U.S. patent application number 11/395618 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-02 for image production device, image production method, and program for driving computer to execute image production method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Takeshi Harada, Mitsuo Okumura, Yuji Saitou, Tatsuhito Tabuchi, Masahiro Takahashi.
Application Number | 20060244867 11/395618 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37234073 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060244867 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Saitou; Yuji ; et
al. |
November 2, 2006 |
Image production device, image production method, and program for
driving computer to execute image production method
Abstract
The total imaging time period and recorded volume of each image
is displayed in association with the imaging date and time of the
image. An imaging information acquiring section acquires
information on the imaging dates and times and recorded volumes of
images. The acquired information is held in an index table. A
period setting part sets the period of a period display. An imaging
start position deciding section decides the position corresponding
to the imaging start date and time of each image in the period
display. An imaging time length deciding section decides the
display range of the imaging time length of each image in the
period display. A recorded volume length deciding section decides
the display range of the recorded volume length of each image.
Based on these decision results, an imaging position display
creating section creates an imaging position display in which the
imaging start positions of the images and the imaging time lengths
or the recorded volumes of the images are displayed relative to the
period display.
Inventors: |
Saitou; Yuji; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Okumura; Mitsuo; (Tokyo, JP) ; Tabuchi;
Tatsuhito; (Chiba, JP) ; Harada; Takeshi;
(Tokyo, JP) ; Takahashi; Masahiro; (Kanagawa,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER, DAVID, LITTENBERG,;KRUMHOLZ & MENTLIK
600 SOUTH AVENUE WEST
WESTFIELD
NJ
07090
US
|
Assignee: |
Sony Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
37234073 |
Appl. No.: |
11/395618 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/699 ;
386/E5.072; G9B/27.05; G9B/27.051 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 27/329 20130101;
H04N 5/7605 20130101; H04N 5/907 20130101; H04N 9/8047 20130101;
G11B 27/34 20130101; H04N 9/8227 20130101; H04N 9/8042 20130101;
H04N 5/85 20130101; H04N 9/8063 20130101; H04N 9/8205 20130101;
H04N 5/772 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/699 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/14 20060101
H04N005/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 1, 2005 |
JP |
2005-106950 |
Claims
1. An image production device, comprising: an imaging date-and-time
acquiring section that acquires an imaging date and time of a
certain image from a recording medium; an imaging position deciding
section that decides a position corresponding to the imaging date
and time as an imaging position in a period display representing
ascertain period; and an imaging position display creating section
that creates an imaging position display in which the imaging
position is superimposed on the period display.
2. The image production device according to claim 1, further
comprising: a period setting section that sets the certain
period.
3. The image production device according to claim 2, wherein the
period setting section specifies a start date and time and an end
date and time to thereby set the certain period.
4. The image production device according to claim 2, further
comprising: an effect display adding section that adds an effect
display periodically associated with the period display in the
period set by the period setting section.
5. The image production device according to claim 1, wherein the
imaging position display creating section creates the imaging
position display so that a display having a length corresponding to
a time period of imaging of the image from an imaging start date
and time of the image is displayed as the imaging position.
6. The image production device according to claim 5, wherein the
imaging position deciding section decides the length corresponding
to the time period of imaging of the image based on a ratio of the
time period of imaging of the image to the certain period.
7. The image production device according to claim 1, further
comprising: a recorded volume acquiring section that acquires a
recorded volume of the certain image from the recording medium; and
a recorded volume length deciding section that decides a length
corresponding to the recorded volume of the image, wherein the
imaging position display creating section creates an imaging
position-display in which the length corresponding to the recorded
volume of the image is further superimposed on the imaging
position.
8. The image production device according to claim 7, wherein the
recorded volume length deciding section decides the length
corresponding to the recorded volume of the image based on a ratio
of the recorded volume of the image to a maximum recorded volume of
recorded volumes of images of which imaging position is to be
displayed.
9. The image production device according to claim 1, further
comprising: an operating section that is used to select any point
in the period display; a selective area determining section that
determines an area corresponding to the selected point; a thumbnail
retaining section that retains a thumbnail of the image; and a
thumbnail extracting section that extracts the thumbnail
corresponding to the area from the thumbnail retaining section.
10. The image production device according to claim 9, further
comprising: a selected area display creating section that creates a
selected area display representing a selected area in the period
display, the selected area being the area corresponding to the
selected point.
11. The image production device according to claim 1, further
comprising: an operating section that is used to select a certain
part in the imaging position display; and a period reduction
setting section that sets a reduced period of the period display in
the imaging position display for a period setting section that sets
the certain period, the reduced period including a date and time
corresponding to the selected certain part and shorter than the
certain period before the selection of the certain part.
12. An image production device, comprising: an imaging
date-and-time acquiring section that acquires an imaging date and
time of a certain image from a recording medium; an imaging start
date-and-time creating section that creates an imaging start date
and time of the certain image based on the imaging date and time;
an imaging start position deciding section that decides a position
corresponding to the imaging start date and time as an imaging
start position in a period display representing a certain period;
and an imaging position display creating section that creates an
imaging position display in which the imaging start position is
displayed relative to the period display along at least one axial
direction of a two dimensional representation.
13. The image production device according to claim 12, further
comprising: an imaging time length deciding section that decides a
length corresponding to an imaging time period of the image based
on the imaging date and time of the image, wherein the imaging
position display creating section creates, as the imaging position
display, a display in which the length corresponding to the imaging
time period of the image is displayed along the other axial
direction of the two dimensional representation.
14. The image production device according to claim 13, wherein the
imaging time length deciding section decides the length
corresponding to the imaging time period of the image based on a
ratio of the imaging time period of the image to a maximum imaging
time period of imaging time periods of images of which imaging
position is to be displayed.
15. The image production device according to claim 12, further
comprising: a recorded volume acquiring section that acquires a
recorded volume of the certain image from the recording medium; and
a recorded volume length deciding section that decides a length
corresponding to the recorded volume of the image, wherein the
imaging position display creating section creates, as the imaging
position display, a display in which the length corresponding to
the recorded volume of the image is displayed along the other axial
direction of the two dimensional representation.
16. An image production device, comprising: an imaging
date-and-time acquiring section that acquires an imaging date and
time of a certain image from a recording medium; a
number-of-imaging length deciding section that decides, as a
number-of-imaging length, a length corresponding to the number of
times of imaging of an image per a unit period in a certain period
based on the imaging date and time of the image; and an imaging
frequency display creating section that creates an imaging
frequency display in which the number-of-imaging length is
time-sequentially displayed.
17. The image production device according to claim 16, wherein the
imaging frequency display creating section creates an imaging
frequency display that is two-dimensionally represented as a
display in which a position of the unit period is displayed in one
axial direction of the imaging frequency display and the
number-of-imaging length is displayed along the other axial
direction.
18. The image production device according to claim 16, wherein the
number-of-imaging length deciding section decides the
number-of-imaging length based on a ratio of the number of times of
imaging of an image per the unit period to the maximum number of
times of imaging of an image per the unit period.
19. A display device, comprising: an imaging date-and-time
acquiring section that acquires an imaging date and time of a
certain image from a recording medium; an imaging position deciding
section that decides a position corresponding to the imaging date
and time as an imaging position in a period display representing a
certain period; and an imaging position displaying section that
displays the period display and the imaging position so that the
imaging position is superimposed on the period display.
20. An image production method, comprising: acquiring an imaging
date and time of a certain image from a recording medium; deciding
a position corresponding to the imaging date and time as an imaging
position in a period display representing a certain period; and
creating an imaging position display in which the imaging position
is superimposed on the period display.
21. An image production method, comprising: acquiring an imaging
date and time of a certain image from a recording medium; creating
an imaging start date and time of the certain image based on the
imaging date and time; deciding a position corresponding to the
imaging start date and time as an imaging start position in a
period display representing a certain period; and creating an
imaging position display in which the imaging start position is
displayed relative to the period display along at least one axial
direction of a two dimensional representation.
