JP2010166195A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the efficiency of search processing for thumbnails and the degree of user's satisfaction by displaying thumbnail images desired by the user, in a proper display order in accordance with a moving direction of a user's focus on thumbnail images. <P>SOLUTION: A display device 100 includes: a thumbnail display control part 184 which distributes thumbnail images 202 arranged in accordance with a prescribed condition, to a plurality of pages by the prescribed number of thumbnail images and causes an externally or internally provided monitor (viewfinder 108) to display an array of the prescribed number of thumbnail images for each page so as to maintain the arrangement order of the prescribed number of thumbnail images; and a thumbnail switching control part 190 which switches among the plurality of pages in accordance with user's selection. The thumbnail display control part causes thumbnail images of a new page to be displayed in a display order inverse to the arrangement order when the thumbnail switching control part switches pages in an inverse direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device capable of displaying a plurality of thumbnail images.

In recent years, with the increase in capacity of HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a digital still camera (DSC: Digital Still Camera) or a digital video camera (DVC: Digital)
It has become possible to record a large number of images taken by a video camera) or images obtained through a communication network such as the Internet on one HDD or removable disk.

  The large number of images recorded in this way are thumbnail images whose sizes are reduced when specifying one image from among them, and are arranged on the monitor in the order of recording of the original images, for example. The user can easily select a thumbnail image corresponding to any desired image by referring to the plurality of thumbnail images at a time, and then the image that is the source of the selected thumbnail image is reproduced. The

  At this time, the user selects one thumbnail image from the plurality of thumbnail images by moving the focus to the desired thumbnail image through the cross key or the pointing device. The thumbnail images appear or disappear one by one in accordance with the movement of the focus. When the number of images to be processed is small, there is no problem with such image unit display, but when the number of images increases, the operation becomes complicated. Therefore, a technique for switching thumbnail images in units of displayed pages (a predetermined number of thumbnail images) through a predetermined operation is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-143512 A

  In the above-described technique, pages can be switched by moving the focus on the monitor back and forth. When the page is switched, the display device newly generates a thumbnail screen to be displayed on a new page from the original image, and sequentially displays the generated thumbnail image on the monitor. Therefore, in the new page, the generated thumbnail screen is drawn in order from the upper left of the monitor, and it takes some time until all thumbnail images are displayed. Therefore, when the arrangement of thumbnail images is, for example, the order of image recording, thumbnail images with the oldest recording date and time are displayed first, and thumbnail images with the newest date and time are displayed later.

  Under such circumstances, when the focus on the thumbnail image is moved to the newest recording time, the oldest thumbnail image of the next page is displayed first in the page switching. It can be said that such a thumbnail image makes sense because it is the next image after the newest thumbnail image on the previous page. However, when the focus on the thumbnail image is moved to the oldest recording time, the first thumbnail image to be visually recognized at the time of switching the page, that is, the thumbnail image to be arranged at the lower right of the monitor It is. However, in the conventional display device, the oldest thumbnail image, that is, the thumbnail image arranged on the upper left of the monitor is displayed regardless of the focus moving direction. Therefore, the user has to wait until the target thumbnail image is displayed, and may feel dissatisfied.

  In view of such a problem, the present invention displays the thumbnail images desired by the user in an appropriate display order according to the moving direction of the focus to the thumbnail image of the user, and improves the efficiency of the thumbnail search process and the user's An object of the present invention is to provide a display device capable of improving satisfaction.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following apparatus.
(1) A predetermined number of thumbnail images arranged according to a predetermined condition are allocated to a plurality of pages, and the predetermined number of thumbnail images is provided externally or internally so as to maintain the arrangement order for each page. A thumbnail display control unit for arranging and displaying on the monitor, and a thumbnail switching control unit for switching the plurality of pages according to user selection. The thumbnail display control unit is configured to forward the pages by the thumbnail switching control unit. When the thumbnail image of the new page is displayed on the monitor in the same display order as the arrangement order, and when the thumbnail switching control unit switches the page in the reverse direction, the thumbnail image of the new page is displayed. A display device that displays on the monitor in a display order opposite to the arrangement order.
(2) A plurality of continuous thumbnail groups made up of one or more thumbnail images among thumbnail images arranged according to a predetermined condition are arranged on an external or internal monitor so as to maintain the arrangement order. A thumbnail display control unit to be displayed; and a thumbnail switching control unit that sequentially switches a part of the plurality of thumbnail groups in accordance with a user selection. When sequentially switching in the forward direction, the thumbnail images of the thumbnail group to be newly displayed on the monitor are displayed in the same display order as the arrangement order, and when the thumbnail switching control unit sequentially switches the thumbnail groups in the reverse direction, The thumbnail images of the thumbnail group to be newly displayed are displayed as the parallel images. Display device, characterized in that to be displayed on the monitor in the reverse display order is the order.
(3) The display device according to (1) or (2), wherein the predetermined condition is a recording time, a file size, or a file name.

