JP6226650B2 - Image browsing system, image recording apparatus, and image browsing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image browsing system including an image recording apparatus that records a plurality of images, a browsing apparatus that browses images recorded in the image recording apparatus, and the image recording apparatus and browsing apparatus.

  In recent years, the wireless LAN compatibility of mobile devices is rapidly progressing, and the number of mobile devices having Web functions is increasing. For example, in a digital camera, a technique is also known in which a thumbnail list page of captured images (recorded images) is made public on a network by a Web server function and can be viewed on a Web browser operating on a PC or a smartphone.

  In such a system, it is required to speed up the HTTP transfer process from the Web server to the Web browser so that the user can view images comfortably on the Web browser.

  The HTTP transfer process requires overhead time for generating and analyzing an HTTP request / response by a Web browser and a Web server in addition to a time for transferring data through a transmission path. In the existing Web system of the digital camera, HTTP processing is executed in units of thumbnail images, so that multiple overheads corresponding to the number of thumbnail images occur. That is, the HTTP processing for obtaining thumbnail images is a bottleneck factor for the thumbnail list page display performance.

  For such a bottleneck, a technique is known in which a Web server transfers a large image obtained by concatenating a plurality of thumbnail images by one HTTP process, and a Web browser side extracts a thumbnail image from the concatenated image ( Patent Document 1).

  Also, in a digital camera having a wireless LAN function, a method of connecting the digital camera to a smartphone with the wireless LAN function and transferring a captured image from the camera to the smartphone at an appropriate timing is known. However, since the amount of data of one image increases with the increase in resolution of digital cameras and the recording of RAW format data, it takes time to transfer. If you try to transfer a certain number of images to a smartphone at once, it takes a long time to transfer them. For example, in a digital camera having more than 15 million pixels in recent years, since the capacity of one image file is about 10 MB, the data amount exceeds 1 GB for about 100 sheets. Even if the effective speed of the wireless LAN is about 100 Mbps, it takes 80 seconds or more to transfer this data from the camera to the external device.

  In order to avoid such a situation, what is selected by the user among the recorded images of the camera may be transferred to the smartphone. This is an essential function when the free space of the smartphone is limited. For such selection, a browsing system that displays a list of thumbnail images of the recorded images of the camera on a smartphone is required.

Special table 2011-515777 gazette

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a unit for connecting thumbnail images is determined on the Web server side, and thumbnail images that are not scheduled to be displayed on the Web browser side may be included in the connected images. In this case, although the number of times of HTTP processing can be reduced by transfer of linked images, thumbnail images transferred by one HTTP processing become redundant. On the browser side, processing of extra thumbnail images, time and resources are taken up, which hinders the speeding up of the thumbnail list display.

  In addition, when displaying thumbnails of digital camera shot images on a smartphone as a list, find the desired image if it can be sorted by image attributes such as shooting date / time, shooting image event tag, or video / still image type. It's easy to do. In consideration of such usage, it is desirable that the thumbnail image list display on the smartphone can be quickly updated even when the thumbnail image display arrangement or extraction condition is changed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such inconveniences, and an object thereof is to present an image browsing system, an image browsing method, an image recording apparatus, and an image browsing apparatus that can display images at high speed on a list screen on the image receiving side.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image browsing system according to the present invention includes an image recording device that records a plurality of images on a recording medium, and an image browsing device that browses images recorded on the image recording device. A request transmitting means for transmitting an image acquisition request including an image browsing condition for designating a predetermined number of images to the image recording device, disposed in the browsing device, and disposed in the image recording device; An image connecting means for connecting the predetermined number of images specified by the image browsing condition of the acquisition request to one connected image, and generating position information indicating positions of the predetermined number of images in the connected image; An information transmission unit arranged in an image recording device and transmitting the connected image and the position information to the browsing device; and the connected image from the image recording device and the previous image arranged in the browsing device Separating means for receiving position information and cutting out each of the predetermined number of images from the connected image received according to the received position information; and each image arranged in the browsing device and cut out from the connected image by the separating means Is stored in a storage medium, and display means is arranged in the browsing device and displays a list of a plurality of images stored in the storage medium.

  According to the present invention, since a plurality of images are transmitted as a single image, the overhead of image transmission can be reduced. For example, the HTTP process can be completed with a minimum number of times. The feeling of use can be improved by appropriately setting the amount of data transferred in one image transmission. In addition, image display can be speeded up by suppressing retransmission of the acquired image.

It is a schematic block diagram of the portable terminal which comprises one Example of this invention. It is a software block diagram of the web browser function which operate | moves on the portable terminal shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the camera which comprises a present Example. It is a software block diagram of the Web function of the camera shown in FIG. It is an example of image connection. It is explanatory drawing of the network connection of the portable terminal shown in FIG. 1, and the camera 300 shown in FIG. It is a processing sequence of the thumbnail list screen display of a present Example. It is an example of a display screen of a portable terminal. It is an explanatory example of a connection image and position information data. An example of an operation pattern management table is shown. It is an example of the current page of screen transition. It is an example of the next page of screen transition. It is an example of the previous page of screen transition. It is an example of a connection image management table. This is an example in which eight thumbnail images on the upper or lower side of the currently displayed area are transmitted as linked images. FIG. 8 is an example of a change sequence of the repetitive processing portion of FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the portable terminal which comprises another Example of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the camera which comprises another Example of this invention. 16 is an operation sequence for displaying a list of alias images of the recorded images of the camera shown in FIG. 16 on the portable terminal shown in FIG. 16 is an operation sequence for displaying a list of alias images of the recorded images of the camera shown in FIG. 16 on the portable terminal shown in FIG. 18 is a detailed flowchart of a connected image creation necessity determination / connected image creation step in FIGS. 17A and 17B. It is an example of the image file recorded on the camera shown in FIG. It is an example of the image file recorded on the camera shown in FIG. It is an example of the 1st connection image and its position information. It is an image figure of a page layout. It is an example of a screen display. It is an example of the 2nd connection image and its positional information. It is an image figure of a page layout. It is an example of a screen display. It is an example of the positional information when the arrangement order is changed. It is an example of a page layout. It is a screen display example 16 is another operation sequence when the thumbnail image of the camera shown in FIG. 16 is viewed on the mobile terminal shown in FIG. This is the rest of another operation sequence when browsing the thumbnail image of the camera shown in FIG. 16 with the mobile terminal shown in FIG. It is an example of a page layout when all are specified. 30 is a detailed flowchart of a connected image creation necessity determination / connected image creation step in the operation sequence shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B. It is an example of the 1st connection image and position information in the operation | movement sequence shown to FIG. 29A and FIG. 29B. It is an example of the 2nd connection image and position information in the operation | movement sequence shown to FIG. 29A and FIG. 29B. It is an example of the 3rd connection image and position information in the operation | movement sequence shown to FIG. 29A and FIG. 29B. It is an example of the 4th connection image and position information in the operation | movement sequence shown to FIG. 29A and FIG. 29B. It is a figure which shows the example of a page layout in the case of still image designation | designated. It is an example of the 1st connection image after the still image designation | designated, and its positional information. It is an example of the 2nd connection image after the still image designation | designated, and its positional information.

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

  One embodiment of an image browsing system according to the present invention includes a camera having a Web server function and an external browsing device (client device) that browses recorded images of the camera. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a mobile terminal 100 serving as a browsing device (client device).

  The portable terminal 100 includes a control unit 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, a wireless communication unit 104, a display unit 105, an operation unit 106, and a recording unit 107. These components are connected to each other by an internal bus 108 as a data transmission path.

  The control unit 101 is a processing block that controls the entire mobile terminal 100, and is configured by, for example, a CPU, and implements various functions by executing a program stored in the ROM 102.

  A ROM 102 is a nonvolatile read-only memory, and stores a processing program executed by the control unit 101 and data.

  The RAM 103 is a volatile readable / writable memory, and is used as a working memory of the control unit 101 and a temporary storage area for data.

  The wireless communication unit 104 is a processing block that performs wireless LAN communication using the IEEE 802.11 system. The wireless communication unit 104 includes a baseband / MAC controller circuit, an RF module, an antenna, and the like.

  The display unit 105 is a processing block that displays and outputs information to the user, and is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel.

  The operation unit 106 is a processing block that receives an instruction input from the user, and includes a touch panel, operation buttons, and the like.

  The recording unit 107 is a processing block that reads and writes data from and to a large-capacity recording medium such as a built-in flash memory or a removable memory card.

  FIG. 2 is a software configuration diagram of the Web browser function executed by the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100. The web browser function of the portable terminal 100 includes a web browser unit 201 that executes a web browser application, and a network unit 202 that controls the wireless communication unit 104 to execute data communication processing using a wireless LAN. The Web browser unit 201 includes a user interface unit 203, a browser engine unit 204, a rendering engine unit 205, a data storage unit 206, a JavaScript interpreter unit 207, and an HTTP client unit 208. “JavaScript” is a registered trademark.

  The user interface unit 203 is a module that accepts user operation instructions on the browser screen, such as an address bar, a back / forward button, a bookmark, and a menu.

  The browser engine unit 204 is a module that organizes processing between the user interface unit 203 and the rendering engine unit 205.