22. An image production method, comprising: acquiring an imaging
date and time of a certain image from a recording medium; deciding,
as a number-of-imaging length, a length corresponding to the number
of times of imaging of an image per a unit period in a certain
period based on the imaging date and time of the image; and
creating an imaging frequency display in which the
number-of-imaging length is time-sequentially displayed.
23. A program for driving a computer to execute an image production
process, the process comprising: acquiring an imaging date and time
of a certain image from a recording medium; deciding a position
corresponding to the imaging date and time as an imaging position
in a period display representing a certain period; and creating an
imaging position display in which the imaging position is
superimposed on the period display.
24. A program for driving a computer to execute an image production
process, the process comprising: acquiring an imaging date and time
of a certain image from a recording medium; creating an imaging
start date and time of the certain image based on the imaging date
and time; deciding a position corresponding to the imaging start
date and time as an imaging start position in a period display
representing a certain period; and creating an imaging position
display in which the imaging start position is displayed relative
to the period display along at least one axial direction of a two
dimensional representation.
25. A program for driving a computer to execute an image production
process, the process comprising: acquiring an imaging date and time
of a certain image from a recording medium; deciding, as a
number-of-imaging length, a length corresponding to the number of
times of imaging of an image per a unit period in a certain period
based on the imaging date and time of the image; and creating an
imaging frequency display in which the number-of-imaging length is
time-sequentially displayed,
26. An image production device, comprising: imaging date-and-time
acquiring means for acquiring an imaging date and time of a certain
image from a recording medium; imaging position deciding means for
deciding a position corresponding to the imaging date and time as
an imaging position in a period display representing a certain
period; and imaging position display creating means for creating an
imaging position display in which the imaging position is
superimposed on the period display.
27. An image production device, comprising: imaging date-and-time
acquiring means for acquiring an imaging date and time of a certain
image from a recording medium; imaging start date-and-time creating
means for creating an imaging start date and time of the certain
image based on the imaging date and time; imaging start position
deciding means for deciding a position corresponding to the imaging
start date and time as an imaging start position in a period
display representing a certain period; and imaging position display
creating means for creating an imaging position display in which
the imaging start position is displayed relative to the period
display along at least one axial direction of a two dimensional
representation.
28. An image production device, comprising: imaging date-and-time
acquiring means for acquiring an imaging date and time of a certain
image from a recording medium; number-of-imaging length deciding
means for deciding, as a number-of-imaging length, a length
corresponding to the number of times of imaging of an image per a
unit period in a certain period based on the imaging date and time
of the image; and imaging frequency display creating means for
creating an imaging frequency display in which the
number-of-imaging length is time-sequentially displayed.
29. A display device, comprising: imaging date-and-time acquiring
means for acquiring an imaging date and time of a certain image
from a recording medium; imaging position deciding means :for
deciding a position corresponding to the imaging date and time as
an imaging position in a period display representing a certain
period; and imaging position display means for displaying the
period display and the imaging position so that the imaging
position is superimposed on the period display.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. JP 2005-106950 filed on Apr. 1, 2005, the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an image production device
that allows display of the imaging date and time, recording time
period and so forth of images in association with a period display
that represents a certain period. The present invention also
relates to a processing method in the device, and a program for
driving a computer to execute the method.
[0003] In recent years, in addition to conventional video cameras
using detachable videotapes, video cameras that record moving
images in media such as a DVD and hard disk have been spreading.
These media permit random access thereto unlike conventional
videotape media. In a video camera using a videotape, reproduction
of an intended scene frequently requires fast-forwarding and
fast-rewinding, and therefore it takes a long time period to watch
the intended scene. On the contrary, in a video camera that employs
a randomly-accessible medium, contents can be reproduced without
fast-forwarding and fast-rewinding, which are required in
conventional video cameras using videotapes.
[0004] Furthermore, videotape-type cameras do not have an index
that displays contents of moving images. In contrast, video cameras
employing a randomly-accessible medium typically have an index
using thumbnails, which offers convenience for selecting a scene to
be reproduced. In an index of moving images recorded in a
randomly-accessible memory, as many thumbnails as there are scenes
or files are displayed as representative pictures of the moving
images, e.g., by six pictures per one page. A technique is proposed
in which screen display is switched upon selection of a thumbnail,
and information on the recording date and time, recording time
period and so forth of the still or moving image corresponding to
the selected thumbnail is represented, and in reproduction of a
moving image, information on how long time has passed since the
scene had been reproduced before is represented (refer to e.g.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-69456, shown in FIG. 14).
[0005] However, in this conventional technique, the total imaging
time period and recorded volume per each scene cannot be found. In
addition, the frequency and date-and-time transition of imaging
cannot be found. In particular, in order to find the imaging time
period of one scene, the scene needs to be reproduced until the
last of the scene. Moreover, there is no way of finding the
frequency and date-and-time transition of recording.
[0006] Therefore, it is desirable, in the present invention, to
display the total imaging time period and recorded volume of each
image in association with the imaging date and time of the
image.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is made in order to solve the
above-described problem. According to a first embodiment of the
invention, there is provided an image production device including
an imaging date-and-time acquiring section that acquires an imaging
date and time of a certain image from a recording medium; an
imaging position deciding section that decides a position
corresponding to the imaging date and time as an imaging position
in a period display representing a certain period; and an imaging
position display creating section that creates an imaging position
display in which the imaging position is superimposed on the period
display. The first embodiment offers an advantage of indicating the
position corresponding to the imaging date and time of an image in
a certain period relatively in an imaging position display. The
imaging date and time of an image encompasses the imaging start
date and time of the image and the imaging end date and time of the
image.
[0008] According to a second embodiment of the invention, there is
provided an image production device including an imaging
date-and-time acquiring section that acquires an imaging date and
time of a certain image from a recording medium; an imaging start
date-and-time creating section that creates an imaging start date
and time of the certain image based on the imaging date and time;
an imaging start position deciding section that decides a position
corresponding to the imaging start date and time as an imaging
start position in a period display representing a certain period;
and an imaging position display creating section that creates an
imaging position display in which the imaging start position is
displayed relative to the period display along at least one axial
direction of a two dimensional representation. The second
embodiment offers advantages of two-dimensionally representing an
imaging position display, and indicating the position corresponding
to the imaging date and time of an image in a certain period
relatively in the imaging position display.
[0009] According to a third embodiment of the invention, there is
provided an image production device including an imaging
date-and-time acquiring section that acquires an imaging date and
time of a certain image from a recording medium; a
number-of-imaging length deciding section that decides, as a
number-of-imaging length, a length corresponding to the number of
times of imaging of an image per a unit period in a certain period
based on the imaging date and time of the image; and an imaging
frequency display creating section that creates an imaging
frequency display in which the number-of-imaging length is
time-sequentially displayed. The third embodiment offers an
advantage of indicating the number of imaging of an image in each
unit period.
[0010] According to a fourth embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a display device including an imaging date-and-time
acquiring section that acquires an imaging date and time of a
certain image from a recording medium; an imaging position deciding
section that decides a position corresponding to the imaging date
and time as an imaging position in a period display representing a
certain period; and an imaging position displaying section that
displays the period display and the imaging position so that the
imaging position is superimposed on the period display. The fourth
embodiment offers an advantage of indicating the position
corresponding to the imaging date and time of an image in a certain
period relatively in an imaging position display.
[0011] According to a fifth embodiment of the invention, there is
provided an image production method including acquiring an imaging
date and time of a certain image from a recording medium; deciding
a position corresponding to the imaging date and time as an imaging
position in a period display representing a certain period; and
creating an imaging position display in which the imaging position
is superimposed on the period display. The fifth embodiment offers
an advantage of indicating the position corresponding to the
imaging date and time of an image in a certain period relatively in
an imaging position display.
