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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera includes an image shooting section which obtains
at least one set of image data by shooting. A metadata creating
section creates metadata comprising a plurality of data elements
indicative of information concerning the at least one set of image
data obtained by the image shooting section. A recording section
records in a recording medium at least one file having a first format
in which metadata is added to the at least one set of image data
and a file having a second format comprising metadata only.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A digital camera comprising: an image shooting section which
obtains at least one set of image data by shooting; a metadata creating
section which creates metadata comprising a plurality of data elements
indicative of information concerning the at least one set of image
data obtained by the image shooting section; and a recording section
which records in a recording medium at least one file having a first
format in which the metadata is added to the at least one set of
image data and a file having a second format comprising the metadata
only.
2. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising:
an update judgment section which judges whether one of the metadata
included in the at least one file having the first format and the
metadata included in the file having the second format is updated;
and a metadata synchronizing section which synchronizes the metadata
included in the file having the first format with the metadata included
in the file having the second format by replacing the other metadata
with the updated metadata when the update judgment section judges
that one of the two sets of metadata is updated.
3. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein, when the update
judgment section judges that the metadata included in the file having
the second format is updated, the metadata synchronizing section
compares the metadata included in the at least one file having the
first format with the metadata included in the file having the second
format in accordance with each data element, replaces the metadata
included in the file having the first format with the metadata included
in the file having the second format when a different data element
exists in the metadata included in the file having the first format
and the metadata included in the file having the second format and
the different data element is not a predetermined data element as
a result of the comparison, and replaces the metadata included in
the file having the second format with the metadata included in
the file having the first format when a different data element exists
in the metadata included in the file having the first format and
the metadata included in the file having the second format and the
different data element is the predetermined data element as a result
of the comparison, and the metadata synchronizing section replaces
the metadata included in the file having the second format with
the metadata included in the file having the first format when the
update judgment section judges that the metadata included in the
file having the first format is updated.
4. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined
data element includes information which is determined when obtaining
the image data by the image shooting section.
5. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein the information
determined when obtaining the image data includes a shutter speed
at the time of shooting, an aperture value at the time of shooting,
sensitivity information at the time of shooting, a shooting mode
at the time of shooting, a file name given to the at least one file
having the first format at the time of shooting, and a file name
given to the file having the second format at the time of shooting.
6. A digital camera comprising: an image shooting section which
obtains at least one set of image data by shooting; a metadata creating
section which creates metadata comprising a plurality of data elements
indicative of information concerning the at least one set of image
data obtained by image shooting section; a recording section which
records in a recording medium at least one file having a first format
in which the metadata is added to the at least one set of image
data; and a metadata judgment section which judges whether a file
having a second format comprising the metadata only is recorded
in the recording medium, wherein, when the metadata judgment section
judges that the file having the second format is not recorded in
the recording medium, the recording section creates the file having
the second format from the metadata included in the at least one
file having the first format and records the created file in the
recording medium.
7. The digital camera according to claim 6, further comprising:
an update judgment section which judges whether one of the metadata
included in the at least one file having the first format and the
metadata included in the file having the second format is updated;
and a metadata synchronizing section which synchronizes the metadata
included in the file having the first format with the metadata included
in the file having the second format by replacing the other metadata
with the updated metadata when the update judgment section judges
that one of the two sets of metadata is updated.
8. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein, when the update
judgment section judges that the metadata included in the file having
the second format is updated, the metadata synchronizing section
compares the metadata included in the at least one file having the
first format with the metadata included in the file having the second
format in accordance with each data element, replaces the metadata
included in the file having the first format with the metadata included
in the file having the second format when a different data element
exists in the metadata included in the file having the first format
and the metadata included in the file having the second format and
the different data element is not a predetermined data element as
a result of the comparison, and replaces the metadata included in
the file having the second format with the metadata included in
the file having the first format when a different data element exists
in the metadata included in the file having the first format and
the metadata included in the file having the second format and the
different data element is the predetermined data element as a result
of the comparison, and when the update judgment section judges that
the metadata included in the file having the first format is updated,
the metadata synchronizing section replaces the metadata included
in the file having the second format with the metadata included
in the file having the first format.
