JP5258419B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more specifically to an initialization process of a recording medium.

  An imaging apparatus such as a digital camera or a digital video camera that records a captured image on a rewritable recording medium has a function of initializing (formatting) the recording medium. By the initialization, all data (including image data) recorded on the recording medium is erased.

Patent Document 1 describes that when a user formats a recording medium, all images to be deleted are displayed on a display unit. Two display methods, index display and slide show display, can be selected. Thereby, the user can confirm before execution whether the image which should not be erased is contained.
JP 2001-285758 A

  Today, the capacity of recording media that can be mounted on digital cameras and digital video cameras exceeds several gigabytes, and the number of images that can be stored is increasing dramatically. Even if all recorded images are displayed to the user before initialization in such a situation, it takes a very long time to determine whether or not all the images can be erased. For example, when 1000 still images are presented at the time of erasure, it can be easily imagined that it takes an enormous amount of time to confirm whether or not all images can be deleted.

  Even if a slide show display is used, a long confirmation time is required to view all the still images presented in the slide show.

  Such a problem is not limited to the imaging apparatus, but is common to an image recording / reproducing apparatus that records and reproduces a still image or a moving image using a large-capacity removable recording medium.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve such problems and to provide an image processing apparatus capable of confirming whether or not a recorded image needs to be erased in a short time.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a selection unit that selects image data that has not been copied to a second recording medium from among a plurality of image data recorded on the first recording medium, and the first recording medium In response to the initialization instruction, display means for displaying an initialization confirmation screen including an image indicating the image data selected by the selection means on a display device, and executing initialization after displaying the confirmation screen Means for initializing the first recording medium when the instruction is issued.

  According to the present invention, when a user performs a formatting operation, an image is selected and displayed based on a criterion considered to be important to the user from a vast number of images recorded on a recording medium. By preferentially presenting the images that are considered important to the user, the user may be able to move to the formatting process just by looking at the first few images without having to see all the images to be formatted. . This leads to a reduction in user effort. In addition, when there is an image that the user does not want to erase in the recording medium, there is no possibility to format it erroneously.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a digital camera incorporating an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. The user instruction unit 12 is an interface that receives a user instruction to the digital camera 10, and the overall control unit 14 controls the digital camera 10 according to the content of the user instruction by the user instruction unit 12.

  The video input unit 16 includes a photographing optical system, an image sensor, and a processing circuit that converts an output image signal of the image sensor into a predetermined format. The encoding / decoding unit 18 has an encoding function for encoding the image signal from the video input unit 16 to generate encoded image data, and a decoding function for decoding the encoded image data and restoring the image data. . In the shooting mode (or recording mode), the encoding / decoding unit 18 compresses and encodes the image data from the video input unit 16 to generate encoded image data. In the playback mode, the encoding / decoding unit 18 decodes the encoded image data read from the recording medium 40 to generate playback image data.

  The graphic generation unit 20 generates a menu image and various graphic image data. The synthesizing unit 22 synthesizes the graphic image data generated by the graphic generating unit 20, the captured image data from the video input unit 16, and the reproduced image data from the encoding / decoding unit 18 in accordance with an instruction from the overall control unit 14. select. The display unit 24 displays the combined image data (or selected image data) from the combining unit 22 as an image.

  The recording medium 40 is a recording medium that records image data. Examples of the recording medium 40 include a semiconductor memory card, an optical disk, and a magnetic disk. The recording medium 40 may be either built in the camera 10 or detachable. The recording medium access unit 26 is an interface that writes data to the recording medium 40 and reads data from the recording medium 40.

  The database management unit 28 reads the image database 42 for managing the recorded image from the recording medium 40, caches (stores) it in the memory 30, and writes it back to the recording medium 40 at a predetermined timing. When a recording medium 40 on which no image database 42 is recorded is connected, or when the recording medium 40 is formatted, the database management unit 28 records the image database 42 on the recording medium 40. Although details will be described later, the image database 42 includes the recording date and time of the recorded image, the image content name, and the like.

  The formatter 32 formats the recording medium 40 via the recording medium access unit 26 in accordance with instructions from the overall control unit 14.

  The image selection unit 34 inquires of the image database management unit 28 in response to a user instruction, and selects one or a plurality of images from the images recorded on the recording medium 40.

