JP2002142185A - Electronic camera and method of managing file - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera device and a file management method which can effectively enhance the convenience of the user in file management by enabling the user to name a file and a directory on top of keeping the compatibility with the existing the management structure conforming to the DCF standard. SOLUTION: An electronic camera device records image data into the storage medium of an apparatus connected capably of data transmission with its file management structure corresponding to DCF standard. A virtual directory in such form as unspecified by DCF standard is made a record name. A file for management of the virtual direction makes the virtual directory name and the name of the directory according to the DCF standard correspond to each other and is prepared in the recording means, and the image data recorded in the recording means are managed unitarily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a DCF (Design
The present invention relates to an electronic camera device and a file management method that comply with the rule for camera file system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, an electronic camera device conforming to the DCF standard as described above, when storing image data obtained by shooting on a recording medium, uses a file having a structure as shown in FIG. Management. This file management structure
This is based on the content decided by DCF Ver1.0 which is a camera file system standard.

[0003] According to the DCF standard, promises are stipulated in detail with respect to file names at the time of data recording, names of directories for holding the files, storage locations, and the like. Details of this regulation will be omitted, but the main items will be described below.

(1) DCF file name... ###### ****. ＄＄＄ ####: 4-digit character string of vendor-specific alphanumeric characters and _ **: File number (numbers from 0001 to 9999) ＄＄＄: Extension indicating data format (2) DCF directory Name: *** ######: ***: Directory number (100 to 999 numbers) ####: Five-digit character string consisting of vendor-specific alphanumeric characters and _ (3) DCF directory As shown, DCIM (DCF Image root
directory), a directory named in (2) above is created and saved under the file name named in (1).

(4) DCF object In a file name, if the portions of ###### ** have the same name but different extensions, these file groups are treated as associated data groups.

(5) Other Items When the above items (1) to (4) are satisfied, it is possible to associate a data group with a new extension. For example, PDRM0001. JPG for still image data PDRM0001. TXT, PD
RM0001. THM and PDRM0001. A data group called WAV can exist.

[0007] Each data having a different extension is referred to as a PD.
It is treated as one data group enclosed by the name RM0001, and if the device to be played back can handle it, it displays text data (extension TXT), thumbnail data (extension THM), and audio data (extension) along with image display. WA
V) can be realized.

Although it is permitted for each manufacturer to handle these data groups independently, reproduction of a still image is required as a minimum condition. If the data can be handled by a device that reproduces by extension, other data can be reproduced, but this is not compulsory.

The file management structure based on the DCF standard as described above is very convenient for managing a group of data to be recorded when viewed from an electronic camera device. However, from the user's point of view, the user is not allowed to assign an arbitrary file name to the recorded data group, and the user is also required to assign a directory which is important for management. Is not allowed to be given an arbitrary name, which causes a problem that handling becomes inconvenient for the user.

In particular, the capacity of a recording medium connected to an electronic camera device conforming to the DCF standard is increasing year by year, and in the future, the recording medium will be changed to a PC (Personal Computer) by using wireless technology. If it becomes the server hard disk itself, it will be enormous in size.

[0011] In such a situation, the inability of the user to add an arbitrary name to a file or a directory greatly impairs the user's convenience in file management.

As a known technique relating to this type of file management structure, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-177646. However, in a system that manages image data of an electronic camera in a file, a unique file name that does not duplicate as long as recording is performed by the same imaging device is generated, and a plurality of files with the same name are prevented from being present. There is no description about dealing with the above-mentioned problem that a user cannot set an arbitrary name in a file management structure based on the DCF standard.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and maintains compatibility with an existing file management structure conforming to the DCF standard, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide a very good electronic camera device and a file management method that enable a user to assign an arbitrary file name or directory name, thereby effectively improving the user's convenience in file management.

[0014]

According to an electronic camera apparatus of the present invention, image data obtained by photographing is stored in a recording medium of a device connected so as to be capable of data transmission in a file management structure conforming to the DCF standard. It is intended for recording. And input means for inputting and setting a virtual directory name in a form not defined by the DCF standard for a directory recorded on a recording medium in a file management structure corresponding to the DCF standard, and virtual directory input and set by the input means. Recording means for creating a virtual directory management file in which the virtual directory name is associated with the name of a directory corresponding to the DCF standard corresponding to the virtual directory name, and recording the file on a recording medium. And is configured to centrally manage the image data recorded on the recording medium by the virtual directory management file.

