JP2004112054A - Photographing advice camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the user of a digital still camera with appropriate advice information readily. <P>SOLUTION: Photographing condition of image data representative of an image photographed by a user is analyzed (step 302), frequency of occurrence is totalized for each conditional item corresponding to the results of analysis and stored (step 304), the totalized and stored frequency of each conditional item is compared with a preset threshold value and advice information is generated and presented if the threshold value is exceeded (steps 504-508). Consequently, appropriate advice information can be provided readily depending on the tendency of the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shooting advice camera, and more particularly to a shooting advice camera that generates advice information according to the shooting state of a shot image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, imaging devices such as digital cameras have become more sophisticated, and advanced expressions and additional effects can be exhibited. However, it is particularly difficult for a novice user to master these imaging devices that have advanced functions. For this reason, a learning type video camera is known that enables the imaging apparatus itself to perform learning and automatically perform advanced shooting (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this learning type video camera, the shooting environment or the type of subject is determined based on the output signal of the shot video and the learned information, and the optimum signal for the shooting environment or the type of subject is determined from this determination result. Enables automatic shooting with processing. In addition, further learning is performed based on the determination result. Accordingly, it is possible to perform highly automatic shooting by determining the shooting environment or subject using the learning result learned by the learning type video camera itself.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-137057 (pages 2 to 3, FIG. 1)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional learning video camera is premised on high-level shooting that leads to automatic shooting, and a high level of response is required for the user. However, a general user does not always request an advanced function, and often desires simple and appropriate advice in accordance with the shooting situation.
[0005]
On the other hand, some users who use conventional autofocus cameras, compact cameras, lens-equipped films, etc., have a night view of a sightseeing spot, a subject far away (for example, 10 m or more) at a wedding hall, or a slide As a result of taking a strobe shot toward a projection board, etc., nothing is shown, or the shot is taken from the train window of a train or bus, resulting in a camera shake photo due to slow shutter speed, which is fundamentally wrong There are not a few people who do not know how to shoot.
[0006]
Such a person could not be expected to be noticed unless someone advised it, but there are individual differences in the demand and understanding of advice, and it is very difficult to give advice according to the individual level It was difficult, and there was nothing like a machine that did it automatically.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described facts, and an object thereof is to provide a photographing advice camera that can easily provide appropriate advice information to a user.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the photographing advice camera of the present invention is based on image data input means for inputting image data of a photographed image obtained by photographing a subject, and on the basis of the image data input by the image data input means. Analyzing means for analyzing the photographing state of the photographed image, totalizing and accumulating means for summing up and storing the analysis results of the analyzing means for each state item representing different photographing states, and a threshold value for each state item in advance It is characterized by comprising advice presenting means for generating and presenting advice information relating to the photographing state based on the state quantity of the state item stored in the tabulation storage means and the threshold value.
[0009]
In the present invention, the image data of the photographed photographed image is input by the image data input means, and the photographing state of the photographed image is analyzed by the analyzing means. The analysis of the shooting state includes a shooting scene analysis when shooting a subject and a shooting condition analysis according to the state of the shooting device. The shooting scene analysis includes the composition of the shooting scene and the positional relationship analysis, and the shooting condition analysis includes the analysis regarding the exposure such as the aperture and the shutter speed, and the analysis regarding the shooting environment such as the presence or absence of the strobe. The analysis result by the analysis means is totalized and accumulated for each state item representing a different photographing state by the total accumulation means.
[0010]
The state items representing the shooting state correspond to the analysis results of shooting scene analysis and shooting condition analysis, and examples include “shooting in a dark place” and “shooting without strobe light”. Further, the totaling by the totalizing means is classified and stored for each status item. Therefore, the total storage means stores the analysis results for each state item. In addition, every time image data is input to the total storage means, the analysis result is stored for each state item, and any of the state items tends to increase. For this increasing tendency, predetermined advice information for the state item is generated using a predetermined threshold as a criterion. As this criterion, an increase / decrease value of an increasing tendency with respect to the threshold value can be adopted.
