Auxiliary information generation method, auxiliary information generation apparatus, video data generation method, video data playback method, video data playback apparatus, and data storage medium

• US 7,489,853 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Toshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOPGYAL, GELEK W
• Application Number:
  US09/940,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20020041757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,722 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231.99, 348/231.3, 348/231.4, 386/1, 386/95, 386/117
• US Class Current: 386/248
• 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 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9201 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the video signal

Abstract

Auxiliary information relating to digital data such as video and audio data is generated in synchronization with power-on, or generated according to an instruction from the user operating an information button or the like. Further, only an important portion of digital data is extracted by using the auxiliary information to generate reduced digital data, whereby the time and cost required for transmission is reduced.

Claims

1. An imaging device for adding auxiliary information to digital data, said imaging device comprising:

an interface device operable to receive an externally generated image input

an information button operable to input auxiliary information indicating a degree of importance of digital data, according to user operation;

an imaging unit operable to capture and photoelectrically convert an image into an image signal when said interface device receives the externally generated image input;

a coding device operable to generate first digital data by compressing the image signal created by said imaging unit when said interface device receives the externally generated image input;

a selection unit operable to select an instruction of how to record the auxiliary information for (i) an important scene, (ii) a change of shooting location, and (iii) a predetermined time; and

a digital data generation device operable to combine, at a time when the auxiliary information is input and the image is captured and photoelectrically converted into the image signal by said imaging unit, the auxiliary information received at the time with the first digital data corresponding to the image captured and photoelectrically converted by said imaging unit at the time, according to the instruction selected by the selection unit, to produce second digital data comprising the combined auxiliary information and first digital data, and output the second digital data to a recording device or a transmission device.

2. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein said interface device includes an identifier input part operable to identify the first digital data, and wherein the auxiliary information identifies the first digital data according to said identifier input part.

3. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein said interface device includes a microphone operable to receive audio, and wherein the auxiliary information indicates a level of audio received by said microphone.

4. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein said digital data generation device is operable to insert the auxiliary information into a header portion of the first digital data, and operable to generate the second digital data comprised of the first digital data and the auxiliary information inserted into the header portion of the first digital data.

5. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein said imaging device is integrated into a camera.

6. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is integrated into a mobile phone.

7. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein, if the degree of importance is identified as higher than normal, then an image representing the second digital data is assigned a specific color, and if the degree of importance is identified as lower than normal, then the image representing the second digital data is assigned another specific color.

8. An imaging method for adding auxiliary information to digital data, said imaging method comprising:

receiving an externally generated image input;

receiving an auxiliary information input indicating a degree of importance of digital data, via an information button according to user operation;

capturing and photoelectrically converting an image into an image signal upon said receiving of the externally generated image input;

generating first digital data by compressing the image signal created by said capturing and photoelectrically converting of the image upon said receiving of the externally generated image input;

selecting an instruction of how to record the auxiliary information for (i) an important scene, (ii) a change of shooting location, and (iii) a predetermined time;

combining, at a time of said receiving of the auxiliary information and of said capturing and photoelectrically converting the image into the image signal, the auxiliary information received at the time with the first digital data corresponding to the image captured and photoelectrically converted, at the time, by said capturing and photoelectrically converting, according to the selected instruction, to produce second digital data comprising the combined auxiliary information and first digital data; and

outputting the second digital data to a recording device or a transmission device.

9. A computer readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an imaging method for adding auxiliary information to digital data, said imaging method comprising:

receiving an externally generated image input;

receiving an auxiliary information input indicating a degree of importance of digital data, via an information button according to user operation;

capturing and photoelectrically converting an image into an image signal upon said receiving of the externally generated image input;

generating first digital data by compressing the image signal created by said capturing and photoelectrically converting of the image upon said receiving of the externally generated image input;

selecting an instruction of how to record the auxiliary information for (i) an important scene, (ii) a change of shooting location, and (iii) a predetermined time;

combining, at a time of said receiving of the auxiliary information and of said capturing and photoelectrically converting the image into the image signal, the auxiliary information received at the time with the first digital data corresponding to the image captured and photoelectrically converted, at the time, by said capturing and photoelectrically converting, according to the selected instruction, to produce second digital data comprising the combined auxiliary information and first digital data; and

outputting the second digital data to a recording device or a transmission device.