  FIG. 2 shows an arrangement example of the display unit 24 and the user instruction unit 12. The display unit 24 and the user instruction unit 12 are disposed on the back surface of the camera 10. The user instruction unit 12 includes a cross key 12-1 for moving a cursor on the display screen of the display unit 24. The user can also instruct to protect (erase erasure) and release the desired image by using the protect button 12-2. The favorite button 12-3 is used by the user to set favorite information.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, thumbnails of six recorded images are displayed in a list on the screen of the display unit 24, and one of the thumbnails is displayed with an image selection frame 50 as a selected state. Also displayed is a next screen button 52 for switching to the next six image screens. By performing a determination operation while the next screen button 52 is selected with the cross key 12-1, the thumbnail images of the next six recorded images are newly displayed on the screen of the display unit 24.

  The contents of the image database 42 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the image database 42. The image database temporarily stored in the memory 30 has the same configuration. The image database 42 stores, for each image, the management number of the image data, the image content name, the recording date and time, the favorite information of the image data, the protection information for each image data, and the user reference count.

  The image data management number is a unique number assigned to each image. The image content name is a file name (or a name given separately by the user) attached to the image data. The recording date / time indicates the date / time when the image data was recorded on the recording medium 40. The favorite information of the image data includes rank or level information set by the user using the user instruction unit 12 after recording on the recording medium 40. This information makes it easier for the user to determine whether an image is necessary or important when referring to the image. The protect information is setting information for prohibiting deletion of each image. If the protection is valid, the image data of the image cannot be deleted. When deleting image data for which protection is valid, first disable the protection setting and then perform the deletion operation. The user reference count indicates the number of times image data has been reproduced.

  An operation when the recording medium 40 is connected to the camera 10 will be described. When the recording medium 40 is connected to the recording medium access unit 26, the database management unit 28 checks whether the image database 42 is recorded in the recording medium 40. Assume that a recording medium 40 in which image data is recorded but no image database 42 is connected to the digital camera 10 as shown in FIG. The database management unit 28 checks the image data recorded on the recording medium 40 via the recording medium access unit 26, generates the image database 42, and writes it in the recording medium 40 as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the image database 42 written on the recording medium 40. At this stage, only the image content name (file name) and the recording date and time are known. The corresponding data is entered only in these fields. The user reference count is 0 as an initial value.

  When the recording medium 40 in which the image database 42 has been recorded is connected to the camera 10, the operation is as follows. That is, when the database management unit 28 confirms that the image database 42 exists in the recording medium 40, the image database 42 is read from the recording medium 40 via the recording medium access unit 26 and cached in the memory 30. Copies of the image database 42 are stored in the memory 30 for various tasks. Data stored in the memory 30 is erased when the camera 10 is turned off. Accordingly, even when the power of the camera 10 is turned on, the database management unit 28 reads the image database 42 from the connected recording medium 40 and caches it in the memory 30.

  An operation for reproducing an image recorded on the recording medium 40, particularly an operation for updating the number of user references in the image database 42 will be described. FIG. 6 shows an example of contents of the image database 42 when seven images are recorded, an example of the first index screen (2), and a second index screen.

  The user instructs the overall control unit 14 in the image playback mode using the user instruction unit 12. The overall control unit 14 instructs the image selection unit 34 to select image data to be displayed on the display unit 24. The image selection unit 34 accesses the image database in the memory 30 via the database management unit 28 and instructs the recording medium access unit 26 to reproduce a predetermined number, for example, six images in order based on the image data No. To do. The recording medium access unit 26 sequentially reads out recording data (encoded image data) of the designated image from the recording medium 40 and supplies it to the encoding / decoding unit 18. The encoding / decoding unit 18 decodes the encoded image data from the recording medium access unit 26, reduces the size to the index display size, and supplies it to the synthesizing unit 22.

  The overall control unit 14 causes the graphic generation unit 20 to generate a next screen button 52 of characters, symbols, or icons (for example, arrow marks) indicating the presence of an undisplayed image. The combining unit 22 combines the graphic image from the graphic generation unit 20 with the index image including the six thumbnail images from the encoding / decoding unit 18 and supplies the combined image to the display unit 24. Thereby, for example, an index screen as shown in FIG. 6B is generated and displayed.