9. The digital camera according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined
data element includes information which is determined when obtaining
the image data by the image shooting section.
10. The digital camera according to claim 9, wherein the information
determined when obtaining the image data includes a shutter speed
at the time of shooting, an aperture value at the time of shooting,
sensitivity information at the time of shooting, a shooting mode
at the time of shooting, a file name given to the at least one file
having the first format at the time of shooting, and a file name
given to the file having the second format at the time of shooting.
11. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the metadata
creating section further creates a file having a third format which
is used to display an information concerning the at least one set
of image data constituting the metadata in a Web browser, and the
recording section records the file having the third format in the
recording medium.
12. An image data recording method comprising: obtaining at least
one set of image data by shooting; creating metadata comprising
a plurality of data elements indicative of information concerning
the at least one set of obtained image data; recording in a recording
medium at least one file having a first format in which the metadata
is added to the at least one set of image data and a file having
a second format comprising the metadata only; judging whether one
of the metadata included in the at least one file having the first
format and the metadata included in the file having the second format
is updated; and synchronizing the metadata included in the at least
one file having the first format with the metadata included in the
file having the second format by replacing the other metadata with
the updated metadata when it is determined that one of the two sets
of metadata is updated by the judgment.
13. The image data recording method according to claim 12, wherein
the synchronizing comprises: comparing the metadata included in
the at least one file having the first format with the metadata
included in the file having the second format in accordance with
each data element when it is judged that the metadata included in
the file having the second format is updated by the judgment; replacing
the metadata included in the file having the first format with the
metadata included in the file having the second format when a different
data element exists in the metadata included in the file having
the first format and the metadata included in the file having the
second format and the different data element is not a predetermined
data element as a result of the comparison; replacing the metadata
included in the file having the second format with the metadata
included in the file having the first format when a different data
element exists in the metadata included in the file having the first
format and the metadata included in the file having the second format
and the different data element is the predetermined data element
as a result of the comparison; and replacing the metadata included
in the file having the second format with the metadata included
in the file having the first format when it is determined that the
metadata included in the file having the first format is updated
by the judgment.
14. An image data recording method comprising: obtaining at least
one set of image data by shooting; creating metadata comprising
a plurality of data elements indicative of information concerning
the at least one set of obtained image data; recording in a recording
medium at least one file having a first format in which the metadata
is added to the at least one set of image data; judging whether
a file having a second format comprising the metadata only is recorded
in the recording medium; and creating the file having the second
format from the metadata included in the at least one file having
the first format and recording the created file in the recording
medium when it is judged that the file having the second format
is not recorded in the recording medium by the judgment.
Digital Camera Patent Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-220602,
filed Jul. 28, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a digital camera and a
data recording method which record digital image data.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] There have been made various kinds of proposals in relation
to a technique which adds information concerning image data as metadata
in order to retrieve or manage image data. For example, in a proposal
of Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI No. 2002-44592, metadata which is repeatedly
used is created in advance as attached information of binary data
such as image data, and this created metadata is repeatedly added
to a plurality of sets of binary data. Such a technique readily
enables generation of binary data having metadata.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a digital camera comprising: [0007] an image shooting
section which obtains at least one set of image data by shooting;
[0008] a metadata creating section which creates metadata comprising
a plurality of data elements indicative of information concerning
the at least one set of image data obtained by the image shooting
section; and [0009] a recording section which records in a recording
medium at least one file having a first format in which the metadata
is added to the at least one set of image data and a file having
a second format comprising the metadata only.
[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a digital camera comprising: [0011] an image shooting
section which obtains at least one set of image data by shooting;
[0012] a metadata creating section which creates metadata comprising
a plurality of data elements indicative of information concerning
the at least one set of image data obtained by image shooting section;
[0013] a recording section which records in a recording medium at
least one file having a first format in which the metadata is added
to the at least one set of image data; and [0014] a metadata judgment
section which judges whether a file having a second format comprising
the metadata only is recorded in the recording medium, [0015] wherein,
when the metadata judgment section judges that the file having the
second format is not recorded in the recording medium, the recording
section creates the file having the second format from the metadata
included in the at least one file having the first format and records
the created file in the recording medium.
