Image file creating apparatus and image file reproducing apparatus

• US 20070171277A1
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shioi, Masahiro, Satoh, Seiji, Horiuchi, Keiji, Yoshikawa, Takatoshi, Nomura, Toshio
• Granted Patent: US 7,715,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding

Abstract

A controller (101) designates the method of integrating viewpoint images. An image integrator (102) creates an integrated image by placing individual viewpoint images in appropriate positions. A 3D image control information creator (103) creates 3D image control information by formatting the placement mode of individual viewpoint images and various 3-dimensional image characteristics. An encoder (104) encodes integrated image data. A multiplexer (105) multiplexes the coded data and the 3D image control information and outputs them. A filename deciding unit (106) decides the name of a file when multiplexed data is recorded as a file. A storage directory deciding unit (107) decides the directory in which a file to be recorded is stored. A file creator (108) records a file with the decided filename under the decided storage directory. Thus, the distinction between 3-dimensional display image data and 2-dimensional image data can be clarified.

Claims

1. An image file creating apparatus for creating an image file of a predetermined file format, from a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of viewpoints, comprising:

an information creating means for creating 3-dimensional image control information for 3-dimensional display from the plurality of viewpoint images;

an image integrating means for integrating the plurality of viewpoint images into one image by placing them at predetermined positions; and

a file creating means for creating an image file including one integrated image of the plurality of viewpoint images and the 3-dimensional image control information, wherein whether the image file is a file that includes the plurality of viewpoint images is judged based on a filename of the image file and/or a directory that stores the image file.

2. The image file creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the directory which stores the image file is made different from a directory in which image files including one-viewpoint images are stored, so as to enable making a decision on whether the image file is one that-includes the plurality of viewpoint images.

3. The image file creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filename is made to be one that indicates a fact that the file contains the plurality of viewpoint images, so as to enable making a decision on whether the image file is one that includes the plurality of viewpoint images.

4. The image file creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filename is made to be one that is different from those based on naming rules for files made up of a one-viewpoint image, so as to enable making a decision on whether the image file is one that includes the plurality of viewpoint images.

5. The image file creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filename is made to have an extension different from those for files made up of a one-viewpoint image, so as to enable making a decision on whether the image file is one that includes the plurality of viewpoint images.

6. An image file reproducing apparatus for reproducing a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of viewpoint images, from an image file of a predetermined file format, which includes one integrated image of the plurality of viewpoint images arranged at predetermined positions, comprising:

an analyzing means for analyzing 3-dimensional image control information for implementing 3-dimensional display of the plurality of viewpoint images from the image file, wherein the plurality of viewpoint images are reproduced in accordance with a result from the analyzing means.

7. An image file reproducing apparatus for reproducing a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of viewpoint images, from an image file of a predetermined file format, which includes one integrated image of the plurality of viewpoint images arranged at predetermined positions, comprising:

a deciding means for deciding whether the image file is a file that includes the plurality of viewpoint images, based on a filename of the file and/or a directory that stores the image file; and

an analyzing means for analyzing 3-dimensional image control information for implementing 3-dimensional display of the plurality of viewpoint images from the image file, wherein the plurality of viewpoint images are reproduced in accordance with a result from the deciding means and/or the analyzing means.