recording and copying the photographing date and time information of the image file read by the image file read process ,
A creation date and time recording step of recording the current date and time acquired from the image processing device in a recording area of update date and time information in a directory entry corresponding to the created new image file;
An image processing method comprising: On the computer,
An image file reading step for reading an image file including shooting date and time information as attribute information;
An image file creation step for creating a new image file using the image data stored in the image file read in the image file reading step;
A program for executing
The image file creation step includes:
The recording area of the creation date and time information in the directory entry corresponding to the new image file created, and shooting date recording process of recording and copying the photographing date and time information of the image file read by the image file read process ,
A creation date and time recording step of recording the current date and time acquired from the computer in a recording area of update date and time information in a directory entry corresponding to the created new image file;
The program characterized by having.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 5 is recorded.

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