[0011]
The increase / decrease value represents a tendency of the state item with respect to the threshold value, and one or a plurality of values can be adopted. For example, if the tabulation result for the item “Use strobe for shooting a distant view in the dark” exceeds the threshold value, advice information is generated to prompt the user to improve the shooting status or explain the situation. And can be presented. As an example of this advice information, “it seems that there are many shootings using a strobe for shooting a distant view in the dark”.
[0012]
As described above, the photographing advice camera according to the present invention collects and accumulates the analysis results of the image data taken by the user, and generates and presents advice information based on a predetermined threshold as a criterion. And appropriate advice information can be provided easily.
[0013]
The advice presenting means may include display means for displaying the advice information.
[0014]
The advice information can be presented by recording it on a recording medium together with the image data, or by providing an external output terminal so that it can be printed by a printer or the like. By doing so, the user can directly check the advice information, and the advice information can be provided to the user more easily.
[0015]
The total accumulation means can total and accumulate the occurrence frequency of the state item.
[0016]
In totaling the status items, the status items can be quantified by using the occurrence frequency. Therefore, the magnitude of the threshold value can be obtained from the magnitude of the occurrence frequency as the state quantity of the state item. For example, when the occurrence frequency of the status item “use strobe for shooting a distant view in a dark place” is higher than the threshold and the occurrence frequency of the status item “shake” is lower than the threshold, the user The status item “use strobe for far-field photography at a place” is frequently generated, and advice information corresponding to it can be generated and presented.
[0017]
The advice presenting means may include threshold setting means for setting a threshold for each state item.
[0018]
The advice information generated for the shooting state has various forms such as necessary / unnecessary depending on the user. Therefore, by setting the threshold value, it is possible to freely set the timing for generating the advice information. Thereby, the time which produces | generates advice information for every state item can be set freely.
[0019]
The advice presenting means can include an automatic calculation setting means for setting a threshold value from the total number of times of photographing and the number of times of photographing of the state item.
[0020]
Although the threshold value can adjust the generation and presentation opportunities of advice information, the threshold value setting may be complicated or complicated. The advice presenting means includes automatic calculation setting means for automatically setting a threshold value. This automatic calculation setting means obtains and sets a threshold value from the total number of times of photographing and the number of times of photographing where the state item has occurred.
[0021]
The total number of shots is the number of past shots taken by the user with this shooting advice camera, and is the total number of shots. The number of shootings in which the status item has occurred is the number of shootings that contributes to the presentation of advice information (advice information generation), and is the same or less than the total number of shots. The relationship between the two represents a tendency of the shooting state of the user, and if a threshold value is set from the relationship, an appropriate threshold value is set for the user.
[0022]
The automatic calculation setting means counts the total amount of image data input by the image data input means and counts the total occurrence frequency for all status items stored in the total storage means; and the counting means An arithmetic means for obtaining a photographing state ratio based on the counting result and an automatic setting means for setting a threshold value based on the arithmetic result of the arithmetic means can be included.
[0023]
In the automatic calculation means, the counting means counts the total number of input image data, counts the total number of times of photographing, and counts the total occurrence frequency of the status items, thereby taking the imaging of the status items. Count the number of times. The total occurrence frequency of this state item is set to 1 occurrence frequency when one or more state items are generated in one shooting. The calculation means obtains the shooting state ratio from these count results.
[0024]
The shooting state ratio represents the relationship between the total number of shots and the total occurrence frequency as a ratio, and represents the tendency of the user. When the value of the shooting state ratio is larger than a predetermined value, the presented advice information tends to increase, and when it is smaller, the advice information tends to decrease. Therefore, in the automatic setting means, the processing can be shifted to presenting an appropriate amount of advice information by increasing the threshold when the photographing state ratio value is larger than the predetermined value or decreasing the threshold when the photographing state ratio is smaller than the predetermined value. .
[0025]
[Embodiments of the Invention]
An embodiment according to a photographing advice camera of the present invention will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a digital still camera.
[0026]
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a digital still camera (hereinafter referred to as DSC) 10 to which the present embodiment is applied.