[0012] According to a sixth embodiment of the invention, there is
provided an image production method including acquiring an imaging
date and time of a certain image from a recording medium; creating
an imaging start date and time of the certain image based on the
imaging date and time; deciding a position corresponding to the
imaging start date and time as an imaging start position in a
period display representing a certain period; and creating an
imaging position display in which the imaging start position is
displayed relative to the period display along at least one axial
direction of a two dimensional representation. The sixth embodiment
offers advantages of two-dimensionally representing an imaging
position display, and indicating the position corresponding to the
imaging date and time of an image in a certain period relatively in
the imaging position display.
[0013] According to a seventh embodiment of the invention, there is
provided an image production method including acquiring an imaging
date and time of a certain image from a recording medium; deciding,
as a number-of-imaging length, a length corresponding to the number
of times of imaging of an image per a unit period in a certain
period based on the imaging date and time of the image; and
creating an imaging frequency display in which the
number-of-imaging length is time-sequentially displayed. The
seventh embodiment offers an advantage of indicating the number of
imaging of an image in each unit period.
[0014] The embodiments of the present invention can provide an
excellent advantage of displaying the total imaging time period and
recorded volume of each image in association with the imaging date
and time of the image.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates one example of the external appearance of
an image production device according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates one configuration example of the image
production device according to the embodiment;
[0017] FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate configuration examples of an
imaging position display that is displayed in the image production
device according to the embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a configuration having a
function for creating an imaging position display according to the
embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates one example of an index table according
to the embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 6 illustrates one example of a configuration having a
function for displaying an imaging position display in association
with thumbnail displays according to the embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 7 illustrates one example of the display screen of the
image production device according to the embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 8 illustrates one example of a selective area
correspondence table according to the embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the data configuration of a disk
when a disk according to the DVD-Video standard is used as a disk
in the embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between titles
and chapters in a video titles set (VTS);
[0025] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing configuration components of a
video objects set (VOBS);
[0026] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the data configuration of an
additional recorded information pack (ARI_PCK) according to the
embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between a
period display and a certain imaging start position display
according to the embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the relationship between a
period display and a certain imaging time length display according
to the embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the relationship between a
period display and a certain recorded volume length display
according to the embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the flow of creation of an
imaging position display according to the embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the flow of calculation of an
imaging start position according to the embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the decision flow of the
display range of an imaging time length according to the
embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the decision flow of the
display range of a recorded volume length display according to the
embodiment; and
[0034] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the decision flow of the
display range of a number-of-imaging length display according to
the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in
detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates one example of the external appearance of
an image production device 100 according to one embodiment of the
invention. The image production device 100 includes a lens unit
101, a view finder 102, a display unit 103, a still-image imaging
button 104, a moving-image imaging button 105, a power supply
switch 106, a recording medium holder 107, a grasp assisting member
108, and a buttery unit 109.
[0037] The lens unit 101 functions to form the image of a target
object on an imaging element such as a charge coupled device (CCD).
A user looks a target object through the view finder 102 in imaging
thereof. The view finder 102 may be based on either system of
optical and electronic systems. The display unit 103 displays
thereon the image of a target object captured through the lens unit
101, and displays thereon image data in reproduction of the image
data. A display unit in such an image production device is
frequently provided with a touch-panel operation function that
allows a user to push the screen surface of the display unit with a
finger or the like to thereby operate the image production device.
Also in the embodiment of the invention, the display unit 103 may
be provided with a touch-panel operation function. The display unit
103 is formed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) for example.
Alternatively, it may be formed of an organic electroluminescence.
(EL) display.
[0038] The still-image imaging button 104 is a button that is
pushed down in imaging of a still image. The moving-image imaging
button 105 is a button that is pushed down in the imaging of a
moving image. The power-supply switch 106 is a switch for starting
the image production device 100 of the embodiment of the invention.
The recording medium holder 107 holds therein a recording medium
such as a DVD disk. The grasp assisting member 108 is a member that
assists a user to grasp the image production device 100 of the
embodiment of the present invention. The battery unit 109 supplies
power to the image production device 100 of the embodiment of the
present invention.
[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates one configuration example of the image
production device 100 of the embodiment of the present invention.
The image production device 100 includes a camera part 10, a
recording and reproduction processing part 20 and a control part
30.
[0040] The camera part 10 includes an optical block 11, a camera
controlling section 12, a signal converter 13, an imaging signal
processing section 14, an audio input section 15, and an audio
signal processing section 16. The optical block 11 incorporates
therein a lens group for capturing the image of a target object, an
aperture adjustment mechanism, a focus adjustment mechanism, a zoom
mechanism, a shutter mechanism, a flush mechanism, a camera-shake
correction mechanism and so on. The camera controlling section 12
generates a control signal to be supplied to the optical block 11
upon receipt of a control signal from the control part 30. The
generated control signal is supplied to the optical block 11 to
thereby implement zoom control, shutter control, exposure control
and so forth.
[0041] The signal converter 13 is constructed of an imaging element
such as a CCD. On the image formation plane thereof, an image
captured through the optical block 11 is formed. The signal
converter 13 receives an image pick-up timing signal that is
supplied from the control part 30 in response to shutter operation.
Upon the receipt, the signal converter 13 converts the target
object image formed on the image formation plane into an imaging
signal, and supplies the imaging signal to the imaging signal
processing section 14.
[0042] The imaging signal processing section 14 implements
processing of gamma correction, auto gain control (AGC) and so on
for the imaging signal based on a control signal from the control
part 30, and also implements processing of conversion of the
imaging signal into an image signal as a digital signal. The audio
input section 15 collects audio sounds around the target object at
the time of the imaging. An audio signal is supplied from the audio
input section 15 to the audio signal processing section 16. The
audio signal processing section 16 implements processing of
correction, AGC and so on for the audio signal based on a control
signal from the control part 30, and also implements processing of
conversion of the audio signal into a digital signal.
[0043] The recording and reproduction processing part 20 includes
an encoding/decoding circuit 21, a disk interface 23 and a buffer
memory 25.
[0044] The encoding/decoding circuit 21 has an encode function of
encoding and multiplexing an image signal, an audio signal and so
forth from the camera part 10 to thereby convert the signals into
compressed data. In addition, the encoding/decoding circuit 21 also
has a decoding function of separating an image signal, an audio
signal and so forth from compressed data and decoding the separated
signals. Furthermore, the encoding/decoding circuit 21 implements
automatic white balance control, exposure correction control,
enlargement control in accordance with a digital zoom
magnification, and so on, for an image signal from the imaging
signal processing section 14 based on a control signal from the
control part 30.
[0045] The disk interface 23 receives compressed data from the
encoding/decoding circuit 21 and writes the data in a disk 49. In
addition, the disk interface 23 retrieves compressed data from the
disk 49, and supplies the data to the encoding/decoding circuit 21.
The buffer memory 25 is composed of SDRAM for example, and is
utilized as a work area for encoding and decoding by the
encoding/decoding circuit 21.
[0046] The control part 30 includes a processing device 31, read
only memory (ROM) 33, random access memory (RAM) 34, an operation
input interface 35 coupled to an operating inputting part 41, and a
display controlling section 36 coupled to a display part 42. The
control part 30 also includes a memory card interface 37 for
loading of a memory card 43, an audio controlling section 38
coupled to a speaker 44, a clock circuit 39 for recording of
imaging time, and a system bus 32 that interconnect these
components.
[0047] The processing device 31 controls processing of the entire
control part 30, and uses the RAM 34 as a work area. Written to the
ROM 33 are a program for controlling the camera part 10, and a
program for executing control of recording and reproduction of an
image signal and an audio signal.
[0048] A plurality of keys are provided in the operating inputting
part 41 coupled to the operation input interface 35. The example of
keys are a mode switch key for switching between an imaging mode
and other modes such as a reproduction mode, a zoom adjustment key,
an exposure adjustment key, a shutter key, a moving-image imaging
key, a key for display adjustment for the display part 42, and
other keys. The operation input interface 35 transmits an operation
signal from the operating inputting part 41 to the processing
device 31. The processing device 31 determines which key in the
operating inputting part 41 is operated, and executes control
processing according to the determination result.