  The rendering engine unit 205 is a module responsible for displaying the requested content. For example, the rendering engine unit 205 analyzes the HTML data and CSS data acquired from the network unit 202 and displays the analysis result page on the screen of the display unit 105.

  The data storage unit 206 is a module that stores various data such as a cookie and a cache. The data storage unit 206 executes data reading from the ROM 102, data reading / writing to the RAM 103, and data reading / writing to the recording medium by the recording unit 107.

  The Java Script interpreter unit 207 is a module responsible for analyzing and executing the Java Script code.

  The HTTP client unit 208 is a module that executes HTTP request generation processing and HTTP response analysis processing.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the hardware of the camera 300 as an image recording apparatus (server apparatus) that records and holds an image to be viewed on the external portable terminal 100. The camera 300 includes a control unit 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a wireless communication unit 304, a display unit 305, an operation unit 306, a recording unit 307, and an imaging unit 308. These components are connected to each other by an internal bus 309 as a data transmission path.

  The control unit 301 is a processing block that controls the entire camera 300. The control unit 301 includes a CPU, for example, and implements various functions by executing programs stored in the ROM 302.

  A ROM 302 is a nonvolatile read-only memory, and stores a processing program and data executed by the control unit 301 and Web content data described later.

  A RAM 303 is a volatile readable / writable memory, and is used as a working memory for the control unit 301 and a temporary storage area for data.

  The wireless communication unit 304 is a processing block that performs wireless LAN communication using the IEEE 802.11 system. The wireless communication unit 304 includes a baseband / MAC controller circuit, an RF module, an antenna, and the like.

  The display unit 305 is a processing block that displays and outputs information to the user, and includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel.

  The operation unit 306 is a processing block that receives an instruction input from a user, and includes a touch panel, operation buttons, and the like.

  The recording unit 307 is a processing block that reads / writes data from / to a large-capacity recording medium such as a built-in flash memory or a removable memory card. Image data captured by the imaging unit 308 is recorded on the recording medium.

  The imaging unit 308 is a captured image generation block including an optical lens, a CMOS sensor, a digital image processing unit, and the like. In the imaging unit 308, the CMOS sensor converts an optical image input via the optical lens into an analog image signal, and a digital image processing unit converts the analog image signal from the CMOS sensor into digital image data.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of software related to the Web function executed by the control unit 301 of the camera 300. The Web function of the camera 300 includes a Web server unit 401 that executes a Web server application, and a network unit 402 that controls the wireless communication unit 304 to execute data communication processing using a wireless LAN. The web server unit 401 includes a media content unit 403, an image connection unit 404, a web content unit 405, and an HTTP server unit 406.

  The media content unit 403 is a module that manages image data such as still images, moving images, and thumbnail images. The media content unit 403 controls the recording unit 307 to read out image data from the storage medium and store it in the storage medium.

  The image connecting unit 404 is a module that generates a single image (connected image) by connecting a plurality of thumbnail image data acquired from the media content unit 403. The image connecting unit 404 generates a connected image, and also generates position information data indicating position information of an image (a thumbnail image in this case) that is a connection source.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of connection by the image connection unit 404. An example of a connected image in which four thumbnail images having a width of 160 pixels and a height of 120 pixels are connected and position information data is shown. FIG. 5A shows a connected image formed by connecting four thumbnail images, and FIG. 5B shows corresponding position information data. The position information data includes an image ID (identifier) uniquely indicating each image data, a file name, an offset in the X direction, an offset in the Y direction, a size (length) in the X direction, and a size in the Y direction. The offset indicates the number of pixels from the starting point with the upper left position of the connected image as a base point.

  The web content unit 405 is a module that manages web content data stored in the ROM 302. Web content data is generally composed of HTML data, JavaScript data, CSS data, button image data, and the like.

  The HTTP server unit 406 is a module that executes an HTTP request analysis process and an HTTP response generation process.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the mobile terminal 100 and the camera 300 are connected via a network such as a wireless LAN.

  The portable terminal 100 and the camera 300 are connected by peer-to-peer via a wireless LAN. For example, when the camera 300 serves as a wireless LAN access point and the portable terminal 100 serves as a wireless LAN station, connection can be established in a peer-to-peer infrastructure mode. The relationship between the access point and the station may be reversed, or each may be a station and connected in ad hoc mode.

  A thumbnail list screen display processing sequence exchanged between the mobile terminal 100 and the camera 300 in the network system configuration shown in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S701, a wireless LAN communication connection is established between the mobile terminal 100 and the camera 300, and an IP address is set for each. For example, the user operates the camera 300 to activate the access point function of the camera 300, and then operates the wireless LAN setting screen of the mobile terminal 100 to participate in the wireless network generated by the access point function of the camera 300. .

  In step S <b> 702, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 receives a connection operation from the user through the operation unit 106. For example, the user operation is an operation of starting a Web browser application on the portable terminal 100 and inputting a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for acquiring a thumbnail list screen on the Web browser screen.

  In step S703, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 requests the camera 300 to acquire HTML data of the thumbnail list screen from the wireless communication unit 104. The control unit 301 of the camera 300 receives this thumbnail list screen acquisition request via the wireless communication unit 304.

  In step S <b> 704, the control unit 301 of the camera 300 reads out the HTML data of the thumbnail list screen stored in the ROM 302 and transmits the HTML data to the portable terminal 100 by the wireless communication unit 304. The control unit 101 of the portable terminal 100 receives the HTML data of the thumbnail list screen transmitted from the camera 300 through the wireless communication unit 104. In the HTML data received here, a URL indicating the acquisition destination of the JavaScript data and a URL indicating the acquisition destination of the CSS data are described.

  In step S705, the control unit 101 of the portable terminal 100 transmits a JavaScript data acquisition request to the URL indicating the acquisition destination of the JavaScript data described in the HTML data received in step S704. The control unit 301 of the camera 300 receives this acquisition request via the wireless communication unit 304.

  In step S <b> 706, the control unit 301 of the camera 300 reads out the JavaScript data stored in the ROM 302 and transmits it using the wireless communication unit 304. The control unit 101 of the portable terminal 100 receives the JavaScript data transmitted from the camera 300 through the wireless communication unit 104. The HTTP processing after step S709 is realized by executing the received JavaScript data.

  In step S707, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 transmits a CSS data acquisition request to the URL indicating the CSS data acquisition destination described in the HTML data received in step S704. The control unit 301 of the camera 300 receives this acquisition request via the wireless communication unit 304.

  In step S <b> 708, the control unit 301 of the camera 300 reads out CSS data stored in the ROM 302 and transmits the CSS data using the wireless communication unit 304. The control unit 101 of the portable terminal 100 receives CSS data transmitted from the camera 300 through the wireless communication unit 104. The subsequent screen display processing is executed using the CSS data received here.

  In step S709, the control unit 301 of the camera 300 determines an image connection condition for designating a thumbnail image to be displayed on the first screen after connection. As described above, the image connection condition is information indicating an image to be connected in the image connection process performed by the image connection unit 404 of the camera 300. The image connection condition is also an image browsing condition for designating thumbnail images to be displayed as a list when viewed from the mobile terminal 100. In this embodiment, the image ID of the first thumbnail image and the number of images following the image ID are used as parameters of the image connection condition.

  For the sake of explanation, the image ID of the first image on the screen displayed first is “1”. For this reason, the first image ID of the image connection condition determined in this step is 1. The number of images is the number of thumbnail images that can be displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal 100 at a time, and is calculated based on the image size of the thumbnails and the display screen size of the mobile terminal 100 (the size of the display area to be used). The calculation process can be performed by JavaScript. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the number of images is six. FIG. 8 shows an example of a first screen that is assumed. The image connection condition corresponding to the example shown in FIG. 8 is “first image ID: 1, number of images: 6”.

  In step S710, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 transmits a connection image acquisition request including information on the image connection condition (first image ID and number of images) determined in step S709 to the camera 300 as a request transmission unit. For example, by sending an HTTP request of a request line such as “GET / api / getimage? Startid = 1 & num = 6”, it is possible to include an image connection condition in the connection image acquisition request. The control unit 301 of the camera 300 receives the acquisition request via the wireless communication unit 304 as a request receiving unit.

  In step S <b> 711, the control unit 301 of the camera 300 reads out necessary image data from the recording unit 307 based on the designated image connection condition, generates a connected image and position information, and transmits the generated image data to the mobile terminal 100. That is, the control unit 301 is a connected image and position information generating unit, and is an information transmitting unit that transmits the connected image and the position information to the mobile terminal 100. An example of the connected image and position information data generated here is shown in FIG. The control unit 101 of the portable terminal 100 receives the connected image and the position information data via the wireless communication unit 304.

  When it is possible to assume a situation where the camera 300 cannot generate the designated number of connected images at a time, the camera 300 may be able to respond in stages. For this purpose, for example, the following may be performed. The camera 300 includes the information of the thumbnail image ID included in the linked image transmitted by the response as text data in the HTTP response. Receiving this response, the mobile terminal 100 analyzes the text data, issues a connection image acquisition request specifying the image connection conditions including the remaining thumbnail images that have not been transmitted, and transmits them to the camera 300. Repeat this.