[0027]
The DSC 10 includes an imaging system control unit 14. The imaging system control unit 14 acquires image data related to an image of a subject by controlling a lens, a CCD, and the like (not shown), and is connected to an input / output port (hereinafter referred to as I / O) 12. The I / O 12 further includes a CPU 16, an image compression / decompression unit 18, an LCD control unit 20, a memory 24, a media interface (hereinafter referred to as I / F) 26, an operation unit 30, and an internal memory. 32, an infrared sensor 34, and a strobe 36 are connected. An LCD 22 is connected to the LCD control unit 20, and a recording medium 28 is detachably attached to the media I / F 26.
[0028]
The CPU 16 is a main control unit of the DSC 10 according to the present embodiment. The image compression / decompression unit 18 performs data compression processing when recording image data and decompression processing for restoring the compressed data. The LCD control unit 20 is for performing display control of image data, advice information, and the like displayed on the LCD 22. The LCD 22 can display a preview image (photographing result confirmation image), a photographed image, and advice information.
[0029]
The memory 24 is provided with five memory areas, each storing different data.
[0030]
The first memory area stores a program that performs image processing on image data, scene analysis of a captured image based on the image data, and the like. This program is for executing processing such as analysis of the photographing state, color tone of the image, and gradation correction. The program stored in the first memory area includes a processing program for executing user data processing, that is, trend data aggregation and accumulation processing based on the analysis result of the shooting state, creation of advice information, and the like.
[0031]
In the second memory area, predetermined initial setting values and current setting values for advice information presentation conditions are stored for each item. This advice information presentation condition includes a threshold value used for presenting advice information, the number of pieces of advice information required by the user, whether or not to automatically set the threshold value, the timing of power-on and imaging It includes the elapsed time up to the present and the like, and predetermined input setting conditions by the operation of the operation unit 30 (details will be described later). Note that the threshold value is a value of a criterion for generating advice information for a state item whose details will be described later, and can be stored for each state item representing a different shooting state. Further, these advice information presentation conditions are configured to be changeable.
[0032]
The third memory area stores predetermined advice data related to the status item for creating advice information.
[0033]
User tendency data is stored in the fourth memory area. In the present embodiment, data aggregated for each state item representing a photographing state in which the analysis result of the photographed image is different is accumulated (described later).
[0034]
The fifth memory area stores data in which the total number of shootings and the number of appearances of state items (the number of shootings in which at least one predetermined state item has occurred) are tabulated and accumulated. These data are used to calculate a shooting state ratio for automatically setting a threshold value. (Described later)
The media I / F 26 enables data to be read from or written to the recording medium 28. The recording medium 28 can record image data obtained by photographing the subject, photographing conditions, advice information, and the like. The recording medium 28 is not limited to a specific type as long as the data can be recorded, and various recording media generally used in a digital camera or the like can be used. The operation unit 30 is for operating the DSC 10 and includes a release switch and a power switch (not shown). The operation unit 30 also includes an input device for inputting setting values for setting advice information presentation conditions and threshold values. The release switch can be operated halfway or fully.
[0035]
The internal memory 32 temporarily stores and holds image data, trend data, and the like. The infrared sensor 34 measures the distance to the subject using infrared rays, and the strobe 36 is an auxiliary light source that irradiates the subject with light during photographing.
[0036]
Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. First, an outline of a processing routine executed by the DSC 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0037]
In step 90, initial setting is performed. The initial setting items include advice information presentation conditions. Initially, the setting value for whether or not to automatically set the threshold value, the number of advice information required by the user, the threshold value Standard values are included.
[0038]
In step 100, it is determined whether or not the advice information presenting condition is currently met. As the advice information presentation condition, a threshold value used for presenting the advice information, an elapsed time from the time of power-on or imaging to the present time, and a predetermined input setting condition by operation of the operation unit 30 are adopted. can do.
[0039]
Therefore, in step 100, it is determined whether or not the value of each item of the advice information presentation condition matches the setting value or input setting condition value of the item. The determination in step 100 is that the setting value and the input setting condition of the advice information presentation condition stored in the second memory area of the memory 24 are read and stored in the fourth memory area of the memory 24. It can also be done by comparing with data. If the determination in step 100 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 122. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 102. In step 122, the trend data is compared with the threshold value for each status item, and advice information is created and presented for the status item exceeding the threshold value (details will be described later).