[0016] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an image data recording method comprising: [0017] obtaining
at least one set of image data by shooting; [0018] creating metadata
comprising a plurality of data elements indicative of information
concerning the at least one set of obtained image data; [0019] recording
in a recording medium at least one file having a first format in
which the metadata is added to the at least one set of image data
and a file having a second format comprising the metadata only;
[0020] judging whether one of the metadata included in the at least
one file having the first format and the metadata included in the
file having the second format is updated; and [0021] synchronizing
the metadata included in the at least one file having the first
format with the metadata included in the file having the second
format by replacing the other metadata with the updated metadata
when it is determined that one of the two sets of metadata is updated
by the judgment.
[0022] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an image data recording method comprising: [0023] obtaining
at least one set of image data by shooting; [0024] creating metadata
comprising a plurality of data elements indicative of information
concerning the at least one set of obtained image data; [0025] recording
in a recording medium at least one file having a first format in
which the metadata is added to the at least one set of image data;
[0026] judging whether a file having a second format comprising
the metadata only is recorded in the recording medium; and [0027]
creating the file having the second format from the metadata included
in the at least one file having the first format and recording the
created file in the recording medium when it is judged that the
file having the second format is not recorded in the recording medium
by the judgment.
[0028] Advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description
which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description,
or may be learned by practice of the invention. Advantages of the
invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities
and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0029] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention, and together with the general description given above
and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve
to explain the principles of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital
camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIGS. 2A to 2C are views showing a file created at the time
of shooting a first image;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a view showing an image information portion;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a view showing an XML declarative portion;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a view showing an XSL file;
[0035] FIGS. 6A to 6C are views showing a file at the time of shooting
a second image;
[0036] FIG. 7 is a view showing an image information portion at
the time of shooting the second image;
[0037] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing metafile judgment processing
in a second embodiment according to the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing metafile creation processing
in the second embodiment according to the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 10 is a view showing an image information portion concerning
raw image data in a third embodiment according to the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 11 is a view showing an image information portion when
raw development data and a comment are changed;
[0041] FIG. 12 is a view showing an image information portion concerning
JPEG image data in the third embodiment according to the present
invention;
[0042] FIG. 13 is a view showing the image information portion
when still image edit processing is performed; and
[0043] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing metafile update processing
in the third embodiment according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0044] Embodiments according to the present invention will now
be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First Embodiment
[0045] A first embodiment according to the present invention will
now be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration
of a digital camera
(which will be referred to as a camera hereinafter) according to
the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0046] A shooting lens 1 forms an image of a light beam from a
non-illustrated subject on a predetermined image forming surface.
An aperture diaphragm 2 is arranged on an optical axis of the shooting
lens 1. This aperture diaphragm 2 adjusts an incident light quantity
of a light beam which has entered through the shooting lens 1. A
CCD 3 is arranged on the image forming surface of the shooting lens
1. This CCD 3 performs photoelectric conversion of an incident light
beam to obtain an image signal. A timing generator (TG) 4 controls
a read timing of an image signal obtained by the CCD 3.
[0047] An amplifier 5 amplifies an image signal read from the CCD
3 with a predetermined gain. An analog-to-digital conversion circuit
6 performs digital conversion of an output image signal from the
amplifier 5 to obtain image data. A camera signal processing circuit
7 carries out various kinds of image processing such as white balance
(WB) processing or gradation conversion processing based on output
image data from the analog-to-digital conversion circuit 6. An AE,
AF and AWB circuit 8 performs automatic exposure (AE) detection,
automatic focus (AF) detection and automatic white balance (AWB)
detection based on output image data from the analog-to-digital
conversion circuit 6.