  In step S712, the separation unit of the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 substantially separates the individual thumbnail images from the associated received images using the position information data received in step S711. The control unit 101 stores the separated thumbnail images in the data storage unit 206 and the like, arranges them on the thumbnail list screen, and displays them on the display unit 105. Fitting or assignment to the list screen itself can be realized by using CSS sprite technology and specifying a display range in CSS based on position information data. In this step, a screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit 105. In order to facilitate understanding, an image ID is added to each displayed thumbnail image.

  Steps S713 to S720 after step S712 are repeated as the display screen of the display unit 105 is changed or switched.

  In step S713, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 determines a thumbnail image to be displayed by the next user operation, and updates the operation pattern management table. A plurality of patterns of user operations on the thumbnail list screen are conceivable. In this embodiment, a plurality of patterns of thumbnail images are determined. FIG. 10 shows an example of the operation pattern management table. As shown in FIG. 10, the operation pattern management table includes an operation pattern ID, a thumbnail image ID, a connected image ID, and a shortage thumbnail image ID. FIG. 10A shows the contents updated in this step.

  The operation pattern ID is an ID for identifying each operation pattern. In this embodiment, four types of user operation patterns are prepared. Switching to the next page is set to operation pattern ID: 1. Switching to the previous page is made operation pattern ID: 2. The upward scroll on the same page is assumed to be an operation pattern ID: 3. The downward scroll on the same page is assumed to be an operation pattern ID: 4.

  The thumbnail image ID is an ID of a thumbnail image displayed when a user operation corresponding to the operation pattern ID is executed. Here, the transition of the thumbnail image ID corresponding to the above-described four types of operation patterns will be described using a transition example between three pages of the current page, the previous page, and the next page. FIG. 11A shows the current page, FIG. 11B shows the next page, and FIG. 11C shows the previous page. 11A, 11B, and 11C each illustrate a thumbnail list page that displays 18 thumbnail images per page. ID = 1 to 18 indicate thumbnail images included in the previous page. ID = 19 to 36 indicates a thumbnail image included in the current page. ID = 37 to 54 indicates thumbnail images included in the next page. The number of thumbnail images displayed on one screen is six.

  Assume that a thumbnail image with ID = 27 to 32 indicated by reference numeral 1101 is currently displayed on the screen in the current page shown in FIG. 11A. When a user operation (switching to the next page) with the operation pattern ID = 1 is executed in the display state 1101, six thumbnail images with ID = 37 to 42 indicated by reference numeral 1102 of the next page (FIG. 11B) are displayed. The That is, the thumbnail image IDs to be acquired corresponding to the user operation with the operation pattern ID = 1 are ID = 37 to 42.

  When a user operation (switching to the previous page) with the operation pattern ID = 2 is executed in the thumbnail image display state 1101, the thumbnail image in the range indicated by reference numeral 1103 on the previous page (FIG. 11C) should be displayed. is there. Therefore, the thumbnail image IDs to be acquired corresponding to the user operation with the operation pattern ID = 2 are ID = 1 to 6.

  When the user operation is an operation of scrolling the list display, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 determines an image viewing condition based on an undisplayed image up to the end in the scroll direction. For example, when a user operation (scrolling upward) with the operation pattern ID = 3 is executed in the thumbnail image display state 1101, the reference numeral 1104 indicates from the top of the current page (FIG. 11A) to the previous image. Eight thumbnail images with ID = 19 to 26 are acquired. That is, the thumbnail images to be acquired corresponding to the user operation with the operation pattern ID = 3 are eight thumbnail images (ID = 21 to 26) preceding the current display image in the same page.

  When the user operation (scrolling downward) with the operation pattern ID = 4 is executed in the thumbnail image display state 1101, four thumbnail images with ID = 33 to 36 indicated by reference numeral 1105 of the current page (FIG. 11A). Is displayed. That is, thumbnail images to be acquired corresponding to the user operation with the operation pattern ID = 4 are images from the next of the current display image to the end of the page within the same page, that is, four thumbnail images (ID = 33 to 36).

  Returning to the description of FIG. 10, the connected image ID indicates the corresponding connected image ID. In this step, since the corresponding connected image has not yet been acquired, “None” is given.

  The shortage thumbnail image ID indicates the ID of a thumbnail image that is not included in the linked image indicated in the linked image ID column among the thumbnail images indicated in the thumbnail image ID column. In this step, since there is no corresponding connected image, the same ID is entered in the insufficient thumbnail image ID column and the thumbnail image ID column.

  In step S714, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 determines an image connection condition based on the thumbnail image ID determined in step S713. Here, the image connection condition corresponding to each assumed operation pattern is determined. In the example shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C, the image connection condition corresponding to the operation pattern ID = 1 is “first image ID: 37, number of images: 6”. The image connection condition corresponding to the operation pattern ID = 2 is “first image ID: 1, number of images: 6”. The image connection condition corresponding to the operation pattern ID = 3 is “first image ID: 19, number of images: 8”. The image connection condition corresponding to the operation pattern ID = 4 is “first image ID: 33, number of images: 4”.

  In step S715, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 transmits a connection image acquisition request including information on the four image connection conditions determined in step S714 to the camera 300. The control unit 301 of the camera 300 receives this acquisition request via the wireless communication unit 304.

  In step S716, the control unit 301 of the camera 300 reads out the image data specified by the image connection condition from the recording unit 307 based on the specified image connection condition, generates a connected image and position information data, and the mobile terminal. To 100. The control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 receives the connected image and the position information data via the wireless communication unit 304.

  In step S717, the control unit 101 of the portable terminal 100 stores the connection image and the position information data received in step S716 in an information storage unit such as the recording medium of the recording unit 107 or the RAM 103 in association with the user operation pattern. Here, the control unit 101 updates the linked image management table for managing the recorded linked images and the operation pattern management table described above.

  The processing from step S716 to step S717 is executed for each image connection condition. In this description, since there are four operation patterns, steps S715 to S717 are executed four times. In step S715, when the connection image acquisition request includes only single image connection information, step S715 is also repeated four times.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of the linked image management table updated in step S717 for the four linked images, and FIG. 10B shows an example of the operation pattern management table.

  The linked image management table shown in FIG. 12 includes linked image IDs and thumbnail image IDs. The connected image ID is an ID for identifying the connected image, and the thumbnail image ID indicates the ID of a thumbnail image included in the connected image. The connected image management table is updated at the timing when the connected image is recorded in the recording unit 307 or deleted. FIG. 12A shows an example in which linked images corresponding to the four types of operation patterns described above are recorded. The connected image ID = 11 is a connected image including a thumbnail image displayed on the currently displayed screen, and the connected image ID = 2 to 5 is the connected image recorded in this step.

  In step S717, the column of linked image ID and the column of insufficient thumbnail image ID in the operation pattern management table are updated as shown in FIG.

  In step S <b> 718, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 receives an operation from the user via the operation unit 106. The user operation accepted here is one of the four types of operation patterns described above.

  In step S719, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 refers to the operation pattern management table, and reads a connected image corresponding to the user operation pattern received in step S718. For example, if the received user operation is the operation pattern ID = 1, the control unit 101 reads the connected image with the connected image ID = 1 and the position information data.

  In step S720, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 displays a thumbnail list screen on the display unit 105 using the connected image and the position information data read in step S719. In this step, the same technique as that in step S712 is used.

  After step S720, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 returns to step S713. The control unit 101 of the portable terminal 100 repeats steps S713 to S720 unless the thumbnail list display process is stopped.

  According to the present embodiment, the alias images are not transferred individually, but are transferred from the camera 300 to the portable terminal 100 using the HTTP protocol as a connected image obtained by connecting a plurality of alias images, so that the number of HTTP processes can be minimized. In addition, by determining the number of alias images that constitute a connected image in consideration of the number of alias images required by a user operation, it is possible to optimize the amount of transfer data for one HTTP process.

  As the image connection condition, the ID of the first image and the number of images following this image are specified. However, necessary images may be individually specified by the ID.

  An embodiment in which the process of step S713 in FIG. 7 is changed will be described. The operation part different from the first embodiment will be described in detail, and the description of the same operation part will be omitted.

