JP2008042887A - Imaging apparatus, imaging system, image data recording method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device capable of estimating the contents of an image from a file name or a folder name and improving image management efficiency.
An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit that images a subject and outputs image data; a data storage unit that stores image data; and an external device that communicates with an external device that acquires related information related to the subject. An apparatus communication unit 320, and a file name generation unit 330 that generates at least one of a file name associated with the image data when storing the image data and a folder name of a folder storing the image data using the related information. including. It has a network communication unit 340 that communicates via a network with a server that holds a correspondence map registered by associating latitude and longitude information with place name information, and retrieves place name information by searching the correspondence map using latitude and longitude information as a search key. You can also
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device that acquires related information related to a subject from an external device at the time of shooting, generates a file name or the like using the related information, and stores the image data by adding the file name or the like, and the imaging The present invention relates to an imaging system including a device, an image data recording method, and a program for realizing the method.

  In recent years, digital cameras have been used for various business purposes. For example, in the GIS (Geographic Information System) system for surveying the situation of disaster sites, examples of using the digital camera to capture the disaster situation, later correlating it with map data, and creating reports, etc. There is an example of use such as photographing distribution goods in the distribution industry. As a function that is commonly required in these uses, there is a need to associate a photographed image with information related to the image.

  In view of this, a technique for associating a captured image with information related to the image has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

According to Patent Document 1, a digital camera and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver are connected, and positional information from the GPS receiver is input to the digital camera. Techniques including position information (GPS information) have been proposed. By adopting this technique, the positional information of the photographed image is recorded in the same image file, and efficiency can be realized in terms of image management.
JP 2004-357343 A

  However, with respect to the file name associated with the image data photographed by the digital camera, a file name unrelated to the image data is assigned and stored, for example, “R0000001.jpg”. For this reason, for example, when an image taken by a user with a digital camera is managed on a personal computer, the contents of the image cannot be imagined from the file name, so the application is executed, image data is displayed, and the image is confirmed. There must be.

  Therefore, an image capturing apparatus that can store a file name related to a captured image (subject) in association with image data, an image capturing system including the image capturing apparatus, a method for recording image data, and a program for realizing the method Offer is desired.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention connects an imaging device and an external device such as a GPS or a barcode scanner device, and acquires information at the time of photographing such as position information and barcode information from the external device. By taking a picture, generating a file name including the acquired information, and storing the file name in association with the image data, the user can easily estimate the contents of the image from the file name. .

That is, according to the present invention, an imaging unit that images a subject and outputs image data;
A data storage unit for storing the image data;
An external device communication unit that communicates with an external device that acquires related information related to the subject;
An image capturing apparatus including: a file name generation unit configured to generate at least one of a file name associated with the image data when storing the image data and a folder name of a folder storing the image data using the related information Is provided.

  The external device is a global positioning system (GPS) or a barcode scanner device. In addition, the external device acquires latitude / longitude information of the imaging position of the subject, time information when the subject is imaged, product information related to the product, or barcode information indicating a part of the product information, and generates the file name The unit is at least one of a file name and a folder name including latitude / longitude information, time information, both latitude / longitude information and time information, or barcode information according to the related information received by the external device communication unit Is generated.

  According to the present invention, a correspondence map in which latitude / longitude information and place name information are registered in correspondence can be provided, and the file name generation unit searches the correspondence map using the latitude / longitude information acquired by the GPS as a search key. At least one of the file name and the folder name including the searched place name information can be generated.

  In addition, it is possible to provide a correspondence table in which product information related to a product and the product information or barcode information indicating a part of the product information are associated with each other, and the file name generation unit includes a barcode The correspondence table is searched using the barcode information acquired by the scanner device as a search key, and at least one of a file name and a folder name including the searched product information can be generated.

  Further, a network that communicates via a network with a server that holds a correspondence map registered by associating latitude / longitude information and place name information, or a correspondence table registered by associating barcode information and product information, or both A communication part can be further provided. In response to reception of related information by the external device communication unit, the network communication unit can search the correspondence map or the correspondence table using the related information as a search key, and can receive the searched place name information or product information. .

  The external device transmits related information to the external device communication unit at a predetermined cycle. In this case, the external device can further include a determination unit that determines whether the external device communication unit has received the related information. If the determination unit determines that the related information is received, the file name generation unit generates at least one of the file name and the folder name using the related information, and determines that the related information is not received. In this case, the file name generation unit can generate at least one of a file name and a folder name including a preset default value.