[0048] A CPU 9 is a control section which entirely controls this
camera, and carries out processing such as an AE calculation, an
AF calculation, a white balance gain calculation and others based
on a result obtained by the AE, AF and AWB circuit 8. Further, the
CPU 9 also performs driving control of the aperture diaphragm 2
and driving control of the TG 4 in accordance with a result of the
AE calculation, and focus control of the shooting lens 1 in accordance
with a result of the AF calculation.
[0049] A bus 10 is a data transfer path through which output image
data from the analog-to-digital conversion circuit 6 or image data
subjected to image processing in the camera signal processing circuit
7 as well as various kinds of data are transferred. To this bus
10 are connected the camera signal processing circuit 7, the CPU
9, a JPEG processing circuit 11, a memory controller 12, a display
circuit 14, a memory card interface 16 and a PC interface 18.
[0050] The JPEG processing circuit 11 is a circuit which performs
JPEG compression processing of image data processed in the camera
signal processing circuit 7 and expansion processing of image data
subjected to JPEG compression. The memory controller 12 is a circuit
which controls storage of data in a DRAM 13. The display circuit
14 is a circuit which performs control when displaying a shot image
in an LCD 15. The memory card interface 16 is a circuit which performs
recording control when recording an image file or the like in a
recording medium (which will be referred to as a memory card hereinafter)
17 such as a memory card detachably constituted with respect to
this camera. The PC interface 18 is a circuit which mediates communication
between this camera and a PC 19 connected with this camera.
[0051] A flash device 20 illuminates a subject when, e.g., the
illuminance of the subject is low, and comprises a light source
and a light source drive circuit.
[0052] An input key 21 is an operation key group including a power
supply button which turns on a power supply of the camera, a release
button which starts the shooting and others.
[0053] File creation processing at the time of shooting an image
by the camera having such a configuration as shown in FIG. 1 will
now be described.
[0054] A description will be first given as to file creation processing
at the time of shooting (which will be referred to as the shooting
of a first image hereinafter) when an image file is not recorded
in the memory card 17. When the shooting of a first image is performed
by an image shooting section comprising the shooting lens 1, the
CCD 3, the analog-to-digital conversion circuit 6, the camera signal
processing circuit 7 and others, such an image file 101 as shown
in FIG. 2A is created, a metafile 102 and an XSL file 103 such as
shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C are also created, and these three files
are recorded in the memory card 17.
[0055] The image file (a file name: P1000001.JPG) 101 as a file
having a first format shown in FIG. 2A comprises an image data portion
(which is shown as image data 1 in the drawing) 101a in which image
data obtained by the shooting of the first image is recorded and
an image information portion (which is shown as image information
1 in the drawing) 101b in which image information concerning image
data obtained by the shooting of the first image is recorded.
[0056] Image data recorded in the image data portion 101a is image
data (JPEG image data) subjected to compression processing in the
JPEG processing circuit 11 or output image data (raw image data)
from the analog-to-digital conversion circuit 6.
[0057] On the other hand, image information recorded in the image
information portion 101b is information concerning image data obtained
in the shooting. In the first embodiment, shooting information indicative
of shooting conditions or the like in the shooting and file information
concerning an image file created in the shooting are written as
image information. In this example, as data elements included in
the shooting information, there are, e.g., a shutter speed, an aperture
value in the shooting and others. Furthermore, as data elements
included in the file information, there are, e.g., a file name,
a file size and others.
[0058] Moreover, the image information portion 101b is created
as metadata using an extensible markup language (XML) format. The
XML is one of markup languages in which information is written by
using a tag. In this XML, information can be written as text data.
Additionally, as different from a hyper text markup language (HTML),
the XML enables a user to create a tag without restraint.
[0059] FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of the image information
portion 10b. It is to be noted that FIG. 3 shows image information
when the image data is JPEG image data. As shown in FIG. 3, the
image information portion 101b has a hierarchical configuration
in which a shooting information tag which is used to write shooting
information and a file information tag which is used to write file
information are provided in a root tag called an image information
tag.
