JP2006101232A - Album reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an album reproducing device for holding consistence so that the content of an album file should correspond always to an image file, while convenience of album reproduction is not spoiled. <P>SOLUTION: The album reproducing device includes a consistence determining means (24b) for determining whether there is consistence in correlation between an image file address in an album file stored in a memory means (23) and the address of an image file stored in the memory means; and a deleting means (24d) for deleting the image file address in the album file, which cannot hold consistence, if it is determined by the consistence determining means that there is no consistence in correlation between the image file address in the album file and the address of the image file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an album reproducing apparatus that reproduces an image file based on an album file, and more particularly to an album reproducing apparatus that reproduces an image file based on an image file address stored in the album file.

  As a technique for managing an image recorded by an image recording / reproducing apparatus such as a camera by transferring it to a PC or the like, the technique of Patent Document 1 is known.

This document discloses a technique for preventing the same image from being transferred to a PC or the like again after transferring the image to a PC or the like, and simplifying the selection operation of an image that has not yet been transferred to the PC or the like. Yes.
JP 2001-69296 A

  By the way, the camera has an album function that uses album files to group and play files contained in the same recording medium. After transferring images from the camera to the PC, the transferred images are stored in the album. Can not be played with. Even if an attempt is made to play back an album, an error message “No image found” is displayed many times during playback of the album, and the convenience of playback of the album is impaired.

  Further, if the image is always left in the camera even when it is transferred, there is a possibility that shooting cannot be continued due to the limitation of the capacity of the storage medium in the camera. Therefore, if you want to play back the image while deleting the image from the camera at the time of transfer to prevent the storage medium from becoming full, consider transferring the transferred image from the transfer destination PC and playing it on the album. It is done.

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, there is a description of a mechanism for specifying an image transferred to a PC in correspondence with an album, and a mechanism for easily extracting an image transferred to a PC and playing it on the album. Absent.

  Also, if the contents managed in the album file do not match the image file stored in the memory, an error message such as “There is no image” will be displayed when the album is played back. Damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an album playback apparatus that maintains the consistency of album file contents and image files so that they always correspond and does not impair the convenience of album playback. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above problems, an album playback apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is an album playback apparatus that plays back an image file based on an album file, and an image in an album file stored in storage means. An image file address in the album file by the consistency determining means for determining whether the correspondence between the file address and the address of the image file stored in the storage means is consistent, and the consistency determining means And deleting means for deleting an image file address in the album file that is inconsistent when it is determined that the correspondence between the image file address and the address of the image file is inconsistent.

  An album playback apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention is the album playback apparatus according to the invention described above, wherein the consistency determination means uses the image file address in the album file, the address of the image file, When it is determined that the correspondence relationship is inconsistent, the image file address in the album file that is not consistent is deleted, or a search file in which the address of the image file that is not consistent is described And a selection display means for displaying and selecting whether to create, wherein the deletion means sets the image file address when it is selected to delete the image file address in the album file that is not consistent. delete.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an album reproducing apparatus for reproducing an image file based on an album file, a storage means for storing the image file, and a plane image file selected from the storage means. The album address is registered in the album file to create the album file and stored in the storage means, the image file address in the album file stored in the storage means, and the storage means stored in the storage means A consistency determination means for determining whether or not the correspondence between the address of the image file and the image file is consistent, and the consistency determination means, the image file address in the album file, the address of the image file, Images that are not consistent, except that A search file creation means for creating a search file address of the file have been described, equipped with a.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an album reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, wherein in the album reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, a transmitting means for transmitting a search file to the external apparatus and a means for receiving a search result by the external apparatus And a deletion unit that deletes an image file address in the album file, which is inconsistent when there is no corresponding image file in the external device as a result of the search.

