JP5430154B2 - Image reproduction apparatus, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing and editing an image recorded on a recording medium, a control method thereof, and a program.

  In recent years, various editing of images such as red-eye correction and trimming can be easily performed by a digital camera or an image processing application, and information corresponding to the editing has been recorded in an image file. These pieces of information often depend on the application that has been edited, and may not be analyzed by other applications. Thus, when editing an image including data that cannot be analyzed, editing that does not damage the data is required.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an editing method in which an original application marker is added when an image is edited.

JP 2008-140028 A

  In the method described in Patent Literature 1, when editing an image, a unique application marker is assigned without analyzing the type of application marker assigned to the image before editing. That is, if the image has been edited by another application before, the data may be damaged, or the edited image may be inconsistent with the pre-assigned data.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems. When the image has been edited before, the data is prevented from being damaged, and the edited image is not inconsistent with the data provided in advance. The purpose is to do so.

An image reproduction apparatus according to the present invention is an image reproduction apparatus capable of reproducing and editing an image recorded on a recording medium, and includes a determination unit that determines the type of an application marker attached to an image, and the determination unit. According to the determined type of application marker, the image processing apparatus includes a determining unit that determines whether to edit the image itself or to copy the image and edit the image .
An image playback device control method according to the present invention is a method for controlling an image playback device capable of playing back and editing an image recorded on a recording medium, and determining the type of an application marker attached to the image; And determining whether to edit the image itself or to copy the image and edit the image according to the determined type of the application marker.
The program of the present invention is a program for controlling an image playback apparatus capable of playing back and editing an image recorded on a recording medium, the process for determining the type of application marker attached to an image, According to the determined type of application marker, the computer is caused to execute processing for determining whether to edit the image itself or to copy the image and edit the image .

According to the present invention, when editing an image, the type of the application marker assigned to the image before editing is determined, and the image itself is edited, or the image is copied and edited. it is possible to determine whether the. Therefore, in the case of an image that has been edited previously, it is possible to prevent data from being damaged and to prevent inconsistency between the edited image and data that has been assigned in advance.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[Digital camera configuration]
FIG. 1 shows an external view of a digital camera 100 as an example of the image reproducing apparatus of the present invention. The image display unit 28 is a display unit that displays images and various types of information. The shutter button 61 is an operation unit for issuing a shooting instruction. The mode dial switch 60 is an operation unit for switching various modes. The connector 112 is a connector between the connection cable and the digital camera 100. The operation unit 70 is an operation unit including operation members such as various switches, buttons, and a touch panel for receiving various operations from the user. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium slot 201 is a slot for storing the recording medium 200, and the recording medium 200 stored in the recording medium slot 201 can communicate with the digital camera 100. A lid 203 is a lid of the recording medium slot 201.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital camera 100. In FIG. 2, 10 is a photographing lens, 12 is a shutter having a diaphragm function, 14 is an image sensor that converts an optical image into an electrical signal, and 16 is an A / D converter that converts an analog signal output from the image sensor 14 into a digital signal. It is. A timing generation circuit 18 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26, and is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50.

  An image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 16 or the data from the memory control circuit 22. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control circuit 50 performs control based on the obtained calculation result to perform AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure). ) Process and EF (flash pre-emission) process. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained calculation result.

  A memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32. The data of the A / D converter 16 is written into the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22 or the data of the A / D converter 16 is directly passed through the memory control circuit 22. It is.

  Reference numeral 24 is an image display memory, 26 is a D / A converter, and 27 is an external output connector for outputting the output of the D / A converter 26 to an external monitor. When a connector is inserted into the external output connector 27, the system control circuit 50 can know the external output state by the external output connection detection unit 108.

  Reference numeral 28 denotes an image display unit composed of a TFT LCD or the like, and display image data written in the image display memory 24 is displayed by the image display unit 28 via the D / A converter 26. If the image data captured using the image display unit 28 is sequentially displayed, the electronic viewfinder function can be realized. The image display unit 28 can arbitrarily turn on / off the display according to an instruction from the system control circuit 50. When the display is turned off, the power consumption of the digital camera 100 can be significantly reduced. it can.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing captured still images and moving image data, and has a sufficient storage capacity for storing a predetermined number of still images and moving image data for a predetermined time. This makes it possible to write a large amount of images to the memory 30 at high speed even in continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot. The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50. The memory 30 is also used as a write buffer for the recording media 200 and 210.

