JP5724528B2 - Image display device, image display method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device, an image display method, and a program.

  In recent years, a digital photo frame (Digital Photo Frame) having a slide show display function for sequentially switching and reading out image files stored in a memory and displaying corresponding images has appeared (for example, see Patent Document 1). .

  Memory storage capacity has been increasing year by year, and hundreds to thousands of image files can be stored, so it is possible to display a very large number of images even in a slide show of a digital photo frame. It has become.

JP 2010-243723 A

However, in the conventional slide show display of the digital photo frame including the one described in Patent Document 1, even when a large number of image files are stored in the memory, these image files are all displayed with the same probability. It was selected as a target.
For this reason, in the conventional slide show display of a digital photo frame, if a large number of image files are stored in the memory, it becomes difficult to display the newly stored image file, and the user wants to display it in the digital photo frame. Even if an image file is newly stored in the memory, it becomes difficult to select a desired image file as a display target.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and in a slide show display, it is possible to display an image that is likely to be viewed by a user among a large number of images stored in the storage unit. The purpose is to.

In order to achieve the above object, an image display device according to an aspect of the present invention includes:
In an image display device for controlling a slide show display of images using a plurality of image files recorded in a memory,
Classification means for classifying each of the plurality of image files into a plurality of groups;
Carving means for carving each of the plurality of groups in a non-uniform numerical range;
Selection means for selecting any one of the plurality of groups classified by the classification means;
Display control means for displaying an image represented by the image file classified into the group selected by the selection means;
Control means for controlling the selection probability of the group selected by the selection means ,
The control means generates a random number, specifies which generated random number is included in the numerical range of each of the plurality of groups carved by the carving means, and the numerical value including the random number The selection unit is controlled to select a group specified by a range as a display target group .

  According to the present invention, in a slide show display, it is possible to display an image that is considered to have a high probability that the user desires to browse among a large number of images stored in the storage unit.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the hardware of the image display apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the functional structure for performing the built-in memory copy classification | category process and image file display process which concern on 1st Embodiment among the functional structures of the image display apparatus of FIG. It is an example of the structure of an image list for registering (storing) a priority, a copy date and time, and a file name for each image file in the list stored in the list storage unit. It is a structure example of a group list for registering (storing) a priority, the number of files, a weight, and a threshold for each group of priorities “0” to “5” in the list stored in the list storage unit. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of a built-in memory copy classification process executed by the image display apparatus of FIG. 1 having the functional configuration of FIG. 2. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an image file display process executed by the image display apparatus of FIG. 1 having the functional configuration of FIG. 2. It is a functional block diagram which shows the functional structure for performing the image file display process which concerns on 2nd Embodiment among the functional structures of the image display apparatus of this invention. It is an example of the structure of an image list for registering (storing) the display count, copy date / time, and file name for each image file in the list stored in the list storage unit. It is a structure example of a group list for registering (storing) a display count, the number of files, a weight, and a threshold for each group of display counts “0” to “5” in the list stored in the list storage unit. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of a built-in memory copy classification process executed by the image display apparatus of FIG. 1 having the functional configuration of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the image file display process which the image display apparatus of FIG. 1 which has the functional structure of FIG. 7 performs.

  Hereinafter, as an embodiment of an image display device of the present invention, a first embodiment, a second embodiment, and a third embodiment will be individually described in that order based on the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image display apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image display device 1 is configured as a digital photo frame, for example.

  The image display apparatus 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an image processing unit 14, a bus 15, an input / output interface 16, and a display. A unit 17, a timer unit 18, an operation unit 19, a storage unit 20, and a drive 21 are provided.

  The CPU 11 executes various processes according to a program recorded in the ROM 12 or a program loaded from the storage unit 20 to the RAM 13.

  The RAM 13 appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 11 to execute various processes.

The image processing unit 14 is configured by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a VRAM (Video Random Access Memory), and the like, and performs various image processing on image data in cooperation with the CPU 11.
For example, the image processing unit 14 performs image processing such as noise reduction and hue adjustment on the image data stored in the storage unit 20.

  The CPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, and image processing unit 14 are connected to each other via a bus 15. An input / output interface 16 is also connected to the bus 15. Connected to the input / output interface 16 are a display unit 17, a timing unit 18, an operation unit 19, a storage unit 20, and a drive 21.

  The display unit 17 is configured by a display or the like and displays various images. For example, the display unit 17 displays a slide show by sequentially switching a plurality of images stored as image files in the storage unit 20.

The timekeeping unit 18 performs a timekeeping operation under the control of the CPU 11 and appropriately notifies the CPU 11 of the current time and the like.
The operation unit 19 includes various buttons and accepts user instruction operations.
The storage unit 20 is configured by a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and stores data of various images such as images for slide show display described later as image files. That is, the storage unit 20 functions as a built-in memory among the memory for recording image files.

  A removable medium 31 made of a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like is appropriately attached to the drive 21. The program read from the removable medium 31 by the drive 21 is installed in the storage unit 20 as necessary. The removable medium 31 can also store various data such as image files stored in the storage unit 20 in the same manner as the storage unit 20. That is, the removable medium 31 functions as an image providing medium for storing a new image file to be provided to the storage unit 20 as a built-in memory.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration for executing the built-in memory copy classification process and the image file display process according to the first embodiment among the functional configurations of the image display apparatus 1 of FIG.
The built-in memory copy classification process according to the first embodiment is to copy a new image file in the image providing medium (removable medium 31) to the built-in memory (image storage unit 41 of the storage unit 20), and to store the copied storage unit. A series of processing until the plurality of image files stored in 20 are reclassified into a plurality of groups based on priority. The priority level and group will be described later.
In the image file display processing according to the first embodiment, when performing a slide show display, a group to be displayed is selected (primary selection) from a plurality of groups based on random numbers, and the selected priority group is selected. A series of processes from selecting a display target from one or more image files to which it belongs (secondarily selecting) and displaying an image to be displayed.

The CPU 11 includes a copy classification unit 51 that executes a built-in memory copy classification process according to the first embodiment, and a display control unit 52 that executes an image file display process according to the first embodiment.
An area of the storage unit 20 includes an image storage unit 41 that stores an image file, and a list storage unit 42 that stores an image list and a group list, which will be described later.

In this embodiment, the copy classification unit 51 uses the image list of FIG. 3 to execute a new image file in the image storage unit 41 after copying when executing the built-in memory copy classification process according to the first embodiment. Classify.
FIG. 3 is an example of the structure of an image list for registering (storing) the priority, the copy date and time, and the file name for each image file in the list stored in the list storage unit 42.
In the image list, one line corresponds to one image file. That is, “priority”, “copy date / time”, and “file name” for the image file corresponding to the predetermined line are registered in the predetermined line.

The “priority” is an index indicating the degree of priority for selecting an image file as a display target candidate in a slide show display. In this embodiment, an image file with an older date recorded in the built-in memory (image storage unit 41) is set with a lower priority.
Specifically, the priority is defined in six levels so that “0” is the highest priority and changes from “0” to “5” one by one until it reaches the lowest “5”. The lower the image file, the lower the probability of being selected as a display target in the slide show display.

The “copy date” refers to the date and time when the image file stored in the image providing medium (removable medium 31) is copied to the built-in memory (image storage unit 41). When copying the image file, date and time information is supplied from the time measuring unit 18.
The “file name” refers to the name of the image file that is given when the image file is copied and stored in the built-in memory (image storage unit 41).

Specifically, in this embodiment, any one of “0” to “5” is set as the priority for each of the image files stored in the image storage unit 41, and the image list shown in FIG. Each line is added or updated by the copy classification unit 51.
FIG. 3A shows a part of the image list related to the image file in which “5” is set as the priority by the copy classification unit 51.
FIG. 3B shows a part of the image list related to the image file in which “1” is set as the priority by the copy classification unit 51.
FIG. 3C shows a part of the image list related to the image file in which “0” is set as the priority by the copy classification unit 51.

More specifically, it is assumed that new image files named “CIMG0800.JPG” and “CIMG0801.JPG” have been copied from the image providing medium (removable medium 31) to the built-in memory (image storage unit 41). .
In this case, the copy classification unit 51 adds two lines shown in FIG. 3C to the image list. That is, as a breakdown of the two lines added to the image list, each of “CIMG0800.JPG” and “CIMG0801.JPG” is stored in each of the “file name” items for two lines. “Copy date and time” items both store “2010-09-28 09:00”, and “priority” items for two lines both have the lowest “0” (initial setting value). Stored.

