JP2015035784A - Image processing apparatus, method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately set a file path for a representative image in a case where material images are stored by a series of consecutive photographing and the representative image related to the series of material images is produced during the photographing.SOLUTION: In a digital camera 100 that stores material images by a series of consecutive photographing and produces a representative image related to the series of material images during the photographing, when the series of consecutive photographing is started, a file path out of a DCF naming rule, for example, is decided as a temporal file path so as not to be overlapped with a file path for the series of material images stored by the photographing. While the series of consecutive photographing is performed, the material image is stored in a file path decided in an ascending order of the DCF naming rule for each photographing, and the representative image is recorded in the temporal file path. After termination of the photographing of the series of material images, the temporal file path is changed to a file path continuous to the file path of the last material image.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, method, and program for storing a material image by a series of photographing and creating a representative image related to the series of material images during the photographing.

  Conventionally, when an image is stored in accordance with a predetermined naming rule, the image processing apparatus has a name that does not overlap with the name of the named image in the recording medium, and before the confirmation of the named image on the recording medium is completed, a new image is created. Something that realizes photography has been proposed. In Patent Document 1, the captured digital image data is recorded on a recording medium with a temporary recording file name in the temporary recording directory, and the temporary recording file name is converted into a management file name. The camera can shoot in a short time after the power is turned on, and can shoot without missing a photo opportunity.

JP 2002-247435 A

  However, Patent Document 1 discusses how to handle a file path of a representative image when a material image is stored by a series of photographing and a representative image related to the series of material images is created during the photographing. It has not been. For example, the case where the file path of the representative image cannot be generated due to the configuration of a predetermined naming rule has not been studied. In addition, it is preferable that the representative image can be viewed immediately upon transition to the reproduction mode, but this may be difficult depending on the relationship between the file path of the series of material images and the file path of the representative image.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points. When a material image is stored by a series of photographing and a representative image related to the series of material images is created during the photographing, a representative image file is created. The purpose is to be able to set the path appropriately.

  The image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image processing apparatus that stores a material image by a series of photographing and creates a representative image related to the series of material images during the photographing. A determination means for determining a temporary file path of a representative image so as not to overlap with a file path of a series of material images stored by shooting, and during a series of shooting, each shooting is ordered according to a predetermined naming rule. And a recording control unit for storing the representative image in the temporary file path determined by the determination unit.

  According to the present invention, when a material image is stored by a series of photographing and a representative image related to the series of material images is created during the photographing, the file path of the representative image can be appropriately set.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the imaging | photography recording process of the digital camera which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the file structure in the digital camera which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the reproduction process of the digital camera which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the imaging | photography recording process of the digital camera which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the file structure in the digital camera which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(First embodiment)
In the embodiments described below, a digital camera capable of shooting and recording moving images and still images will be described as an image processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In a specific recording mode (hereinafter referred to as a material storage photographing mode), a digital camera captures and stores a material image by a series of photographing in response to an image recording instruction being input, and relates to a series of material images. Create a representative image. As an example of the material preserving shooting mode, there is a mode in which still images taken at regular intervals are used as material images, and a moving image in which each material image is one or more frame images is used as a representative image. In addition, there is a mode in which still images taken at regular intervals are used as material images, and synthesized still images obtained by superimposing and combining the material images are used as representative images.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment.
The control unit 101 includes, for example, a CPU (MPU), a memory (DRAM, SRAM), etc., executes various processes (programs) to control each block of the digital camera 100, and controls data transfer between the blocks. To do. Further, the control unit 101 controls each block of the digital camera 100 in accordance with an operation signal from the operation unit 102 that receives an operation from the user. The control unit 101 analyzes an image obtained by an image processing unit 111 described later, and controls each block of the digital camera 100 according to the analysis result.

  The operation unit 102 includes switches for inputting various operations related to shooting such as a power button, a still image recording button, a moving image recording start button, a zoom adjustment button, and an autofocus button. In addition, a menu display button, a determination button, other cursor keys, a pointing device, a touch panel, and the like are included. When these keys and buttons are operated by the user, an operation signal is transmitted to the control unit 101.

  The bus 103 is a general-purpose bus for sending various data and signals to each block of the digital camera 100.

