Patent Application
20080292212
The present invention relates to an image display apparatus for displaying existing image data, an image display method for use therewith, and a computer program for use therewith.
In the related art, electronic data, such as still images and moving images captured by an image-capturing device such as a digital camera, is stored temporarily on a storage medium. When a user wishes to view the image data, it has been necessary to sequentially view thumbnails of image data one by one. Consequently, it takes a long time to locate target image data, depending on the number of pieces of image data.
When a large amount of image data is to be handled, it has been possible for a user to manually separate captured image data into a plurality of folders so as to be managed.
There is a known image reading and storage apparatus in which image data that is chronologically successive, constituting captured film images and digital images, is grouped into an image data group in which an image-capturing time interval is within a range of predetermined values when image capturing is performed and the image data is stored in each storage area (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-339344). Similarly to the above, a technology is also known in which, when image data is to be stored, a time interval of an image-capturing unit is compared with a predetermined time interval, and the moving image data is grouped together (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-177789).
To perform such grouping, it is necessary to set a predetermined value of a time interval in advance before an image is captured, and the time interval cannot be changed to an appropriate time interval while images are being stored. Furthermore, folders and the like need to be provided to store grouped image data. When grouping is performed once and storage of the grouped image data is completed, it is difficult to change the units of grouping. Therefore, when a user wishes to view target image data, a user is required to sequentially view image data of the group that is often a size not intended.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems presented by grouping image data at image-capturing time in the related art. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved image display apparatus capable of forming an appropriate group of images at display time even when the images are not grouped together in the state of being stored and capable of extracting target image data in a short time and easily, an image display method for use therewith, and a computer program for use therewith.
In order to solve the above-described problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display apparatus for displaying existing image data formed of a still image and a moving image, the image display apparatus including: a data group specifier configured to specify at least one of image data groups that are groups of pieces of the image data in response to a request from a user; a group generator configured to group pieces of the image data for each of which image-capturing start date and time or storage start day and time is within a predetermined time interval in the specified image data group; a representative image data selector configured to select at least one piece of image data in the group generated by the group generator as representative image data; and an image data display section configured to display representative image data for each of the groups as a thumbnail on a display section.
The image display apparatus can be implemented by a digital still camera, a digital video camera, an image viewer, a personal computer, a game machine, a television, a telephone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), an image storage device, a car navigation system, a portable terminal, and the like. Furthermore, the representative image data selector may select any image data of first, intermediate, and final image data when the image data in the group is arranged in chronological order.
In the present invention, image data for which time intervals between image-capturing start dates and times or storage start dates and times are within a predetermined time interval is assumed to constitute image data that is captured or stored in the same environment or situation, and the image data is grouped together. Since such grouping is performed at the time of display, image data does not need to be grouped in advance in a state in which the image data is stored (no pre-processing is needed), and grouping in response to a user's request at the time of display can be performed. For example, when an image data group is to be specified, since the total number of pieces of image data is known, it is possible to change the size of the group on the basis of a predetermined time interval in accordance with this total number.
The image display apparatus may further include a group selector configured to select a group to which the representative image data displayed on the display section belongs in response to a request from the user, wherein, after the group is selected, the group generator may shorten the predetermined time interval at a predetermined ratio and may newly perform grouping in the selected group on the basis of the shortened predetermined time interval, and the image data display section displays representative image data for each of the newly formed groups as a thumbnail on the display section. When representative image data formed of one piece of still image data or moving image data is finally selected, if it is still image data, a still image is closed up and displayed, and if it is moving image data, the moving image data is reproduced (i.e., frames of the moving image data are displayed).
With such a configuration, it becomes possible to form the above-described groups as a hierarchy on the basis of the magnitude of the predetermined time interval, and it becomes possible to select groups in a lower hierarchical level one after another and to locate target image data in a short time.
Furthermore, for example, in response to a user pressing a button corresponding to an operation of “Return”, it is possible to move (return) the focus from the current lower hierarchical level to a higher hierarchical level. At this time, it may be assumed that the predetermined time interval used in the higher hierarchical level is stored.