[0040]
In step 102, it is determined whether there is a request for changing the advice information presentation condition. This determination can be made based on the presence / absence of an input indicating a request for changing the advice information presentation condition by operating the operation unit 30. If the determination in step 102 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 120. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 104. Step 120 is a process of changing the advice presentation condition to the set value according to the user instruction for the advice information presentation condition (details will be described later).
[0041]
In step 104, it is determined whether or not the release switch by the operation unit 30 is half-pressed. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 106, and after displaying a preview image (photographing result confirmation image), in the next step 108. The advice information presentation process is performed and the process proceeds to step 124. In step 106, the image obtained by the imaging system control unit 14 is displayed on the LCD 22 via the LCD control unit 20. Further, the advice information presentation processing in step 108 is processing for presenting advice information during display of the preview image, and collates the analysis result of the shooting state with the advice information presentation condition, and presents advice information from the result (details). Will be described later).
[0042]
On the other hand, if the result in step 104 is negative, the process proceeds to step 110 to determine whether or not the release switch by the operation unit 30 is fully pressed. If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 112; . In step 118, a predetermined process such as displaying a through image (a preview image when a subject is captured in real time) on the LCD 22 is performed, and the process proceeds to step 124.
[0043]
In step 112, imaging processing is performed, and in the next step 114, image data recording processing is performed. The imaging process is a process of acquiring image data indicating an image of a subject by the imaging system control unit 14 and temporarily storing the image data in the internal memory 32. In the recording process, the image data stored in the internal memory 32 is processed by the image compression / decompression unit 18 based on a predetermined processing condition, and is recorded on the recording medium 28 via the medium I / F 26. It is processing. The recording medium 28 may record not only image data but also shooting conditions and advice information.
[0044]
In the next step 116, the trend data update process is performed, and the process proceeds to step 124. This trend data update process is a process of performing a shooting state analysis on image data obtained by imaging, summing up and accumulating the frequency of state items based on the result, and updating the trend data (details will be described later). ).
[0045]
In step 124, it is determined whether or not the DSC 10 has been turned off. This determination can be made based on conditions such as an input indicating a power-off operation by the operation unit 30 such as a power switch, whether or not a certain time has passed without the operation unit 30 being operated. If the determination in step 124 is affirmative, the present processing routine is terminated, and if the determination is negative, the process returns to step 100.
[0046]
Next, details of step 108 will be described. When the advice presenting process in step 108 of FIG. 2 is executed, the processing subroutine shown in FIG.
[0047]
In step 200, the image data is read, and in the next step 202, the shooting state analysis is performed. That is, after the image data indicating the image of the subject is acquired as a through image by the imaging system control unit 14 and read into the internal memory 32, the shooting state analysis is performed. Note that an image for reading image data from the through image may be acquired automatically, or may be acquired upon receiving a user instruction input.
[0048]
The shooting state analysis includes a shooting scene analysis when shooting a subject and a shooting condition analysis according to the state of the shooting apparatus. The shooting scene analysis includes analysis of the composition and positional relationship of the shooting scene, and the shooting condition analysis includes analysis related to exposure such as aperture and shutter speed, and analysis related to shooting environment such as whether or not a strobe is used.
[0049]
An example of the analysis result of the composition of the shooting scene, which is an analysis of the shooting scene, is portrait, landscape, group photo, etc., and the positional relationship is the position of the target person (for example, center, right side, left side, upper side) Etc.). An example of the analysis result of the shooting condition analysis includes an exposure value such as an aperture value and a shutter speed value, and a shooting environment value indicating the presence or absence of a strobe. These exposure values and shooting environment values can be analyzed from the brightness distribution and hue of the shot image based on the image data, but not only the image data but also various data at the time of shooting (for example, Exif data) is used. Can do.