  Reference numeral 32 denotes a compression / decompression circuit that compresses and decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like, reads an image stored in the memory 30, performs compression processing or decompression processing, and stores the processed data in the memory 30. Write to.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes an exposure control unit that controls the shutter 12 having a diaphragm function, and has a flash light control function in cooperation with the flash 48. A distance measuring control unit 42 controls focusing of the photographing lens 10. A zoom control unit 44 controls zooming of the photographing lens 10. A barrier control unit 46 controls the operation of the barrier 102. A flash 48 has an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a flash light control function. The exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 are controlled using the TTL method. Based on the calculation result obtained by calculating the captured image data by the image processing circuit 20, the system control circuit 50 performs the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement. The controller 42 is controlled.

  A system control circuit 50 controls the entire digital camera 100. The system control circuit 50 executes each program described later by executing a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56. A memory 52 expands constants, variables, programs read from the nonvolatile memory 56, and the like for operation of the system control circuit 50.

  Reference numeral 54 denotes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display device or a speaker that displays an operation state, a message, and the like using characters, images, sounds, and the like in accordance with execution of a program in the system control circuit 50. The display unit 54 is installed in a single or a plurality of positions near the operation unit of the digital camera 100 so as to be easily visible, and is configured by a combination of, for example, an LCD, an LED, and a sounding element. The display unit 54 has a part of its function installed in the optical viewfinder 104. Among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed on the LCD or the like includes aperture value display, exposure correction display, flash display, macro shooting display, buzzer setting display, battery remaining amount display, error display, and recording media 200 and 210. There is an attachment / detachment state display. Among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 includes in-focus display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure correction display, and the like.

  Reference numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM. The nonvolatile memory 56 stores constants, programs, and the like for operating the system control circuit 50. Here, the program is a program for executing various flowcharts to be described later. A timer 58 is used to measure the data recording speed of the recording medium 200 or 210 and the data rate of the acquired data.

  Reference numerals 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 50, and may be a single unit such as a switch, a dial, a touch panel, pointing by line-of-sight detection, a voice recognition device, or the like. Consists of multiple combinations.

  Here, a specific description of these operating means will be given. Reference numeral 60 denotes a mode dial switch, which is a function mode such as power OFF, automatic shooting mode, shooting mode (including panorama shooting mode and moving image shooting mode), playback mode, multi-screen playback / erase mode, PC (personal computer) connection mode, etc. Can be switched.

  Reference numeral 62 denotes a shutter switch SW1, which is turned ON during the operation of the shutter button 61, and instructs to start operations such as AF processing, AE processing, AWB processing, and EF processing. A shutter switch SW2 64 is turned on when the operation of the shutter button 61 is completed, and an exposure process of writing image data to the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22 with the signal read from the image sensor 14 being performed. Instruct to start operation. At the same time, development processing using operations in the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, recording processing for reading out image data from the memory 30, compression in the compression / decompression circuit 32, and writing the image data to the recording medium 200 or 210 The operation start of a series of processes is instructed. In the case of moving image shooting, the start / stop of moving image shooting is instructed.

  Reference numeral 66 denotes an image display ON / OFF switch, which can set ON / OFF of the image display unit 28. With this function, when photographing is performed using the optical viewfinder 104, it is possible to save power by cutting off the current supply to the image display unit 28 including a TFT LCD or the like.

  Reference numeral 68 denotes a quick review ON / OFF switch, which sets a quick review function for automatically reproducing image data taken immediately after photographing. In the present embodiment, in particular, a function for setting a quick review function when the image display unit 28 is turned off is provided.

  Reference numeral 70 denotes an operation unit composed of various buttons, a touch panel, and the like. For example, a menu button, a set button, a macro button, a multi-screen playback page break button, and a flash setting button. Also, single / continuous / self-timer switching button, menu movement + (plus) button, menu movement-(minus) button, playback image movement + (plus) button, playback image-(minus) button, shooting image quality selection button , Exposure compensation button, date / time setting button. Also, there are a selection / switch button for setting selection and switching of various functions, and a determination button for setting determination and execution of various functions. Quick review ON / OFF switch that sets a quick review function that automatically plays back image data taken immediately after shooting, single-screen display / multi-screen for adjusting zoom and wide angle during shooting, or zooming in / out during playback This is a zoom operation unit for switching the display. Further, the compression mode switch is used to select a compression rate of JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) compression or to select a CCD RAW mode in which a signal of an image sensor is directly digitized and recorded on a recording medium.