The imaging unit 110 controls the amount of light of an optical image of a subject captured by a lens using an aperture, converts the optical image into an image signal using an imaging element such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, performs analog-digital conversion, and performs an image processing unit 111. Send to.
The image processing unit 111 performs image quality adjustment processing for adjusting white balance, color, brightness, and the like on the input digital image signal based on setting values. The image signal processed by the image processing unit 111 is transmitted to the memory 104, the video output unit 150, and the display control unit 131 under the control of the control unit 101.
In the present embodiment, the imaging unit 110 has an “optical zoom” function and an “optical image stabilization” function, and the image processing unit 111 has an “electronic zoom” function and an “electronic image stabilization” function. Here, the “optical zoom” function and the “electronic zoom” function are functions for enlarging an obtained image in accordance with a user operation. The “optical image stabilization” function and the “electronic image stabilization” function are functions for preventing image shake due to vibration of the digital camera 100 main body. These functions are used simultaneously under the control of the control unit 101, used alternately, or used alone.
Here, the “optical zoom” function is a function of enlarging / reducing an optical image of a captured subject by moving the lens of the imaging unit 110 in response to the user operating the zoom key of the operation unit 102. It is. In addition, the “electronic zoom” function refers to an enlargement of an image obtained by cutting out a part of the image generated by the imaging unit 110 by the image processing unit 111 in response to the user operating the zoom key of the operation unit 102. This is a process for generating the processed image signal. The “optical image stabilization” function is an image acquired by calculating the amount of lens movement based on the value of an acceleration signal from a vibration detection unit (not shown) and moving the lens of the imaging unit 110. This is a function to prevent shaking. Further, the “electronic image stabilization” function means that the image processing unit 111 adjusts the position of the image signal acquired by the imaging unit 110 based on the value of an acceleration signal from a vibration detection unit (not shown). This function prevents the image from shaking. The “electronic image stabilization” function can also be realized by shifting the readout position of the image sensor of the imaging unit 110 based on the value of an acceleration signal from a vibration detection unit (not shown). Since these functions are well-known techniques, detailed description is omitted.

The audio input unit 120 collects (collects) sound around the digital camera 100 using, for example, a built-in omnidirectional microphone or an external microphone connected via an audio input terminal, and performs analog-digital conversion. And transmitted to the voice processing unit 121.
The sound processing unit 121 performs sound-related processing such as level optimization processing of the input digital sound signal. The audio signal processed by the audio processing unit 121 is transmitted to the memory 104 under the control of the control unit 101.

The memory 104 temporarily stores the image signal and the audio signal obtained by the image processing unit 111 and the audio processing unit 121.
The image processing unit 111 and the audio processing unit 121 read out the image signal and the audio signal temporarily stored in the memory 104 and perform the encoding of the image signal, the encoding of the audio signal, and the like, and the compressed image signal and the compressed audio signal And so on. The compressed image signal and the compressed audio signal generated by the image processing unit 111 and the audio processing unit 121 are transmitted to the recording / reproducing unit 140 under the control of the control unit 101.

The recording / reproducing unit 140 records, on the recording medium 141, the compressed image signal, the compressed audio signal generated by the image processing unit 111 and the audio processing unit 121, and other control data related to shooting. When the audio signal is not compression-encoded, the audio signal generated by the audio processing unit 121 and the compressed image signal generated by the image processing unit 111 are transmitted to the recording / reproducing unit 140 under the control of the control unit 101. To the recording medium 141.
The recording / reproducing unit 140 reads (reproduces) a compressed image signal, a compressed audio signal, an audio signal, various data, and a program recorded on the recording medium 141. The compressed image signal and the compressed audio signal read by the recording / reproducing unit 140 are transmitted to the image processing unit 111 and the audio processing unit 121 under the control of the control unit 101. The image processing unit 111 and the audio processing unit 121 temporarily store the compressed image signal and the compressed audio signal in the memory 104, decode them in a predetermined procedure, and decode the decoded audio signal to the audio output unit 151. The signal is transmitted to the video output unit 150 and the display control unit 131. Further, when the audio signal is uncompressed and recorded on the recording medium 141, the audio signal is directly transmitted to the audio output unit 151 under the control of the control unit 101.
The recording medium 141 may be a recording medium built in the digital camera 100 or a detachable recording medium. A compressed image signal, a compressed audio signal, an audio signal, various data, etc. generated by the digital camera 100 may be used. Can be recorded. The recording medium 141 includes all types of recording media such as a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-R, a DVD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and a flash memory.

