JP5743017B2 - Image management apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image management apparatus and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art There is known an apparatus that transmits image data photographed by a photographing apparatus such as a digital camera to a specific destination.

  Patent Document 1 compares a subject image portion including each of a plurality of subjects shown in a group photo image with a plurality of subject images stored in an address book memory, and corresponds to a matching subject image. An apparatus for reading an attached e-mail address and transmitting an e-mail attached with a group photo image with the e-mail address as a destination is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an apparatus that determines whether or not the target subject in the photograph matches the condition information when the target subject appears in the photograph, and executes the designation process when the target subject matches. Has been. The apparatus described in the cited document 2 processes, for example, a photograph that matches the condition information, and transmits the processed photograph as an attachment to an e-mail.

JP 2005-267146 A JP 2010-147716 A

  When trying to transmit certain image data to a specific destination, the user selects image data one by one, specifies the person represented in the image data, and further, the person's destination (for example, an e-mail address) And the image data must be transmitted to the e-mail address. On the other hand, if the person represented in the image data selected by the user is detected and the image data is transmitted to the e-mail address associated with the person, the user does not find the destination. However, the image data to be transmitted is transmitted to a specific destination.

  By the way, there are cases where a plurality of people want to share a plurality of image data. For example, when a plurality of people go out and take a picture, there are cases where it is desired to share a plurality of image data among members who have gone out together. In such a case, when a person is detected from the image data selected by the user and the image data is transmitted to the e-mail address corresponding to the person, the user selects the image data and transmits it by e-mail. The work occurs as many times as the number of image data, increasing the work burden on the user.

  In addition, among a plurality of image data generated by shooting, there may be image data of a landscape where no person is represented or image data where a member who has gone out is not represented. Since the person to be detected is not represented in such image data, in the method of detecting a person from the image data and transmitting the image data, the image data is not shared between members. Further, even if an attempt is made to send image data representing a member to another member not represented in the image data, the image data does not represent the other member. Will not be shared with other members.

  As described above, there are various needs related to selection and transmission of a plurality of image data acquired by photographing. However, it is difficult to select and transmit image data according to such needs.

  An object of the present invention is to specify shooting periods related to each other.

The invention according to claim 1 is a receiving unit that receives selection of a representative image from an image group , a subject specifying unit that specifies one or a plurality of persons in the representative image as a representative subject, and a shooting date of the representative image. A first period specifying means for specifying a period in which at least one image is captured as a candidate capturing period, and the representative subject among the days included in the candidate capturing period. There exclude shooting date even one person is not taken from the candidate shooting period, image management having a second period specifying means for specifying as a continuous shooting period consecutive days including the shooting date of the representative image Device.

If invention according to claim 2, further comprising a storage means for storing a contact person, the second time period specifying means, the contact of the representative object is stored in the storage means, wherein The image management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shooting date in which no representative subject is shot is excluded from the candidate shooting period.

If invention according to claim 3, further comprising a storage means for storing a contact person, the second time period specifying means, none of the contacts of the representative object not stored in the storage means, The image management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the candidate shooting period is specified as a continuous shooting period.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first specifying unit that specifies a continuous shooting period including a shooting date of a representative image selected from an image group as a candidate shooting period; an image shot on the same day as the representative image; The shooting date on which an image of a person other than the person shown in at least one of the representative images is taken is excluded from the candidate shooting periods, and a continuous shooting period including the shooting date of the representative image is specified. And an image management device having second specifying means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer for accepting a selection of a representative image from a group of images, a subject specifying unit for specifying one or a plurality of persons in the representative image as a representative subject, and the representative image. First period specifying means for specifying as a candidate shooting period a period in which at least one image is shot in a period including the shooting date, and among the days included in the candidate shooting period, by excluding shooting date the representative object is not also captured one from the candidate shooting period, a second period specifying means for specifying as a continuous shooting period consecutive days including the shooting date of the representative image, as It is a program to make it function.

According to the first, fourth, and fifth aspects of the invention, the imaging periods related to each other are specified.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, the continuous imaging | photography period of the image which the person in which the contact address is memorize | stored is reflected is specified.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the continuous shooting period is specified when no person's contact information is stored.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the image management apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the screen in a user interface. It is a table | surface which shows an example of a contact address. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline | summary of operation | movement of the image management apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the imaged image group. It is a table | surface which shows an example of image data. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the imaged image group. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which concerns on Example 1A. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which concerns on Example 1B. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which concerns on Example 1C. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing according to the second embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which concerns on Example 3A. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which concerns on Example 3B. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which concerns on Example 3C. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing according to the fourth embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the image group image | photographed along the time series. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image management apparatus according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system according to a sixth embodiment.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of an image management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image management apparatus 10 includes an image storage unit 12, a display control unit 14, a user interface unit (UI unit) 16, an image analysis unit 18, a contact storage unit 30, a contact selection unit 32, and a transmission / reception unit 34.

  The photographing device 50 is a digital camera or a video camera, for example, and generates image data by photographing. The photographing device 50 has a position measurement function such as GPS (Global Positioning System), and acquires photographing position information indicating a photographing position. The photographing device 50 has a clock function and records the photographing date and time. The photographing device 50 attaches photographing position information and photographing date / time information indicating photographing date / time as metadata to each image data generated by photographing. Further, the photographing apparatus 50 may attach photographer information indicating the photographer to the image data as metadata. For example, the photographing apparatus 50 uses a user who logs in to the photographing apparatus 50 as a photographer, and attaches photographer information indicating the user to the image data.

  The image storage unit 12 stores image data generated by the imaging device 50. The image data stored in the image storage unit 12 may be, for example, a still photograph or one frame of moving image data. The image storage unit 12 may store image data generated by a plurality of different imaging devices.

  Note that the image management apparatus 10 may have a photographing function such as a digital camera or a video camera, a position measuring function such as GPS, and a clock function. In this case, the image management apparatus 10 attaches the image data generated by the image capturing function to the image capturing position information obtained by the position measuring function and the image capturing date / time information obtained by the clock function as metadata. Data is stored in the image storage unit 12. As described above, the image management apparatus 10 having the photographing function, the position measurement function, and the clock function is realized as a mobile terminal device such as a so-called smartphone or mobile phone. Further, the image management apparatus 10 may attach photographer information indicating a photographer to the image data as metadata. In this case, the image management apparatus 10 designates the photographer by taking the owner of the image management apparatus 10, the user whose account is set in the image management apparatus 10, or the user who has logged in to the image management apparatus 10 as a photographer. The photographer information is attached to the image data.

  The user interface unit (UI unit) 16 includes a display unit as a display and an operation unit that receives a user operation. The UI unit 16 may be a touch panel, for example. The display control unit 14 displays the image data stored in the image storage unit 12 on the display unit of the UI unit 16.

  For example, the display control unit 14 displays a plurality of image data on the display unit of the UI unit 16, and the user designates the image data by the operation unit while viewing the image data displayed on the display unit. Hereinafter, the image data selected by the user is referred to as “representative image data”. The user may select one representative image data or a plurality of representative image data. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the display control unit 14 may display the image group 100 including a plurality of images on the UI unit 16, or the images may be displayed one by one on the UI unit 16. May be displayed. The user selects representative image data from the image group 100 displayed on the UI unit 16.

  The image analysis unit 18 includes a person analysis processing unit 20, a shooting time specifying unit 22, a shooting location specifying unit 24, an image selection condition setting unit 26, and a related image selecting unit 28.

