Information processing apparatus and method

• US 20070058936A1
• Filed: 09/25/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Hamamura, Akihiko, Ejima, Satoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/241
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

An information processing method and apparatus reproduces predetermined information from a variety of information recorded by, for example, an electronic camera. The information may be reproduced in a predetermined order and with predetermined reproduction time. Reproduction information is generated based on recording information. Reproduction time may be changed by changing a WAIT time between reproduction of each recording unit. A slide show mode may be selected after a series of information are recorded. If information is not being presently recorded in the electronic camera, all of the information previously recorded may be displayed as the slide show. Also, new information may be recorded even under unexpected conditions. Information to be reproduced may be set during slide show mode by changing the order of reproduction if necessary. The new information is recognized as different information from the information that is set during the slide show mode.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus that reproduces information stored as recording units, each recording unit including at least one of image information, memo information and sound information, the information processing apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing the recording units;

recording unit selection means for selecting at least one recording unit from among the recording units stored in the storage means;

reproduction order setting means for setting a reproduction order of a plurality of the recording units selected by the recording unit selection means;

reproduction time setting means for setting a reproduction time for each of the recording units set by the reproduction order setting means, the reproduction time setting means setting the reproduction time based on a recording time of the sound information when the sound information is included in the recording unit and setting a predetermined constant time as the reproduction time when the sound information is not included in the recording unit;

reading means for reading the recording units from the storage means based on the order set by the reproduction order setting means; and

reproduction means for reproducing information contained in each recording unit read by the reading means, in accordance with the reproduction time set by the reproduction time setting means.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an information selection means for selecting the information to be reproduced from all the information contained in each recording unit selected by the recording unit selection means;

and wherein

the reproduction means selects only information selected by the information selection means from among all the information contained in each selected recording unit.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising changing means for changing the reproduction time set by the reproduction time setting means.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image information includes multiple frames of continuously photographed images, the reproduction time setting means sets the reproduction time of each frame based on frame rate at the time of shooting.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information includes multiple frames of continuously photographed images, the apparatus further comprising frame selection means for selecting at least a predetermined frame to be reproduced from the continuously photographed images.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the frame selection means selects all the frames of the continuously photographed images when the continuously photographed images include sound information.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the images that are continuously photographed include sound information and there is at least one frame that is not selected by the frame selection means, the reproduction means reproduces a frame which either proceeds or follows the at least one frame which is not selected in place of the frame which is not selected.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the images that are continuously photographed include sound information and there is at least one frame that is not selected by the frame selection means, the reproduction means does not reproduce a frame but reproduces only sound in place of the frame which is not selected.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

generation means for generating a reproduction group including at least one of the recording units;

setting means for setting a reproduction order of each recording unit contained in the reproduction group;

designation means for designating a desired reproduction group;

wherein the reproduction means reproduces each recording unit contained in the reproduction group designated by the designation means, the reproduction means reproducing each recording unit based on the reproduction order set by the setting means; and

further comprising

prohibition means for prohibiting reproduction of recording units that are not contained in the reproduction group designated by the designation means.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising resetting means for resetting the reproduction group generated by the generation means.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising dissolution means for dissolving the reproduction group generated by the generation means.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the reproduction means reproduces the recording units based on the order in which the recording units were recorded when all the reproduction groups are dissolved by said dissolution means.

13. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a memory that stores recording units, each recording unit including at least one of image information, memo information and sound information;

a recording unit selector that selects at least one recording unit from among the recording units stored in the memory;

a reproduction order setting device that sets a reproduction order of a plurality of the recording units selected by the recording unit selector; and

a controller coupled to the memory, the recording unit selector and to the reproduction order setting device to set a reproduction time for each of the recording units set by the reproduction order setting device, the controller setting the reproduction time based on a recording time of the sound information when the sound information is included in the recording unit and setting a predetermined constant time as the reproduction time when the sound information is not included in the recording unit, the controller also controlling reading of the recording units from the memory based on the order set by the reproduction order setting device and reproduction of the information contained in each recording unit in accordance with the set reproduction time.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising an information selector coupled to the controller to select the information to be reproduced from all the information contained in each recording unit selected by the recording unit selector;

and wherein

the controller reproduces only information selected by the information selector from among all the information contained in each selected recording unit.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a changing device coupled to the controller to change the reproduction time set by the controller.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus is a digital camera.