  Reference numeral 80 denotes a power supply control unit that detects the presence / absence of a battery, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. Based on the detection result and the instruction of the system control circuit 50, the necessary voltage is supplied for a required period. Supply to each part including. 82 is a connector, 84 is a connector, 86 is a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, NiMH battery or Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  Reference numerals 90 and 94 denote interfaces with recording media such as memory cards and hard disks. Reference numerals 92 and 96 denote connectors for connecting to a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. A recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit 98 detects whether the recording medium 200 or 210 is attached to the connector 92 and / or the connector 96. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that there are two systems of interfaces and connectors for attaching a recording medium. Of course, the interface and the connector for attaching the recording medium may have a single or a plurality of systems and any number of systems. Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with combining the interface and connector of a different standard. The interface and connector may be configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like that conforms to a standard. Furthermore, by connecting various communication cards to the interfaces 90 and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96, image data and management information attached to the image data can be transferred to and from other devices.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes a barrier that functions as a protective unit that prevents the imaging unit from being soiled or damaged by covering the imaging unit including the lens 10 of the digital camera 100. Reference numeral 104 denotes an optical viewfinder, which can take an image using only the optical viewfinder without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28. In the optical viewfinder 104, some functions of the display unit 54, for example, a focus display, a camera shake warning display, a flash charge display, a shutter speed display, an aperture value display, an exposure correction display, and the like are installed.

  Reference numeral 108 denotes an external output connector connection detection unit, which can detect whether an external monitor is connected to the external output connector 27. Here, if it is detected that the connection state is established, an external monitor can be used as a display device instead of the image display unit 28.

  A communication unit 110 has various communication functions such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication. Reference numeral 112 denotes a connector for connecting the digital camera 100 to another device by the communication unit 110 or an antenna in the case of wireless communication.

  Reference numeral 114 denotes a microphone which is sound data acquisition means. Reference numeral 116 denotes an A / D converter that performs A / D conversion so that the audio data obtained by the microphone 114 can be acquired by the system control circuit 50. Reference numeral 118 denotes a speaker which is sound data reproducing means. Reference numeral 120 denotes a D / A converter that D / A converts digital audio data output from the system control circuit 50 to be reproduced by the speaker 118.

  Reference numeral 200 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 includes a recording unit 202 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, an interface 204 with the digital camera 100, and a connector 206 that connects to the digital camera 100. When the recording medium 200 is a PCMCIA standard PC-Card, CF, or the like, an information storage circuit in which performance is recorded may be incorporated.

  Reference numeral 210 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 210 includes a recording unit 212 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, an interface 214 with the digital camera 100, and a connector 216 that connects to the digital camera 100. Further, when the recording medium 210 is a PCMCIA standard PC-Card, CF, or the like, an information storage circuit in which performance is recorded may be incorporated.

[Overall operation of digital camera]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation of the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment. When the power is switched on, the system control circuit 50 initializes flags, control variables, and the like in step S101.

  Next, in steps S102 and S106, the system control circuit 50 determines the set position of the mode dial switch 60. When the mode dial switch 60 is set to the shooting mode, the process proceeds from step S102 to step S103, and shooting mode processing is executed. If the mode dial switch 60 is set to the reproduction mode, the process proceeds to step S107 through steps S102 and S106, and reproduction mode processing is executed. The reproduction mode processing in step S107 will be described later with reference to FIG. If the mode dial switch 60 is set to another mode, the process proceeds to step S108, and processing corresponding to the selected mode is executed. Other modes include, for example, a transmission mode process for transmitting a file stored in the recording medium 200 and a reception mode process for receiving a file from an external device and storing it in the recording medium 200.

