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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera such that the order of processing of image data
recorded on a recording medium and a method of changing the order
of processing of the recorded image data. When an image is recorded,
information concerning image data is recorded in an image data management
file as a management record of respective image data units. The
image number of the images of which the order or processing is desired
to be changed is determined, and a desired, processing order is
determined. The management records after the image number are saved
and the control record of the image to be processed is written in
the control record position of the desired processing order. The
saved control records are written in the control record positions
in the desired order, and the written image numbers are rearranged
in the ascending order.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. An image processing apparatus adapted to display image data recorded
in a recording medium of a digital camera by converting an image
pickup light photoelectrically, comprising: an image data management
file for storing a plurality of recording information having a processing
sequence, an image type and a recording location of the recorded
image data, the image data management file being stored in the recording
medium separately from the image data; an updater operable to update
the image data management file; and a display operable to display
the recorded image data, wherein: the processing sequence of the
recorded image data is updated by changing record location information
of the recorded image data to record location information of another
recorded image data; and an order of which the image data are displayed
on the display is changed in compliance with the change of the processing
sequence.
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: an output part operable to output the recorded image
data to an external device, wherein an order of which the image
data are outputted to the external device is changed in compliance
with the change of the processing sequence.
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the record location information is a pointer to a storage location
of a respective image data.
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a receiver operable to receive a user request for a
change of the processing sequence, wherein: said request comprises
selecting an image from the image data and a position for the image
in the processing sequence; and the updater updates the image data
management file based on the user request.
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the image type is a format of the image data; and the record location
information is a parameter identifying at least one of a start position
and an end position of a storage location that stores a respective
image data.
6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the processing sequence is logically changed by changing the record
location information while physical location of the image data remains
unchanged.
7. A method for changing processing sequence of image processing
apparatus adapted to display image data recorded in a recording
medium of a digital camera by converting an image pick up light
photoelectrically, the image processing apparatus having an image
data management file for storing a plurality of recording information
having a processing sequence and a recording location information
of the recorded image data, the image data management file stored
into the recording medium separately from the image data, the method
comprising: deciding the processing sequence of predetermined image
data; and updating the processing sequence of the recorded image
data by changing recording location information of the recorded
image data to record location information of another recorded image
data.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said image data comprises
at least two file format types.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein a record for an image
data in one format is correlated to a record of a respective image
data in another format.
10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: displaying
the recorded image data on a display, an order of which is changed
in compliance with the update of the processing sequence.
Digital Camera Patent Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a Continuation application of U.S. application Ser.
No. 09/419,070 filed Oct. 15, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part
application of PCT/JP98/01252 filed on Mar. 20, 1998 which claims
benefit of priority based on Japanese Application Nos. Hei. 9-99454,
filed Apr. 16, 1997 and Hei. 10-61020, filed Mar. 12, 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a digital camera and, more
particularly, a digital camera which can change the processing sequence
such as display sequence of image data recorded on a recording medium.
[0003] Upon taking pictures successively, there may be occurred
such a case wherein after pictures of a certain object A are taken
and then pictures of another object B are taken, a photographer
wants to take pictures of the object A again due to some reason,
for example, he could not or forgot to take desired images. It is
of course that the suceedingly taken picture of the object A is
recorded after the pictures of the object B. In such case, if the
suceedingly taken picture of the object A can be rearranged to continue
to the precedingly taken pictures of the object A, it is convenient
for handling. According to the normal camera using the film, since
the taken pictures are recorded on the film in time series, it is
very difficult to change sequence of the taken pictures on the film.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In recent years, the digital camera (electronic still camera)
are now spreading. Since image data which are picked up and recorded
by the digital camera are electronic data (digital data), it is
convenient for the user if picked-up and recorded sequence of the
image data can be changed to display them when the image data are
displayed on a liquid crystal display, and if the image data can
be transmitted while changing the sequence of the image data when
the image data are transmitted to a personal computer (abbreviated
as "PC" hereinafter). Especially, in the digital camera
which has a function for reproducing the recorded images in order,
it is very convenient if the user can change the reproduction order.