[0049] The display part 42 coupled to the display controlling
section 36 is constructed of e.g. an LCD, and displays an image
corresponding to an image signal from the camera part 10 or an
image signal retrieved from the disk 49, under control by the
processing device 31. The display part 42 takes part of the
function of the display unit 103 of FIG. 1.
[0050] The memory card interface 37 writes compressed data from the
encoding/decoding circuit 21 in the memory card 43. In addition,
the memory card interface 37 retrieves compressed data from the
memory card 43, and supplies the data to the encoding/decoding
circuit 21. The clock circuit 39 creates time information that
represents a year, month, date, hour, minute, second and so
forth.
[0051] The speaker 44 coupled to the audio controlling section 38
reproduces an audio sound corresponding to an audio signal from the
camera part 10 or an audio signal retrieved from the disk 49, under
control by the processing device 31.
[0052] FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate configuration examples of an
imaging position display that is displayed in the image production
device 100 of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A
illustrates the configuration of an imaging position display 120 in
which each position display corresponding to imaging date and time
is based on imaging start date and time. The imaging position
display 120 includes a period display 121, and imaging start
position displays 122 to 136 that are each a position display
corresponding to the imaging start date and time of the
corresponding image.
[0053] The period display 121 represents a period for displaying
the distribution of dates and times when the respective images are
captured. Specifically, the longitudinal length of the period
display 121 represents a period for displaying the distribution of
dates and times when the respective images are captured. An example
of the period for displaying the distribution of dates and times
when the respective images are captured has a time range from 10
o'clock on the 1st of January 2005 to 22 o'clock on the 1st of
January 2005.
[0054] The imaging start position displays 122 to 136 represent the
position corresponding to the date and time when imaging of an
image starts, relative to the period display. For example, when the
period of the period display 121 is from 10 o'clock on the 1st of
January 2005 to 22 o'clock on the 1st of January 2005, the imaging
start position display 129, which exists at substantially the
center of the period display 121, represents an image of which
imaging starts around 16 o'clock on the 1st of January 2005.
[0055] FIG. 3B illustrates the configuration of an imaging position
display 140 in which each position display corresponding to imaging
date and time is based on imaging start date and time and an
imaging time period. The imaging position display 140 includes a
period display 141, and imaging time length displays 142 to 156
that represent the time length from start to end of imaging of an
image.
[0056] The imaging position display 120 displays only the imaging
start date and time of each image. In contrast, the imaging
position display 140 represents not only the imaging start date and
time of each image but also a display for the length of an imaging
time period (hereinafter, referred to as an imaging time length
display). In FIG. 3B, the length in the vertical direction of each
of the imaging time length displays 142 to 156 represents the
length of an imaging time period. The imaging time length displays
146 and 156, which are displays for a still image, haveing length
in the vertical direction. This is because the imaging time length
of a still image is treated as 0 second.
[0057] FIG. 3C. illustrates the configuration of an imaging
position display 160 in which each position display corresponding
to imaging date and time is based on imaging start date and time
and a recorded volume. The imaging position display 160 includes a
period display 161, and recorded volume length displays 162 to 178
that represent the recorded volume of an image as the length of the
display.
[0058] The position of each of the recorded volume length displays
162 to 178 in the vertical direction represents the imaging date
and time of an image similarly to the imaging start position
displays shown in FIG. 3A. In contrast, the length of each of the
displays 162 to 178 in the horizontal direction represents the
magnitude of the recorded volume of an image. The magnitude of the
recorded volume is expressed as the ratio of the recorded volume of
each image to the recorded volume of the image corresponding to the
recorded volume length display 165, which has the largest recorded
volume among all the images. The recorded volume length display may
be a display like one shown in FIG. 3B. Specifically, a display
that represents the magnitude of a recorded volume may extend in
the vertical direction from an imaging start position display as a
start point.
[0059] The imaging position display 160 of FIG. 3C may be an
imaging frequency display. The imaging frequency display includes a
period display of which length in the vertical direction represents
a period such as that from the 1st of January 2005 to the 15th of
January 2005, and another display of which length in the horizontal
direction represents the number of times of imaging per unit period
(hereinafter, referred to as an number-of-imaging length
display).
[0060] FIGS. 3A to 3C include only the imaging start position
displays 122 to 136, only the imaging time length displays 142 to
156, and only the recorded volume length displays
(number-of-imaging length displays) 162 to 178, respectively.
However, these numbers of the illustrated displays are merely
examples. A larger number of imaging times yields a larger number
of imaging start position displays and so on, and a smaller number
thereof yields a smaller number of imaging start position displays
and so on.
[0061] FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a configuration having a
function for creating an imaging position display according to the
embodiment of the present invention. This functional configuration
includes an imaging information acquiring section 201, an index
table 202, an imaging start position deciding section 203, a period
setting part 204, an imaging time length deciding section 205, a
recorded volume length deciding section 206, a number-of-imaging
length deciding section 207, an imaging position display creating
section 208, a unit period setting part 209, an imaging frequency
display creating section 210, an effect display adding section 211,
an operating part 212, and a period reduction setting part 213.
[0062] The imaging information acquiring section 201 obtains, of
data retrieved from the disk 49, the following information on
moving image data and still image data (hereinafter, referred to as
imaging information) relating to the file names of the moving image
data and still image data, the imaging start date and time of the
moving image data and still image data associated with the file
names, the imaging time periods of the moving image data associated
with the file names, the recorded volumes of the moving image data
and still image data associated with the file names, and so on. The
imaging information acquiring section 201 supplies the acquired
imaging information to the index table 202. The index table 202
holds the imaging information supplied from the imaging information
acquiring section 201.
[0063] Based on the imaging start date and time of each of moving
image data and still image data, the imaging start position
deciding section 203 decides where a display corresponding to the
imaging start date and time of each of the moving image data and
still image data is positioned relative to a period display of an
imaging position display. The imaging start position deciding
section 203 then supplies the decision result to the imaging
position display creating section 208.
[0064] The period setting part 204 sets the period of the period
display. This period setting is carried out by specifying the start
date and time of the period and the end date and time thereof for
example. Based on the set period, the imaging start position
deciding section 203 decides the position, in the period display,
of a display corresponding to the imaging date and time of each of
the moving image data and still image data.
[0065] Based on the imaging start date and time and imaging time
period of moving image data, the imaging time length deciding
section 205 decides the display range of an imaging time length
display of the moving image data relative to the period display.
The imaging time length deciding section 205 then supplies the
decision result to the imaging position display creating section
208.
[0066] The recorded volume length deciding section 206 calculates
the length of a recorded volume length display based on the
recorded volume of each of moving image data and still image data.
The number-of-imaging length deciding section 207 decides the
length a number-of-imaging length display per unit period on day or
hour basis for example, based on the imaging date and time of
moving image data and still image data. The recorded volume length
deciding section 206 supplies the decision result to the imaging
position display creating section 208. The number-of-imaging length
deciding section 207 supplies the decision result to the imaging
frequency display creating section 210.
[0067] The imaging position display creating section 208 creates an
imaging position display based on the decision results supplied
from the imaging start position deciding section 203, the imaging
time length deciding section 205 and the recorded volume length
deciding section 206. The imaging frequency display creating
section 210 creates an imaging frequency display based on the
decision result supplied from the number-of-imaging length deciding
section 207.
[0068] The effect display adding section 211 adds an effect display
to be described later to the imaging position display and imaging
frequency display created by the imaging position display creating
section 208 and the imaging frequency display creating section 210,
respectively. The effect display adding section 211 then supplies
the display controlling section 36 with the imaging position
display and imaging frequency display to which the effect display
has been added. The imaging position display and imaging frequency
display to which the effect display has been added are displayed on
the display part 42.