  The data storage unit is a latitude / longitude value mode for generating at least one of a file name and a folder name using the latitude / longitude information of the imaging position of the subject, or a time mode for generating using the time information of imaging the subject, Or the latitude / longitude time mixed mode generated using the latitude / longitude information and the time information, the place name mode generated using the place name of the subject, or the place name / time mixed mode generated using the place name information and the time information, or the bar Stores mode information preselected by the user from a barcode mode generated using code information or a default mode generated using a preset default value, and the external device communication unit stores It is possible to communicate with the corresponding external device based on the mode information.

According to the present invention, a method for recording image data can be provided. The method of the present invention starts communication between an external device that acquires information related to a subject and an external device communication unit;
Imaging a subject with an imaging unit and outputting image data;
In response to imaging of the subject by the imaging unit, receiving related information related to the subject from the external device by the external device communication unit;
Generating at least one of a file name associated with the image data and a folder name of the folder storing the image data when the image data is stored by the file name generation unit using the related information;
The image data is associated with the file name in a data storage unit, in the folder with the folder name of the data storage unit, or in the folder with the folder name of the data storage unit And storing the file name in association with each other.

  The external device is a global positioning system (GPS) or a barcode scanner device, and the receiving step includes latitude / longitude information of the imaging position of the subject, time information of imaging the subject, or a product related to the product. Including the step of receiving information or barcode information indicating a part of the product information, and the step of generating the file name includes latitude / longitude information or time information, depending on the related information received by the external device communication unit, Alternatively, it may include a step of generating at least one of a file name and a folder name including both latitude / longitude information and time information, or barcode information.

  The step of generating the file name includes a step of searching for a correspondence map registered by associating latitude / longitude information with location name information using latitude / longitude information acquired by GPS as a search key, and including the searched location name information. Generating at least one of a file name and a folder name.

  The step of generating the file name includes a step of searching a correspondence table in which the barcode information and the product information are registered with the barcode information acquired by the barcode scanner device as a search key, and the searched product information Generating at least one of a file name and a folder name to be included.

  A network communication unit that communicates via a network with a correspondence map registered by associating latitude and longitude information with place name information, or a correspondence table registered by associating barcode information and product information, or both Thus, the method may further include a step of searching the correspondence map or the correspondence table using the related information acquired by the external device as a search key, and a step of receiving the searched place name information or product information.

  The external device transmits related information to the external device communication unit at a predetermined cycle. In this case, the external device may further include a step of determining whether the related information is received by the external device communication unit. When the related information is received, in the step of generating the file name, at least one of the file name and the folder name is generated using the related information, and when the related information is not received, the file name is In the generating step, at least one of a file name and a folder name including a preset default value can be generated.

  In addition, the method may further include storing the input mode information in the data storage unit in response to selection of the mode information by the user. This mode information is a latitude / longitude value mode in which at least one of the file name and the folder name is generated using the latitude / longitude information of the imaging position of the subject, or a time mode in which the time information is generated using the time information of imaging the subject, or Latitude / longitude time mixed mode generated using latitude / longitude information and time information, or place name mode generated using place name information indicating the shooting location of the subject, or place name / time mixed using place name information and time information. Mode, or a barcode mode generated using the barcode information, or a default mode generated using a preset default value. In this case, in the step of starting the communication, the external device communication unit can start communication with the corresponding external device based on the mode information.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging system including the imaging device and an external device that acquires related information related to the subject, and a device-readable program for causing the imaging device to execute the method described above. .

  According to the present invention, since the file name and the folder name are automatically generated using the related information related to the subject acquired from the external device, the user can open the image data from the file name or the folder name without opening the image data. The contents of the image data can be easily estimated, and the image management efficiency can be improved.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration including an imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. The system shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a network 110 as an imaging device 100 and an external device, and provides a server 111 that provides map information and product information to the imaging device 100, and a barcode scanner that provides product information to the imaging device 100. A device 120, a GPS receiver 130 that provides current position information, specifically latitude and longitude information, to the imaging device 100, and a GPS satellite 131 that measures the current position and provides the latitude and longitude information to the GPS receiver 130. It is comprised including.

  Details of the imaging apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described later, and here, other external devices will be described. Examples of the network 110 include the Internet and an intranet. For example, a communication device including a wireless communication circuit capable of communicating by a communication method compliant with the wireless LAN standard is connected to the network 110 to enable wireless communication with the imaging device 100. A server 111 is connected to the network 110, and the imaging apparatus 100 can communicate via the network 110. The server 111 can store map information including place names, latitude values, longitude values, etc., product information including product names, and other information as data, and respond to data requests such as map information and product information. , Processing for transmitting the data can be executed. Further, the server 111 can store the image data captured by the imaging apparatus 100 for later editing or the like.