  The person analysis processing unit 20 performs image analysis on the representative image data selected by the user, thereby specifying an image region used for specifying a person (subject) represented in the representative image data, and sets the image region in the image region. Extract the included image data. Specifically, the person analysis processing unit 20 identifies an area corresponding to the “person's face” from the person's area represented in the representative image data, and the face outline, eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, cheeks, etc. Is extracted. A person is specified by this face image data. Hereinafter, the person represented in the representative image data is referred to as “target subject”.

  The shooting time specifying unit 22 specifies the shooting date and time of the representative image data by referring to the shooting date and time information included in the metadata of the representative image data.

  The shooting location specifying unit 24 specifies the shooting location of the representative image data by referring to the shooting position information included in the metadata of the representative image data. For example, since the shooting position information obtained by using the GPS indicates the latitude and longitude at which the shooting was performed, the shooting location specifying unit 24 performs shooting based on the latitude and longitude indicated by the shooting position information. A country such as a country, a prefecture, a municipality, a state, a group, a locality, or an east-west region may be specified, or a landmark such as a building where a photograph has been taken may be specified. For example, a database in which information indicating longitude and latitude is associated with information indicating a region name, a landmark name, and the like is prepared in advance, and the shooting location specifying unit 24 uses the database, The shooting location may be specified based on the shooting position information.

  The image selection condition setting unit 26 sets an image selection condition including at least one of a person condition, a shooting time condition, and a shooting location condition based on the representative image data. For example, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the person condition based on the target subject specified by the face image data, sets the shooting time condition based on the shooting date and time of the representative image data, and the shooting location of the representative image data. Is set as the shooting location condition.

  The person condition is a condition for selecting image data representing a target subject from the image data group stored in the image storage unit 12.

  The shooting time condition is a condition for selecting image data shot within a preset time range from the image data group stored in the image storage unit 12 on the basis of the shooting date and time of the representative image data. . As an example, the preset time range corresponds to the same day as the shooting date, several days before and after the shooting date, a time zone with the shooting date (for example, 9:00 to 17:00), and the like.

  The shooting location condition is a condition for selecting image data shot within a preset location range from the image data group stored in the image storage unit 12 with reference to the shooting location of the representative image data. . For example, within the preset location range corresponds to the same region (country, prefecture, municipality, state, group, region, east-west, etc.) as the shooting location.

  Note that the conditions included in the image selection conditions may be specified by the user or may be determined in advance. For example, when the condition is specified by the user, the display control unit 14 causes the UI unit 16 to display the setting box 16A as illustrated in FIG. The setting box 16A includes check boxes for designating conditions (person conditions, shooting time conditions, and shooting location conditions) to be included in the image selection conditions. When the user designates a check box for each condition included in the setting box 16A using the UI unit 16, the image selection condition setting unit 26 includes the condition designated by the user in the image selection condition.

  The related image selection unit 28 selects image data that matches the image selection condition from a plurality of image data stored in the image storage unit 12. That is, the related image selection unit 28 uses, as a condition, at least one of the target subject specified by the face image data, the shooting date and time of the representative image data, and the shooting location of the representative image data, and image data that meets the conditions. Is selected from a plurality of image data stored in the image storage unit 12. Hereinafter, the image data selected by the related image selection unit 28 will be referred to as “related image data”. Specific processing of the related image selection unit 28 will be described later.

  The contact storage unit 30 includes identification information (for example, name and ID) for identifying a person, image data representing the person (for example, face image data of the person), and contact information (for example, an e-mail address or telephone) of the person. The contact information indicating the (number) is stored in association with each person. FIG. 3 shows an example of contact information. For example, an ID, a name, face image data, an e-mail address, and a telephone number are associated with each person.

  The contact selection unit 32 acquires contact information indicating the transmission destination of the related image data from the contact storage unit 30. Specifically, the contact selection unit 32 searches the face image data registered in the contact storage unit 30 using the face image data of the target subject as a search key, and corresponds to the face image data matching the search key. Get contact information of the attached person. The contact selection unit 32 uses, for example, a well-known image processing technique to specify a person who is estimated to be the same person based on the degree of approximation of “face” represented in the face image data. Get contact information corresponding to. As a result, the name, e-mail address, and telephone number of the target subject are specified. The contact selected by the contact selection unit 32 corresponds to an example of “share destination”.

  The transmission / reception unit 34 performs processing for sharing related image data at the sharing destination. For example, the transmission / reception unit 34 transmits an e-mail attached with related image data to the e-mail address selected by the contact selection unit 32 via a communication path such as a network. Alternatively, the transmission / reception unit 34 transmits an e-mail in which information indicating the storage location of the related image data (for example, address information such as a URL) is described, with the e-mail address selected by the contact selection unit 32 as a destination. Also good. Further, the transmission / reception unit 34 receives information from an external device via a communication path.

  Next, an outline of the operation of the image management apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of the operation of the image management apparatus 10.

  First, when the user gives an instruction to display an image using the UI unit 16, the display control unit 14 displays the image group 100 stored in the image storage unit 12 on the UI unit 16, for example, as shown in FIG. 2. (S01).

  The user designates representative image data from the image group 100 using the UI unit 16 (S02). Further, the user designates conditions to be included in the image selection condition by checking the check boxes of the conditions included in the setting box 16A using the UI unit 16 (S03). Note that the conditions included in the image selection conditions may be determined in advance.

  On the other hand, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts face image data from the representative image data by performing image analysis (person identification processing) on the representative image data.

  The image selection condition setting unit 26 sets an image selection condition based on the representative image data (S04). For example, when the person condition is specified as the image selection condition, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the person condition based on the target subject specified by the face image data. When the shooting time condition is specified as the image selection condition, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the shooting time condition based on the shooting date and time of the representative image data. When the shooting location condition is designated as the image selection condition, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the shooting location condition based on the shooting location of the representative image.

  Then, the related image selection unit 28 selects a related image data group that matches the image selection condition from the image data group stored in the image storage unit 12 (S05).

  The contact selection unit 32 acquires contact information (share destination information) of the person associated with the face image data from the contact storage unit 30 (S06). Then, the transmission / reception unit 34 performs processing for sharing the related image data group at the contact (sharing destination) (S07).

  The person analysis processing unit 20 may extract face image data from the related image data group by performing image analysis (person identification processing) on the related image data group. Then, the contact selection unit 32 acquires contact information (share destination information) of the person associated with the face image data from the contact storage unit 30, and the transmission / reception unit 34 transmits the related image data at the contact. You may perform the process for sharing a group.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a representative image is used for selecting a related image group (setting an image selection condition), and further, a representative image is used for specifying a sharing destination. That is, the representative image is used in combination in the selection scene of the related image group and the specific scene of the sharing destination. As a result, if the representative image is designated as the user, the related image group related to the representative image is easily selected based on the representative image, and the related image group is easily shared at the sharing destination. Become. Even if the user does not specify the image group to be transmitted and the sharing destination, the related image group is shared at the sharing destination, so that the convenience for the user is improved.

  Next, a specific embodiment of the image management apparatus 10 will be described. As an assumption of the explanation, FIGS. 5 to 7 show an example of image data generated by photographing. FIG. 5 shows a group of image data (image data 1 to 12) photographed on the photographing date of representative image data (for example, June 10). In FIG. 6, information indicating the shooting date, shooting location, and the like of the image data 1 to 14 is shown in a table format. In addition, FIG. 7 shows a group of image data (image data 13 to 24) captured on the days before and after the date of capturing the representative image data. The image data included in the image data group includes those in which a person such as Mr. A and Mr. B is captured, and those in which only a background and a building are not reflected.

<Examples 1A, 1B, 1C>
First, Examples 1A, 1B, and 1C will be described. In Examples 1A, 1B, and 1C, the related image selection unit 28 selects image data in which the target subject is shown as related image data.