In this case, as for the image file already recorded in the built-in memory (image storage unit 41), in the present embodiment, in principle, the priority is incremented by one. For example, if each image file named “CIMG0100.JPG” and “CIMG0101.JPG” has been set with “0” as the priority, each priority is updated to “1”. The image list is also updated as shown in FIG.
Similarly, if the image file named “CIMG002.JPG” has been set with “4” as the priority so far, the priority is updated to “5”, and the image list is also shown in FIG. Updated as shown in A).
As for the image files named “CIMG000.JPG” and “CIMG001.JPG”, if the priorities have already been set to the lowest “5”, the priorities are not updated. 5 ”. In other words, the number of image files with the priority “5” is the number of image files copied from the image providing medium (removable medium 31) to the built-in memory unless the image file is deleted from the built-in memory (image storage unit 41). Every time it is done, it will increase.

In other words, in the present embodiment, a plurality of image files stored in the built-in memory are classified into one of six groups based on the date recorded in the built-in memory. Each of these six groups corresponds to “0” to “5” as priorities in order from the group with the smallest date recorded in the internal memory. That is, it can be grasped that the priority is set for each image file, but it can be grasped that the image file is classified into any of the groups of the priority “0” to “5”. it can.
The timing at which such classification is performed is the timing at which a new image file is copied from the image providing medium (removable medium 31) to the built-in memory (image storage unit 41). In other words, at this timing, the copied new image file is classified into a group with priority “0”. Then, each of the image files that belonged to the groups with the priorities “1” to “4” is classified into the groups with the priorities “2” to “5” that have been lowered one by one. Note that the image files that belonged to the group with the priority “5” so far are still classified into the group with the priority “5”.

Returning to FIG. 2, when executing the image file display processing according to the first embodiment, the display control unit 52 selects an image file with an older date recorded in the image storage unit 41 as a display target in the slide show display. Is controlled to be low.
Such a display control unit 52 includes a preprocessing unit 61 and an image selection display unit 62.

  The preprocessing unit 61 performs various processes necessary for selecting a display target in the slide show display, for example, a process of determining a threshold value as an index, as the preprocess.

  The image selection display unit 62 selects one group from a plurality of groups (groups with priorities of “0” to “5” in this embodiment) based on the result of the preprocessing of the preprocessing unit 61. (Primary selection), one image file is selected as a display target from the selected group. Then, the image selection display unit 62 reads out the selected image file from the image storage unit 41 and executes control for causing the display unit 17 to display the image represented by the image file.

  In the following, detailed descriptions of each of the preprocessing unit 61 and the image selection display unit 62 will be given in that order.

  The preprocessing unit 61 includes an image count totaling unit 71 and a threshold value determining unit 72.

The image count totaling unit 71 counts the number of image files stored in the image storage unit 41 for each priority. That is, the image count totaling unit 71 counts the number of image files belonging to each of the priority levels “0” to “5”.
The image count totaling unit 71 supplies the threshold value determining unit 72 with the number of image files totaled for each of the priority levels “0” to “5”.

  Based on the number of image files aggregated for each priority group supplied from the image count totaling unit 71 and the weight defined for each priority group, the threshold determining unit 72 selects the image selection display unit 62. The threshold value used as an index for the selection (primary selection) of the display target group is determined.

FIG. 4 shows a group list for registering (storing) the priority, the number of files, the weight, and the threshold value for each of the groups having the priorities “0” to “5” in the list stored in the list storage unit 42. It is a structural example.
In the image list, one row corresponds to one group. That is, “priority”, “number of files”, “weight”, and “threshold value” for a group corresponding to the predetermined row are registered in the predetermined row.
In the “priority” item of a predetermined row, the priority set for the group corresponding to the predetermined row, that is, the priority set for each image file belonging to the group is registered.
In the “number of files” item of the predetermined line, the number of image files belonging to the group corresponding to the predetermined line and the number counted by the image number counting unit 71 is registered.
In the item “weight” of a predetermined row, a weight defined for the group corresponding to the predetermined row is registered. The threshold set in the group corresponding to the predetermined row is registered in the “threshold” item of the predetermined row.
Hereinafter, the details of each of the weight and the threshold will be described in that order.

The “weight” defined for a predetermined group is a numerical value relatively representing the display probability per image file belonging to the predetermined group.
A lower weight is defined for a group of image files with older dates recorded in the image storage unit 41. That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a low weight is defined for a group with low priority, and conversely, a high weight is defined for a group with high priority.
Specifically, the weights are defined in a plurality of stages so as to increase from “1.0” to “5.0” by 0.1 stages until the maximum becomes “5.0”. The higher the weight of the group, the higher the probability that an image file belonging to the group will be displayed in the slide show display.
For example, in the example of FIG. 4, the weight “1.0” is set for the group with the priority “5”. A weight of “1.5” is set for the group of priority “4”. A weight of “2.0” is set for the group of priority “3”. A weight of “2.5” is set for the group of priority “2”. A weight of “3.0” is set for the group of priority “1”. A weight of “5.0” is set for the group of priority “0”.

Next, the threshold value will be described.
Here, the threshold value is a value that defines a range to which a group with a predetermined priority belongs, and is a value that indicates a boundary with a lower priority group. That is, a random number generated by a random number generation unit 81 to be described later is compared with each threshold value of each priority group to determine in which priority group range the random number is included. Then, a priority group within a range including the random number is selected as a display target (primary selection is performed).
Specifically, the threshold value determination unit 72 calculates a threshold value of the priority N (group thereof), for example, according to the following equation ( 1 ). Here, N is any integer value from the highest value (= 0) to the lowest value (= 5) of the priority.

  When the preprocessing is completed by the preprocessing unit 61 including the image count totaling unit 71 and the threshold determining unit 72, that is, when the threshold is determined for each of the priority levels “0” to “5”, FIG. Are registered in each item of “threshold value” in the group list of, and supplied to the image selection display unit 62.

The details of the preprocessing unit 61 have been described above. Next, details of the image selection display unit 62 will be described.
The image selection display unit 62 includes a random number generation unit 81, a group selection unit 82, and a group image display control unit 83.

  The random number generation unit 81 generates a random number from 0 to less than 1 at the timing when the threshold is supplied from the threshold determination unit 72 to the group selection unit 82.

The group selection unit 82 selects a display target group by comparing the random number generated by the random number generation unit 81 with each threshold value of each priority group registered in the group list of FIG. To select).
In other words, the group selection unit 82 determines which priority group the random number is included in by comparing the random number with each threshold value of each priority group. And the group selection part 82 selects the group of the priority of the range containing the said random number as a display target.

Specifically, when the group list in the example of FIG. 4 is referred to, the range of the group with the priority “0” is 0 or more and less than 0.253, and the priority is the range of 0.253 or more and less than 0.329. The range of the group of “1” is 0.329 or more and less than 0.392 is the range of the group of the priority “2”, and the range of 0.392 or more and less than 0.595 is the range of the group of the priority “3”. Yes, the range of 0.595 or more and less than 0.747 is the range of the group with the priority “4”, and the range of 0.747 or more and less than 1.000 is the range of the group with the priority “5”.
Therefore, for example, when the random number generated by the random number generation unit 81 is 0.300, the random number is included in the range of 0.253 or more and less than 0.329, and therefore the group with the priority “1” is displayed. Selected as a target.

The group image display control unit 83 selects an arbitrary image file as a display target from one or more image files (display target candidates) belonging to the group selected as a display target by the group selection unit 82 (secondary selection). To do).
For example, as in the above example, when the random number generated by the random number generation unit 81 is 0.300, the group with the priority “1” is selected as the display target.
In this case, the group image display control unit 83 refers to the group list in FIG. 4 and selects any one of the five image files belonging to the group with the priority “1” as a display target.
Then, the group image display control unit 83 reads the image file selected as a display target from the built-in memory (image storage unit 41), and controls the display unit 17 to display the image represented by the image file.