[0069] The unit period setting part 209 sets a unit period when the
numbers of imaging are displayed. It is possible that the unit
period is one day or one hour for example.
[0070] The operating part 212 is to optionally select any part in
an imaging position display. For example, when a user wants to
select the center part of an imaging position display, the user
employs the operating part 212 to thereby select the center part.
The period reduction setting part.213 implements such period
reduction setting for the period setting part 204 that, after the
selection of certain part in an imaging position display through
the operating part 212, the period of a period display includes the
date and time of the selected part and becomes shorter than the
period before the selection. Specifically, when part around 12
o'clock on the 1st of January 2005 in an imaging position display
is selected through the operating part 212 for example, the period
reduction setting part 213 implements such setting for the period
setting part 204 that the period of a period display becomes from
12 o'clock on the 1st of January 2005 to 13 o'clock on the same
day.
[0071] The imaging information acquiring section 201 can be
realized by the disk interface 23 in FIG. 2, for example. Mainly
the processing device 31 allows the realization of the imaging
start position deciding section 203, the period setting part 204,
the imaging time length deciding section 205, the recorded volume
length deciding section 206, the number-of-imaging length deciding
section 207, the imaging position display creating section 208, the
unit period setting part 209, the imaging frequency display
creating section 210, the effect display adding section 211, and
the period reduction setting part 213. The index table 202 can be
realized by the RAM 34. The operating part 212 can be realized by
the operation input interface 35 and the operating inputting part
41.
[0072] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating one example of the index
table 202. The index table 202 includes file names 221,
identification flags 222, imaging start dates and times 223,
imaging time lengths 224, and file sizes 225. Each file name 221
represents the file name of moving image data or still image data.
MOVIE01 to MOVIE04 correspond to moving image data files. IMG01 and
IMG02 correspond to still image data files.
[0073] Each identification flag 222 displays which of moving image
data or still image data the data associated with the file name 221
is. In FIG. 5, the identification flag 222 represents a circle (o)
when the corresponding data associated with the file name 221 is
moving image data, while it represents a cross (x) when the data is
still image data. The imaging start dates and times 223 indicate
the imaging start dates and times of the moving image data and
still image data. The imaging start date and time 223 is
represented as year, month, day and time, and the minimum unit of
time is a second, for example. The expression "2005:01:01:10:50:23"
in FIG. 5 means ten fifty and twenty three seconds on the 1st of
January 2005. The imaging time lengths 224 indicate the lengths of
the imaging time period of the moving image data and still image
data. The expression "6:21" in FIG. 5 means six minutes and twenty
one seconds. For still image data, the imaging time length 224
represents "0", which means zero second.
[0074] Each file size 225 displays the recorded volume of the
moving image data or still image data associated with the file name
221. The expressions "M" and "K" in FIG. 5 display the units
corresponding to megabytes and kilobytes, respectively.
[0075] FIG. 6 shows one example of a configuration having a
function for displaying an imaging position display in association
with thumbnail displays according to the embodiment of the present
invention (hereinafter, referred to as an display associating
function). The configuration with the display associating function
includes an operating part 301, a selective area determining
section 302, a selective area correspondence table 303, a thumbnail
extracting section 304, a thumbnail retaining section 305, a
display part 306, and a selected area display creating section
307.
[0076] The operating part 301 is to optionally select any point in
an imaging position display. In the embodiment of the present
invention, the operating part 301 may be based on a touch panel
system for example. When any point in an imaging position display
is selected with use of the operating part 301, the selective area
determining section 302 determines which selective area
the'selected point belongs to. The selective area refers to each of
divided areas resulting from division of a period display into the
certain number of areas. The determination as to which selective
area includes the selected point is implemented based on
information in the selective area correspondence table 303. Upon
the determination of the selective area determining section 302
about the selective area, information on the thumbnails
corresponding to the determined selective area is sent to the
thumbnail extracting section 304.
[0077] The selective area correspondence table 303 holds
information about selective areas and thumbnails corresponding to
the selective areas. The thumbnail extracting section 304 extracts
necessary thumbnails from the thumbnail retaining section 305 and
sends them to the display part 306, based on information on
thumbnails sent from the selective area determining section
302.
[0078] The thumbnail retaining section 305 holds the thumbnails of
moving image data and still image data stored in a recording
medium. As the thumbnail of moving image data, an image resulting
from reduction of the top picture of the data of the corresponding
moving image file name is used for example. The display part 306
displays the thumbnails sent from the thumbnail extracting section
304.
[0079] The selected area display creating section 307 creates a
selected area display that represents the selective area selected
through the operating part 301. The created selected area display
is represented on an imaging position display.
[0080] Due to the above-described display associating function,
when any point in an imaging position display is selected through
the operating part 301, the thumbnails corresponding to the
selected point are displayed on the display part 306.
[0081] The selective area determining section 302, the thumbnail
extracting section 304 and the selected area display creating
section 307 can be realized mainly by the processing device 31. The
operating part 301 can be realized by the operation input interface
35 and the operating inputting part 41. The selective area
correspondence table 303 and the thumbnail retaining section 305
can be realized by the RAM 34.
[0082] FIG. 7 illustrates one example of the display screen of the
image production device of the embodiment of the present invention.
Displayed in a display screen 310 are an imaging position display
320 that includes a period display 336 and imaging start position
displays 321 to 335, a selected area display 337, thumbnail
displays 341 to 346, screen scroll buttons 351 and 352, and a
selected page 353 that represents the page of the currently
displayed screen.
[0083] The imaging position display 320 is similar to the imaging
position display shown in FIG. 3A. Alternatively, it may be the
imaging position display shown in FIG. 3B or the imaging frequency
display shown in FIG. 3C. The details of the period display 336,
the imaging start position displays 321 to 335 and the imaging
position display 320 are not described here since they have been
already described with FIGS. 3A to 3C.
[0084] In FIG. 7, the imaging position display 320 is divided into
three selective areas. FIG. 7 depicts an example in which a period
display is divided into three areas that each includes six imaging
start position displays. The area from the upper end of the imaging
position display 320 to the boundary immediately anterior to the
imaging start position display 327 is represented as a selective
area #1. The area from the imaging start position display 327 to
the boundary immediately anterior to the imaging start position
display 333 is represented as a selective area #2. The area from
the imaging start position display 333 to the lower end of the
imaging position display 320 is represented as a selective area
#3.
[0085] In the image production device 100 of the embodiment of the
present invention, the thumbnail displays 341 to 346 displayed on
the display screen 310 are the thumbnails corresponding to the
imaging start position displays 327 to 332 in the selective area
#2. Specifically, when any point in the selective area #2 is
selected through the operating part 301, the thumbnail displays 341
to 346 are displayed on the display screen 310 due to the display
associating function described with FIG. 6. The imaging start
position display 327 corresponds to the thumbnail display 341. The
imaging start position display 328 corresponds to the thumbnail
display 342. The imaging start position display 329 corresponds to
the thumbnail display 343. The imaging start position display 330
corresponds to the thumbnail display 344. The imaging start
position display 331 corresponds to the thumbnail display 345. The
imaging start position display 332 corresponds to the thumbnail
display 346.
[0086] In addition, on the selected selective area, the selected
area display 337 created by the selected area display creating
section 307 is displayed. This display allows a user to easily
recognize the selective area corresponding to the thumbnail
displays displayed on the display screen 310. When the screen
scroll button 351 is selected through the operating part 301 in the
state of FIG. 7, the thumbnails corresponding to the selective area
#1 are displayed and the selected area display 337 is displayed on
the selective area #1.
[0087] When the screen scroll button 352 is selected through the
operating part 301 in the state of FIG. 7, the thumbnails
corresponding to the selective area #3 are displayed and the
selected area display 337 is displayed on the selective area #3.
The selected page 353 represents "the selective area currently
displayed on the display screen 501/the number of the entire
selective areas". In FIG. 7, since the selective area currently
displayed on the display screen 501 is the selective area #2 and
the number of the entire selective areas is three, the
representation "2/3" is displayed.