  When the user selects the next screen button 52 in the user instruction unit 12 and instructs the overall control unit 14 to shift to the next screen, the overall control unit 14 instructs the display unit 24 to Instructs selection of six image data. Thereby, the thumbnail image to be displayed on the index screen is generated by the image selection unit 34, the recording medium access unit 26, and the encoding / decoding unit 18 in the same procedure as described above. In the example shown in FIG. 6, only the thumbnail image of the image data corresponding to the image data No = 7 is generated. The combining unit 22 combines the graphic image from the graphic generation unit 20 with the index image including one thumbnail image from the encoding / decoding unit 18 and supplies the combined image to the display unit 24. Thereby, for example, an index screen as shown in FIG. 6 (3) is generated and displayed.

  The user can designate an image desired to be reproduced by moving the selection frame (or cursor) 50 (FIGS. 6 (2) and (3)) on the index screen displayed on the display unit 24. The selection frame 50 itself is generated by the graphic generation unit 20 under the control of the overall control unit 14. The combining unit 22 combines the generated selection frame with the image from the encoding / decoding unit 18. When the user instructs the overall control unit 14 to “move the cursor to the right” by the user instruction unit 12, the overall control unit 14 causes the graphic generation unit 20 to change the output timing of the selection frame in accordance with the instruction.

  In the index screen shown in FIG. Assume that JPG is selected as a playback target. It is assumed that the user uses the user instruction unit 12 to instruct the overall control unit 14 to reproduce the selected image. The overall control unit 14 instructs the recording medium access unit 26 to reproduce the corresponding image via the image selection unit 34. In response to this instruction, the recording medium access unit 26 reads the recording data (encoded image data) of the corresponding image from the recording medium 40 and supplies it to the encoding / decoding unit 18. The encoding / decoding unit 18 decodes the encoded image data from the recording medium access unit 26 and supplies the reproduction image data to the synthesis unit 22. At this time, the synthesizing unit 22 passes the reproduced image data from the encoding / decoding unit 18 and supplies it to the display unit 24. As shown in FIG. 7B, the display unit 24 displays an image designated with a predetermined screen size.

  The image selection unit 34 notifies the database management unit 28 of the reproduction of the selected image, and the database management unit 28 increments (increases) the user reference count of the corresponding image by 1 in the image database on the memory 30. . Thereafter, the database management unit 28 writes the updated image database of the memory 30 back to the image database 42 of the recording medium 40. That is, the image database 42 of the recording medium 40 is updated with the updated image database of the memory 30.

  The operation in the shooting mode (recording mode) will be described. The user instructs the overall control unit 14 using the user instruction unit 12. The overall control unit 14 enables the video input unit 16. As a result, the video input unit 16 outputs the image signal of the subject to the encoding / decoding unit 18 and the combining unit 22. The combining unit 22 supplies the image data from the video input unit 16 to the display unit 24. From the display image on the display unit 24, the user can confirm the subject and its composition.

  When the user instructs the overall control unit 14 to shoot (record) the user instruction unit 12, the overall control unit 14 instructs the encoding / decoding unit 18 to encode the input image data from the video input unit 16. In accordance with this instruction, the encoding / decoding unit 18 encodes the input image data from the video input unit 16 and supplies the encoded image data to the recording medium access unit 26. The recording medium access unit 26 records the encoded image data from the encoding / decoding unit 18 on the recording medium 40 with an image content name that does not overlap with an already recorded image. An image content name that does not overlap with an image already recorded on the recording medium 40 can be found by inquiring the database management unit 28, or an image content name that does not overlap can be generated by following a certain content name generation rule.

  Simultaneously with recording on the recording medium 40, the database management unit 28 adds a newly recorded image record to the image database in the memory 30. FIG. An example of the configuration of an image database after an image of = 8 is additionally recorded is shown. A record 54 is an added record. At this time, the favorite information, the protect information, and the user reference count are initialized. The image database in the memory 30 is updated and then written back to the recording medium 40 via the recording medium access unit 26.

  As described above, the image database stored in the memory 30 is written back to the recording medium 40 whenever there is a change. Changes in the image database can include changes in protect information and favorite information, in addition to reproduction and new recording of image data.

  Select the image whose protection information you want to change on the index screen in playback mode. Then, whether or not the selected image needs to be protected is designated by operating the protect button 12-2. The overall control unit 14 causes the database management unit 28 to update the protection information of the corresponding image via the image selection unit 34. If the protect button 12-2 is operated in an unprotected state, protection is required. On the other hand, when the protect button 12-2 is operated in the protected state, the protection is unnecessary.

  The operation for adding favorite information is basically the same as the operation for updating protection information. In order to input arbitrary character information, a character input keyboard may be displayed on the screen.