As described above, in this embodiment, each of a large number of image files stored in the built-in memory (image storage unit 41) has a priority “0” to “5” based on the date stored in the built-in memory. Classified into groups.
When a slide show is displayed, the image file is not selected as a display target suddenly, but the display target group is selected first, and then the display target image file is selected from the primary selected group. Two-stage selection, such as selection, is performed.
Therefore, in the primary selection, by appropriately controlling the probability that each group is selected as a display target, the probability that an image file is finally selected as a display target can be freely changed.
For example, in the primary selection, by controlling so that the group with lower priority is selected as the display target, the probability that the recorded (copied) date is selected as the display target of the older image file is lower. It can be easily made. In other words, it is possible to easily increase the probability that the copied date is selected as a display target for new image files. Here, the date that has been copied to the built-in memory is generally more likely to be an image file that the user wants to display. Therefore, the higher the probability that the copied date is selected as a display target for a new image file means that the user can display a desired image.
In addition, as control in such primary selection, the control using the above-described threshold is adopted in the present embodiment, but is not particularly limited to this, and control that can change the probability of selection as a display target for each group. If it is enough.

Next, the built-in memory copy classification process among the processes executed by the image display device 1 having the functional configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the built-in memory copy classification process executed by the image display apparatus of FIG. 1 having the functional configuration of FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the built-in memory copy classification process is executed at predetermined time intervals after the image display apparatus 1 is turned on.

  In step S <b> 11, the copy classification unit 51 determines whether or not the removable medium 31 as the image providing medium is loaded in the drive 21.

If the removable medium 31 is not loaded, it is determined NO in step S11, and the built-in memory copy classification process ends.
That is, until the removable medium 31 is mounted, the built-in memory copy classification process is started at predetermined time intervals, and it is determined as NO in step S11, and the built-in memory copy classification process ends. The above is repeated.
Thereafter, when the internal memory copy classification process is started after the removable medium 31 is mounted, it is determined as YES in Step S11, and the process proceeds to Step S12.

  In step S12, the copy classification unit 51 determines whether a new image file exists. Specifically, the copy classifying unit 51 compares the image file stored in the removable medium 31 with the image file stored in the built-in memory (image storage unit 41), so that the contents in the removable medium 31 are stored. It is determined whether there is a new image file that is not stored in the built-in memory.

If there is no new image file, it is determined as NO in step S12, and the built-in memory copy classification process ends.
On the other hand, when a new image file exists, it is determined as YES in Step S12, and the process proceeds to Step S13.

  In step S13, the copy classification unit 51 copies one image file in the removable medium 31 to the built-in memory.

  In step S14, the copy classification unit 51 adds the information of the copied image file to the image list (see FIG. 3) stored in the list storage unit 42.

  In step S15, the copy classification unit 51 determines whether or not all new image files have been copied to the internal memory.

If all new image files in the removable medium 31 have not been copied to the built-in memory, it is determined NO in step S15, and the process returns to step S13. That is, by repeating the processes of steps S13 to S15, each new image file in the removable medium 31 is sequentially copied to the built-in memory, and corresponding information is added to the image list.
Thereafter, if all the image files in the removable medium 31 have been copied to the built-in memory, it is determined as YES in Step S15, and the process proceeds to Step S16.

In step S16, the copy classification unit 51 classifies the image file by updating the priority of the image list.
Specifically, the copy classification unit 51 sets a priority “0” for a new image file, and the priorities of the image files stored so far in the image storage unit 41 are “0”. “1” to “5”, which are incremented by one, are set for the items “1” to “4”, and the priority “5” is set as it is for the priorities “5”.
In this process, a new image file is copied to the built-in memory, and the stored contents of the built-in memory are updated, so that each image file stored in the built-in memory is recorded in the built-in memory. The group classification based on the date (priority) is redone.
When the process in step S16 is completed, the built-in memory copy classification process ends.

Next, image file display processing executed by the image display device 1 having the functional configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of image file display processing executed by the image display apparatus of FIG. 1 having the functional configuration of FIG.

  In the present embodiment, when the user performs an operation for starting a slide show display on the operation unit 19, the image file display process is started when the operation is performed. However, it is assumed that the built-in memory copy classification process of FIG. 5 has been executed at least once.

  In step S21, the image count totaling unit 71 counts the number of image files stored in the image storage unit 41 for each priority group. The image count totaling unit 71 supplies the threshold value determining unit 72 with the number of image files totaled for each priority group.

In step S22, the threshold value determination unit 72 determines a threshold value for each priority group from the number of image files and the weights accumulated in the process of step S21.
That is, the threshold determination unit 72 is defined for each priority group in the number of image files supplied for each priority group from the threshold determination unit 72 and the image list stored in the list storage unit 42. The threshold value for each priority group is determined by substituting the calculated weights into equation (1 ).
The threshold value determination unit 72 updates the stored value of the “threshold value” item of the image list stored in the list storage unit 42 to the determined threshold value, and supplies the determined threshold value to the group selection unit 82.

  In step S 23, the random number generation unit 81 generates a random number from 0 to less than 1, and supplies the random number to the group selection unit 82.

In step S24, the group selection unit 82 selects “0” to “0” based on the random number generated in step S23 and the threshold value determined in step S22 stored in the image list in FIG. A group to be displayed is selected (primary selection) from the priority group of “5”.
The group selection unit 82 notifies the group image display control unit 83 of the priority group selected as the display target.

  In step S25, the group image display control unit 83 selects (secondary selection) a file to be displayed from the group selected in the process of step S24.

In step S26, the group image display control unit 83 reads the selected image file from the built-in memory (image storage unit 41), and causes the display unit 17 to display an image corresponding to the image file.
When this process ends, the image file display process ends.

As described above, the image display device 1 according to the first embodiment includes the copy classification unit 51 and the display control unit 52.
The copy classification unit 51 selects one of a plurality of image files recorded in the storage unit 20 (image storage unit 41) from one of a plurality of groups based on the time recorded in the image storage unit 41. Classify into:
The display control unit 52 selects a display target group from a plurality of groups into which a plurality of image files are classified by the copy classification unit 51, and displays the display target from among the image files belonging to the group selected as the display target. Control for displaying the image represented by the image file selected as the display target.
Then, the display control unit 52 selects a display target group so that the image file recorded in the image storage unit 41 has a lower probability of being selected, and selects the display target image file from the group. To do.

In this case, the image file selected by the image selection display unit 62 has a lower selection probability for a group whose time recorded in the image storage unit 41 is older. That is, the probability that an image file with a long recorded time is displayed in the display of an image using a plurality of image files such as a slide show display is reduced, and as a result, an image file with a new recorded time is selected. Probability increases.
That is, since an image file with a long recorded time has a high probability of being displayed many times in the slide show display from before, an image file in which the user is interested has a new time recorded in the image storage unit 41. The actual situation is concentrated on the image of the image file.
Therefore, by reducing the probability that an image of an image file with a long recorded time is displayed in the slide show display, the image file that the user desires to view among a large number of image files stored in the image storage unit 41 is displayed. The display probability of the image can be increased.

Furthermore, the display control unit 52 of the first embodiment includes an image count totaling unit 71, a threshold value determining unit 72, a group selection unit 82, and a group image display control unit 83.
The image count totaling unit 71 totalizes the number of image files recorded in the storage unit 20 (image storage unit 41) for each of a plurality of groups.
The threshold value determination unit 72 cuts each of the plurality of groups in a numerical range based on the number of image files totaled for each of the plurality of groups by the number-of-images counting unit 71 and the weight defined for each of the plurality of groups. To determine a threshold value.
The group selection unit 82 determines in which numerical value range each of the plurality of groups the random number is included, and selects a group specified by the numerical value range including the random number as a display target group.
Then, the group image display control unit 83 selects one image file from the group selected as a display target by the group selection unit 82, and controls the display of the image represented by the selected image file.

In this case, the probability of displaying an image of an image file belonging to the group can be changed by appropriately setting the weight defined for each group.
As a result, the image file belonging to the group including the image file having the old recorded time has a lower probability of being displayed in the slide show display than the image file belonging to the group including the image file having the new recorded time. As a result, the display probability of the image file belonging to the group including the image file with the new recorded time increases.
Therefore, it is possible to increase the display probability of an image file that the user desires to see among a large number of image files stored in the image storage unit 41.

The image display apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
Next, an image display apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the display control unit 52 selects a display target group so that the probability that an image file recorded in the storage unit 20 is older is lower, and the display target image is selected from the group. It was controlled to select a file.
On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the display control unit selects a display target group so that the probability of selecting an image file having a larger number of images displayed in the slide show display is reduced, and the display control unit selects the display target group from the group. Control to select an image file to be displayed.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration for executing the image file display processing according to the second embodiment, among the functional configurations of the image display apparatus 1 of the present invention.

