JP2009303004A - Slide show automatic creation system - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic slide show creation system that aggregates images taken by a plurality of cameras in real time and executes a slide show in which specific images are displayed with priority.
A user of an album server creates an electronic album. An image file is transmitted to the album server 5 every time shooting is performed by the camera 1. The image files transmitted by the camera 1 and the transmission terminal 3 are stored in the electronic album 7. The image file 8 stored in the electronic album 7 is a target of a slide show executed by the display terminal 6. The display terminal 6 receives the image file 8 from the album server 5 and executes a slide show of the electronic album 7. When a new image file is stored in the electronic album 7, the display terminal 6 updates the list of image files used for the slide show.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for providing a slide show via a network.

  A technique is known in which images taken by a camera are aggregated in a server connected to a network, and images are disclosed and a slide show is executed via the network (Patent Document 1). In this technique, images to be subjected to a slide show or the like are collected in advance on a memory card, and the images recorded on the memory card are transmitted to a server via a printer.

JP 2007-65904 A

  In the prior art, all images photographed by a plurality of people are handled in the same way, so that a specific image cannot be preferentially displayed during a slide show.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a reception unit that receives captured images transmitted by a plurality of imaging devices with communication functions as an upload image via a predetermined network, and a new upload image is received by the reception unit. Each time when creating a slide show image by sequentially sorting including uploaded images that have already been received, if some of the images included in the slide show image satisfy a predetermined condition, An automatic slide show creation, comprising: an image processing unit that performs sorting processing with images sorted in priority to other images; and a slide show execution unit that visually displays the slide show image created by the image processing unit. System.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to execute a slide show in which images taken by a plurality of cameras are aggregated in real time and images that satisfy a predetermined condition are displayed preferentially.

-First embodiment-
The slide show automatic creation system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In this system, when image files taken by a plurality of cameras are added to the electronic album one after another, the display terminal that executes the slide show of the electronic album updates the image files that are the targets of the slide show one after another. Is.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main components of this embodiment and their relationships. FIG. 1A shows a camera 1 having a wireless communication function, a wireless access point (AP) 2, a transmission terminal 3, an album server 5, and a display terminal 6 connected to each other via a network 4. Yes.

  The camera 1 is a digital camera having a wireless communication function using a wireless LAN. The image file created by the camera 1 is recorded in a flash memory built in the camera 1 or a memory card inserted in the memory card interface (I / F) of the camera 1. The camera 1 can transmit the image file to the album server 5 through the wireless AP 2. The wireless AP 2 relays between the camera 1 and the network 4.

  The transmission terminal 3 has a function of transmitting an image file to the album server 5. When the camera 1 is connected to the external device interface (I / F) of the transmission terminal 3, the transmission terminal 3 takes out an image file from the camera 1. The extracted image file can be transmitted to the album server 5 by giving an instruction to the transmission terminal 3.

  The transmission terminal 3 includes a memory card interface (I / F). When a memory card in which an image file created by the camera 1 is recorded is inserted, the camera 1 is connected to an external device interface, The image file recorded on the memory card can be transmitted to the album server 5.

  The album server 5 is a server that manages electronic albums. An electronic album is a virtual album that can store one or more image files. The image file transmitted by the camera 1 and the transmission terminal 3 is stored in a predetermined electronic album. The display terminal 6 has a function of executing a slide show of an arbitrary electronic album.

  Next, the flow of executing a slide show using the system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a data structure used by the album server 5 to manage an electronic album. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a procedure for executing a slide show.

  First, the user of the album server 5 creates a new electronic album. A user ID 21 shown in FIG. 2 is an identifier uniquely assigned to each user of the album server 5. Each user can create an arbitrary number of electronic albums managed by the user. In the following description, a user who creates an electronic album is called an administrator of the electronic album.

  Each electronic album is identified by an album name 22. The album name 22 is a unique name of the electronic album for each user ID 21 and can be arbitrarily set by the user when creating the electronic album. Each electronic album includes an upload period 23 and an image file list 24.

