KR20080094317A - Image apparatus for processing additional information and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An image apparatus for processing additional information and a method for controlling the same are provided to store the additional information in a storing medium with the image and display the additional information when reproducing the image, thereby improving the convenience of a user. A photographing unit photographs an image. A signal-processing unit(120) processes the photographed image to generate a digital image. An additional information-storing unit(115) stores additional information. A recording medium records the digital image and the additional information thereon. The additional information is image-related information including at least one of positional information representing a position of the photographed image and time information representing a photographing time or date. The image-related information is generated when the image is photographed or recorded.

Description

Image apparatus for processing additional information and its control method {Image apparatus for processing additional information and method

1 is a block diagram of a multimedia data recording / reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applicable; and

2 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of storing additional information according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of reproducing an image photographed in an additional information mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4A to 4E are diagrams showing additional information icons or additional information in one region of an image.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

110: photographing unit 115: first storage unit

116: communication interface 120: digital signal processing unit

130: backend chip 150; Disk loader

170: control unit

The present invention relates to an image device for storing additional information and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to an image device for storing and reproducing additional information and a method thereof.

A photographing apparatus, which is a kind of imaging apparatus, is an apparatus for recording an image generated by photographing a subject, and examples thereof include a digital camera and a digital camcorder. In addition, the photographing apparatus may play back images recorded and recorded, and the reproduced images may be displayed on a TV connected to the photographing apparatus.

On the other hand, when a user wants to store additional information such as image related information together with the captured image, the user may have to record it in a separate memo sheet different from the file of the captured image. In addition, even when the video is being played, it is inconvenient to check the memo paper in which the additional information is stored in addition to the recording medium in which the video is stored to check the additional information.

Furthermore, the user can upload the captured image to the web via the Internet to share with the third party, in which case it is inconvenient to upload additional information separately.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to store additional information of a captured image on a recording medium in which the image is stored, and additional information may be selectively displayed when the image is reproduced. The present invention provides an imaging apparatus and a control method.

According to the present invention for achieving the above object, the imaging device includes a photographing unit for photographing the image; A signal processor which generates a digital image by signal processing the captured image; An additional information storage unit storing additional information; Generating index information for linking the digital image with additional information; And a recording medium for recording the digital image, additional information, and index information.

The additional information is image related information including at least one of position information indicating a position of a photographed image and time information indicating a time or date at the time of photographing, and the image related information is generated during image capturing or recording. It is desirable to be.

The additional information may include at least one of a stock company indicating a manufacturer, a logo of a manufacturer, nationality and location information indicating a nationality and a location of a manufacturing place or a production site, and product information indicating a product model. Do.

The additional information is user setting information such as a user's name, occupation, age, gender, marital status, and the like. The additional information is information stored in the device by a user directly inputting.

On the other hand, another image device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a recording medium storing the image and the additional information; A signal processor configured to signal-process an image read from the recording medium to generate an image signal; A display unit for displaying the video signal; And a controller configured to display an additional information icon in one region of the image displayed on the display unit when the additional information is stored in the recording medium.

The additional information may be image related information including at least one of position information indicating a location of a captured image and time information indicating a time or date when the image is captured, and the image related information may be generated during image capturing or recording. It is preferable.

The additional information may include at least one of a stock company indicating a manufacturer, a logo of a manufacturer, nationality and location information indicating a nationality and a location of a manufacturing place or a production site, and product information indicating a product model. Do.

The additional information is user setting information such as a user's name, occupation, age, gender, marital status, and the like. The additional information is information stored in the device by a user directly inputting.

On the other hand, according to the present invention for achieving the above object, a method for displaying an image and additional information, the method comprising the steps of: reading an image from a recording medium; Signal-processing the read image and outputting the image to a display unit; Determining whether there is additional information in the image; And displaying the additional information icon in a specific area of the image when the determination result includes the additional information.

If there is no additional information as a result of the determination, it is preferable to deactivate and display the additional information icon in a predetermined area of the image.