  The barcode scanner device 120 slides on a barcode attached to a product or the like, reads barcode information, and transmits the barcode information to the imaging device 100. The barcode can include related information related to the product such as the product name, price, and place of production of the product as barcode information. Note that the barcode information may include all relevant information related to the product such as the product name, price, and place of production, or a part thereof, for example, only the product name may be included as the related information. Similar to the network 110, the barcode scanner device 120 includes a wireless communication circuit, and is capable of wireless communication with the imaging device 100.

  The GPS satellite 131 orbits around the earth a plurality of times and has a built-in high-performance atomic clock, and transmits data including the time to the ground with a radio wave of 1.2 / 1.5 GHz band. The GPS receiver 130 can measure the current position by receiving radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites 131 and determining the distance from each. The GPS receiver 130 includes a wireless communication circuit similar to the network 110 and the barcode scanner device 120, and enables communication with the imaging device 100. Note that the GPS receiver 130 transmits the position information at a predetermined cycle such as an interval of about 1 second.

  In the system shown in FIG. 1, communication between the devices is wireless communication, but may be wired communication using a connection cord or the like. In the case of wireless communication, communication can be performed via an access spot.

  With reference to FIG. 2, the imaging apparatus of this embodiment will be described in detail. The imaging apparatus 100 includes a processor 200 that executes various processes, memories 210 to 213 that store programs to be executed by the processor 200 and image data output by imaging, a first wireless communication circuit 220 that communicates with an external device, and Second wireless communication circuit 230, a liquid crystal display that displays image data as an image, a shutter button pressed during shooting, a user interface 240 such as a mode dial that can select various modes, and various functions (date setting function) of the digital camera , A time setting function, a color tone correction function, a resolution setting function, and the like. Each is connected via a communication bus, stores information obtained by communication in a memory, and can read and execute programs and data from the memory.

  The memories 210 to 213 receive related information related to the subject from the external device, that is, the server 111, the barcode scanner device 120, and the GPS receiver 130 shown in FIG. 1, and generate a file name including the related information, A ROM (Read Only Memory) 210 that is a read-only memory in which a program for executing processing to be stored in association with image data is recorded, and a SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) 211 that is a main memory directly used by the processor 200 An SD (Secure Digital) card memory 212 that stores image data associated with a file name, and a flash memory 213 that stores setup information of the imaging apparatus 100 and the like. Hereinafter, a case where a file name is generated will be described. However, a folder name of a folder storing image data can also be generated using the related information. In this case, it is possible to estimate the contents of the image data stored in the folder by simply looking at the folder name without opening the image. A folder is used to sort stored data. For example, two folders can be generated for image data captured at two different locations, a folder name including the location name of the imaging location can be generated, and each folder name can be associated with each folder. The image data in this case can be stored in each related folder. Moreover, it is not restricted only to a file name or only a folder name, Both a folder name and a file name can also be produced | generated using the said relevant information. In this case, for example, a place name can be generated and a file name can include time. In this way, by including relevant information related to the subject in the file name or folder name, the user can estimate the contents of the image by relying on the file name or folder name without actually opening the image data. become. Thereby, the management efficiency of an image can be improved.

  The SDRAM 211 can include a position information storage unit 214 and a time information storage unit 215 that store latitude / longitude information and imaging time information at the imaging position received by the first wireless communication circuit 220 or the second wireless communication circuit 230. These pieces of information are transmitted from the GPS receiver 130 at a predetermined cycle. In response to pressing of the shutter button, the first wireless communication circuit 220 or the second wireless communication circuit 230 acquires the information, and the processor 200 stores the position information. The unit 214 and the time information storage unit 215 can store the latitude / longitude value and time. These pieces of information are read by the processor 200 when the file name is generated.

  The SD card memory 212 can include a correspondence map storage unit 216 that stores a correspondence map that registers latitude and longitude information and place name information in association with each other. The correspondence map may include latitude / longitude information and place name information in a range required according to the imaging location. For example, it can include latitude and longitude information and a city name of a city and a neighboring city which are taken as an imaging location. The place name information is not limited to the city name, but may be a district name distinguished by a zip code. In this imaging apparatus 100, the correspondence map stored in the correspondence map storage unit 216 of the SD card memory 212 is searched using the latitude and longitude information received from the GPS receiver 130 as a search key, and the file name including the searched place name information Can be generated and stored in association with the image data. When there is no place name information corresponding to the correspondence map storage unit 216, the server 111 is accessed and latitude / longitude information is transmitted, and the map information stored in the server 111 or a similar correspondence map is stored in the latitude / longitude information. Searching as a search key, the corresponding place name information can be received from the server 111. In addition to the correspondence map, the SD card memory 212 can store a correspondence table for registering the barcode information and the product name in association with each other. The imaging device 100 can store the barcode information acquired by the barcode scanner device 120. Is used as a search key, the correspondence table is searched, and a file name including the searched product information can be generated. Here, the case where the correspondence map and the correspondence table are stored in the SD memory card 212 of the imaging apparatus 100 has been described. However, the correspondence map and the correspondence table may be stored in the server 111.