17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the digital camera includes:

a photoelectric converter through which the image information is input to the memory;

a touch tablet through which the memo information is input to the memory; and

at least one microphone through which the sound information is input to the memory.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a reproduction group generator that generates at least one reproduction group including at least one of the recording units;

a setting device that sets a reproduction order of each recording unit contained in the at least one reproduction group;

a designator that designates a desired reproduction group; and

wherein the controller is coupled to the reproduction group generator, the setting device and to the designator, and the controller reproduces each recording unit contained in the reproduction group designated by the designator, the controller reproducing each recording unit based on the set reproduction order, and prohibiting reproduction of recording units that are not contained in the designated reproduction group.

19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a resetting device coupled to the controller to reset the at least one reproduction group generated by the reproduction group generator.

20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a dissolution command device coupled to the controller to dissolve the reproduction group generated by the controller.

21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the controller reproduces the recording units based on the order in which the recording units were recorded when all the reproduction groups have been dissolved.

22. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus that reproduces information stored as recording units, each recording unit including at least one of image information, memo information and sound information, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting at least one recording unit from among a plurality of recording units stored in memory;

setting a reproduction order of a plurality of the selected recording units;

setting a reproduction time for each of the selected and ordered recording units, the reproduction time being set based on a recording time of the sound information when the sound information is included in the recording unit and being set as a predetermined constant time when the sound information is not included in the recording unit;

reading the recording units from the memory based on the set reproduction order; and

reproducing information contained in each recording unit, in accordance with the set reproduction time.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

selecting the information to be reproduced from all the information contained in each selected recording unit; and

wherein

the reproducing step reproduces only the selected information from among all the information contained in each selected recording unit.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein when the image information includes multiple frames of continuously photographed images, the reproduction time setting step includes setting the reproduction time of each frame based on frame rate at the time of shooting.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein when the image information includes multiple frames of continuously photographed images, further comprising the step of selecting at least a predetermined frame to be reproduced from the continuously photographed images.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the frame selecting step selects all the frames of the continuously photographed images when the continuously photographed images include sound information.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein when the images that are continuously photographed include sound information and there is at least one frame that is not selected by the frame selecting step, the reproducing step reproduces a frame which either proceeds or follows the at least one frame which is not selected in place of the frame which is not selected.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein when the images that are continuously photographed include sound information and there is at least one frame that is not selected in the frame selecting step, the reproducing step does not reproduce a frame but reproduces only sound in place of the frame which is not selected

29. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

generating at least one reproduction group including at least one of the recording units;

setting a reproduction order of each recording unit contained in the at least one reproduction group;

designating a desired reproduction group;

wherein the reproducing step includes reproducing each recording unit contained in the designated reproduction group based on the set reproduction order; and

prohibiting reproduction of recording units that are not contained in the designated reproduction group.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising resetting the contents of the generated reproduction group.

31. The method according to claim 29, further comprising dissolving the generated reproduction group.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the reproducing step reproduces the recording units based on the order in which the recording units were recorded when all the reproduction groups are dissolved.

33. A recording medium that stores a computer-readable control program having instructions that are executable by a controller of an information processing apparatus that reproduces information stored as recording units, each recording unit including at least one of image information, memo information and sound information, to perform the steps of:

selecting at least one recording unit from among a plurality of recording units stored in memory;

setting a reproduction order of a plurality of the selected recording units;

setting a reproduction time for each of the selected and ordered recording units, the reproduction time being set based on a recording time of the sound information when the sound information is included in the recording unit and being set as a predetermined constant time when the sound information is not included in the recording unit;

reading the recording units from the memory based on the set reproduction order; and

reproducing information contained in each recording unit, in accordance with the set reproduction time.

34. The recording medium according to claim 33, wherein the instructions further cause the information processing apparatus to perform the steps of:

generating at least one reproduction group including at least one of the recording units;

setting a reproduction order of each recording unit contained in the at least one reproduction group;

designating a desired reproduction group;

the reproducing includes reproducing each recording unit contained in the designated reproduction group based on the set reproduction order; and

prohibiting reproduction of recording units that are not contained in the designated reproduction group.