IMAGE MANAGING APPARATUS, IMAGE MANAGING METHOD AND IMAGE MANAGING PROGRAM

• US 20080301586A1
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakata, Junichiro, Satoh, Nariaki, Sakata, Yukiko, AYATSUKA, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 8,341,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/840
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/54 Browsing; Visualisation therefor

Abstract

An image managing apparatus includes a storage part, an input part, a grouping-processing part, a representative image extraction part, a folding-button preparing part, a folding-screen preparing part and an output part. An image is stored in the storage part. A user'"'"'s instruction is input by the input part. The grouping-processing part is configured to classify images displayed on a screen into a group for display based on the instruction. The representative image extraction part is configured to extract an image in the group as a representative image of the group. The folding-button preparing part is configured to generate a folding button for displaying the representative image of the group on the screen. The folding-screen preparing part is configured to generate an image-listing screen (“folding screen)”} on which the representative image of the group and an ungrouped image are displayed when the folding-button displayed on the screen is operated.

Claims

1. An image managing apparatus, comprising:

a storage part for storing an image;

an input part for inputting a user'"'"'s instruction;

a grouping-processing part for classifying images displayed on a screen in an edit mode into a group for display on the basis of the instruction from the input part;

a representative image extraction part, for extracting an image among images in the group in accordance with the instruction from the input part as a representative image of the group;

a folding-button preparing part for preparing a folding button for displaying the representative image of the group on the screen;

a folding-screen preparing part for preparing an image-listing screen (hereinafter, referred to as a “

folding screen)”

) on which the representative image of the group and an ungrouped image are displayed when the folding button displayed on the screen is operated; and

an output part for outputting the image-listing screen to the outside.

3. The image managing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

when the user selects an image from the images included in the group, the representative image extraction part provides the selected image as a representative image of the group.

4. The image managing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

when the user does not select a representative image from the images included in the group, the representative image extraction part selects a leading image in the group as a representative image of the group.

5. The image managing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the storage part stores contents of a plurality of different folding screens prepared on the basis of the user'"'"'s instruction for the images stored in the storage part.

6. The image managing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the screen is changed to a browsing mode on the basis of an instruction from the input part;

and

the group for display on the folding screen is changed to be non-displayed.

7. The image managing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

a specified image in the folding screen is not displayed when a control part receives an instruction of not displaying the specified image in the folding screen from the input part.

8. The image managing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a screen transition between the folding screen and the unfolding screen is represented using animation.

9. The image managing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the control part outputs the representative image in the group and the ungrouped image, which form the folding screen, to the outside when images forming the folding screen are outputted on the basis of an instruction from the input part.

10. The image managing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

when the control part receives an instruction of not displaying the specified image of the folding screen from the input part, the control part does not output the specified image in the folding screen to the outside.

2. The image managing apparatus further comprising:

an unfolding button preparing part for preparing an unfolding button for displaying on the folding screen another image of the group represented by the representative image displayed on the folding screen; and

an unfolding-image preparing part for preparing an image-listing screen (hereinafter, referred to as a “

unfolding screen”

) including said another image of the group and the ungrouped image, when the unfolding button displayed on the folding screen is operated.

11. An image managing method, comprising the steps of:

classifying images displayed on a screen in an edit mode into a group for display on the basis of an instruction from the input part;

extracting an image among images in the group in accordance with the instruction from the input part as a representative image of the group;

preparing a folding button for displaying the representative image of the group on the screen;

preparing an image-listing screen on which the representative image of the group and an ungrouped image are displayed when the folding button displayed on the screen is operated; and

outputting the image-listing screen to the outside.

12. An image managing program for allowing a computer to execute procedures of:

classifying images displayed on a screen in an edit mode into a group for display on the basis of an instruction from the input part;

extracting an image among images in the group in accordance with the instruction from the input part as a representative image of the group;

preparing a folding button for displaying the representative image of the group on the screen;

preparing an image-listing screen on which the representative image of the group and an ungrouped image are displayed when the folding button displayed on the screen is operated; and

outputting the image-listing screen to the outside.