U.S. patent application number 11/150216 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-13 for image-capturing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to NIKON CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Hamamura, Akihiko, Hayashi, Masaki.
Application Number | 20050225650 11/150216 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18821745 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050225650 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hayashi, Masaki ; et
al. |
October 13, 2005 |
Image-capturing device
Abstract
An image-capturing device including an image-capturing element,
a data extraction device, a recording device, a reproduction
device, and a display control device is provided. The
image-capturing element captures an image of a photographic subject
and outputs image data. The data extraction device extracts data
corresponding to a region designated in advance within the image
data outputted from the image-capturing element. The recording
device records the extracted data and the image data into a
recording medium individually. The reproduction device reads out
the extracted data from the recording medium. The display control
device outputs an image signal to a display device, so as to
display an image according to the extracted data read out by the
reproduction device.
Inventors: |
Hayashi, Masaki;
(Kawasaki-shi, JP) ; Hamamura, Akihiko;
(Chiba-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Assignee: |
NIKON CORPORATION
TOKYO
JP
100-8331
|
Family ID: |
18821745 |
Appl. No.: |
11/150216 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11150216 |
Jun 13, 2005 |
|
|
|
09987419 |
Nov 14, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/231.3 ;
348/231.99; 348/333.11; 348/346; 348/E5.045; 348/E5.047 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/232945 20180801;
H04N 1/2112 20130101; H04N 2101/00 20130101; H04N 9/87 20130101;
H04N 1/3875 20130101; H04N 1/0044 20130101; H04N 5/232123 20180801;
H04N 1/00427 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/231.3 ;
348/231.99; 348/333.11; 348/346 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/225; H04N
005/76 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 15, 2000 |
JP |
2000-348114 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An image-capturing device, comprising: an image-capturing
element which captures an image of a photographic subject and
outputs image data; a data extraction device which extracts data
corresponding to a region designated in advance within the image
data outputted from said image-capturing element; a recording
device which records said extracted data and said image data into a
recording medium individually; a reproduction device which reads
out said extracted data from the recording medium; and a display
control device which outputs an image signal to a display device,
so as to display an image according to said extracted data read out
by said reproduction device.
2. An image-capturing device, comprising: an image-capturing
element which captures an image of a photographic subject and
outputs image data; a data extraction device which extracts data
corresponding to a region designated in advance within the image
data outputted from said image-capturing element; and a recording
device which records said extracted data and said image data into a
recording medium individually.
3. An image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein said
data extraction device extracts a number of items of data
approximately equal to a number of display dots of the display
device which displays the image according to said extracted
data.
4. An image-capturing device according to claim 2, wherein said
data extraction device extracts a number of items of data
approximately equal to a number of display dots of the display
device which displays the image according to said extracted
data.
5. An image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein said
region which is designated in advance is a region which is used for
focusing.
6. An image-capturing device according to claim 2, wherein said
region which is designated in advance is a region which is used for
focusing.
7. An image display control method, comprising: a reproduction
process which reads out at least one of extracted data, which have
been extracted from image data which was obtained by an
image-capturing device, so as to correspond to a region designated
in advance and recorded, and a pair of information specifying a
position of said region and said image data; and a display control
process which controls a display device so as to display an image
according to said extracted data when said extracted data is read
out by said reproduction process, and to display an image according
to a portion of said image data corresponding to said information
when the pair of said information and said image data are read out
by said reproduction process.
8. A computer-readable computer program product containing an image
display program, the image display program comprising: a
reproduction process which reads out at least one of extracted
data, which have been extracted from image data which was obtained
by an image-capturing device, so as to correspond to a region
designated in advance and recorded, and a pair of information
specifying a position of said region and said image data; and a
display control process which controls a display device so as to
display an image according to said extracted data when said
extracted data is read out by said reproduction process, and to
display an image according to a portion of said image data
corresponding to said information when the pair of said information
and said image data are read out by said reproduction process.
9. A computer-readable computer program product according to claim
8, wherein the computer-readable computer program product is a
recording medium on which the image display program is
recorded.
10. A computer-readable computer program product according to claim
8, wherein the computer-readable computer program product is a
carrier wave in which the image display program is embodied as a
data signal.
11. An image-capturing control method, comprising: outputting image
data after capturing an image of a photographic subject by an
image-capturing element; extracting data corresponding to a region
designated in advance within said outputted image data; recording
said extracted data and said image data into a recording medium
individually; reading out said extracted data from the recording
medium when reproducing; and controlling a display device so as to
display an image according to said read out extracted data.
12. An image-capturing control method, comprising: outputting image
data after capturing an image of a photographic subject by an
image-capturing element; extracting data corresponding to a region
designated in advance within said outputted image data; and
recording said extracted data and said image data into a recording
medium individually.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] The disclosure of the following priority application is
herein incorporated by reference:
[0002] Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-348114, filed Nov. 15,
2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to an image-capturing device
which records a photographic image as electronic data upon a
recording medium.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] A type of electronic still camera or the like is per se
known which is equipped with an LCD monitor, and which reproduces
image data recorded upon a recording medium by displaying it upon
the LCD monitor. Generally, an LCD monitor which is fitted to this
type of electronic still camera has a smaller number of display
pixels than the number of data pixels in the image data. Because of
this, when displaying upon the LCD monitor a reproduced image from
image data, the image data is displayed after having been subjected
to a subsampling or culling procedure at some certain predetermined
ratio. When the image data has been thus processed by subsampling
it and displaying it upon the LCD monitor, it becomes difficult to
check finely detailed portions of the photographic image from the
reproduced image. In particular, in order to check whether or not
the focus is accurately set upon a desired subject for photography,
it is necessary to display the portion of the image data in which
this desired subject for photography is included upon the screen of
the LCD monitor without performing any subsampling processing upon
the region which includes it.
[0007] In order to display a portion of the region of the
photographic image recorded upon the recording medium upon the LCD
monitor, it is necessary to designate to the electronic still
camera which portion of the photographic image is to be displayed.
Furthermore, in the case that the image data which is recorded upon
the recording medium is image data which has been subjected to a
compression process, it is necessary to perform the decompression
process upon the image data before displaying it upon the LCD
monitor. Due to this, when reading out the image data which is
recorded upon the recording medium in order to check the focus
state, it has not been possible immediately to display an image of
the region which is to be checked upon the LCD monitor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The objective of the present invention is to provide an
image-capturing device which is capable of displaying a
predetermined region of image data which is recorded upon a
recording medium.