  According to the present invention, the thumbnail images desired by the user are displayed in an appropriate display order according to the moving direction of the focus to the thumbnail image of the user, thereby improving the efficiency of the thumbnail search process and improving the user satisfaction. It becomes possible to plan.

It is the external view which showed an example of the display apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the display apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the procedure in which the thumbnail display control part displays the thumbnail image which the thumbnail production | generation part produced | generated on the viewfinder. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the procedure to reproduce | regenerate arbitrary moving images from a thumbnail page. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the thumbnail display control part when a thumbnail switching control part switches a page in the forward direction. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the thumbnail display control part when a thumbnail switching control part switches a page to the reverse direction. It is the flowchart which showed the specific process of the thumbnail display method. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the display apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the thumbnail display control part when a thumbnail switching control part switches a thumbnail group sequentially to a forward direction. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the thumbnail display control part when a thumbnail switching control part switches a thumbnail group sequentially to a reverse direction.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiment are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

  When the thumbnail image page is switched, the display device normally displays the oldest thumbnail image, that is, the thumbnail image arranged on the upper left of the monitor in order, regardless of the moving direction of the focus. Therefore, the user has to wait until the target thumbnail image is displayed from the thumbnail image arranged at the upper left of the monitor to the target thumbnail image regardless of the position. In the following embodiments, the thumbnail images desired by the user are displayed in an appropriate display order according to the moving direction of the focus on the thumbnail image of the user, thereby improving the efficiency of the thumbnail search process and improving the user satisfaction. The purpose is to plan. Below, the typical display apparatus and display method concerning embodiment are demonstrated.

(First embodiment: display device 100)
FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a display device 100 according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a digital video camera will be described as the display device 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this, but the present invention is not limited to this.
A display device that can be connected to an external monitor, such as a digital assistant), a car navigation system, a game machine, or a DVD player, or a display device that is provided with an internal monitor can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the display device 100 includes a main body 102, an imaging lens 104, operation keys 106, and a viewfinder 108 as a monitor.

  The main body 102 records the image data captured through the imaging lens 104 so that it can be viewed again, and the recording timing and angle of view are adjusted in accordance with user input to the operation keys 106. In addition, the focus and exposure of the desired subject in the image in the image data are automatically adjusted to the desired values. The viewfinder 108 is composed of a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, and the like, and can visually recognize image data that is actually recorded. The user (photographer) can capture the subject at a desired position and size while referring to the image.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the display device 100 according to the present embodiment. The display device 100 includes an operation key 106, a viewfinder 108, an imaging unit 150, a signal processing unit 152, an image compression unit 154, an image recording / reading unit 156, an image expansion unit 158, and a central control unit 160. And a memory 162.

  The imaging unit 150 images a subject through the imaging lens 104 and generates image data. Specifically, the imaging unit 150 includes a focus lens 170 used for focus adjustment, a diaphragm 172 used for exposure adjustment, an imaging circuit (imaging device) 174 that converts light incident through the imaging lens 104 into an electrical signal, and a focus lens 170. And a drive circuit 176 for driving the diaphragm 172. The image signal captured by the image capturing unit 150 is transferred to the signal processing unit 152.

  The signal processing unit 152 generates an image signal to which predetermined image processing such as gamma correction and knee processing is applied, and outputs the image signal to the image compression unit 154. In parallel, the signal processing unit 152 generates image data to be displayed on the viewfinder 108 by superimposing various information such as the DVC state on the generated image signal, and the generated image data is displayed on the viewfinder 108. Display.

  The image compression unit 154 converts the image signal supplied from the signal processing unit 152 into M-JPEG, MPEG-2, H.264, or the like. The image signal is encoded by a predetermined encoding method such as H.264, and the encoded image signal is supplied to the image recording / reading unit 156 as image data.