The audio output unit 151 includes, for example, an audio output terminal, and transmits an audio signal in order to output audio from a connected earphone or speaker. In addition, the audio output unit 151 may be a speaker that is built in the digital camera 100 and outputs audio related to an audio signal.
The video output unit 150 includes a video output terminal, for example, and transmits an image signal to display the video on a connected external display or the like.
The audio output unit 151 and the video output unit 150 may be a single integrated terminal, for example, a terminal such as a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) (registered trademark) terminal.

The display control unit 131 displays an image based on the image signal transmitted from the image processing unit 111, an operation screen (menu screen) for operating the digital camera 100, and the like on the display unit 130.
The display unit 130 may be a display device such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or electronic paper.

Here, a normal operation of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.
When the user operates the power button of the operation unit 102, a start instruction is issued from the operation unit 102 to the control unit 101. Upon receiving this instruction, the control unit 101 controls a power supply unit (not shown) to supply power to each block of the digital camera 100.
When the power is supplied, the control unit 101 checks whether the mode change switch of the operation unit 102 is, for example, a still image shooting mode, a moving image shooting mode, or a reproduction mode, based on an operation signal from the operation unit 102.
In the still image shooting mode, the user performs shooting by operating the still image recording button of the operation unit 102 in the shooting standby state, and the compressed image signal is recorded on the recording medium 141. And it will be in a photography standby state again.
In the moving image shooting mode, the user starts shooting by operating the moving image recording start button of the operation unit 102 in the shooting standby state, and during that time, the compressed image signal and the compressed audio signal or the audio signal are recorded on the recording medium 141. Then, when the user operates the moving image recording end button of the operation unit 102, the shooting is finished, and the shooting standby state is entered again.
In the reproduction mode, a compressed image signal, a compressed audio signal, or an audio signal related to a file selected by the user is reproduced from the recording medium 141, an audio signal is output from the audio output unit 151, and an image is displayed on the display unit 130.

The still image shooting mode will be described. When the still image shooting mode is set by the operation unit 102, the control unit 101 first sets each block of the digital camera 100 to the shooting standby state as described above.
In the shooting standby state, the image processing unit 111 transmits an image signal to the display control unit 131 and displays a video related to the image signal on the display unit 130. The user can prepare for shooting while looking at the screen displayed in this way.
When the shooting instruction signal is transmitted by the user operating the still image recording button of the operation unit 102 in the shooting standby state, the control unit 101 transmits the shooting control signal to each block of the digital camera 100, and the following. It controls to make the operation like.
The imaging unit 110 converts the optical image of the subject captured by the lens into an image signal by the imaging device, performs analog-digital conversion, and transmits the image signal to the image processing unit 111. The image processing unit 111 performs image quality adjustment processing (white balance, color, brightness, etc.) of the input digital image signal based on the set value. The image signal processed by the image processing unit 111 is transmitted to the memory 104, the video output unit 150, and the display control unit 131. Here, by viewing the video displayed on the display unit 130, the user can check the captured still image. Then, the image processing unit 111 reads the image signal temporarily stored in the memory 104, performs predetermined encoding, generates a compressed image signal, and outputs the compressed image signal to the recording / reproducing unit 140. The recording / playback unit 140 writes the compressed image signal to the recording medium 141 as a still image file under file system management such as UDF or FAT.
When the encoding operation by the image processing unit 111 is completed, the control unit 101 transmits a control signal to each block of the digital camera 100 so as to shift to the shooting standby state, and returns to the shooting standby state.