  In step S713, a thumbnail image up to the upper end or a thumbnail image up to the lower end is requested for the scroll operation in the upward or downward direction, so that the connected image becomes too large. In the example shown in FIG. 11A, the number of thumbnail images to be transmitted for the operation pattern ID = 3 (upward scrolling) is eight as indicated by reference numeral 1104. When the number of thumbnail images constituting one page is as large as 100, for example, a linked image composed of more thumbnail images is transmitted from the camera to the mobile terminal, and the data size of the linked image also increases. As a result, the transfer time in the HTTP process becomes longer and affects the performance, and the amount of data to be recorded on the recording medium in step S717 increases, thereby pressing the capacity.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the number of thumbnail images transmitted at a time as a linked image is limited to a predetermined number for scroll operations in the upward or downward direction. The operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 13 shows an example in which eight thumbnail images on the upper side or the lower side are set for transmission by linked images in the currently displayed region 1301. In this case, the image connection condition corresponding to the operation pattern ID = 3 is “first image ID: 7, number of images: 8”, and the corresponding thumbnail image ID is 7 to 14. Similarly, the image connection condition corresponding to the operation pattern ID = 4 is “first image ID: 21, number of images: 8”, and the corresponding thumbnail image ID is 22 to 28. In this way, by limiting the number of images acquired as a connected image in the case of a vertical scroll operation, it is possible to prevent the size of the connected image from becoming too large.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 13, the size of the linked image is fixed to eight thumbnail images. However, when the user's scroll operation speed is high, the linked image acquisition process in steps S715 to S717 may not be able to catch up with the user operation speed. There is sex. As a countermeasure against this, the number of thumbnail images acquired by the connected image may be dynamically set according to the operation speed of the user. When it is assumed that the operation unit 106 of the mobile terminal 100 is configured with a touch panel and the user operation is a flick operation, the speed of the user's flick operation can be calculated by using the JavaScript technology. Specifically, the timing information and the coordinate information are detected when the finger touches the touch panel and moves while touching, and the flick operation is performed based on the movement distance obtained from the detected coordinate difference and the timing difference. Speed can be calculated. Further, by measuring the time interval before and after the user operation in step S718, the frequency of the flick operation can be measured in time. Then, the faster the flick operation speed is, or the shorter the flick operation time interval, the greater the number of thumbnail images to be acquired as a connected image.

  As described above, even when the number of thumbnail images constituting one page is large, the amount of data transferred in one HTTP process can be optimized by limiting the number of images in the image connection condition. Also, the user's operational feeling can be improved by setting the number of images to be connected according to the user's scroll operation speed.

  The function of the mobile terminal 100 may be changed so that the mobile terminal 100 reuses the acquired connection image and deletes the connection image that is no longer needed. FIG. 14 shows a processing sequence of a part to be changed in the sequence shown in FIG. 7 for realizing this operation, specifically, a part replaced with steps S713 to S720 after points A and B. Steps S714 and S717 are replaced with steps S1401 to S1405.

  In step S1401 following step S713, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 refers to the linked image management table, and selects a thumbnail image ID that is not included in the currently stored linked image from the thumbnail image IDs determined in step S714. Identify. Then, the control unit 101 updates the connected image ID column and the insufficient thumbnail image ID column of the operation pattern management table with the specified thumbnail image ID.

  With reference to FIG. 10C, the operation in step S1401 will be described. FIG. 10C shows the operation pattern management table updated in step S1401 when the current display screen is in the range indicated by reference numeral 1102 (FIG. 11A). The connected image management table in this state is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 10C, the thumbnail image ID corresponding to the operation pattern ID = 1 is 55-60. Here, the control unit 101 refers to the connected image management table (FIG. 12A), but there is no connected image including these thumbnail images (ID = 55 to 60). Accordingly, in FIG. 10C, the connected image ID column is “none”, and the insufficient thumbnail image ID column is 55-60. On the other hand, the thumbnail image ID (= 19 to 24) corresponding to the operation pattern ID = 2 is included in the linked image ID4. Accordingly, in FIG. 10C, the connected image ID column is 4, and the insufficient thumbnail image ID column is “none”. Similarly, the connected image ID field and the insufficient thumbnail image ID field for the operation pattern ID = 3, 4 are updated.

  In step S1402, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 refers to the insufficient thumbnail image ID column of the operation pattern management table updated in step S1401. If there is a shortage thumbnail image ID, the control unit 101 proceeds to step S1403. If not, the control unit 101 proceeds to step S1405. In the case of the operation pattern management table shown in FIG. 10C, the control unit 101 proceeds to step S1403.

  In step S1403, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 determines an image connection condition based on the insufficient thumbnail image ID. In the case of the operation pattern management table shown in FIG. 10C, there are two types of image connection conditions: “first image ID: 55, number of images: 6” or “first image ID: 43, number of images: 12”.

  In step S1404, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 controls the recording unit 107 to record the linked image and position information data received in step S716 in association with the user operation pattern. Here, the control unit 101 updates the linked image management table and the operation pattern management table. FIG. 12B shows the updated linked image management table, and FIG. 10D shows the updated operation pattern management table.

  In step S1405, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 controls the recording unit 107 to delete unnecessary linked images and update the linked image management table. In the case of the operation pattern management table shown in FIG. 10D, in the connected image management table shown in FIG. 12B, the connected image ID = 1, 3, 5 is a thumbnail image that may be displayed in the next operation. Since it is not included, it is judged unnecessary and is deleted. FIG. 12C shows the connected image management table after the deletion.

  By executing the processing sequence described with reference to FIG. 14, once connected images can be reused and unnecessary connected images can be effectively deleted. As a result, unnecessary HTTP processing can be reduced to improve the display performance of the thumbnail list page, and the recording capacity requirement in the recording unit 107 can be reduced. In addition, image display can be speeded up by suppressing retransmission of the obtained image.

  A present Example is a browsing apparatus thumbnail image browsing system which browses the thumbnail image of the recorded image of a camera via the camera with a Web server function, and the Web server of the said camera. FIG. 15 shows a schematic block diagram of a mobile terminal as a browsing device, and FIG. 16 shows a schematic block diagram of a camera with a Web server function.

  The configuration and basic operation of the mobile terminal 1500 shown in FIG. 15 will be described. A liquid crystal panel 1501 of the portable terminal 1500 is a display unit that displays images and various types of information. The liquid crystal driver 1502 converts the image display data stored in the SDRAM 1503 into a liquid crystal display signal and supplies it to the liquid crystal panel 1501. The SDRAM 1503 functions as a work memory space for developing image data received from the camera 1600 and as a video memory for the liquid crystal panel 1501.

  Reference numeral 1504 denotes a touch panel mounted integrally with the liquid crystal panel 1501. The touch panel 1504 functions as a switch unit that detects a user's touch operation at the position of the software switch displayed on the liquid crystal panel 1501 and receives various user operations.

  A recording medium 1506 is a medium for recording image data (actually, JPEG still image data, MPEG moving image data, etc.) received from the camera 1600 or the like for storage.

  A wireless LAN transmission / reception unit 1508 communicates with the camera 1600 with a Web server function through the antenna 1507 to transmit / receive image data and various control signals.

  The operation key 1510 is an operation unit that receives an operation from the user, and includes a so-called hardware switch such as a power button and a home button.

  The ROM 1511 is composed of an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM, and stores the OS and control program of the CPU 1509. Here, the program is a computer program executed by the CPU 1509 to execute various sequences described later, and realizes each process or function described later. The CPU 1509 controls menu display and the like of the liquid crystal panel 1501 by controlling the liquid crystal driver 1502 and the like.

  The data bus 1512 is used to transmit data and control signals among the liquid crystal driver 1502, the wireless LAN transmission / reception unit 1508, the CPU 1509 and the SDRAM 1503.

  The configuration and basic operation of the camera 1600 shown in FIG. 16 will be described. The taking lens 1601 of the camera 1600 with a web server function causes an optical image of a subject to be incident on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 1603 via the diaphragm 1602. The diaphragm 1602 limits the amount of light incident on the image sensor 1603. The image sensor 1603 converts the incident optical image into an electric image signal. An A / D converter 1604 converts an analog image signal output from the image sensor 1603 into a digital signal. The image processing unit 1605 performs gamma correction, white balance correction, noise reduction processing, and the like on the image data from the A / D converter 1604, and outputs the uncompressed image data to the data bus 1607.

  A JPEG codec 1608 compresses and encodes uncompressed image data as a still image, and generates JPEG still image data. The MPEG codec 1609 compresses and encodes uncompressed image data as a moving image to generate MPEG moving image data.

  The liquid crystal panel 1611 is a display unit that displays images and various types of information. The liquid crystal driver 1612 converts the image display data stored in the SDRAM 1613 into a display signal and drives the liquid crystal panel 1611. In this way, display image data written in the SDRAM 1613 is supplied to the liquid crystal panel 1611 via the liquid crystal driver 1612 and displayed as an image on the screen of the liquid crystal panel 1611.

  The liquid crystal panel 1611 can also be used as an electronic viewfinder. In other words, the liquid crystal driver 1612 converts the resolution of the image data output from the A / D converter 1604 and written in the SDRAM 1613 to a display signal after reducing the resolution to the number of dots of the liquid crystal panel 1611, and the liquid crystal panel 1611 is converted with the display signal. Drive sequentially. Accordingly, the liquid crystal panel 1611 functions as an electronic viewfinder and displays a so-called through image.

  The SDRAM 1613 provides a buffer memory space for writing the JPEG still image data generated by the JPEG codec 1608 and the MPEG moving image data generated by the MPEG codec 1609 to the recording medium 1614. The SDRAM 1613 also provides a working memory space for the pixel number conversion unit 1610 that generates a thumbnail image to be used for index display during reproduction from the captured image, and also provides a space as a video memory for the liquid crystal panel 1611.

  The recording medium 1614 is a memory card configured to be detachable from the main body of the camera 1600, for example, a NAND flash memory. In the recording medium 1614, JPEG still image data and MPEG moving image data are recorded under a file system compatible with a personal computer (PC).