  The image recording / reading unit 156 records the image data supplied from the image compression unit 154 on an arbitrary recording medium 110. As the arbitrary recording medium 110, a medium that does not require a power source such as a DVD or a BD, or a medium that requires a power source such as a RAM, an EEPROM, a nonvolatile RAM, a flash memory, or an HDD can be applied. A separate recording medium 110 that can be connected from the outside can also be used. Further, the image recording / reading unit 156 can also acquire an image from the recording medium 110 when an image is recorded in advance on an arbitrary recording medium 110. The image decompression unit 158 decodes the image acquired by the image recording / reading unit 156.

  The central control unit 160 manages and controls the entire display device 100 by a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU) and a signal processing device (DSP: Digital Signal Processor). The memory 162 includes a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, a non-volatile RAM, a flash memory, an HDD, and the like, and records programs and images processed by the central control unit 160.

  The central control unit 160 also functions as an imaging control unit 180, a thumbnail generation unit 182, a thumbnail display control unit 184, an image selection control unit 186, an image reproduction control unit 188, and a thumbnail switching control unit 190.

  The imaging control unit 180 performs imaging control including focus adjustment and exposure adjustment on the subject. Specifically, the imaging control unit 180 transmits a control command for performing imaging control to the drive circuit 176 of the imaging unit 150, and the drive circuit 176 performs the focus lens 170 and the control command according to the control command from the imaging control unit 180. The diaphragm 172 is adjusted.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a procedure in which the thumbnail display control unit 184 displays the thumbnail image 202 generated by the thumbnail generation unit 182 on the viewfinder 108. Here, the display device 100 including the recording medium 110 that records the original images D01 to D22 in order from the oldest recording time (imaging time) by the imaging unit 150 will be described as an example. Here, the original image and the thumbnail image 202 can be a moving image or a still image.

  First, the thumbnail generation unit 182 generates an image of the thumbnail page 200a for arranging the thumbnail images 202 in accordance with an input to the predetermined operation key 106 by the user, and records it in the memory 162. 3A, the thumbnail display control unit 184 outputs the thumbnail page 200a image recorded in the memory 162 to the signal processing unit 152, and causes the viewfinder 108 to display the thumbnail page 200a.

  Then, the thumbnail generation unit 182 causes the image recording / reading unit 156 to read one original image (for example, the original image D01) from the recording medium 110 according to a predetermined condition, and to decode the original image through the image expansion unit 158. Then, a thumbnail image 202 (for example, a thumbnail image T01) represented by a still image is generated. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the thumbnail display control unit 184 displays the thumbnail image 202 generated by the thumbnail generation unit 182 (indicated by T01 in FIG. 3B) on the thumbnail page 200a on the memory 162. Is superimposed on a predetermined position (for example, upper left) of the image of the image, and the image of the thumbnail page 200b after the superimposition is output to the signal processing unit 152, and the thumbnail page 200b is displayed on the viewfinder 108.

  Next, the thumbnail generation unit 182 causes the image recording / reading unit 156 to read one original image corresponding to the second predetermined condition (for example, the original image D02) from the recording medium 110, and through the image expansion unit 158, the original image is read. The image is decoded to generate a new thumbnail image 202 (for example, thumbnail image T02). Then, as shown in FIG. 3C, the thumbnail display control unit 184 displays the newly generated thumbnail image 202 (indicated by T02 in FIG. 3C) of the image of the thumbnail page 200b on the memory 162. The image is superimposed on a predetermined position (for example, slightly to the right from the upper left), the image of the thumbnail page 200c after being superimposed is output to the signal processing unit 152, and the thumbnail page 200c is displayed on the viewfinder 108.

  Hereinafter, the thumbnail display control unit 184 “superimposes the thumbnail image generated by the thumbnail generation unit 182 on a predetermined position of the image on the thumbnail page 200 on the memory 162, and converts the image on the thumbnail page 200 after superimposition onto the signal processing unit. The operation of “output to 152 and display the thumbnail page 200 on the viewfinder 108” is simply omitted as “the thumbnail display control unit 184 displays the thumbnail image 202”.

  In this way, as shown in FIG. 3D, the thumbnail display control unit 184 operates in the order in which the thumbnail generation unit 182 generates the thumbnail images 202 (here, the thumbnail images T01 to T12), that is, FIG. Four thumbnail images 202 are displayed from the upper left to the right in the order indicated by the middle broken line arrows. When the display of the first column is completed, four thumbnail images 202 are displayed from the left to the right of the next column, and are repeated until the last column. . Accordingly, the thumbnail display control unit 184 causes the viewfinder 108 to display the thumbnail images 202 generated by the thumbnail generation unit 182 in the display order according to the generation order, so that the display of the thumbnail images 202 for one page is completed. Takes some time.

