Image Reproduction System

• US 20080309795A1
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Mitsuhashi, Setsu, Ohmura, Akira, Nozaki, Hirotake, Hori, Kenji
• Granted Patent: US 8,634,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.99
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/583 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• 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 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

An image reproducing apparatus includes: an image storage device that stores image data having been read into the image reproducing apparatus; an image output device that outputs the image data stored in the image storage device to a display device; an image selection device that selects an image from the image data; and an image extraction device that extracts from the image data a plurality of images satisfying a condition equivalent to a condition of the image having been selected by the image selection device.

Claims

1. An image reproducing apparatus, comprising:

an image storage device that stores image data having been read into the image reproducing apparatus;

an image output device that outputs the image data stored in the image storage device to a display device;

an image selection device that selects an image from the image data; and

an image extraction device that extracts from the image data a plurality of images satisfying a condition equivalent to a condition of the image having been selected by the image selection device.

2. An image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one condition among;

″

input dates on which the image data were read into the image reproducing apparatus, photographing dates on which the image data were obtained through photographing operations, location information indicating locations at which the image data were photographed, information indicating a photographing apparatus used to capture the image data and image data size, is used as the condition in reference to which the plurality of images are extracted by the image extraction device.

3. An image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the image having been selected by the image selection device and the plurality of images having been extracted by the image extraction device undergo;

(a) processing for copying or transferring the selected image and the extracted images within the image storage device or (b) processing for deleting the selected image and the extracted images from the image storage device.

4. An image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a signal reception device that receives a signal corresponding to a remote control operation, wherein;

the image selection device selects the image in correspondence to a signal originating from the remote control unit, which is received at the signal reception device.

5. An image reproducing system, comprising:

an image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1;

the display device; and

a remote control unit that outputs a signal corresponding to a switch operation, wherein;

the image reproducing apparatus further comprises a signal reception device that receives the signal corresponding to the switch operation, which originates from the remote control unit, and the image selection device selects the image in correspondence to the signal from the remote control unit received at the signal reception device.

6. An image reproducing apparatus, comprising:

an image storage device that stores image data;

a reference date setting device that sets past reference dates over predetermined cycles in reference to a current date designated as a start point;

an image selection device that selects from the image data stored in the image storage device a plurality of sets of image data having been captured or read on dates substantially matching the past reference dates; and

a slideshow display control device that executes control so as to bring up a slideshow display at a display device based upon the plurality of sets of image data having been selected by the image selection device.

7. An image reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a display priority level setting device that sets display priority levels for the image data based upon the current date and the past reference dates, wherein;

the slideshow display control device executes control such that the plurality of sets of image data are brought up in the slideshow display in an order with which an image with a higher display priority is displayed earlier.

8. An image reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

the display priority level setting device sets a higher display priority for image data having been captured or read on a date matching one of the past reference dates than a display priority set for image data having been captured or read on a date that does not match a past reference date.

9. An image reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

the display priority level setting device sets a higher display priority for image data having been captured or read on a date with a greater time difference relative to the current date.

10. An image reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

an anniversary registering device that registers an anniversary date for a user, wherein;

the slideshow display control device executes control so as to provide the slideshow display based upon the plurality of sets of image data having been selected by the image selection device only if the anniversary date registered at the anniversary registering device matches the current date.

11. An image reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the image selection device does not select image data having been captured or read on a date preceding a past date marking a start point for the anniversary date.

12. An image reproducing system, comprising:

an image reproducing apparatus according to claim 6;

the display device and

a remote control unit that outputs a start instruction signal for starting the slideshow display to the image reproducing apparatus.

13. A computer-readable computer program product having stored therein an image reproducing program, comprising:

reference date setting processing for setting past reference dates over predetermined cycles relative to a current date designated as a start point;

image selection processing for selecting a plurality of sets of image data having been captured or read on dates substantially matching the past reference dates; and

slideshow display control processing for engaging a display device in a slideshow display based upon the plurality of sets of image data.

14. A computer program product according to claim 13, wherein:

the computer program product is a recording medium on which the image reproducing program is recorded.

15. An image reproducing apparatus, comprising:

an image storage device that stores image data;

a reference date setting device that sets past reference dates over predetermined cycles in reference to a current date designated as a start point;

an image selection device that selects from the image data stored in the image storage device a plurality of sets of image data having been captured or read on dates substantially matching the past reference dates; and

a display control device that engages a display device to display the plurality of sets of image data having been selected by the image selection device.

16. An image reproducing device, comprising:

an image storage device that stores image data;

an image output device that outputs the image data stored in the image storage device to a display device;

a signal reception device that receives a signal corresponding to a switch operation from a remote control unit that comprises a plurality of switches;

a command recognition device that recognizes an operation command issued based upon the signal corresponding to the switch operation and having been received at the signal reception device from the remote control unit;

a control device that executes an operation in conformance to the operation command having been recognized by the command recognition device; and

a command altering device that alters the operation command issued based upon the signal corresponding to the switch operation and originating from the remote control unit, so as to match the operation command with an operation command output in response to a switch operation performed at a portable telephone.