  The wireless LAN transmission / reception unit 1616 communicates with the mobile terminal 1500 as a Web browsing terminal through the antenna 1615 to transmit / receive image data, control signals, and the like.

  The operation key 1618 is various switches that receive various operations from the user, and includes a shutter button that performs a still image shooting operation and a mode switch that switches between the camera shooting mode and the playback mode.

  The ROM 1619 includes a nonvolatile memory including an electrically erasable / recordable EEPROM. The ROM 1619 stores constants and programs for the operation of the CPU 1617. A program here is a program for performing the various sequences mentioned later, and realizes each processing mentioned below. The CPU 1617 also performs display control by controlling the liquid crystal driver 1612 and the like.

  Assume that an image as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B is recorded on the recording medium 1614 of the camera 1600 together with meta information as an example. It is assumed that the portable terminal 1500 can set “image type” and “image arrangement order” as browsing conditions. “All”, “Movie”, and “Still image” are available as “Image type” options, and “Shooting date (ascending order)” and “Shooting date (descending order)” are available as “Image order” options. .

  17A and 17B show an operation sequence of this embodiment. When communication is established between the camera 1600 and the portable terminal 1500 in S1700, the portable terminal 1500 transmits a thumbnail list acquisition request to the camera 1600 with image browsing conditions in S1701. Here, for example, it is assumed that the user designates “all” as the image type and “shooting date and time (ascending order)” as the image arrangement order. For example, the mobile terminal 1500 transmits a URL “http: // camera / api / getthumlist? Type = all & order = ascending” to the camera 1600.

  In step S1702, in response to the thumbnail list acquisition request (S1701) from the mobile terminal 1500, the camera 1600 creates a linked image including a plurality of thumbnail images that match the image browsing conditions.

  FIG. 18 shows a detailed flowchart of the connection image creation necessity determination / connection image creation processing (steps S1702, S1713, S1724). Details of the processing in step S1702 will be described with reference to an example with reference to FIG.

  In step S <b> 1801, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 determines whether this is the first process after the communication between the camera 1600 and the portable terminal 1500 is established. At this stage, since step S1702 is the first process from the establishment of communication, the determination in step S1801 is true, and the process proceeds to a linked image creation step S1807 consisting of steps S1803 to S1806.

  In step S <b> 1803, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 extracts an image file that matches the image browsing condition (here “image type”) received from the mobile terminal 1500. In the explanation example, “all” is designated, so out of the 10 image files shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, IMG — 0001. JPG to IMG_0010. All of the JPGs are targets for creating linked images.

  In step S1804, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 reads out the image file extracted in step S1803 from the recording medium 1614 and decodes it into uncompressed image data.

  In step S1805, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 reduces (or thins out) the size of the uncompressed image data obtained by decoding, generates thumbnail image data, and writes the thumbnail image data in the image memory space of the SDRAM 1613. The size of the thumbnail image is, for example, 160 × 120 pixels.

  In step S1806, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 causes the JPEG codec 1608 to JPEG encode one or more thumbnail image data written in the SDRAM 1613 as one image. FIG. 20A shows an example of a concatenated image made up of ten thumbnail images created in this way. The JPEG codec 1608 outputs JPEG data obtained by JPEG encoding a concatenated image as shown in FIG. 20A as one still image.

  In steps S1804 and S1805, when an image acquisition request is received from the portable terminal 1500, a thumbnail image of an image specified by the image browsing conditions loaded on the image acquisition request is generated. However, when recording a captured image (JPEG data or MPEG data) on a recording medium, the thumbnail image may be recorded on the recording medium. In this case, a thumbnail image of an image specified by the image browsing condition is read out, juxtaposed at a predetermined position in the image memory space of the SDRAM 1613, and compressed and encoded as one image, thereby generating a concatenated image.

  In step S <b> 1703, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates position information on the linked image for each thumbnail image constituting the linked image. FIG. 20B shows an example of position information for the connected image shown in FIG. In FIG. 20B, the thumbnail number is a number for managing thumbnail images constituting the linked image. The file is the name of a file in which the original image associated with the thumbnail image is stored. The type is information indicating whether the original image is a moving image or a still image. The X offset is a numerical value indicating the X coordinate of the upper left pixel position of the corresponding thumbnail image in the linked image file. The Y offset is a numerical value indicating the Y coordinate of the upper left pixel position of the corresponding thumbnail image in the linked image file. The X size is the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the thumbnail image. The Y size is the number of pixels in the vertical direction of the thumbnail image. The shooting date and time is the date and time when the corresponding original image was shot. The above information is created for each image file.

  In step S <b> 1704, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates page information described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) for display on the mobile terminal 1500. FIG. 21 shows an image of a page layout created for the connected image shown in FIG. 20A and the position information shown in FIG. The page information includes a UI for setting a viewing condition by the user, layout information for displaying each thumbnail image, and a description for designating a position to cut out a target thumbnail image from the connected image. The description of the cutout position is expressed by the background-image property of a CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) sprite. For example, the contents that allow the thumbnail image IMG-1 shown in FIG. 20B to be displayed in the frame indicated by IMG-1 in the layout shown in FIG. 21 are described in CSS.

  In step S <b> 1705, the camera 1600 transmits page information (HTML file) corresponding to the layout illustrated in FIG. 21 to the mobile terminal 1500.

  In step S1706, the mobile terminal 1500 transmits a connection image acquisition request to the camera 1600. In step S <b> 1707, the camera 1600 transmits JPEG data of the linked image illustrated in FIG. 20A to the terminal 1500 in response to a request from the mobile terminal 1500. In step S <b> 1708, the portable terminal 1500 transmits a position information acquisition request to the camera 1600. In step S <b> 1709, the camera 1600 transmits position information having the content illustrated in FIG. 20B to the terminal 1500 in response to a request from the mobile terminal 1500.

  In step S1710, the mobile terminal 1500 updates the display on the liquid crystal panel 1501 according to the page information (S1705), the connected image (S1707), and the position information (S1709) from the camera 1600. Specifically, the portable terminal 1500 uses the CSS sprite X offset, Y offset, X size, and Y size values to cut out thumbnail images from the connected images, and displays them according to the layout information described in the HTML file. Update.

  In the above explanation example, the parameters of the thumbnail image IMG-1 are X offset = 0, Y offset = 0, X size = 160, and Y size = 120. Therefore, a range of X = 160 and Y = 120 with the coordinates of X = 0 and Y = 0 as the upper left vertex is cut out from the connected image shown in FIG. 20A and arranged at the position of IMG-1 shown in FIG. To do. Other thumbnail images are similarly cut out and arranged at designated positions on the layout. As a result, a screen as shown in FIG. 22 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 1501.

  In step S1711, the user of the mobile terminal 1500 can change the viewing conditions on the screen illustrated in FIG. For example, assume that the user selects “still image” as the image type.

  In step S1712, the mobile terminal 1500 transmits a thumbnail list acquisition request to the camera 1600 with image viewing conditions. The URL to be transmitted is, for example, “http: // camera / api / getthumlist? Type = still & order = ascending”.

  In step S1713, in response to the thumbnail list acquisition request (S1712) from the mobile terminal 1500, the camera 1600 creates a linked image composed of a plurality of thumbnail images that match the image browsing conditions in the flow shown in FIG.

  In step S <b> 1801, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 determines whether this is the first process after the communication between the camera 1600 and the portable terminal 1500 is established. Here, since step S1702 is the second process from the establishment of communication, the determination in step S1801 is false, and the CPU 1517 proceeds to step S1802.

  In step S1802, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 determines whether the “image type” of the image browsing condition has been changed from the previous time. In this example, since the “image type” is changed, the determination result is true, and the CPU 1517 proceeds to a connected image creation step S1807 including steps S1803 to S1806.

  In step S <b> 1803, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 extracts an image file that matches the image browsing condition (here “image type”) received from the mobile terminal 1500. Since “still image” is designated in the explanation example, IMG — 0001... Of 10 image files shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B. JPG to IMG_0004. JPG and IMG_0006. JPG is a target for creating linked images.

  In step S1804, the CPU 1617 of the camera 1600 reads the image file extracted in step S1803 from the recording medium 1614, and decodes the image file into uncompressed image data using the JPEG codec 1608.

  In step S <b> 1805, the CPU 1617 of the camera 1600 reduces (or thins out) the size of the obtained uncompressed image data as thumbnail generation means, and generates thumbnail image data. The CPU 1617 writes the generated difference image data in the image memory space of the SDRAM 1613. The size of the thumbnail image is, for example, 160 × 120 pixels.

  In step S1806, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 causes the JPEG codec 1608 to JPEG encode one or more thumbnail image data written in the SDRAM 1613 as one image. FIG. 23A shows an example of a linked image made up of the five thumbnail images created in this way. The JPEG codec 1608 outputs JPEG data (compressed image data) obtained by JPEG encoding a concatenated image as shown in FIG. 23A as one still image. If the free memory space available for compression of the concatenated image in the SDRAM 1613 is small, the CPU 1517 may compress and encode the concatenated image at a higher compression rate. That is, the smaller the available free memory space, the higher the compression ratio is applied.