[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above
requests, and it is an object of the present invention to provide
a digital camera which can change processing sequence of the image
data recorded on the recording medium into desired sequence, and
a method of changing processing sequence of image data recorded
in a digital camera.
[0006] In order to achieve this object, according to the present
invention, there is provided a digital camera for recording image
data onto a recording medium by converting an image pickup light
photoelectrically, comprising: an image data management file for
storing a plurality of recording information of the recorded image
data in connection with the respective image data, the image data
management file stored into the recording medium separately from
the image data; and means for updating the image data management
file.
[0007] Processing sequence of the recorded image data is changed
by updating at least a part of the plurality of recording information
stored in the image data management file.
[0008] The digital camera further comprises display means for displaying
the recorded image data. An order of which the image data are displayed
on the display means is changed in compliance with the change of
the processing sequence.
[0009] The digital camera further comprises output means for outputting
the recorded image data to an external device. An order of which
the image data are outputted to the external device is changed in
compliance with the change of the processing sequence.
[0010] The digital camera of the present invention other than the
above contains those evident from description of the best modes
for implementing the present invention or the drawings as an aspect
of the present invention.
[0011] According to the present invention, there is also provided
a method of changing processing sequence of image data recorded
in a recording medium of a digital camera by converting an image
pick up light photoelectrically, the digital camera an image data
management file for storing a plurality of recording information
of the recorded image data in connection with the respective image
data, the image data management file stored into the recording medium
separately from the image data, the method comprising the steps
of: deciding processing sequence of predetermined image data; and
updating the image data management file in compliance with the processing
sequence.
[0012] The step of updating the image data management file includes
a step of updating at least a part of a plurality of recording information
stored in the image data management file.
[0013] The method for the digital camera of the present invention
other than the above contains those evident from description of
the best modes for implementing the present invention or the drawings
as an aspect of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] In the accompanying drawings:
[0015] FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are block diagrams showing an example
of a configuration of a digital camera according to the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a configuration of
a controller;
[0017] FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are views showing an example of a configuration
of a data management file;
[0018] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are views showing update of the data
management file in order to change logically the image processing
sequence;
[0019] FIGS. 5(a)-5(c) are views showing an example of a configuration
of another data management file;
[0020] FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are views showing logical change of
the image processing sequence by updating the data management file
shown in FIG. 5;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a view showing another logical change of the image
processing sequence by updating the data management file shown in
FIG. 5;
[0022] FIGS. 8(a)-8(c) are views showing an example of an image
insertion display;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation
of an image insertion section;
[0024] FIGS. 10(a)-10(c) are views showing another example of the
image insertion display; and
[0025] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation
of the image insertion section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be explained
with reference to the accompanying drawings hereinafter.
[0027] FIG. 1(a) is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration
of a digital camera according to the present invention. The digital
camera 100 comprises an optical system 1 composed of lenses, a diaphragm
mechanism, etc., and for irradiating a reflected light reflected
from an imaging object onto a CCD 2; the CCD 2 for converting an
image pickup light supplied from the optical system 1 into an electric
signal; a signal processor 3 for processing the signal from the
CCD 2 and then outputting the signal as multi-valued (R, G, B) raster
data (image data) to a frame memory 6; a control section 4 for controlling
operations of the signal processor 3, the frame memories 6, a signal
processor 7 and a recording medium controller 8, and controlling
the image processing, the image compressing/expansion processings,
etc.; an input section 5 for inputting an instruction from the user
by the operation of the switch, etc. to provide it to the control
section 4; the signal processor 7 for converting the R, G, B raster
data on the frame memory 6 into a luminance component Y and color
difference components U, V, JPEG(Joint Photographic Experts Group)
compressing these components, and executing the contraction processing
to generate thumbnail image; the recording medium controller 8 for
receiving the output of the signal processor 7, and executing the
controls to write JPEG-compressed image data (referred to as "JPEG
image data" hereinafter) and thumbnail image data into a predetermined
location of a built-in recording medium 9 or an extended recording
medium 10, to read respective recorded JPEG image data, etc.; the
built-in recording medium 9 for storing the JPEG image data; the
extended recording medium 10 which is attached as occasion demands;
an interface 11 employed to communicate the data with external devices;
a display section 15 composed of LED indicators, etc., for displaying
operation states of the switch and functional specifications; and
a display screen 16 composed of a liquid crystal display, etc.,
for displaying the picked-up image or the imaging object image.
