Image editing apparatus, image pickup apparatus, image editing method, and program

• US 20060158526A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kashiwa, Kotaro, Marukawa, Kazuyuki, Ohzeki, Yukihiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,599,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.110
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3204 of data relating to a user, sender, addressee, machine or electronic recording medium H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3247 Data linking a set of images to one another, e.g. sequence, burst or continuous capture mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

First image data captured by a first image pickup apparatus and second image data captured by a second image pickup apparatus are stored in storing means. Thus, it is possible to correlate images with each other by using identification information of a user or the image pickup apparatus and identification information of an image capturing time, an image capturing position, or an image pickup target (event). Further, the correlated image data is edited on the basis of editing structure data, thereby generating album image data.

Claims

1. An image editing apparatus comprising:

correlation detecting means that detects, from first image data obtained by image capturing of a first image pickup apparatus and second image data obtained by image capturing of a second image pickup apparatus, the correlation between a specific piece of the first image data and a specific piece of the second image data; and

image editing means that edits the first and second image data whose correlation is detected by the correlation detecting means on the basis of editing structure data, and sets image data for output.

2. An image editing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

input means that inputs the first image data obtained by the image capturing of the first image pickup apparatus and the second image data obtained by the image capturing of the second image pickup apparatus, to be stored to storing means.

3. An image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image editing apparatus is arranged in one of the first image pickup apparatus and the second image pickup apparatus, and

the image editing apparatus further comprises input means that inputs the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus, to be stored to storing means.

4. An image editing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

link processing means that correlates the specific piece of the first image data with the specific piece of the second image data.

5. An image editing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the link processing means correlates the specific piece of the first image data with the specific piece of the second image data on the basis of additional information added to the first image data and the second image data.

6. An image editing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the additional information is identification information of the individual image pickup apparatuses or a user.

7. An image editing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the additional information is image-capturing time information.

8. An image editing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the additional information is image-capturing positional information.

9. An image editing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the additional information is identification information of an image pickup target.

10. An image editing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting means that selects editing structure data used for image edition by the image editing means from a plurality of pieces of the editing structure data.

11. An image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image editing means determines the layout of the first and second image data on the basis of the editing structure data.

12. An image editing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

output means that outputs, as print data, the image data for output generated by the image editing means.

13. An image editing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

output means that sends and outputs the image data for output generating by the image editing means.

14. An image editing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

output means that records, to a recoding medium, the image data for output generated by the image editing means.

15. An image editing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

output means that uploads, to a network server, the image data for output generated by the image editing means.

16. An image pickup apparatus for obtaining image data by image capturing, comprising:

processing means that correlates the image data by the image capturing with the image data obtained by image capturing of other image pickup apparatus.

17. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the processing means is link processing means that correlates the image data obtained by the image capturing with the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus.

18. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the link processing means correlates a plurality of pieces of image data with each other on the basis of additional information added to the image data obtained by the image capturing of the image pickup apparatus and to the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus.

19. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

input means that inputs the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus to be stored to storing means.

20. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

image editing means that edits a plurality of pieces of the image data correlated with each other by the processing means on the basis of editing structure data and sets image data for output.

21. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

selecting means that selects the editing structure data used for the image edition by the image editing means from a plurality of pieces of the editing structure data.

22. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the image editing means determines the layout of a plurality of pieces of the image data correlated with each other by the processing means on the basis of the editing structure data.

23. An image pickup apparatus for obtaining image data by image capturing, comprising:

correlation detecting means that detects the correlation between the image data obtained by the image capturing and the image data obtained by image capturing of other image pickup apparatus.

24. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

link processing means that correlates the image data obtained by the image capturing with the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus.

25. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the link processing means correlates the correlation between a plurality of pieces of the image data on the basis of additional information added to the image data obtained by the image capturing and to the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus.

26. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

input means that inputs the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus to be stored to storing means.

27. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

image editing means that edits a plurality of pieces of the image data whose correlation is detected by the correlation detecting means on the basis of editing structure data, and sets image data for output.

28. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:

selecting means that selects the editing structure data used for image edition by the image editing means from a plurality of pieces of the editing structure data.

29. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the image editing means determines the layout of a plurality of pieces of the image data whose correlation is detected by the correlation detecting means on the basis of the editing structure data.

30. An image editing method for creating image data for output by using first image data obtained by image capturing of a first image pickup apparatus and second image data obtained by image capturing of a second image pickup apparatus, comprising:

an editing-structure-data determining step of determining editing-structure-data used for image edition;

a correlation detecting step of detecting the correlation between a specific piece of the first image data and a specific piece of the second image data; and

an image editing step of editing the first and second image data whose correlation is detected in the correlation detecting step on the basis of editing-structure-data determined in the editing-structure-data determining step, and generating the image data for output.

31. An image editing method according to claim 30, further comprising:

a link processing step of correlating the specific piece of the first image data with the specific piece of the second image data.

32. An image editing method according to claim 31, wherein, in the link processing step, the specific piece of the first image data is correlated with the specific piece of the second image data on the basis of additional information added to the first image and the second image data.

33. An image editing method according to claim 32, wherein the additional information is identification information that identifies the individual image pickup apparatuses or a user.

34. An image editing method according to claim 32, wherein the additional information is image capturing time-information.

35. An image editing method according to claim 32, wherein the additional information is image capturing positional-information.

36. An image editing method according to claim 32, wherein the additional information is identification information of an image capturing target.