[0088] When any point in the imaging position display 320 is
selected, part around the selected point may be magnified. When the
operation method is based on a touch panel system for example, the
selection of any point is conducted by a direct contact with the
imaging position display 320 displayed on the display screen 310.
The expression "part around the selected point is magnified" means
the following operation for example. Specifically, when initially
the period range of the period display 336 is from 10 o'clock on
the 1st of January 2005 to 22 o'clock on the 1st of January 2005,
selecting the center part of the imaging position display 320 leads
to a change of the period range of the period display 336 to the
range from 16 o'clock on the 1st of January 2005 to 17 o'clock on
the 1st of January 2005, i.e., a change to an imaging position
display with a one-hour range. This operation is realized by the
period reduction setting part 213.
[0089] In addition, an effect display may be displayed on the
imaging position display 320 although not illustrated in the
drawing. This display is realized by the effect display adding
section 211. The effect display is as follows for example. The
color of background of the imaging position display 320
corresponding to the time range from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM is made
white, while that corresponding to the other time range is made
gray. Such effect display is merely an example, and another effect
display based on a different classification way may be added.
[0090] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating one example of the
above-described selective area correspondence table 303. The
selective area 371 displays the selective area numbers. The
corresponding area 372 displays, by coordinates, the parts on the
display screen corresponding to selective areas. In FIG. 7 for
example, since the imaging position display 320 has a rectangular
shape, a selective area can be expressed by two coordinates with
any coordinate system being defined on the display screen.
[0091] The selective area 1 is equivalent to the range on the
display screen expressed by coordinates {(X1, Y1), (X2, Y2)}. The
selective area 2 is equivalent to the range on the display screen
expressed by coordinates {(X3, Y3), (X4, Y4)}. The selective area 3
is equivalent to the range on the display screen expressed by
coordinates {(X5, Y5), (X6, Y6)}. Since the position on the display
screen can be specified with the position of a pixel, such
treatment of selective areas with use of coordinates is
allowed.
[0092] The corresponding thumbnail 373 displays the>thumbnails
corresponding to the selective area 371. The thumbnails
corresponding to the selective area 1 have thumbnail data expressed
as thumbnail #1 to 6. (IMG1.jpg to. IMG6.jpg). The thumbnails
corresponding to the selective area 2 have thumbnail data expressed
as thumbnail #7 to 11 (IMG7.jpg to IMG11.jpg). The thumbnails
corresponding to the selective area 3 have thumbnail data expressed
as thumbnail #12 to 13 (IMG12.jpg to IMG13.jpg).
[0093] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the data configuration of a disk
when a disk according to the DVD-Video standard is used as the disk
49 in the embodiment of the present invention. The disk has a
discus configuration, and includes a lead-in area 501, a file
system area 502, a management information area 503, a data
recording area 504, and a lead-out area 505 in that order from the
inner periphery of the disk. The file system area 502 is a
management area for a file system, and is in conformity with the
ISO 9660 standard and the universal disk format (UDF) standard. The
management information area 503 is an area that holds the
management information of the entire video contents recorded in the
disk. The data recording area 504 is an area that holds the content
of each video titles set and the control information of the video
titles set.
[0094] The management information area 503 holds a VMG (video
manager) 510. The VMG 510 includes VMGI (VMG information) 511, a
VMGM_VOBS (video object set for VMG menu) 512, and VMGI_BUP (VMGI
for back up) 513. The VMGI 511 holds the management information of
each title in video contents recorded in the disk, and the control
information of the top menu. The VMGM_VOBS 512 holds the data of
the top menu. The VMGI_BUP 513 is a back-up copy of the VMGI
511.
[0095] The data recording area 504 holds at least one VTS (video
titles set) 520. Each VTS 520 includes VTSI (VTS information) 521,
a VTSM_VOBS (video object set for VTS menu) 522, a VTSTT_VOBS
(video object set for titles in a VTS) 523, and VTSI_BUP (VTSI for
back up) 524. The VTSI 521 holds the management information and
control information of each chapter of titles included in the video
titles set, and the control information of the chapter menu. The
VTSM_VOBS 522 holds the data of the chapter menu. The VTSTT_VOBS
523 holds the data of titles included in the video titles set. The
VTSI_BUP 524 is a back-up copy of the VTSI 521.
[0096] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between titles
and chapters in a video titles set (VTS). As described above, the
actual data of video contents is recorded in the VTSTT_VOBS 523.
Each VTS 520 can store up to 99 titles. However, the maximum number
of titles that can be stored in the entire disk is also 99.
Therefore, the maximum number of titles in one VTS 520 is affected
by the use condition of other VTSs.
[0097] Each title in the VTS 520 is divided into at least one
chapter. The maximum number of chapters in each title is 99. In a
camcorder, a recording unit from start to end of one time recording
is recorded as one chapter, and subsequent chapters are produced in
the same title until the occurrence of any of the following events
for example: ejection of the disk, attainment of the number of
chapters to 99 in the title, attainment of the number of cells to
99 in the title, and transition from moving image recording to
still image recording. Therefore, if the number of chapters in a
title reaches 99 when recording is repeated with a camcorder, the
title is closed and the next chapter is produced in a new
title.
[0098] The VTSI 521 holds the start positions of chapters in each
title. As described later, the VTSI 521 holds pointers (PTT_SRP)
that display the start positions of the respective chapters as
management information (TTU) of each title.
[0099] It is assumable that one chapter corresponds to moving image
data associated with one file name 221 in the index table shown in
FIG. 5.
[0100] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing configuration components of a
video object set (VOBS). The VMGM_VOBS 512, the VTSM_VOBS 522 and
the VTSTT_VOBS 523 in FIG. 9 hold the respective data as a video
objects set (VOBS), and has a common format. The VOBS 530 exists as
an assembly of at least one video object (VOB) 531. The VOB 531 is
composed of at least one cell 532.
[0101] The cell 532 includes at least one video object unit (VOBU)
533. The VOBU 533 is composed of a pack sequence that includes a
navigation pack (NV_PCK) 534 as the beginning pack. Each pack is
composed of 2048 bytes of fixed data. The pack sequence includes,
in addition to the beginning NV PCK 534, a video pack (V_PCK) 535
that holds video data, an audio pack (A_PCK) 536 that holds audio
data, a sub-picture pack (SP_PCK) 537 that holds sub-picture data,
an additional recorded information pack (ARIL_PCK) 538 that holds
additional recorded information, and so on according to need.
[0102] The NV_PCK 534 includes a pack header 541, and holds
subsequent thereto, presentation control information (PCI) 542 and
data search information (DSI) 543. The PCI 542 is control
information regarding reproduction display. The DSI 543 is control
information for access to the disk.
[0103] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the data configuration of an
additional recorded information pack (ARI_PCK) according to the
embodiment of the present invention. Information included in the
ARI_PCK 538 is roughly classified into four kinds of information:
an additional recorded information identifier, application
information, recording time information and camera information.
[0104] The additional recorded information identifier is an
identifier for recognition that the data in the packet is
additional recorded information, and an additional recorded
information data identifier (ARI_DAT_ID) and the version number of
the additional recorded information data (ARI_DAT_VER) are recorded
in the identifier.
[0105] The application information includes a vendor name
(VND_NAME) that represents the name of the manufacturer of the
product, and a product name (PRD_NAME) that represents the name of
the product.
[0106] Recorded in the recording time information are a time zone
(VOBU_LCL_TM_ZONE) when additional recorded information data
(ARI_DATA) regarding a VOBU including the additional recorded
information is recorded, and the recording time of the ARI_DATA
(VOBU_REC_TM). The VOBU_REC_TM is expressed by units of year,
month, date, hour, minute and second as the imaging time of the I
picture frame. In the VOBU_LCL_TM_ZONE, the time zone relative to
the VOBU_REC_TM is recorded. The time zone refers to the offset
time from the coordinated universal time (UTC), set in the
apparatus by a user. That is, the time zone is the time difference
corresponding to the time (local time) of the country where the
recording device is used. As the VOBU_REC_TM, the universal time
(the official time used all over the world in recording of time)
can also be used. In this case, the VOBU_LCL_TM_ZONE is set to
zero.