Example 1A
Example 1A will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In Example 1A, the person condition and the shooting time condition are specified as the image selection condition. First, when the user gives an instruction to display an image using the UI unit 16, the display control unit 14 causes the UI unit 16 to display the image data stored in the image storage unit 12 (S10). The image data displayed in this way becomes a candidate for representative image data.

  When the user designates the representative image data from the image data displayed on the UI unit 16 using the UI unit 16 (S11), the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts the human face image data from the representative image data. Extract (S12). For example, when the image data 1 shown in FIG. 5 is designated as a representative image by the user, the person analysis processing unit 20 selects the persons (Mr. A and Mr. B) represented in the image data 1. The face image data of each of Mr. A and Mr. B is extracted from the image data 1 as the target subject. On the other hand, the shooting time specifying unit 22 specifies the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 by referring to the shooting date / time information included in the metadata of the image data 1 (representative image data) (S13). .

  The image selection condition setting unit 26 sets image selection conditions including a person condition and a shooting time condition. In Example 1A, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the person (Mr. A and Mr. B) represented in the image data 1 as the person condition, and the same date (June 10) as the shooting date of the image data 1 Set to the shooting time condition.

  The related image selection unit 28 is image data captured on the same date as the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 in accordance with the image selection condition from among a plurality of image data stored in the image storage unit 12. A group (same photographing date image data group) is specified (S14). In the example illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the image data 1 to 12 are captured on the same date as the date of image data 1, and thus are included in the same image date image data group.

  Then, the related image selection unit 28 includes the same shooting date image data group (image data 1 to 12), the face image data extracted by the person analysis processing unit 20 (each face image data of Mr. A and Mr. B), and By performing the matching process for, the image data group representing the target subject is selected as the related image data group from the same image date image data group (S15). For example, the related image selection unit 28 uses a well-known image processing technique to identify a person who is estimated to be the same person based on the degree of approximation of the “face” represented in the face image data. Select the image data representing the subject. Specifically, the related image selection unit 28 selects image data representing at least one of Mr. A and Mr. B from the image data 1 to 12 as related image data. In the example shown in FIG. 5, image data 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 9 are selected as related image data. In the table shown in FIG. 6, the ID of the related image data group is surrounded by a broken line.

  In addition, the contact selection unit 32 uses the face image data of Mr. A and Mr. B as search keys, and uses the contact address storage unit 30 as an e-mail address associated with each face image data of Mr. A and Mr. B. (S16).

  Then, a control unit (not shown) activates the e-mail software, sets the e-mail addresses of Mr. A and Mr. B as the transmission destinations, and sets the related image data group (image data 1, 2, 3, 4 , 5, 9) are attached. The transmission / reception unit 34 sends an e-mail to which the related image data group is attached with the e-mail addresses of Mr. A and Mr. B as destinations (S17).

  According to Example 1A, if the user designates a representative image, the user is photographed on the same day as the photographing date of the representative image, a related image group representing the target subject is selected, and a sharing destination is specified and the related image is specified. A group is transmitted. As a result, a group of images related to each other can be easily shared between related parties. In addition, by using the person condition and the shooting time condition as the image selection condition, the image selection condition is narrowed down from the viewpoint of members who act together. Thereby, the related image group image | photographed by one event is selected, and it transmits to a related person. For example, when traveling by a plurality of people, from the viewpoint of travel time, an image group photographed during the travel is selected as a related image group and shared among related parties.

(Example 1B)
Next, Example 1B will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In Example 1B, a person condition and a shooting location condition are designated as image selection conditions. Similar to Example 1A, the display control unit 14 causes the UI unit 16 to display the image data stored in the image storage unit 12 (S20), and the user designates the representative image data using the UI unit 16 ( In step S21, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts face image data from the representative image data (S22). Similarly to Example 1A, when the image data 1 shown in FIG. 5 is designated as the representative image data, Mr. A and Mr. B are specified as target subjects, and each face image data of Mr. A and Mr. B is image data. 1 is extracted.

  On the other hand, the shooting location specifying unit 24 specifies the shooting location of the image data 1 by referring to the shooting position information included in the metadata of the image data 1 (representative image data) (S23). In the present embodiment, the shooting location specifying unit 24 specifies a shooting location in units of regions such as prefectures and states. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the shooting location of the image data 1 is specified as “Kyoto”.

  The image selection condition setting unit 26 sets image selection conditions including a person condition and a shooting location condition. In Example 1B, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the person (Mr. A and Mr. B) represented in the image data 1 as the person condition, and sets the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 as the shooting location condition. To do.

  The related image selection unit 28 is a group of image data (identical to the same location as the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 in accordance with the image selection condition from among a plurality of image data stored in the image storage unit 12. (Shooting place image data group) is specified (S24).

  Note that the image selection condition setting unit 26 may set a location included in a preset location range as the shooting location condition based on the shooting location of the image data 1. To explain with a specific example, when the position of “Osaka” is included in a preset location range with reference to the shooting location (for example, latitude and longitude) of the image data 1, the image selection condition setting unit 26 , “Osaka” is also set as the shooting location condition. In this case, the related image selection unit 28 specifies an image data group photographed within a preset location range with reference to the photographing location of the image data 1 as the same photographing location image data group. For example, the related image selection unit 28 also selects an image data group captured in “Osaka” as the same shooting location image data group. Thereby, the image data group photographed in each of “Kyoto” and “Osaka” is selected as the “same photographing place image data group”.

  Then, the related image selection unit 28 performs matching processing on the same shooting location image data group and the face image data (each face image data of Mr. A and Mr. B) extracted by the person analysis processing unit 20. As a result, the image data group representing at least one of Mr. A and Mr. B is selected as the related image data group from the same shooting location image data group (S25).

  Further, the contact selection unit 32 acquires the email addresses of Mr. A and Mr. B from the contact storage unit 30 (S26), as in the first embodiment. Then, the transmission / reception unit 34 transmits an e-mail to which the related image data group is attached with the e-mail addresses of Mr. A and Mr. B as destinations (S27).

  According to Example 1B, if the user designates a representative image, the user is photographed at the same location as the representative image, the related image group representing the target subject is selected, and the sharing destination is specified and the related image is specified. A group is transmitted. As a result, a group of images related to each other can be easily shared between related parties. Further, by using the person condition and the shooting place condition as the image selection condition, the image selection condition can be narrowed down from the viewpoint of a member who has acted in a certain place. Thereby, the related image group image | photographed by one event is selected, and it transmits to a related person. For example, when traveling by a plurality of people, from the viewpoint of a place where the user has traveled, an image group photographed during the travel is selected as a related image group and shared among related parties.

(Example 1C)
Next, Example 1C will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In Example 1C, a person condition, a shooting time condition, and a shooting location condition are designated as image selection conditions. Similar to the embodiment 1A, the display control unit 14 displays the image data stored in the image storage unit 12 on the UI unit 16 (S30), and the user designates the representative image data using the UI unit 16 ( In step S31, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts face image data from the representative image data (S32). Similarly to Example 1A, when the image data 1 shown in FIG. 5 is designated as the representative image data, Mr. A and Mr. B are specified as target subjects, and each face image data of Mr. A and Mr. B is image data. 1 is extracted.

  On the other hand, the shooting time specifying unit 22 specifies the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 by referring to the shooting date / time information included in the metadata of the image data 1 (representative image data) (S33). . Further, the shooting location specifying unit 24 specifies the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 by referring to the shooting position information included in the metadata of the image data 1 (S34).

  The image selection condition setting unit 26 sets image selection conditions including a person condition, a shooting time condition, and a shooting location condition. In Example 1C, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the person (Mr. A and Mr. B) represented in the image data 1 as the person condition, and sets the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 to the shooting time. And the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 is set as the shooting location condition.