  In step S <b> 1714, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates position information on the linked image for each thumbnail image constituting the linked image. FIG. 23B shows an example of position information for the connected image shown in FIG. Since the configuration of the position information shown in FIG. 23B is the same as that of FIG. 20B, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In step S1715, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates page information described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) to be displayed on the mobile terminal 1500. FIG. 24 shows an image of a page layout created for the linked image shown in FIG. 23A and the position information shown in FIG.

  In step S <b> 1716, the camera 1600 transmits page information (HTML file) corresponding to the layout illustrated in FIG. 24 to the mobile terminal 1500.

  In step S <b> 1717, the mobile terminal 1500 transmits a connection image acquisition request to the camera 1600. In step S <b> 1718, the camera 1600 transmits the JPEG data of the linked image illustrated in FIG. 23A to the terminal 1500 in response to a request from the mobile terminal 1500. In step S <b> 1719, the mobile terminal 1500 transmits a position information acquisition request to the camera 1600. In step S <b> 1720, the camera 1600 transmits position information having the contents illustrated in FIG. 23B to the terminal 1500 in response to a request from the mobile terminal 1500.

  In step S1721, the mobile terminal 1500 updates the display on the liquid crystal panel 1501 according to the page information (S1716), the connected image (S1718), and the position information (S1720) from the camera 1600, as in step S1710. As a result, a screen as shown in FIG. 25 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 1501.

  In step S1722, the user of the mobile terminal 1500 can change the viewing conditions on the screen shown in FIG. For example, it is assumed that the user has selected “shooting date and time (descending order)” as the image arrangement order.

  In step S <b> 1723, the mobile terminal 1500 transmits a thumbnail list acquisition request to the camera 1600 with image browsing conditions. The URL to be transmitted is, for example, “http: // camera / api / getthumlist? Type = still & order = descending”.

  In step S <b> 1724, the camera 1600 creates a linked image including a plurality of thumbnail images that match the image browsing conditions in the flow illustrated in FIG. 18 in response to the thumbnail list acquisition request (S <b> 1723) from the mobile terminal 1500.

  In step S <b> 1801, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 determines whether this is the first process after the communication between the camera 1600 and the portable terminal 1500 is established. Here, since step S1702 is the third process from the establishment of communication, the determination in step S1801 is false, and the CPU 1517 proceeds to step S1802.

  In step S1802, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 determines whether the “image type” of the image browsing condition has been changed from the previous time. In this example, since “image type” is not changed, the determination result is false, and the CPU 1517 returns without re-creating the connected image. In other words, when all the necessary thumbnail images have been transmitted, no connected image is created.

  In step S1725, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates position information on the linked image of each thumbnail image constituting the linked image. FIG. 26 shows an example of the position information created here. The thumbnail images constituting the position information are the same as those in FIG. However, since the image arrangement order is changed as a viewing condition, the thumbnail images are arranged in the order according to the changed image arrangement order.

  In step S <b> 1726, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates page information described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) for display on the mobile terminal 1500. FIG. 27 shows an image of a page layout created for the position information shown in FIG.

  In step S <b> 1727, the camera 1600 transmits page information (HTML file) corresponding to the layout illustrated in FIG. 27 to the mobile terminal 1500.

  In step S <b> 1728, the mobile terminal 1500 transmits a connection image acquisition request to the camera 1600. In step S <b> 1729, the camera 1600 transmits information indicating that a new linked image is not transmitted (unupdated information) to the terminal 1500 in response to a request from the mobile terminal 1500. In step S <b> 1730, the mobile terminal 1500 transmits a position information acquisition request to the camera 1600. In step S1731, the camera 1600 transmits position information having the contents illustrated in FIG. 26 to the terminal 1500 in response to a request from the mobile terminal 1500.

  In step S1732, the mobile terminal 1500 updates the display on the liquid crystal panel 1501 using the immediately preceding connected image (S1718) according to the page information (S1727), the non-update information (S1329), and the position information (S1720). As a result, a screen as shown in FIG. 28 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 1501.

  In this embodiment, the attribute information such as the file name, moving image / still image, aspect ratio, and shooting date / time of the thumbnail image constituting the connected image is attached to the connected image, and the position information indicating the cut-out position from the connected image. Are included in the transmission. As a result, when the necessary thumbnail images can be acquired as in the case of changing only the display order on the mobile terminal side, the re-creation and transmission of the connected images can be omitted. Can quickly display thumbnail images.

  Even if the viewing conditions are changed (S1722), if there is no change in the thumbnail images necessary for the list display after the change and the portable terminal 1500 has already acquired the necessary thumbnail images, steps S1723 to S1731 are performed. Can be omitted. That is, the mobile terminal 1500 simply displays the thumbnail images necessary for the list display after the change under the list display conditions after the change.

  In the sequence illustrated in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the camera 1600 establishes communication with the mobile terminal 1500 and receives a viewing condition from the mobile terminal 1500 to create a connected image. On the other hand, immediately after the communication is established, the creation of a connected image using all the images recorded on the recording medium 1614 may be started. In this configuration, since the time required from the reception of the viewing conditions to the end of the creation of the linked thumbnail can be shortened, the time until the user of the portable terminal can start browsing the first thumbnail image after establishing communication can be shortened.

  In the flow illustrated in FIG. 18, when all thumbnail images requested by the second and subsequent linked image acquisition requests match the thumbnail images included in the previously transmitted linked image, the creation of the linked image is omitted. On the other hand, thumbnail images that have been sent immediately before or after the start of communication may not be included in the linked image. For example, it may be excluded from the image file extracted in step S1803. In this case, the portable terminal 1500 reads the corresponding thumbnail image received immediately before or after the start of communication, and displays it in combination with the thumbnail image included in the connected image received this time from the camera 1600.

  Such a change eliminates the need to transmit the same thumbnail image a plurality of times, so that the display and update of the thumbnail image on the portable terminal 1500 can be speeded up, and the operability is improved.

  There is a limit to the capacity of the SDRAM 1613 that can be used when the camera 1600 creates a linked image. Therefore, when the connected image of the number of thumbnail images exceeding the limit is requested from the mobile terminal 1500, the camera 1600 cannot transmit the requested connected image to the mobile terminal 1500 as it is.

  FIG. 29A and FIG. 29B show an operation sequence in which a linked image composed of a plurality of thumbnail images is efficiently transferred from the camera 1600 to the portable terminal 1500 under such restrictions. Here, it is assumed that the SDRAM 1613 can store up to three thumbnail image data for creating a concatenated image.

  When communication is established between the camera 1600 and the portable terminal 1500 in S2900, the portable terminal 1500 transmits a thumbnail list acquisition request to the camera 1600 with image browsing conditions in S2901. Here, for example, it is assumed that the user designates “all” as the image type and “shooting date and time (ascending order)” as the image arrangement order. For example, the mobile terminal 1500 transmits a URL “http: // camera / api / getthumlist? Type = all & order = ascending” to the camera 1600.

  In step S2902, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 extracts an image file that matches the image browsing conditions in response to the thumbnail list acquisition request (S2901) from the portable terminal 1500. Since “image type” = “all” is designated in the explanation example, among the 10 image files shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, IMG — 0001. JPG to IMG_0010. All of the JPGs are targets for creating linked images. The number of target images is 10.

  In step S <b> 2903, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates page information described in HTML to be displayed on the mobile terminal 1500. FIG. 30 shows a page layout image based on the page information created here. The page information includes a UI for setting a viewing condition by the user, layout information for displaying each thumbnail image, and a description for designating a position to cut out a target thumbnail image from the connected image. The description of the cutout position is expressed by the background-image property of a CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) sprite. For example, the contents that allow the thumbnail IMG-1 shown in FIG. 32B to be displayed in a frame indicated by IMG-1 in the layout shown in FIG. 30 are described in CSS.

  In step S <b> 2904, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 transmits the created page information to the mobile terminal 1500. The mobile terminal 1500 applies the page information transmitted from the camera 1600 here to arrange individual thumbnail images cut out from the connected images received thereafter on the display screen until the page information is updated.

  In step S2905, the portable terminal 1500 transmits a linked image acquisition request to the camera 1600.

  In step S <b> 2906, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 determines whether it is necessary to create a connected image in response to a connected image acquisition request (S <b> 2905) from the mobile terminal 1500. When necessary, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates a linked image composed of a plurality of thumbnail images that match the image browsing conditions.

  FIG. 31 shows a detailed flowchart of the connection image creation necessity determination / connection image creation processing (steps S2906 and S2919). With reference to FIG. 31, details of the processing in step S <b> 2906 will be described based on an explanatory example.

  In step S <b> 3101, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 determines whether the process is the first process after the communication between the camera 1600 and the portable terminal 1500 is established. At this stage, since step S3101 is the first process from the establishment of communication, the determination in step S3101 is true, and the process proceeds to a linked image creation step S3114 consisting of steps S3103 to S3109.

  In step S3103, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 acquires the number of target images acquired in step S2902, and sets it to the variable N. The CPU 1517 also sets 0 to a counter variable C indicating the number of processed images.