On the other hand, according to the present invention for achieving the above object, a method of combining additional information, capturing an image through a photographing unit; Reading an image from an image information storage unit; combining an image read from the recording unit and an image read from the recording medium; Displaying the combined image; And storing the combined image on a predetermined recording medium.

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

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multimedia data recording / reproducing apparatus which is a kind of photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The multimedia data recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a data processor 110 to 117 and 120, an encoding and decoding unit 130 to 138 for encoding and decoding image data and audio data, and a disk loader. 150, and a controller 170, 170 that controls the entire system.

The data processing units 110 to 117 and 120 convert the image data into digital signals, process the digitally converted image data into a data format for recording on the semiconductor recording medium, and control the output of the processed data to an external device. . The data processing units 110 to 117 and 120 include the digital signal processing unit 120 and the DSP, the zoom lens module 111, the CCD module 112, the CDS / AGC and ADC unit 113, the zoom / focus driver 104, The first storage unit 115 includes a memory card 116 and an external device interface 117.

The digital signal processor 120 performs serial data communication with the controller 170. The digital signal processor 120 registers and controls the CDS / AGC and ADC 113 in the camera mode and controls Y / C conversion of the image. In addition, the digital signal processor 120 performs a white balance, program A / E, auto focus function, and the like, and controls the zoom / focus driver 114 for performing digital zoom.

In particular, the digital signal processor 120 converts the applied image data into various formats. In detail, the digital signal processor 120 converts the input image data into various formats according to the type of the recording medium under the control of the controllers 170 and 170, and outputs the converted image data to the backend chip 130.

In addition, the digital signal processor 120 performs an operation of storing data in the memory card 116 which may be an SMC, an MMC, or an MS card. In addition, the digital signal processor 120 controls the external device interface 117 to connect with external devices such as a computer, DVD, video, digital camera, memory stick / multi card, and monitor through an interface such as a USB 2.0 protocol. To control.

The encoding and decoding portions of the image data and the audio data may include a decoder 131 and an encoder 132, a video input unit 133, a second storage unit 134, and an audio input / output unit which may include a back end chip 130. 135, LCD 136, CVF 137 and DRAM 138. The audio input / output unit 135 and the LCD 136 may be classified as output units.

The encoder 132 of the back end chip 130 inputs a predetermined format, for example, ITU-R 656 format video data from the digitally converted audio data or the video input unit 133 input from the data processing unit when recording data. The data is compressed to MPEG2 and transmitted to the disk loader 150 through ATAPI (Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface) communication.

During disc playback, the decoder 133 receives MPEG2 data from the disc inserted into the disc loader 150 and outputs the video to the LCD 136 including the data processor or the LCD driver in a predetermined format, for example, in the ITU-R 656 format. Output the data. Video data may be output to the outside through a multi jack (not shown). Examples of the disk include a BD (Blu-ray Disc), an Advanced Video Codec High Definition (AVCHD) disk, a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), and the like.

The back end chip 130 including the decoder 131 and the encoder 132 transmits an audio clock and data to the audio input / output unit 135 and controls the audio signal through serial data. In addition, the decoder 131 and the encoder 132 can record, play back, and edit the VR disc in the VR mode of the DVD-RW disc. In addition, any loader that supports recording and playback of a VR disk may be employed by interfacing the loader 150 capable of recording and playing a VR disk by the ATAPI method, regardless of the type of loader.

In addition, the back end chip 130 enables scanning, searching, zooming, skipping, pause, etc. during the reproduction of the multimedia data, and edits the recorded VR data. In addition, the input audio and video signals are controlled to be recorded on the DVD-R / RW, and the data recorded on the disc is decoded and reproduced. On the other hand, the decoder 131 and the encoder 132 can finalize the content recorded on the DVD-R / RW for compatibility with other playback devices.

The controller 170 controls each block and circuit of the multimedia data recording / reproducing apparatus 100. That is, the controller 170 may transmit and receive data with each block, control the disk loader 150, and perform battery, LCD, CVF, and LED control.