The image display apparatus may further include an interval setter for setting the predetermined time interval in response to a request from the user. The group generator can also perform grouping again on the basis of the set predetermined time interval.
When grouping is performed not as intended on the basis of a preset predetermined time interval, it is possible to reset the predetermined time interval while referring to a list of images. Furthermore, since the predetermined time interval can be set according to an application, such as when broad grouping or fine grouping is desired, it is possible to perform group display for a user in a way that is easy to understand.
The image display apparatus may further include an image-capturing section for capturing a still image or a moving image, and zoom keys or direction keys used for image capturing. It is also possible for the interval setter to change the predetermined time interval by using the zoom keys or the direction keys. For example, when one of the zoom keys is to be used, the predetermined time interval may be set shorter when the zoom key is set on the tele side, and the predetermined time interval may be set longer when the zoom key is set on the wide side.
With such a configuration, it is possible to efficiently use the zoom keys or the direction keys, and it is not necessary to separately provide a key for setting a predetermined time interval.
The image display apparatus may further include an interval display section configured to display the set predetermined time interval. Such a display may be a numeral directly indicating a predetermined time interval or may be a diagram, such as a bar display indicating a predetermined time duration in an intuitively understandable manner.
With such a configuration, it is possible for the user to change a predetermined time interval by using the interval setter while confirming the predetermined time interval.
When the image data constitutes a moving image, the group generator may group at least one of the still images constituting the moving image as image data, and may also divide the moving image into frames every predetermined time interval and may group still images constituting the divided moving image as image data in each of the divided frames.
With such a configuration, the moving image can be handled as a still image. Even when still image data and moving image data coexist in an image data group, thumbnails can be displayed in the same manner in which the still image data is displayed. On the basis of the configuration for division into frames, even if there is moving image data for a long time, reference can be made to an image in the middle of the moving image data, and it becomes possible to easily locate a target scene. For example, when a plurality of scenes exist in a series of moving images, a still image for each of the scenes can be referred to, and it becomes easy to find a desired scene.
The image display apparatus may further include a position display section configured to display a position and a ratio in the image data group or the group of a plurality of pieces of representative image data displayed on the display section. The position and the ratio may be displayed using a scroll bar or may be displayed using a numeral.
The image display apparatus may further include an image data storage section for storing the image data. The data group specifier can also specify all the image data in the image data storage section or all the image data in any folder provided in the image data storage section as an image data group. With such a configuration, it becomes possible for the user to store image data sequentially in the image data storage section or in one folder of the image data storage section without being concerned with the image capturing or storage date and time, and the like.
It is also possible for the image data display section to display the representative image data and also one or more pieces of information selected from the total time of the group to which the representative image data belongs, the total number of pieces of image data, a group icon, and group information. With such a configuration, it is possible for a user to easily understand each displayed group, and it becomes easier for the user to locate target image data.
In order to solve the above-described problems, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display apparatus in which the group generator groups pieces of image data for each of which the time interval from image-capturing end date and time or storage end date and time to image-capturing start date and time or storage start date and time of the consecutive image data in the specified image data group is within a predetermined time interval.
With such a configuration, grouping can be performed only on the basis of the true time interval among image data regardless of the time duration of moving image data. Thus, it is possible to avoid a situation in which pieces of image data, which are actually close to each other, for which time intervals between image-capturing or storage start times are apart, are allocated to different groups.
In order to solve the above-described problems, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display apparatus in which the group generator groups a series of pieces of image data for each of which image-capturing start date and time or storage start date and time is within a predetermined time interval range.
With such a configuration, it is possible to manage pieces of image data obtained within a certain time interval range as one group, and it is possible to intentionally collect image data within any time interval range.
In order to solve the above-described problems, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display apparatus in which the group generator groups pieces of image data for each of which the image-capturing position or storage position is within a predetermined position range in a specified image data group. The measurement of such a position is made possible by a position measurement system such as a GPS (Global Positioning System).