  In this manner, the thumbnail display control unit 184 causes the viewfinder 108 to display a predetermined number (for example, 4 × 3 in 12) of thumbnail images 202 in the order in which the thumbnail generation unit 182 generated the thumbnail images 202. Here, a plurality of original images in the recording medium 110 are handled in units of pages for each of the twelve thumbnail images 202, and are displayed in parallel on the viewfinder 108 so as to maintain the arrangement order according to a predetermined condition.

  In the present embodiment, the thumbnail generation unit 182 generates the thumbnail images 202 in order of oldest recording time or newest recording time. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The thumbnail image 202 may be generated according to a predetermined condition such as (in order).

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a procedure for reproducing an arbitrary moving image from the thumbnail page 200. As shown in FIG. 4A, the image selection control unit 186 provides the user with an arbitrary thumbnail image 202, for example, a focus indicated by a border in the drawing, through selection input to a predetermined operation key 106 by the user. The selected thumbnail image 202 (selection result) is received. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4B, the image reproduction control unit 188 displays the thumbnail image 202 selected and determined by the image recording / reading unit 156 via the selection determination input to the predetermined operation key 106 by the user. The original image (for example, the original image D03) is extracted from the recording medium 110, and the viewfinder 108 outputs the original image through the signal processing unit 152.

  The thumbnail switching control unit 190 switches the plurality of thumbnail pages 200 in accordance with the arrangement order of the thumbnail images 202 (in this embodiment, the recording time order) in response to a selection input to an arbitrary operation key 106 by the user. Then, when the thumbnail switching control unit 190 switches the thumbnail page 200 in the forward direction, the thumbnail display control unit 184 causes the viewfinder 108 to display the thumbnail images 202 of the new thumbnail page 200 in the same display order.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the thumbnail display control unit 184 when the thumbnail switching control unit 190 switches the thumbnail page 200 in the forward direction. When the focus is moved to the thumbnail image 202 in response to a selection input to the predetermined operation key 106 by the user and the focus is further switched from the first thumbnail page 200 to the forward direction (forward direction), thumbnail switching control is performed. The unit 190 switches the thumbnail page 200 from page 1 to page 2, and as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5B, the thumbnail display control unit 184 displays the thumbnail image 202 of the second page of the thumbnail page 200. Are displayed on the viewfinder 108 in the same display order as that of the arrangement order (indicated by a broken line arrow in FIG. 5B).

  Therefore, when the thumbnail switching control unit 190 switches the page in the forward direction, the thumbnail display control unit 184 selects the thumbnail image 202a with the earliest arrangement order among the thumbnail images 202 displayed on the new thumbnail page 200. First, it is displayed on the viewfinder 108. That is, when the user moves the focus on the thumbnail image 202 to the newest recording time, the oldest thumbnail image 202a of the next page is displayed first in the page switching. It can be said that such a thumbnail image 202a makes sense because it hits the image next to the newest thumbnail image 202b on the previous page.

  In the present embodiment, when the thumbnail switching control unit 190 switches the page in the reverse direction, the thumbnail display control unit 184 displays the thumbnail images 202 of the new thumbnail page 200 on the viewfinder 108 in the display order opposite to the arrangement order. Display.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the thumbnail display control unit 184 when the thumbnail switching control unit 190 switches the page in the reverse direction. When the focus is moved to the thumbnail image 202 in response to a selection input to the predetermined operation key 106 by the user and the focus is switched in the reverse direction (return direction) from the thumbnail page 200 of the second page, the thumbnail switching control unit 190 switches the thumbnail page 200 from page 2 to page 1, and as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6B, the thumbnail display control unit 184 displays the thumbnail image 202 of the thumbnail page 200 of the first page. The image is displayed on the viewfinder 108 in a display order opposite to the arrangement order (indicated by a broken line arrow in FIG. 6B). FIG. 6B shows a display state in the middle of displaying only the thumbnail image 202 corresponding to the thumbnail image T04 in order to facilitate understanding of the display order.

