JP2019148994A - Information processing device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce workloads of user's operations concerning management of photographed images.SOLUTION: A device includes reception means for receiving photographed images and attached information appended to the photographed images from photographing devices, storage processing means for storing the photographed images into storage means, and transmitting control means for controlling so as to selectively transfer the photographed images to external devices based on the attached information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program for managing a captured image captured by an imaging apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, imaging technology using digital devices such as digital cameras and smartphones and image sharing technology via the Internet have become widespread. As a result, many technical means for quickly and easily sharing a digital image taken by a user on a WEB site on a network can be seen. In order to share a photographed image on a WEB site, a mechanism for selecting an image by an operation on the photographing device and transferring it to a desired WEB site is realized by communication apps of many photographing devices. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a technique for automatically transferring only a specific image that has been previously marked by the user by omitting a user's selection operation.

JP 2009-218908 A

  However, for example, there is also a demand for sharing only special images on the WEB site while keeping (backing up) all photographed images on a home PC (personal computer).

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to reduce the workload of user operations related to management of captured images.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus, a receiving unit that receives a captured image and attached information given to the captured image from the imaging device, and a storage processing unit that stores the captured image in a storage unit. And transmission control means for controlling to selectively transfer the photographed image to an external device based on the provision information.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the workload of user operation which concerns on management of a picked-up image can be reduced.

1 is an overall view of an image system according to a first embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of information processing apparatus. It is a hardware block diagram of a camera. It is a figure which shows the data structure of an image file typically. It is a flowchart which shows the transfer process by a camera. It is a flowchart which shows the transfer process by information processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a setting screen. It is a flowchart which shows the transfer process by information processing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall view of an image system 100 according to the first embodiment. The image system 100 includes an information processing apparatus 110, a camera 120, and a WEB server apparatus 130. Here, examples of the information processing apparatus 110 include a personal computer and a smart device. The camera 120 is a photographing device such as a digital camera. The WEB server device 130 is a server system that enables image storage and sharing on the Internet. Examples of the WEB server apparatus 130 include a shared site on the Internet and a cloud storage.

  The information processing apparatus 110 and the camera 120 are connected by a wireless or wired cable. An image captured by the camera 120 is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 110 and stored. The information processing apparatus 110 uploads the predetermined image to the WEB server apparatus 130 while storing the image received from the camera 120. The information processing apparatus 110 and the WEB server apparatus 130 are connected via a communication device such as a wireless router or a modem. It should be noted that a conventional technique is used for a mechanism for transferring an image from the camera 120 to the information processing apparatus 110 and a mechanism for uploading an image from the information processing apparatus 110 to the WEB server apparatus 130.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the information processing apparatus 110. Reference numeral 201 denotes a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an EL (Electro Luminescent) display. The display device 201 displays an operation screen and a status display screen of the information processing device 110, and is also used as a pointing device by detecting a user input position due to contact with a finger or a stylus pen. It is also possible to provide a software keyboard by associating the position of the character key with keyboard-like image information displayed on the display device 201.

  Reference numeral 202 denotes a video RAM (VRAM) on which an image to be displayed on the display device 201 is drawn. The image generated in the VRAM 102 is transferred to the display device 201 in accordance with a predetermined rule, whereby the image is displayed on the display device 201. An optical image information input device 203 such as a built-in camera attached to the information processing device 110 accepts input of image information such as still images and moving images, fingerprint authentication information using a touch sensor, and the like.

  A central processing unit (CPU) 204 controls each device connected via the bus 212 based on a control program stored in a read only memory (ROM) 205 and a storage 207. The ROM 205 holds various control programs and data. Reference numeral 206 denotes a random access memory (RAM), which has a work area for the CPU 204, a data save area during error processing, a control program load area, and the like. Various programs for controlling the information processing apparatus 110 are loaded into the RAM 206.

  Reference numeral 207 denotes a data storage for recording and storing electronic information. Examples of the storage 207 include a hard disk drive (HDD) and a solid state drive (SSD) composed of flash memory. Examples of the storage 207 include a hybrid drive using both a hard disk and a flash memory, a memory card, and the card reading device. This includes a large-capacity external hard disk drive HDD connected through a Universal Serial Bus interface (USB / IF) 208, which will be described later. Note that the functions and processing of the information processing apparatus 110 to be described later are realized by the CPU 204 reading out a program stored in the ROM 205 or the storage 207 and executing this program.