[0028] The built-in recording medium 9 is composed of a 4 MB flash
memory being fixed on the inside of the camera 100. A 4 to 45 MB
compact flash (trademark of SanDisk Corporation) card is employed
as the extended recording medium 10. As the built-in recording medium
9 and the extended recording medium 10, a SRAM (Static RAM), a memory
card, a FD (floppy disk), HDD (hard disk drive), MD (mini disk),
etc. may be employed.
[0029] FIG. 1(b) shows a configuration of the control section 4.
The control section 4 is composed of a CPU 41, a RAM 42, and a ROM
43. Control means 430 (FIG. 2) which consists of a group of programs
necessary for operation control and data processing in the digital
camera 100 is stored in the ROM 43. If a group of programs constituting
a controller 430 stored in the ROM 43 are stored in the built-in
recording medium 9, the ROM 43 may be omitted.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a configuration of
the controller 430 stored in the ROM 43. The controller 430 is composed
of a means required for the operation control of the digital camera
100, and an means required for the JPEG compression of the image
data, storing/reading of the JPEG image data, or the expansion of
the JPEG image data.
[0031] The controller 430 comprises a control system 431, an operation
judgement section 432, internal programs 433, data management section
50, and an image insertion section 60. Although the a data management
section 50 and the image insertion section 60 are contained in the
internal programs 433 in the embodiment, they are illustrated independently
by way of explanation.
[0032] The control system 431 executes an overall operation control
of the digital camera 100, for example, control of a diaphragm motor
driver (not shown) of the optical system, operation controls of
the signal processor 3, the frame memory 6, the signal processor
7 and the recording medium controller 8, and controls of the operation
judgement section 432, the data management section 50, and the image
insertion section 60.
[0033] The operation judgement section 432 judges what operation
is input from the input section 5 in accordance with the instruction
given by the user when a desired operation or processing is selected
by the user to operate the switch, etc. provided on the digital
camera 100. In response to the decision result, the operation judgement
section 432 transfers the control to the concerned program of the
internal programs 433 to the image insertion section 60, or transfers
the control to the control system 431 to execute the externally
introduced program.
[0034] The internal programs 433 are made up of programs for picking
up the images, generating the JPEG image data, and controlling LED
display at the time of picking up the image, etc., and are built
in the ROM 43. As an example of the internal program, there is a
compression program in the JPEG specification, which is necessary
for writing the JPEG image data into the built-in recording medium
9.
[0035] The image data (JPEG image data) are processed by the internal
programs 433 or a circuit equivalent thereto, and stored in the
built-in recording medium 9 or the extended recording medium 10
by the recording medium controller 8.
[0036] The data management section 50 associates with load/deletion/addition
of the picked-up image data into/from/into the recording medium
9 and load/deletion/addition of the program code introduced from
the external device, and executes data management which is equivalent
to file management being widely conducted by the computer device
such as the PC, etc. For example, there is the file management in
MS-DOS (trademark of Microsoft Corporation), etc.
[0037] The generated image data are loaded onto the recording medium
9 or the extended recording medium 10 by the recording medium controller
8. In this case, there is a necessity that the recording location
of the image data on the recording medium 9 must be managed. For
example, the data must be written into empty areas, i.e., write
enable areas when the image data are recorded, but there is a need
that the recording medium controller 8 must know which area of the
recording medium 9 is the empty areas.
[0038] For this reason, the data management section 50 is constructed
to handle a sheet of image data as the data file, provide separately
its register list, e.g., directory, and record the register list
itself in a predetermined location of the recording medium as a
file (referred to as a "data management file 51" hereinafter).
The predetermined location of the recording medium corresponds to
a predetermined block if the recording medium 9 is composed of the
flash memory, or a predetermined sector and track if the recording
medium 9 is composed of the magnetic disk.
[0039] FIGS. 3(a) and (b) show an example of the data management
file 51. The data management file 51 has a management record 510
every image data, and such management record comprises at least
an image number (or ID number) 511, a recording start position 512
and a recording end position 513 of the image data, a pointer 514
indicating a continuous recording start position, an associated
image number 515, and a write inhibit/enable flag 516.