A file management method according to the present invention is directed to a method of recording image data on a recording medium of a plurality of devices connected to each other so as to be capable of data transmission with a file management structure conforming to the DCF standard. I have. And
For a directory recorded on a recording medium in a file management structure conforming to the DCF standard, a virtual directory name in a form not defined by the DCF standard is used as a recording name, and the virtual directory name and the DCF standard corresponding to the virtual directory name are recorded. A virtual directory management file corresponding to the name of a directory corresponding to is created and recorded on a recording medium, and the image data recorded on the recording media of a plurality of devices is centrally managed by the virtual directory management file. It was made.

According to the above configuration and method, when recording image data on a recording medium of a plurality of devices connected to each other so as to be able to transmit data in a file management structure conforming to the DCF standard, A virtual directory name in a form not defined by the standard is used as a recording name, and a virtual directory management file is created by associating the virtual directory name with a directory name corresponding to the DCF standard corresponding to the virtual directory name, Record on a recording medium,
Since the image data recorded on the recording media of a plurality of devices are centrally managed by the virtual directory management file, the compatibility with the existing file management structure conforming to the DCF standard is maintained, and the user is allowed to freely manage the image data. , The user's convenience in file management can be effectively improved.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before describing embodiments of the present invention, a basic example of a file management structure to which the present invention is applied will be described. In FIG. 4, a group of files surrounded by a rectangular frame indicates a newly added file that has not existed in the related art.

That is, in the basic example of the file management structure, two files are prepared as management files. One file is a virtual directory management file having the extension vfm, and the other file is a virtual file management file having the extension vlm.

Among them, the management file having the extension “vfm” exists in a form independent of the DCF standard, and defines a virtual directory. The file existing in the virtual directory defines reference information for an actual file existing in the DCF standard file management structure.

On the other hand, the management file having the extension vlm exists in a form conforming to the DCF standard. This extension v
The management file having lm is a file to which the user assigns an arbitrary file name. According to the DCF standard,
It is treated as a data group associated with another file having a matching file name other than the extension vlm. The management file having the extension vlm defines the name of the target file virtually given by the user.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between a management file having the extension vfm and a management file having the extension vlm. In FIG. 5, a file called “travel.vfm” is a management filter that defines a virtual directory.

In the management filter “Travel.vfm”, the virtual directory name (in this case, travel), the number of registered images, the location where actual data is registered, that is, the directory (in this case, 101 TOSHI), are registered therein. Actual file name (in this case, PDRM0001, PDRM
0002, PDRM0004) and the like, and based on the information of the management file, actual data existing in the file management structure of the DCF standard is allocated.

Then, the assigned directory (101 TOSHI in this case) is searched, and if a management file having the extension vlm exists, the management file is analyzed.

For example, in FIG. 5, "PDRM000
1. The file “vlm” is a management file that defines a virtual file name. The management file describes a virtual file name (in this case, departure), a name of a management file having an extension vfm that refers to the management file (in this case, travel), and the like.

The management file having the extension vfm and the management file having the extension vlm make it possible for the user to give a virtual directory with an arbitrary name and the user included in the virtual directory to give an arbitrary name. A virtual file group can be constructed.

Since the location of the actual file corresponding to the virtual file name is described in the management file having the extension vfm, when data is actually read from the recording medium, the extension vfm is used. The actual data is allocated from the DCF standard file management structure based on the information of the management file having.

As described above, in the basic example of the file management structure, the management file having the extension vfm and the extension v
The compatibility between the two management files having the lm and the management file having the lm conforms to the file management structure of the DCF standard, thereby maintaining compatibility with the existing file management structure compliant with the DCF standard. After that, the user can assign an arbitrary file name or directory name.

Here, the virtual management file prepared by the user for giving an arbitrary name is separated into a management file having the extension vfm and a management file having the extension vlm, and the extension vlm An administrative file with
The reason why the data is included as a component of the data group of the DCF standard file management structure is that when data is deleted, it can be handled together as an erasure target.

For example, when the deletion of the file "PDRM0001" is requested, "PDRM0001.j"
pg "," PDRM0001.wav "or" PDRM0
001. "txt" along with the "PDRM"
0001. This is because the file “vlm” can also be collectively deleted. Moreover, in this case, since the management file having the extension vfm remains without being deleted, other undeleted files of “PDRM0002” and “PDRM0004” can be searched.

According to the above-described basic example of the file management structure, the user can obtain an environment for giving an arbitrary name to the data stored in the recording medium in the file management structure conforming to the DCF standard. . This means that by interpreting the management file having the extension vfm, vlm, the data group can be managed and operated by the name arbitrarily assigned by the user. It is possible to realize usage such as album management of images by the camera device.