  The first wireless communication circuit 220 is in charge of data transmission / reception over a relatively short distance and functions with low power consumption. For example, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) circuit or an infrared communication circuit compliant with the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard of a wireless transmission method using a 2.4 GHz band can be used. On the other hand, the second wireless communication circuit 230 is in charge of long-distance and large-capacity data transmission and reception, and realizes high-speed transmission. For example, a wireless LAN circuit can be used. As shown in FIG. 1, when communicating with the server 111 via the network 110, transmission of image data having a large data capacity may be involved, so that the second wireless communication circuit 230 can be used. . In this case, for example, communication can be performed using a communication protocol defined in IEEE802.11a to IEEE802.11n. In communication with the barcode scanner device 120 and the GPS receiver 130, the distance between the imaging device 100 and the barcode scanner device 120 is relatively short and only receives product information with a small data capacity. This can be performed by the wireless communication circuit 220. For this reason, it is possible to solve the problem that the battery of the imaging apparatus 100 runs out quickly, or there is no battery at the time of a photo opportunity.

  The process of acquiring the image data, generating a file name from each piece of related information acquired from the external device, and storing it in association with the image data is that the processor 200 reads the program from the ROM 210 and executes the program. Can be performed.

  Note that the GPS receiver 130 transmits latitude / longitude information to the first wireless communication circuit 220 at a predetermined cycle and wirelessly communicates with the GPS satellite 131. Latitude / longitude information may not be acquired. Therefore, the processor 200 can determine whether or not the latitude / longitude information has been received by the first wireless communication circuit 220. In this determination, if received, a file name is generated using the latitude / longitude information. If not received, a default value set in advance or according to a default naming rule is used. A file name can be generated.

  The physical configuration of the imaging apparatus has been described with reference to FIG. 2. Specifically, the imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit 300 that captures an image of a subject and outputs image data, as shown in FIG. A data storage unit 310 that stores image data in association with a file name, an external device communication unit 320 that communicates with an external device that acquires related information related to a subject, and related information received by the external device communication unit 320 are used. And a file name generation unit 330 that generates a file name. Moreover, the network communication part 340 which communicates with a server via a network as needed, and the determination part 350 which determines whether the external apparatus communication part 320 received the relevant information can be included.

  The imaging unit 300, the file name generation unit 330, and the determination unit 350 correspond to the processor 200, and can function as each unit by reading a program from the ROM 210 and executing the program. The data storage unit 310 corresponds to the SD card memory 212. The external device communication unit 320 and the network communication unit 340 correspond to the first wireless communication circuit 220 and the second wireless communication circuit 230 described above. Note that the above program can be stored not only in the ROM 210 but also in a recording medium such as an internal hard disk drive or an external hard disk drive.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the imaging unit 300 outputs image data and transmits a signal notifying that the imaging has been performed to the external device communication unit 320. The external device communication unit 320 has already started wireless communication with the external device. In response to this signal, the external device communication unit 320 acquires and holds information from the external device. For example, it is stored and held in the SDRAM 211 shown in FIG. The determination unit 350 determines whether the external device communication unit 320 has received the related information normally. When the external device communication unit 320 is receiving normally, it is stored in the SDRAM 211. When the information is received normally, the information is sent to the network communication unit 340, a server (not shown) is accessed, and the server is searched to acquire place name information or product information. If it has not been received normally, a notification that it has not been received normally is sent to the file name generation unit 330.

  The file name generation unit 330 receives a notification that the file has not been received normally, and generates a file name using a default value. In addition, when receiving normally, place name information or product information is acquired from the network communication unit 340, and a file name is generated using the information. The file name generation unit 330 sends the generated file name to the data storage unit 310 and associates it with the image data. The data storage unit 310 stores image data associated with the file name.