  In step S3104, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 decodes one of the target images. Here, the image file of the target image is read from the recording medium 1614 in order of the shooting date and time one by one every time it passes through step S3105 according to the specified image arrangement order, and is decoded into uncompressed image data.

  In step S3105, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 reduces the decoded image data to create a thumbnail image, and stores the thumbnail image in the image memory space of the SDRAM 1613. Note that the size of the thumbnail image is 160 × 120 pixels.

  In step S3106, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 increments the counter variable C. In step S3107, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 checks whether or not the variable C matches the target image count N. Here, since the counter C = 1, C does not match N.

  Since C = N is not satisfied in step S3107, in step S3108, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 determines whether or not there is an empty image memory space provided by the SDRAM 1613. If there is a vacancy, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 returns to step S3104, and if there is no vacancy, the process proceeds to step S3109. For the sake of explanation, it is assumed that three thumbnail images can be stored in the image memory space of the SDRAM 1613, and a concatenated image can be created from up to three thumbnail images.

  When steps S3104 to S3106 are repeated three times, three thumbnail images are stored in the image memory space of the SDRAM 1613. In step S3108, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 determines that there is no free space in the SDRAM 1613, and the process advances to step S3109.

  In step S3109, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 compresses and encodes the thumbnail images arranged in the image memory space of the SDRAM 1613 into one image, and ends the processing illustrated in FIG. FIG. 32A shows an image of a connected image created in this way.

  Returning to step S2907, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates position information of each thumbnail image constituting the connected image on the connected image. FIG. 32B shows an example of position information for the connected image shown in FIG. In FIG. 32B, the thumbnail number is a number for managing the thumbnail images constituting the linked image. The file is the name of the file in which the original image associated with the thumbnail image is stored. The type is information indicating whether the original image is a moving image or a still image. The X offset is a numerical value indicating the X coordinate of the upper left pixel position of the corresponding thumbnail image in the linked image file. The Y offset is a numerical value indicating the Y coordinate of the upper left pixel position of the corresponding thumbnail image in the linked image file. The X size is the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the thumbnail image. The Y size is the number of pixels in the vertical direction of the thumbnail image. The shooting date and time is the date and time when the corresponding original image was shot. The above information is created for each image file.

  In step S2908, the camera 1600 transmits the connected image illustrated in FIG. 32A to the mobile terminal 1500. As will be described later, the camera 1600 does not add a thumbnail end flag to the linked image transmitted to the mobile terminal 1500 at this stage.

  In step S <b> 2909, the CPU 1509 of the mobile terminal 1500 transmits a position information acquisition request to the camera 1600. In step S2910, the camera 1600 transmits the position information illustrated in FIG. 32B to the mobile terminal 1500.

  In step S2911, the CPU 1509 of the mobile terminal 1500 checks whether a thumbnail end flag is added to the linked image from the camera 1600. When the thumbnail end flag is added (S2911), the CPU 1509 of the mobile terminal 1500 proceeds to step S2912. When the thumbnail end flag is not added, the CPU 1509 of the mobile terminal 1500 executes Step 2905 again. Here, since the thumbnail end flag is not added, in step S2905, the CPU 1509 of the portable terminal 1500 transmits a linked image acquisition request to the camera 1600 again.

  In this way, the camera 1600 transmits the connected images each containing three thumbnail images three times, and also transmits the position information corresponding to each connected image three times. FIG. 32A shows the first connected image, and FIG. 32B shows the position information. FIG. 33A shows the second connected image, and FIG. 33B shows the position information. FIG. 34A shows the third linked image, and FIG. 34B shows the position information.

  At the time of creating the fourth connected image, the counter C = 10 in step S3106, and C = N = 10 in step S3107. The CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 clears the counter C in step S3110, and compresses and encodes the thumbnail images arranged in the image memory space of the SDRAM 1613 into one image in step S3111. In step S3112, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 adds a thumbnail end flag to the linked image (JPEG data), and returns to the sequence illustrated in FIGS. 29A and 29B.

  In step S2907, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates position information (FIG. 35 (b)) corresponding to the linked image (FIG. 35 (a)) created in FIG.

  In step S2908, the camera 1600 transmits the connected image shown in FIG. 35A to the portable terminal 1500 with a thumbnail end flag. In step S <b> 2909, the CPU 1509 of the mobile terminal 1500 transmits a position information acquisition request to the camera 1600. In step S2910, the camera 1600 transmits the position information illustrated in FIG.

  A thumbnail end flag is added to the fourth connected image (FIG. 35A) transmitted from the camera 1600 to the portable terminal 1500. Accordingly, in step S2911, the CPU 1509 of the mobile terminal 1500 detects the thumbnail end flag, and the process proceeds to S2912. From the thumbnail end flag, the mobile terminal 1500 knows that all the thumbnail images specified in the image browsing condition (S2901) have been acquired.

  In step S2912, the CPU 1509 of the mobile terminal 1500 displays a list of the ten received thumbnail images on the liquid crystal panel 1501 as shown in FIG.

  In step S2913, the user of the mobile terminal 1500 can change the viewing conditions on the screen shown in FIG. For example, assume that the user selects “still image” as the image type. For example, assume that the user selects “still image” as the image type.

  In step S2914, the portable terminal 1500 transmits a thumbnail list acquisition request to the camera 1600 with image browsing conditions. The URL to be transmitted is, for example, “http: // camera / api / getthumlist? Type = still & order = ascending”.

  In step S2915, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 extracts an image file that matches the image browsing conditions in response to a thumbnail list acquisition request (S2914) from the portable terminal 1500. In the explanation example, “image type” = “still image” is designated, so among the 10 image files shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, IMG — 0001. JPG to IMG_0004. JPG and IMG_0006. JPG is a target of thumbnail image creation. The number of target images is 5.

  In step S <b> 2916, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates page information described in HTML to be displayed on the mobile terminal 1500. FIG. 36 shows a page layout image based on the page information created here.

  In step S <b> 2917, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 transmits the created page information to the mobile terminal 1500. The mobile terminal 1500 applies the page information transmitted from the camera 1600 here to arrange individual thumbnail images cut out from the connected images received thereafter on the display screen until the page information is updated.

  In step S2918, the mobile terminal 1500 transmits a connection image acquisition request to the camera 1600.

  In step S2919, as in step S2906, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 executes a connection image creation request determination (S2918), and creates a necessary connection image. Again, with reference to FIG. 31, the details of the processing in step S2919 will be described in accordance with an explanatory example.

  In step S <b> 3101, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 determines whether the process is the first process after the communication between the camera 1600 and the portable terminal 1500 is established. At this stage, since step S3101 is not the first process since the establishment of communication, the determination in step S3101 is false, and the process proceeds to step S3102.

  In step S <b> 3102, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 determines whether or not the “image type” in the image browsing condition has been changed. If there is a change, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 moves to a connected image creation step S3114 consisting of steps S3103 to S3109, and if there is no change, moves to step S3112.

  In step S3103, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 acquires the number of target images acquired in step S2902, and sets it to the variable N. The CPU 1517 also sets 0 to a counter variable C indicating the number of processed images.

  In step S3104, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 decodes one of the target images. Here, the image file of the target image is read from the recording medium 1614 in order of the shooting date and time one by one every time it passes through step S3105 according to the specified image arrangement order, and is decoded into uncompressed image data.

  In step S 3105, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 reduces the decoded image data to create a thumbnail image of 160 × 120 pixels, and stores the thumbnail image in the image memory space of the SDRAM 1613.

  In step S3106, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 increments the counter variable C. In step S3107, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 checks whether or not the variable C matches the target image count N. Here, since the counter C = 1, C does not match N.

  If C = N is not satisfied in step S3107, in step S3108, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 determines whether or not there is a free image memory space provided by the SDRAM 1613. If there is a vacancy, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 returns to step S3104, and if there is no vacancy, the process proceeds to step S3109. Here, since the image memory space of the SDRAM 1613 is empty, the CPU 1517 returns to step S3104.

  When steps S3104 to S3106 are repeated three times, three thumbnail images are stored in the image memory space of the SDRAM 1613. In step S3108, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 determines that there is no free space in the SDRAM 1613, and the process advances to step S3109.

  In step S3109, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 compresses and encodes the thumbnail images arranged in the image memory space of the SDRAM 1613 into one image, and ends the processing illustrated in FIG. FIG. 37A shows an image of the connected image thus completed.

  Returning to step S2920, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates position information of the thumbnail images constituting the linked image on the linked image. FIG. 37B shows an example of position information for the connected image shown in FIG.

  In step S2921, the camera 1600 transmits the connected image (JPEG data) illustrated in FIG. As will be described later, the camera 1600 does not add a thumbnail end flag to the linked image transmitted to the mobile terminal 1500 at this stage.

  In step S2922, the CPU 1509 of the mobile terminal 1500 transmits a position information acquisition request to the camera 1600. In step S2923, the camera 1600 transmits the position information illustrated in FIG.