2 and FIG. 7, the functional configuration in the CPU 11 of the image display device 1 according to the second embodiment is that the image file recorded in the storage unit 20 is displayed every time the slide show is displayed. Excluding the points to be tabulated, the description is omitted because it is basically the same as the image display device 1 according to the first embodiment.
That is, the image display device 1 according to the first embodiment selects a group for each priority based on the recorded time from a plurality of groups, and selects one or more image files belonging to the selected priority group. The display target is selected from, and the display target image is displayed.
In contrast, the image display device 1 according to the second embodiment selects a group for each display count based on the displayed time from a plurality of groups, and one or more image files belonging to the selected display count group. The display target is selected from among the images, and the display target image is displayed.
Note that the hardware configuration of the image display device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is realized by a configuration basically similar to the hardware configuration of FIG. 1 of the image display device 1 according to the first embodiment. be able to.

Due to the difference in the group classification method, the configuration in the display control unit is different between the first embodiment and the second embodiment. That is, in the first embodiment, the number of image files stored in the image storage unit 41 is calculated for each priority group supplied from the image number totaling unit 71 and the image number totaling unit 71 for each priority. A threshold value determination unit 72 that determines a threshold value used as an index for selection of a display target group by the image selection display unit 62 based on the total number of image files and the weights defined for each priority group. The display control unit 52 is provided. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the number of image files stored in the image storage unit 41 is counted for each display count, and the number of display times supplied from the image count totaling unit 171. A threshold value determination unit that determines a threshold value used as an index for selection of a display target group by the image selection display unit 162 based on the number of image files aggregated for each group and the weight specified for each display frequency group. 172 is provided in the display control unit 152.
The image count totaling unit 171 to the group image display control unit 183 of the image display device 1 of the second embodiment are the same as the image count totaling unit 71 to the group image display control unit 83 of the image display device 1 of the first embodiment. Since it is the same, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted and only a different location is demonstrated.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration for executing the built-in memory copy classification process and the image file display process according to the second embodiment, among the functional configurations of the image display apparatus 1 of FIG.
The built-in memory copy classification process according to the second embodiment is to copy a new image file in the image providing medium (removable medium 31) to the built-in memory (image storage unit 141 of the storage unit 20), and to store the copied storage unit. A series of processing until the plurality of image files stored in 20 are reclassified into a plurality of groups based on the display count. Note that the display count, group, and the like will be described later.
In the image file display processing according to the second embodiment, when performing a slide show display, a group to be displayed is selected (primary selection) from a plurality of groups based on a random number, and the selected display count group is selected. A series of processes from selecting a display target from one or more image files to which it belongs (secondarily selecting) and displaying an image to be displayed.

The CPU 11 includes a copy classification unit 151 that executes a built-in memory copy classification process according to the second embodiment, and a display control unit 152 that executes an image file display process according to the second embodiment.
An area of the storage unit 20 is provided with an image storage unit 141 that stores an image file, and a list storage unit 142 that stores an image list and a group list, which will be described later.

In the present embodiment, the copy classification unit 151 uses the image list of FIG. 8 to execute a new image file in the image storage unit 41 after copying when executing the built-in memory copy classification process according to the second embodiment. Classify.
FIG. 8 shows an example of the structure of an image list for registering (storing) the display count, copy date and time, and file name for each image file in the list stored in the list storage unit 142.
In the image list, one line corresponds to one image file. That is, the “display count”, “copy date / time”, and “file name” for the image file corresponding to the predetermined line are registered in the predetermined line.

The “display count” is an index indicating the degree to which image files that are candidates for display in slide show display are preferentially selected as display targets. In the present embodiment, the higher the number of display times is set for an image file that is displayed more frequently in the slide show display.
Specifically, the number of times of display is defined in 6 levels so that the number of times of display increases from “0” to “5” in increments of 1 to a maximum of “5”. The probability of being selected as a display target is reduced.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, any one of “0” to “5” is set as the display count for each of the image files stored in the image storage unit 41, and the image list shown in FIG. Each line is added or updated by the copy classification unit 151.
FIG. 8A shows a part of the image list related to the image file in which “5” is set as the display count by the copy classification unit 151.
FIG. 8B shows a part of the image list relating to the image file in which “1” is set as the number of display times by the copy classification unit 151.
FIG. 8C shows a part of the image list related to the image file in which “0” is set as the number of display times by the copy classification unit 151.

More specifically, it is assumed that new image files named “CIMG0800.JPG” and “CIMG0801.JPG” have been copied from the image providing medium (removable medium 31) to the built-in memory (image storage unit 141). .
In this case, the copy classification unit 151 adds two lines shown in FIG. 8C to the image list. That is, as a breakdown of the two lines added to the image list, each of “CIMG0800.JPG” and “CIMG0801.JPG” is stored in each of the “file name” items for two lines. “Copy date and time” items both store “2010-09-28 09:00”, and “Display count” items for two lines both have the lowest “0” (initial setting value). Stored.

In the present embodiment, as for the image file already recorded in the built-in memory (image storage unit 141), it is assumed that the display count is incremented by one every time it is displayed. For example, for each image file named “CIMG0100.JPG” and “CIMG0101.JPG”, when “0” has been set as the number of display times so far, each time an image of the image file is displayed, The display count is updated to “1”, and the image list is also updated as shown in FIG.
Similarly, if an image file named “CIMG002.JPG” has been set to “4” as the number of display times so far, the number of display times is updated to “5”, and the image list is also shown in FIG. Updated as shown in A).
As for the image files named “CIMG000.JPG” and “CIMG001.JPG”, if the number of display times so far has already been set to “5”, the number of display times is not updated. 5 ”. That is, the number of image files with the display count “5” increases every time an image corresponding to the image file is displayed unless the image file is deleted from the built-in memory (image storage unit 141). Become.

In other words, in the present embodiment, the plurality of image files stored in the built-in memory are classified into one of six groups based on the number of times the image of the image file is displayed. The Each of these six groups corresponds to “0” to “5” as the number of times of display in order from the group with the smallest number of times of display. That is, it can be grasped that the display count is set for each image file, but it can be grasped that the image file is classified into any one of the display count “0” to “5” groups. it can.
The timing at which such classification is performed is the timing at which the image of the image file is displayed. That is, at the timing when a new image file is first copied from the image providing medium (removable medium 31) to the built-in memory (image storage unit 41), the copied new image file is displayed in a group whose display count is “0”. are categorized. Each of the image files that belonged to the group of display counts “1” to “4” is incremented by one each time an image of the image file is displayed in step S47 of FIG. The number of display times is classified into a group of “2” to “5”. Note that the image files that belonged to the display count “5” group are still classified into the display count “5” group.

Returning to FIG. 7, when executing the image file display processing according to the second embodiment, the display control unit 152 reduces the probability that an image file having a larger number of image display times is selected as a display target in the slide show display. Control.
Such a display control unit 152 includes a preprocessing unit 161 and an image selection display unit 162.

  The pre-processing unit 161 executes various processes necessary for selecting a display target in the slide show display, such as determining a threshold value as an index, as the pre-process.

  The image selection display unit 162 selects one group from a plurality of groups (in this embodiment, the number of display times is “0” to “5”) based on the result of the preprocessing of the preprocessing unit 161. (Primary selection), one image file is selected as a display target from the selected group. Then, the image selection display unit 162 reads out the selected image file from the image storage unit 141 and executes control for causing the display unit 17 to display the image represented by the image file.

  In the following, detailed descriptions of each of the preprocessing unit 161 and the image selection display unit 162 will be given in that order.

  The preprocessing unit 161 includes an image count totaling unit 171 and a threshold value determining unit 172.

The image count totaling unit 171 counts the number of image files stored in the image storage unit 141 for each display count. That is, the image count totaling unit 71 counts the number of image files belonging to each group of the display count “0” to “5”.
The image count totaling unit 171 supplies the threshold number determining unit 172 with the number of image files totaled for each group of the number of display times “0” to “5”.

  Based on the number of image files aggregated for each display count group supplied from the image count totaling section 171 and the weight specified for each display count group, the threshold value determining section 172 is provided with the image selection display section 162. The threshold value used as an index for the selection (primary selection) of the display target group is determined.