  The related image selection unit 28 selects the image data 1 from the plurality of image data stored in the image storage unit 12 on the same day as the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 according to the image selection condition. A group of image data shot at the same place as the shooting place (Kyoto) is specified (S35). As in the case of Example 1B, the related image selection unit 28 selects an image data group captured within a preset location range (for example, “Osaka”) based on the shooting location of the image data 1 as an image. You may specify as an image data group image | photographed in the same place as the imaging | photography place of the data 1. FIG.

  Then, the related image selection unit 28 targets the image data group specified in step S35 and the face image data extracted by the person analysis processing unit 20 (each face image data of Mr. A and Mr. B). By performing the matching process, image data representing at least one of Mr. A and Mr. B is selected from the image data group as related image data (S36).

  Further, the contact selection unit 32 acquires the respective email addresses of Mr. A and Mr. B from the contact storage unit 30 as in the case of the first embodiment (S37). Then, the transmission / reception unit 34 transmits an e-mail attached with the related image data to the e-mail addresses of Mr. A and Mr. B (S38).

  According to Example 1C, if the user designates a representative image, a related image group that is captured at the same location as the representative image on the same day as the representative image is captured and the target subject is represented is selected. Further, the sharing destination is specified and the related image group is transmitted. As a result, a group of images related to each other can be easily shared between related parties. In addition, by using the person condition, the shooting time condition, and the shooting location condition as image selection conditions, the possibility that an irrelevant image enters the related image group is reduced. As a result, the conditions for image selection are narrowed down from the viewpoint of members who acted together in a certain place, so that a group of related images taken in one event is selected and transmitted to the parties concerned. For example, when traveling by a plurality of people, from the viewpoint of travel location and time, an image group photographed during the travel is selected as a related image group and shared among related parties.

<Example 2>
Next, Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, a shooting time condition and a shooting location condition are specified as the image selection conditions. Similar to the embodiment 1A, the display control unit 14 causes the UI unit 16 to display the image data stored in the image storage unit 12 (S40), and the user designates the representative image data using the UI unit 16 ( In step S41, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts face image data from the representative image data (S42). Similarly to Example 1A, when the image data 1 shown in FIG. 5 is designated as the representative image data, Mr. A and Mr. B are specified as target subjects, and each face image data of Mr. A and Mr. B is image data. 1 is extracted.

  On the other hand, the shooting time specifying unit 22 specifies the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 by referring to the shooting date / time information included in the metadata of the image data 1 (representative image data) (S43). . Further, the shooting location specifying unit 24 specifies the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 by referring to the shooting position information included in the metadata of the image data 1 (S44).

  The image selection condition setting unit 26 sets image selection conditions including a shooting time condition and a shooting location condition. In the second embodiment, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 as the shooting time condition, and sets the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 as the shooting location condition.

  The related image selection unit 28 selects the image data 1 from the plurality of image data stored in the image storage unit 12 on the same day as the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 according to the image selection condition. An image data group photographed at the same place as the photographing place (Kyoto) is selected as a related image data group (S45). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the image data 1 to 8 are captured at the same location as the representative image data on the same date as the representative image data (image data 1). include. As in the case of Example 1B, the related image selection unit 28 sets a group of image data (FIG. 5) captured within a preset location range (for example, “Osaka”) with reference to the shooting location of the image data 1. In the example shown, the image data 9) may be selected as the related image data group.

  Further, the contact selection unit 32 acquires the email addresses of Mr. A and Mr. B from the contact storage unit 30 (S46), as in the first embodiment. Then, the transmission / reception unit 34 transmits an e-mail to which the related image data group is attached with the e-mail addresses of Mr. A and Mr. B as destinations (S47). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the e-mails to which the image data 1 to 8 (and 9) are attached are transmitted to the e-mail addresses of Mr. A and Mr. B, respectively.

  According to the second embodiment, when the user designates a representative image, a related image group photographed at the same place as the representative image is selected on the same day as the representative image, and the sharing destination is specified. Then, a related image group is transmitted. As a result, a group of images related to each other can be easily shared between related parties. In addition, by using the shooting time condition and the shooting location condition as image selection conditions, an image in which no person is represented is also selected as a related image. For this reason, even a landscape-only image is shared among related parties. For example, even if an image was taken during a trip, there are those in which no person is shown. Even such an image is easily shared between the parties concerned.

  Note that the image data in which no person is represented may be image data of only a landscape in which no person is represented, or image data in which a person is represented but no person is substantially represented. . Examples of image data in which a person is not substantially represented are image data in which a person is represented but the person cannot be specified by image processing, and an image in which a person stored in the contact storage unit 30 is not represented Data, image data that is focused on the background and the building, not the person, and the like. The same applies to the following description.

  Further, the transmission / reception unit 34 may transmit, to each sharing destination, related image data in which the subject subject is represented and related image data in which no person is represented (related image data only for a landscape). . For example, the transmission / reception unit 34 transmits the image data 1, 2, 3, 6 (and 9) to the contact information of Mr. A, and the image data 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 (and 9) is contacted with Mr. B. It may be sent first.

  As in Embodiments 1A to 1C and Embodiment 2 described above, the user can arbitrarily specify the image selection condition, so that a related image group according to the user's needs can be easily selected. ) Is easily identified, and the related image group is easily shared among the parties concerned.

  In the above-described embodiments 1A to 1C and embodiment 2, the related image selection unit 28 may select a related image data group using only the person condition, only the shooting time condition, and only the shooting location condition as image selection conditions. Good. Thereby, a related image group is selected according to individual needs.

  Further, in the case where the representative image data is designated in the embodiments 1A to 1C and the embodiment 2, the display control unit 14 may cause the UI unit 16 to preferentially display the image data in which more people are represented. . Since the contact information of the person represented in the representative image data becomes the transmission destination of the related image data, the image data representing the person is displayed with priority over the image data not representing the person at all. The convenience of the user in specifying the contact information is improved.

<Example 3>
Next, Examples 3A, 3B, and 3C will be described. In Examples 3A, 3B, and 3C, the image management apparatus 10 detects a person from the related image data group and transmits the related image data to the person.

(Example 3A)
Example 3A will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In Example 3A, a shooting time condition and a shooting location condition are specified as image selection conditions.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the display control unit 14 causes the UI unit 16 to display the image data stored in the image storage unit 12 (S50), and the user designates representative image data using the UI unit 16. (S51). For example, it is assumed that the image data 1 shown in FIG. 5 is designated as representative image data.

  The shooting time specifying unit 22 specifies the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 by referring to shooting date / time information included in the metadata of the image data 1 (representative image data) (S52). Further, the shooting location specifying unit 24 specifies the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 by referring to the shooting position information included in the metadata of the image data 1 (S53).

  The image selection condition setting unit 26 sets image selection conditions including a shooting time condition and a shooting location condition. In Example 3A, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 as the shooting time condition, and sets the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 as the shooting location condition.

  The related image selection unit 28 selects the image data 1 from the plurality of image data stored in the image storage unit 12 on the same day as the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 according to the image selection condition. A related image data group photographed at the same place as the photographing place (Kyoto) is specified (S54). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the image data 1 to 8 are captured at the same location as the representative image data on the same date as the representative image data (image data 1). include. As in the case of Example 1B, the related image selection unit 28 sets a group of image data (FIG. 5) captured within a preset location range (for example, “Osaka”) with reference to the shooting location of the image data 1. In the example shown, the image data 9) may be selected as the related image data group.