  When the focus on the thumbnail image 202 is moved to the oldest recording time, in the page switching, the first thing to check is the newest thumbnail image 202 of the previous page, that is, the thumbnail arranged at the lower right of the monitor. This is an image 202c. When the thumbnail switching control unit 190 switches the page in the reverse direction, the thumbnail display control unit 184 displays the thumbnail images 202 in the display order opposite to the arrangement order, whereby the newest thumbnail image 202c of the previous page is displayed. Can be displayed on the viewfinder 108. Therefore, since the thumbnail display control unit 184 can display the thumbnail image 202 desired by the user in an appropriate display order, the user can select the target thumbnail image 202, here the newest lower right thumbnail image 202. It is possible to improve the efficiency of the thumbnail search process and the user satisfaction.

(Thumbnail display method)
In addition, a thumbnail display method capable of displaying the thumbnail images 202 in an appropriate display order using the display device 100 described above is also provided.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing specific processing of the thumbnail display method. First, when a display request for the thumbnail page 200 is accepted in response to an input to the predetermined operation key 106 by the user (YES in S300), the thumbnail generation unit 182 follows a predetermined condition (in the order of recording time in the present embodiment). A thumbnail image 202 is generated (S302). Then, the thumbnail display control unit 184 displays the thumbnail images 202 on the viewfinder 108 in the display order according to the order generated by the thumbnail generation unit 182 (S304).

  Next, when the thumbnail switching control unit 190 switches the thumbnail page 200 in response to a selection input to the predetermined operation key 106 by the user, the thumbnail display control unit 184 determines whether the thumbnail page 200 has been switched in the forward direction. Is determined (S306). If the thumbnail page 200 has been switched to the forward direction (YES in S306), the thumbnail generation unit 182 generates the thumbnail images 202 of the new thumbnail page 200 in the same order as the arrangement order (S308), and the thumbnail display control unit In step S310, the thumbnail image 202 is displayed on the viewfinder 108 in the same display order as the arrangement order. The thumbnail display control unit 184 determines whether all thumbnail images 202 that can be displayed on one thumbnail page 200 are displayed on the viewfinder 108 (S312). If not displayed (NO in S312), the process proceeds to S308. If it is returned and displayed (YES in S312), the thumbnail display control unit 184 determines whether or not the thumbnail page 200 has been switched in the reverse direction (S314).

  If the thumbnail page 200 has been switched in the reverse direction (YES in S314), the thumbnail generation unit 182 generates the thumbnail images 202 of the new thumbnail page 200 in the reverse order of the arrangement order (S316), The thumbnail display control unit 184 displays the thumbnail images 202 in the display order opposite to the arrangement order (S318). The thumbnail display control unit 184 determines whether or not all the thumbnail images 202 that can be displayed on one thumbnail page 200 are displayed on the viewfinder 108 (S320), and if not displayed (NO in S320), A thumbnail image 202 is generated (S316).

  Then, the thumbnail display control unit 184 determines whether or not there is an end input to the predetermined operation key 106 by the user (S322), and if there is an end input (YES in S322), the display of the thumbnail page 200 is ended. To do.

(Second embodiment: display device 400)
In the first embodiment described above, when the thumbnail page 200 is switched to the forward direction, the thumbnail display control unit 184 displays the thumbnail images 202 of the new thumbnail page 200 in the same display order as the arrangement order (recording order, etc.). When the thumbnail page 200 is switched in the reverse direction, the display device 100 that can display the thumbnail images 202 of the new thumbnail page 200 (previous thumbnail page 200) in the display order opposite to the arrangement order will be described. did.

  In the second embodiment, even when the thumbnail images 202 are sequentially switched in the forward direction or in the reverse direction in units of a predetermined group instead of in units of pages, the thumbnail display control unit 184 performs a thumbnail desired by the user. A display device 400 capable of displaying the image 202 in an appropriate display order will be described. In addition, about the component substantially the same as the display apparatus 100 mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the display device 400 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the display device 400 includes an operation key 106, a viewfinder 108, an imaging unit 150, a signal processing unit 152, an image compression unit 154, an image recording / reading unit 156, and an image expansion unit 158. The central control unit 460 and the memory 162 are included. The central control unit 460 also functions as an imaging control unit 180, a thumbnail generation unit 182, a thumbnail display control unit 484, an image selection control unit 186, an image playback control unit 188, and a thumbnail switching control unit 490.

  The thumbnail display control unit 484 superimposes a plurality of continuous thumbnail groups composed of one or more thumbnail images 202 in the thumbnail images 202 arranged according to a predetermined condition on the thumbnail page 200 so as to maintain the arrangement order thereof. The page data thus output is output to the signal processing unit 152, and the superimposed thumbnail page 200 is displayed on the viewfinder 108.