[0050]
Exif data is data in which the format of a captured image is expressed in the Exif format, and an Exif format image file can be configured from this data and image data. In the Exif format image file, for each captured image, in addition to the image data, various information indicating the file name, the DSC model used for shooting, the shooting date and time, and shooting conditions (DSC settings) at the time of shooting, for example, Shutter speed, aperture value, image quality mode (image data compression rate), sensitivity, exposure program mode, metering method, white balance mode, focus mode, sharpness mode, focal length, exposure compensation value, distance to the subject , At least one of information such as strobe on / off, strobe correction value, macro mode on / off, and the like.
[0051]
The next step 204 is a process of temporarily updating the user trend data. In this trend data temporary update process, first, user trend data stored in the fourth memory area of the memory 24 is read. The read tendency data is accumulated and accumulated in frequency for each state item representing a different shooting state, as in the example shown in FIG. Next, the state item corresponding to the result of the photographing state analysis in step 202 is obtained. The frequency of the status item of the read trend data corresponding to the obtained status item is incremented (increased by a predetermined amount). This predetermined amount has a predetermined frequency or a constant increase rate.
[0052]
Here, the new trend data in which the frequency of any of the status items is changed in step 204 is regarded as the updated trend data (temporary trend data), and the following processing is performed.
[0053]
In the next step 206, the threshold value stored in the second memory area of the memory 24 is read, and the process proceeds to step 208.
[0054]
In step 208, it is determined whether or not there is an item corresponding to the advice information presentation while the preview image is displayed as a through image. That is, the provisional trend data at step 204 and the threshold value at step 206 are compared for each state item to determine whether there is a state item that exceeds the threshold value.
[0055]
If the determination in step 208 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 210. If the determination is negative, this routine is terminated and the process returns. In step 210, advice information is created, and in the next step 212, advice information is displayed on the LCD 22.
[0056]
In step 210 described above, the image read as the through image in step 200 described above from the advice data stored in the third memory area of the memory 24 for the corresponding state item when affirmed in step 208. Create advice information for temporary trend data including data. In this embodiment, the advice information is displayed on the LCD 22, but an output device such as a speaker may be provided to present the advice information by voice. When the process of step 212 is completed, this routine is terminated and the process returns.
[0057]
Therefore, in step 108, advice information can be presented when a preview image is displayed on the DSC 10, so that it is possible to easily present advice information effective for the user in a shooting preparation state.
[0058]
Next, the details of step 116 will be described. When the trend data update process in step 116 of FIG. 2 is executed, the process subroutine shown in FIG. 4 is executed, and the process proceeds to step 300. In step 300, the trend data stored in the fourth memory area of the memory 24 is read, and in the next step 302, the image data recorded in the aforementioned step 114 is subjected to the shooting state analysis, and then the next step 304. Update trend data at.
[0059]
In step 304, the trend data is updated based on the analysis result in step 302. In this trend data update process, the frequency for each state item representing a different shooting state for the analysis result is totaled, and the frequency of the corresponding state item in the trend data is incremented. The increment result is stored in the fourth memory area of the memory 24 as updated trend data.
[0060]
That is, an item including the above analysis result is predetermined as a state item. This state item includes an analysis result item and an analysis result combination item. As an example of the combination item, there are “use a strobe for taking a distant view in a dark place”, “use a strobe not for taking a picture in backlight”, and the like. Therefore, the above analysis results are totaled for each corresponding state item. The trend data is updated by storing a value obtained by adding the total value to the accumulated value.
[0061]
For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 7, when the result of the shooting state analysis in step 302 described above yields a result that “the subject in the dark place has been shot with a flash that is not within the predetermined flash shooting range”. Since this corresponds to the status item “use strobe for shooting a distant view in a dark place”, the frequency of status item 1 is incremented (here, 1) and stored as updated trend data.
[0062]
In the present embodiment, the infrared sensor 34 can determine whether the subject is within the shooting range of the strobe 36. In this case, it is possible to discriminate from the on / off value of the strobe 36 obtained in the shooting state analysis process in step 302 and the distance to the subject by the infrared sensor 34. In other words, the strobe emission to the subject outside the predetermined strobe shooting range has little effect of the light illumination. For this reason, it corresponds to a long distance shooting in a dark place.