[0009] In order to attain the above objective, the first
image-capturing device according to the present invention
comprises: an image-capturing element which captures an image of a
photographic subject and outputs image data; a data extraction
device which extracts data corresponding to a region designated in
advance within the image data outputted from the image-capturing
element; a recording device which records the extracted data and
the image data into a recording medium individually; a reproduction
device which reads out the extracted data from the recording
medium; and a display control device which outputs an image signal
to a display device, so as to display an image according to the
extracted data read out by the reproduction device.
[0010] The second image-capturing device according to the present
invention comprises: an image-capturing element which captures an
image of a photographic subject and outputs image data; an
information generation device which generates information which
specifies a position of a region designated in advance; a recording
device which records the information from the information
generation device and the image data outputted from the
image-capturing element into a recording medium individually; a
reproduction device which reads out the information and the image
data from the recording medium; and a display control device which
outputs an image signal to a display device, so as to display an
image according to a portion of the image data corresponding to the
information which is read out by the reproduction device.
[0011] In this second image-capturing device, it is preferred that:
a data extraction device which extracts data corresponding to the
region designated in advance within the image data outputted from
the image-capturing element; and a compression processing device
which performs a predetermined compression process upon the image
data, are further provided, and: the recording device records the
extracted data and the image data after compression processing into
the recording medium individually when the compression processing
device performs the compression process, and records the
information which specifies the position of the region and the
image data without compression into the recording medium
individually when the compression processing device does not
perform the compression process; and the display control device
outputs an image signal to the display device so as to display an
image according to the extracted data when the extracted data is
read out by the reproduction device, and outputs an image signal to
the display device so as to display an image according to a portion
of the image data which corresponds to the information when the
information is read out by the reproduction device. In this case,
it is preferred that a decision device which decides whether or
not, when the compression processing device performs the
compression process, a compression ratio of the image data is
higher than a predetermined value, is further provided, and: the
recording device records the information which specifies the
position of the region and the image data after the compression
process into the recording medium individually when it is decided
by the decision device that the compression ratio is higher than
the predetermined value, and records the extracted data and the
image data after the compression process into the recording medium
individually when it is decided by the decision device that the
compression ratio is not higher than the predetermined value; the
reproduction device performs a decompression process, if the read
out image data has been subjected to the compression process; and
the display control device outputs an image signal to the display
device so as to display an image according to a portion of the
image data after the decompression process corresponding to the
information when the information is read out by the reproduction
device, and outputs an image signal to the display device so as to
display an image according to the extracted data when the extracted
data is read out by the reproduction device. Also, it is preferred
that: the compression processing device performs the compression
process upon the extracted data and upon the image data; the
recording device records the extracted data after the compression
process and the image data into the recording medium individually
when the compression processing device performs the compression
process; and the reproduction device performs the decompression
process, if the extracted data which has been read out has been
subjected to the compression process.
[0012] The third image-capturing device according to the present
invention comprises: an image-capturing element which captures an
image of a photographic subject and outputs image data; a data
extraction device which extracts data corresponding to a region
designated in advance within the image data outputted from the
image-capturing element; and a recording device which records the
extracted data and the image data into a recording medium
individually.
[0013] In the first and third image-capturing devices, it is
preferred that the data extraction device extracts a number of
items of data approximately equal to a number of display dots of
the display device which displays the image according to the
extracted data.
[0014] In the above image-capturing devices, it is preferred that
the region which is designated in advance is a region which is used
for focusing.
[0015] An image display control method according to the present
invention comprises: a reproduction process which reads out at
least one of extracted data, which have been extracted from image
data which was obtained by an image-capturing device, so as to
correspond to a region designated in advance and recorded, and a
pair of information specifying a position of the region and the
image data; and a display control process which controls a display
device so as to display an image according to the extracted data
when the extracted data is read out by the reproduction process,
and to display an image according to a portion of the image data
corresponding to the information when the pair of the information
and the image data are read out by the reproduction process.
[0016] A computer-readable computer program product according to
the present invention contains an image display program. The image
display program comprises: a reproduction process which reads out
at least one of extracted data, which have been extracted from
image data which was obtained by an image-capturing device, so as
to correspond to a region designated in advance and recorded, and a
pair of information specifying a position of the region and the
image data; and a display control process which controls a display
device so as to display an image according to the extracted data
when the extracted data is read out by the reproduction process,
and to display an image according to a portion of the image data
corresponding to the information when the pair of the information
and the image data are read out by the reproduction process.
[0017] This computer program product is a recording medium on which
the image display program is recorded.
[0018] Or, this computer program product is a carrier wave in which
the image display program is embodied as a data signal.
[0019] An image-capturing control method according to the present
invention comprises: outputting image data after capturing an image
of a photographic subject by an image-capturing element; extracting
data corresponding to a region designated in advance within the
outputted image data; recording the extracted data and the image
data into a recording medium individually; reading out the
extracted data from the recording medium when reproducing; and
controlling a display device so as to display an image according to
the read out extracted data.
[0020] Another image-capturing control method according to the
present invention comprises: outputting image data after capturing
an image of a photographic subject by an image-capturing element;
generating position information which specifies a position of a
region designated in advance; recording the position information
and the image data outputted from the image-capturing element into
a recording medium individually; reading out the position
information and the image data when reproducing; and controlling a
display device so as to display an image according to a portion of
the image data corresponding to the read out position
information.
[0021] Another image-capturing control method according to the
present invention comprises: outputting image data after capturing
an image of a photographic subject by an image-capturing element;
extracting data corresponding to a region designated in advance
within the outputted image data; and recording the extracted data
and the image data into a recording medium individually.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall structure of
an electronic still camera according to a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a figure showing several focusing areas which are
provided within the photographic field of the FIG. 1 camera.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a figure showing a focus area selection switch
313a.
[0025] FIG. 4A is a figure for explanation of a menu setting
screen.
[0026] FIG. 4B is a figure showing a menu setting screen which is
related to the photometric method.