37. An image editing method according to claim 30, wherein, in the editing-structure-data determining step, one piece of the editing structure data is determined by selecting the editing structure data used for image edition in the image editing step from a plurality of pieces of the editing structure data.

38. An image editing method according to claim 30, wherein, in the image editing step, the layout of the first and second image data is determined on the basis of the editing structure data.

39. A program for enabling an information processing apparatus to execute the creation of image data for output by using first image data obtained by image capturing of a first image pickup apparatus and second image data obtained by image capturing of a second image pickup apparatus, comprising:

an editing-structure-data determining step of determining editing-structure-data used for image edition;

a correlation detecting step of detecting the correlation between a specific piece of the first image data and a specific piece of the second image data; and

an image editing step of editing the first and second image data whose correlation is detected in correlation detecting step on the basis of the editing structure data determined in the editing-structure-data determining step, and generating the image data for output.

40. A program according to claim 39, further comprising:

a link processing step of correlating the specific piece of the first data and the specific piece of the second image data.

41. A program according to claim 40, wherein, in the link processing step, the specific piece of the first image data is correlated with the specific piece of the second image data on the basis of additional information added to the first image data and the second image data.

42. A program according to claim 41, wherein the additional information is identification information that identifies the individual image pickup apparatuses or a user.

43. A program according to claim 41, wherein the additional information is image capturing time-information.

44. A program according to claim 41, wherein the additional information is image capturing positional-information.

45. A program according to claim 41, wherein the additional information is identification information of an image capturing target.

46. A program according to claim 39, wherein, in the editing-structure-data determining step, one piece of editing structure data is determined by selecting the editing structure data used for image edition in the image editing step from a plurality of pieces of the editing structure data.

47. A program according to claim 39, wherein the layout of the first and second image data is determined on the basis of the editing structure data in the image editing step.

55. An image editing apparatus according to claim 47, further comprising:

output unit that outputs, as print data, the image data for output generated by the image editor.

48. An image editing apparatus comprising:

correlation detector that detects, from first image data obtained by image capturing of a first image pickup apparatus and second image data obtained by image capturing of a second image pickup apparatus, the correlation between a specific piece of the first image data and a specific piece of the second image data; and

image editor that edits the first and second image data whose correlation is detected by the correlation detector on the basis of editing structure data, and sets image data for output.

49. An image editing apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising:

input unit that inputs the first image data obtained by the image capturing of the first image pickup apparatus and the second image data obtained by the image capturing of the second image pickup apparatus, to be stored to storing unit.

50. An image editing apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the image editing apparatus is arranged in one of the first image pickup apparatus and the second image pickup apparatus, and the image editing apparatus further comprises input unit that inputs the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus, to be stored to storing unit.

51. An image editing apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising:

link processor that correlates the specific piece of the first image data with the specific piece of the second image data.

52. An image editing apparatus according to claim 51, wherein the link processor correlates the specific piece of the first image data with the specific piece of the second image data on the basis of additional information added to the first image data and the second image data.

53. An image editing apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising:

selector that selects editing structure data used for image edition by the image editor from a plurality of pieces of the editing structure data.

54. An image editing apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the image editor determines the layout of the first and second image data on the basis of the editing structure data.

56. An image editing apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising:

output unit that sends and outputs the image data for output generating by the image editor.

57. An image editing apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising:

output unit that records, to a recoding medium, the image data for output generated by the image editor.

58. An image editing apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising:

output unit that uploads, to a network server, the image data for output generated by the image editor.

59. An image pickup apparatus for obtaining image data by image capturing, comprising:

processor that correlates the image data by the image capturing with the image data obtained by image capturing of other image pickup apparatus.

60. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 59, wherein the processor is link processor that correlates the image data obtained by the image capturing with the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus.

61. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 60, wherein the link processor correlates a plurality of pieces of image data with each other on the basis of additional information added to the image data obtained by the image capturing of the image pickup apparatus and to the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus.

62. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 59, further comprising:

input unit that inputs the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus to be stored to storing unit.

63. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 59, further comprising:

image editor that edits a plurality of pieces of the image data correlated with each other by the processor on the basis of editing structure data and sets image data for output.

64. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 63, further comprising:

selector that selects the editing structure data used for the image edition by the image editor from a plurality of pieces of the editing structure data.

65. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 63, wherein the image editor determines the layout of a plurality of pieces of the image data correlated with each other by the processor on the basis of the editing structure data.

66. An image pickup apparatus for obtaining image data by image capturing, comprising:

correlation detector that detects the correlation between the image data obtained by the image capturing and the image data obtained by image capturing of other image pickup apparatus.

67. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 66, further comprising:

link processor that correlates the image data obtained by the image capturing with the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus.

68. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the link processor correlates the correlation between a plurality of pieces of the image data on the basis of additional information added to the image data obtained by the image capturing and to the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus.

69. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 66, further comprising:

input unit that inputs the image data obtained by the image capturing of the other image pickup apparatus to be stored to storing unit.

70. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 66, further comprising:

image editor that edits a plurality of pieces of the image data whose correlation is detected by the correlation detector on the basis of editing structure data, and sets image data for output.

72. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 70, wherein the image editor determines the layout of a plurality of pieces of the image data whose correlation is detected by the correlation detector on the basis of the editing structure data.

71. An image pickup apparatus according to claim further comprising:

selector that selects the editing structure data used for image edition by the image editor from a plurality of pieces of the editing structure data.