FIG. 9 shows a group list for registering (storing) the display count, the number of files, the weight, and the threshold value for each group of the display counts “0” to “5” in the list stored in the list storage unit 142. It is a structural example.
In the image list, one row corresponds to one group. That is, the “display count”, “number of files”, “weight”, and “threshold” for the group corresponding to the predetermined row are registered in the predetermined row.
In the “display count” item of the predetermined row, the display count set for the group corresponding to the predetermined row, that is, the display count set for each image file belonging to the group is registered.
In the “number of files” item of the predetermined line, the number of image files belonging to the group corresponding to the predetermined line and the number counted by the image number counting unit 71 is registered.
In the item “weight” of a predetermined row, a weight defined for the group corresponding to the predetermined row is registered. The threshold set in the group corresponding to the predetermined row is registered in the “threshold” item of the predetermined row.
Hereinafter, the details of each of the weight and the threshold will be described in that order.

The “weight” defined for a predetermined group is a numerical value relatively representing the display probability per image file belonging to the predetermined group.
A lower weight is defined for a group of image files having a larger number of image display times. That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a low weight is defined for a group with a large number of displays, and conversely, a high weight is defined for a group with a small number of displays.
Specifically, the weights are defined in a plurality of stages so as to increase from “1.0” to “5.0” by 0.1 stages until the maximum becomes “5.0”. The higher the weight of the group, the higher the probability that an image file belonging to the group will be displayed in the slide show display.
For example, in the example of FIG. 9, the weight “1.0” is set for the group with the display count “5”. A weight “1.5” is set for the group with the display count “4”. A weight “2.0” is set for the group with the display count “3”. A weight of “2.5” is set for the group of the number of display times “2”. A weight “3.0” is set for the group with the display count “1”. A weight “5.0” is set for the group with the display count “0”.

Next, the threshold value will be described.
Here, the threshold value is a value that defines a range to which a group with a predetermined number of display times belongs, and is a value that indicates a boundary with a group with a lower number of display times. That is, a random number generated by a random number generation unit 181 to be described later is compared with each threshold value of each display frequency group to determine which display frequency group the random number is included in. Then, the display frequency group within the range including the random number is selected as a display target (primary selection is performed).
Specifically, the threshold value determination unit 172 calculates the threshold value of the display count N (group thereof), for example, according to the following formula 2 . Here, N is any integer value from the highest value (= 0) to the lowest value (= 5) of the number of display times.

When the preprocessing is completed by the preprocessing unit 161 including the image count totaling unit 171 and the threshold value determining unit 172, that is, when the threshold value is determined for each group of the display times “0” to “5”, FIG. Is registered in each item of “threshold value” in the group list of, and supplied to the image selection display unit 162.

The details of the preprocessing unit 161 have been described above. Next, details of the image selection display unit 162 will be described.
The image selection display unit 162 includes a random number generation unit 181, a group selection unit 182, and a group image display control unit 183.

  The random number generation unit 181 generates a random number from 0 to less than 1 at the timing when the threshold is supplied from the threshold determination unit 172 to the group selection unit 182.

The group selection unit 182 selects a display target group by comparing the random number generated by the random number generation unit 181 with each threshold value of each display count registered in the group list of FIG. To select).
In other words, the group selection unit 182 compares the random number with each threshold value of each display count group to determine which display count group range the random number is included in. And the group selection part 182 selects the group of the display frequency of the range including the said random number as a display target.

Specifically, when the group list in the example of FIG. 9 is referred to, the range of the display count “0” is 0 or more and less than 0.253, and the display count is 0.253 or more and less than 0.329. The range of the group of “1” is 0.329 or more and less than 0.392 is the range of the group of the display frequency “2”, and the range of 0.392 or more and less than 0.595 is the range of the group of the number of display times “3”. Yes, 0.595 or more and less than 0.747 is the range of the display number “4” group, and 0.747 or more and less than 1.000 is the range of the display number “5” group.
Therefore, for example, when the random number generated by the random number generation unit 181 is 0.300, the random number is included in the range of 0.253 or more and less than 0.329, and thus the group of the display count “1” is displayed. Selected as a target.

The group image display control unit 183 selects an arbitrary image file as a display target from one or more image files (display target candidates) belonging to the group selected as a display target by the group selection unit 182 (secondary selection). To do).
For example, when the random number generated by the random number generator 181 is 0.300 as in the above-described example, the group with the display count “1” is selected as the display target.
In this case, the group image display control unit 183 refers to the group list in FIG. 9 and selects any one of the five image files belonging to the group with the display count “1” as a display target.
Then, the group image display control unit 183 reads the image file selected as the display target from the built-in memory (image storage unit 141), and controls the display unit 17 to display the image represented by the image file.

As described above, in the present embodiment, each of a large number of image files stored in the built-in memory (image storage unit 141) is displayed based on the number of times the image of the image file is displayed. 5 ”group.
When a slide show is displayed, the image file is not selected as a display target suddenly, but the display target group is selected first, and then the display target image file is selected from the primary selected group. Two-stage selection, such as selection, is performed.
Therefore, in the primary selection, by appropriately controlling the probability that each group is selected as a display target, the probability that an image file is finally selected as a display target can be freely changed.
For example, in the primary selection, by controlling so that a group with a higher display count is selected as a display target, an image file with a higher display count is set to have a lower probability of being selected as a display target. Can be easily done. In other words, it is possible to easily increase the probability that an image file with a smaller display count is selected as a display target. Here, the number of times displayed in a slide show display or the like is generally more likely to be an image file desired as a display target by the user. Therefore, the higher the probability that an image file with a smaller display count is selected as a display target means that the user can display a desired image.
In addition, as control in such primary selection, the control using the above-described threshold is adopted in the present embodiment, but is not particularly limited to this, and control that can change the probability of selection as a display target for each group. If it is enough.

Next, the built-in memory copy classification process among the processes executed by the image display device 1 having the functional configuration shown in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the built-in memory copy classification process executed by the image display apparatus of FIG. 1 having the functional configuration of FIG.

In the present embodiment, the built-in memory copy classification process is executed at predetermined time intervals after the image display apparatus 1 is turned on.
In addition, since the process of step S31-step S34 is the same as the process of step S11-step S14 of FIG. 5 of 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.
However, in step S33, the copy classification unit 151 sets the display count “0” for a new image file at the same time as copying the image file to the internal memory.

  In step S35, the copy classification unit 151 determines whether all new image files have been copied to the internal memory.

If all new image files in the removable medium 31 have not been copied to the built-in memory, it is determined as NO in Step S35, and the process returns to Step S33. That is, by repeating the processing of steps S33 to S35, each new image file in the removable medium 31 is sequentially copied to the built-in memory, and corresponding information is added to the image list.
Thereafter, when all the image files in the removable medium 31 have been copied to the internal memory, the internal memory copy classification process ends.

Next, an image file display process executed by the image display device 1 having the functional configuration shown in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of image file display processing executed by the image display apparatus of FIG. 1 having the functional configuration of FIG.

  In the present embodiment, when the user performs an operation for starting a slide show display on the operation unit 19, the image file display process is started when the operation is performed. However, it is assumed that the built-in memory copy classification process of FIG. 10 has been executed at least once.

  In step S41, the image count totaling unit 171 counts the number of image files stored in the image storage unit 141 for each display count group. The image count totaling unit 171 supplies the threshold value determining unit 172 with the number of image files totaled for each display count group.

In step S42, the threshold value determination unit 172 determines the threshold value for each display count group from the number of image files and the weights accumulated in the process of step S41.
That is, the threshold value determination unit 172 is defined for each display frequency group in the number of image files supplied from the threshold value determination unit 172 for each display count group and the image list stored in the list storage unit 142. The threshold value for each display count group is determined by substituting the calculated weights into equation (2 ).
The threshold value determination unit 172 updates the stored value of the “threshold value” item of the image list stored in the list storage unit 142 to the determined threshold value, and supplies the determined threshold value to the group selection unit 182.

  In step S43, the random number generation unit 181 generates a random number from 0 to less than 1, and supplies the random number to the group selection unit 182.

In step S44, the group selection unit 182 selects “0” to “0” based on the random number generated in the process of step S43 and the threshold value determined in the process of step S42 stored in the image list of FIG. The display target group is selected (primary selection) from the display count group of “5”.
The group selection unit 182 notifies the group image display control unit 183 of the display frequency group selected as the display target.

  In step S45, the group image display control unit 183 selects a file to be displayed (secondary selection) from the group selected in the process of step S44.

  In step S46, the group image display control unit 183 reads the selected image file from the built-in memory (image storage unit 141) and causes the display unit 17 to display an image corresponding to the image file.

  In step S47, the group image display control unit 183 updates the display count of the image list corresponding to the image file of the displayed image by adding one. When this process ends, the image file display process of the second embodiment ends.