[0027] FIG. 4C is a figure showing a menu setting screen which is
related to picture quality.
[0028] FIG. 5A is a figure for explanation of another menu setting
screen.
[0029] FIG. 5B is a figure showing a menu setting screen which is
related to reproduction method.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the flow of a main processing
routine.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the flow of a recording mode
routine.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the flow of a reproduction
mode routine.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the flow of a recording mode
routine in a second preferred embodiment of the electronic camera
of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a figure illustrating that a program is provided
to a personal computer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] In the following, several preferred embodiments of the
present invention will be described with reference to the
figures.
Embodiment One
[0036] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall structure of
an electronic still camera according to a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention. The electronic still camera
shown in this figure comprises a photographic lens 301, a CCD 302,
a CCD driver 303, a pre-processing circuit 304, an A/D conversion
circuit 305, an ASIC for image processing 306, a buffer memory 307,
a card memory 308, a flash memory 309, an LCD color monitor 310, an
external interface circuit 311, a main CPU 312, an actuation
assembly 313, a power supply circuit 314, and a focus driver 315.
The actuation assembly 313 includes a half press switch and a full
press switch which are operated by a release button not shown in
the figure, a mode changeover switch which changes over between a
recording mode and a reproduction (or replay) mode, and a focus
area selection switch and a menu switch which will be described
hereinafter. When each of these switches in the actuation assembly
313 is actuated, an actuation signal from said switch is despatched
to the CPU 312. Here, the recording mode is an operational mode in
which this electronic still camera records a photographic image,
while the reproduction mode is an operational mode in which it
reproduces an image which has previously been recorded.
[0037] The Recording Mode
[0038] When the mode changeover switch of the actuation assembly
313 is actuated to the recording mode side, the CPU 312 starts the
execution of a program for the recording mode. When a half press
actuation signal from the half press switch is inputted to the CPU
312, the CPU 312 outputs a control signal for the ASIC for image
processing 306. This ASIC for information processing 306 drive
controls the CCD 302, which is an image-capturing device, via the
CCD driver 303. This CCD driver 303 controls the operational timing
for the CCD 302 to accumulate charge, and for reading out this
accumulated charge. Furthermore, the CPU 312 outputs a drive signal
to the focus driver 315 based upon the focus adjustment state of
the photographic lens 301 which is detected by a focus adjustment
state detection procedure which will be described hereinafter. This
focus driver 315 performs focus adjustment by driving a focusing
lens (not particularly shown) within the photographic lens 301.
Furthermore, the CPU 312 performs a predetermined exposure
calculation, based upon the brightness of the photographic subject
as detected by a photometric device not shown in the figure.
[0039] When, after the actuation signal from the half press switch,
a full press actuation signal from the full press switch is
inputted to the CPU 312, an image of the photographic subject is
formed by the photographic lens 301 upon the CCD 302. The CCD 302
accumulates signal charges according to the brightness of the light
from the photographic subject which is incident upon said CCD 302.
These signal charges which are accumulated by the CCD 302 are
emitted according to a timing signal from the CCD driver 303 and
are inputted to the pre-processing circuit 304. This pre-processing
circuit 304 comprises an AGC circuit and a CDS circuit, and
performs analog signal processing such as amplifying the analog
image signal, reduction of noise, black level adjustment, and the
like. The A/D conversion circuit 305 converts this analog image
signal after analog processing into a digital signal. This signal
converted into digital format is fed to the ASIC for image
processing 306, which performs image pre-processing such as outline
compensation and gamma correction, color temperature adjustment,
color space conversion processing, and the like. After this
pre-processing, the image data is temporarily stored in a memory
307 which is a buffer memory.
[0040] The image data which is stored in the memory 307 after image
pre-processing is processed into image data for display by the ASIC
for image processing 306, and is displayed as the result of
photography upon an external monitor such as the LCD color monitor
310. During this image data processing, the buffer memory 307 is
utilized as a working memory.
[0041] The LCD color monitor 310 is a small sized liquid crystal
display device which is provided to the electronic still camera,
and it has a smaller number of display pixels than the number of
pixels in the image captured by the CCD 302. Thus, when displaying
the image of the photographic subject which has been captured by
the CCD 302 upon the LCD color monitor 310, the pixel data from the
CCD 302 are subsampled or thinned out at a predetermined ratio
which corresponds to the display resolution of the LCD color
monitor 310, so as to be processed into image data for display.
[0042] Furthermore, the ASIC for image processing 306 performs
format processing (image post-processing) for JPEG compression upon
the image data which have been subjected to the above described
image pre-processing. This ASIC for image processing 306 performs
data compression at a predetermined compression ratio according to
the JPEG method upon the image data after image post-processing.
After a predetermined file name has been appended to the image data
which has been subjected to data compression according to the JPEG
method, it is recorded in the card memory 308 which is a removable
non volatile recording medium (a PC card or a CF card or the like)
such as a flash memory or the like.
[0043] The program for controlling the CPU 312 to perform the above
described processing is stored in the flash memory 309. The CPU 312
reads in the program from the flash memory 309 and executes this
program, using the buffer memory 307 as a working memory.
[0044] The power supply circuit 314 comprises a DC/DC converter,
and supplies a predetermined power supply voltage to each of the
blocks described above. The external interface circuit 311 is a
circuit which sends and receives image data between this camera and
an external device such as a personal computer or a monitor or the
like.
[0045] As described above, a focus area selection switch is
included in the actuation assembly 313. The focus area is an area
which automatically detects (auto-focus AF) the adjustment state of
the focal position of the photographic lens 301. FIG. 2 is a figure
showing several focusing areas which are provided within the
photographic field of the camera according to the embodiment 1. As
shown in this figure, any of five focus areas can be set: a focus
area A which is positioned at the center of the photographic field;
a focus area B which consists of the upper left portion of the
photographic field with the portion thereof which overlaps the
central focus area A eliminated; a focus area C which consists of
the upper right portion of the photographic field with the portion
thereof which overlaps the central focus area A eliminated; a focus
area D which consists of the lower left portion of the photographic
field with the portion thereof which overlaps the central focus
area A eliminated; and a focus area E which consists of the lower
right portion of the photographic field with the portion thereof
which overlaps the central focus area A eliminated.