  According to the album reproduction technique of the present invention, the consistency between the image file address in the album file and the address of the image file can always be maintained, so that an album that does not impair the convenience of album reproduction can be provided.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an album playback system using the album playback apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The album playback system includes a PC 1, a camera 2 as an album playback device, and a communication line 3 connecting them. Here, the PC 1 is an information processing terminal that stores and manages images, and the camera 2 is an album playback device that has a function of recording and playing back images.

  The PC 1 includes a communication unit 10, an image DB 11, an image processing unit 12, and a control unit 13.

  The communication unit 10 is an interface for exchanging various information with the camera 2. The image DB 11 stores image data received from the camera 2 and the like. The image processing unit 12 searches and extracts image data or the like in response to a request from the camera 2. The control unit 13 comprehensively controls the operation of each unit described above.

  The camera 2 includes a communication unit 20, an imaging unit 21, a control unit 22, an image DB 23, an image processing unit 24, a display unit 25, and an operation unit 26.

  The communication unit 20 is an interface for exchanging various information with the PC 1. The imaging unit 21 acquires a light image of the subject and converts it into image data. The control unit 22 controls the camera 2 in an integrated manner. The image DB 23 is a detachable memory that stores album files in addition to image files. The image processing unit 24 stores and manages images, and creates, manages, and reproduces albums. The display unit 25 displays images and shooting information stored in the camera 2. The operation unit 26 receives an operation instruction from the user.

  The image processing unit 24 includes a mode selection unit 24a, a consistency determination unit 24b, a file search unit 24c, and an album generation unit 24d. The mode selection unit 24a selects an image reproduction mode. The consistency determination unit 24b determines whether the album file and the image file are associated with each other. The file search unit 24c searches for album files and image files. The album generation unit 24d creates and updates an album file.

  The communication line 3 is a path widely used for transmitting and receiving information, and is not limited to communication using a wire such as a conductive wire or an optical fiber, but also includes wireless communication using light, sound waves, radio waves, and the like.

  Next, the operation of the camera 2 in the album playback system configured as described above will be described.

  First, an album file used in the camera 2 will be described.

  The user selects “Create album file” from the menu displayed on the display unit 25 of the camera 2, and then selects a desired image file. The album generation unit 24d newly creates an album file 30 based on the image file selected by the user, assigns an album name to the album file 30, and stores the selected image file in the image DB.

  2 shows the contents of the album file 30, and FIG. 2 (2) shows the image file related to the album file 30.

  In the album file 30 shown in FIG. 2A, an album name 30a and an image address 30b of the selected image file are described. A unique value for identifying the album file 30 is given to the album name 30a. In FIG. 2, “ALBUM001” is given as the album name. “.MPV” is an extension representing this album.

  The image address 30b is configured with three rows as one unit. The first line describes information indicating the start line and the number of the image registered in the album. In the second line, path information indicating the address of the registered image file is described. In the third line, information indicating the end line is described.

  By referring to the image address 30b shown in (1) of FIG. 2, the first image is stored in the folder “100OL” under the folder “DCIM” with the file name “P1010001”. Recognize. It can also be seen that the extension of this image file is JPG.

  (2) of FIG. 2 shows the contents of the folder “100OL”. In this folder, three image files are stored. When comparing the album file 30 and the contents of the folder, the image file “P1010002” described second in the album file 30 does not exist in the folder “100OL”, and an inconsistency occurs.

  The following describes the album playback operation when such inconsistency occurs.

  When the user selects “reproduction mode”-“album reproduction mode” from the menu displayed on the display unit 25 of the camera 2, the mode selection unit 24 a is activated to display the album list on the display unit 25. Subsequently, when the user selects a desired album from the album list, the album reproduction process shown in FIG. 3 is executed.

  In step S01, the file search unit 24c checks the image address 30b in the selected album file 30 and reads the path information of the image file. Then, the image file is searched based on the path information. The consistency determination unit 24b determines whether consistency is achieved between the album file 30 and the image file based on the search result. If Yes in step S02, that is, if an image file exists, the image is displayed on the display unit 25 in step S03.