[0107] If a disk according to the DVD-Video standard is used as the
disk 49 in the embodiment of the present invention, the recording
time of the ARI DATA (VOBU_REC_TM) is used as the imaging start
date and time and the imaging time period of moving image data.
Used as the imaging start date and time of moving image data is the
recording time of the ARI_DATA (VOBU_REC_TM) of the I picture frame
at the beginning of the moving image file for example. This
recording time is used as the imaging start date and time 223 in
the index table of FIG. 5. In addition, the length of the imaging
time of moving image data is obtained by taking the difference
between the recording time of the ARI_DATA (VOBU_REC_TM) of the I
picture frame at the last of the moving image file and that of the
I picture frame at the beginning of the moving image file for
example. The obtained time length is used as the imaging time
length 224 in the index table of FIG. 5. Furthermore, the recorded
volume stored based on the UDF is used as the file size 225 in the
index table of FIG. 5.
[0108] The camera information includes information such as a F
number (F_NUM) and exposure time (EXP_TM) as information on setting
conditions in imaging.
[0109] As for still images, e.g. a folder compatible with the
still-image DCF (design rule for camera file system) is provided in
a disk of the DVD-Video standard, and still image data is stored in
the folder. In the DCF, the Exif (exchangeable image file format)
is used as the format of still image data. In this case, the
imaging date and time stored in the header of the Exif is used as
the imaging start date and time 223 in the index table of FIG. 5.
Furthermore, the recorded volume of still image data is also stored
in the header of the Exif, and is used as the file size 225 in the
index table of FIG. 5.
[0110] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between a
period display 380 and a certain imaging start position display
381. The period display 380 and the imaging start position display
381 have the following relationship. When the period start date and
time, the period end date and time, and the imaging start date and
time in the period display 380 are defined as T1, T2, and T3,
respectively, the position of the imaging start position display
381 can be decided based on the equation {(T3-T1)/(T2-T1)}.
[0111] The imaging start position deciding section 203 decides the
imaging start position by using this equation, and the decision
result is sent to the imaging position display creating section
208, where an imaging position display is created.
[0112] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the relationship between a
period display 382 and a certain imaging time length display 383.
The period display 382 and the imaging time length display 383 have
the following relationship. When the period start date and time,
the period end date and time, and the imaging time length in the
period display 382 are defined as T1, T2, and T4, respectively, the
display range of the imaging time length display 383 can be decided
based on the equation {T4/(T2-T)}. This equation is used to decide
the display range of the imaging time length display 383 in the
period display 382. The imaging time length display 383 is
displayed with the imaging start position described in FIG. 13
being defined as the start position of the display range of the
imaging time length display 383.
[0113] The imaging time length deciding section 205 decides the
imaging time length by using the equation, and the decision result
is sent to the imaging position display creating section 208, where
an imaging position display is, created.
[0114] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the relationship between a
period display 384 and a certain recorded volume length display
385. The period display 384 and the recorded volume length display
385 have the following relationship. When the maximum recorded
volume among recorded volumes of images to be displayed on an
imaging position display is defined as M1, and the recorded volume
of a certain image to be displayed on the imaging position display
is defined as M2, the display range of the recorded volume length
of the certain image is decided based on the equation (M2/M1). In
addition, if the display in FIG. 15 is an imaging frequency
display, when the maximum number of imaging per unit period in the
period of the period display 384 is defined as Z1, and the number
of imaging in a certain unit period in the period of the period
display 384 is defined as Z2, the display range of the
number-of-imaging length display of the certain unit period is
decided based on the equation (Z2/Z1). The positions of the
recorded volume length display and number-of-imaging length display
in the vertical direction of FIG. 15 are decided by a method
similar to that for the imaging start position display 381 in FIG.
13.
[0115] The recorded volume length deciding section 206 and the
number-of-imaging length deciding section 207 decide the display
range of the imaging time length display and the number-of-imaging
length display, respectively, by using the above-described
equation. The decision results are sent to the imaging position
display creating section 208 and the imaging frequency display
creating section 210, where an imaging position display and an
imaging frequency display, respectively, are created.
[0116] Operations in the embodiment of the present invention will
be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0117] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the flow of creation of an
imaging position display in the embodiment of the invention.
Initially, imaging information on moving image data and still image
data is acquired from a recording medium (S911). An index table is
then created based on the imaging information (S912). The index
table is composed of the file names 221, the identification flags
222, the imaging start dates and times 223, the imaging time
lengths 224 and the file sizes 225, shown in FIG. 5 for
example.
[0118] Subsequently, the period of a period display is set (S913).
Specifically, a time range such as the range from 10 o'clock on the
18th of February 2005 to 18 o'clock on the 18th of February 2005 is
set. Based on the information about each of the moving image data
and still image data in the index table, imaging start positions in
the period display set in the step S913 are decided (S914).
[0119] Furthermore, based on the imaging information about each of
the moving image data and still image data in the index table, the
display ranges of imaging time length displays in the period
display set in the step S913 are decided (S915). The operation flow
is not limited to the example of FIG. 15, in which the display
ranges of imaging time length displays in a period display are
decided in the step S915. The display ranges of recorded volume
length displays or number-of-imaging length displays of images may
be decided in the step S915.
[0120] 3 Based on the decision results in the steps S914 and S915,
an imaging position display is created (S916). When the display
ranges of number-of-imaging length displays are decided in the step
S915, an imaging frequency display is created in the step S916.
[0121] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the flow of calculation of
imaging start positions. Initially, information on the period of a
period display is acquired (S921). The period of the period display
can be specified from the start date and time and end date and time
of the period display. Subsequently, the imaging start date and
time of image data is acquired (S922). A determination is then made
as to whether or not the imaging start date and time of the image
data is included in the period of the period display (S923).
[0122] If a determination is made that the imaging start date and
time is included in the period of the period display, an imaging
start position in the period display is decided based on the
information acquired in the steps S921 and S922 (S924). The method
for this decision is as follows. When the start date and time and
end date and time of the period display are defined as T1 and T2,
respectively, and the imaging start date and time of a target image
data is defined as T3, the imaging start position relative to the
period display is decided based on the calculation result from the
equation {(T3-T1)/(T2-T1)}. If a determination is made that the
imaging start date and time of image data is not included in the
period of the period display, the operation flow directly proceeds
to the end with no processing being executed. Until processing for
the: entire target image data is completed, the steps S922 to S924
are repeated (S925).
[0123] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the flow of decision of display
ranges of imaging time lengths. A determination is made as to
whether moving image data or still image data the data to be
subjected to the decision is (S931). This determination is made
based on the identification flag 222 in the index table shown in
FIG. 5. If the data is still image data, the operation flow
proceeds to the end since the imaging time length thereof is
treated as 0 second. If the data is moving image data, information
on the period of a period display is acquired (S932). The period of
the period display can be specified from the start date and time T1
and the end date and time T2 of the period display. Subsequently,
the imaging start date and time T3 and the imaging time length T4
of the moving image data are acquired (S933). A determination is
then made as to whether or not the imaging start date and time of
the moving image data is included in the period of the period
display (S934).
[0124] If a determination is made that the imaging start date and
time of the moving image data is included in the period of the
period display, the next determination is made as to which of the
end date and time T2 of the period display and the imaging end date
and time (T3+T4) is the later date and time (S935). If the imaging
end date and time (T3+T4) of the moving image data is the later
date and time, the imaging end date and time (T3+T4) of the moving
image data is replaced by the end date and time T2 of the period
display (S936). If the end date and time T2 is the later date and
time, this replacing is not carried out.
