JP2006005494A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor for processing image data easily. <P>SOLUTION: Upon receiving an image data file, a decision is made whether there is a file to be transferred or not at step S11 and take-in of data is ended if there is no file. The control advances to step S12 if there is a file where the file is transferred from a camera, and a decision is made whether there is extra data or not at step S13. Predetermined default processing is carried out at step S14 if there is no extra data, otherwise processing is carried out by the extra data at step S15. Following to step S14 or S15, transition is made to step S16 where a decision is made whether processing is successful or not. The control returns back to step S11 if it is successful, other wise take-in of data is ended. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that can be applied to a personal computer, a printer compatible with direct printing, and the like, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus that can easily execute image data processing.

There is known a digital still camera capable of recording a photographing target as digital data. In such an apparatus, captured image data is often stored in a memory in the main body so that it can be taken out as necessary. In this case, some image data can be transmitted / received to / from an external device by communication (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-230999 A

However, in the conventional method, when images taken by a digital camera are transferred to an external device such as a PC (personal computer), the images are transferred all at once. Although it is necessary to start and process the software, it is time-consuming to manually select the image and the processing software and perform the processing when it is desired to perform a specific process for each specific image group.
In the conventional method, when images are imported to a PC or the like, the images are transferred to a designated folder or a newly created folder in a lump, and it takes time and effort to classify the images after the transfer. Further, when an image captured by batch transfer is transmitted to another apparatus as necessary, it takes time and effort to manually select an image and processing software. Further, when pasting an image captured by batch transfer to an electronic document such as a word processor as needed, it takes time and effort to manually select an image and processing software.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus that can easily execute image data processing.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 receives the image file by communicating with an image recording apparatus having a recording means capable of adding additional data to the image file for recording. Data transfer means for transferring data, storage means for storing the transferred data, and control means for performing processing designated by the additional data in the image file.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the additional data is image classification data, and a file classified by the additional data is selected and transferred.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the additional data is file transmission destination data, and the transferred file is transmitted to a transmission destination associated with the additional data.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the additional data is document creation instruction data, and image data is embedded in a document instructed by the additional data from a transferred file.

  According to the present invention, by performing image processing with additional information added to the image of the image file, it becomes possible to automatically select the file when processing the image and process the image data. It can be performed easily.

Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus that is the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The image processing apparatus described here is for an image recording apparatus such as a digital still camera having a function capable of embedding (adding) additional data such as information and memos for executing a specified process in an image. Thus, image data and additional data can be exchanged. Before taking a picture, select the input content desired by the photographer on the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) of the digital still camera (image recording device), and then embed (add) as additional data in the image data file. Is done. Alternatively, the input content may be selected and embedded at the time of reproduction. When inputting a memo or the like, sound or image data may be embedded in the additional data area to save time.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main part of an image processing apparatus which is the best mode for carrying out the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus includes a CPU 1 that performs processing according to a program, a ROM 2 and a RAM 3 that store programs, a memory card 4 that stores data, a memory card I / F 5, an HDD 6, and input control means 7 using a keyboard and a mouse. , A display control means 8 using a CRT or LCD, a USB I / F 9 for communicating with an external device, and a communication I / F 10. Note that the data fetching may include any one of delivery by the memory card 4 and delivery by communication such as USB or LAN.
These can be constituted by a personal computer (PC) and image capturing software (SW). The PC is equipped with an operating system (OS), and the SW is executed by the function of the OS. The PC is equipped with a storage device such as an HDD, and the storage device is managed as a storage area by a file system (FS) which is a function of the OS. The application software can access the storage area by a function provided by the OS, and designates the storage area by a file path name including a drive name, a folder name, and a file name. As described above, the image processing apparatus includes the PC, the SW, and the OS, and receives the image file by transferring to the image recording apparatus by communicating with the image recording apparatus having the recording unit that embeds the additional data in the image file and records the data. Data transfer means and storage means for storing the transferred data are realized.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing basic processing operations necessary to realize the image processing apparatus which is the best mode for carrying out the present invention. Explaining this operation flow, when an image data file is received by a memory card or USB I / F, it is confirmed in step S1 whether there is a file to be transferred. If there is a file, the process proceeds to step S2, the file is transferred from the camera, and the file is stored in a predetermined folder or the like in the HDD in step S3. In step S4, it is confirmed whether or not the process is successful. If the process is successful, the process returns to step S1, and if not successful, the data acquisition is terminated. FIG. 3 shows an example of the file structure. The file structure may store additional data in an option area of a standardized format such as EXIF.
FIG. 4 is a processing flow showing an operation when processing with additional data is performed in the image processing apparatus which is the best mode for carrying out the present invention. In this operation flow, when an image data file to which processing control data is added by a memory card or USB I / F is received, it is confirmed whether there is a file to be transferred in step S11. If there is a file, the process proceeds to step S12, and the file is transferred from the camera. In step S13, it is confirmed whether there is additional data. If there is no additional data, a predetermined default process is executed in step S14. If there is, processing with additional data is performed in step S15. After step S14 or step S15, the process proceeds to step S16 to check whether the process is successful. If the process is successful, the process returns to step S11. If not successful, the data acquisition is terminated. Accordingly, since the file is automatically selected when the image is captured, the image data can be easily processed.