  On the other hand, in the case of No in step S02, that is, when the image file does not exist, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 25 and the user is asked whether to take “deletion” or “search” action. Ask for judgment. “Delete” is a process for deleting the path information for the image file from the album file 30, and “Search” is a process for searching the PC 1 connected to the camera 2 to obtain the image file.

  When the user selects “delete”, the album generation unit 24d deletes the path information of the image file from the album file 30 in step S11. That is, the image address 30b shown in (1) of FIG. 2 is deleted. In step S04, if there is an image file that has not been reproduced yet, the process returns to step S01, and reproduction processing for the next image file registered in the album file 30 is executed.

  When the user selects “search”, the search process (FIG. 4) shown in step S15 is executed.

  In step T01 of FIG. 4, the album generating unit 24d generates an image search file, and describes the address path of the image file that is inconsistent with the image search file as image specifying information. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of the image search file. In this image search file, a folder name (100OL) and an image file name (P1010002) are described. In step T02, the communication unit 20 transmits an image search file to the PC 1 and instructs an image search. And it waits until there is a response from PC1, and receives a search result in step T03.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a signal exchange procedure between the camera and the PC. When the camera 2 has a USB host function, signal transmission / reception can be performed according to a standardized procedure. FIG. 6 shows a processing procedure when the camera 2 does not have a USB host function.

  In steps P01 to P02 of FIG. 6, the camera 2 transmits to the PC 1 that an event that an image search file has been generated has occurred, and the PC 1 responds thereto. In steps P03 to P04, the camera 2 transmits to the PC 1 that it is ready to transmit the image search file, and the PC 1 responds thereto.

  In steps P05 to P06, the PC 1 requests information on the image search file (text size and the like), and the camera 2 transmits the information to the PC 1. In steps P07 to P08, the PC 1 requests transmission of the image search file, and the camera 2 transmits the image search file to the PC 1.

  In step P09, the image processing unit 12 of the PC 1 searches the image DB 11 based on the transmitted image search file. Even if the PC 1 does not store the folder name and the image file name that are the same as those in the camera 2, the name when the image file was received in the past and the name stored in the current image DB 11 are used. If it is associated, it can be searched.

  If the image file is found, in steps P10 to P11, the PC 1 transmits information about the image file (such as the size of the image file) to the camera 2, and the camera 2 responds thereto. In steps P12 to P13, the PC 1 transmits the image file to the camera 2, and the camera 2 notifies the PC 1 that it has been received.

  Returning to FIG. 4, when an image is found in the camera 2, the transmitted image is displayed on the display unit 25 in step T <b> 04 and the process returns. On the other hand, if the image is not found, the album generating unit 24d deletes the path information of the image file from the album file 30 and returns in step T05. That is, the image address 30b shown in (1) of FIG. 2 is deleted.

  Returning to FIG. 3, if there is an image file that has not yet been reproduced in step S <b> 04, the process returns to step S <b> 01 and reproduction processing of the next image file registered in the album file 30 is executed.

  According to the first embodiment, since a user can select a countermeasure when an inconsistency occurs, the transferred image can be easily taken out from the transfer destination and played on the album without impairing the convenience of album playback. it can.

[Variation 1 of the first embodiment]
The first modification of the first embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that history information regarding image files, folders, and PCs 1 transmitted by the camera 2 is stored in the album file 30. Accordingly, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the first modification, when the image file does not exist in step S02 of FIG. 3, the PC 1 that transmitted the image file can be specified by referring to the history information in the album file 30. Therefore, when the PC 1 is actually connected to the camera 2, the image file search process shown in step S 15 is executed. If the PC 1 is not connected to the camera 2, the fact is displayed on the display unit 25. A process of deleting a file path from the album file shown in S11 is executed.

  According to the first modification, since the PC 1 connected to the camera 2 determines whether or not the image file is stored, it can be processed efficiently.