  Then, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts the face image data of the person represented in each of the related image data groups from each of the related image data groups (S55). In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the person analysis processing unit 20 identifies the persons (Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D, and Mr. E) represented in each of the image data 1 to 8, and Mr. A, B The face image data of Mr. C, Mr. C, Mr. D, and Mr. E are extracted from the image data 1-8. When the image data 9 is included in the related image data group, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts the face image data of Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D, Mr. E, and Mr. F from the related image data group. Extract.

  The contact selection unit 32 uses the face image data of Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D and Mr. E (and Mr. F) represented in the related image data group as search keys. The electronic mail addresses associated with Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D, and Mr. E (and Mr. F) are acquired from the contact storage unit 30 (S56).

  Then, the transmission / reception unit 34 transmits an e-mail to which the related image data group is attached with the e-mail addresses of Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D, and Mr. E (and Mr. F) as destinations (see FIG. S57). In the example shown in FIG. 5, e-mails attached with image data 1 to 8 (and 9) are sent to the e-mail addresses of Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D and Mr. E (and Mr. F), respectively. Sent.

  According to Example 3A, if the user designates a representative image, a related image group captured at the same location as the representative image is selected on the same day as the representative image capturing date. The contact person of the represented person is specified and the related image group is transmitted. As a result, a group of images related to each other can be easily shared between related parties. In addition, by using the shooting time condition and the shooting location condition as image selection conditions, an image in which no person is represented is also selected as a related image. For this reason, even a landscape-only image is shared among related parties. Further, since the contact address (share destination) is specified based on the related image group, the share destination is specified even if the share destination person is not represented in the representative image. In other words, by identifying a sharing destination from a related image group considered to have been shot at one event, and transmitting the related image group to the sharing destination, a person involved in one event was shot at that event. The related image group is shared. For example, when traveling by a plurality of people, a group of related images taken during the trip is transmitted to a person who participated in the trip.

  In Example 3A, the related image selection unit 28 may select a related image data group using only the shooting time condition or only the shooting location condition as an image forming condition. Thereby, a related image data group is selected according to individual needs.

(Example 3B)
Next, Example 3B will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In Example 3B, a person condition, a shooting time condition, and a shooting location condition are designated as image selection conditions.

  Similar to Example 1A, the display control unit 14 causes the UI unit 16 to display the image data stored in the image storage unit 12 (S60), and the user designates representative image data using the UI unit 16 ( In step S61, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts face image data from the representative image data (S62). Similarly to Example 1A, when the image data 1 shown in FIG. 5 is designated as the representative image data, the face image data of Mr. A and Mr. B are extracted from the image data 1.

  On the other hand, the shooting time specifying unit 22 specifies the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 by referring to the shooting date / time information included in the metadata of the image data 1 (representative image data) (S63). . Further, the shooting location specifying unit 24 specifies the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 by referring to shooting position information included in the metadata of the image data 1 (S64).

  The image selection condition setting unit 26 sets image selection conditions including a person condition, a shooting time condition, and a shooting location condition. In Example 3B, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the person (Mr. A and Mr. B) represented in the image data 1 as the person condition, and sets the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 to the shooting time. And the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 is set as the shooting location condition.

  The related image selection unit 28 selects the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 from the plurality of image data stored in the image storage unit 12 on the same day as the shooting date of the image data 1 (June 10). The image data group photographed at the same place is specified (S65). In the example shown in FIG. 5, image data 1 to 8 are specified. As in the case of Example 1B, the related image selection unit 28 sets a group of image data (FIG. 5) captured within a preset location range (for example, “Osaka”) with reference to the shooting location of the image data 1. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the image data 9) may be selected.

  Then, the related image selection unit 28 targets the image data group identified in step S65 and the face image data extracted by the person analysis processing unit 20 (each face image data of Mr. A and Mr. B). By performing the matching process, image data representing at least one of Mr. A and Mr. B is selected as related image data from the image data group (S66). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the image data 1 to 5 (and 9) are included in the related image data.

  Then, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts the face image data of the person represented in each of the related image data groups from each of the related image data groups (S67). In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the person analysis processing unit 20 identifies persons (Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, and Mr. D) represented in each of the image data 1 to 5, and Mr. A, Mr. B, and C The face image data of Mr. and Mr. D are extracted from the image data 1-5. When the image data 9 is included in the related image data group, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts face image data of Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D, and Mr. F from the related image data group.

  The contact selection unit 32 uses the face image data of Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C and Mr. D (and Mr. F) represented in the related image data group as search keys, and uses Mr. A, Mr. B, The e-mail addresses associated with Mr. C and Mr. D (and Mr. F) are acquired from the contact storage unit 30 (S68).

  Then, the transmission / reception unit 34 transmits an e-mail to which the related image data group is attached with the e-mail addresses of Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, and Mr. D (and Mr. F) as destinations (S69).

  According to Example 3B, if the user designates a representative image, the related image is taken on the same day as the representative image on the same day as the representative image on which the person represented in the representative image is represented. The group is selected, and further, the contact (share destination) of the person represented in the related image group is specified, and the related image group is transmitted. As a result, a group of images related to each other can be easily shared between related parties. Further, since the contact address is specified based on the related image group, the contact address (shared address) of the related person is specified even if the related person is not represented in the representative image. Thereby, the related image group image | photographed in the event is shared among the persons concerned of one event.

  In Example 3B, the related image selection unit 28 may select the related image data group using the person condition and the shooting time condition as the image selection condition, or the person condition and the shooting location condition as the image selection condition. A related image data group may be selected. Thereby, a related image data group is selected according to individual needs.

(Example 3C)
Next, Example 3C will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In Example 3C, a shooting time condition and a shooting location condition are specified as image selection conditions.

  As in Example 1A, the display control unit 14 causes the UI unit 16 to display the image data stored in the image storage unit 12 (S70), and the user designates representative image data using the UI unit 16. (S71). For example, it is assumed that the image data 1 shown in FIG. 5 is designated as representative image data.

  The shooting time specifying unit 22 specifies the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 by referring to the shooting date / time information included in the metadata of the image data 1 (representative image data) (S72). Further, the shooting location specifying unit 24 specifies the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 by referring to the shooting position information included in the metadata of the image data 1 (S73).

  The image selection condition setting unit 26 sets image selection conditions including a shooting time condition and a shooting location condition. In Example 3C, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 as the shooting time condition, and sets the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 as the shooting location condition.

  The related image selection unit 28 selects the shooting location (Kyoto) of the image data 1 from the plurality of image data stored in the image storage unit 12 on the same day as the shooting date of the image data 1 (June 10). A related image data group photographed at the same place is specified (S74). In the example shown in FIG. 5, image data 1 to 8 are included in the related image data group. As in the case of Example 1B, the related image selection unit 28 sets a group of image data (FIG. 5) captured within a preset location range (for example, “Osaka”) with reference to the shooting location of the image data 1. In the example shown, the image data 9) may be selected as the related image data group.

  Then, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts the face image data of the person represented in each of the related image data groups from each of the related image data groups (S75). In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the person analysis processing unit 20 identifies the persons (Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D, and Mr. E) represented in each of the image data 1 to 8, and Mr. A, B The face image data of Mr. C, Mr. C, Mr. D, and Mr. E are extracted from the image data 1-8. When the image data 9 is included in the related image data group, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts the face image data of Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D, Mr. E, and Mr. F from the related image data group. Extract.

  The contact selection unit 32 uses the face image data of Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D and Mr. E (and Mr. F) represented in the related image data group as search keys. The e-mail addresses associated with Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D and Mr. E (and Mr. F) are acquired from the contact address storage unit 30 (S76).