With such a configuration, it is possible to manage pieces of image data for each of which the image-capturing positions or storage positions are the same, that is, pieces of image data that are captured or stored in the same environment or situation, as the same group. Thus, searching for image data on the basis of position is made easier.
In order to solve the above-described problems, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display apparatus in which the group generator groups pieces of image data for each of which the image-capturing altitude or the storage altitude is within a predetermined altitude range in a specified image data group. The measurement of the altitude is made possible by a position measurement system, such as GPS, similarly to that described above.
With such a configuration, it is possible to manage, as the same group, pieces of image data for each of which the image-capturing altitudes or the storage altitude are the same, that is, pieces of image data that is captured or stored in the same environment or situation. Thus, searching for image data by an altitude, for example, photographs taken when climbing a mountain, is made easier.
In order to solve the above-described problems, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display apparatus in which a group generator groups pieces of image data for which movement speeds of the image-capturing device when the image was captured or stored are within a predetermined speed range. Such a movement speed can be calculated on the basis of a position and a time by a position measurement system such as GPS, similarly to that described above.
With such a configuration, it is possible to manage, as the same group, image data that is captured or stored in the same situation. Thus, searching for target image data is made easier by a group, such image data being obtained when stationary, on foot, moving by car, or moving on a bullet train.
The invention according to the second to sixth aspects can be provided with components described in the first aspect similarly to the invention according to the first aspect.
A computer program that functions as the image display apparatus, and an image display method for displaying existing image data formed of a still image and a moving image are also provided.
As described in the foregoing, according to the present invention, even if image data has not been grouped or processing associated with the grouping has not been performed in advance while the image data was being stored, image data is displayed in such a manner as to be appropriately grouped, and it is possible for the user to locate target image data in a short time and easily. That is, even when an image data group contains a large amount of image data, since a hierarchical structure of two or more levels can be provided at the time of display, it is possible to easily extract target image data from a small amount of representative image data. Furthermore, the user can change the predetermined time interval any number of times until image data is divided into desired groups, and searching for image data is made easier.
Such efficient grouping enables a reduction in the number of pieces of the representative image data to be displayed on the display section, the time required to read the image data can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are designated with the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.
An image display apparatus according to this embodiment is configured so that image data that is considered to have been captured or stored in the same environment or situation, such as when, for example, the time interval between image-capturing start dates and times or storage start dates and times is within a predetermined time interval, from among a group of image data that has already been captured or stored, is grouped at the time of display or search, and target image data can be easily located in a short time.
The image display apparatus can be implemented by a digital still camera (digital camera), a digital video camera, an image viewer, a personal computer, a game machine, a television, a telephone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), an image storage device, a car navigation system, a portable terminal, and the like. It is assumed that, in this embodiment, the image display apparatus is implemented by, in particular, a digital camera, but the image display apparatus is not limited to a digital camera.
The image display controller 110 manages and controls the entire image display apparatus 100 by using a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU).
When the image display apparatus 100 is, for example, a digital camera, the image-capturing section 112 captures a still image or a moving image as an image-capturing object.
The display section 114 displays an image captured by the image-capturing section 112 or an image that is captured and temporarily stored in the digital camera, so that the image can be confirmed. In the image display apparatus 100 such as a digital camera, the area that can be occupied by the display section 114 is reduced in response to the miniaturization of such an apparatus, making it difficult to confirm many images at one time. Therefore, there is a demand for display of image data effectively using a small display area.
The digital camera is also provided with zoom keys 116 and direction keys 118 that can also be used as the zoom keys 116 or used alone. Such zoom keys 116 and direction keys 118 are also able to generate a signal for increasing or decreasing a predetermined time interval for an interval setter 136 (to be described later).
The image data storage section 120 stores one or more pieces of image data. The image data may be stored in the image data storage section 120 in a non-orderly manner, and it does not matter whether or not the image data is allocated to folders or the like. Therefore, there is no need to group pieces of image data in advance and to create folders or the like.