[Modification 2 of the first embodiment]
In the second modification of the first embodiment, the history information about the image file, the folder, and the PC 1 transmitted by the camera 2 is stored in the album file 30. Further, in the first step of the album reproduction process shown in FIG. The point of inquiring the processing method to the user is different from the first embodiment. Accordingly, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  When the user selects “reproduction mode”-“album reproduction mode” from the menu displayed on the display unit 25 of the camera 2, the mode selection unit 24 a is activated to display the album list on the display unit 25. Subsequently, when the user selects a desired album from the album list, the album reproduction process shown in FIG. 3 is executed.

  The camera 2 checks whether there is an image file transmitted to the PC 1 by referring to the history information in the album file 30, and specifies the PC 1 that transmitted the image file. When the PC 1 is actually connected to the camera 2, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 25, and the user is asked to determine whether to take “delete” or “search”.

  When the user selects “delete”, the album generation unit 24 d deletes the path information of the image file from the album file 30 for the nonexistent image file in the subsequent processing. On the other hand, when the user selects “search”, the search processing shown in FIG.

  According to the second modification, in addition to the effects of the first modification, the PC 1 determines whether or not the image file is stored in units of album files and performs batch processing, so that processing can be performed more efficiently. .

  Each function described in the above embodiment may be configured using hardware, or may be realized by reading a program describing each function into a computer using software. Each function may be configured by appropriately selecting either software or hardware.

  Furthermore, each function can be realized by causing a computer to read a program stored in a recording medium. Here, as long as the recording medium in the present embodiment can record a program and can be read by a computer, the recording format may be any form.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

The figure which shows the structure of the album reproduction | regeneration system using the album reproduction | regeneration apparatus of 1st Embodiment concerning this invention. The figure which shows the content of an album file, and the related image file. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the outline of an album reproduction | regeneration process. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the outline of a search process. The figure which shows the structure of an image search file. The figure which shows the signal transfer procedure between a camera and PC.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... PC, 2 ... Camera, 3 ... Communication line, 10 ... Communication part, 11 ... Image DB, 12 ... Image processing part, 14 ... Control part, 21 ... Imaging part, 22 ... Control part, 23 ... Image DB, 24 Image processing unit 24a Mode selection unit 24b Consistency determination unit 24c File search unit 24d Album generation unit 25 Display unit 26 Operation unit 30 Album file 30a Album name 30b: Image address.

Claims (4)

In an album playback apparatus that plays an image file based on an album file,
Consistency determining means for determining whether or not the correspondence between the image file address in the album file stored in the storage means and the address of the image file stored in the storage means is consistent;
When the consistency determining means determines that the correspondence between the image file address in the album file and the address of the image file is not consistent, the image file in the album file that cannot be consistent A deletion means for deleting the address;
An album playback apparatus comprising: When the consistency determining means determines that the correspondence between the image file address in the album file and the address of the image file is not consistent, the image file in the album file that cannot be consistent It further comprises selection display means for displaying and selecting whether to delete the address or to create a search file in which the address of the image file that cannot be matched is created,
2. The album reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deleting unit deletes the image file address when it is selected to delete the image file address in the album file that is inconsistent. In an album playback apparatus that plays an image file based on an album file,
Storage means for storing an image file, album creating means for registering an address of the area image file selected from the storage means in the album file to create an album file and storing the album file in the storage means;
Consistency determining means for determining whether the correspondence between the image file address in the album file stored in the storage means and the address of the image file stored in the storage means is consistent;
In addition to determining that the correspondence between the image file address in the album file and the address of the image file is not consistent by the consistency determination means, the address of the image file that cannot be consistent is determined. Search file creation means for creating the described search file;
An album playback apparatus comprising: Transmission means for transmitting the search file to the external device;
Means for receiving search results by the external device;
If there is no image file corresponding to the external device as a result of the search, a deletion means for deleting the image file address in the album file that is not consistent,
The album playback apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

Images