[0046] The focus area selection switch is used for choosing which
of the five focus areas described above will be utilized for
detection the focal position adjustment state. FIG. 3 is a figure
showing this focus area selection switch 313a. This focus area
selection switch 313a outputs an actuation signal which specifies
in which direction it is actuated--upwards, downwards, leftwards,
or rightwards. When, in the state in which the focus area A of FIG.
2 is selected, the focus area selection switch 313a is actuated
upwards and rightwards, the CPU 312 selects the focus area C; and,
when in the state in which the focus area A of FIG. 2 is selected,
the focus area selection switch 313a is actuated upwards and
leftwards, the CPU 312 selects the focus area B. Similarly when, in
the state in which the focus area A of FIG. 2 is selected, the
focus area selection switch 313a is actuated downwards and
rightwards, the CPU 312 selects the focus area E; and, when in the
state in which the focus area A of FIG. 2 is selected, the focus
area selection switch 313a is actuated downwards and leftwards, the
CPU 312 selects the focus area D. Furthermore when, in the state in
which the focus area D or the focus area E is selected, the focus
area selection switch 313a is actuated upwards, the CPU 312 selects
the focus area A; and when, in the state in which the focus area B
or the focus area C is selected, the focus area selection switch
313a is actuated downwards, the CPU 312 likewise selects the focus
area A. It should be understood that the focus area selection
switch 313a is also actuated for frame advance and frame backup
during image reproduction, as will be explained hereinafter, and is
also utilized for menu selection and decision.
[0047] The focus area information which is set by the focus area
selection switch 313a is stored within the CPU 312, and is read out
from the CPU 312 when an actuation signal is inputted to the CPU
312 from the half press switch. The CPU 312 outputs commands to the
ASIC for image processing 306 so as to display a frame upon the LCD
color monitor 310 which informs the photographer of the focus area
which has been selected. This displayed frame consists of an
intensified display of the outline of the focus area which is
selected. It should be understood that the display of this frame
which appears in order to indicate the focus area when the half
press actuation signal is received, is terminated after a
predetermined time period has elapsed from the start of reception
of the half press actuation signal.
[0048] The A/F operation is performed as will now be described. The
CPU 312, detects the contrast from the data portion, from among the
image data which is captured by the CCD 302 and is stored in the
memory 307, which corresponds to the focus area which is set. And
the CPU 312 then detects the adjustment state of the focal position
of the photographic lens 301 based upon the contrast which has been
detected. Generally, the relationship between the pixel positions
upon the CCD 302 and the pixel output values defines a curve which
corresponds to the image of the photographic subject, and the
greater is the change of the curve, the greater is the contrast of
the image of the photographic subject. Accordingly, the CPU 312
performs focus adjustment by detecting the adjustment state of the
focal position, and by driving the focus driver 315 and thereby
adjusting the focal position of the photographic lens 301,
according to a so called hill climbing method (scanning and
contrast detecting method of AF), so as to maximize the contrast of
the image of the photographic subject.
[0049] The Reproduction Mode
[0050] When the mode changeover switch of the actuation assembly
313 is actuated to the reproduction mode side, the CPU 312 starts
the execution of a program for the reproduction mode. The image
data item among the recorded image data which was recorded the last
is read out into the CPU 312, if image data are recorded in the
card memory 308. After the read out image data is transferred to
the buffer memory 307, the compressed data is subjected to
decompression processing by the ASIC for image processing 306. The
data after decompression processing is processed by the ASIC for
image processing 306 into image data for display, and is displayed
upon the LCD color monitor 310 as a reproduced image. Data which is
not compressed is processed by the ASIC for image processing 306
just as it is into image data for display, and is displayed upon
the LCD color monitor 310 as a reproduced image.
[0051] If, when displaying the reproduced image upon the LCD color
monitor 310, the focus area selection switch 313a is actuated in
the leftwards direction, then the CPU 312 reads out from the card
memory 308 the image data which was recorded one frame previously
to the image data which is currently being displayed upon the CPU
312 (i.e., the actuation in the leftward direction during display
of a reproduced image functions as frame reverse actuation). The
read out image data is processed into image data for display by the
ASIC for image processing 306 and is displayed upon the LCD color
monitor 310. In the same manner, if, when displaying the reproduced
image upon the LCD color monitor 310, the focus area selection
switch 313a is actuated in the rightward direction, then the CPU
312 reads out from the card memory 308 the image data which was
recorded one frame later than the image data which is currently
being displayed upon the CPU 312 (i.e., the actuation in the
rightward direction during display of a reproduced image functions
as frame forward actuation). Again, the read out image data is
processed into image data for display by the ASIC for image
processing 306 and is displayed upon the LCD color monitor 310. In
this manner, during reproduction processing, frame advance and
frame reverse for the reproduced image are performed by using the
focus area selection switch 313a.
[0052] Just as the LCD color monitor 310 has a smaller number of
display pixels than the number of pixels in the image captured by
the CCD 302, it also has a smaller number of display pixels than
the number of pixels in the image data which is stored in the card
memory 308. Thus, when displaying the entire recorded image for one
frame upon the LCD color monitor 310, the image data which are read
out from the card memory 308 are subsampled at a predetermined
ratio which corresponds to the display resolution of the LCD color
monitor 310, so as to be processed into image data for display.
Here, the image according to the image data for display which is
processed using the entire image data for one frame recorded in the
card memory 308 will be termed the main image.
[0053] In the reproduction mode it is possible, not to subsample
the image data which is read out from the card memory 308 according
to the display resolution of the LCD color monitor 310, but rather
to perform display by processing a portion of the image data which
has been read out just as it is into image data for display. The
partial image which is displayed upon the LCD color monitor 310 is
the image portion which corresponds to the focus area which was
selected when recording this recorded image in the card memory 308.
The image generated from the image data for display which is
processed using the portion which corresponds to the original focus
area in this manner will be termed the cutout image.
[0054] The cutout region for the cutout image is a rectangular
region which is positioned in the vicinity of the central point of
the relevant focus area shown in FIG. 2 and described above, and in
that figure these cutout regions are shown by the broken lines. The
image data in the cutout regions are displayed upon the LCD color
monitor 310 without performing any subsampling procedure. In other
words, the number of data elements in each of the cutout regions
shown by the broken lines in FIG. 2 is the same as the number of
display pixels upon the LCD color monitor 310. During reproduction
mode, the setting which determines whether the reproduced image
will be the main image or will be one of these cutout images is
performed by using a menu procedure which will now be
described.