  Next, image data recording processing in the imaging apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In response to the user turning on the imaging apparatus 100, the imaging apparatus 100 starts processing (S400). First, the imaging apparatus 100 starts communication with the GPS receiver 130 in response to the input of the power supply, and periodically receives GPS information from the GPS receiver 130 (S410). Here, a case where GPS information is received from the GPS receiver 130 will be described. For example, the GPS receiver 130 can transmit GPS information about every 1 second, and the imaging device 100 can receive GPS information about every 1 second.

  When the user operates the user interface 240 of the imaging apparatus 100 to set the shooting mode, the imaging apparatus 100 is in a state of waiting for the shutter button to be pressed. In this state, the user can take a picture anytime by pressing the shutter button. The imaging apparatus 100 determines whether or not the shutter button has been pressed by the user (S420). In response to the user's pressing of the shutter button, image data is generated, and processing until the image data is stored in the SD card memory 212 is executed (S430). These processes are not executed until the shutter button is pressed.

  In response to the determination that the shutter button has been pressed in S420, the imaging apparatus 100 receives and acquires GPS information. Communication between the GPS receiver 130 and the image capturing apparatus 100 is started in S410, but GPS information is periodically transmitted from the GPS receiver 130, and cannot be normally received due to a communication failure or the like. There is. For this reason, it is determined whether GPS information has been normally received at the time of photographing (S440). If it has been received normally, it is determined which mode is the mode (S450). This mode is preset by the user and stored in the flash memory 213. In S450, it is determined which mode is based on the set mode information. The mode includes “latitude / longitude value mode” for generating a file name using latitude / longitude information of the imaging position of the subject, “time mode” for generating a file name using time information of imaging the subject, and location name information of the subject. Use “place name mode” to generate file names using “barcode mode” to generate file names using barcode information, “default mode” to generate file names using preset default values Can do. These modes can be set in advance, for example, by opening a setup menu on the liquid crystal display and selecting by the user.

  If it is determined in S440 that the image has not been acquired normally, and if the default mode is set in S450, the process proceeds to S460, a file name is generated using the default value, and the file name is added to the image data. The association is stored in the SD card memory 212. Thereafter, the process returns to S420, and it is determined whether or not the shutter button has been pressed again. The default value may be any value as long as it is a character string not related to the subject, a numeric string, or a combination thereof, and the file name can be generated according to a default naming rule.

  If the latitude / longitude value mode is set in S450, the process proceeds to S470, a file name including the latitude / longitude value is generated, the file name is associated with the image data, and stored in the SD card memory 212. Thereafter, similarly to the above, the process returns to S420, and it is determined whether or not the shutter button has been pressed again. Latitude and longitude values are acquired separately with the latitude value as one numerical value and the longitude value as another numerical value, respectively, but they can be combined to obtain a single numerical value. The file name can be generated as a numeric string combining these numerical values.

  If the place name mode is set in S450, the process proceeds to S480, a file name including place name information is generated, the file name is associated with the image data, and stored in the SD card memory 212. Thereafter, similarly to the above, the process returns to S420, and it is determined whether or not the shutter button has been pressed again.

  FIG. 5 shows a map in which actual latitude values, longitude values, and place names are described, and FIG. 6 illustrates a correspondence map stored in the correspondence map storage unit 216 of the SD card memory 212. FIG. 5 divides the latitude value and the longitude value every 10 minutes, which are indicated by broken lines. The actual boundaries of each municipality exist across a plurality of divisions, but for example, a correspondence map can be created such that which division is which municipality by area apportionment. The correspondence map created in this way is shown in FIG.

  The correspondence map 600 includes a latitude value field 610, a longitude value field 620, and a place name field 630. If the latitude value and longitude value received from the GPS receiver 130 are, for example, latitude 40 ° 75E (minute) and longitude 139 ° 25N (minute), the place name information can be obtained as follows. Latitude 40 ° 75E (min) and longitude 139 ° 25N (min) are between 40 ° 70E (min) and 40 ° 80E (min) in the latitude value field 610, and longitude 139 ° 20N (min) and longitude It can be determined by specifying a place name field between 139 ° 30 N (minutes). In the correspondence map 600 shown in FIG. 6, place name information “A ward D town” can be obtained.

  Although the correspondence table will not be described in detail, the correspondence table can be configured to include a barcode field and a product name field, and stores the barcode information and the product name corresponding to the barcode information in each field. be able to.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the generated file name displayed on the liquid crystal display. 7A shows a file name including latitude / longitude information, FIG. 7B shows a file name containing place name information, and FIG. 7C shows a file name using default values. It is shown.