  The user sets the electronic album upload period 23 when creating the electronic album. When the camera 1 and the transmission terminal 3 transmit an image file to the album server 5, the image file is normally stored in a predetermined electronic album, but the current date and time is outside the period specified by the upload period 23 of the electronic album. If so, the album server 5 does not accept the transmitted image file.

  In the image file list 24, the file name of the image file stored in the electronic album and the sender name of the image file are recorded. A sender name can be set in the camera 1 and the transmission terminal 3. When an image file is transmitted from the camera 1 or the transmission terminal 3 in which the sender name is set, the sender name is also transmitted and recorded in the image file list 24.

  After the electronic album is created as described above, connection information for transmitting an image file to the created electronic album is notified at a party venue or event venue using the system. The connection information includes information for connecting to the wireless AP 2 and a user ID 21 and an album name 22 for specifying an electronic album created in the album server 5. The user of the camera 1 can transmit an image file to a predetermined electronic album by setting the above connection information in the camera 1.

  The connection information is set for the transmission terminal 3 and the display terminal 6 in addition to the camera 1. The transmission terminal 3 can transmit an image file to a predetermined electronic album by setting connection information. The display terminal 6 can execute a slide show of image files included in a predetermined electronic album by setting connection information.

  Note that connection information may be automatically set in the camera 1. For example, a computer to which the camera 1 can be connected may be prepared, and connection information may be set to the camera 1 connected to the computer by a program operating on the computer. Alternatively, a camera in which connection information is set in advance may be prepared and lent to a user who uses the present system.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the camera 1 in which connection information is set can transmit an image file created by shooting to the album server 5. Every time the user performs shooting using the camera 1, the image file created by shooting is automatically transmitted to the album server 5. Note that not all image files are automatically transmitted for each shooting, but only image files selected by the user after shooting may be transmitted.

  The image file can also be transmitted to the album server 5 using the transmission terminal 3. In this case, a memory card in which an image file is recorded by the camera 1 is attached to the transmission terminal 3, or the camera 1 is connected to the transmission terminal 3 and an image file to be transmitted to the album server 5 is selected.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image files transmitted from the camera 1 and the transmission terminal 3 are stored in a predetermined electronic album 7 of the album server 5. Then, the image file list 24 shown in FIG. 2 is updated. The image file list 24 is rearranged in ascending order in the shooting date and time of the image file.

  The image file stored in the electronic album 7 is a target of a slide show executed by the display terminal 6. The display terminal 6 executes a slide show of a predetermined electronic album 7 by receiving an image file from the album server 5 based on the above connection information. When a new image file is stored in the electronic album 7, the display terminal 6 updates the list of image files used for the slide show.

  Next, the structure of the image file created by the camera 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an image file created by the camera 1. The image file 31 includes a header 32 and image data 33. The header 32 stores various types of information related to the image file. The image data 33 is image data recorded based on a general-purpose image recording format such as JPEG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the header 32 includes a model name, a camera ID, and a photographer comment. The model name is the model name of the camera 1 used for imaging. The camera ID is a unique number for each model for specifying the individual camera 1 used for shooting. The photographer comment is a comment on the image file input by the camera 1 or the transmission terminal 3. The user of the camera 1 and the transmission terminal 3 can select whether to add a photographer comment to the image file when transmitting the image file.

  Next, the details of the slide show by the display terminal 6 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen during a slide show that is displayed on the display device included in the display terminal 6. The slide show display screen 41 includes an image display area 42 and a control bar display area 43.

  Various buttons are displayed in the control bar display area 43, and the display mode can be switched and the display can be controlled by the user operating an input device (for example, a touch panel or a mouse) provided in the display terminal 6. Further, the control bar display area 43 is not always displayed, but can be set to be displayed only when the cursor approaches.

  When the slide show is executed, the operation mode is set to the slide show mode. When the pause button 44 is pressed, the operation mode is switched to the still mode. Also, the pause button 44 changes to a play button (not shown). When the play button is pressed, the operation mode is switched to the slide show mode, and the play button is changed to the pause button 44. In the slide show mode, the image file displayed in the image display area 42 is switched to the next image file at regular intervals. On the other hand, in the still mode, the image file is not automatically switched.