[0055] Menu Processing
[0056] The detailed settings for this electronic still camera are
established by performing menu processing. As described above, a
menu switch is included within the actuation assembly 313 for
initiating this menu processing. FIG. 4 is a figure for explanation
of various menu setting screens which are displayed upon the LCD
color monitor 310 of this electronic still camera. When the menu
switch is actuated, the menu setting screen shown in FIG. 4A is
displayed upon the LCD color monitor 310. For example, the item
"photometric method" may be selected from the menu by actuating the
focus area selection switch 313a in the upward and downward
directions (actuation in the upwards and downwards directions
during menu processing functions as menu selection actuation). When
the item "photometric method" is determined upon by actuating the
focus area selection switch 313a in the rightward direction
(actuation in the rightward direction during menu processing
functions as menu determination actuation), the menu setting screen
related to photometric method shown in FIG. 4B is displayed upon
the LCD color monitor 310.
[0057] By "photometric method" is meant a setting for where in the
photographic field the brightness of the photographic subject is to
be measured for the CPU 312 to perform exposure calculation.
Selections for "photometric method" include "multi" which means
that exposure calculation is to be performed using light intensity
values that have been measured over the photographic field by
subdividing it into a predetermined number of regions, "spot" which
means that exposure calculation is performed using light intensity
values that have been measured in the vicinity of a predetermined
region within the photometric field, "center-weighted" which means
that exposure calculation is performed using light intensity values
that have been measured over the portions of the photographic field
while appropriately weighting the central part of the photographic
field, and the like.
[0058] When, in the state in which the menu setting screen of FIG.
4A is being displayed upon the LCD color monitor 310, the item
"picture quality mode" is selected from this menu and is determined
upon, a menu setting screen related to picture quality mode like
that shown in FIG. 4C is displayed upon the display LCD color
monitor 310. By "picture quality" is meant a setting for the data
compression ratio when recording the above described image data in
the card memory 308. This menu includes a setting "HI" in which the
image data is not compressed but is recorded just as it is, a
setting "FINE" in which compression is performed so as to reduce
the size of the image data to about 1/4 of the original, a setting
"NORMAL" in which compression is performed so as to reduce the size
of the image data to about 1/8 of the original, and a setting
"BASIC" in which compression is performed so as to reduce the size
of the image data to about {fraction (1/16)} of the original.
[0059] When, in the state in which the menu setting screen of FIG.
4A is being displayed, the focus area selection switch 313a is
actuated in the upward and downward direction, a menu screen like
that shown in FIG. 5A appears upon the display LCD color monitor
310 with items which are related to the reproduction procedure. For
example, the item "reproduction method" may be selected from this
menu by actuating the focus area selection switch 313a in the
upward and downward direction. When this item "reproduction method"
is determined upon by actuating the focus area selection switch
313a in the rightward direction, then a menu screen related to
reproduction method like that shown in FIG. 5B appears upon the
display LCD color monitor 310.
[0060] By "reproduction method" is meant a setting for whether,
during the above described reproduction image display, the main
image is to be displayed, or alternatively a cutout image is to be
displayed. During reproduction processing, this electronic still
camera either displays the main image or a cutout image, according
to the "reproduction method" which is set by this menu
processing.
[0061] During menu processing, the operator selects the desired
item upon a menu by actuating the focus area selection switch 313a
in the upward and the downward direction, and determines upon the
current selection by actuating the focus area selection switch 313a
in the rightward direction. The CPU 312 terminates menu processing
when the menu switch is actuated for a second time by the
operator.
[0062] With this electronic still camera according to the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention, when recording image
data in the card memory 308 in the recording mode, information for
use in cutout image display is recorded in the card memory 308
along with each frame of image data. This information for use in
cutout image display can be either (1) the image data itself for
the cutout region; or (2) information which specifies the position
of the image data for the cutout region within the image data which
is recorded in the card memory 308. If the image data for one frame
is being compressed for recording in the card memory 308, the
electronic still camera records the above described type of data
(1) as information for displaying the cutout image, while, if the
image data for one frame is being recorded in the card memory 308
without compression, the electronic still camera records the above
described type of data (2) as information for displaying the cutout
image. The information which specifies the position of the image
data for the cutout region within the image data which is recorded
in the card memory 308 may be, for example, the memory address at
which is stored the image data for the cutout region.
[0063] When a reproduced image is to be displayed upon the LCD
color monitor 310 in the reproduction mode, if the main image is to
be displayed, one frame of the compressed image data is read out
from the card memory 308, and is displayed upon the LCD color
monitor 310 after decompression processing. On the other hand, if a
cutout image is to be displayed, if (1) cutout image data is
recorded in the card memory 308, then this cutout image data is
read out from the card memory 308 and is displayed; while, if (2)
information for displaying the cutout image is recorded in the card
memory 308, then the data among one frame of non-compressed image
data which is extracted based upon the information for displaying
the cutout image is read out from the card memory 308 and is
displayed.
[0064] The flow of a main processing routine which is executed by
the CPU 312 of the above described electronic camera will now be
explained with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 6. When a
power supply switch, not shown in the figures, of this electronic
still camera is turned ON, the CPU 312 reads in this main
processing routine from the flash memory 309 and starts to execute
it. First, in a step S11, the CPU 312 initializes the various
blocks of the system, and then the flow of control proceeds to the
next step S12. In this step S12, the CPU 312 performs a test in
order to determine whether or not selection of compression ratio is
to be performed. If upon the menu described above the item "picture
quality mode" is indeed selected then the result of this decision
in this step S12 is YES, and thus the flow of control proceeds to
the next step S13, while on the other hand, if the item "picture
quality mode" is not selected then the result of this decision in
this step S12 is NO, and thus the flow of control skips to a step
S14. In the step S13, the CPU 312 determines upon a compression
ratio for data compression based upon the details of the picture
quality mode setting, and then the flow of control proceeds to the
step S14.