Next, the moving image shooting mode will be described. When the moving image shooting mode is set by the operation unit 102, as described above, the control unit 101 first sets each block of the digital camera 100 to the shooting standby state.
In the shooting standby state, the image processing unit 111 transmits an image signal to the display control unit 131 and displays a video related to the image signal on the display unit 130. The user can prepare for shooting while looking at the screen displayed in this way.
When a shooting start instruction signal is transmitted by the user operating the moving image recording start button of the operation unit 102 in the shooting standby state, the control unit 101 transmits a shooting start control signal to each block of the digital camera 100. Then, control is performed so as to perform the following operation.
The imaging unit 110 converts the optical image of the subject captured by the lens into an image signal by the imaging device, performs analog-digital conversion, and transmits the image signal to the image processing unit 111. The image processing unit 111 performs image quality adjustment processing (white balance, color, brightness, etc.) of the input digital image signal based on the set value. The image signal processed by the image processing unit 111 is transmitted to the display control unit 131 and the memory 104. The display control unit 131 displays a video related to the received image signal on the display unit 130.
On the other hand, the audio input unit 120 digitally converts an analog audio signal obtained by the microphone, and transmits the obtained digital audio signal to the audio processing unit 121. The sound processing unit 121 performs a process for optimizing the level of the input digital sound signal and outputs a sound signal. The audio signal processed by the audio processing unit 121 is transmitted to the memory 104.
Then, the image processing unit 111 and the audio processing unit 121 read out the image signal and the audio signal temporarily stored in the memory 104, perform predetermined encoding, and generate a compressed image signal, a compressed audio signal, and the like. The control unit 101 synthesizes the compressed image signal and the compressed audio signal to form a data stream, and outputs the data stream to the recording / reproducing unit 140. The recording / playback unit 140 writes the data stream to the recording medium 141 as a single moving image file under file system management such as UDF or FAT. When the audio is not compressed, the control unit 101 outputs the audio signal generated by the audio processing unit 121 to the recording / reproducing unit 140 together with the compressed image signal generated by the image processing unit 111. The recording / playback unit 140 writes the data stream to the recording medium 141 as a single moving image file under file system management such as UDF or FAT. The above operation is continued during shooting.

In addition, during the shooting, the control unit 101 performs the imaging unit 110, the image processing unit 111, and the sound according to the operation of the operation unit 102 by the user or the analysis result of the image signal generated by the image processing unit 111. Various control signals are transmitted to the processing unit 121 and the like. For example, a control signal for adjusting the lens movement or aperture adjustment is transmitted to the imaging unit 110, and a control signal for adjusting an image or sound is transmitted to the image processing unit 111 and the sound processing unit 121.
Similarly, during shooting, the user operates the zoom key of the operation unit 102 to control the “optical zoom” function of the imaging unit 110 and the “electronic zoom” function of the image processing unit 111 under the control of the control unit 101. Can be operated. Further, under the control of the control unit 101 based on an acceleration signal detected by a vibration detection unit (not shown), the “optical image stabilization” function of the imaging unit 110 and the “electronic image stabilization” function of the image processing unit 111 are provided. It is working.

Then, when a shooting end instruction signal is transmitted to the control unit 101 by the user operating the moving image recording end button of the operation unit 102, the control unit 101 sends a shooting end control signal to each block of the digital camera 100. Transmit and control to operate as follows.
The image processing unit 111 and the sound processing unit 121 stop transmitting the image signal and the sound signal to the memory 104. Then, the remaining image signal and audio signal stored in the memory 104 are read out and subjected to predetermined encoding to generate a compressed image signal, a compressed audio signal, and the like. The control unit 101 synthesizes these last compressed image signal and compressed audio signal to form a data stream and outputs it to the recording / reproducing unit 140. When the audio is not compressed, the control unit 101 outputs the audio signal generated by the audio processing unit 121 and the compressed image signal to the recording / reproducing unit 140. The recording / playback unit 140 writes the data stream to the recording medium 141 as a single moving image file under file system management such as UDF or FAT.

Then, when the supply of the data stream is stopped, the control unit 101 controls to perform the following operation in order to generate a thumbnail.
The recording / reproducing unit 140 reads the compressed image signal of the first frame of the moving image file recorded on the recording medium 141 and transmits the compressed image signal to the image processing unit 111. The image processing unit 111 temporarily stores the compressed image signal in the memory 104 and decodes it according to a predetermined procedure. Next, the image processing unit 111 performs predetermined encoding for thumbnails on the obtained image signal, and generates a compressed image signal for thumbnail. The thumbnail compressed image signal generated by the image processing unit 111 is output to the recording / reproducing unit 140. The recording / playback unit 140 writes the compressed thumbnail image to the recording medium 141 so as to be combined with the underlying moving image file under file system management such as UDF or FAT, completes the moving image file, and stops the recording operation. To do.
When the recording operation stops, the control unit 101 transmits a control signal to each block of the digital camera 100 so as to shift to the shooting standby state, and returns to the shooting standby state.