  After executing the process corresponding to the mode set by the mode dial switch 60 in steps S103, S107, and S108, the process proceeds to step S104. In step S104, the system control circuit 50 determines whether the power is on or off. If the power is set to ON, the process returns to step S102. On the other hand, if the power is set to OFF, the process proceeds from step S104 to step S105, and the system control circuit 50 performs a termination process. The termination process includes, for example, the following process. The display of the image display unit 28 is changed to the end state, the lens barrier 102 is closed to protect the imaging unit, parameters, setting values, and setting modes including flags and control variables are recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56, and power is supplied. Shut off the power to the parts that do not need. When the termination process in step S105 is completed, this process is terminated, and the power is turned off.

[About playback mode processing]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the playback mode processing of the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment. The flowchart in FIG. 4 shows details of step S107 in FIG.

  In step S <b> 201, the system control circuit 50 displays image data on the image display unit 28. The image data is an image recorded on the recording medium 200, and may be an image taken by the digital camera 100 or other digital camera, or an image created by an application such as a PC. Note that an image handled in this embodiment includes an application marker (APP1) in EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) format. There is no limitation on the type and number of other application markers. The structure of this image file will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S202, the system control circuit 50 determines whether the process to be executed is an image editing process. If it is an editing process of the image displayed on the image display unit 28, the process proceeds to step S203, an editing method selection process is performed, and if not, the process proceeds to step S208, and other processes are performed. In the present embodiment, the other processing includes normal image reproduction processing, image deletion processing, and processing in other applications.

  In step S203, the system control circuit 50 analyzes the image displayed on the image display unit 28, and selects and determines an editing method. The editing method selected here is “edit the displayed image header and JPEG compressed data”, “copy the displayed image, edit the duplicate image header and JPEG compressed data”, This is a method of applying editing such as “not editable”. In the present embodiment, the image analysis process is an analysis process of application markers, EXIF information, and the like recorded in the header of the image. The editing method selection processing in step S203 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In response to the result of step S203, in step S204, the system control circuit 50 determines whether or not to execute image editing. If it is determined in step S204 that image editing is to be executed, the process proceeds to step S206. If it is determined in step S204 that editing is not to be executed, the process proceeds to step S205, and a message indicating that editing is not possible is displayed to notify the user of that fact.

  In step S206, the image is edited based on the editing method selected in step S203. In this embodiment, image editing includes red-eye correction, resizing, trimming, dodging, and color tone change, but other editing processes may be used.

  After the other processing in step S208 is completed, after the message indicating that editing is impossible in step S205 is displayed, and after the editing processing in step S206 is completed, the process proceeds to step S207. In step S207, the system control circuit 50 determines the setting position of the mode dial switch 60. If the playback mode is not set, the process ends. If the playback mode remains, the process returns to step S201. At this time, the image displayed in step S201 may be an image displayed at the beginning of the main reproduction mode process, or may be an image after editing performed in step S206.

[Image file structure]
FIG. 5 is an example of the structure of an image file handled by the digital camera 100 of this embodiment. FIG. 5A shows a general EXIF format image file structure that can be taken by the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment. The image file 501 has a marker (SOI) 502 indicating the start of the image file at the head, followed by an application marker (APP1) 503 corresponding to the header portion.

  In the application marker (APP1) 503, the size (APP1 Length) 503 of the application marker is recorded. In addition, an application marker identification code (character string “Exif”) 505 is recorded. In addition, other shooting information 506 and a thumbnail image (Thumbnail Data) 507 are recorded.

  After that, it has JPEG compressed data 508 and is terminated with a marker (EOI) 509 indicating the end of the image file data. When this image file 501 is edited, the image data actually edited is JPEG compressed data 508.

  FIG. 5B shows an image file structure including a plurality of application markers, including an APP2 in which MPF (multi-picture format) is recorded as an identification code. An image file created by a conventional digital camera comprises image data and thumbnail images obtained by reducing the image data as one file. On the other hand, in the MPF, new image data other than the two image data is also stored as one file. The image file 510 has a marker (SOI) 511 indicating the start of the image file at the head, and thereafter application markers (APP1 and APP2) 512 and 517 corresponding to the header part.

  In the application marker (APP1) 511, the size (APP1 Length) 513 of the application marker is recorded. In addition, an application marker identification code (character string “Exif”) 514 is recorded. In addition, other shooting information 515 and thumbnail images (Thumbnail Data) 516 are recorded. In the application marker (APP2) 517, an application marker size (APP2 Length) 518, an application marker identification code (character string “MPF”) 519, and MPF attached information 520 are recorded.