 In particular, when the user selects the additional information mode from the photographing mode, the controller 170 allows the additional information to be stored in the recording medium together with the captured image. In particular, the method of storing additional information varies according to the type of additional information stored with the image.

The additional information is additional information related to the image that is generated and stored at the time of image capturing or recording, additional information related to the device which is already generated and stored by the manufacturer and cannot be changed by the user, and can be set or changed by the user. There is additional user setting information.

The image-related additional information may include location information indicating a location of a captured image, time information indicating a time when the image is captured, that is, a time or a date. Examples of additional equipment-related information include manufacturer information indicating the manufacturer of the photographing apparatus, source information of the photographing apparatus indicating information on the place of manufacture or production location of the photographing apparatus, product information indicating the product number of the photographing apparatus, product name, and the like. have. The additional user setting information may include personally identifiable information such as a name, occupation, age, gender, marital status, and icon information stored by the user.

The additional information is temporarily stored in the first storage unit 115 and then stored in the recording medium together with the image compressed by the back end chip 130. In this case, when the additional information is stored in the recording medium, the controller 170 generates an icon indicating that the additional information exists, and generates and stores index information for connecting the additional information and the compressed image to the recording medium. Meanwhile, the controller 170 may store the additional information icon together with the image on the recording medium, but may store only the additional information icon separately from the image.

Video and audio data are recorded in the multimedia data recording / reproducing apparatus 100 of the present invention as follows. The image data received from the data processor is processed by the DSP 120, encoded by the encoder 132, and stored in a disk inserted into the memory card 116 or the disk loader 150. In the image input through the zoom lens 111, the optical unit is electrically converted by the CCD unit 112. The CDS / AGC and ADC section 113 then samples the electrical signal to adjust the gain and digitally converts this signal.

The signal processor 120 processes the digitally converted signal into image data of a specific type, for example, MPEG4 or JPEG. The audio data is received from the audio input / output unit 135 and encoded by the encoder 132 and recorded in the memory card 116 or the disc according to the memory camera mode or the camera mode. In the memory camera mode, the processed image data is stored in the memory card 116. In the camera mode, the compressed data is compressed to MPEG2 and recorded on an 8 cm disc inserted in the disc loader 150.

Video and audio data are reproduced in the multimedia data recording / reproducing apparatus 100 of the present invention as follows. In the camera playback mode, multimedia data is read from the disc loader 150 in which the disc is inserted, decoded by the decoder 131, and then output. In the memory playback mode, the multimedia data read from the memory card 116 is decoded by the decoder 131 and then output.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the multimedia data recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention is a recording apparatus selecting means and a photographing mode for selecting a semiconductor recording apparatus, that is, a disk loader 170 or an optical recording apparatus, that is, a memory card 116. Or a user interface including photographing / playback selecting means for selecting a playback mode.

Hereinafter, a method of storing additional information of the multimedia data recording / reproducing apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2. 2 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of storing additional information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, for convenience of description, a method of storing location information of the image related additional information, product information of the device related additional information, and personal identification information of the user setting additional information will be described.

Referring to FIG. 2, the controller 170 determines whether a command for a photographing mode is input among modes of the multimedia data recording / reproducing apparatus 100 (S210). Specifically, when the user inputs a command to set the mode of the multimedia data recording / reproducing apparatus to the photographing mode through the operation unit, the controller 170 determines that the command for the recording mode has been input.

If it is determined that the command for the shooting mode is input (S210-Y), the controller 170 determines whether the additional mode is one of the shooting modes (S220). When the user inputs a command to set the additional information mode among the photographing modes of the multimedia data recording / reproducing apparatus through the operation unit, the controller 170 determines that the command for the additional information mode is input.

If it is determined that the additional information mode is an image related additional information mode, the controller 170 stores GPS information received from the communication interface 116 on a recording medium in which the image is stored (S230). In detail, the controller 170 allows the communication interface to receive GPS information from a location based system (LBS). The GPS information is temporarily stored in the first storage unit, and then the GPS information is stored in a recording medium in which the captured image is stored. In this case, the controller 170 generates and stores index information for connecting the image and the GPS information.