  Then, the display control unit 14 causes the UI unit 16 to display a list of contact information (email address) acquired by the contact selection unit 32 (S77). The display control unit 14 causes the UI unit 16 to display e-mail addresses of Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D, and Mr. E (and Mr. F), for example. Alternatively, the display control unit 14 may cause the UI unit 16 to display the names and IDs of Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D, and Mr. E (and Mr. F).

  Then, when the user selects an email address of a person to be transmitted from the list of email addresses displayed on the UI unit 16, the transmission / reception unit 34 uses the email address selected by the user as a destination, An electronic mail to which the related image data group is attached is transmitted (S78). For example, when the email addresses of Mr. A and Mr. B are selected by the user, the transmission / reception unit 34 attaches related image data to the email addresses of Mr. A and Mr. B as destinations. Send an email.

  According to Example 3C, if the user designates a representative image, a related image group photographed at the same location as the representative image is selected on the same day as the representative image photographing date. The contact information (share destination) of the represented person is displayed. As a result, the user can easily select the sharing destination, and the complexity of the user operation is reduced. When the sharing destination is designated by the user, a group of images related to each other is shared at the sharing destination. In addition, since the sharing destination is specified based on the related image group, the sharing destination is specified even if the representative image does not show the sharing destination person. Thereby, the related continuous image group image | photographed in the event is shared among the persons concerned of one event.

  In Example 3C, the related image selection unit 28 may select a related image data group using only the shooting time condition or only the shooting location condition as an image forming condition. Thereby, a related image data group is selected according to individual needs.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the sharing destination is specified based on the representative image, and in the third embodiment, the sharing destination is specified based on the related image. In this way, a screen for switching an image (representative image / related image) for specifying a sharing destination may be displayed on the UI unit 16. For example, the display control unit 14 includes a UI for specifying a representative image as an image for specifying a sharing destination and a check box for specifying a related image as an image for specifying the sharing destination. Display on the unit 16. When the check box for either the representative image or the related image is designated by the user, the contact selection unit 32 follows the instruction based on the face image data extracted from either the representative image or the related image. Contact information (share destination information) is acquired from the contact storage unit 30. An example in which a representative image is designated as an image for specifying a sharing destination corresponds to the first and second embodiments, and an example in which a related image is designated as an image for specifying a sharing destination is implemented. This corresponds to Example 3.

<Example 4>
Next, Embodiment 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the fourth embodiment, the image management apparatus 10 selects image data captured during a continuous shooting period including a shooting date and several days before and after the shooting date as related image data.

  As in Example 1A, the display control unit 14 causes the UI unit 16 to display the image data stored in the image storage unit 12 (S80), and the user designates representative image data using the UI unit 16. (S81). For example, it is assumed that the image data 1 shown in FIG. 5 is designated as representative image data.

  The shooting time specifying unit 22 specifies the shooting date (June 10) of the image data 1 by referring to the shooting date / time information included in the metadata of the image data 1 (representative image data) (S82).

  The image selection condition setting unit 26 specifies a continuous shooting period including the shooting date of the representative image data (image data 1) as a candidate shooting period (S83).

  Here, the candidate photographing period will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7, the image data 13 is captured on June 7 and is continuously captured from June 7 to June 13. Therefore, the period from June 7 to June 13 is specified as the candidate shooting period. It is assumed that no shooting was performed on June 6.

  Then, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts face image data from the representative image data (image data 1) (S84). When the image data 1 shown in FIG. 5 is designated as representative image data, Mr. A and Mr. B are specified as target subjects, and each face image data of Mr. A and Mr. B is extracted from the image data 1.

  When the extracted face image data is registered in the contact storage unit 30, that is, when at least one of Mr. A and Mr. B is registered in the contact storage unit 30 (S85, Yes), The image selection condition setting unit 26 excludes, from the candidate shooting period, shooting dates in which no image data representing the target subject (at least one of Mr. A and Mr. B) has been shot, and representative image data ( A continuous shooting period including the shooting date of the image data 1) is specified as a continuous shooting period (S86).

  A specific example will be described. In the example shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, neither Mr. A nor Mr. B is represented in the image data 14 photographed on June 8. In addition, in the image data 22 and 23 photographed on June 13, neither Mr. A nor Mr. B is represented. On the other hand, in the image data 15 and 16 photographed on June 9, at least one of Mr. A and Mr. B is represented. Further, among the image data 17, 18, and 19 photographed on June 11, the image data 18, 19 represents at least one of Mr. A and Mr. B. Of the image data 20 and 21 photographed on June 12, the image data 21 represents Mr. A and Mr. B. Therefore, the period from June 9 to June 12 corresponds to the continuous shooting period including the shooting date (June 10) of the representative image data (image data 1).

  Then, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the continuous shooting period (the period from June 9 to June 12) as the shooting time condition, and includes the shooting time condition in the image selection condition. Further, the image selection condition setting unit 26 may include at least one of the person condition and the shooting location condition in the image selection condition.

  Then, the image management apparatus 10 selects and transmits a related image data group for the image data group captured during the continuous shooting period (S88). Any of the above-described first to third embodiments is applied to the selection of the related image data group and the specification of the contact information.

  For example, the related image selection unit 28 may select all the image data shot during the continuous shooting period as a related image data group. Alternatively, the related image selection unit 28 adds at least one of the person condition and the shooting location condition to the image selection condition in addition to the shooting time condition, and from the image data group shot during the continuous shooting period, An image data group that matches at least one of the location conditions may be selected as the related image data group.

  In addition, as described in the first to third embodiments, the contact selection unit 32 may select a transmission destination (shared destination) of the related image data group based on the representative image data or the related image data.

  On the other hand, when the face image data extracted in step S84 is not registered in the contact storage unit 30, that is, when neither Mr. A nor Mr. B is registered in the contact storage unit 30 (S85, No), the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the candidate shooting period as a continuous shooting period (S87). In this case, the period from June 7 to June 13 corresponds to the continuous shooting period. Then, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets the continuous shooting period (period from June 7 to June 13) as the shooting time condition, and includes the shooting time condition in the image selection condition. Also in this case, by applying any one of the first to third embodiments, the image management apparatus 10 selects the related image data group and transmits the related image data group to the transmission destination (sharing destination) (S88).

  According to the fourth embodiment, if the user designates the representative image, the continuous shooting period including the shooting date of the representative image is specified, and the continuous shooting period in which the shooting date of the image representing the target subject is continuous is specified. A process related to sharing is performed on a group of image data shot during the continuous shooting period. Since the target subject is represented in the image data group photographed during the continuous photographing period specified in the fourth embodiment, the image data group corresponds to the image data group photographed at the same event. Therefore, according to Example 4, the related image group image | photographed by the same event is selected, and it transmits to a related person. For example, when traveling by a plurality of persons over a plurality of days, from the viewpoint of the travel period, an image group captured during the travel is selected as a related image group and shared among related parties. .

(Modification 1 of Example 4)
Next, with reference to FIG. 16, the modification 1 of Example 4 is demonstrated. FIG. 16 shows the photographing period, and the horizontal axis represents time (date). In the example shown in FIG. 16, the image data group 220 is photographed on August 10, the image data group 230 is photographed on August 11, the image data group 200 is photographed on August 12, and the August 13th is taken. The image data group 240 is photographed and the image data group 250 is photographed on August 14th. It is assumed that shooting was not performed on August 9 and August 15. Therefore, the shooting was continuously performed from August 10 to August 14. Further, it is assumed that the image data 210 photographed on August 12 is designated as representative image data.