  The USB / IF 208 can extend the functions of the information processing apparatus by connecting to an external device such as a USB memory, a Compact Disc (CD) drive, or a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) drive. Reference numeral 209 denotes a communication interface (NET / IF) that performs intermediary for communication with other information processing apparatuses, printers, server apparatuses on the Internet, and the like by wired communication or wireless communication. The wireless communication means using the NET / IF 209 includes a simple low power consumption communication function such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLT) and Near Field Communication (NFC). Communication with the camera 120 and communication with the WEB server apparatus 130 are also performed by the NET / IF 209.

  Reference numeral 210 denotes an interface module (mobile phone / IF) for mobile phone communication, which enables communication processing based on mobile phone standards such as 3G or LTE. The mobile phone / IF 210 also includes an antenna device that is necessary for input / output of radio waves for the communication processing. Reference numeral 211 denotes a GPS module (GPS / IF). By capturing radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites by the antenna function of the GPS / IF 211 and causing the CPU 204 to perform a predetermined calculation process, it is possible to specify the position information where the information processing apparatus 110 exists.

  The control program processed by the CPU 204 can be provided from another device via the USB / IF 208, the NET / IF 209, and the mobile phone / IF 210 in addition to the ROM 205 and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the camera 120. The arithmetic unit 302 has a CPU and controls the entire camera 120. An optical unit 303 includes an image sensor or the like for inputting a subject image. Reference numeral 304 denotes an image processing unit for converting the optical information input from the optical unit 303 into an electronic signal. A primary and secondary storage device 305 such as a DRAM is used for electronic information processing by the arithmetic unit 302 and the image processing unit 304. Reference numeral 306 denotes an operation unit for receiving an instruction from the user, which converts an operation of a switch, dials, and the like provided on the housing of the camera 120 into an input signal and notifies the calculation unit 302 of the operation. The operation unit 306 also includes a voice input unit such as a character input device and a microphone for performing voice input. Reference numeral 307 denotes a display unit typified by a rear liquid crystal panel and EVF (Electronic View Finder). The display unit 307 is used for displaying information to assist the imaging and operation unit 306 input by the optical unit 303. When the display unit 307 is a liquid crystal panel, the display unit 307 is also used as an input device with a touch sensitive function.

  Reference numeral 308 denotes a ROM, which stores a program for executing each process that operates on the camera 120. Reference numeral 309 denotes a storage medium for recording an image file or the like of the photographing result and an input unit of the medium. A communication control unit 310 connects the camera 120 and another electronic communication device by wire or wirelessly to perform transmission / reception of electronic information. The communication means handled by the communication control unit 310 includes simple low power consumption communication functions such as BLE and NFC. Communication control with the information processing apparatus 110 is performed by the communication control unit 310. Reference numeral 311 denotes a bus which transmits electronic information within the camera 120.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the data structure of an image file transmitted from the camera 120 to the information processing apparatus 110. The image file includes image data and related information. Here, the image data is an image itself captured by the camera 120. The related information is information related to the image. The related information includes an image ID, shooting time information, rating information, a transfer flag, and an update flag.

  The image ID is identification information for uniquely identifying an image. The shooting time information is information indicating the shooting date and time. The rating information is information that expresses the subjective evaluation of the photographer or the observer with respect to the image by the frequency (stepwise value). That is, the rating information is set according to a user operation. The transfer flag is information indicating whether or not the main image file has been transferred to the camera 120. In this embodiment, the initial value of the transfer flag is OFF, and when the main image file is transferred to the camera 120, the transfer flag is set to ON. The update flag is information indicating whether or not the rating information has been updated. In this embodiment, the initial value of the update flag is OFF, and the update flag is set to ON when the rating image is updated. Note that the rating information is updated in response to a user operation on the camera 120.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing transfer processing by the camera 120. In step S <b> 501, the arithmetic unit 302 of the camera 120 controls to connect to the information processing apparatus 110. In step S <b> 502, the calculation unit 302 reads one image file from the storage medium 309. Hereinafter, an image file is simply referred to as an image as appropriate. In step S <b> 503, the calculation unit 302 determines whether the image is an untransmitted image that has not been transmitted to the camera 120. The calculation unit 302 determines that the image has not been transmitted when the transfer flag included in the image file is OFF. If the calculation unit 302 determines that the image has not been transmitted (YES in step S503), the calculation unit 302 advances the process to step S504. When determining that the image is not an untransmitted image (NO in S503), the arithmetic unit 302 advances the process to S506. In step S <b> 504, the calculation unit 302 transmits an image to the camera 120. In step S <b> 505, the calculation unit 302 changes the transfer flag of the image file to ON, and then advances the processing to step S <b> 508.