Next, the playback mode will be described. When the reproduction mode is set by the operation unit 102, the control unit 101 transmits a control signal to each block of the digital camera 100 so as to shift to the reproduction state, and performs control as follows.
The recording / playback unit 140 reads a still image file composed of a compressed image signal recorded on the recording medium 141 or a moving image file composed of a compressed image signal and a compressed audio signal or audio signal. The compressed image signal and the compressed audio signal read out by the recording / reproducing unit 140 are transmitted to the image processing unit 111 and the audio processing unit 121. If the audio signal is not compressed, the audio signal is transmitted to the audio output unit 151. The image processing unit 111 and the sound processing unit 121 temporarily store the compressed image signal and the compressed sound in the memory 104 and decode them according to a predetermined procedure. The audio signal decoded by the image processing unit 111 and the audio processing unit 121 is transmitted to the audio output unit 151, and the decoded image signal is transmitted to the video output unit 150 and the display control unit 131. The display control unit 131 displays an image related to the input image signal on the display unit 130, and the audio output unit 151 receives a sound related to the input audio signal from a built-in speaker or a connected earphone or speaker. Output.

  As described above, the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment records and reproduces still images and moving images.

  When the material storage photographing mode is determined by the operation signal from the operation unit 102, the control unit 101 starts the photographing recording process in the material preservation photographing mode shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, in the material preserving shooting mode, a still image taken at regular intervals is used as a material image, and a moving image in which each material image is one or more frame images is used as a representative image.

  If it is determined in step S201 that the control unit 101 has received an instruction to start shooting from the operation unit 102, the process proceeds to step S202.

Next, in step S202, the control unit 101 determines a temporary file path of a moving image that is a representative image when starting a series of photographing.
Here, in the DCF (Design Rule for Camera File system) standard, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, a subdirectory is located under the root directory 301 (see, for example, the subdirectory 302). The first three characters of the subdirectory are numbers (directory numbers) 100 to 999 that do not overlap. The name of the file managed under the subdirectory is composed of “four alphanumeric characters + four-digit serial number (0001 to 9999) .extension” (see, for example, the file 303). In the following description, “directory number−file number (four-digit serial number)” is also called a DCF number.
The temporary file path of the representative image is a file path that does not overlap with the directory number and file number of a series of material images (material still images) that are named and stored according to the file path defined by the DCF.
That is, a method of naming a number that does not overlap according to the DCF naming rule, or a file path outside the DCF naming rule, and the like. As an example of naming non-overlapping numbers according to the former DCF naming rule, as shown in the directory 304 and the file 305 in FIG. 3A, a temporary file path is added to the final file path having the DCF maximum number “999-9999”. Set. This is the maximum number when the representative image is set to a file path having a DCF number larger than that of the material image in the material saving photographing mode. As an example of the latter file path outside the DCF naming rule, a temporary file path is determined as shown in a directory “MISC” 314 and a file “TMP.MP4” 315 outside the DCF naming rule, as shown in FIG. To do.

  Next, a series of photographing is started, and in step S203, the control unit 101 determines a still image DCF file path that is a material image. The material images are named in ascending order in the DCF number order. For example, in a recording medium on which images up to DCF number “999-9993” are recorded, the file path is determined with DCF number “999-9994” for the first material image, as shown in FIG.

In step S204, a material image is taken under the control of the control unit 101. In step S205, the material image is stored in the file path determined in step S203.
Next, in step S206, the material image photographed in step S204 is added as one or more frames constituting the moving image of the representative image to the previously determined temporary file path.

  Next, in step S207, it is determined whether or not an instruction to stop shooting is given from the operation unit 102, and in step S208, whether or not a predetermined number of shots have been completed. If any is determined to be Yes, the process proceeds to step S210, and if any is determined to be No, the process proceeds to step S209. Supplementing step S208, for example, when the material storage shooting mode is a shooting mode in which shooting and shooting interval time are set in advance, the number of shots determined by the set shooting time and the set interval time has ended. Take positive judgment.

Next, in step S209, the control unit 101 determines whether two or more DCF names are possible. That is, it is determined whether a DCF file path for saving the material image to be photographed next and the representative image can be secured. If it determines with Yes, it will return to step S203, and if it determines with No, it will progress to step S210.
This determination may be performed for each directory in addition to the final directory. When performed in directory units, a series of material images and representative images are stored in the same directory. Since the material image and the representative image are related images, it is convenient for the user who thinks that it is preferable to save the image in the same directory.
Also, for example, if it is determined that the material image and the representative image cannot all be stored in the current recording directory due to DCF rules, that is, the upper limit of the number of files and the upper limit of the file number, a new directory (generally the current directory) The file path of the material image may be determined as a directory obtained by incrementing the directory number by one.
In addition, when saving shot images by directory for each shooting date, a series of material images and representative images should be saved in the same directory as the source image at the start of shooting even if the date changes during the series of shooting. Can improve convenience.