If it is determined that the device-related additional information mode is in the additional information mode, the controller 170 reads out the device-related information stored in the first storage unit and stores the captured information together with the image on a recording medium storing the captured image (S240). At this time, the controller 170 generates and stores index information for connecting the device-related additional information and the image. Additional information related to the equipment can be found at the place of manufacture and production of the imaging device. The device-related information may be text, an icon, or an image because the name of the manufacturer, information about the manufacturer, a map of the place of manufacture, and the like may be used. In particular, even if the device-related additional information is stored in the storage unit in a compressed state already in a predetermined format, even if the device-related additional information is stored in the storage unit 170 reads the device-related additional information stored in the storage unit to record the image is stored. You can save it to media.

If it is determined that the user setting additional information mode of the additional information mode, the controller 170 temporarily stores the user setting information input through the operation unit in the first storage unit and then stores the image in the stored recording medium (S250). Specifically, the user inputs personal information about a person's name, occupation, age, gender or marriage to be recorded through the operation unit. The manipulation unit (not shown) to which the personal information is input may be a numeric key or a character key, and may be a touch pad and a stylus fan. The image information input by the user is temporarily stored in the first storage unit and then stored in the recording medium storing the image.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the control unit 170 is not the additional information mode (S220-N), it determines whether or not the normal shooting mode (S260). In the normal photographing mode, the controller 170 controls various functional blocks such that the photographed image is signal-processed and stored in the recording medium (S270). Since the general photographing mode of the photographing apparatus is a conventional technology, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a method of reproducing an image captured in the additional information mode will be described. 3 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of reproducing an image photographed in an additional information mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the controller 170 determines whether an image playback command is input (S310). Specifically, the user inputs a playback command for the image stored in the recording medium of the video device. The image stored in the recording medium is an image photographed in the additional information mode. The recording medium stores not only an image but also additional information and index information.

When an image reproducing command is input (S310-Y), the controller 170 controls various functional blocks of the video device to read and reproduce the image stored in the recording medium (S320). Specifically, when a play command for an image stored in the disk is input, the disk loader 150 reads the image stored in the disk and applies it to the backend chip. The back-end chip restores the compressed image and is applied to the signal processor 120. The signal processor outputs a displayable image by signal processing a predetermined format.

On the other hand, the controller 170 determines whether additional information is stored in the recording medium (S330). The controller 170 may determine whether there is additional information based on whether the additional information icon is stored among data stored in the recording medium.

If it is determined that the additional information is stored (S330-Y), the controller 170 reads the additional information icon and displays the additional information icon in one area of the image (S340).

The controller 170 determines whether an additional information display command is input (S350). That is, since the additional information icon is displayed together with the displayed image, the user may determine that the additional information is present in the reproduced image and input an additional information display command through the operation unit.

When it is determined that the additional information display command is input (S350-Y), the controller 170 reads and displays additional information corresponding to the image being reproduced through the index information stored in the first storage unit 115 (S360). ). That is, when it is determined that a plurality of video files may be stored in the recording medium and the additional information display command for the video being played is input, the additional information corresponding to the video being played is read using the index information. Then, the read additional information is displayed in one region of the image, thereby displaying an image in which the image and the additional information are combined.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the additional information is not stored (S330-N), the controller 170 deactivates and displays the additional information icon in one region of the image. That is, the additional information icon is not displayed (S370).

Hereinafter, a drawing of an image on which additional information is displayed will be described with reference to the drawings. 4A to 4E are diagrams showing additional information icons or additional information in one region of an image.

4A is a diagram in which an additional information icon is displayed on a reproduced image. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the user selects the additional information mode among the photographing modes, the additional information icon is displayed at the bottom of the image to be stored. When the image photographed in the additional information mode is reproduced, as shown in FIG. 4A, it is preferable that the additional information icon is displayed in the lower region of the image.