[0040] The image number 511 consists of a data type code and a
number. The thumbnail image data, the image data, etc. are present
as the data type, and the data type code is defined such that the
thumbnail image data are indicated by "A", the image data
are indicated by "B", or the like.
[0041] Normally the recorded address of the image is written into
the recording start position 512 and the recording end position
513. If the recording medium 9 is composed of the flash memory,
the block number of the corresponding image data is written thereinto.
[0042] The pointer indicates a continuous recording start position
which is searched by the recording medium controller 8 when an area
where one data is to be written is smaller in size of the data and
which is separated from the area where the one data is to be written.
According to use of the pointer, the data can be logically continuously
loaded and read. In this case, if the recording end position coincides
with the end position of the loaded data, a special code, e.g.,
0000, is written into the pointer 514.
[0043] The associated image number 515 records the image number
of the corresponding thumbnail image data if the concerned data
are the image data, or the image number of the corresponding image
data if the concerned data are the thumbnail image data. In this
event, as shown in FIG. 3(a), if thumbnail image management records
and JPEG image management records correspond to each other at a
fixed distance (address distance), the associated image number 515
should not be provided since the thumbnail image management records
and the JPEG image management records can be correlated with each
other.
[0044] As for the write inhibit/enable flag 516, normally the write
inhibit code is written when the data are loaded while the write
enable code is written when the data are deleted, etc. Since the
data management section 50 checks the flag 516, then treats the
data in the area which is defined by the recording start position
512 and the recording end position 513 and the in area which is
defined by the pointer 514 as the read inhibit data, the image data
can be logically deleted in fact when the write enable flag is written
into the area.
[0045] The data management section 50 is not limited to the above
system. The data management section 50 may be constructed to write
several places of data identification numbers to head positions
of the thumbnail image data and the JPEG image data, for example,
A01 to An for the thumbnail image data and B01 to Bn for the JPEG
image data upon loading the data, and then to manage recording information
such as attributes, write location, occupied areas, etc. of respective
data by searching the identification numbers from the head of the
recording medium.
[0046] As the method of changing processing sequence of the recorded
image data, there are change of physical sequence of the image data
and change of logical sequence of the image data.
[0047] As a particular example of change of physical sequence of
the image data, in the image data recorded in the order of the image
numbers A010, A020, A030, . . . , An-1, An, an example in which
A011 picked up after An is inserted after A010 will be considered.
First, the image data of the image number A020 are saved to the
RAM 42, then the image data of the image number A011 are written
into the location of the image data of the image number A020, and
then the image data of the image number A011 are canceled from the
original location. Then, the image data of the image number A030
are saved into the RAM 42, and then the image data of the image
number A020 which have already been saved in the RAM 42 are written
into the location of the image data of the image number A030. All
image data are replaced in the order of the image numbers A010,
A011, A020, A030, . . . , An-1, An by repeating the above operations.
[0048] The above method is suitable for sequence change in the
record which has a relatively small data size, e.g., sorting of
a key record of the index file. It is difficult to save the image
data having the large data size into the RAM 42 having a small capacity.
Since save and load must be repeated in unit of block, or the like
to write one image data, the image data must be saved into a working
memory, e.g., for which the frame memory 6 is substituted, in practice.
However, since the number of writing times of the flash memory cannot
be assured only about ten thousand times if the flash memory is
employed as the built-in recording medium 9, it is impossible to
say that it is not desired to repeat load/cancel operations many
times in changing the sequence of the image.
[0049] Next, the change of logical sequence of the image data will
be explained with reference to FIGS. 3(a) and (b). The change of
the processing sequence of the image data can be achieved by replacing
the management record 510 registered in the data management file
51 in unit of the image number. Since the number of the management
records which can be registered in the data management file 51 is
small and also the size of the management record 510 which consists
of the image number 511, the recording start position 512, the recording
end position 513, and addition information (514 to 516) is small,
the sequence of the management record 510 can be updated physically
by loading the data management file 51 itself into the RAM 42. Also,
the data management file 51 can be stored in the built-in memory
medium 9 and the extended memory medium 10 respectively, but it
may be stored in a rewritable memory such as EEPROM, etc.