Here, when the electronic camera device conforming to the DCF standard has character data of 2-byte code, more effective file management can be realized by utilizing information such as Japanese.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the signal processing system of the electronic camera device 11 in this case. That is, the imaging unit 12 converts the captured optical image of the subject into an electrical image signal. The image signal output from the imaging unit 12 is sent to a CPU (Central Processing Uniform).
t) is supplied to the signal processing control unit 13 having a built-in function.

The signal processing control unit 13 has a RAM (Rand
om Access Memory) & ROM (ReadOnly Memory) 14
After subjecting the input image signal to predetermined signal processing using the recording area of the digital camera 10 and the stored program, the DCF is stored in a recording medium 15 detachable from the electronic camera apparatus 11.
It is stored in a file management structure that conforms to the standard.

Here, the signal processing control unit 13 converts an arbitrary file name input and set by the user via the operation unit and the display device 16 into a management file having the extension vfm and a management file having the extension vlm. It has a function of writing to the recording medium 15 as a file for use.

The two management files having the extensions vfm and vlm written on the recording medium 15 are read from the recording medium 15 and analyzed by the CPU of the signal processing control unit 13. In this case, a virtual directory name corresponding to an album exists as information in the management file having the extension vfm, and data registered in the album is registered as a virtual file in the management file having the extension vlm. Have been.

At this time, if two-byte characters are used in the names of the virtual file and the virtual directory, the signal processing control unit 13 reads the corresponding character code from the kanji ROM 17 and sends it to the operation unit and the display device 16. A file name and a directory name are displayed together with the image data.

In the above basic example of the file management structure,
While maintaining compatibility with the file management structure defined by the DCF standard, a new management file group is introduced, and a file name and a directory name are virtually assigned to the management file group.

This management file group is composed of one or more files. The file includes a virtually created directory having an arbitrary user name and actual location information of a data group included in the virtual directory. And information of a user arbitrary name.

In this basic example, by analyzing the above-mentioned management file group, a virtual file or virtual directory having a user's arbitrary name and a real file or real directory actually existing in the DCF standard file management structure are obtained. The user side can perform file management under the name given by the user and the electronic camera operation side under the name of the DCF standard without obstructing the file management structure constituted by the DCF standard. it can.

With reference to the drawings, the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the above-described file management structure as a basic example. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a management file having an extension vfm and an extension v
The management file having the lm is not only recorded on the recording medium 15 of the electronic camera device 11 compliant with the DCF standard, but also connected to each other so as to be able to transmit data wirelessly or wirelessly. Equipment [PC in Fig. 1
(Personal Computer) server].

The device conforming to the DCF standard refers to and analyzes the management file having the extension vfm existing in its own recording medium or the recording medium of another device, and obtained therefrom. Based on the information, it operates to allocate data to the location where the actual data resides.

Also, a device conforming to the DCF standard is:
If a management file having the extension vlm exists for the allocated data, the management file is referred to and analyzed, and any of the users named as the management file having the corresponding extension vfm is referred to. Assign a name.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example of the data structure of a management file having the extension vfm and a management file having the extension vlm, which correspond to the above-described multiple link function.

That is, as described above, the management file having the extension “vfm” has, for its data structure, each registered data in order to manage the data existing in the recording media of a plurality of devices conforming to the DCF standard. Location information where the actual data exists (in this case, Structure Code: 0x1106: actual address) is described.

Also, on the assumption that the management file having the extension vlm is referred to by a plurality of management files having the extension vfm, the location information of the management file having the extension vfm being referred to. (In this case Structure Co
de: 0x2106: link address).
With these pieces of information, data existing on a plurality of recording media can be centrally managed by a plurality of virtual directories.

Further, in FIG. 2 and FIG.
The multiplex link in each management file having fm and vlm becomes “0” when only the recording medium of the closed DCF standard compliant device is targeted, and becomes “1” when expanded to a plurality of open recording media. Are flags indicating the extent to which the management systems based on these extensions vfm and vlm correspond.

As shown in FIG. 1, the management system using these extensions vfm and vlm not only ensures consistency with a file management structure conforming to the DCF standard, but also has a function similar to that of an existing PC. It can also be realized on a file system.

In the current DCF standard, image data corresponding to 8999,100 still images can be recorded by using directory numbers 100 to 999 and file numbers 0001 to 9999. Here, the reason why the number of recording media (media) for recording image data is not limited to one is that the DCF standard does not define an identifier for recognizing a difference between drives for performing recording and reproduction on the recording medium.

However, a recording medium mounted on an existing electronic camera apparatus has a capacity of only several tens MB (Mega Bytes) except for some special ones.
Actually, no situation has occurred in which about 9 million still image data is handled at a time.

However, as described above, when a PC server connected to an electronic camera device so as to be able to wirelessly transmit data is used as a recording medium, it is necessary to manage about nine million still image data at a time. Will happen. In such a situation, it becomes impossible for the user to perform data management using only a total of seven digits, that is, a three-digit directory number and a four-digit file number.