As described above, the image display device 1 according to the second embodiment includes the copy classification unit 151 and the display control unit 152.
The copy classification unit 151 classifies each of the plurality of image files recorded in the storage unit 20 (the image storage unit 141) into any one of a plurality of groups based on the number of image display times.
The display control unit 152 selects a display target group from a plurality of groups into which a plurality of image files are classified by the copy classification unit 151, and displays the display target from the image files belonging to the group selected as the display target. Control for displaying the image represented by the image file selected as the display target.
Then, the display control unit 152 selects a display target group so that the probability that an image file having a larger number of displayed images is selected becomes lower, and selects a display target image file from the group.

In this case, the image file selected by the image selection display unit 162 has a lower selection probability as the group has a larger number of times the image is displayed on the display unit 17. That is, since the probability of displaying an image file with a large number of displayed times in the display of an image using a plurality of image files such as a slide show display is reduced, an image file with a small number of displayed times is selected as a result. Probability increases.
In other words, since image files that have been displayed many times have been displayed many times in the slide show display from before, the image files that the user is interested in concentrate on the images of image files that have been displayed few times. The fact is.
Therefore, by reducing the probability of displaying the images of the image file that is displayed many times in the slide show display, among the many image files stored in the image storage unit 41, the image file that the user desires to view is displayed. The display probability of the image can be increased.

Furthermore, the display control unit 152 of the second embodiment includes an image count totaling unit 171, a threshold value determination unit 172, a group selection unit 182, and a group image display control unit 183.
The image count totaling unit 171 counts the number of image files recorded in the storage unit 20 (image storage unit 141) for each of a plurality of groups.
The threshold value determination unit 172 separates each of the plurality of groups in a numerical range based on the number of image files totaled for each of the plurality of groups by the image number totalization unit 171 and the weight defined for each of the plurality of groups. To determine a threshold value.
The group selection unit 182 determines in which numerical range each of the plurality of groups the random number is included, and selects a group specified by the numerical range including the random number as a display target group.
Then, the group image display control unit 183 selects one image file from the group selected as a display target by the group selection unit 182 and controls the display of the image represented by the selected image file.

In this case, the probability of displaying an image of an image file belonging to the group can be changed by appropriately setting the weight defined for each group.
As a result, the probability that an image file belonging to a group including an image file with a large number of times of display is displayed in a slide show display is lower than an image file belonging to a group including an image file with a small number of times of display. As a result, the display probability of an image file belonging to a group including an image file that is displayed less frequently is increased.
Therefore, it is possible to increase the display probability of an image file that the user desires to see among a large number of image files stored in the image storage unit 41.

The image display apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
Next, an image display apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the display control unit 52 selects a display target group so that the probability that an image file recorded in the storage unit 20 is older is lower, and the display target image is selected from the group. It was controlled to select a file.
On the other hand, in the third embodiment, the display control unit controls the lower the probability that the image recorded in the storage unit 20 will be displayed in the slide show display as the image that has been taken is older.

The functional configuration in the CPU 11 of the image display device 1 according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the number of image files recorded in the storage unit 20 is counted for each date taken. This is basically the same as the image display apparatus 1.
That is, the image display device 1 according to the first embodiment selects a group for each priority based on the recorded time from a plurality of groups, and selects one or more image files belonging to the selected priority group. The display target is selected from, and the display target image is displayed.
On the other hand, the image display device 1 according to the third embodiment selects a group for each priority based on the taken time from a plurality of groups, and one or more image files belonging to the selected priority group. The display target is selected from among the images, and the display target image is displayed.
Note that the hardware configuration of the image display apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is realized by a configuration basically similar to the hardware configuration of FIG. 1 of the image display apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, the description is omitted.

Due to the difference in the group classification method, the configuration in the display control unit 52 differs between the first embodiment and the third embodiment. That is, in the first embodiment, the display control unit 52 is provided with the image number totaling unit 71 that totalizes the number of image files stored in the image storage unit 41 for each priority based on the recorded time. . On the other hand, in the third embodiment, the display control unit 52 is provided with an image number totaling unit 71 that totals the number of image files stored in the image storage unit 41 for each priority based on the shooting time. It has been.
The image count totaling unit 71 to the group image display control unit 83 of the image display device 1 of the third embodiment are the same as the image count totaling unit 71 to the group image display control unit 83 of the image display device 1 of the first embodiment. Since it is the same, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted with the same code | symbol, and only a different location is demonstrated.
The built-in memory copy classification process according to the third embodiment is to copy a new image file in the image providing medium (removable medium 31) to the built-in memory (image storage unit 41 of the storage unit 20), and to store the copied storage unit. This is a series of processes until the plurality of image files stored in 20 are reclassified into a plurality of groups based on the priority based on the date of shooting. Note that the priority, group, and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.
The image file display process according to the third embodiment is to select a display target group from a plurality of groups based on a random number (primary selection) when performing a slide show display, and to select a group of the selected number of display times. A series of processes from selecting a display target from one or more image files to which it belongs (secondarily selecting) and displaying an image to be displayed.
In the third embodiment, the copy classification unit 51 performs processing based on the priority based on the date of shooting instead of the priority based on the date recorded in the table of FIG.
Therefore, in the image list table of the third embodiment, a priority item based on the date of shooting is added or replaced with a priority item based on the date recorded in the image list table of the first embodiment. Replaced.

In the third embodiment, the “priority” is an index indicating a degree of preferential selection as a display target for an image file that is a display target candidate in a slide show display. In the present embodiment, a higher priority is set for an image file with an older date taken by a digital camera or the like.
Specifically, the priority is defined in six levels so that “0” is the highest priority and changes from “0” to “5” one by one until it reaches the lowest “5”. The lower the image file, the lower the probability of being selected as a display target in the slide show display.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the plurality of image files stored in the built-in memory are classified into one of six groups on the basis of the shooting date. Each of these six groups corresponds to “0” to “5” as priorities in order from the group with the smallest photographed date. That is, it can be grasped that the priority is set for each image file, but it can be grasped that the image file is classified into any of the groups of the priority “0” to “5”. it can.

Returning to FIG. 2, when executing the image file display processing according to the third embodiment, the display control unit 52 reduces the probability of selecting an image file with an older captured date as a display target in a slide show display. Control.
Such a display control unit 52 includes a preprocessing unit 61 and an image selection display unit 62. Since the pre-processing unit 61 and the image selection display unit 62 of the third embodiment are the same as the pre-processing unit 61 and the image selection display unit 62 of the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the details of the weights of the third embodiment will be described only with respect to differences from the first embodiment.
In addition, about the threshold value of 3rd Embodiment, since it is the same as that of 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.

The “weight” defined for a predetermined group is a numerical value relatively representing the display probability per image file belonging to the predetermined group.
A lower weight is defined for a group of image files with older shooting dates. That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a high weight is defined for a group with high priority, and conversely, a low weight is defined for a group with low priority.

As described above, in this embodiment, each of a large number of image files stored in the built-in memory (image storage unit 41) has a priority “0” to “5” based on the date taken by a digital camera or the like. Classified into groups.
When a slide show is displayed, the image file is not selected as a display target suddenly, but the display target group is selected first, and then the display target image file is selected from the primary selected group. Two-stage selection, such as selection, is performed.
Therefore, in the primary selection, by appropriately controlling the probability that each group is selected as a display target, the probability that an image file is finally selected as a display target can be freely changed.
For example, in the primary selection, by controlling so that a group having a higher priority is selected as a display target, the probability that a photographed date is selected as a display target for an older image file is reduced. Can be easily done. In other words, it is possible to easily increase the probability that the date when the image was taken is selected as a display target for a new image file. Here, the one with the newer date is generally more likely to be an image file that the user wants to display. Therefore, the higher the probability that the date when the image was taken is selected as a display target for a newer image file means that the user can display a desired image that he / she wants to see.

  The internal memory copy classification process executed by the image display device 1 according to the third embodiment is basically the same as the internal memory copy classification process according to the second embodiment. Accordingly, FIG. 10 is also a flowchart for explaining the flow of the built-in memory copy classification process according to the third embodiment. However, the third embodiment is different from the built-in memory copy classification process of the second embodiment in that a shooting date is added as information of the image file added in the process of step S34. Since other processes are the same, description thereof is omitted.

Hereinafter, the process of step S34 according to the third embodiment will be specifically described.
For example, the current date is January 3, and 10 image files with the shooting date of January 1 are stored in the built-in memory, five image files with the shooting date of January 2, and January 3. Consider a case where there are seven image files of the shooting date. In this case, there are 10 image files with a shooting date of 2 days or earlier, 5 image files with a shooting date of 1 day before, and 7 image files with the latest date in the built-in memory.