  After that, it has JPEG compressed data (JPEG1) 521 and is terminated once with a marker (EOI) 522 indicating the end of the image file data. Thereafter, the processing is terminated with a marker (SOI) 523 indicating the start of the individual image (JPEG2), the individual image JPEG compressed data (JPEG2) 524, and a marker (EOI) 522 indicating the end of the individual image file data. The individual image (JPEG2) 524 is an image associated with the application marker (APP2) 517. Also, two JPEG compressed data (JPEG1 and JPEG2) included in the image file 510 are related.

  The individual image (JPEG2) may have an intermediate resolution between an image obtained by shooting and a thumbnail image, or may be another image data such as a continuous shot image. As mentioned earlier, it is not possible to support all other companies' applications, so it is difficult to guarantee that all application markers assigned by other applications and their associated images will be analyzed and edited. . Therefore, when this image file 510 is edited, it is more convenient that image data to be actually edited is only general JPEG compressed data (JPEG1) 521. In the following description of the editing process, the image file 510 shown in FIG. 5B is used as an example.

[Editing method selection process]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for describing editing method selection processing of the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment. The flowchart in FIG. 6 shows details of step S203 in FIG. If it is determined in step S202 in FIG. 4 that the image is edited, the process proceeds to step S301. In step S301, the system control circuit 50 analyzes the image file 510 from the top of the file and searches for the application marker APP1.

  In step S302, the system control circuit 50 determines whether the application marker APP1 is found. When the application marker APP1 is not found, it is determined that the image cannot be edited. If the application marker APP1 is found, the process proceeds to step S303. In this embodiment, it is determined that editing is not possible when the application marker APP1 is not found, but editing may be permitted regardless of the presence of the application marker APP1.

  Next, in step S303, it is determined whether or not the identification code of the found application marker of APP1 is the character string “Exif”. If the identification code is not the character string “Exif”, it is determined that the image cannot be edited. If the identification code is the character string “Exif”, the process proceeds to step S304. In this embodiment, when the identification code is not the character string “Exif”, it is determined that editing is not possible. However, editing may be permitted.

  In step S304, an EXIF header analysis process is performed. The EXIF header includes the shooting date and time of the image, settings at the time of shooting, information unique to the manufacturer of the shooting digital camera, and the like. In the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment, the presence / absence of an area for recording unique editing contents is analyzed.

  Next, in step S305, it is determined from the analysis result of the EXIF header whether or not editing is possible based on the presence / absence of an area for recording the original editing content used in the digital camera 100 of this embodiment and other conditions. If the editing conditions are not met, it is determined that the image cannot be edited. If it is determined that editing is possible, the process proceeds to step S306. In this embodiment, whether or not editing is possible is determined from the analysis result of the EXIF header. However, editing may be permitted without determining the contents of the EXIF header.

  In step S306, the system control circuit 50 determines whether there is an application marker APP2 in which the identification code of the character string “MPF” is described. The search for the application marker APP2 may be performed from the top of the image file 510, but the end of the application marker APP1 may be searched using the size (APP1 Length) 513 of the application marker APP1, and the search may be started from that position. The application marker APP2 is searched until the end of the image file 510 or the head of JPEG compressed data (JPEG1) is found.

  If there is no application marker APP2 in which the identification code of the character string “MPF” is present in step S306, it is determined that the displayed image can be edited and the process returns.

  On the other hand, if there is an application marker APP2 in which the identification code of the character string “MPF” is present in step S306, it is determined that the image cannot be edited, and the process returns. When the identification code is “MPF”, it is considered that this application marker APP2 has an associated individual image (JPEG2) 524. Therefore, if only JPEG compressed data (JPEG1) 521 is edited, there is a possibility that inconsistency occurs between the two JPEG compressed data (JPEG1 and JPEG2) included in the image file 510. Therefore, it is determined that editing is impossible. In this embodiment, when the identification code is “MPF”, it is determined that editing is not possible. However, a copy of the image file may be created and editing may be permitted for the copied image file. Further, the user may be allowed to select whether to execute the editing process or to edit the duplicate image.

  As described above, the type of application marker assigned to the image is determined, and the editing method of the image is determined according to the determined type of application marker. In the present embodiment, the editing method selection process is executed when an image is displayed in the playback mode process (step S201), and the result is notified to the user. However, the editing method selection process is executed in advance and the result is stored in the memory. You may make it memorize in.