In the above-described embodiment, a management file having the extension vfm and a management file having the extension vlm are introduced so that the user can manage directories and files with arbitrary names, It is possible to provide a system in which data can be referred to from a plurality of recording media, such as a data exchange medium or a recording medium installed in a camera device and a recording medium of a PC server, and can be managed in a unified manner.

That is, in the above-described basic example, the recording medium of the electronic camera device is targeted, and the data to be handled also exists in the recording medium. However, in this embodiment, it is assumed that actual data exists in a PC server wirelessly connected to the electronic camera device, and it is impossible to develop all of the data on the electronic camera device. It is.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the extension v
In a management file having fm, up to the location information of actual data is held, so that one file (vfm file) can centrally manage data existing on a plurality of recording media.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0055]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
While maintaining compatibility with the existing file management structure conforming to the DCF standard, it is possible for the user to assign an arbitrary file name or directory name, thereby effectively improving the user's convenience in file management. An extremely good electronic camera device and file management method can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electronic camera device and a file management method according to the present invention, and is a view for explaining a file management structure.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view for explaining an example of a data structure of a management file having an extension vfm in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view for explaining an example of a data structure of a management file having an extension vlm in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a basic example of a file management structure to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a relationship between a management file having an extension vfm and a management file having an extension vlm in the same basic example.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the details of the electronic camera device according to the basic example.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a file management structure in the DCF standard.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11: electronic camera device, 12: imaging unit, 13: signal processing control unit, 14: RAM & ROM, 15: recording medium, 16: operation unit and display device, 17: kanji ROM.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) // H04N 101: 00 H04N 5/91 J

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An electronic camera device for recording image data obtained by photographing on a recording medium of a device connected so as to be capable of data transmission in a file management structure corresponding to the DCF standard. Input means for inputting and setting a virtual directory name in a form not defined by the DCF standard for a directory recorded in a file management structure corresponding to the standard; and a virtual directory name input and set by the input means as a recording name. Recording means for creating a virtual directory management file in which the virtual directory name is associated with the directory name corresponding to the DCF standard corresponding to the virtual directory name, and recording the file on the recording medium. Centrally managing the image data recorded on the recording medium by the virtual directory management file; An electronic camera device comprising: 2. Specifying the virtual directory name, referring to the virtual directory management file, and specifying a virtual directory name from a file management structure corresponding to the DCF standard recorded on the recording medium. 2. The electronic camera apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for assigning a directory corresponding to the electronic camera. 3. The recording medium according to claim 3, wherein
As a file existing in a directory recorded in a file management structure corresponding to the CF standard, a virtual file name in a form not defined by the DCF standard can be input and set, and the recording unit is input and set by the input unit. A virtual file management file is created by associating a virtual file name with a virtual directory name of the virtual directory management file corresponding to the virtual file name, and a file management structure corresponding to the DCF standard is created on the recording medium. A file is recorded with a file name that can exist in the recorded directory, and a directory recorded in the virtual directory management file in a file management structure corresponding to the DCF standard on the recording medium corresponding to the virtual file name. Characterized by recording the names of existing files Motomeko 1 electronic camera device as claimed. 4. A file management method for recording image data on a recording medium of a plurality of devices connected to each other so as to be capable of data transmission with a file management structure corresponding to the DCF standard. For a directory recorded by a corresponding file management structure, a virtual directory name in a form not defined by the DCF standard is used as a recording name, and the virtual directory name and a directory corresponding to the DCF standard corresponding to the virtual directory name are recorded. A virtual directory management file corresponding to the name of the virtual directory management file is created and recorded on the recording medium, and the image data recorded on the recording media of the plurality of devices is centrally managed by the virtual directory management file. A file management method characterized by comprising. 5. Specifying the virtual directory name, referring to the virtual directory management file, and specifying the virtual directory name from a file management structure compliant with the DCF standard recorded on the recording medium 5. The file management method according to claim 4, wherein a directory corresponding to the file is allocated. 6. A virtual file name in a format not defined by the DCF standard can be input and set as a file existing in a directory recorded on the recording medium in a file management structure corresponding to the DCF standard. A virtual file management file is created by associating the created virtual file name with the virtual directory name of the virtual directory management file corresponding to this virtual file name, and the file management corresponding to the DCF standard is created on the recording medium. The file is recorded with a file name that can exist in the directory recorded in the structure, and is recorded in the virtual directory management file in a file management structure corresponding to the DCF standard on the recording medium corresponding to the virtual file name. Features to record the names of files that exist in the directory The file management method according to claim 4.