  Regardless of the operation mode, the return button 45 and the forward button 46 are displayed in the control bar display area 43. When the return button 45 is pressed, the image file displayed in the image display area 42 is switched to the previous image file. Similarly, when the forward button 46 is pressed, the next image file is switched.

  In the image information display area 47, information on the image file currently displayed in the image display area 42 is displayed. On the screen 41, the sender of the image file and the shooting date and time are displayed. What information is displayed can be selected by a user of the display terminal 6 using a setting dialog described later. It is also possible to select that nothing is displayed in the image information display area 47.

  The end button 48 is a button for ending the slide show. The setting button 49 is a button for displaying a setting dialog, which will be described in detail later, and performing various settings for the slide show.

  Next, a setting dialog for setting a slide show will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a setting dialog for setting a slide show. When the setting button 49 shown in FIG. 5 is pressed, a setting dialog 51 is displayed.

  In the setting dialog 51, settings described below can be performed for the slide show display screen 41. In the area 52, it is set whether or not the control bar display area 43 is always displayed. In the area 53, what information is displayed in the image information display area 47 is set. If “sender” is selected here, the sender name of the image file recorded in the image file list 24 is selected. If “comment” is selected, the photographer comment added to the image file is selected. If “camera” is selected, the image file is displayed. The model name of the camera added to is displayed.

  In an area 54, which image file is used for the slide show is set. The setting includes narrowing down according to the shooting time of images taken within the past 20 minutes from the present time, and narrowing down according to the number of sheets such as the latest 50. Regardless of the setting, the image list that is the subject of the slide show is updated whenever the current time or the image file included in the electronic album changes.

  In the region 55, a period (display switching interval) for displaying one image file is set during the slide show. Note that instead of setting the period for displaying one image file in the setting dialog 51, the display switching interval may be automatically set according to the total number of image files to be subjected to the slide show. For example, the display switching interval may be 1 second if the number of image files is large, and the display switching interval may be 5 seconds if the number of image files is small. Further, the display switching interval may be automatically set according to the length from the current date and time to the end of the upload period.

  When the above settings are made and the OK button is pressed, the setting dialog 51 disappears and the settings are reflected in the slide show. When the cancel button is pressed, the setting dialog 51 disappears without reflecting the setting.

  Next, processing for narrowing down image files to be subjected to a slide show will be described. As described above, there is a setting to target only the image files shot within the specified time from the current time for the slide show, and a setting to set only the specified number of image files for the slide show in order from the latest shooting date and time. . Hereinafter, processing contents in each setting will be described in order.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a slide show process for narrowing down image files according to time. This process is executed only when at least one image file is stored in the electronic album subject to the slide show. First, in step S1, the period (minutes) to be subjected to the slide show is read and set to s. In step S2, the current time is set as the reference time.

  In step S3, it is determined whether or not an image file shot within s minutes from the reference time is included in the slide show target electronic album. If the electronic album does not include an image file shot within s minutes, a negative determination is made in step S3, and the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, s is doubled and the process returns to step S2. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S3, the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S5, an image file having a shooting date and time within s minutes from the reference time is extracted from the electronic album, and numbers 1 to N are assigned in ascending order of the shooting date and time. Here, N is the number of extracted image files. Hereinafter, the image file extracted in step S5 is expressed as a slide show image [1] using the allocated number. The slide show images [1] to [N] are referred to as a slide show image list.

  In step S6, the variable i is set to 1. In step S7, the current time is set as the reference time. In step S8, it is determined whether or not the shooting date / time of the slide show image [i] is within s minutes from the reference time. If the image was taken within s minutes from the reference time, an affirmative determination is made in step S8, and the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the slide show image [i] is displayed in the image display area 42, and the process proceeds to step S10. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S8, the process proceeds to step S10.

  In step S10, it is determined whether or not an instruction to end the slide show is given by the user, such as pressing the end button 48. If an end instruction has been given, an affirmative determination is made in step S10, and the slide show processing ends. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S10, the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S11, an image file having a shooting date and time that is newer than the shooting date and time of the slide show image [N] (the image file having the latest shooting date and time in the slide show image list) is stored in the electronic album that is the subject of the slide show. It is determined whether or not. If a new image file has been stored, an affirmative determination is made in step S11, and the process proceeds to step S12. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S11, the process proceeds to step S14.