  FIG. 7A shows file names including numeric strings, characters, and symbols “13910E_4090N.jpg” and “14099E_4132N.jpg”. “13910E_4090N.jpg” indicates that the image data is captured at a point where the longitude is 139 ° 10 minutes and the latitude is 40 ° 90 minutes, and includes latitude and longitude values. “14099E — 4132N.jpg” indicates that the image data is captured at a point of longitude 140 ° 99 minutes and 41 ° 32 minutes, and this also includes latitude and longitude values. When two or more images are taken at the same point, letters, numerical values, and symbols can be added to identify each other. Specifically, if the image data is taken at the above-mentioned longitude of 139 ° 10 minutes and latitude of 40 ° 90 minutes, “_1”, “_2” such as “13910E_4090N_1.jpg”, “13910E_4090N_2.jpg”, etc. "Can be used as the added file name. Here, the file name using “_” is used, but the symbol “_” may be omitted. Note that “.jpg” is an extension attached to image data compressed using a technique for compressing a still image to 1/10 to 1/100.

  In FIG. 7B, file names “A city B ward C town.jpg” and “A city B ward D town.jpg” are shown. These can acquire location name information from the received GPS information by searching using the correspondence map shown in FIG. 6, and the acquired location name information is used as a file name. Also, when two or more images are taken at the same point, “A city B ward C town_1.jpg” and “A city B ward C town_2.jpg” can be set.

  FIG. 7C shows file names “RIMG0001.jpg” and “R004325.jpg”. These file names are assigned in the order in which they were taken, regardless of the subject. That is, “RIMG” and “R” are default values, for example, folder names, followed by “0001” and “004325” are the first stored image data in the “RIMG” folder, and “R” folder This indicates that the image data is stored at the 4325th. In this way, it is unclear what the image data is in the file name shown in FIG. 7C, but by generating the file names shown in FIGS. It can be easily deduced from the file name.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the image data recording process in the imaging apparatus 100. The processes in S800 to S850 shown in FIG. 8 are the same as the processes in S400 to S450 shown in FIG. In S850, it is determined which mode is based on the set mode information. In this embodiment, a “default mode” for generating a file name using a preset default value, and a “latitude” for generating a file name using latitude and longitude information of the imaging position of the subject and time information of imaging the subject. “Longitude time mixed mode”, “place name time mixed mode” in which a file name is generated using place name information of a subject and time information when the subject is imaged.

  If it is determined in S840 that GPS information has not been acquired normally at the time of imaging, and if the default mode is set in S850, the process proceeds to S860, a file name is generated using the default value, and the image data Is associated with the file name and stored in the SD card memory 212. Thereafter, the process returns to S820, and it is determined whether or not the shutter button has been pressed again.

  If the latitude / longitude mixed mode is set in S850, the process proceeds to S870, a file name including the latitude / longitude value and the time information is generated, and the file name is associated with the image data and stored in the SD card memory 212. . Thereafter, the process returns to S820, and it is determined whether or not the shutter button has been pressed again.

  If the place name / time mixed mode is set in S850, the process proceeds to S880, a file name including place name information and time information is generated, the file name is associated with the image data, and stored in the SD card memory 212. Thereafter, the process returns to S820, and it is determined whether or not the shutter button has been pressed again.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the generated file name displayed on the liquid crystal display. FIG. 9A shows a file name including latitude / longitude values and time information, and FIG. 9B shows a file name including place name information and time information. In FIG. 9, the date of shooting is used as time information.

  In FIG. 9A, file names “13910E_4090N_20060401.jpg” and “14099E_4132N_20070101.jpg” are shown. These are image data taken on April 1, 2006 at a longitude of 139 ° 10 minutes and a latitude of 40 ° 90 minutes, respectively, and at longitudes of 140 ° 99 minutes and 41 ° 32 minutes, 2007 This indicates that the image data was taken on January 1, 1980.

  In FIG. 9B, file names “A city B ward C town — 2006060401.jpg” and “A city B ward D town — 20070101.jpg” are shown. These are the image data taken on April 1, 2006 in A city, B ward, C town, and the image data taken on January 1, 2007, in A city, B ward, D town. It is shown that.

  These file names are “13910E_4090N_20060401_1.jpg”, “13910E_4090N_2006060401_2.jpg”, “A city B ward C town — 2006060401_1.jpg” or “ A city, B ward, C town — 2006060401_2.jpg ”. As time information, not only the date but also a combination of date and time can be used. For example, in the case of image data taken at 10:10 on April 1, 2006 in City A, City B, City C, a file name “City A, City B, City C — 20060601 — 1010.jpg” can be generated. .