17. An image reproducing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a model recognition device that recognizes a specific model of the portable telephone, wherein;

the command altering device alters the operation command in correspondence to the model of the portable telephone, having been recognized by the model recognition device.

18. An image reproducing system, comprising:

an image reproducing apparatus according to claim 16;

the display device; and

the remote control unit, wherein;

the plurality of switches at the remote control unit are set at positions corresponding to positions of a plurality of switches used for text input at the portable telephone.

19. An image reproducing apparatus, comprising:

an image storage device that stores image data;

an image reading device that reads out the image data from the image storage device;

a slideshow start instruction member that outputs a slideshow display start instruction; and

a slideshow display control device that executes control so as to provide a slideshow display at a display device based upon a plurality of sets of image data read out by the image reading device, in response to the slideshow display start instruction output from the slideshow start instruction member.

20. An image reproducing apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a slideshow display processing device that executes one of;

(a) processing for restarting the slideshow display from the beginning, (b) processing for displaying a title of an album saved in the image storage device, which includes the plurality of sets of image data having been selected for the slideshow display, and (c) processing for changing a mode selected for the slideshow display, as the slideshow start instruction member is operated while the slideshow display is in progress under control executed by the slideshow display control device.

21. An image reproducing apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a switch instruction member that outputs an instruction for switching from an album saved in the image storage device which includes the plurality of sets of image data having been selected for the slideshow display currently in progress under the control executed by the slideshow display control device, to another album.

22. An image reproducing apparatus, comprising:

an image storage device that stores image data;

an image reading device that reads out the image data from the image storage device;

a display control device that engages a display device to display an image based upon the image data having been read out by the image reading device; and

a switch instruction member that outputs an instruction for switching from an album saved in the image storage device, which contains image data corresponding to the image displayed at the display device, to another album.

23. An image reproducing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein:

in response to a switch instruction output from the switch instruction member, the display control device brings up at the display device a thumbnail at-a-glance display of image data in a newly selected album.

24. An image reproducing system, comprising:

a display device;

a remote control unit that comprises a slideshow start instruction member that outputs a slideshow display start instruction for starting a slideshow display; and

an image reproducing device that comprises an image storage device that stores image data, an image reading device that reads out the image data from the image storage device, a signal reception device that receives a signal corresponding to an operation performed at the remote control unit and a slideshow display control device that executes control so as to engage the display device in a slideshow display based upon the image data having been read out by the image reading device in response to the slideshow start instruction output from the slideshow start instruction member and received at the signal reception device.

25. An image reproducing system according to claim 24, wherein:

the image reproducing device further comprises a slideshow display processing device that executes one of;

(a) processing for restarting the slideshow display from the beginning, (b) processing for displaying a title of an album saved in the image storage device, which includes the plurality of sets of image data having been selected for the slideshow, and (c) processing for changing a mode selected for the slideshow display, as the signal reception device receives a signal from the slideshow start instruction member while the slideshow display is in progress under the control executed by the slideshow display control device.

26. An image reproducing system according to claim 24, wherein:

the remote control unit further comprises a switch instruction member that outputs an instruction for switching from an album saved in the image storage device that includes the plurality of sets of image data having been selected for the slideshow display currently in progress under the control executed by the slideshow display control device to another album.

27. An image reproducing system, comprising:

a display device;

a remote control unit; and

an image reproducing device that comprises an image storage device that stores image data, an image reading device that reads out the image data from the image storage device, a signal reception device that receives a signal corresponding to an operation performed at the remote control unit and a display control device that engages the display device to display an image based upon the image data having been read out by the image reading device, wherein;

the remote control unit comprises a switch instruction member that outputs an instruction for switching an album saved in the image storage device and containing image data of the image displayed at the display device to another album.

28. An image reproducing system according to claim 27, wherein:

in response to the switch instruction output from the switch instruction member, the display control device in the display reproducing apparatus brings up a thumbnail at-a-glance display of image data in a newly selected album at the display device.

29. An image reproducing apparatus, comprising:

an image storage device that stores image data;

an image reading device that reads out the image data from the image storage device;

a slideshow display control device that executes control so as to engage a display device in a slideshow display based upon the image data having been read out by the image reading device;

an image saving device that saves image data up on display at the display device when the slideshow display is interrupted; and

a slideshow display resuming device that enables the slideshow display control device to resume the slideshow, starting with the image data having been saved at the image saving device.

31. An image reproducing system, comprising:

an image reproducing apparatus according to claim 29;

the display device; and

a remote control unit that comprises a start instruction member that outputs a start instruction for starting the slideshow display to the image reproducing apparatus.

30. An image reproducing apparatus, comprising:

an image storage device that stores image data;

an image reading device that reads out the image data from the image storage device;

a slideshow display control device that executes control so as to engage a display device in a slideshow display based upon the image data having been read out by the image reading device;

an album saving device that saves an album in the image storage device that contains image data up on display at the display device when the slideshow display is interrupted; and

a slideshow display resuming device that enables the slideshow display control device to resume the slideshow starting with a first set of image data in the album having been saved in the album saving device.