[0050] FIGS. 4(a) and (b) are views showing the logical change
of the processing sequence.
[0051] FIG. 4(a) shows the data management file 51 before the processing
sequence is changed. FIG. 4(b) shows the data management file 51
after the processing sequence has been changed. For convenience
of explanation, only the image number 511, the recording start position
512, and the recording end position 513 are illustrated for five
image data.
[0052] In FIG. 4(a), it is assumed that the image of the image
number A05 is inserted as an inserted image between A01 and A02.
To begin with, the management records 510 of A02 to A04 are saved
in the RAM 42, and then the management record 510 of A05 is loaded
in the location A02. Then, when the management records 510 of A02
to A04 are loaded in the locations A03 to A05, the order of the
management records 510 is A01, A05, A02, A03, A04 and thus A05 is
inserted between A01 and A02. After this, as shown in FIG. 4(b),
the image numbers are updated in ascending order like A01, A02,
A03, A04, and A05. As a result, the image insertion can be achieved
logically without the change of the physical location of the image
data which are stored in the recording medium.
[0053] If the flash memory is employed as the built-in recording
medium 9, the block number is written into the recording start position
512, the recording end position 513, and the pointer 514, and the
data management file 51 itself is loaded in unit of block. Therefore,
the new data management file 51 being changed as above can be implemented
by saving all the data management files 51 in the RAM 42 once, and
then canceling the contents of the block of the flash memory on
which the data management files 51 has been written.
(Other Embodiments of the Present Invention)
[0054] Another example of data management by the data management
section 50 is shown in FIGS. 5(a) to (c). The image data are managed
by a file name management file 71, a file management table 72, and
an image data 73. The file name management file 71 consists of a
file name 711 for indicating each image data 731, and a pointer
712 for indicating a location in which the image data 731 is recorded.
The above pointer 712, and a recording start location 721 and a
recording end location 722 in which the image data 731 is recorded
are stored in the file management table 72. In order to indicate
the end of the image data, a special code, e.g., "FFFFFFFF"
is written as the file name.
(Another Embodiment 1)
[0055] The logical change of the processing sequence of the image
data will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6(a) and (b).
[0056] The processing sequence of the image data is given in compliance
with the stored order of the file names 711 stored in the file name
management file 71. As shown in FIG. 6(a), it is assumed that the
image data A corresponds to the file name of image 001 and then
the image data B, C, D, E correspond to the file names of images
002 to 005 in sequence. At this time, the processing sequence can
be given as the processing sequence of the image data A, B, C, D,
E in compliance with the stored order of the file names 711.
[0057] Then, let us consider the case where the image data are
arranged in the processing sequence of the image data A, E, B, C,
D by updating the processing sequence of the image data. As shown
in FIG. 6(b), the image data are updated by checking the pointer
712 in the file name management file 71. Since the pointer 712 in
the file name management file 71 is not updated, the processing
sequence of the image data is changed in the order of the image
data A, E, B, C, D.
(Another Embodiment 2)
[0058] Although the processing sequence of the image data is set
in the stored order of the file names 711 in the above another embodiment
1, data indicating the processing sequence will be attached to the
file name 711 per se in this another Embodiment 2.
[0059] For instance, "XXX" in the image XXX of the file
name 711 is managed as the data indicating the processing sequence.
In the example shown is FIG. 6(a), since image 001 is first processed
and then images 002, . . . , image 005 are processed in order suceedingly,
the processing sequence of the image data 731 is given as the order
of the image data A, B, C, D, E.
[0060] Next, let us consider the case where the above processing
sequence is set in the order of the image data A, E, B, C, D. Since
the processing sequence of the image data is given by the sequence
of the numerals in the file names if only the file names 711 in
the file name management table 71 are updated as shown in FIG. 7,
such processing sequence of the image data can be changed on the
order of the image data A, E, B, C, D.
(Another Embodiment 3)
[0061] Unless the image data management table is not particularly
provided, the processing sequence can be changed by attaching information
indicating the processing sequence to a part of the image data and
then updating the information.