[0060] In the image file created as shown in FIG. 2A, the image
information written in the image information portion 101b cannot
be extracted unless a dedicated device or application software is
used. Therefore, there is almost no possibility of loss of the image
information written in the image information portion 101b from the
image file.
[0061] Further, the metafile (a file name: PicInfo.xml) 102 as
a file having a second format shown in FIG. 2B comprises an XML
declarative portion 102a and the image information portion 101b.
[0062] The XML declarative portion 102a is a portion indicating
a version of the XML, a character encoding method or the like, and
written as shown in FIG. 4. In this example, as the XML declarative
portion 102a shown in FIG. 4, one standardized by the World Wide
Web Consortium (W3C) can be used as it is. Here, the detailed description
thereof will be eliminated.
[0063] Furthermore, in the XML declarative portion 102a shown in
FIG. 4, an XSL file (a file name: PicInfo.xsl) 103 is specified
in a style sheet. By specifying the XSL file 103 in the style sheet,
the image information written as the XML data can be converted into
HTML data, and a content written in the metafile (PicInfo.xml) 102
can be thereby displayed in a Web browser.
[0064] The XSL file (PicInfo.xsl) 103 as a file having a third
format shown in FIG. 2C is a file written in a format called XSLT
shown in FIG. 5. This XSLT is also standardized in W3C. Here, the
detailed explanation will be eliminated.
[0065] File creation processing at the time of shooting a second
image will now be described. The same file creation processing as
that of the second image shooting is performed at the time of shooting
a third image and subsequent images.
[0066] At the time of shooting the second image, an image file
(a file name: P1000002.JPG) 201 comprising such an image data portion
(shown as image data 2 in the drawing) 201a in which image data
acquired at the time of shooting the second image is recorded as
shown in FIG. 6A and an image information portion (shown as image
information 2 in the drawing) 201b in which image information concerning
the image data acquired at the time of shooting the second image
is recorded is newly created. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6B,
the image information portion 201b concerning the second image data
is added to the metafile (PicInfo.xml) 102. FIG. 7 shows the metafile
(PicInfo.xml) 102 to which the image information 201b concerning
the second image is added. In this example, the XSL file (PicInfo.xsl)
103 is not changed (see FIG. 6C).
[0067] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the
image information written as the XML data in the metafile can be
readily read by using a universal technique such as a Web browser.
Moreover, since the image information is also recorded in the image
file, the relevance between the image information and the image
data is not lost.
Second Embodiment
[0068] A second embodiment according to the present invention will
now be described. The second embodiment according to the present
invention is an example of newly creating a metafile (PicInfo.xml)
when, e.g., a user accidentally deletes a metafile (PicInfo.xml).
It is to be noted that a hardware configuration is the same as that
described in conjunction with FIG. 1. However, the CPU 9 in the
second embodiment has a function as a metadata judgment section
which judges whether a metafile (PicInfo.xml) is recorded in the
memory card 17.
[0069] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing metafile judgment processing
which is performed immediately after the power supply of the camera
is turned on. This processing of FIG. 8 is executed in the CPU 9.
[0070] After turning on the power supply, the CPU 9 checks a file
in the memory card 17 (step S11). As a result of the file check
at step S11, the CPU 9 judges whether a metafile (PicInfo.xml) exists
in the memory card 17 (step S12).
[0071] If it is determined that the metafile (PicInfo.xml) exists
in the memory card 17 as a result of the judgment at step S12, step
S12 jumps to step S13 where the CPU 9 executes regular camera activation
processing (step S13). On the other hand, if it is determined that
the metafile (PicInfo.xml) does not exist in the memory card 17
as a result of the judgment at step S12, step S12 jumps to step
S14 where the CPU 9 executes metafile (PicInfo.xml) creation processing
(step S14). Thereafter, the processing advances to step S13.
[0072] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the metafile (PicInfo.xml)
creation processing at step S14 in FIG. 8.
[0073] In FIG. 9, the CPU 9 creates an XML declarative portion
of the metafile (PicInfo.xml) and an XSL file (PicInfo.xsl) (step
S21).