  In step S12, an image file having a shooting date and time newer than the shooting date and time of the slide show image [N] is extracted from the electronic album. Then, the number of extracted image files is set to M, and numbers from N + 1 to N + M are assigned in ascending order of shooting date / time. That is, the extracted M image files are added to the end of the slide show image list. In step S13, M, which is the number of image files extracted in step S12, is added to N representing the total number of slide show image lists.

  In step S14, it is determined whether or not the value of i is equal to N, that is, whether or not the slide show has progressed to the end of the slide show image list. If i and N do not match, a negative determination is made in step S14, and the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, i is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step S7. On the other hand, when a positive determination is made in step S14, the process returns to step S2.

  As described above, a slide show process for narrowing down image files according to time is performed. Next, the contents of the slide show process executed with the setting that only the designated number of image files are set as the slide show target will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a slide show process for narrowing down image files by the number of sheets. This process is executed only when at least one image file is stored in the electronic album subject to the slide show. First, in step S21, the number of image files for the slide show is read and is set to n. In step S22, n image files having the latest shooting date and time are extracted from the electronic album, and numbers 1 to n are assigned in ascending order of the shooting date and time. Hereinafter, the image file extracted in step S22 is represented as a slide show image [1] using the allocated number. The slide show images [1] to [n] are referred to as a slide show image list.

  In step S23, the variable i is set to 1. In step S24, the slide show image [i] is displayed in the image display area. In step S25, it is determined whether or not an instruction to end the slide show is given from the user, such as pressing the end button 48. If an end instruction has been given, an affirmative determination is made in step S25, and the slide show processing ends. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S25, the process proceeds to step S26.

  In step S26, an image file having a shooting date and time that is newer than the shooting date and time of the slide show image [n] (the image file having the latest shooting date and time in the slide show image list) is stored in the electronic album that is the subject of the slide show. It is determined whether or not. If a new image file has been stored, an affirmative determination is made in step S26, and the process proceeds to step S27. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S26, the process proceeds to step S29.

  In step S27, an image file having a shooting date and time newer than the shooting date and time of the slide show image [n] is extracted from the electronic album. Then, the number of extracted image files is M, and numbers from n + 1 to n + M are assigned in ascending order of shooting date and time. That is, the extracted M image files are added to the end of the slide show image list. In step S28, n image files represented by the slide show images [1 + M] to [n + M] are newly set as slide show images [1] to [n].

  In step S29, it is determined whether or not the value of i is equal to N, that is, whether or not the slide show has progressed to the end of the slide show image list. If i and N do not match, a negative determination is made in step S29, and the process proceeds to step S30. In step S30, i is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step S24. On the other hand, when a positive determination is made in step S29, the process returns to step S22. As described above, the slide show process using the designated number of image files is executed.

  Next, an image file priority changing function will be described. As described above, the display order of images in the slide show is in ascending order of shooting date and time. If the priority changing function is enabled, this display order can be changed. The priority changing function includes a priority changing function based on a sender name and a priority changing function based on an image. Hereinafter, it demonstrates in order.

  The priority change function based on the sender name includes a function for preferentially displaying an image file transmitted by a predetermined sender during execution of the slide show, and a display image file biased to that of a specific sender. It is divided into functions to prevent it. When the former function is enabled, if an image file newly added to the electronic album is sent by a predetermined sender, the image file is not added to the end of the slide show image list, but at the top. Will be added.

  On the other hand, when the function to prevent the displayed image file from being biased to that of a specific sender is enabled, other image files sent by the sender of the image file newly added to the electronic album will be displayed in the slideshow image list. Otherwise, the image file is not added to the end of the slide show image list, but is added to the beginning. Furthermore, when other image files transmitted by the sender of the image file newly added to the electronic album are included in the slide show image list in a predetermined ratio or more, the image file transmitted by the sender is displayed in the slide show. Removed from the image list. By these processes, the bias of the displayed image file is eliminated.