[0062] <Embodiment 1>
[0063] FIGS. 8(a) to (c) are views showing an example of a display
screen on which an inserted image and an inserted position candidate
image are displayed. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of
an operation of an image insertion section 60.
(1) Display of Inserted Image and Inserted Position Candidate Image
[0064] In step S1, first the first thumbnail image on the recording
medium as well as the image number is displayed. If the user continues
to push a button 19, the thumbnail images as well as the image numbers
are displayed continuously, as shown in FIG. 8(a). If the user pushes
a button 20, the display returns to the thumbnail image which is
precedingly displayed. If the user pushes the button 17 when the
image to be inserted is displayed, the desired inserted image and
the mountain landscape image of the image number A051 can be displayed
fixedly on the right side of the screen, as shown in FIG. 8(b).
[0065] In step S2, the first thumbnail image A001 (portrait image)
is displayed as the inserted position candidate image on the left
side of the screen. For example, if the user desires to combine
the suceedingly picked-up mountain landscape image A051 with the
precedingly picked-up mountain landscape image together and then
pushes a button 19 to search the mountain landscape image, the thumbnail
images are displayed subsequently. If the user pushes the button
20, the screen returns to the precedingly displayed thumbnail image.
If the user pushes the button 17 when the desired mountain landscape
image A020 is displayed, the image A020 can be displayed fixedly
as the inserted position candidate image on the left side of the
screen. The processing advances to step S3.
(2) Decision of Image Insertion Position
[0066] In step S3, the inserted position deciding screen in FIG.
8(c) is displayed to promote the user to decide that the inserted
image A051 should be inserted before the image A020 or after the
image A020. If the user pushes the button 19 to insert the inserted
image A051 before the image A020, the image A051 and the image A020
are switched and displayed on the left side and the right side respectively.
If the user pushes the button 19 to insert the inserted image A051
after the image A020, the image A051 and the image A020 are displayed
as they are. In either case, flashing the OK mark requests the user
to confirm them. If the button 17 is pushed, an insertion flag is
set to "1" when the inserted image A051 should be inserted
before the image A020 while the insertion flag is set to "2"
when the inserted image A051 should be inserted after the image
A020, and then the processing goes to step S4.
(3) Image Insertion
[0067] In step S4, the management record 510 of the image number
A051 is held by searching the data management file 51. If the flag
is "1", the management records 510 of the image number
A051 and subsequent image numbers are read from the data management
file 51, and then saved in the RAM 42. The management record 510
of the image number A051 is loaded into the location of the management
record 510 of the image number A020 in the data management file
51. The management record 510 which has been saved in the RAM 42
is then read, and then written in next recording locations subsequently.
Then, the processing goes to step S6. Since the image number (associated
image number 515) of the corresponding JPEG image is written in
the thumbnail image, the sequence of the management record 510 of
the JPEG image can be similarly changed. If the insertion flag is
set to "2", step S5 is carried out.
[0068] In step S5, the management records 510 of the image number
A021 following to the image number A020 and subsequent image numbers
are read from the data management file 51, and then saved in the
RAM 42. The management records 510 of the image number A051 is loaded
into the location of the management records 510 of the image number
A021 in the data management file 51, and then the management records
510 which have been saved in the RAM 42 are read and written into
the succeeding recording locations successively. Then, the processing
is shifted to step S6. In this case, the sequence of the management
records 510 of the JPEG images can be similarly changed.
[0069] In step S6, the thumbnail image management record of the
data management file 51, the image number 511 of the JPEG image
management record, and the associated image number 515 are updated
in ascending order.
[0070] According to the above steps, the desired inserted image
can be logically inserted into the desired locations. Since the
data recording medium controller 8 refers to the data management
file 51 in reading/loading or deleting the image data, the image
data train can be output in accordance with the sequence of the
management record 510 in the data management file 51 at the time
of display onto the liquid crystal display 16 or output of the image
data to the external device.
[0071] <Embodiment 2>
[0072] FIGS. 10(a) and (b) are examples of the display screen on
which only the inserted position candidate image is displayed. FIG.
11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image insertion section
60.