[0065] In this step S14, the CPU 312 performs a test in order to
determine whether or not selection of focus area is to be
performed. If the above described focus area selection switch 313a
is being actuated then the result of this decision in this step S14
is YES, and thus the flow of control proceeds to the next step S15,
while on the other hand, if the above described focus area
selection switch 313a is not being actuated, then the result of
this decision in this step S14 is NO, and thus the flow of control
skips to a step S16. In the step S15, the CPU 312 changes the focus
area used during A/F operation according to the actuation signal
from the focus area selection switch 313a, and then the flow of
control proceeds to the step S16.
[0066] In this step S16, the CPU 312 performs a test in order to
determine whether or not selection of reproduction method is to be
performed. If upon the menu described above the item "reproduction
method" is indeed selected then the result of this decision in this
step S16 is YES, and thus the flow of control proceeds to the next
step S17, while on the other hand, if the item "reproduction
method" is not selected, then the result of this decision in this
step S16 is NO, and thus the flow of control skips to a step S18.
In the step S17, the CPU 312 determines upon display of the main
image or of a cutout image during reproduction mode based upon the
details of reproduction method setting, and then the flow of
control proceeds to the step S18.
[0067] In this step S18, the CPU 312 performs a test in order to
determine whether or not the mode changeover switch is being
actuated to the recording mode for taking a photograph. If the mode
changeover switch is being actuated to the recording mode then the
result of this decision in this step S18 is YES, and thus the flow
of control proceeds to the next step S19, while on the other hand,
if the mode changeover switch is not being actuated to the
recording mode, then the result of this decision in this step S18
is NO, and thus the flow of control skips to a step S20. In the
step S19, the CPU 312 performs recording processing to take the
photograph by starting the execution of a program for the recording
mode, and then the flow of control proceeds to the step S20.
[0068] In this step S20, the CPU 312 performs a test in order to
determine whether or not the mode changeover switch is being
actuated to the reproduction mode. If the mode changeover switch is
being actuated to the reproduction mode then the result of this
decision in this step S20 is YES, and thus the flow of control
proceeds to the next step S21, while on the other hand, if the mode
changeover switch is not being actuated to the reproduction mode,
then the result of this decision in this step S20 is NO, and thus
the flow of control skips to a step S22. In the step S21, the CPU
312 performs reproduction processing by starting the execution of a
program for the reproduction mode, and then the flow of control
proceeds to the step S22.
[0069] In this final step S22, the CPU 312 performs the procedure
which accompanies change of state--for example it executes a power
consumption reduction procedure if the camera has not been operated
for a predetermined time period--and then the flow of control loops
back to the step S12, to repeat the above described cycle.
[0070] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the flow of a routine for
recording mode which is executed by the CPU 312. In the first step
S31, the CPU 312 makes a decision as to whether or not photography
is possible. If the result of this decision is YES, so that
photography is indeed possible, then the flow of control proceeds
to the next step S32, while if the result of this decision is NO,
so that photography is not possible (which may be for any of
several reasons, such as for example that no card memory 308 is
currently fitted to the camera or the like) then the flow of
control passes to the end of this recording mode routine and the
processing of FIG. 7 is terminated.
[0071] In the step S32, the CPU 312 performs exposure calculation
using the results of photometry according to the "photometric
method" which is currently set, and performs A/F calculation from
the image data for the focus area which is currently set. In the
next step S33, the CPU 312 drives the focus driver 303 based upon
the results of the A/F calculation which has just been performed,
and thus drives the focus lens of the photographic lens 301. In the
next step S34, the CPU 312 performs exposure setting for the CCD
driver 303, based upon the results of the exposure calculation
performed above. And in the next step S35, the CPU 312 drains any
residual charge from the CCD 302 by using the CCD driver 303.
[0072] In the next step S36, the CPU 312 accumulates charge in the
CCD 302, and then the flow of control proceeds to the next step
S37. In this step S37, the CPU 312 reads out the accumulated charge
in the CCD 302 via the CCD driver 303. In the next step S38, the
CPU 312 makes the ASIC for image processing 306 perform white
balance calculation, and in the next step S39, perform gamma
correction processing. In the next step S40, the CPU 312 separates
the frame of image data that has been captured into five portions
which correspond to the five focus areas described above. In this
case, for this division, it is sufficient only to obtain the memory
addresses in the buffer memory 307 in which the image data is
stored, at which the boundary data elements of the focus areas are
stored.
[0073] In the next step S41, the CPU 312 decides whether or not
image compression is to be performed. If the picture quality mode
is set to any of "FINE", "NORMAL", or "BASIC", then the result of
this decision is YES, and the flow of control proceeds to the next
step S42, while if the picture quality mode is set to "HI" then the
result of this decision is NO, and the flow of control is
transferred to a step S44. In the step S42, the CPU 312 extracts
the image data for the cutout region which corresponds to the focus
area which is currently set from the one frame of image data, and
then the flow of control proceeds to the next step S43.
[0074] In this step S43, the CPU 312 outputs a command to the ASIC
for image processing 306 to compress this one frame of image data
at the compression ratio which is currently set. When the data
compression process has been completed the flow of control proceeds
to the next step S45. In this step S45, the CPU 312 records in the
card memory 308 this one frame of image data after the compression
process and also the information for the cutout region which has
been extracted. If in the above described step S42 the cutout image
data was extracted, then the information for the cutout region is
the cutout image data which was extracted. Furthermore, if in the
step S44 which will be described hereinafter coordinates were
extracted, then the information for the cutout region is these
coordinates which have been extracted. And, in the final step S46,
the CPU 312 makes a decision as to whether or not the photographic
process has been completed, and if the result of this decision is
that indeed photography has been completed then the processing of
this routine is terminated, while on the other hand if the result
of this decision is that the photographic process has not yet been
completed, then the flow of control loops back to this step S46
again, thus to repeat the step S46 until the photographic process
is finally completed.
[0075] On the other hand, if the result of the decision in the
above described step S41 is NO, then the flow of control is
transferred to the step S44, in which the CPU 312 extracts the
coordinates which correspond to the focus area which is currently
set, and then the flow of control is transferred to the step S45.
By "coordinates" here is meant values which specify, when this one
frame of image data is laid out in the memory space, the position
at which the image data for the cutout region which corresponds to
the currently set focus area is located within this memory
space.