  In step S <b> 2924, the CPU 1509 of the mobile terminal 1500 checks whether a thumbnail end flag is added to the linked image from the camera 1600. When the thumbnail end flag is added (S2924), the CPU 1509 of the mobile terminal 1500 proceeds to step S2925. When the thumbnail end flag is not added (S2924), the CPU 1509 of the mobile terminal 1500 executes Step 2418 again. Here, since the thumbnail end flag is not added, the CPU 1509 of the portable terminal 1500 transmits a linked image acquisition request to the camera 1600 again in step S2918.

  In response to the second connection image acquisition request from the portable terminal 1500, in step S2919, the camera 1600 creates a second connection image. In the thumbnail creation step S3113, C = N when the second thumbnail image is stored in the SDRAM 1613. As a result, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates a linked image shown in FIG. 38A in step S3111, and adds a thumbnail end flag in step S3112.

  In step S2920, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 creates position information having the contents shown in FIG. 38B corresponding to the linked image shown in FIG.

  In step S <b> 2921, the CPU 1517 of the camera 1600 transmits the connected image illustrated in FIG. 38A to the mobile terminal 1500. A thumbnail end flag is added to this connected image. In step S2923, the position information shown in FIG. 38B is transmitted to the portable terminal 1500.

  In step S <b> 2924, the CPU 1509 of the mobile terminal 1500 checks whether a thumbnail end flag is added to the linked image from the camera 1600. Here, a thumbnail end flag is added, and the CPU 1509 of the mobile terminal 1500 proceeds to step S2925.

  In step S2925, CPU 1509 of portable terminal 1500 displays the received thumbnail images as a list as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the same operation is performed.

  In this embodiment, when the memory space of the SDRAM for creating the connected image is small, the connected thumbnail is divided into a plurality of times and transmitted to the mobile terminal 1500. As a result, even a low-cost device in which an SDRAM with a small memory capacity is mounted can enjoy the advantage of transmitting a plurality of thumbnail images together to the browsing device.

  As soon as communication with the mobile terminal 1500 is established, the camera 1600 may start generating thumbnail images of the respective recorded images, for example, generating images with an image quality corresponding to the display capability of the mobile terminal 1500. The generation of the thumbnail image may be started in response to a change from the camera shooting mode to another operation mode.

  When the camera 1600 receives an image viewing condition from the portable terminal 1500, the camera 1600 is taking a still image, is encoding the taken image data, or is recording the encoded image data on a recording medium. There may be. In such a situation, the camera 1600 completes the recording of the captured image on the recording medium and then creates and connects the necessary thumbnail images. When a moving image is being shot, a connected image may be created ignoring the presence of the moving image being recorded, or a linked image may be created after creating a thumbnail image of the moving image after the shooting is completed.

  The object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to the apparatus. At this time, the computer (or CPU or MPU) including the control unit of the supplied apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. The program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a magnetic disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or a ROM can be used.

  In some cases, an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the apparatus performs part or all of the processing based on the above-described program code instructions, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. included.

  Furthermore, the case where the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the apparatus or a function expansion unit connected to a computer, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized. It is. At this time, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing.

  As mentioned above, although the preferable Example of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these Examples, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

Claims (15)

An image browsing system comprising an image recording device for recording a plurality of images on a recording medium, and a browsing device for browsing an image recorded on the image recording device,
A request transmitting unit that is arranged in the browsing device and transmits an image acquisition request including an image browsing condition for designating a predetermined number of images to the image recording device;
A position that is arranged in the image recording apparatus, connects the predetermined number of images specified by the image browsing condition of the image acquisition request to one connected image, and indicates the position of the predetermined number of images in the connected image Image linking means for generating information;
An information transmitting unit arranged in the image recording device, for transmitting the connected image and the position information to the browsing device;
Separating means arranged in the browsing device, receiving the connected image and the position information from the image recording device, and cutting out each of the predetermined number of images from the connected image received according to the received position information;
A storage unit arranged in the browsing device and storing each image cut out from the connected image by the separating unit in a storage medium;
An image browsing system comprising: a display unit arranged in the browsing device and displaying a list of a plurality of images stored in the storage medium. A browsing method in an image browsing system comprising an image recording device for recording a plurality of images on a recording medium and a browsing device for browsing an image recorded in the image recording device,
A request transmission step of transmitting an image acquisition request including an image browsing condition for designating a predetermined number of images from the browsing device to the image recording device;
In the image recording apparatus, the predetermined number of images specified by the image browsing conditions of the image acquisition request are connected to one connected image, and position information indicating the position of the predetermined number of images in the connected image is displayed. An image concatenation step to be generated;
An information transmission step of transmitting the connected image and the position information from the image recording device to the browsing device;
In the browsing device, a separation step of receiving the connected image and the position information from the image recording device and cutting out each of the predetermined number of images from the connected image received according to the received position information;
In the browsing device, a storage step of storing each image cut out from the connected image in the separation step in a storage medium;
An image browsing method, comprising: a display step of displaying a plurality of images stored in the storage medium on a display unit in the browsing device. A recording medium for recording a plurality of images;
Receiving means for receiving an image acquisition request including an image browsing condition for designating a predetermined number of images from an external browsing device;
Image linking means for linking the predetermined number of images specified by the image browsing condition of the image acquisition request to one connected image and generating position information indicating the position of the predetermined number of images in the connected image; ,
Information transmitting means for transmitting the connected image and the position information to the browsing device ;
Determination means for determining whether the number of images that can be connected by the image connection means is less than the predetermined number specified by the image browsing condition
And
The image recording apparatus , wherein the image connecting unit generates a plurality of the connected images including the predetermined number of images designated by the image browsing condition as a whole and the position information thereof . A browsing device that communicates with an image recording device that records a plurality of images on a recording medium and that browses images recorded on the image recording device,
Request transmitting means for transmitting an image acquisition request including an image browsing condition for designating a predetermined number of images to the image recording device;
A connected image obtained by connecting the predetermined number of images specified by the image browsing condition of the image acquisition request into one sheet, and position information indicating positions of the predetermined number of images in the connected image, the image recording apparatus Receiving means for receiving from,
Separating means for cutting out each of the predetermined number of images from the connected images received according to the received position information;
Storage means for storing each image cut out from the connected image by the separation means in a storage medium;
A browsing device comprising: display means for displaying a list of a plurality of images stored in the storage medium. Furthermore,
Operation means for inputting user operations for changing images displayed in a list on the display means;
Determining means for determining whether one or more images to be displayed in a list on the display means by the user operation are stored in the storage means;
An image for designating the one or more images not stored in the storage unit as the image browsing condition when one or more images to be displayed as a list on the display unit by the user operation are not stored in the storage unit The browsing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an acquisition request is generated and transmitted to the image recording apparatus. A browsing device that communicates with an image recording device capable of transmitting a plurality of designated images among images stored in a storage medium as a single connected image, and displays images on a list screen,
Operation means for accepting a new image display operation from the user;
A determination unit that determines an image browsing condition for designating an image to be acquired based on an operation of the operation unit;
Request transmission means for transmitting a linked image acquisition request including the image browsing conditions to the image recording device;
Information storage means for receiving and storing a connection image transmitted from the image recording apparatus in response to the connection image acquisition request and position information indicating the position of each image on the connection image;
A browsing device comprising: a display unit configured to separate and display each image linked to the linked image stored in the information storage unit with reference to the corresponding position information. The browsing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the image browsing condition includes an identifier of each of a plurality of images to be connected. The browsing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the image browsing condition includes an identifier of one image to be connected and the number of images following the identifier. It said request transmission means, of the image to be displayed in a list on the basis of the operation, to still claims 6 to transmit to the image recording apparatus connected image acquisition request including the image viewing conditions for specifying an image not obtained 8 The browsing device according to any one of the above. The number of images to be specified by the first image viewing conditions, viewing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that determined in accordance with the size of the display area of the list screen. Said determining means, according to claim, characterized in that operation of the operating means when an operation to instruct a change in the display list, determines the image viewing conditions on the basis of the images included in the list after the change 6 The browsing apparatus of any one of thru | or 10 . It said determining means, when the operation by the operation means is operated to scroll the list, 6 to claim and determines the image viewing conditions based on the undisplayed image to the end of the scroll direction The browsing device according to any one of 11 . The determination unit according to any one of claims 6 to 11 , wherein the image browsing condition is determined based on a predetermined number of images in a scroll direction when the operation by the operation unit is an operation of scrolling a list display. The browsing apparatus of Claim 1. The said determination means determines the image browsing conditions which designate more image numbers, so that the speed of the specific operation by the said operation means is quick, The one of Claim 6 thru | or 13 characterized by the above-mentioned. Browsing device. An image browsing method for displaying an image on a list screen by using a browsing device that communicates with an image recording device capable of transmitting a plurality of designated images stored in a storage medium as a single connected image. ,
A determination step for determining an image browsing condition for designating an image to be acquired, based on an operation of an operation unit that receives a new image display operation from a user;
A request transmission step of transmitting a connected image acquisition request including the image browsing condition to the image recording device;
An information storage step of receiving a connection image transmitted from the image recording device in response to the connection image acquisition request and position information indicating a position of each image on the connection image and storing the information in an information storage device;
An image browsing method comprising: a display step of separating and displaying a list of each image linked to a linked image stored in the information storage device with reference to the corresponding position information.

Images