The data group specifier 122 specifies an image data group, which is a group of image data, in response to a request from a user. The data group specifier 122 may specify, as an image data group, all the image data in the image data storage section 120 and may specify, as an image data group, all the image data in any of one or more folders provided in the image data storage section 120. Furthermore, a plurality of pieces of image data stored in an external server of a provider or the like can also be specified as an image data group by using a communication network 140 such as the Internet.
The group generator 124 groups a series of pieces of image data in which the time intervals between the image-capturing start dates and times or the storage start days and times are within a predetermined time interval in the image data group specified by the data group specifier 122. For example, when the predetermined time interval is set as 10 minutes, the image-capturing start dates and times or the storage start dates and times are arranged in chronological order, and image data in which the time interval between the consecutive image data is within 10 minutes is grouped together by assuming that the images have been captured or stored in the same environment or situation.
The representative image data selector 126 selects, as representative image data, at least one piece of image data within the group generated by the group generator 124. At this time, if the image data is still image data, the representative image data selector 126 can set the still image as representative image data, and if the image data is moving image data, the representative image data selector 126 can set any still image at the start, at a midpoint, or at the end as representative image data. Furthermore, it is also possible that the user specifies in advance a still image in any point of moving image data and the still image is made to be representative image data. In addition, representative image data may be set by using various methods available in the related art.
The image data display section 128 displays as many of the groups formed by the group generator 124 as possible on the display section 114. In practice, the representative image data selected by the representative image data selector 126 for each group to be displayed is displayed as thumbnails showing the content of each group.
The interval display section 130 displays the set predetermined time interval that becomes a key for the grouping on the display section 114. Such a display may be performed using a numeral directly indicating the predetermined time interval or may be performed using a diagram, such as a bar display intuitively indicating the predetermined time duration.
The position display section 132 displays, on the display section 114, the position and the ratio of a predetermined number of pieces of representative image data displayed on the display section 114 with respect to the image data group or the group. The position and the ratio may be displayed using a scroll bar or may be displayed using a numeral.
The group selector 134 selects a group to which the representative image data belongs in response to a request from the user. That is, the user selects desired representative image data from the display section 114, and in response to the request from the user, the group selector 134 selects a group to which the selected representative image data belongs. When a specific group is selected by the group selector 134, the group generator 124 shortens the predetermined time interval at a predetermined ratio. For example, when the preset predetermined time interval is 10 minutes and the predetermined ratio is 1/2, a new predetermined time interval becomes 5 minutes. Then, all the image data in the selected group is newly grouped on the basis of the new predetermined time interval. Thereafter, the image data display section 128 displays, as a thumbnail, the representative image data for each group, which is newly grouped by the group generator 124. In the manner described above, as a result of forming groups to be displayed as a hierarchy on the basis of the magnitude of the predetermined time interval and selecting groups in lower hierarchical levels one after another, it is possible to locate target image data at an early time.
In response to a request from the user, the interval setter 136 sets a predetermined time interval, which is a reference for grouping by the group generator 124. The group generator 124 newly performs grouping on the basis of the predetermined time interval that is newly set by the interval setter 136. By resetting the predetermined time interval in this manner, it is possible to perform grouping desired by the user. As specific operation, for example, when one of the zoom keys set on the tele side 116, shown in
Next, with reference to an electrical flow, a description will be given of processing performed by a digital camera 200 serving as the image display apparatus 100 from image capturing to display of image data.
A CPU 230 processes or moves the above-described image data. For example, the CPU 230 instructs a display controller 232 to display the image data, so that the display controller 232 displays the image data on an LCD 236 serving as the display section 114 via an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) encoder 234. At this time, an image compressed by the JPEG codec 224 may be displayed. Furthermore, the CPU 230 can also select a desired image and expand or reduce image data in response to a selection input by the user using an operation key 240.
The CPU 230 is initiated by a program stored in a ROM 250, and executes an application by using a memory area of a RAM 252. Furthermore, the CPU 230 can also access a medium 256 via a media controller 254. There are cases in which data exchange is directly performed between memories by using a DMAC (Direct Memory Access Controller) 258 without the intervention of the CPU 230.