[0125] The display range of the imaging time length display is
calculated based on the information acquired in the steps S932 and
S933 (S937). The display range of the imaging time length display
relative to the period display is decided based on the calculation
result from the equation {(T4)/(T2-T1)}. If the imaging end date
and time (T3+T4) of the moving image data has been replaced by the
end date and time T2 of the period display in the step S936, the
display range of the imaging time length display relative to the
period display is decided based on the calculation result from the
equation {(T2-T3)/(T2-T1)}.
[0126] If a determination is made that the imaging start date and
time of the moving image data is not included in the period of the
period display, the operation flow directly proceeds to the end
with no processing being executed. The steps S932 to S937 are
repeated for the entire image data, and then the operation flow
proceeds to the end (S938).
[0127] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the flow of decision of display
ranges of recorded volume length displays. Initially, information
on the period of a period display is acquired (S941). Subsequently,
the imaging start date and time and recorded volume of an image are
acquired (S942). They are acquired from the index table shown in
FIG. 5 for example. A determination is then made as to whether or
not the imaging start date and time of the image is included in the
period of the period display (S943). As for the image data of which
imaging start date and time is not included in the period of the
period display, no processing is executed and the operation flow
directly proceeds to the end. The maximum recorded volume M1 among
the recorded volumes of image data of which imaging start date and
time is included in the period of the period display is acquired
(S944).
[0128] Subsequently, the display range of a recorded volume length
is calculated (S945). This display range of a recorded volume
length is calculated based on the ratio of a recorded volume M2 to
the maximum recorded volume M1 acquired in the step S944, for
example. The steps S942 to S945 are repeated for the entire image
data, and then the operation flow proceeds to the end (S946).
[0129] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the flow of decision of display
ranges of number-of-imaging length displays. Initially a unit
period is set (S951), and then information on the period of a
period display is acquired (S952). The unit period may be set to
one day, or alternatively may be set to one hour, for example.
Subsequently, the imaging start date and time of image data is
acquired (S953). A determination is then made as to whether or not
the imaging start date and time of the image data is included in
the period of the period display (S954). As for the image data of
which imaging start date and time is not included in the period of
the period display, no subsequent processing is executed and the
operation flow proceeds to the end.
[0130] The image data of which imaging start date and time is
included in the period of the period display is sorted based on the
set unit period. Subsequently, the number of imaging times in each
of the unit periods is counted (S955). Specifically, when the
period of the period display is from the 1st of. January 2005 to
the 15th of January 2005 and the unit period is set to one day for
example, the number of imaging times is counted for each day in the
period from the 1st of January 2005 to the 15th of January
2005.
[0131] Based on the numbers of imaging times per unit period
counted in the step S955, the display ranges of number-of-imaging
length displays are decided (S956). This decision is carried out
based on the ratios of the respective numbers of imaging times per
unit period to the maximum number of the numbers counted in the
step S955 for example. The steps S953 to S956 are repeated for the
entire image data, and then the operation flow proceeds to the end
(S957).
[0132] The embodiment of the invention is merely an example for
embodying the invention. Although the components in the embodiment
have the following correspondence to invention-specifying elements
set forth in claims, the invention is not limited to the components
but may be modified variously without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
[0133] Specifically, in claim 1, the imaging date-and-time
acquiring means corresponds to e.g. the imaging information
acquiring section 201. In addition, the imaging position deciding
means corresponds to e.g. the imaging start position deciding
section 203 and the imaging time length deciding section 205.
Furthermore, the imaging position display creating means
corresponds to e.g. the imaging position display creating section
208.
[0134] In claim 2, the period setting means corresponds to e.g. the
period setting part 204.
[0135] In claim 4, the effect display adding means corresponds to
e.g. the effect display adding section 211.
[0136] In claim 7, the recorded volume acquiring means corresponds
to e.g. the imaging information acquiring section 201. Furthermore,
the recorded volume length deciding means corresponds to e.g. the
recorded volume length deciding section 206.
[0137] In claim 9, the operating means corresponds to e.g. the
operating part 301. The selective area determining means
corresponds to e.g. the selective area determining section 302. The
thumbnail retaining means corresponds to e.g. the thumbnail
retaining section 305. The thumbnail extracting means corresponds
to e.g. the thumbnail extracting section 304.
[0138] In claim 10, the selected area display creating means
corresponds to e.g. the selected area display creating section
307.
[0139] In claim 11, the operating means corresponds to e.g. the
operating part 212. Furthermore, the period reduction setting means
corresponds to e.g. the period reduction setting part 213.
[0140] In claim 12, the imaging date-and-time acquiring means
corresponds to e.g. the imaging information acquiring section 201.
The imaging start date-and-time creating means corresponds to e.g.
the index table 202. The imaging start position deciding means
corresponds to e.g. the imaging start position deciding section
203. The imaging position display creating means corresponds to
e.g. the imaging position display creating section 208.
[0141] In claim 13, the imaging time length deciding means
corresponds to e.g. the imaging time length deciding section
205.
[0142] In claim 15, the recorded volume acquiring means corresponds
to e.g. the imaging information acquiring section 201. The recorded
volume length deciding means corresponds to e.g. the recorded
volume length deciding section 206. The imaging position display
creating means corresponds to e.g. the imaging position display
creating section 208.
[0143] In claim 16, the imaging date-and-time acquiring means
corresponds to e.g. the imaging information acquiring section 201.
The number-of-imaging length deciding means corresponds to e.g. the
number-of-imaging length deciding section 207. The imaging
frequency display creating means corresponds to e.g. the imaging
frequency display creating section 210.
[0144] In claim 19, the imaging date-and-time acquiring means
corresponds to e.g. the imaging information acquiring section 201.
In addition, the imaging position deciding means corresponds to
e.g. the imaging start position deciding section 203 and the
imaging time length deciding section 205. In addition, the imaging
position display means corresponds to e.g. the imaging position
display creating section 208 and the display part 42.
[0145] In claim 20, the step of acquiring imaging date,and time
corresponds to e.g. the steps S911, S922 and S933. In addition, the
step of deciding an imaging position corresponds to e.g. the steps
S914, S915, S924 and S937. Furthermore, the step of creating an
imaging position display corresponds to e.g. the step S916.
[0146] In claim 21, the step of acquiring imaging date and time
corresponds to e.g. the steps S911 and S933. The step of creating
imaging start date and time corresponds to e.g. the step S922. The
step of deciding a position corresponds to e.g. the steps S914 and
S924. The step of creating an imaging position display corresponds
to e.g. the step S916.
[0147] In claim 22, the step of acquiring imaging date and time
corresponds to e.g. the steps S911 and S953. The step of deciding a
number-of-imaging length corresponds to e.g. the steps S915, S955
and S956. The step of creating an imaging frequency display
corresponds to e.g. the step S916.
[0148] In claim 23, the step of acquiring imaging date and time
corresponds to e.g. the steps S911, S922 and S933. In addition, the
step of deciding an imaging position corresponds to e.g. the steps
S914, S915, S924 and S937. The step of creating an imaging position
display corresponds to e.g. the step S916.
[0149] In claim 24, the step of acquiring imaging date and time
corresponds to e.g. the steps S911 and S933. The step of creating
imaging start date and time corresponds to e.g. the step S922. The
step of deciding an imaging start position corresponds to e.g. the
steps S914 and S924. The step of creating an imaging position
display corresponds to e.g. the step S916.
[0150] In claim 25, the step of acquiring imaging date and time
corresponds to e.g. the steps S911 and S953. The step of deciding a
number-of-imaging length corresponds to e.g. the steps S915, S955
and S956. The step of creating an imaging frequency display
corresponds to e.g. the step S916.
[0151] The processing procedures described in the embodiment of the
present invention may be treated as a method including a series of
these procedures. Alternatively, the processing procedures may be
treated as a program for driving a computer to execute a series of
these procedures, or a recording medium that stores the
program.
[0152] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that
various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and
alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other
factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims
or the equivalents thereof.
* * * * *