  In the image data recording process shown in FIG. 4, it is determined whether the set mode is “default mode”, “latitude / longitude value mode”, or “place name mode”. In the image data recording process shown in FIG. The mode being determined is one of “default mode”, “latitude / longitude mixed mode”, and “place name / time mixed mode”, but is not limited to these combinations. For example, “default mode”, “ It is also possible to determine a set mode from among the “latitude / longitude value mode”, “place name mode”, “latitude / longitude time mixed mode”, and “place name / time mixed mode”.

  According to the present embodiment, as described above, by using related information related to a subject acquired from an external device such as a GPS or a barcode scanner device, that is, information such as a place name or a product name is automatically used. A file name or folder name including a product name is generated, associated with the image data or folder, and the image data or folder is stored. Therefore, the user can easily estimate the contents of the image data and the image data stored in the folder only by looking at the file name and the folder name without opening the image data.

  In this embodiment, a folder is generated when a folder name is automatically generated using related information related to a subject. This folder stores image data having a file name generated using the related information. In the present embodiment, a plurality of image data having file names generated using the same place name information are automatically stored in a folder having a folder name generated using the place name information based on the place name information. be able to. As a result, even when the imaging times are different, image data related to the same folder can be automatically classified and stored without generating a separate folder. As a result, the efficiency of image management can be further improved.

  In this case, the file name generation is performed when generating the file name of the image data captured later so that the file name of the image data captured previously and the file name of the image data captured later can be identified. The unit can acquire the file name of the image data that was previously captured. When the file name includes characters for identifying each other as described above, the file name generation unit assigns a character etc. different from the character etc., and assigns a file name including related information and the different character etc. Can be generated. In addition, two pieces of related information, for example, latitude / longitude information and time information, place name information and time information such as date and time are acquired from an external device, and a file name is generated using them to differ as described above. A file name that can be automatically identified can be generated without assigning a character or the like.

  Although the present invention has been described with the embodiments shown in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, and other embodiments, additions, modifications, deletions, etc. It can be changed within the range that can be conceived by a trader, and any embodiment is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the effects and effects of the present invention are exhibited.

1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration including an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment. The figure which showed the physical structure of the imaging device of this embodiment. The figure which showed the structure of the imaging device of this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating image data recording processing performed by the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. A map with latitude, longitude, and place names. The figure which illustrated the correspondence map. The figure which illustrated the file name produced | generated by the process shown in FIG. The figure which showed another embodiment of the image data recording process by an imaging device. The figure which illustrated the file name produced | generated by the process shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Imaging device, 110 ... Network, 111 ... Server, 120 ... Barcode scanner device, 130 ... GPS receiver, 131 ... GPS satellite, 200 ... Processor, 210 ... ROM, 211 ... SDRAM, 212 ... SD memory card, 213 ... Flash memory, 214 ... Position information storage unit, 215 ... Time information storage unit, 216 ... Corresponding map storage unit, 220 ... First wireless communication circuit, 230 ... Second wireless communication circuit, 240 ... User interface, 250 ... Function unit , 300 ... Imaging unit, 310 ... Data storage unit, 320 ... External device communication unit, 330 ... File name generation unit, 340 ... Network communication unit, 350 ... Determination unit, 600 ... Corresponding map, 610 ... Latitude value field, 620 ... Longitude field, 630 ... Place name field

Claims (17)