  The priority change function based on images is a function that preferentially displays an image file showing a predetermined person during a slide show and a function that preferentially displays an image file based on the facial expression of the person showing the image file. It is divided into. When the former function is validated, face recognition processing is executed for the face image registered in the album server 5 and the image file newly added to the electronic album. When these processing results match, that is, when the person of the face image registered in the album server 5 matches the person shown in the image file, the image file is added to the end of the slide show image list. Instead of being added to the beginning.

  On the other hand, when the function of displaying preferentially based on the facial expression of the person in the image file is enabled, face recognition processing is executed for the image file newly added to the electronic album. When a face image is recognized, smile recognition processing is further executed to detect the degree of smile. If the detected smile level is equal to or greater than a predetermined level, the image file is not added to the end of the slide show image list, but is added to the top.

  In the above priority changing function, the image file should not be displayed at the beginning of the slide show image list, but should be displayed at an early timing such as 5 seconds after the addition or the third image. An interruption display may be performed on the file. In addition, the image file that is given priority as described above may have a longer display switching interval than other image files.

  Next, thumbnail display of image files included in the electronic album will be described. When a predetermined operation is performed on the slide show display screen 41, the operation mode of the display terminal 6 is switched from the slide show mode and the still mode to the thumbnail list display mode. At this time, the thumbnails of the image files included in the electronic album are displayed in a list on the display device included in the display terminal 6.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen in the thumbnail list display mode. The thumbnail display screen 61 includes an image display area 62 and a button display area 63.

  In the image display area 62, thumbnails of image files included in the electronic album that is the target of the slide show are displayed in a list in ascending order of shooting date and time. In addition, the shooting time of the image file is displayed below each thumbnail. Information other than the shooting time may be displayed below the thumbnail, or nothing may be displayed. For example, the sender name may be displayed.

  The thumbnail of the image display area 62 can be selected by giving an instruction from the input device. Multiple thumbnails can be selected. The buttons displayed in the button display area 63 include those for performing various processes based on the thumbnail selection state.

  The button display area 63 displays buttons for performing various operations on the electronic album that is the target of the slide show. The slide show button 64 is a button for switching the operation mode to the slide show mode. The end button 69 is a button for ending the operation of the display terminal 6. The search button 65, print button 66, bookbinding button 67, and DVD creation button 68 will be described in detail later.

  Next, the image file reception rejection function will be described. By performing a predetermined operation on the display terminal 6, it is possible to reject reception of an image file based on the sender name or camera ID. Only a user who is authorized to perform reception rejection (for example, an administrator of an electronic album) can set reception rejection.

  When setting reception refusal, user authentication is performed first, and it is confirmed that the user has authority to reject reception. Thereafter, a sender name or camera ID is designated as a condition for rejecting reception. If the sender name of the image file or the camera ID added to the image file matches the above setting, the album server 5 refuses to receive the image file and does not store it in the electronic album.

  Next, the image file deletion function will be described. By performing a predetermined operation on the display terminal 6, the selected image file can be deleted. Only a user who is authorized to delete (for example, an administrator of an electronic album) can perform deletion. When deleting an image file, user authentication is performed first, and it is confirmed that the user has authority to delete. Thereafter, when an image file to be deleted is selected from the image display area 62, the selected image file is deleted from the album server 5.

  Next, the final album creation function will be described. The final album can be created by narrowing down the image files stored in the electronic album. The number of image files to be included in the final album is determined by the administrator of the electronic album. As with the electronic album, the final album can display a thumbnail list and a slide show.

  The image file to be included in the final album is determined by one of the following two methods. The administrator of the electronic album may use any method. Further, the image files may be narrowed down by combining these.

  First, a narrowing method by voting will be described. When using this method, an input device for voting is prepared for the display terminal 6. A user who performs voting selects an image file on a screen on which a list of thumbnails is displayed, and instructs voting using the input device. Voting information is recorded in the album server 5, and an image file with a large number of votes is stored in the final album.

  On the other hand, a method of using information obtained during a slide show will be described. When this method is used, a microphone is connected to the display terminal 6 so that the applause, cheer and laughter of the viewer of the slide show can be recorded by the microphone. The input to the microphone when each image file is displayed is digitized and recorded in the album server 5. The final album stores the image file having the above large numerical value.

