Image processing apparatus, control method for the same, and storage medium

• US 8,711,265 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2009
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Noguchi, Toshiyuki, Kawamura, Kohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Nhan T
• Application Number:
  US12/429,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20090268076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 348/240.2, 348/333.2, 348/333.11, 348/333.12, 348/222.1, 382/118
• US Class Current: 348/333.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00469 with enlargement of a selected area of the displayed information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3875 combined with enlarging or reducing enlarging or reducing per se H04N1/393
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators

Abstract

An image taking apparatus is configured to obtain image data by taking an image of an object, recording the image data on a recording medium, and reproducing the image data recorded on the recording medium to display the image. The image taking apparatus includes a scale-up display unit configured to display a partial area of the image in an enlarged scale, a setting unit configured to selectively set a flag indicating a rating for the partial area displayed in the enlarged scale, and a storing unit configured to store, on the recording medium, the flag set for the partial area and position information representing a position of the partial area in relation to the image data.

Claims

1. An image taking apparatus operable to obtain image data by taking an image of an object, to record the image data on a recording medium, and to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium to display the image, the image taking apparatus comprising:

a display unit that displays an image on an entire predetermined display area;

a scale-up display unit that enlarges and displays a partial area of the image, on the entire predetermined display area, in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation;

an obtaining unit that obtains position information indicating a position of the partial area in the image after the scale-up display unit enlarges and displays the partial area of the image;

a setting unit that selectively sets a rating for the partial area of the image, while the scale-up display unit enlarges and displays the partial area of the image; and

a storing unit that stores, on the recording medium, the rating set for the partial area of the image and the obtained position information, in relation to the image data,

wherein the rating is related to content of the partial area of the image displayed by the scale-up display unit,

wherein the display unit displays the image together with information representing the rating set for the partial area,

wherein the image taking apparatus comprises a processor executing a program stored in a memory to implement at least a part of a function of at least one of the units, and

wherein the rating indicated whether the partial area of the image is a success in image-taking or a failure in the image-taking.

2. The image taking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a search unit that searches for the image data from the recording medium based on the rating stored in relation to the image data.

3. The image taking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the partial area in a manner separately recognizable from other areas and displays the partial area together with mark information representing the rating set for the partial area.

4. The image taking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partial area of the image, for which the rating indicates a predetermined value, is set as a target of at least one of displaying as a slide show, storing a predetermined folder, attaching to email, writing to a recording medium, sending to an external information processing apparatus or camera, printing, arranging on an electronic photo album, and deleting.

5. The image taking apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the scale-up display unit enlarges and displays the partial area of the image in response to the user'"'"'s manipulation of a manipulating device which is used to input an instruction for adjustment of enlargement or reduction of an object to be photographed.

6. The image taking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting unit sets a rating for the partial area of the image in response to a predetermined user'"'"'s manipulation.

7. The image taking apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a recognition unit that executes recognition process for the partial area of the image,

wherein said setting unit sets a rating for the partial area of the image based on the result of the recognition.

8. The image taking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scale-up display unit displays a plurality of partial areas of the image one by one in the enlarged scale.

9. The image taking apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a guide display unit that displays a corresponding position of the partial area in the entire area of the image,

wherein the partial area of the image in the enlarged scale and the corresponding position of the partial area are simultaneously displayed.

10. A management method adapted to manage image data obtained by taking an image of an object, the management method comprising the steps of:

displaying an image on an entire predetermined display area;

enlarging and displaying a partial area of the image on the entire predetermined display area, in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation;

obtaining position information indicating a position of the partial area in the image after the partial area of the image is enlarged and displayed;

selectively setting a rating for the partial area of the image, while the partial area of the image is enlarged and displayed;

storing, in relation to the image data, the rating set for the partial area of the image and the obtained position information, in a recording medium; and

displaying the image together with information representing the rating set for the partial area,

wherein the rating is related to content of the partial area of the image that is enlarged and displayed,

wherein a processor executes a program stored in a memory to implement at least a part of a function of at least one of the steps,

wherein the rating indicates whether the partial area of the image is a success in image-taking or a failure in image-taking.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions which cause an apparatus to execute a management method adapted to manage image data obtained by taking an image of an object, the computer-readable storage medium comprising:

computer-executable instructions for displaying an image on an entire predetermined display area;

computer-executable instructions for enlarging and displaying a partial area of the image on the entire predetermined display area, in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation;

computer-executable instructions for obtaining position information indicating a position of the partial area in the image after the partial area of the image is enlarged and displayed;

computer-executable instructions for selectively setting a rating for the partial area of the image, while the partial area of the image is enlarged and displayed;

computer-executable instructions for storing, in relation to the image data, the rating set for the partial area of the image and the obtained position information, in a recording medium; and

computer-executable instructions for displaying the image together with information representing the rating set for each of the partial areas,

wherein the rating is related to content of the partial area of the image that is enlarged and displayed, and

wherein the rating indicates whether the partial area of the image is a success in image-taking or a failure in image-taking.

12. An image taking apparatus operable to obtain image data by taking an image of an object, to record the image data on a recording medium, and to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium to display the image, the image taking apparatus comprising:

a display unit that displays an image on an entire predetermined display area;

a scale-up display unit that enlarges and displays a partial area of the image, on the entire predetermined display area, in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation;

an obtaining unit that obtains position information indicating a position of the partial area in the image after the scale-up display unit enlarges and displays the partial area of the image;

a setting unit that selectively sets a rating for the partial area of the image, while the scale-up display unit enlarges and displays the partial area of the image; and

a storing unit that stores, on the recording medium, the rating set for the partial area of the image and the obtained position information, in relation to the image data,

wherein the rating is related to content of the partial area of the image displayed by the scale-up display unit,

wherein the image taking apparatus comprises a processor executing a program stored in a memory to implement at least a part of a function of at least one of the units, and

wherein the rating indicates whether the partial area of the image is a success in image-taking or a failure in image-taking.