  In the first modification, the image selection condition setting unit 26 selects a person represented in the image data group 200 photographed on the photographing date of the representative image data (image data 210) as a target subject (for example, Mr. A, Mr. B and Mr. C). Mr.). Then, the image selection condition setting unit 26 specifies a continuous shooting period in which the shooting date of the image data representing the target subject continues except for the shooting date of the image data representing the person different from the target subject. In the example illustrated in FIG. 16, the image data group 220 captured on August 10 includes image data in which Mr. D and Mr. E are represented as persons other than Mr. A, Mr. B, and Mr. C. The image data group 250 photographed on August 14 includes image data in which Mr. E is represented as a person other than Mr. A, Mr. B, and Mr. C. As described above, since the image data captured on August 10 and August 14 represents a person other than the target subject (Mr. A, Mr. B, and Mr. C), the image selection condition setting unit 26 Excludes August 10 and August 14 from the continuous shooting period. On the other hand, in the image data group photographed between August 11 and August 13, no person other than the target subject is represented. Therefore, the image selection condition setting unit 26 performs the operation from August 11 to August 13. The period up to the day is set as the continuous shooting period.

  Also in the first modification, as in the fourth embodiment, the image management apparatus 10 selects and transmits a related image data group for the image data group captured during the continuous shooting period.

  The events performed on the shooting date (August 10th and 14th) of the image data (image data group 220, 250) representing a person other than the target subject (Mr. A, Mr. B and Mr. C) are continuously shot. The event held during the period (August 11th to 13th) is evaluated to be different. That is, it is evaluated that no person other than the target subject is represented in the case of image data shot at the same event. Therefore, by excluding the day when a person other than the target subject was shot from the continuous shooting period, a group of image data shot at the same event can be shot.

(Modification 2 of Example 4)
Next, a second modification of the fourth embodiment will be described. In the second modification, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts face image data from each of image data groups photographed during a continuous photographing period including the photographing date of the representative image data. Then, the person analysis processing unit 20 targets the face image data extracted from the representative image data (the face image data of the target subject) and the face image data extracted from the image data group during the continuous shooting period. Then, matching processing is performed, and the similarity to the combination of the face image data of the target subject is obtained. The image selection condition setting unit 26 specifies a continuous shooting period including the shooting date of the representative image data based on the similarity. For example, the image selection condition setting unit 26 specifies face image data whose similarity with respect to the combination of face image data of the target subject is equal to or greater than a preset threshold, and extracts face image data with the similarity equal to or greater than the threshold. A period in which the shooting dates of the image data continue is specified as a continuous shooting period. Then, the related image selection unit 28 selects a related image data group for the image data group captured during the continuous shooting period.

  To explain with a specific example, it is assumed that Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, and Mr. D are represented in the representative image data. In this case, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts face image data of Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, and Mr. D from the representative image data. In addition, when Mr. A, Mr. B, and Mr. C are represented in the image data captured on the consecutive days of the representative image data, the person analysis processing unit 20 determines that Mr. A, B The face image data of Mr. and Mr. C are extracted. Then, the person analysis processing unit 20 calculates the similarity of the combination of both face image data. If the similarity between the group of Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, and Mr. D and the group of Mr. A, Mr. B, and Mr. C is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the image selection condition setting unit 26 determines that Mr. A, B The shooting date of the image data representing Mr. and Mr. C is included in the continuous shooting period.

  As described above, by specifying the continuous shooting period based on the similarity of the person represented in the image data, the conditions for image selection are narrowed down from the viewpoint of a group that has acted together. Thereby, the related image group image | photographed by one event is selected, and it transmits to a related person.

  As another modification of the fourth embodiment, the image selection condition setting unit 26 may specify a shooting period in which the interval between shooting dates is equal to or less than a preset threshold period as a continuous shooting period. A group of image data shot during a shooting period in which the interval of each shooting date is equal to or less than the threshold period may correspond to a group of image data shot at the same event. On the other hand, when the interval of each shooting date exceeds the threshold period, the image data group shot on each shooting date may correspond to the image data group shot at different events. Therefore, the related image data captured at the same event can be selected by specifying the continuous image capturing period and selecting the related image data group based on the interval of each shooting date.

(Example 5)
Next, Example 5 will be described. In the first to fourth embodiments described above, when transmitting image data that does not represent a person, the image management apparatus 10 transmits image data captured by the sender itself from among a group of image data that does not represent a person. May be. Here, the sender is the owner of the image management apparatus 10, a user who has an account set in the image management apparatus 10, a user who logs in to the image management apparatus 10, or the like. For example, the related image selection unit 28 selects the related image data captured by the sender as image data to be transmitted based on the photographer information attached to each of the related image data groups in which no person is represented. As a result, image data that is not related to the person or low in relation to the person who acted with the sender is not transmitted, and image data that the person wants is transmitted.

  A specific example will be described. For example, it is assumed that Mr. A and Mr. B act together to climb “Mt. Fuji”, and Mr. A takes a picture using his / her smartphone or mobile phone (image management apparatus 10). At this time, it is assumed that image data representing Mr. A and Mr. B and image data representing only “mountain scenery of Mt. Fuji” have been taken. The image data group photographed at the time of the action is accompanied by photographer information indicating Mr. A and stored in the image storage unit 12. On the other hand, in addition to the image data photographed by the image management device 10, the image storage unit 12 may also store image data transmitted from other devices. Therefore, even if the image data has the same shooting date and shooting location, there may be image data that is not related to each other or low. For example, image data taken on the same day as the day when Mr. A and Mr. B acted, but image data taken at the time of action that has nothing to do with the actions of Mr. A and Mr. B is also stored in the image storage unit 12. May be remembered. To explain with a specific example, Mr. C, a friend of Mr. A, takes a picture of “The Statue of Liberty” in New York, and the image data representing “The Statue of Liberty” is transferred to Mr. A's image management apparatus 10. May be sent. In this case, the image data is stored in the image storage unit 12 of the image management apparatus 10. Even if the shooting date of the image data of “The Statue of Liberty” is the same as the shooting date of the image data of “Mount Fuji”, the image data of “The Statue of Liberty” Is completely unrelated image data.

  Then, when Mr. A intends to transmit related image data to Mr. B using the image management apparatus 10, it is assumed that image data in which no person is represented is selected as related image data. For example, the image data of “Mount Fuji scenery” is selected as the related image data. On the other hand, if the shooting date of the image data of “The Statue of Liberty” taken by Mr. C is the same as the shooting date of the image data of “Mt. Can be selected. In this case, the related image selection unit 28 specifies a photographer based on photographer information attached to the image data, and selects image data photographed by the same photographer as the sender as related image data. Photographer information indicating Mr. A is attached to the image data of “Mount Fuji scenery”. On the other hand, the image data of “The Statue of Liberty” is image data taken by Mr. C, and the photographer information indicating Mr. A is not attached to the image data of “The Statue of Liberty”. Therefore, the related image selection unit 28 selects the image data of “Mt. Fuji” as the related image data without selecting the image data of “Freedom of Liberty” as the related image data. As a result, the image data of “Mount Fuji” is transmitted to Mr. B, but the image data of “Goddess of Liberty” which is not related to Mr. B is not transmitted.

  As described above, when transmitting image data in which a person is not represented to a sharing destination, by transmitting the image data taken by the sender to the sharing destination, the sharing destination has no relationship or low relationship Image data is not sent. As a result, related image data shot at the same event is shared at the sharing destination.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the transmission / reception unit 34 does not transmit the related image data that does not represent the identity of each sharing destination to each sharing destination, and the related images that represent the identity of each sharing destination. Data may be sent. For example, in the case of Example 1A, the transmission / reception unit 34 transmits the image data 1, 2, 3, 9 to the contact information of Mr. A, and transmits the image data 1, 2, 4, 5, 9 to the contact information of Mr. B. To do.