  In step S506, the calculation unit 302 determines whether the rating information has been updated. The calculation unit 302 determines that the update is performed when the update flag included in the image file is ON. If it is determined that the calculation unit 302 has been updated (YES in S506), the calculation unit 302 advances the process to S507. If it is determined that the calculation unit 302 has not been updated (NO in S506), the calculation unit 302 advances the process to S508. In S507, the computing unit 302 transmits the updated related information to the camera 120, and then advances the process to S508. In the present embodiment, the related information is transmitted in S507. Instead, only the rating information may be transmitted.

  In step S <b> 508, the calculation unit 302 determines whether the next image, that is, an unprocessed image remains in the storage medium 309. If there is a next image (YES in S508), operation unit 302 advances the process to S502. In this case, in S502, the next image is read and the subsequent processing is performed. If the next image does not exist, that is, if the processing has been completed for all the images stored in the storage medium 309 (NO in S508), the arithmetic unit 302 advances the processing to S509. In step S <b> 509, the calculation unit 302 controls to disconnect the connection with the information processing apparatus 110. This completes the transfer process.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing transfer processing by the information processing apparatus 110. In the transfer process, the information processing apparatus 110 receives an image from the camera 120 and appropriately transmits it to the WEB server apparatus 130. In step S <b> 601, the CPU 204 of the information processing apparatus 110 controls to connect to the camera 120. Next, in S602, if the camera 120 stores a new image that has not been received by the information processing apparatus 110 (YES in S602), the CPU 204 advances the process to S603. If the new image is not stored (NO in S602), the CPU 204 advances the process to S607.

  In step S603, the CPU 204 receives one new image. In step S <b> 604, the CPU 204 stores the image received in step S <b> 603 in the storage 207. This process is an example of a storage process for storing an image in the storage unit. In step S <b> 605, the CPU 204 determines whether the image received in step S <b> 603 is an upload target. Specifically, the CPU 204 determines that it is an upload target when the frequency of the rating information is a preset value. Here, the process of S204 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen 700 for setting a threshold value of rating information. The setting screen 700 is displayed on the display device 201 of the information processing apparatus 110. On the setting screen 700, check boxes 701 to 705 for each frequency of rating information are displayed. Here, when a check is performed by a user operation, the CPU 204 of the information processing apparatus 110 accepts designation of the frequency of the rating information to be transferred (acceptance process), and sets the frequency related to the designation as the upload target frequency. In step S <b> 605, the CPU 204 determines that the frequency of the rating information related to the received image matches the frequency set on the setting screen 700 as an upload target. Note that the process of S603 is an example of a transfer determination process that determines whether or not the file is an upload target (transfer target).

  Note that the CPU 204 only has to determine whether or not it is an upload target based on the attached information (related information) attached to the image, and the referenced information is not limited to the rating information. As another example, the related information includes an upload flag indicating ON / OFF of upload, and the information processing apparatus 110 may determine whether or not the upload is based on the upload flag. .

  Returning to FIG. 6, if the CPU 204 determines that the received image is an upload target (YES in step S <b> 605), the process proceeds to step S <b> 606. If the CPU 204 determines that the received image is not an upload target (NO in S605), the process proceeds to S602. In step S606, the CPU 204 adds the image received in step S603 to the upload queue, and then advances the process to step S602. Here, the upload queue is an arbitrary list of images to be uploaded, that is, image file paths (paths in the storage 207, etc.) registered as standby images. The upload queue is stored in the RAM 206.

  In step S <b> 607, the CPU 204 determines whether there is updated related information for the received image. The CPU 204 can confirm whether there is an update by referring to the update flag (FIG. 4) of the related information. If there is updated related information (YES in S607), the CPU 204 advances the process to S608. If there is no updated related information (NO in S607), the CPU 204 advances the process to S612. In step S <b> 608, the CPU 204 receives one piece of updated related information that has not yet been received by the information processing apparatus 110. Next, in S609, the CPU 204 updates the related information before update, which is already stored in the storage 207, with the related information received in S608. The CPU 204 can specify related information for the same image by referring to the image ID.

  Next, in S610, the CPU 204 determines whether or not an image that was not the upload target has been changed to the upload target due to the update of the related information. If the CPU 204 has been updated for upload (YES in S610), the process proceeds to S611. If the CPU 204 has not updated the upload target (NO in S611), the process proceeds to S602. Note that the CPU 204 also proceeds to step S602 even when the upload target has been the target before the update. In step S611, the CPU 204 adds the image with the related information updated to the upload queue, and then advances the process to step S602.