[0076] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the flow of a routine for
reproduction mode which is executed by the CPU 312. In the first
step S51, the CPU 312 takes a decision as to whether or not
magnified reproduction is to be performed. If the current setting
for "reproduction method" is "cutout image", then the result of
this decision in the step S51 is YES and the flow of control
proceeds to the next step S52, while, if the current setting for
"reproduction method" is "main image", then the result of this
decision in the step S51 is NO and the flow of control is
transferred to a step S56. In the step S52, the CPU 312 takes a
decision as to whether or not this magnified image to be displayed
is recorded in the card memory 308. If the cutout image data is
indeed recorded in the card memory 308 then the CPU 312 comes to a
YES decision in this step S52 and the flow of control continues to
the next step S53, while if the cutout image data is not recorded
in the card memory 308 then the CPU 312 comes to a NO decision in
this step S52 and the flow of control is transferred to the step
S54.
[0077] In the step S53, the CPU 312 searches for the starting
address of the cutout image data which is recorded in the card
memory 308, and then the flow of control continues to the next step
S55. In this step S55, the CPU 312 reads out the image data for the
cutout region which is recorded in the storage address which has
been found and displays it upon the LCD color monitor 310, and then
the processing of the FIG. 8 routine is terminated.
[0078] If the result of the decision in the above described step
S52 is NO then the flow of control is transferred to the step S54,
in which the CPU 312 reads out the coordinates which correspond to
the focus area from the card memory 308, and, using these
coordinates which have been read out, finds the starting address in
the one frame of image data which is recorded in the card memory
308 at which the data is stored which corresponds to the focus
area; and then the flow of control proceeds to the step S55,
already described.
[0079] If the result of the decision in the above described step
S51 is NO then the flow of control is transferred to the step S56,
in which the CPU 312 searches for the starting address of the one
frame of image data which is recorded in the card memory 308, and
then the flow of control continues to the next step S57. In this
step S57, the CPU 312 reads out the one frame of image data which
is recorded in the storage address which has been found and
displays it upon the LCD color monitor 310, and then the processing
of the FIG. 8 routine is terminated.
[0080] According to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention as described above, the following beneficial results are
obtained.
[0081] (1) If the image data is to be recorded in the card memory
308 with no data compression (the picture quality mode is "HI"),
then during the recording mode, when recording the image data in
the card memory 308, only information which is necessary for
reading out the cutout image data which corresponds to the focus
area which is currently selected, i.e. the coordinates of the
cutout image data, is extracted (in the step S44), and this
information is recorded in the card memory 308 along with the non
compressed image data for this one frame (in the step S45). During
the reproduction mode, when performing display of the cutout image,
the starting address at which the data which corresponds to the
focus area which was selected at the time of photography is stored
is searched from the coordinates of the cutout image data which are
recorded in the card memory 308 (in the step S54), and, using this
address, only the cutout image data is read out from the card
memory 308 and is displayed upon the LCD color monitor 310.
Accordingly, with this first preferred embodiment of the present
invention, it is possible to shorten the time period which is
required for display, as compared to the prior art case in which,
after having readout the entire image data for one frame recorded
in the card memory 308, only the cutout image data was displayed,
since the amount of data which must be read out is reduced. As a
result it becomes possible to check the state of focusing
immediately, since it is possible immediately after photography to
display upon the LCD color monitor 310 an image of the focus region
which is currently set.
[0082] (2) On the other hand, if the image data is to be recorded
in the card memory 308 using data compression (the picture quality
mode is "FINE", "NORMAL", or "BASIC"), then during the recording
mode, when recording the image data in the card memory 308, only
the cutout image data is extracted from the one frame of image data
(in the step S42), and this cutout image data is recorded without
compression in the card memory 308 along with the image data after
compression for this one frame (in the step S45). During the
reproduction mode, when performing display of the cutout image, the
address at which the cutout image data recorded in the card memory
308 is stored is searched (in the step S53), and only the cutout
image data is read out from the card memory 308 and is displayed
upon the LCD color monitor 310. Accordingly, with this first
preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to
shorten the time period which is required for display, as compared
to the prior art case in which, after having read out the entire
image data after compression for one frame recorded in the card
memory 308, only the cutout image data was displayed after
decompression processing, since the amount of data which must be
read out is reduced. As a result it becomes possible to check the
photographic image immediately, since it is possible immediately
after photography to display upon the LCD color monitor 310 an
image of the focus region which is currently set.
[0083] In the above described step S45, the CPU 312 recorded in the
card memory 308 one frame of image data after data compression, and
information which specified the cutout region which was to be
extracted. When in the step S42 the CPU 312 is recording in the
card memory 308 the cutout image data which has been extracted as
the information which specifies the cutout region, this cutout
image data is recorded in the card memory 308 without compression,
i.e. just as it is. Instead of this, it would also be possible, as
an alternative, to record this cutout image data in the card memory
308 after compressing it, just as in the case of the full frame of
image data. In this case, the data compression ratio at which the
cutout image data is compressed should desirably be a compression
ratio close to the compression ratio at which the full frame of
image data is compressed.
Embodiment Two
[0084] In the case of an electronic still camera according to the
second preferred embodiment of the present invention, during the
recording mode, when recording the image data in the card memory
308, if the currently set "picture quality mode" is "BASIC", in
other words if the data compression ratio is set to a high
compression ratio, then the information for displaying the cutout
image which is recorded in the card memory 308 together with the
full frame of image data after compression is made to be position
information (for example, coordinates in the memory space) of the
image data for the cutout region.
[0085] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the flow of a recording mode
routine executed by the CPU 312 in the second preferred embodiment
of the electronic camera of the present invention. The point of
difference from the flow chart of FIG. 7 relating to the first
preferred embodiment is that additional steps S41A, S41B, and S41C
are present. These points of difference will now be explained.
[0086] In the step S41A to which the flow of control is transferred
upon a YES decision from the step S41 of FIG. 9, the CPU 312 makes
a decision as to whether or not the set "picture quality mode" is
"BASIC". If the result of this decision is YES so that indeed the
set "picture quality mode" is "BASIC", then the flow of control is
transferred to a step S41B, while on the other hand if the result
of this decision is NO so that the set "picture quality mode" is
not "BASIC", then the flow of control is transferred to the step
S42.