Furthermore, the CPU 230 performs functions of the data group specifier 122, the group generator 124, the representative image data selector 126, the image data display section 128, the interval display section 130, the position display section 132, the group selector 134, the interval setter 136, and the like. Data of date and time necessary for the group generator 124 and the like, and data of the image-capturing position or the storage position using a GPS 260 are obtained from the date and time reader 262, the position reader 264, and the like. Another detector for obtaining information on image capturing and storage may be provided.
Next, a specific description will be given below of the display of image data or representative image data.
On the display screen 310, the image data in a display range 314 within the image data group list 312 shown in
In the related art, when the user searches for desired image data, the display range 314 of the display screen 310 is moved back and forth, and pieces of image data in the image data group list 312 are viewed one by one. Therefore, when image data in the vicinity of the 500th piece of image data or thereabouts is going to be displayed when, for example, 1000 pieces of image data are stored, it is necessary for the user to scroll the display range many times. Furthermore, although the image data to be displayed is displayed in the form of thumbnails having a reduced number of pixels, when scrolling is performed many times in this manner, the time interval required for reading image data from the storage medium is nonnegligible.
When image data is to be displayed, in the image display apparatus 100 in this embodiment, first, the data group specifier 122 specifies an image data group such as that shown in
In the image data group list 312 of
In the lower right of the displayed representative image data, a total number 360 of the image data belonging to the group is also displayed. Below the representative image data, a total time 362 of the group, for example, 9:00-9:04, which is the total time of the image data A to D, is displayed in the case of group 1. In addition, a group icon such that a group is abstracted, group information indicating the outline of the group, and the like can also be displayed.
In addition, in the lower right of the display section 114, a current value 370 of the predetermined time interval that is set in advance or reset by the interval setter 136 is displayed. In the left side of the display section 114, the position display section 132 allows the display of a scroll bar 372 indicating the current display position and ratio in the image data group or the group. In the example of
Next, in order to obtain desired image data, in response to a request from the user, the group selector 134 selects the group that is considered to contain the image data from the display section 114. For example, in
Here, in the lower right of the display section 114, a current value 370 of the predetermined time interval that is newly set by the interval setter 136 is displayed. In the left side of the display section 114, the position display section 132 allows the display of a scroll bar 372 indicating the current display position and ratio in the image data group. Furthermore, in response to the user operating a button of, for example, “Return” 374, it is possible to move (return) the focus from the current lower hierarchical level to a higher hierarchical level. At this time, in order to correctly restore the grouping in the higher hierarchical level, the predetermined time interval used in the higher hierarchical level is stored.
Next, a group that is considered to contain desired image data is further selected from the display section 114. For example, when a group displayed in such a manner that image data G in
Here, in the lower right of the display section 114, a current value 370 of the predetermined time interval that has been newly set by the interval setter 136 is displayed. In the left side of the display section 114, the position display section 132 allows the display of the scroll bar 372 indicating the current display position and the current ratio in the image data group. Here, the position display section 132 displays the current display position and the current ratio in the image data group, and of course, can also display the current display position and the current ratio in the group.
Then, when each image data is displayed as described above, it becomes possible to select desired image data from within it. When representative image data formed of one still image data or moving image data is finally selected, if it is still image data, a still image is zoomed in for close up, and if it is moving image data, the moving image data is reproduced (including the reproduction of the moving image data for each frame).
Next, a description will be given of display of image data when a moving image is contained in an image data group. For processing image data in the case of the moving image, two handlings are considered. One handling is to carry out this embodiment by assuming the entire moving image as one still image. Another handling is to carry out this embodiment in such a manner that the entire moving image is first divided every predetermined time interval, that is, is divided into frames having a predetermined time duration, and the moving image for divided frames is assumed as one still image. When the divided frame is finally selected, the image data may be reproduced for the amount of time of the frames, or the first frame up to the end of the entire moving image may be reproduced.