13. The image taking apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a search unit that searches for the image data from the recording medium based on the rating stored in relation to the image data.

14. The image taking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the display unit displays the partial area in a manner separately recognizable from other areas and displays the partial area together with mark information representing the rating set for the partial area.

15. The image taking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the partial area of the image, for which the rating indicates a predetermined value, is set as a target of at least one of displaying as a slide show, storing a predetermined folder, attaching to email, writing to a recording medium, sending to an external information processing apparatus or camera, printing, arranging on an electronic photo album, and deleting.

16. The image taking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the rating indicates whether the partial area of the image is a success in image-taking or a failure in image-taking.

17. An image processing apparatus operable to obtain image data and to display the image, the image processing apparatus comprising:

a display unit that displays an image on an entire predetermined display area;

a scale-up display unit that enlarges and displays a partial area of the image, on the entire predetermined display area, in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation;

an obtaining unit that obtains position information indicating a position of the partial area in the image after the scale-up display unit enlarges and displays the partial area of the image;

a selecting unit that selects one of a plurality of predetermined tags for the partial area of the image, while the scale-up display unit enlarges and displays the partial area of the image; and

a storing unit that stores, on the recording medium, the selected tag for the partial area of the image and the obtained position information, in relation to the image data,

wherein the tag is related to content of the partial area of the image displayed by the scale-up display unit,

wherein the image processing apparatus comprises a processor executing a program stored in a memory to implement at least a part of a function of at least one of the units, and

wherein the tag indicates whether the partial area of the image is a success in image-taking or a failure in image-taking.

18. The image taking apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

a search unit that searches for the image data from the recording medium based on the rating stored in relation to the image data.

19. The image taking apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the display unit displays the partial area in a manner separately recognizable from other areas and displays the partial area together with mark information representing the rating set for the partial area.

20. The image taking apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the partial area of the image, for which the rating indicates a predetermined value, is set as a target of at least one of displaying as a slide show, storing a predetermined folder, attaching to email, writing to a recording medium, sending to an external information processing apparatus or camera, printing, arranging on an electronic photo album, and deleting.

21. The image taking apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the rating indicates whether the partial area of the image is a success in image-taking or a failure in image-taking.

22. An image taking method to obtain image data by taking an image of an object, to record the image data on a recording medium, and to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium to display the image, the image taking method comprising:

displaying an image on an entire predetermined display area;

enlarging and displaying a partial area of the image, on the entire predetermined display area, in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation;

obtaining position information indicating a position of the partial area in the image after enlarging and displaying the partial area of the image;

selectively setting a rating for the partial area of the image, while enlarging and displaying the partial area of the image; and

storing, on the recording medium, the rating set for the partial area of the image and the obtained position information, in relation to the image data,

wherein the rating is related to content of the partial area of the displayed image, and

wherein the rating indicates whether the partial area of the image is a success in image-taking or a failure in image-taking.

23. An image processing method to obtain image data and to display the image, the image processing method comprising:

displaying an image on an entire predetermined display area;

enlarging and displaying a partial area of the image, on the entire predetermined display area, in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation;

obtaining position information indicating a position of the partial area in the image after enlarging and displaying the partial area of the image;

selecting one of a plurality of predetermined tags for the partial area of the image, while enlarging and displaying the partial area of the image; and

storing, on the recording medium, the selected tag for the partial area of the image and the obtained position information, in relation to the image data,

wherein the tag is related to content of the partial area of the displayed image displayed by the scale-up display unit, and

wherein the tag indicates whether the partial area of the image is a success in image-taking or a failure in image-taking.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium having program code stored thereon to cause an image taking apparatus to perform an image taking method to obtain image data by taking an image of an object, recording the image data on a recording medium, and reproducing the image data recorded on the recording medium to display the image, the image taking method comprising:

displaying an image on an entire predetermined display area;

enlarging and displaying a partial area of the image, on the entire predetermined display area, in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation;

obtaining position information indicating a position of the partial area in the image after enlarging and displaying the partial area of the image;

selectively setting a rating for the partial area of the image, while enlarging and displaying the partial area of the image; and

storing, on the recording medium, the rating set for the partial area of the image and the obtained position information, in relation to the image data,

wherein the rating is related to content of the partial area of the displayed image, and

wherein the rating indicates whether the partial area of the image is a success in image-taking or a failure in image-taking.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium having program code stored thereon to cause an image processing apparatus to perform an image processing method to obtain image data and to display the image, the image processing method comprising:

displaying an image on an entire predetermined display area;

enlarging and displaying a partial area of the image, on the entire predetermined display area, in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation;

obtaining position information indicating a position of the partial area in the image after enlarging and displaying the partial area of the image;

selecting one of a plurality of predetermined tags for the partial area of the image, while enlarging and displaying the partial area of the image; and

storing, on the recording medium, the selected tag for the partial area of the image and the obtained position information, in relation to the image data,

wherein the tag is related to content of the partial area of the displayed image displayed by the scale-up display unit, and

wherein the tag indicates whether the partial area of the image is a success in image-taking or a failure in image-taking.