  In addition to the above method, whether to store the image file in the final album may be determined based on whether or not a predetermined person appears in the image file. Further, by executing smile recognition processing and detecting the smile level, it is determined whether to store the image file in the final album based on whether the detected smile level is equal to or higher than a predetermined level. May be.

  Next, a process for searching for a slide show target image will be described. The image file used for the slide show is selected from all the image files included in the electronic album based on the setting of the setting dialog 51 shown in FIG. 6, but by performing more detailed designation, the image file used for the slide show. It is possible to narrow down.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a search dialog for searching for an image file. When the sender name, camera model name, and shooting date / time are specified and the OK button is pressed, only the image files that meet the specified conditions are displayed in the image display area 62 of FIG. A display indicating that the list is a search result is displayed. If the slide show button 64 is subsequently pressed, a slide show for only image files that meet the specified conditions is executed. In the search dialog 71, by checking a plurality of conditions, it is possible to search only image files that satisfy all the specified conditions.

  Next, image file printing processing will be described. When one or more image files are selected on the thumbnail display screen 61 and the print button 66 is pressed, the selected image file is received from the album server 5 and the image file received by the printer connected to the display terminal 6 is printed. Done.

  Note that the printer that performs printing may be connected to the network 4 instead of the display terminal 6. Alternatively, the selected image file may be transmitted to a DPE (Development, Printing, Enlargement) company, and the DPE company may perform printing. In this case, the user of the display terminal 6 inputs necessary items via the display terminal 6, and the DPE company delivers it to the user's home or the like at a later date.

  Next, an electronic album binding process will be described. When one or more image files are selected on the thumbnail display screen 61 and a bookbinding button 67 is pressed, data for bookbinding is generated and the above data is transmitted to the bookbinding company. The album bound by the bookbinding company is delivered to the home of the user. Note that the process of generating data for bookbinding may be executed by the album server 5 or a dedicated device prepared separately.

  Next, the DVD creation process of the electronic album will be described. When one or more image files are selected on the thumbnail display screen 61 and the DVD creation button 68 is pressed, a DVD-Video that can play a slide show of the selected image files is created. The created DVD is delivered to the user's home or the like. The process of creating a DVD-Video may be executed by the album server 5 or a dedicated device prepared separately.

  According to the slide show automatic creation system according to the first embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.

(1) Each time the album server 5 receives an image file and a shooting date / time transmitted from the digital camera 1 with a wireless LAN function, a slide show image displayed on the display terminal 6 is added in a new image file in the order of the shooting date / time. Replaced with the sorted one. At this time, the image file satisfying the predetermined condition is sorted with priority over the other image files. Thereby, a specific image file can be preferentially displayed in a slide show.

The following modifications are also within the scope of the present invention, and one or a plurality of modifications can be combined with the above-described embodiment.
(1) When an image file is transmitted to the album server 5, an image switching effect (for example, fade effect or wipe) used when displaying the image file in a slide show may be designated. Further, a setting may be prepared in which the image switching effect designated by the sender is ignored and only the image switching effect set by the album server 5 or the display terminal 6 is used.

(2) When displaying image files prioritized by the priority changing function in a slide show, the screen switching effect may be changed. For example, if the screen switching effect is not specified for the normal image file and the sender does not specify the screen switching effect only for the above image file, the previous image is faded out and the next image is simultaneously displayed. “Crossfade” that fades in may be used.

(3) The sender of the image file may be added to the header of the image file instead of being transmitted to the album server 5 together with the image file. Further, the model name of the camera used for shooting, the camera ID, and the photographer's comment may be transmitted together with the image file to the album server 5 instead of being added to the header of the image file.

(4) When an image file is transmitted to the album server 5, using the camera ID or sender of the image file, the image file is continuously received from the same camera or sender within a predetermined time (for example, within 3 minutes). If it is transmitted, the received image file may not be stored in the electronic album. In this case, the failure to transmit the image file and the remaining time until the predetermined time elapses may be displayed on the operation screen of the camera. Alternatively, the camera may automatically retransmit the image file when the predetermined time has elapsed.