Therefore, when the image data is a moving image, the group generator 124 may group pieces of image data by assuming that at least one still image of the moving image as image data. Also, the group generator 124 may group pieces of image data by dividing the moving image every predetermined time interval and by assuming that at least one still image of the divided moving image as image data in each divided frame.
With such a configuration, a moving image can be handled as a still image, and even when still image data and moving image data coexist in an image data group, thumbnails can be displayed in the same manner in which the still image data is displayed. Furthermore, the configuration for division into frames makes it possible to easily locate a target scene even if there is moving image data for a long time.
In the case of the image data group list 412 shown in
As described above, it can be seen that there four places 450 at which the time interval between the storage dates and times are 10 minutes or more, that is, between the image data DE, between the image data EF, between the image data FG, and between the image data HI. When places are set as the division points of the image data group, it is possible for the group generator 124 to generate five groups of image data A to D (group 1), image data E (group 2), image data F (group 3), image data GH (group 4), and image data IJ (group 5). The image data H is assumed as a still image for the sake of convenience in the grouping, but actual reproduction is not performed as a still image.
Furthermore, in the lower right of the displayed representative image data, the total number 360 of pieces of image data belonging to the group is displayed, and the image data of a moving image is counted as one. Below the representative image data, similarly to that in
Furthermore, in the lower right of the display section 114, a current value 370 of the predetermined time interval that is set in advance or reset by the interval setter 136, is displayed. In the left side of the display section 114, the position display section 132 allows the display of the scroll bar 372 indicating the current display position and the current ratio in the image data group or the group. The position and the ratio may be displayed using a scroll bar or may be displayed using a numeral.
In the case of the image data group list 412 shown in
In the manner described above, in addition to the four places between the image data DE, between the image data EF, between the image data FG, and between the image data HI, the places 450 where the time intervals between the storage dates and times are 10 minutes or more include a place 452 between the frames of the image data. When the place is set as the division point of the image data group, the group generator 124 generates six groups of image data A to D (group 1), image data E (group 2), image data F (group 3), image data GH (group 4), image data H (group 5), and image data IJ (group 6). The two frames of the image data H are assumed as a still image in the grouping for the sake of convenience, but actually, a still image is not reproduced.
Next, a description will be given of another specific display of image data or representative image data. In the display, a plurality of hierarchical levels are displayed on the display section 114 at one time.
The representative image data selector 126 selects, as representative image data, at least one piece of image data from each group, which is grouped by the group generator 124 in
When the image data N that is the representative image data is actually selected, the group of the image data that has been in the second area 512 until now is moved to the first area 510.
Here, a two-level hierarchy has been described as an example of displaying a plurality of hierarchical levels. The present invention is not limited to such a case, and a larger number of hierarchical levels may be displayed at the same time.
A computer program for enabling the image display apparatus 100 to function is also provided.
Next, a description will be given below of an image display method for displaying existing image data formed of a still image or a moving image.
When the list of the image data is completed in the above-described procedure, a group is generated on the basis of a predetermined time interval about image capturing or storage (S620). Here, a series of image data for each of which the time interval between the image-capturing start dates and times or the storage start dates and times is within a predetermined time interval, for example, 10 minutes, in the image data group specified in the data group specifying step (S610), is grouped together.
Next, at least one piece of image data in the group generated in the group generation step (S620) is selected as representative image data (S622). Here, the image data at the start of the group is selected as representative image data. Alternatively, intermediate image data or image data at the end can also be selected without being limited to the image data at the start. At any rate, it is preferable that image data with which the content of the group can be easily understood be selected. The selected representative image data is displayed as a thumbnail on the display section 114 (S624).
Since the display section 114 can only display a limited number of thumbnails, it is confirmed whether or not the number of thumbnails that can be displayed on the screen have already been displayed (S626). If the number of thumbnails that can be displayed has not yet been reached, an object to be displayed is moved to the next group (S628), and processing is repeated from the representative image data selection step (S622). If the number of thumbnails that can be displayed has been reached, the position and the ratio in the image data group or the group, of a plurality of pieces of representative image data displayed in the image data display step (S624) are displayed as a scroll bar (S630).