Meanwhile, when a user inputs a command to display additional information, the additional information as shown in FIGS. 4B to 4D is displayed in one region of the image. The additional information shown in FIG. 4B is additional information on device-related information. The device which photographed the image is manufactured by a manufacturer named 'Samsung Electronics of Korea' and is a digital camera having a product number of 'SDC-K655'. . The additional information shown in FIG. 4C is image related information and user setting information. The image is an image taken on January 13, 2007 at a latitude of 38 ° and a longitude of 128 °, and the person who took the image is Hong Gil-dong. As a 33-year-old male office worker, he is married. In addition, the additional information shown in Figure 4d is device-related information, the product producing country of the photographing device is South Korea, the development location is Suwon, South Korea, the development location is as shown in Figure 4d.

As described above, the additional information as well as the image is displayed, so that a third party who does not capture the image can easily grasp the position, time, type of the photographing device, and the like of the captured image. Of course, the additional information does not have to be displayed only as a table, as shown in Figs. 4B to 4D. As shown in FIG. 3E, it may be combined with an image and displayed.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the position information where the image is captured as the image related additional information has been described, but is not limited thereto. As the image related additional information, there may also be time information at the time when the image is captured. In the case of the time information as described above, the multimedia data / playback apparatus has a timer (not shown), and thus it should be stored together in a recording medium storing the captured image.

In the present embodiment, the additional information is stored separately from the image when the additional information is stored in the recording medium, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the additional information may be stored in combination with the captured image. In particular, when the additional information is an image, it may be combined with the photographed image so as to be stored in the recording medium as one image.

In addition, the user setting additional information may input a personal image while the user shoots an image, but of course, the user may input user setting additional information in advance. For example, the user may download an avatar indicating the user himself through the Internet, and store it as additional information in the image photographed by the user.

As described above, according to the present invention, the additional information of the photographed image is stored together in the recording medium in which the image is stored, and the additional information is selectively displayed when the image is reproduced, thereby providing convenience to the user.

In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but the technical field to which the invention belongs without departing from the spirit of the invention claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

Claims (11)

Shooting unit for taking an image; A signal processor which generates a digital image by signal processing the captured image; An additional information storage unit storing additional information; And And a recording medium for recording the digital image and additional information. The method of claim 1, The additional information is image related information including at least one of position information indicating a position of a captured image and time information indicating a time or date when a photograph is taken, and the image related information is generated during image capturing or recording. Video equipment. The method of claim 1, The additional information may include at least one of a stock company indicating a manufacturing company, logo information of a manufacturer, nationality and location information indicating a country and location of a place of manufacture or a production site, and product information indicating a product model. Shooting device. The method of claim 1, The additional information is user setting information such as a user name, occupation, age, gender, marital status, etc., which is stored in the device by a user directly inputting. A recording medium storing images and additional information; A signal processor configured to signal-process an image read from the recording medium to generate an image signal; And A display unit for displaying the video signal; And And a control unit for displaying the additional information icon in one region of the image displayed on the display unit when the additional information is stored in the recording medium. The method of claim 5, The additional information is image related information including at least one of position information indicating a position of a captured image and time information indicating a time or date when a photograph is taken, and the image related information is generated during image capturing or recording. Video equipment. The method of claim 5, The additional information may include at least one of a stock company indicating a manufacturer, a logo of a manufacturer, nationality and location information indicating a country of origin or a location of production, and product information indicating a product model. Video equipment. The method of claim 5, The additional information is user setting information such as a user's name, occupation, age, gender, marital status, and the like, which is stored in the device by a user directly inputting. In the method for displaying the image and the additional information, Reading an image from a recording medium; Signal-processing the read image and outputting the image to a display unit; Determining whether there is additional information in the image; And And displaying the additional information icon in a specific region of the image when the determination result includes the additional information. The method of claim 9, And if the additional information is not found, deactivating and displaying the additional information icon in a predetermined region of the image. In the method of combining the additional information image in the captured image, Capturing an image through a photographing unit; Reading an image from an image information storage unit; Combining an image read through the photographing unit and an image read from the recording medium; Displaying the combined image; And storing the combined image on a predetermined recording medium.

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