  In step S612, the CPU 204 controls the connection with the camera 120 to be disconnected. In step S <b> 613, the CPU 204 determines whether an image to be uploaded is stored in the upload queue. If the upload target image is stored (YES in S613), the CPU 204 advances the process to S614. If the upload target image is not stored (NO in S613), the CPU 204 ends the transfer process. In step S <b> 614, the CPU 204 executes connection authentication processing with the WEB server device 130. Next, in S615, the CPU 204 uploads (transfers) all the images stored in the upload queue. Next, in S616, control is performed to disconnect communication with the WEB server device 130. This completes the transfer process. Note that the image files stored in the upload queue are later transferred to the WEB server device 130 by the processing of S605 and S606, while the image files not stored in the upload queue are not transferred to the WEB server device 130. . That is, the processes of S605, S606, and S615 are an example of a transfer determination process that determines whether or not to transfer based on the rating information. The processes of S605, S606, and S615 are also an example of a transmission control process for controlling to transfer an image to an external device when it is determined to transfer, and not to transfer an image when it is determined not to transfer. That is, based on the rating information, a process of performing transmission control so as to selectively transfer to an external device is executed.

  As described above, the information processing apparatus 110 according to the first embodiment transfers all images to the WEB server apparatus 130 according to the rating information while storing all the images in the storage unit of the apparatus. be able to. That is, it is possible to reduce the workload of user operations related to management of captured images.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, an image system 100 according to the second embodiment will be described. The image system 100 according to the second embodiment performs image transfer to the WEB server device 130 by appropriately compressing the image. Hereinafter, the difference between the image system 100 according to the second embodiment and the image system 100 according to the first embodiment will be mainly described. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen 800 displayed on the display device 201 by the information processing apparatus 110 according to the second embodiment. In the setting screen 800, for each frequency of rating information, a check box 801 for specifying the presence / absence of upload and a check box 802 for specifying the presence / absence of compression are displayed. Here, the user can specify not only the presence / absence of upload but also the presence / absence of compression. It should be noted that the compression check box 802 can be selected only when the corresponding upload check box 801 is selected.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a transfer process by the information processing apparatus 110 according to the second embodiment. Of the processes in the transfer process shown in FIG. 9, the same processes as the processes in the transfer process according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. If the CPU 204 determines that it is an upload target in S605 (YES in S605), the process proceeds to S901. In step S901, the CPU 204 determines whether the received image is a compression target. Specifically, the CPU 204 determines that the rating information is to be compressed when the frequency of the rating information is a preset frequency. The preset frequency is the frequency when the compression check box 802 is checked in the setting screen 800 described with reference to FIG.

  If the CPU 204 determines that the object is to be compressed (YES in S901), the process proceeds to S902. If the CPU 204 determines that it is not a compression target (NO in S901), the process proceeds to S606. In step S902, the CPU 204 performs compression processing on the received image to obtain a compressed image, and then advances the processing to step S606. In this case, the CPU 204 adds the compressed image to the upload queue in S606. That is, when the image is compressed, the compressed image is transferred. Note that the processing of S901 and S902 is an example of a compression determination process for determining whether or not to perform compression, and is an example of a compression process. As described above, the compression process is selectively performed on the transfer target image based on the rating information. Other configurations and processes of the image system 100 according to the second embodiment are the same as the configurations and processes of the image system 100 according to the first embodiment. In the image system 100 according to the second embodiment, the presence or absence of compression at the time of image transfer can also be controlled according to the rating information.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

(Other examples)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image system 110 Information processing apparatus 120 Camera 130 WEB server apparatus

Claims (9)

Receiving means for receiving a captured image and attached information given to the captured image from the imaging device;
Storage processing means for storing the captured image in a storage means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission control unit that controls to selectively transfer the captured image to an external apparatus based on the provision information. The receiving means receives the updated grant information corresponding to the captured image;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission control unit selectively transfers the captured image stored in the storage unit to an external device based on the updated provision information.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the assignment information is rating information that can take a plurality of stepwise frequencies. In accordance with a user operation, it further has a receiving means for receiving designation of the frequency of rating information corresponding to the transfer target,
The transmission control unit selectively transfers the captured image to an external device based on the frequency of the rating information given to the captured image and the frequency received by the reception unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3. Compression means for selectively compressing the captured image based on the attached information;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission control unit transfers a captured image after compression. The grant information is rating information that can take a plurality of levels in stages,
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the compression unit selectively performs compression based on the frequency of rating information. In accordance with a user operation, the apparatus further includes a receiving unit that receives designation of the frequency of rating information corresponding to the compression target,
7. The compression means selectively compresses based on the frequency of rating information given to the photographed image and the frequency of rating information received by the receiving means. The information processing apparatus described in 1. An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus,
A reception step of receiving a captured image and attached information given to the captured image from the imaging device;
A storage processing step of storing the photographed image in a storage means;
A transmission control step of controlling to selectively transfer the captured image to an external device based on the provision information.   The program for functioning a computer as each means of the information processing apparatus of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 7.

Images