[0073] (1) Display of Inserted image and Inserted Position Candidate
Image
[0074] In step S11 in FIG. 11, first the first thumbnail image
on the recording medium together with the image number is displayed.
If the user continues to push the button 19, the thumbnail images
as well as the image numbers are displayed continuously as the inserted
position candidate image, as shown in FIG. 10(a). If the user pushes
the button 20, the display returns to the precedingly displayed
thumbnail image. If the user pushes the button 17, the processing
goes to step S12.
[0075] For example, it is assumed that the image number of the
desired fish image to be inserted (not shown), e.g., A56, is stored
and then the image A56 is inserted into the location of the previously
picked-up fish image by looking for such location. If the user continues
to push the button 19, the inserted position candidate images 82,
82' are displayed, as shown in FIG. 10(a). When the images are displayed
by operating the buttons 19, 20, and then the user, if finds the
fish image, pushes the button 17. When the button 17 is pushed,
the processing goes to step S12.
(2) Decision of Image Insertion Position
[0076] In step S12, the inserted position deciding screen in FIG.
10(b) is displayed to promote the user to decide that the stored
image A56 to be inserted should be inserted before the image Al
1, or between the images Al 1 and Al2, or after the image Al2.
[0077] If the user pushes the button 19, the insertion flag is
set to "1" to insert the inserted image before the image
Al1. If the user pushes the button 20, the insertion flag is set
to "2" to insert the inserted image between the images
Al 1 and Al2. If the user pushes the button 18, the insertion flag
is set to "3" to insert the inserted image after the image
Al2.
(3) Image Insertion
[0078] In step S14, when the user pushes the button 19 shown in
FIG. 10(c) one time, "10" is added to the inserted image
counter and the counter value is displayed on the liquid crystal
display 16. When the user pushes the button 17, the thumbnail image
of the concerned image number is displayed, and then the processing
goes to step S15. While, if the button 18 is pushed as the error,
then the counter value is set to "0" and the display returns
to the display shown in FIG. 10(c).
[0079] In step S15, the management record 510 of the image number
A56 is held by searching the data management file 51. If the flag
is "1", the management records 510 of the image number
A051 and subsequent image numbers are read from the data management
file 51, and then saved in the RAM 42. The management record 510
of the image number A56 is loaded into the location of the management
record 510 of the image number Al 1 in the data management file
51. The management record 510 which has been saved in the RAM 42
is then read, and then written in next recording locations subsequently.
Then, the processing goes to step S18. Since the image number of
the corresponding JPEG image is written in the thumbnail image,
the sequence of the management record 510 of the JPEG image can
be similarly changed. In step S16, if the image insertion flag is
set to "2", the management records 510 of the image number
Al2 and subsequent image numbers are read from the data management
file 51 and saved in the RAM 42. The management record 510 of the
image number A56 is loaded into the location of the management record
510 of the image number Al 2 in the data management file 51. The
management record 510 which has been saved in the RAM 42 is then
read, and then written in next recording locations subsequently.
Then, the processing goes to step S18. The sequence of the management
record 510 of the JPEG image can be similarly changed.
[0080] In step S17, if the image insertion flag is set to "3",
the management records 510 of the image number A13 and subsequent
image numbers are read from the data management file 51 and saved
in the RAM 42. The management record 510 of the image number A56
is loaded into the location of the management record 510 of the
image number A13 in the data management file 51. The management
record 510 which has been saved in the RAM 42 is then read, and
then written in next recording locations subsequently. Then, the
processing goes to step S18. The sequence of the management record
510 of the JPEG image can be similarly changed.
[0081] In step S18, the thumbnail image management record 510 of
the data management file 51, the image number 511 of the JPEG image
management record 510, and the associated image number 515 are updated
in ascending order.
[0082] The embodiments of the present invention have been explained
as above, but it is needless to say that the present invention should
not be interpreted to be limited to the above embodiments and various
variations and modifications may be adopted.
[0083] According to any digital camera or any method of changing
processing sequence of recorded image data of the present invention,
the processing sequence of the image data can be changed. Therefore,
the image data can be displayed in good order on the liquid crystal
display as associated images. The image data to be output to the
external device can also be output in good order as associated image
data. |