Here, in order to extract desired image data, it is possible for the user to display the desired groups by moving the scroll bar and to change the size of the group by changing the predetermined time interval.
The image display apparatus 100 detects presence or absence of a scroll request from the user (S632). When there is a scroll request, the focus is moved to groups corresponding to the scrolling (S634), and a reprocess is performed from a representative image data selection step (S622) with respect to the moved groups. When there is no scroll request from the user, next, presence or absence of the change of the predetermined time interval is detected (S640). Here, the change of the predetermined time interval is performed using zoom keys provided in the image display apparatus 100, and the predetermined time interval is shortened linearly using a zoom direction switch. When there is a request for the change of the predetermined time interval, the predetermined time interval is reset in the image display apparatus 100 (S642), and the display of the predetermined time interval on the display section 114 is updated (S644). When there is no request for the change of the predetermined time interval, the process proceeds to the next step.
In the manner described above, when the desired group or image data can be displayed on the screen, the user selects the group or the image data (S650). The group or the image data selected by the user is assumed as image data to be displayed (S652). If it is a group, a group in a level lower than the current hierarchical level is further displayed. If it is single image data (final image data), an image is reproduced. The group in a lower hierarchical level is displayed by performing a reprocess from the group generation step (S620) using the predetermined time interval that is shortened at a predetermined ratio.
In addition, when the selected group is not a desired group, it is possible to return to the group in the level one level higher than the current level of the hierarchy by selecting “Return” (S660). When “Return” is selected, the selection range and the predetermined time interval are changed (returned) to the previous selection range and the previous predetermined time interval (of the level one level higher than the current level) (S662). When “Return” is not selected, a state of waiting for a request from the user is looped.
In the above-described image display method, image data for which time intervals between image-capturing start dates and times or the storage start dates and times are within a predetermined time interval is assumed as image data that has been image-captured or stored in the same environment or situation, and is grouped at the time of display. Therefore, in a state in which image data has been stored, it is not necessary to perform grouping in advance.
It is also possible for the group generator 124 to group pieces of image data for each of which the time interval from the image-capturing end date and time or the storage end date and time of the consecutive image data to the image-capturing start date and time or the storage start date and time in the image data group specified by the data group specifier 122 is within a predetermined time interval.
It can be seen that there are three places 710 at which the time interval between the storage dates and times is 10 minutes or more, that is, between the image data DE, between the image data EF, and between the image data HI. When the places are set as division points of the image data group, it is possible for the group generator 124 to generate four groups, that is, image data A to D (group 1), the image data E (group 2), image data F to H (group 3), and image data I (group 4).
Furthermore, similarly to that in
In addition, in the lower right of the display section 114, a current value 720 of the predetermined time interval that is set in advance or reset by the interval setter 136 is displayed. In the left side of the display section 114, the position display section 132 allows the display of a scroll bar indicating the current display position and ratio in the image data group or the group. The position and the ratio may be displayed using a scroll bar or may be displayed using a numeral.
It is also possible for the group generator 124 to group a series of image data for which image-capturing start dates and times or the storage start dates and times are within a predetermined time range in the image data group specified by the data group specifier 122.
In the case of the above-described list, the predetermined time range is divided into 8:00 to 10:00, 10:00 to 12:00, and 12:00 to 14:00, and image data stored at a date and time between the groups, for example, stored at 10:00, is allocated to the group of the latter (10:00 to 12:00). As a result, there are two division points 760 between the image data GH and between the image data PQ. It is possible for the group generator 124 to generate three groups of image data A to G (group 1), image data H to P (group 2), and image data Q (group 3).
In addition, in the lower right of the display section 114, a current value 770 of the predetermined time range (time range) that is set in advance or reset by the interval setter 136 is displayed.
It is also possible for the group generator 124 to group pieces of image data for each of which the image-capturing position or the storage position is within a predetermined position range in the image data group specified by the data group specifier 122.