  In the above, an example in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and any image reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing and editing an image, such as a mobile phone or a portable terminal. Applicable.

  The present invention is also applicable to a case where a software program that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied directly from a recording medium to a system or apparatus having a computer that can execute the program using wired / wireless communication, and the program is executed. Included in the invention. Accordingly, the program code itself supplied and installed in the computer in order to implement the functional processing of the present invention by the computer also realizes the present invention. That is, the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention is also included in the present invention. In this case, the program may be in any form, such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to an OS (operating system) as long as it has a program function.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a magnetic recording medium such as a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD- RW etc. can be considered. Further, a non-volatile semiconductor memory of an optical / magneto-optical recording medium may be used.

  As a program supply method using wired / wireless communication, the following method can be considered. That is, a computer program itself or a program data file forming the present invention is stored in a server on a computer network, and the program data file is downloaded to a connected client computer. Here, the program data file includes a file compressed with a computer program forming the present invention and including an automatic installation function. In this case, the program data file can be divided into a plurality of segment files, and the segment files can be arranged on different servers.

  That is, the present invention includes a server device that allows a plurality of users to download a program data file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer.

  In addition, the program that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is encrypted, stored in a recording medium, distributed to the user, and the user who satisfies the predetermined condition is allowed to download the key information to be decrypted via the network. It is also possible to use a method that supplies the product. By using the key information, the encrypted program can be executed and installed in a computer to realize the present invention.

  The functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by executing the program code supplied by the computer. Further, the program code is also included in the present invention when the function of the above-described embodiment is realized in cooperation with an OS running on the computer or other application software.

  Furthermore, the present invention includes the case where the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Further, when the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. It goes without saying that it is included in the present invention.

1 is an external view of a digital camera according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera of embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the whole operation | movement of the digital camera of embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the reproduction | regeneration mode process of the digital camera of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the image file handled with the digital camera of embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the edit method selection process of the digital camera of embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Shooting lens 12 Shutter 14 Image pick-up element 16 A / D converter 18 Timing generation circuit 20 Image processing circuit 22 Memory control circuit 24 Image display memory 26 D / A converter 28 Image display part 30 Memory 32 Compression / decompression circuit 40 Exposure control Unit 42 Distance control unit 44 Zoom control unit 46 Barrier control unit 48 Flash 50 System control circuit 52 Memory 54 Display unit 56 Non-volatile memory 58 Timer 60 Mode dial switch 61 Shutter button 62 Shutter switch 64 Shutter switch 66 Image display ON / OFF Switch 68 Quick review ON / OFF switch 70 Operation unit 80 Power supply control unit 86 Power supply 90 Interface 100 Digital camera 200 Recording medium 201 Recording medium slot 203 Lid 210 Recording medium

Claims (9)

An image reproduction apparatus capable of reproducing and editing an image recorded on a recording medium,
A discriminating means for discriminating the type of application marker attached to the image;
An image reproducing apparatus comprising: a determining unit that determines whether to edit the image itself or to copy the image and edit the image according to the type of the application marker determined by the determining unit.   The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of application markers are assigned to the image.   3. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application marker type includes APP2 in which MPF (multi-picture format) is recorded as an identification code. 4. The image reproduction according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that editing of the image itself is not permitted according to a type of the application marker determined by the determination unit. 5. apparatus. It said determining means, depending on the type of application marker determined by said determining means, or not allowed to edit those said image, characterized in that to select whether to edit the image to the user to duplicate the image The image reproducing device according to claim 1. Said discriminating means and said determining means performs the determination and decision at the time of image display, the image reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the notifying the result. It said discriminating means and said determining means preliminarily determines and makes a decision, an image reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the storing the result in the storage means. A method for controlling an image reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing and editing an image recorded on a recording medium,
Determining the type of application marker attached to the image;
And a step of determining whether to edit the image itself or to copy the image and edit the image according to the determined type of the application marker. A program for controlling an image reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing and editing an image recorded on a recording medium,
Processing to determine the type of application marker attached to the image;
A program for causing a computer to execute processing for determining whether to edit the image itself or to copy the image and edit the image according to the determined type of the application marker.

Images