  The thumbnail switching control unit 490 sequentially switches thumbnail groups according to the user selection, and causes the viewfinder 108 to additionally display the thumbnail groups.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the thumbnail display control unit 484 when the thumbnail switching control unit 490 sequentially switches the thumbnail group 502 in the forward direction. In response to a selection input to the predetermined operation key 106 by the user, the thumbnail switching control unit 490 displays the thumbnail group 502a (in this embodiment, four thumbnail images 202 in one row are set as the thumbnail group 502 in FIGS. 9 and 10). 9 (shown by a one-dot chain line) is sequentially switched in the forward direction, as shown in FIGS. 9A to 9B, the thumbnail display control unit 484 displays the thumbnail image 202 of the thumbnail group 502b to be newly displayed. Are displayed on the viewfinder 108 in the same display order as that of the arrangement order (indicated by a broken line arrow in FIG. 9B).

  Further, when the thumbnail switching control unit 490 sequentially switches the thumbnail groups 502 in the reverse direction, the thumbnail display control unit 484 displays the thumbnail images 202 of the newly added thumbnail group 502 in the display order opposite to the arrangement order. Let

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the thumbnail display control unit 484 when the thumbnail switching control unit 490 sequentially switches the thumbnail group 502 in the reverse direction. When the thumbnail switching control unit 490 sequentially switches the thumbnail group 502b in the reverse direction according to the selection input to the predetermined operation key 106 by the user, as shown in FIG. 10 (a) to FIG. 10 (b), The thumbnail display control unit 484 displays the thumbnail images 202 of the new thumbnail group 502c in the display order opposite to the arrangement order (indicated by a broken line arrow in FIG. 10B).

  Similarly to the first embodiment described above, also in the display device 400 according to the present embodiment, when the thumbnail switching control unit 490 sequentially switches the thumbnail group 502 in the reverse direction, the thumbnail display control unit 484 displays the thumbnail image. With the configuration in which 202 is displayed in a display order opposite to the arrangement order, the newest thumbnail image 202c in the previous thumbnail group 502 can be displayed on the viewfinder 108. Therefore, since the thumbnail display control unit 484 can display the thumbnail images 202 desired by the user in an appropriate display order, the user does not need to wait until the target thumbnail image 202 is displayed, and the thumbnail display control unit 484 can display the thumbnail images. It is possible to improve the efficiency of the search process and improve the user satisfaction.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to this embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  Note that the steps in the thumbnail display method of this specification do not necessarily have to be processed in time series in the order described in the flowchart, and may include processing in parallel or by a subroutine.

  The present invention can be used in a display device that can display a plurality of thumbnail images at a time.

100, 400 ... display device 106 ... operation key 108 ... viewfinder (monitor)
110: Recording medium 160, 460 ... Central control unit 162 ... Memory 182 ... Thumbnail generation unit 184, 484 ... Thumbnail display control unit 190, 490 ... Thumbnail switching control unit 200 ... Thumbnail page 202 ... Thumbnail image 502 ... Thumbnail group

Claims (3)

A predetermined number of thumbnail images arranged according to a predetermined condition are distributed to a plurality of pages, and the predetermined number of thumbnail images is maintained for each page on an external or internal monitor so that the arrangement order is maintained. A thumbnail display control unit for array display;
A thumbnail switching control unit for switching the plurality of pages according to a user selection;
With
When the thumbnail switching control unit switches the page in the forward direction, the thumbnail display control unit displays the thumbnail images of a new page on the monitor in the same display order as the arrangement order, and the thumbnail switching control unit A display device, wherein when the page is switched in the reverse direction, the thumbnail images of a new page are displayed on the monitor in a display order opposite to the arrangement order. Thumbnail to be displayed on an external or internal monitor so that a plurality of consecutive thumbnail groups consisting of one or more thumbnail images among thumbnail images arranged according to a predetermined condition are maintained in the arrangement order A display control unit;
A thumbnail switching control unit that sequentially switches a part of the plurality of thumbnail groups according to a user selection;
With
When the thumbnail switching control unit sequentially switches the thumbnail groups in the forward direction, the thumbnail display control unit displays the thumbnail images of the thumbnail group to be newly displayed on the monitor in the same display order as the arrangement order, and When the thumbnail switching control unit sequentially switches the thumbnail groups in the reverse direction, the thumbnail image of the newly added thumbnail group is displayed on the monitor in the display order opposite to the arrangement order. .   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is a recording time, a file size, or a file name.

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