  An operation for formatting the recording medium 40 will be described. The user can instruct the overall control unit 14 of the format of the recording medium 40 by the user instruction unit 12. In response to the format instruction, the overall control unit 14 first selects an image that is considered important for the user from among a plurality of images recorded on the recording medium 40 and displays the selected image on the display unit 24 (preliminary confirmation). Operation).

  Specifically, the overall control unit 14 first instructs the image selection unit 34 to select a protected image among the images recorded on the recording medium 40. The image selection unit 34 inquires of the database management unit 28 about the protected image. The image selection unit 34 instructs the recording medium access unit 26 to read out the encoded image data of the protected image from the recording medium 40. The read encoded image data is decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 18 and displayed on the display unit 24 as a confirmation screen. FIG. 9 is an example of a confirmation screen for the image database illustrated in FIG. In FIG. 9, buttons 56 and 58 that ask the user whether or not deletion is necessary and a next screen button 60 are displayed at the same time. In the example shown in FIG. 9, three images can be displayed simultaneously, and in the example shown in FIG. 8, there are four protected images, so the next screen button 60 is displayed. When there is no next screen, the next screen button 60 is not displayed. Since it is necessary to confirm the contents of the images, the individual images are displayed larger than the index screen on the confirmation screen.

  In this way, at the time of formatting, the user is alerted to the formatting operation by preferentially presenting, to the user, an image that is considered to be of interest to the user, such as protection information. The user determines whether or not formatting is necessary while viewing the displayed image. If the format is acceptable, the “YES” button 56 is selected. If the format is canceled, the “NO” button 58 is selected. If it is desired to display the next confirmation screen, the next screen button 60 is selected. As a result, a list of undisplayed protected images is displayed.

  In response to the selection of the “YES” button 56, the overall control unit 14 instructs the formatter 32 to execute the format. The formatter 32 formats the recording medium 40 via the recording medium access unit 26 in accordance with the format execution instruction. At this time, all images and the image database recorded on the recording medium 40 are deleted. In response to this, the database management unit 28 deletes the image database stored in the memory 30.

  In the example shown in FIG. 9, three images are displayed simultaneously, but it is obvious that the number may be two or less or four or more. Further, although the protected image is displayed on the confirmation screen, an image selected based on another criterion may be displayed on the confirmation screen. Other standards include image data with an old recording date, image data with a high display frequency, and image data with a low display frequency. All of these criteria are information obtained when the image selection unit 34 makes an inquiry to the database management unit 28.

  In this embodiment, the image selection unit 34 displays the recorded images on the display unit 24 in the detection order of the protection information added to the selection target image. However, the display order is not limited to the detection order of the protect information. For example, an image having two pieces of information of protect information and favorite information may be selected and displayed. In the image database illustrated in FIG. 10, the image selection unit 34 selects an image in which the favorite information 62 is set and the protection information 64 is set. In the example shown in FIG. jpg, IMG_0004. jpg, IMG_0005. jpg corresponds to this. If the selected number does not reach the displayed number, further ranking is performed. For example, an image with a favorite set is selected and displayed from images set with either favorite or protect. If the number of display screens is still not reached, a protected image is selected and displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 10 in which the display order of images is determined in this way, images IMG_0002. jpg and image IMG_0006. jpg is displayed first, and then the image IMG_0003. jpg is displayed.

  Although the image is selected based on the favorite information and the protect information, other elements of the image database may be used. For example, priority is given to the one with the oldest recording date and time, and priority is given to the one with a large number of user references.

  In this way, when the user instructs the overall control unit 14 to execute the format, the recorded image selected according to the determined condition is displayed on the confirmation screen. Therefore, the user can decide to execute the format after confirming the contents of the recorded image that seems to be highly important for the user. In order to cancel the format, it is not necessary to check all the images recorded on the recording medium.

  FIG. 11 shows a schematic block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, a plurality of recording media 40a and 44a are connected to the camera 10a. The overall control unit 14a, the recording medium access unit 26a, the database management unit 28a, the memory 30a, and the image selection unit 34a have functions expanded to handle two recording media with respect to the corresponding elements of the embodiment shown in FIG. Has been.

  The recording medium access unit 26a can access both the recording media 40a and 44a, and can record and reproduce image data. The recording medium access unit 26a can copy or move image data from the recording medium 40 to the recording medium 44 and vice versa.