  When the process returns to step S203, the next file path is determined in the ascending order of DCF, and shooting is continued. This is to save the material images in ascending order of DCF as shown in the file 313 in FIG. In step S206, the material image is sequentially added as a frame constituting the moving image of the representative image to the previously determined temporary file path.

  In step S210, the control unit 101 determines the DCF file path of the representative image. In step S211, the control unit 101 changes the temporary file path determined in step S202 to the DCF file path determined in step S210. For example, the temporary file path specified by the directory “MISC” 314 and the file “TMP.MP4” 315 in FIG. 3C is continuous with the material image group as shown in the file 316 in FIG. Changing to a DCF number.

When the playback mode is determined by the operation signal from the operation unit 102, the control unit 101 starts the above-described playback mode. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the playback process in the playback mode.
In step S401, the control unit 101 sets an initial image. The initial image is an image having the largest file number in the directory having the largest directory number in the DCF standard. That is, the file number is incremented for each shooting to determine the file name, and when shooting to a new directory, the directory number is incremented to determine the directory name, and the last shot image is obtained.
In step S <b> 402, image reproduction processing is performed under the control of the control unit 101, and an image is displayed on the display unit 130.
Next, the control part 101 processes the instruction | indication request | requirement via a user's operation part 102 by step S403, S404, S406. In step S403, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to end the playback mode. If there is an instruction to end the playback mode, the playback process is exited. If there is no instruction to end the reproduction mode in step S403, the process proceeds to step S404. In step S404, the presence / absence of an image advance instruction is determined. If there is an image advance instruction, the next or previous image is determined as a reproduced image in order of DCF number in step S405, and the process returns to step S402. If there is no image feed instruction in step S404, the process proceeds to step S406. In step S406, the presence / absence of another processing instruction is determined. Examples of other processes include image deletion, image editing, and image transmission. If there is no other processing instruction, the process returns to step S403. If there is another processing instruction, the process according to the instruction is performed in step S407, and the process returns to step S403.

As described above, when a material image is stored by a series of shooting and a representative image related to the series of material images is created during the shooting, the representative image is recorded before the shooting of the series of material images is finished. The file can be saved on the medium without the file path being unsolved.
In addition, since the file path of the representative image is set to the DCF number that is continuous with the material image group after the series of material image captures, the representative image can be viewed immediately upon transition to the reproduction mode.
In order to realize low power consumption, the digital camera 100 may shift to a sleep state or the like during a series of material image capturing. Even in this case, since the representative image created by the material images photographed up to that point is saved in a file and is made non-volatile, the representative image can be continuously constructed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. Note that the configuration and basic operation of the digital camera 100 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the following description will focus on differences from the first embodiment.
When the material storage photographing mode is determined by the operation signal from the operation unit 102, the control unit 101 starts the photographing recording process in the material preservation photographing mode shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, in the material preserving shooting mode, a still image taken at regular intervals is used as a material image, and a moving image in which each material image is one or more frame images is used as a representative image.

  If the control unit 101 determines in step S501 that a recording start instruction has been received from the operation unit 102, the process proceeds to step S502.

  Next, in step S502, the control unit 101 calculates the planned number of material images to be stored. This can be determined from the number of shots determined by the set shooting time and the set interval time when, for example, the material storage shooting mode is a shooting mode in which shooting and shooting interval time are set in advance.

  In step S503, the control unit 101 determines a temporary file path of a moving image that is a representative image when starting a series of photographing. Assuming that the file path of the material image is determined in the DCF ascending order for the planned number of material images calculated in step S502, the temporary file path is a file path that is continuous with the last file path. For example, if the planned number of stored images is five, the final stored state is assumed as shown in FIG. 6B, and the material image storage schedule is skipped as shown in the file 317 in FIG. 6A. Determine the image file path.

  Next, a series of shooting is started, and in step S504, the control unit 101 determines a still image DCF file path that is a material image. As described in the first embodiment, the material images are named in ascending order in the DCF number order.