In the case of the above-described list, the predetermined range is divided into an area of N26.12E127.41 (Naha area), an area of N35.41E139.41 (Tokyo area), and an area of N43.03E141.21 (Sapporo area). As a result, there are two division points 810, that is, between the image data KL and between the image data PQ. It is possible for the group generator 124 to generate three groups of image data A to K (group 1), image data L to P (group 2), and image data QR (group 3).
In addition, in the lower right of the display section 114, a current value 820 of the predetermined range that is set in advance or reset by the interval setter 136 is displayed. In this embodiment, the image data is grouped by assuming image data for which the distance difference in place of the predetermined range is 200 km or more as image data that has been image-captured or stored in the same environment or situation.
It is also possible for the group generator 124 to group pieces of image data for each of which the image-capturing altitude or the storage altitude is within a predetermined altitude range in the image data group specified by the data group specifier 122.
In the case of the above-described list, image data is divided at a place where the predetermined altitude has a difference of 200 m or more. As a result, there are two division points 860, that is, between the image data KL and between the image data PQ. The group generator 124 generates three groups of image data A to K (group 1), image data L to P (group 2), and image data QR (group 3).
In addition, in the lower right of the display section 114, a current value 870 of the predetermined altitude that is set in advance or reset by the interval setter 136 is displayed. In this embodiment, the image data is grouped by assuming image data for which the altitude differences in place of the predetermined altitude are 200 m or more as image data that has been image-captured or stored in the same environment or situation.
It is also possible for the group generator 124 to group pieces of image data for each of which the movement speed at the time of image capturing or storage is within a predetermined speed range in the image data group specified by the data group specifier 122.
In the case of the above-described list, image data is divided at a place where a difference in the predetermined speed is 100 km/h or more. As a result, there are two division points 910, that is, between the image data KL and between the image data PQ. It is possible for the group generator 124 to generate three groups of image data A to K (group 1), image data L to P (group 2), and image data QR (group 3).
In addition, in the lower right of the display section 114, a current value 920 of the predetermined speed that is set in advance or reset by the interval setter 136 is displayed. In this embodiment, the image data is grouped by assuming image data for which the difference in speed in place of the predetermined speed is 100 km/s or more as image data that has been image-captured or stored in the same environment or situation.
According to the embodiment described in the above-described modification, it becomes possible to perform grouping from the various viewpoints, making it possible to more easily search for target image data.
The date and time, the position, the altitude, and the speed (movement speed) regarding image capturing or storage used for the grouping are read at a high speed, and each parameter is easily changed by the interval setter 136. Therefore, the searching efficiency can be improved.
In order to perform grouping using the date and time, the position, the altitude, and the speed (movement speed) regarding image capturing or storage, each image data is stored in such a manner that a date and time stamp and a position stamp are attached thereto, or is stored in such a manner as to be associated with another file.
In the foregoing, although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the attached drawings, of course, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. It is self-explanatory that a person skilled in the art can conceive various modifications or alterations. It is understood that the modifications or alterations fall within the technological scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described modifications, grouping using date and time, the position, the altitude, and the speed (movement speed) regarding image capturing or storage has been described. Such grouping is performed singly for each image display apparatus, and also, which one of the date and time, the position, the altitude, and the speed is used can be selected at the time of grouping. At this time, date and time information and position (including altitude) information are associated with each image data. Image data may also be grouped by combining two or more of the date and time, the position, the altitude, and the speed (movement speed) regarding image capturing or storage. In addition, image data can also be grouped on the basis of an image capturing or storage direction or on the basis of a dominant color when the captured image data is filtered.
Even if the image data group is files in a list form, grouping can be performed if date and time information or position information is associated therewith. In this case, groups can also be displayed using file names.
The present invention can be applied to an image display apparatus for displaying existing image data, an image display method for use therewith, and a computer program for use therewith.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-243490 | Aug 2004 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP05/15336 | 8/24/2005 | WO | 00 | 7/23/2008 |