Here, the current date is January 7, and in step S33 of FIG. 10, one image file with a shooting date of January 7 and one image file with a shooting date of January 3 are newly created. Consider the case of copying to internal memory. In this case, in the built-in memory, there are 23 image files with a shooting date of 2 days or earlier, 0 image files with a shooting date of 1 day ago, and 1 image file with the latest date.
Therefore, the copy classification unit 51 classifies the shooting dates of the image list corresponding to the image files in the internal memory based on the latest update date.

Also, the current date is January 3, and in step S33 of FIG. 10, a new image file with a shooting date of January 1 and an image file with a shooting date of January 2 are newly incorporated. Consider the case of copying to memory. In this case, in the built-in memory, there are 11 image files with a shooting date of 2 days or earlier, 6 image files with a shooting date of 1 day ago, and 1 image file with the latest date.
Therefore, the copy classification unit 51 classifies the shooting dates of the image list corresponding to the image files in the internal memory based on the latest update date.

  The image file display process executed by the image display device 1 according to the third embodiment is basically the same as the image file display process according to the first embodiment. Accordingly, FIG. 6 is also a flowchart for explaining the flow of the image file display processing according to the third embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

As described above, the image display device 1 according to the third embodiment includes the copy classification unit 51 and the display control unit 52.
The copy classification unit 51 classifies each of the plurality of image files recorded in the storage unit 20 (image storage unit 41) into any one of a plurality of groups based on the shooting time.
The display control unit 52 selects a display target group from a plurality of groups into which a plurality of image files are classified by the copy classification unit 51, and displays the display target from among the image files belonging to the group selected as the display target. Control for displaying the image represented by the image file selected as the display target.
Then, the display control unit 52 selects a display target group so that the probability of selecting an image file whose shooting time is older is lower, and selects a display target image file from the group.

In this case, the selection probability of the image file selected by the image selection display unit 62 becomes lower as the group in which the photographed time is older. In other words, since the probability of displaying an image file with a long taken time in displaying an image using a plurality of image files such as a slide show is reduced, an image file with a new taken time is selected as a result. Probability increases.
That is, since an image file having a long shooting time has a high probability of being displayed in the slide show display many times before, the image file in which the user is interested is changed to an image of a new image file. The fact is that it is concentrated.
Accordingly, by reducing the probability of displaying the image of the image file with the old shooting time in the slide show display, the image file that the user desires to view among the many image files stored in the image storage unit 41 is displayed. The display probability of the image can be increased.

Furthermore, the display control unit 52 of the third embodiment includes an image count totaling unit 71, a threshold value determining unit 72, a group selection unit 82, and a group image display control unit 83.
The image count totaling unit 71 totalizes the number of image files recorded in the storage unit 20 (image storage unit 41) for each of a plurality of groups.
The threshold value determination unit 72 cuts each of the plurality of groups in a numerical range based on the number of image files totaled for each of the plurality of groups by the number-of-images counting unit 71 and the weight defined for each of the plurality of groups. To determine a threshold value.
The group selection unit 82 determines in which numerical value range each of the plurality of groups the random number is included, and selects a group specified by the numerical value range including the random number as a display target group.
Then, the group image display control unit 83 selects one image file from the group selected as a display target by the group selection unit 82, and controls the display of the image represented by the selected image file.

In this case, the probability of displaying an image of an image file belonging to the group can be changed by appropriately setting the weight defined for each group.
As a result, the probability that an image file belonging to a group including an image file with an old taken time is displayed in a slide show display is lower than an image file belonging to a group containing an image file with a new taken time. As a result, the display probability of an image file belonging to a group including a new image file at which the image was taken is increased.
Therefore, it is possible to increase the display probability of an image file that the user desires to see among a large number of image files stored in the image storage unit 41.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, The deformation | transformation in the range which can achieve the objective of this invention, improvement, etc. are included in this invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the group image display control unit 83 selects a file to be displayed (secondary selection) from the group selected in the process of step S24, but the secondary selection method is particularly limited. It may be selected randomly or in order.

  In the above-described embodiment, the priority expression form is expressed in six stages, but is not limited to this, and any expression that can express the degree quantitatively is sufficient.

  Similarly, in the above-described embodiment, the expression form of the weight is defined in increments of 0.1 from 1.0 to 5.0, but is not limited to this, and the degree is expressed quantitatively. It is enough if it can be done.

  In the above-described embodiment, the “date” stored in the built-in memory (image storage unit 41) is not limited to the month and day, and may be any unit as long as it can express time such as hours, minutes, and years. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the removable medium 31 is used as the image providing medium, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be a storage unit (such as a hard disk) in another device (such as a server) on the network.

In the above-described embodiment, the image display apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied has been described using a digital photo frame as an example, but is not particularly limited thereto.
For example, the present invention can be applied to general electronic devices having a display function. Specifically, for example, the present invention can be applied to a notebook personal computer, a television receiver, a video camera, a portable navigation device, a mobile phone, a portable game machine, and the like.

The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or can be executed by software.
In other words, the functional configuration of FIG. 2 is merely an example and is not particularly limited. That is, it is sufficient that the image display apparatus 1 has a function capable of executing the above-described series of processing as a whole, and what functional blocks are used to realize this function is not particularly limited to the example of FIG. .
In addition, one functional block may be constituted by hardware alone, software alone, or a combination thereof.

When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software is installed on a computer or the like from a network or a recording medium.
The computer may be a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware. The computer may be a computer capable of executing various functions by installing various programs, for example, a general-purpose personal computer.

  The recording medium including such a program is not only constituted by the removable medium 31 of FIG. 1 distributed separately from the apparatus main body in order to provide the program to the user, but also in a state of being incorporated in the apparatus main body in advance. It is comprised with the recording medium etc. which are provided in. The removable medium 31 is composed of, for example, a magnetic disk (including a floppy disk), an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or the like. The optical disk is composed of, for example, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or the like. The magneto-optical disk is configured by an MD (Mini-Disk) or the like. In addition, the recording medium provided to the user in a state of being preliminarily incorporated in the apparatus main body includes, for example, the ROM 12 in FIG. 1 in which a program is recorded, the hard disk included in the storage unit 20 in FIG.

In the present specification, the step of describing the program recorded on the recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in time series along the order, but is not necessarily performed in time series, either in parallel or individually. The process to be executed is also included.
Further, in the present specification, the term “system” means an overall apparatus configured by a plurality of devices, a plurality of means, and the like.

  As mentioned above, although several embodiment of this invention was described, these embodiment is only an illustration and does not limit the technical scope of this invention. The present invention can take other various embodiments, and various modifications such as omission and replacement can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention described in this specification and the like, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