(Example 6)
Next, Example 6 will be described with reference to FIG. The image management apparatus 10A according to the sixth embodiment includes an access right setting unit 36 in addition to the configuration of the image management apparatus 10 illustrated in FIG. The image management apparatus 10A is connected to the server 70 via a communication path N such as a network.

  The server 70 includes a storage device 72. The storage device 72 stores an image data group acquired by photographing. For example, an image data group captured by a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or a mobile phone is transmitted to the server 70 and stored in the storage device 72. Further, an image data group captured by the image management apparatus 10 </ b> A may be transmitted to the server 70 and stored in the storage device 72.

  In the sixth embodiment, the image management apparatus 10A selects a related image data group for the image data group stored in the server 70, and shares the related image data group with a sharing destination.

  First, the image management apparatus 10 </ b> A accesses the server 70. The display control unit 14 causes the UI unit 16 to display the image data stored in the storage device 72, and the user designates representative image data from the image data displayed on the UI unit 16. Then, the image analysis unit 18 selects the related image data group by executing any one of the above-described first to fifth examples for the image data group stored in the storage device 72, and Specify the sharing destination.

  Then, the access right setting unit 36 acquires address information (for example, URL) indicating the storage location of the related image data group from the server 70, and sets the access right for the storage location to the sharing destination. The transmission / reception unit 34 transmits the address information to the sharing destination.

  The sharing destination device that has received the address information accesses the server 70 and receives related image data from the storage location indicated by the address information.

  According to the sixth embodiment, even image data managed by an apparatus other than the image management apparatuses 10 and 10A, such as the server 70, is shared at the sharing destination.

  Further, the image management apparatus 10A may select related image data for the image data stored in the image storage unit 12 as in the first to fifth embodiments. In this case, the image management apparatus 10A may upload the related image data to the server 70 and transmit address information indicating the storage location of the related image data to the sharing destination.

  When a related image data group is selected from the image data group stored in the storage device 72 of the server 70, the related image data group and other image data groups are managed by separate folders and directories. May be. This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. For example, it is assumed that an image data group 74 including 100 pieces of image data is stored in the folder A of the storage device 72. At this time, it is assumed that the related image data group 76 including 10 pieces of image data is selected from the image data group 74 by the image management apparatus 10A. In this case, the server 70 moves the related image data group 76 to a folder B different from the folder A, and stores the related image data group 76 in the folder B. Since the related image data group 76 and the other image data groups are managed separately in this way, when the server 70 is accessed, the related image data group 76 is easily specified, and the related image data group 76 is stored in the related image data group 76. Easy access. In the image storage unit 12 of the image management apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, the related image data group and other image data groups may be managed in separate folders.

  In the sixth embodiment, the transmission / reception unit 34 does not transmit the address information of the related image data that does not represent the person of each sharing destination to each sharing destination, and does not transmit the address information of each sharing destination. Image data address information may be transmitted.

  In the first to sixth embodiments described above, the display control unit 14 may display the related image data group on the UI unit 16. In this case, the user may use the UI unit 16 to delete image data that is not a transmission target from the related image data group, or may add other image data to the related image data group. In addition, the display control unit 14 may display information on the sharing destination (e-mail address of the sharing destination) on the UI unit 16, and the user may add or delete the sharing destination using the UI unit 16. .

  In the first to sixth embodiments, the user may specify a plurality of representative image data. In this case, the person analysis processing unit 20 extracts face image data from each of the plurality of representative image data, the shooting time specifying unit 22 specifies the shooting time of each of the plurality of representative image data, and the shooting location specifying unit. Reference numeral 24 designates the shooting location of each of the plurality of representative image data. Then, the image selection condition setting unit 26 sets an image selection condition including at least one of a person condition, a shooting time condition, and a shooting location condition based on each representative image data. Then, the related image selection unit 28 selects a related image data group according to an image selection condition set based on a plurality of representative image data. Further, the contact selection unit 32 specifies a sharing destination based on at least one of the representative image data and the related image data.

  For example, when specifying a sharing destination based on representative image data, by specifying a plurality of representative image data, a person who is not represented in one representative image data but represented in the other representative image data Is identified as the sharing destination person. This makes it easier to specify a plurality of sharing destinations as compared to the case where the sharing destinations are specified based on one representative image data. Also, from the viewpoint of selecting related image data, by specifying a plurality of representative image data, a plurality of shooting dates and a plurality of shooting locations can be selected as image selection conditions. Compared with the case where related image data is selected according to the image selection condition set based on this, the selection of the related image data group becomes easier. For example, by specifying a plurality of representative image data with different shooting dates, a group of related image data captured at an event performed over a plurality of days, compared to the case of specifying one representative image data. This makes it easier to select.

  In the first to sixth embodiments described above, the image management apparatuses 10 and 10A may call the sharing destination.

  In the first to sixth embodiments described above, the related image data group is selected for image data that is one frame of a still photograph or moving image data. However, for moving image data, a plurality of moving image data You may make it select related moving image data from the inside.

  Note that the image management apparatuses 10 and 10A are realized by cooperation of hardware resources and software, for example. Specifically, the image management apparatuses 10 and 10A include a processor such as a CPU (not shown). When the processor reads and executes a program stored in a storage device (not shown), the functions of the display control unit 14, the image analysis unit 18, the contact selection unit 32, and the access right setting unit 36 are realized. . The program is stored in the storage device via a storage medium such as a CD or DVD, or via communication means such as a network.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,10A Image management apparatus, 12 Image storage part, 14 Display control part, 16 UI part, 18 Image analysis part, 20 Person analysis processing part, 22 Shooting time specific | specification part, 24 Shooting place specific | specification part, 26 Image selection condition setting part , 28 related image selection unit, 30 contact address storage unit, 32 contact address selection unit, 34 transmission / reception unit, 36 access right setting unit, 50 photographing device, 70 server, 72 storage device.

Claims (5)

Accepting means for accepting selection of a representative image from the image group;
Subject specifying means for specifying one or more persons in the representative image as representative subjects;
A period including a shooting date of the representative image, a first time period specifying means for specifying a period during which the date of at least one image has been captured are consecutive as candidates shooting period,
Of the day included in the candidate shooting period, the shooting date the representative object is not also photographed one is excluded from the candidate imaging period, as a continuous shooting period consecutive days including the shooting date of the representative image A second period specifying means for specifying;
An image management apparatus. A storage means for storing a person's contact information;
Said second time period specifying means, when the contact of the representative object is stored in the storage means, excluding the shooting date the representative object is not captured even one person from the candidate shooting period,
The image management apparatus according to claim 1. A storage means for storing a person's contact information;
It said second time period specifying means if none of the contacts of the representative object not stored in the storage means, identifying the candidate imaging period as a continuous shooting period,
The image management apparatus according to claim 1. First specifying means for specifying a continuous shooting period including a shooting date of a representative image selected from the image group as a candidate shooting period;
Exclude from the candidate shooting period the shooting date on which an image taken on the same day as the representative image and an image of a person other than the person shown in at least one of the representative images is taken, and the representative image A second specifying means for specifying a continuous shooting period including the shooting date;
An image management apparatus. Computer
Accepting means for accepting selection of a representative image from the image group;
Subject specifying means for specifying one or more persons in the representative image as representative subjects;
A period including a shooting date of the representative image, a first time period specifying means for specifying a period during which the date of at least one image has been captured are consecutive as candidates shooting period,
Of the day included in the candidate shooting period, the shooting date the representative object is not also photographed one is excluded from the candidate imaging period, as a continuous shooting period consecutive days including the shooting date of the representative image A second period specifying means for specifying;
Program to function as.