[0063]
In addition, when only the status items that can obtain an image with poor printing or poor reproduction are set as the status items, the status items may not be obtained as an analysis result. In this case, the frequency of the trend data does not increase or decrease.
[0064]
In the next step 306, the total number of photographing is updated. The total number of shots is the total number of shots taken since the user owned the DSC 10 until now, and is incremented for each shot. That is, in step 306, the total number of shootings up to the previous shooting stored in the fifth memory area of the memory 24 is read, the number of shootings (here, 1) is added, and the result is newly stored as the total number of shootings. 24.
[0065]
In the next step 308, it is determined whether there is a corresponding state item. This determination is made based on whether or not the state item obtained as a result of the shooting state analysis in step 302 corresponds to at least one of the predetermined state items. If the determination in step 308 is affirmative, the routine is terminated after updating the number of appearance of the state item in step 310. If the determination is negative, the routine is terminated and the process returns.
[0066]
In step 310, the number of appearance of state items (the number of times of shooting in which at least one predetermined state item has occurred) is updated. The number of appearance of the state item is the number of frames of the total photographed image corresponding to the predetermined state item for the photographed images taken by the user from the possession of the DSC 10, and when there is at least one relevant state item. Incremented. That is, in step 310, the number of state item appearances stored in the fifth memory area of the memory 24 is read, and a predetermined state item appearance number (here, 1) is added and stored in the memory 24. .
[0067]
Therefore, the user's tendency data can be updated (accumulated) every time the DSC 10 is photographed. In addition, the DSC 10 clearly accumulates the user's tendency along with shooting, updates the total number of shots, and updates the number of state item appearances reflecting the shooting state analysis result.
[0068]
Next, details of step 120 described above will be described. When the advice information presentation condition setting process in step 120 in FIG. 2 is executed, a processing subroutine shown in FIG. 5 is executed.
[0069]
In step 390, it is determined whether the threshold setting is automatic. This determination can be made based on a setting value indicating whether or not the threshold setting stored in the second memory area of the memory 24 is automatic. When the set value indicates that the threshold value is automatically set, the determination at step 390 is affirmative and the routine proceeds to step 412. When the determination is negative, the routine proceeds to step 400.
[0070]
In step 400, the advice information presentation condition and its set value stored in the second memory of the memory 24 are displayed on the LCD 22 via the LCD control unit 20.
[0071]
In the next step 402, it is determined whether or not an item for changing the advice information presentation condition has been selected. This determination can be made based on whether there is an input indicating an item selection operation by the operation unit 30. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 404, and if the determination is negative, the process returns to step 400.
[0072]
In step 404, the set value input by the user via the operation unit 30 is read, and the read set value is temporarily stored in the internal memory 32. In the next step 406, it is determined whether or not the setting value input has been completed. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 408, and if the determination is negative, the process returns to step 404. The determination in step 406 can be made based on whether or not there is an input indicating the end of the setting value input operation by the operation unit 30.
[0073]
In step 408, it is determined whether or not all items have been set. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 410. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 400. In step 410, the advice information presentation condition stored in the second memory area of the memory 24 is updated based on the set value stored in the internal memory 32. When the process of step 410 ends, this routine ends and returns.
[0074]
In the set value input process described above, an item for resetting the set value (a process for setting a predetermined initial set value as a set value, that is, a process for returning the DSC 10 to the original state) may be added.
[0075]
On the other hand, if the determination in step 390 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 412, and after reading the total number of shootings and the number of appearance of state items, in the next step 414, the shooting state rate is calculated and the process proceeds to step 416. The values of the total number of times of photographing and the number of appearance of state items are read from the fifth memory area of the memory 24, and the photographing state ratio is obtained from the read values according to the following mathematical formula. The shooting state rate is the ratio of the number of state items to the total number of shots.
Shooting state rate = number of appearance of state items / total number of shots x 100 (%)
It is represented by
[0076]
Note that, as the above relationship, when only the state items that can obtain an image with poor printing or poor reproduction are set as the state items, the shooting state rate can be regarded as the shooting state failure expected rate.