The invention described in the scope of claims at the beginning of the filing of the present application will be appended.
[Appendix 1]
In an image display device that controls a slide show display of images using a plurality of image files recorded in a built-in memory,
Classification means for classifying each of the plurality of image files based on the time recorded in the built-in memory;
Selecting means for selecting an image file to be displayed from the plurality of image files;
Display control means for displaying an image represented by the image file selected as a display object by the selection means;
Control means for controlling the selection means so that the image file recorded in the internal memory has a lower probability of being selected,
An image display device comprising:
[Appendix 2]
The classification means classifies each of the plurality of files into any one of a plurality of groups based on the time recorded in the internal memory,
The selection unit selects a display target group from the plurality of groups into which the plurality of image files have been classified by the classification unit, and displays the image file belonging to the group selected as the display target. The image display apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein a target image file is selected.
[Appendix 3]
The control means includes
Image number counting means for counting the number of the plurality of image files for each of the plurality of groups;
A threshold value for separating each of the plurality of groups in a numerical range based on the number of image files aggregated for each of the plurality of groups by the image number aggregation means and the weights defined for the plurality of groups. Threshold value determining means for determining
Further comprising
The selection unit is controlled to determine in which numerical range each of the plurality of groups a random number is included, and to select a group specified by the numerical range including the random number as a display target group The image display device according to appendix 2, wherein:
[Appendix 4]
In an image display method executed by an image display device that controls a slide show display of images using a plurality of image files recorded in a built-in memory,
A classification step of classifying each of the plurality of image files based on a time recorded in the internal memory;
A selection step of selecting an image file to be displayed from the plurality of image files;
A display control step for displaying an image represented by the image file selected as a display target in the selection step;
A control step for controlling the image file recorded in the built-in memory to have a lower probability of being selected in the selection step,
An image display method comprising:
[Appendix 5]
A computer that controls an image display device that controls a slide show display of images using a plurality of image files recorded in a built-in memory;
Classification means for classifying each of the plurality of image files recorded in the built-in memory based on the time recorded in the built-in memory;
Selecting means for selecting an image file to be displayed from the plurality of image files recorded in the internal memory;
Display control means for displaying an image represented by the image file selected as a display object by the selection means;
A program that functions as a control unit that controls the selection unit so that an image file recorded in the built-in memory has a lower probability of being selected as it is older.
[Appendix 6]
In an image display device that controls display of an image using a plurality of image files,
Classification means for classifying each of the plurality of image files based on the number of times the image is displayed;
Selecting means for selecting an image file to be displayed from the plurality of image files;
Display control means for displaying an image represented by the image file selected as a display object by the selection means;
Control means for controlling the selection means so that the image file of the image that is displayed more frequently has a lower probability of being selected;
An image display device comprising:
[Appendix 7]
The classifying unit classifies each of the plurality of files into any one of a plurality of groups based on the number of times an image is displayed.
The selection unit selects a display target group from the plurality of groups into which the plurality of image files have been classified by the classification unit, and displays the image file belonging to the group selected as the display target. The image display apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein a target image file is selected.
[Appendix 8]
The control means includes
Image number counting means for counting the number of the plurality of image files for each of the plurality of groups;
A threshold value for separating each of the plurality of groups in a numerical range based on the number of image files aggregated for each of the plurality of groups by the image number aggregation means and the weights defined for the plurality of groups. Threshold value determining means for determining
Further comprising
The selection unit is controlled to determine in which numerical range each of the plurality of groups a random number is included, and to select a group specified by the numerical range including the random number as a display target group The image display device according to appendix 7, wherein:
[Appendix 9]
In an image display method executed by an image display device that controls slide show display of images using a plurality of image files,
A classification step of classifying each of the plurality of image files based on the number of times the image is displayed;
A selection step of selecting an image file to be displayed from the plurality of image files;
A display control step for displaying an image represented by the image file selected as a display target in the selection step;
A control step for controlling an image file of an image having a larger number of displayed times so that the probability of being selected in the selection step is lower;
An image display method comprising:
[Appendix 10]
A computer that controls an image display device that controls slide show display of images using a plurality of image files,
Classification means for classifying each of the plurality of image files based on the number of times the image is displayed;
Selecting means for selecting an image file to be displayed from the plurality of image files;
Display control means for displaying an image represented by the image file selected as a display object by the selection means;
A program that functions as a control unit that controls the selection unit so that an image file of an image that is displayed more frequently has a lower probability of being selected.
[Appendix 11]
In an image display device that controls slide show display of images using a plurality of image files,
Classifying means for classifying each of the plurality of image files based on the time taken,
Selecting means for selecting an image file to be displayed from the plurality of image files;
Display control means for displaying an image represented by the image file selected as a display object by the selection means;
Control means for controlling the selection means so that the probability that the image file with the older time taken is lower is selected;
An image display device characterized by that.
[Appendix 12]
The classifying unit classifies each of the plurality of files into any one of a plurality of groups based on the time taken.
The selection unit selects a display target group from the plurality of groups into which the plurality of image files have been classified by the classification unit, and displays the image file belonging to the group selected as the display target. The image display apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein a target image file is selected.
[Appendix 13]
The control means includes
Image number counting means for counting the number of the plurality of image files for each of the plurality of groups;
A threshold value for separating each of the plurality of groups in a numerical range based on the number of image files aggregated for each of the plurality of groups by the image number aggregation means and the weights defined for the plurality of groups. Threshold value determining means for determining
Further comprising
The selection unit is controlled to determine in which numerical range each of the plurality of groups a random number is included, and to select a group specified by the numerical range including the random number as a display target group Control means to
The image display device according to appendix 12, characterized by comprising:
[Appendix 14]
In an image display method executed by an image display device that controls slide show display of images using a plurality of image files,
A classification step of classifying each of the plurality of image files based on the time of shooting;
A selection step of selecting an image file to be displayed from the plurality of image files;
A display control step for displaying an image represented by the image file selected as a display target in the selection step;
A control step for controlling the image file so that the probability of being selected in the selection step is lower in the image file whose shooting time is older;
An image display method comprising:
[Appendix 15]
A computer that controls an image display device that controls slide show display of images using a plurality of image files,
Classifying means for classifying each of the plurality of image files based on the time taken.
Selecting means for selecting an image file to be displayed from the plurality of image files;
Display control means for displaying an image represented by the image file selected as a display object by the selection means;
A program that functions as a control unit that controls the selection unit so that an image file having a longer shooting time has a lower probability of being selected.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image display apparatus, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM, 13 ... RAM, 14 ... Image processing part, 15 ... Bus, 16 ... Input / output interface, 17. ..Display unit 18 ... Time measuring unit 19 ... Operating unit 20 ... Storage unit 21 ... Drive 31 ... Removable media 41 ... Image storage unit 42 List storage unit 51 ... Copy classification unit 52 ... Display control unit 61 ... Classification unit 62 ... Image selection display unit 71 ... Image count counting unit 72 ... Threshold determination unit, 81... Random number generation unit, 82... Group selection unit, 83.

Claims (9)

In an image display device for controlling a slide show display of images using a plurality of image files recorded in a memory,
Classification means for classifying each of the plurality of image files into a plurality of groups;
Carving means for carving each of the plurality of groups in a non-uniform numerical range;
Selection means for selecting any one of the plurality of groups classified by the classification means;
Display control means for displaying an image represented by the image file classified into the group selected by the selection means;
Control means for controlling the selection probability of the group selected by the selection means ,
The control means generates a random number, specifies which generated random number is included in the numerical range of each of the plurality of groups carved by the carving means, and the numerical value including the random number An image display apparatus , wherein the selection unit is controlled to select a group specified by a range as a display target group . The dividing means totalizes the number of the plurality of image files for each of the plurality of groups, and the number of image files totaled for each of the plurality of groups and a weight value defined for each of the plurality of groups. based on the image display device according to each of the plurality of groups to claim 1, wherein the benzalkonium cut in the value range. The image display device according to claim 2 , wherein the dividing unit expands the numerical range as the weighting value is larger. The image display device according to claim 2 , wherein the dividing unit expands the numerical range as the number of image files aggregated for each of the plurality of groups increases. The memory is a built-in memory, and the classifying unit classifies each of the plurality of files into one of a plurality of groups based on a time recorded in the built-in memory,
The isolation means may, as the old group time recorded in the internal memory, the image display apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that defining the larger weighting value. The classifying unit classifies each of the plurality of files into any one of a plurality of groups based on the number of times an image is displayed.
It said cut means, the image display apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4 as the group fewer times displayed, characterized by defining a larger weighting value. The classifying unit classifies each of the plurality of files into any one of a plurality of groups based on the time taken.
It said cut means, the image display apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4 times that is photographed as a new group, characterized in that it defines a large weighting value. In an image display method executed by an image display device that controls a slide show display of images using a plurality of image files recorded in a memory,
A step of classifying each of the plurality of image files into a plurality of groups;
A carving step of carving each of the plurality of groups in a non-uniform numerical range;
A selection step of selecting any one of the plurality of classified groups;
A display control step for displaying images represented by the image files classified into the group selected by the selection step;
Controlling the selection probability of the group selected by the selection step ,
The control step generates a random number, specifies whether the generated random number is included in the numerical range of each of the plurality of groups separated by the separation step, and the numerical value including the random number An image display method characterized by controlling the selection step so as to select a group specified by a range as a display target group . A computer that controls an image display device that controls a slide show display of images using a plurality of image files recorded in a memory,
Classification means for classifying each of the plurality of image files recorded in the memory into a plurality of groups,
Carving means for carving each of the plurality of groups in a non-uniform numerical range;
Selection means for selecting any one of the plurality of groups classified by the classification means;
Display control means for displaying an image represented by the image file classified into the group selected by the selection means;
Function as control means for controlling the selection probability of the group selected by the selection means ,
The control means generates a random number, specifies which generated random number is included in the numerical range of each of the plurality of groups carved by the carving means, and the numerical value including the random number A program for controlling the selection means so as to select a group specified by a range as a group to be displayed .

Images