  The database management unit 28a can simultaneously store a copy of the image database 42a of the recording medium 40a and a copy of the image database 46a of the recording medium 44a in the memory 30a. As shown in FIG. 12, a medium ID for identifying the recording media 40a and 44a is added to the image database cached in the memory 30a.

  The camera 10a assigns a unique medium ID to the recording medium connected at the time of initialization or first, and records it on the recording medium. For example, if the image data is in JPEG format, it is recorded in a data area called EXIF. This medium ID is embedded in the image data recorded on the recording medium by photographing and also written in the image database. Thereby, when the image data is copied to another recording medium, the original recording medium can be clarified.

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 12, the recording medium A contains seven pieces of image data IMG_0001. jpg to IMG_0007. jpg is recorded, and image data IMG_0004. jpg is recorded. IMG_0004. Image data named jpg exists in both recording media A and B, but since the media IDs are different, both can be identified.

The user instructs the overall control unit 14 a by the user instruction unit 12, as the recording destination and playback source, can be switched to and from the recording medium 40a and the recording medium 44a. In response to the recording medium switching instruction from the user instruction unit 12, the overall control unit 14a instructs the recording medium access unit 26a to switch the recording medium. The recording medium access unit 26a switches from the recording medium 40a to the recording medium 44a or vice versa after confirming that there is no access to the recording media 40a and 44a.

  For example, FIG. 12 shows the following usage situation. First, seven pieces of image data IMG_0001... Are recorded on the recording medium 40a (recording medium A). jpg to IMG_0007. Record jpg. Thereafter, the recording medium 44a (recording medium B) is switched, and the image data IMG_0004. Record jpg.

  A case where image data is copied from the recording medium 40a to the recording medium 44a will be described. FIG. 13 shows an example of the contents of the image database 42a of the recording medium 40a before copying.

  First, the user selects the recording medium 40a as a copy source by the user instruction unit 12, and causes the display unit 24 to display an index of the recorded images on the recording medium 40a. The user looks at the index display on the display unit 24, selects an image to be copied to the recording medium 44a, and instructs copying. The overall control unit 14a controls the recording medium access unit 26a in accordance with the copy instruction from the user instruction unit 12 to copy the image data of the selected image from the recording medium 40a to the recording medium 44a. At this time, the image databases 42a and 46a of the recording media 40a and 44a and the image database of the memory 30a are also updated to the contents as shown in FIG. In FIG. 14, the shaded image data is image data copied from the recording medium 40a to the recording medium 44a.

When the recording medium 40a is formatted after this copying, the following operation is performed. User, and instructs the format of the recording medium 40a to the overall control unit 14 a by the user instruction unit 12. The overall control unit 14 a is, prior to the format of the recording medium 40a, and instructs the image selection in the image selection unit 34a. In accordance with this instruction, the image selection unit 34a inquires of the database management unit 28a about image data that does not exist on the recording medium 44a and exists on the recording medium 40a. The database management unit 28a refers to the image database in the memory 30a and notifies the image selection unit 34a of an image that matches the inquiry condition.

  The image selection unit 34a causes the recording medium access unit 26a to read the image data of the notified image from the recording medium 40a. The read image data is decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 18 and displayed in a list on the confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 15 by the synthesis unit 22 and the display unit 24. In the example shown in FIG. 14, four images (IMG_003.jpg, IMG_004_jpg, IMG_005.jpg, IMG_006.jpg) are recorded on the recording medium 40a, but are not recorded on the recording medium 44a. These images are selected and displayed on a confirmation screen as shown in FIG.

  In the confirmation screen shown in FIG. 15, buttons 70 and 72 for asking the user whether deletion is necessary and a next screen button 74 are displayed at the same time. In the example shown in FIG. 15, since only three images can be displayed at a time, a next screen button 74 indicating that there is an image not displayed is also displayed at the same time. When there is no next screen, the next screen button 74 is not displayed.

  This confirmation screen can prevent an erroneous operation by the user. That is, if the user misunderstands that the image data of the recording medium 40a has been copied to the recording medium 44a, the important image data will be erased from the recording medium 40a if the recording medium 40a is formatted. However, since a list of images recorded only on the recording medium 40a is displayed on the confirmation screen, such an erroneous operation can be prevented.