[0074] Then, the CPU 9 judges whether an unprocessed image file
exists (step S22). Here, the "unprocessed image file"
means an image file from which image information is not extracted
and in which image information is not added to the image information
portion of the metafile (PicInfo.xml). If it is determined that
there is an unprocessed image file at step S22, step S22 jumps to
step S23, and the CPU 9 extracts image information in the image
file (the step S23) and adds the extracted image information to
the image information portion of the metafile (PicInfo.xml) (step
24). Then, the processing returns to step S22.
[0075] On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no
unprocessed image file as a result of the judgment at step S22,
the processing of FIG. 9 is terminated.
[0076] As described above, according to the second embodiment,
in cases where a metafile does not exist when the power supply of
the camera is turned on, a metafile is created from image information
recorded in an image file. As a result, even if a metafile is accidentally
deleted, the metafile can be restored.
[0077] It is to be noted that the processing shown in FIGS. 8 and
9 is executed immediately after the power supply is turned on in
the second embodiment, but the present invention is not restricted
thereto. For example, this processing may be executed at each predetermined
time after the power supply of the camera is turned on.
Third Embodiment
[0078] A third embodiment according to the present invention will
now be described. Since data elements constituting a metafile (PicInfo.xml)
are written as text data, a content of the data elements can be
readily changed by using, e.g., a text editor. On the other hand,
image information recorded in an image file is automatically set
in accordance with shooting conditions at the time of image shooting
or image processing conditions at the time of image processing.
In the third embodiment according to the present invention, image
information recorded in an image information portion of an image
file is synchronized with image information recorded in an image
information portion of a metafile so that the image information
can be easily changed by universal means.
[0079] Here, it is not preferable that information concerning shooting
conditions, e.g., a shooting date and time, a shutter speed in the
shooting, an aperture value in the shooting and others is updated
since it is information determined in the shooting. Further, it
is also desirable that a file name (this file name is a file name
automatically given by the camera at the time of image shooting)
is not updated in view of retrieval of files and others consideration.
[0080] Accordingly, in the third embodiment, even if a data element
included in image information of a metafile (PicInfo.xml) is updated,
a data element of an image file is prevented from being updated
when the updated data element is a predetermined data element. This
predetermined data element is information which is mainly determined
at the time of image shooting, and includes information concerning
shooting conditions, e.g., a shutter speed at the time of shooting,
an aperture value at the time of shooting, sensitivity information
at the time of shooting, a shooting mode at the time of shooting,
a flash mode at the time of shooting or an exposure mode at the
time of shooting, file names given to an image file and a metafile
at the time of shooting and others events.
[0081] The hardware configuration in the camera according to the
third embodiment is the same as that described in conjunction with
FIG. 1. However, the CPU 9 in the third embodiment includes a function
as an update judgment section which judges whether a data element
of one of an image file and a metafile is updated and a function
as a metadata synchronizing section which achieves synchronization
between a data element of an image file and a data element of a
metafile.
[0082] FIG. 10 is a view showing an image information portion which
is simultaneously created when raw image data is acquired by the
camera according to the third embodiment. In the image information
portion depicted in FIG. 10, a raw development information tag and
a comment tag are added in addition to the tag depicted in FIG.
3.
[0083] The raw development information tag is a tag in which information
to which reference is made by a device having an image processing
function, e.g., a PC can be written when developing raw image data
by the device having an image processing function, e.g., PC. The
comment tag is a tag in which can be written a comment with respect
to an image file.
[0084] For example, in cases where the sharpness (an edge emphasizing
quantity) when developing raw image data is changed from "strong"
to "weak" or where a comment "athletic meeting"
is added to an image file, a user changes image information written
in the image information portion of a metafile (PicInfo.xml) by
using a text editor or the like (see FIG. 11). In the third embodiment,
when image information of a metafile (PicInfo.xml) is updated as
shown in FIG. 11, image information of an image file is also updated.