In step S505, a material image is shot under the control of the control unit 101. In step S506, the material image is stored in the file path determined in step S504.
Next, in step S507, the material image photographed in step S505 is added as one or more frames constituting the moving image of the representative image to the previously determined temporary file path.

Next, in step S508, the control unit 101 determines whether or not shooting for the planned number of stored images has been completed. If it determines with No, it will progress to step S509, and if it determines with Yes, it will exit this process.
In step S <b> 509, the control unit 101 determines whether an instruction to stop shooting is given from the operation unit 102. If it determines with No, it will return to step S504, and if it determines with Yes, it will progress to step S510.

  Returning to step S504, the next file path is determined in ascending order of DCF, and shooting is continued. This is to save the material images in ascending order of DCF as shown in the file 303 in FIG. In step S507, the material images are sequentially added as frames constituting the moving image of the representative image to the previously determined temporary file path.

In step S510, the control unit 101 determines the DCF file path of the representative image. In step S511, the control unit 101 changes the temporary file path determined in step S503 to the DCF file path determined in step S510.
If there is an instruction to stop shooting from the operation unit 102, shooting has ended before the planned number of material images stored in step S502 is reached. Therefore, there is a space on the DCF number between the temporary file path determined in step S503 and the file path of the last material image. For example, in FIG. 6B, the number of scheduled storages calculated in step S502 is five, but this is a case where the user gives a stop instruction without photographing “IMG_0005.JPG”. In this case, the temporary file path “MVI — 0006.MOV” 317 determined in step S503 is changed to “MVI — 0005.MOV”.

In the above embodiment, a digital camera has been described as an example of an image processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. However, other than this, a mobile phone or the like may be used.
(Other embodiments)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100: Digital camera, 101: Control part, 102: Operation part, 103: Bus, 104: Memory, 110: Imaging part, 111: Image processing part, 120: Audio | voice input part, 121: Audio | voice processing part, 130: Display part 131: Display control unit 140: Recording / playback unit 141: Recording medium 150: Audio output unit 150: Video output unit

Claims (13)

An image processing apparatus that stores a material image by a series of photographing and creates a representative image related to the series of material images during the photographing,
Determining means for determining a temporary file path of a representative image so as not to overlap with a file path of a series of material images stored by the shooting when starting a series of shooting;
While performing a series of shootings, a recording control unit that saves the material image in a file path ordered according to a predetermined naming rule for each shooting and records a representative image in the temporary file path determined by the determination unit An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an ending unit configured to end a series of photographing so as to secure one or more file path spaces in the predetermined naming rule.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a changing unit that changes the temporary file path determined by the determining unit to a file path that is continuous with the file path of the last material image after a series of material image capturing ends. 2. The image processing apparatus according to 2.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit sets a final file path according to the predetermined naming rule as a temporary file path.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit sets a file path that does not follow the predetermined naming rule as a temporary file path.   The determination means calculates a planned number of material images to be stored, and sets a file path continuous with a file path of the last material image in the calculated planned number of stored images as a temporary file path. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the above.   When shooting is completed before reaching the calculated planned number of stored images, the temporary file path determined by the determining unit is provided with a changing unit that changes the file path to be continuous with the file path of the last material image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined naming rule is a DCF standard.   9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein still images taken at regular intervals are used as material images, and a moving image in which each material image is one or more frame images is used as a representative image. .   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ending unit ends a series of photographing so as to secure one or more file path spaces in a final directory according to the predetermined naming rule.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ending unit ends a series of photographing so as to save the material image and the representative image in the same directory. An image processing method for storing a material image by a series of shooting and creating a representative image related to the series of material images during the shooting,
Determining a temporary file path of a representative image so as not to overlap with a file path of a series of material images stored by the shooting when starting a series of shooting;
A step of storing the material image in a file path ordered according to a predetermined naming rule for each shooting and recording a representative image in the determined temporary file path during a series of shootings. A featured image processing method. A program for causing a computer to function as an image processing apparatus that saves a material image by a series of photographing and creates a representative image related to the series of material images during the photographing,
Determining means for determining a temporary file path of a representative image so as not to overlap with a file path of a series of material images stored by the shooting when starting a series of shooting;
While performing a series of shootings, a recording control unit that saves the material image in a file path ordered according to a predetermined naming rule for each shooting and records a representative image in the temporary file path determined by the determination unit As a program to make the computer function as.

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