  In this embodiment, whether or not the same image data is included in each recording medium 40a, 44a is determined by a combination of the image content name and the medium ID. Information that helps determine whether or not the image data is the same includes a recording date and time and an image data size. One or more of these elements may be used to determine whether the image data matches.

  In response to selection of the “YES” button 70, the overall control unit 14 a instructs the formatter 32 to execute formatting. The formatter 32 formats the recording medium 40a via the recording medium access unit 26 in accordance with the format execution instruction. At this time, all images and the image database recorded on the recording medium 40a are deleted. In response to this, the database management unit 28a deletes the record related to the recording medium 40a from the image database stored in the memory 30a.

  As described above, when a plurality of recording media are used, by displaying an image recorded only on the recording medium to be formatted on the confirmation screen, it is possible to prevent erroneous deletion of only one image data.

  It is assumed that the recording medium 40a is removed from the camera 10a. At this time, the recording medium access unit 26a detects the removal of the recording medium 40a and notifies the database management unit 28a of the detection result. The database management unit 28a deletes the record relating to the removed recording medium 40a from the image database in the memory 30a.

  It is assumed that the user connects the recording medium 40a to the camera 10a again. At this time, the recording medium access unit 26a notifies the database management unit 28a of the connection of the recording medium 40a. The database management unit 28a checks the correspondence between the images recorded on the recording medium 40a and the image database 42a (for example, differences in file names, file sizes, etc.). When the image database 42a does not correspond to the image recorded on the recording medium 40a, the database management unit 28a creates a new image database from the image data recorded on the recording medium 40a. This new image database is overwritten and recorded on the recording medium 40a as the image database 42a. Thus, the image database 42a of the recording medium 40a correctly corresponds to the image recorded on the recording medium 40a.

  When the image database 42a of the recording medium 40a corresponds to the image recorded on the recording medium 40a, the image content name of the image recorded on the previously connected recording medium 44a and the image content of the image recorded on the recording medium 40a Contrast with name. Further, it is checked whether the image data has been copied by the medium ID. From the medium ID, it is possible to know whether the image data has been copied and the original recording medium. By examining the image database in the memory 30a, it is possible to examine the overlap of images on the recording medium 40a and the recording medium 44a. Thus, when a new recording medium is connected, the database management unit 28a updates the image database in the memory 30a and keeps it in the latest state.

  When the user designates the format of the recording medium 40a or 44a in this state, as described above, a confirmation screen for displaying a list of images recorded only on the recording medium designated for formatting is displayed. The user can determine whether or not the format can be executed on the confirmation screen.

It is a schematic block diagram of one Example of this invention. It is an example of arrangement | positioning of the display part 24 and the user instruction | indication part 12. FIG. It is a structural example of an image database. It is a schematic diagram of an image recorded on a recording medium and an image database. It is a structural example of an image database. It is the structural example of an image database, and an example of an index screen. It is the state which selected the image data on an index screen, and the example of a reproduction | regeneration screen of the selected image. It is an example of an image database in the state where image data was added. It is an example of a confirmation screen for a format instruction. FIG. 5 is a setup diagram when priority extraction is performed according to favorite information and protect information. It is a schematic block diagram of Example 2 of this invention. It is a structural example of the image database stored in the memory 30a. It is a structural example of the image database stored in the memory 30a before copying. It is an example of a structure of the image database stored in the memory 30a after copying. It is an example of a confirmation screen for a format instruction.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10a Digital camera 12 User instruction | indication part 12-1 Cross key 12-2 Protection setting button 12-3 Favorite setting button 14, 14a Overall control part 16 Image | video input part 18 Encoding / decoding part 20 Graphic generation part 22 Composition part 24 Display unit 26, 26a Recording medium access unit 28, 28a Image database unit 30, 30a Memory 32 Formatter 34, 34a Image selection unit 40, 40a Recording medium 42, 42a Image database 44a Recording medium 46a Image database 50 Image selection frame 52 Next screen button

Claims (2)

Selecting means for selecting image data not copied to the second recording medium from among the plurality of image data recorded on the first recording medium;
Display means for displaying an initialization confirmation screen including an image indicating the image data selected by the selection means on a display device in response to an instruction for initialization of the first recording medium;
An image processing apparatus comprising: means for initializing the first recording medium when an instruction to execute initialization is displayed after the confirmation screen is displayed. When a plurality of the non-copied image data are selected by the selection unit, the display unit displays the confirmation screen including a plurality of images indicating the plurality of image data selected by the selection unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

Images