[0085] Further, FIG. 12 is a view showing an image information
portion which is simultaneously created when JPEG image data is
acquired by the camera according to the third embodiment. In the
image information portion depicted in FIG. 12, an editing tag is
added besides the tags depicted in FIG. 3.
[0086] The editing tag is a tag in which an editing content is
written when still image editing such as realization of a monochromatic
image or rotation of an image is carried out.
[0087] For example, when a user performs monochromatic image realization
processing with respect to image data, information called "monochrome"
is newly written in image information written in the image information
portion of an image file (see FIG. 13). Image information written
in a metafile is also updated in accordance with this processing.
[0088] Such file update processing will now be described in detail
with reference to FIG. 14. When one of an image file and a metafile
is updated, the CPU 9 acquires the updated file (step S31). Then,
the CPU 9 judges whether the updated file is an image file (step
S32).
[0089] If it is determined that the updated file is not the image
file, i.e., the updated file is the metafile (PicInfo.xml) as a
result of the judgment at step S32, step S32 jumps to step S33,
the CPU 9 acquires image information concerning the first shot written
in the metafile (PicInfo.xml) (step S33). Then, an image file which
coincides with a file name written in a file name tag of the acquired
image information is opened (step S34). Further, each data element
of image information in this opened image file is compared with
each data element of image information in the metafile (PicInfo.xml).
Then, a data element which differs between the image information
in the image file and the image information in the metafile (PicInfo.xml)
is detected (step S35). Subsequently, the CPU 9 judges whether the
data element which differs between the image file and the metafile
(PicInfo.xml) is a replaceable data element as a result of the comparison
at step S35 (step S36).
[0090] If it is determined that the data element which differs
between the image file and the metafile (PicInfo.xml) is a replaceable
data element in the judgment at step S36, step S36 jumps to step
S37, the CPU 9 replaces the image information written in the image
information portion of the image file with the image information
written in the image information portion of the metafile (PicInfo.xml)
(step S37), and then the processing advances to step S38. It is
needless to say that only the data element which differs between
the image file and the metafile (PicInfo.xml) can be replaced at
this time.
[0091] On the other hand, if it is determined that the data element
which differs between the image file and the metafile (PicInfo.xml)
is an irreplaceable data element in the judgment at step S36, the
processing advances to step S38 without performing replacement of
the data element. It is to be noted that replacing the image information
of the metafile (PicInfo.xml) with the image information of the
image file is more preferable. By doing so, the image information
of the image file and the image information of the metafile are
always equal to each other.
[0092] Then, the CPU 9 closes the image file (step S38). Further,
the CPU 9 judges whether the acquired image information is the last
image information written in the metafile (PicInfo.xml) (step S39).
If it is determined that the acquired image information is not the
last image information in the judgment at step S39, step S39 jumps
to step S40, the CPU 9 acquires the next image information (step
S40), and then the processing returns to step S34. On the other
hand, if it is determined that the acquired image information is
the last image information in the judgment at step S39, the processing
shown in FIG. 14 is terminated.
[0093] Furthermore, if it is determined that the updated file is
an image file in the judgment at step S32, step S32 jumps to step
S41, and the CPU 9 opens the metafile (PicInfo.xml) and retrieves
a file name (step S41). Then, image information written in the image
information portion under the retrieved file name is replaced with
image information written in the image information portion of a
corresponding image file (step S42). Thereafter, the metafile (PicInfo.xml)
is closed (step S43), and the processing shown in FIG. 14 is terminated.
[0094] As described above, in the third embodiment, image information
of an image file can be readily updated by achieving synchronization
of image information between an image file and a metafile. As a
result, by updating raw development information or the like written
in, e.g., a metafile by using, e.g., a text editor, the updated
content can be also easily reflected on an image file. Consequently,
an effect of improving the image quality when, e.g., subjecting
raw image data to image processing can be expected.
[0095] Moreover, when a data element such as shooting conditions
in shooting which should not be updated is updated in a metafile,
a data element of an image file is prevented from being replaced,
thereby updating appropriate image information only.
[0096] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader
aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative
embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications
may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general
invention concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
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