An imaging unit for imaging a subject and outputting image data;
A data storage unit for storing the image data;
An external device communication unit that communicates with an external device that acquires related information related to the subject;
An image capturing apparatus including: a file name generation unit configured to generate at least one of a file name associated with the image data when storing the image data and a folder name of a folder storing the image data using the related information .   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a global positioning system (GPS) or a barcode scanner device.   The external device acquires latitude / longitude information of the imaging position of the subject, time information of imaging the subject, product information related to a product, or barcode information indicating a part of the product information as the related information. The file name generation unit is configured to output the latitude / longitude information, the time information, the latitude / longitude information and the time information, or the bar according to the related information received by the external device communication unit. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of a file name and a folder name including code information is generated.   The map further includes a correspondence map registered by associating latitude / longitude information with location name information, and the file name generation unit searches the correspondence map using the latitude / longitude information acquired by the GPS as a search key, and the retrieved location name information The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of a file name and a folder name included is generated.   The apparatus further includes a correspondence table in which product information related to the product and the product information or barcode information indicating a part of the product information are registered in association with each other, and the file name generation unit includes the barcode scanner device. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the correspondence table is searched using the acquired barcode information as a search key, and at least one of a file name and a folder name including the searched product information is generated.   Correspondence map registered in association with latitude / longitude information and place name information, or correspondence table in which product information related to the product is registered in correspondence with the product information or barcode information indicating a part of the product information, Or a network communication unit that communicates with a server that holds both of them via a network, wherein the network communication unit uses the related information as a search key in response to reception of the related information by the external device communication unit. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the correspondence map or the correspondence table is searched, and the searched place name information or the product information is received. The external device transmits the related information to the external device communication unit at a predetermined cycle, and further includes a determination unit that determines whether the external device communication unit has received the related information,
When it is determined that the related information is received, the file name generation unit generates at least one of the file name and the folder name using the related information, and the related information is not received. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if it is determined, the file name generation unit generates at least one of a file name and a folder name including a preset default value.   The data storage unit generates at least one of a file name and a folder name using a latitude / longitude value mode in which latitude / longitude information of the imaging position of the subject is generated or time information using time information of imaging the subject. Mode, or a latitude / longitude mixed time mode generated using the latitude / longitude information and the time information, or a place name mode generated using place name information indicating the imaging location of the subject, or the place name information and the time information. It is generated using the place name time mixed mode to be generated using, or the barcode mode to be generated using the product information related to the product or the barcode information indicating a part of the product information, or the preset default value Stores mode information preselected by the user from the default modes, Kigaibu device communication unit, based on the mode information, to communicate with a corresponding said external device, an imaging apparatus according to claim 1.   An imaging system comprising: the imaging device according to claim 1; and an external device that acquires related information related to the subject. Starting communication between an external device that acquires related information related to the subject and the external device communication unit;
Imaging a subject with an imaging unit and outputting image data;
In response to imaging of the subject by the imaging unit, receiving related information related to the subject from the external device by the external device communication unit;
Generating at least one of a file name associated with the image data and a folder name of the folder storing the image data when the image data is stored by the file name generation unit using the related information;
The image data is associated with the file name in a data storage unit, in the folder with the folder name of the data storage unit, or in the folder with the folder name of the data storage unit And storing the file name in association with each other.   The external device is a global positioning system (GPS) or a barcode scanner device, and the receiving step is related to latitude / longitude information of the imaging position of the subject, time information of imaging the subject, or a product Receiving the product information or the barcode information indicating a part of the product information, and the step of generating the file name includes the latitude and longitude information according to the related information received by the external device communication unit The method according to claim 10, further comprising: generating at least one of the time information, the latitude / longitude information and the time information, or a file name and a folder name including the barcode information.   The step of generating the file name includes a step of searching a correspondence map registered by associating latitude / longitude information and place name information using the latitude / longitude information acquired by the GPS as a search key, and a file including the searched place name information Generating at least one of a name and a folder name.   The step of generating the file name includes using the barcode information acquired by the barcode scanner device as a search key, product information related to the product, and the product information, or barcode information indicating a part of the product information, The method according to claim 11, comprising the steps of: searching a correspondence table registered in association with each other; and generating at least one of a file name and a folder name including the searched product information.   Correspondence map registered in association with latitude / longitude information and place name information, or correspondence table in which product information related to the product is registered in correspondence with the product information or barcode information indicating a part of the product information, Or by searching the correspondence map or the correspondence table using the related information acquired by the external device as a search key by a network communication unit that communicates via a network with a server that holds both, and the searched The method according to claim 11, further comprising: receiving place name information or the product information. The external device transmits the related information to the external device communication unit at a predetermined cycle, and further includes a step of determining whether or not the related information is received by the external device communication unit,
When the related information is received, in the step of generating the file name, at least one of a file name and a folder name is generated using the related information, and when the related information is not received The method according to claim 10, wherein in the step of generating the file name, at least one of a file name and a folder name including a preset default value is generated.   In response to selection of mode information by the user, the method further includes the step of storing the input mode information in the data storage unit, wherein the mode information includes at least one of a file name and a folder name for imaging the subject. Latitude / longitude value mode generated using the latitude / longitude information of the position, time mode generated using time information obtained by imaging the subject, latitude / longitude / time mixed mode generated using the latitude / longitude information and the time information Or a place name mode that is generated using place name information indicating the imaging location of the subject, or a place name time mixed mode that is generated using the place name information and the time information, or product information related to the product or the product information Bar code mode generated using bar code information indicating a part or a preset diff The step of selecting the default mode to be generated using a default value and starting the communication, the external device communication unit starts communication with the corresponding external device based on the mode information. 10. The method according to 10.   An apparatus-readable program for causing an imaging apparatus to execute the image data recording method according to any one of claims 10 to 16.

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