(5) If the camera is instructed to send an image file to the album server 5 even though the upload period set for the electronic album has passed, the camera indicates that the upload period has passed. It may be displayed on the operation screen.

(6) When a new image file is not added to the electronic album for a predetermined period during the slide show, a message prompting transmission of the image file may be displayed on the slide show display screen 41. Further, when image file transmission from the same sender is restricted by the priority changing function, the restriction may be temporarily released.

(7) Face recognition processing may be executed on image files included in the electronic album to preferentially display an image showing a person's face. In addition, an image file that is determined to have failed to be photographed, for example, if the image blur is greater than or equal to a predetermined level, may be automatically excluded from the slide show target.

(8) During the slide show execution, an image file other than the image file transmitted from the camera 1 and the transmission terminal 3 may be displayed. For example, an image file prepared in advance by the administrator of the electronic album or an image file received from another server via the network 4 may be displayed. In addition, the viewer of the slide show may be displayed on a superimpose or a sub screen.

(9) The wireless communication function provided in the camera 1 is not limited to the one corresponding to the wireless LAN. For example, it may correspond to WIMAX (registered trademark) or may correspond to Bluetooth (registered trademark).

  As long as the characteristics of the present invention are not impaired, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other forms conceivable within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention are also included in the scope of the present invention. .

It is a block diagram showing the main component of 1st Embodiment and its relationship. It is a figure which shows the structure of the data used for the album server 5 managing an electronic album. It is a figure which shows the procedure which performs a slide show. It is a figure which shows the structure of the image file produced with the camera. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen in slide show execution displayed on the display apparatus with which the display terminal 6 is provided. It is a figure which shows the setting dialog which performs the setting of a slide show. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the slide show which narrows down an image file according to time. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the slide show which narrows down an image file by the number of sheets. It is a figure which shows the example of the display screen of thumbnail list display mode. It is a figure which shows the search dialog which searches an image file.

Explanation of symbols

1 Camera 3 Transmission Terminal 4 Network 5 Album Server 6 Display Terminal 41 Slide Show Display Screen 51 Setting Dialog 61 Thumbnail Display Screen 71 Search Dialog

Claims (6)

A receiving unit that receives captured images transmitted by a plurality of imaging devices with communication functions as upload images via a predetermined network;
Each time a new upload image is received by the receiving unit, when creating a slide show image by sequentially sorting including the already received upload images, a part of the images included in the slide show image is included. An image processing unit that performs a sorting process with the partial image being prioritized over other images when a predetermined condition is satisfied;
A slide show execution unit for visually displaying the slide show image created by the image processing unit;
A slide show automatic creation system characterized by comprising: In the slide show automatic creation system according to claim 1,
The slide show automatic creation system, wherein the imaging device with a communication function is a digital camera with a wireless LAN function. In the slide show automatic creation system according to claim 1 or 2,
When the image included in the slide show image is an image taken by a predetermined photographer or an image transmitted by a predetermined sender, the image processing unit has priority over other images. An automatic slide show creation system that performs sort processing so that corresponding images are displayed in a slide show. In the slide show automatic creation system according to claim 1 or 2,
The image processing unit, when an image uploaded by a new photographer different from the photographer of the image included in the slide show image is received by the receiving unit, than the image already included in the slide show image. A slide show automatic creation system, wherein sorting processing is performed so that corresponding images are preferentially displayed in a slide show. In the slide show automatic creation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A face recognition unit that performs face recognition processing on the uploaded image;
The image processing unit selects the uploaded image in which a face of a predetermined person is recognized based on the face recognition processing by the face recognition unit, and the selected image is displayed in a slide show with priority over other images. A slide show automatic creation system characterized by performing sort processing to be performed. In the slide show automatic creation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A smile recognition unit that performs a smile recognition process on the uploaded image and outputs a smile level;
The image processing unit performs sorting processing so that, when the smile level is greater than or equal to a predetermined level based on smile recognition processing by the smile recognition unit, the corresponding image is displayed in a slide show with priority over other images. Slide show automatic creation system characterized by performing.

Images