FIG. 5 shows a processing flow in the case where the file is acquired when the additional data matches the predesignated data and stored in a predetermined folder or the like in the HDD. In this case, a file classified by the additional data is selected and transferred. In this operation flow, when an image data file is received by a memory card or USB I / F, it is checked whether there is a file to be transferred in step S21. If there is a file, the process proceeds to step S22, and additional data is acquired. The process proceeds to step S23 to check whether there is additional data. If there is no additional data, the process returns to step S21. If there is additional data, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S21, it is confirmed whether the additional data is designated data. If it is not designated data, the process returns to step S21. If it is designated data, the process proceeds to step S25. In step S25, the file is acquired and stored in the HDD. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S26 to check whether the process is successful. If successful, the process returns to step S21. finish. Therefore, it is possible to automatically select and capture a file when capturing an image.
FIG. 6 shows a first example of additional data. As additional data in this case, a transfer method is set as data 1, a server name is set as data 2, a storage destination is set as data 3, and a file name is set as data 4.

FIG. 7 shows a processing flow when a processing program is started to transfer to a storage destination file of a specified server when transfer such as FTP is specified as the transfer method. In this case, the transferred file is transmitted to a transmission destination related to the additional data. In this operation flow, whether or not the process is file transfer is confirmed in step S31. If it is not file transfer, the process proceeds to step S32 and no process is performed. If it is a file transfer, the process proceeds to step S33 to extract the server name, storage destination, and file name, and further proceeds to step S34 to start a transfer method program. Then, the process proceeds to step S35 to check whether the process is successful. If it is not successful, it is judged as NG in step S36, and if successful, it is recognized as OK in step S37. Therefore, a file can be automatically selected when an image is captured and transmitted to another device.
FIG. 8 shows a second example of additional data. As additional data in this case, an application name is set as data 1, a template name is set as data 2, an image pasting location is set as data 3, and a file name is set as data 4.
FIG. 9 shows a processing flow when image data is pasted to the designated template pasting location and saved in the designated file name when the application is designated. In this case, the image data is embedded in the document designated by the additional data from the transferred file. In this operation flow, it is confirmed in step S41 whether an application exists. If no application exists, the process proceeds to step S42 and no processing is performed. If the application exists, the process proceeds to step S43 to extract the template name, paste location, and file name, and further proceeds to step S44 to start the application program. Then, the process proceeds to step S45 to check whether the process is successful. If it is not successful, NG is determined in step S46, and if it is successful, OK is recognized in step S47. Therefore, it is possible to automatically select and paste an image on an electronic document when the image is captured.

1 is a block diagram of a main part of an image processing apparatus that is the best mode for carrying out the present invention. 1 is a flowchart showing basic processing operations necessary to realize an image processing apparatus that is the best mode for carrying out the present invention. Schematic showing an example of the file structure. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing operation in the image processing apparatus which is the best mode for carrying out the present invention. The flowchart which shows the processing operation in the case of storing a file. Schematic which shows the 1st example of additional data. The flowchart which shows an example of the processing operation in the case of starting a processing program in order to transfer to a file. Schematic which shows the 2nd example of additional data. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing operation when image data is pasted and saved in a specified file name.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU, 2 ROM, 3 RAM, 4 memory card, 5 memory card I / F, 6 HDD, 7 input control means, 8 display control means, 9 USB I / F, 10 communication I / F

Claims (4)

A data transfer means for receiving the image file and transferring the data by communicating with an image recording apparatus having a recording means capable of adding and recording additional data in the image file;
Storage means for storing the transferred data;
Control means for performing processing specified by the additional data in the image file;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional data is image classification data, and a file classified by the additional data is selected and transferred.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional data is file transmission destination data, and the transferred file is transmitted to a transmission destination associated with the additional data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional data is document creation instruction data, and image data is embedded in a document specified by the additional data from a transferred file.

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