[0087] In the step S41B, the CPU 312 extracts the coordinates which
correspond to the focus area which is currently set, and then the
flow of control proceeds to a step S41C. By "coordinates" is meant
values which specify the position at which the image data in the
cutout region which corresponds to this currently set focus area is
located, when this one frame of image data is laid out within the
memory space. In the next step S41C, the CPU 312 outputs a command
to the ASIC for image processing 306 which orders it to compress
this one frame of image data at the predetermined compression
ratio. When this data compression process has been completed the
flow of control is transferred to the step S45. In this case, in
the step S45, the CPU 312 records in the card memory 308 the one
frame of image data after compression and also information
specifying the extracted cutout region. This information specifying
the cutout region is the coordinate data which has been extracted
in the step S41B.
[0088] In the case of "BASIC" when the compression ratio is high,
the length of the time period which is required for reading out the
image data for one frame after compression which is recorded in the
card memory 308 is short, since the amount of codes after the data
compression process becomes small. Accordingly, when performing
display of the cutout image in the reproduction mode, after having
read out the one frame of image data after compression and having
performed the decompression process upon it, the cutout image data
is extracted based upon the information which specifies the cutout
region, and display of the cutout region is performed. In the step
S41B the information is extracted which is required for extracting
the cutout image data after the decompression process in the
reproduction mode, in other words the coordinates which correspond
to the focus area.
[0089] On the other hand, in the case of "FINE" or "NORMAL" when
the compression ratio is relatively low, the length of the time
period which is required for reading out the image data for one
frame after compression which is recorded in the card memory 308 is
long, since the amount of codes after the data compression process
is not greatly reduced as compared with the amount before
compression. Accordingly, when performing display of the cutout
image in the reproduction mode, only the cutout image data which is
recorded separately from the one frame of image data is read out,
so as to perform display of the cutout image. In the step S42, the
cutout image data which corresponds to the focus area is extracted
separately from the one frame of image data.
[0090] According to this second preferred embodiment of the present
invention as explained above, the following beneficial results are
obtained.
[0091] (1) If, in the step S41A where it is decided whether or not
the data compression ratio is high (BASIC), the decision result is
that the data compression ratio indeed is high, then (in the step
S41B) the information which is required for reading out only the
cutout image data which corresponds to the currently set focus
area, in other words the coordinates of the cutout image data, is
extracted, and is recorded (in the step S45) in the card memory 308
along with the image data for one frame after the compression
process. When performing display of a cutout image in the
reproduction mode, the starting address at which the data which
corresponds to the focus area is stored is searched (in the step
S54) from the coordinates of the cutout image data which are
recorded in the card memory 308, and the cutout image data which is
extracted from the image data which has been read out from the card
memory 308 and has been decompressed, using the address which has
been determined by this searching process, is displayed upon the
LCD color monitor 310. If the compression ratio is high, the time
period which is required for reading out the one frame of image
data after compression which is recorded in the card memory 308 is
short, and it is acceptable not to record the cutout image data for
cutout image data display. As a result, it becomes possible to
economize upon the amount of utilization of the card memory
308.
[0092] (2) On the other hand, if the data compression ratio is low
(the picture quality mode is "FINE", or "NORMAL"), then, in the
same way as in the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention described above, during the recording mode, when
recording the image data in the card memory 308, only the cutout
image data is extracted from the one frame of image data (in the
step S42), and this information is recorded in the card memory 308
along with the image data after compression for this one frame (in
the step S45). Accordingly, it becomes possible to check the focus
state of the focus region immediately after photography, since it
is possible to shorten the time period which is required for
display when displaying the cutout image in the reproduction
mode.
[0093] In the above explanation, "checking the focus state"
includes the processes of checking whether or not the main
photographic subject is properly in focus, checking upon blurring
of the background to the main photographic subject, checking the
depth of the photographic field, and the like.
[0094] Although the above explanation was made in terms of
selecting the focus area among the five possible focus areas A
through E which are determined upon in advance, it would also be
possible to select any arbitrary region within the photographic
field. In such a case, it would be arranged for a region of the
cutout image data to be set corresponding to this arbitrary focus
area which has been selected.
[0095] Furthermore, although the above explanation was made in
terms of setting the region of the cutout image data to correspond
to the focus area, it would also be acceptable to set it to
correspond to a region which was set by the "photometric method",
in other words to the A/E region, instead of this focus area.
[0096] Yet further, it would also be acceptable to make it possible
to select the region for the cutout image data to be any region
within the photographic field, without any relation to the focus
area. In such a case, it would be arranged to set the region for
the cutout image data to correspond to any area which was
selected.
[0097] It would also be acceptable to make it possible to check the
exposure or the white balance adjustment, instead of the focal
state. In such a case the user would check, from the cutout image
which was being displayed upon the LCD color monitor 310, upon the
presence or absence of white clipping or black clipping of the main
photographic subject, or upon the presence or absence of color
fogging due to poor white balance adjustment.
[0098] Although the present invention has been explained in an
example of an electronic still camera. However, the invention is
not limited to the example. The present invention can be applied to
a cellular phone, a personal computer or the like which is provided
with a CCD camera. In other words, the invention can be applied to
all types of image-capturing device in which an image-capturing
element such as a CCD is provided and the captured image data are
recorded in a recording medium such as a memory.
[0099] In case that the invention is applied to a personal computer
or the like, the control program mentioned above can be provided
via a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a data signal such as
Internet. FIG. 10 illustrates how this may be achieved. A personal
computer 400 receives the program via a CD-ROM 404. The personal
computer 400 has a function of connecting with a telecommunication
line 401. A computer 402 is a server computer which provides the
program mentioned above and stores the program in a recording
medium such as a hard disk 403. The telecommunication line 401 may
be a telecommunication line for connection with the Internet, for
personal computer communication or the like or it may be a
dedicated telecommunication line. The computer 402 reads out the
program stored in the hard disk 403, and transmits the program to
the personal computer 400 via the telecommunication line 401. In
other words, the program is embodied in a carrier wave as a data
signal and is transmitted via the telecommunication line 401. Thus,
the program is provided as various kinds of computer-readable
computer program product, such as a recording medium, a carrier
wave and the like.
* * * * *