[0077]
Here, the shooting state rate tends to increase the number of state items whose frequency exceeds the threshold in the user's trend data as the value increases, and as a result, the advice information presented to the user tends to increase. is there. Also, the advice information tends to decrease as the value of the shooting state ratio decreases. Therefore, it is presented by setting the threshold value high when the shooting state rate value exceeds a predetermined reference value, or by setting the threshold value low when the shooting state rate value is less than the reference value. The number of advice information can be adjusted.
[0078]
Therefore, in step 416, it is determined whether or not the value of the shooting state ratio exceeds a predetermined reference value. If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 418. If the result is negative, the process proceeds to step 422.
[0079]
In step 418, a state item for generating advice information is selected, and in the next step 420, the threshold value is set high, and then this routine is terminated. That is, in step 418, state items are selected from the user's tendency data by the number of setting values of the number of advice information presentations initially set or set by the user. This selection can be achieved, for example, by selecting a state item having a high frequency or selecting a predetermined state item. In step 420, the threshold set for each state item is set high so that advice information is generated for the selected state item. That is, the threshold value is set so as to correspond only to the state item selected in step 418.
[0080]
In the above description, the threshold value is set higher when the reference value is exceeded, but a reference value may be further provided. For example, it is estimated that a user having a predetermined value (30% in the present embodiment) having a shooting state ratio value exceeding the reference value is a beginner, and the predetermined value is set as the upper limit value, and the upper limit value is exceeded beyond the reference value. The above steps 418 and 420 are executed only for users exceeding the above. If it is less than or equal to the upper limit, this routine is terminated as it is. This makes it possible to set a threshold value for generating an appropriate amount of advice information for a novice user who is expected to have many state items.
[0081]
If there is a state item that falls below the threshold value among the state items selected in step 418, the threshold value may be set low so that the state item is applicable.
[0082]
On the other hand, if the result in step 416 is negative, the process proceeds to step 422 to select a state item for generating advice information, and after setting the threshold value low in the next step 424, this routine is terminated and the process returns. .
[0083]
In step 422, a state item for generating advice information is selected. Here, state items are selected from the user's tendency data by the number of setting values for the number of advice information presentations. This selection can be achieved by selecting a state item having a high frequency, or selecting a predetermined state item, as in the processing in step 418.
[0084]
In the next step 424, the threshold value is set low. In this process, the threshold set for each state item is set low so that advice information is generated for the selected state item. That is, the threshold value is set so that only the state item selected in step 422 is applicable.
[0085]
In the above description, the threshold value is set low when it is equal to or less than the reference value, but a reference value may be further provided. For example, a user whose shooting state rate value is a predetermined value (1% or less in the present embodiment) equal to or lower than a reference value is estimated to be an advanced user, and the predetermined value is set as a lower limit value. Steps 422 and 424 are executed only for the following users. If it is equal to or greater than the lower limit value, this routine is terminated. Thus, a threshold value for generating an appropriate amount of advice information can be set even for an advanced user who is expected to hardly generate state items.
[0086]
Accordingly, it is possible to freely set the advice information presentation condition, so that the user of the DSC 10 can execute the advice information presentation based on his / her own standard. Furthermore, since a threshold value can be automatically set based on the comparison result between the calculated value of the shooting state rate and the reference value, an arbitrary number (advice information presentation number setting value) of advice information can be presented to the user. It can be easily executed. Note that the above determination of the upper limit value and the lower limit value may be used in combination.
[0087]
Next, details of step 122 described above will be described. When the advice information presentation process in step 122 in FIG. 2 is executed, the processing subroutine shown in FIG. In step 500, the threshold value stored in the second memory area of the memory 24 is read, and in the next step 502, the trend data accumulated in the fourth memory area of the memory 24 is read. In the present embodiment, the frequency for each state item is aggregated and accumulated as trend data.
[0088]
In the next step 504, it is determined whether or not the threshold value is exceeded. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 506, and if the determination is negative, this routine is terminated and the process returns. In this step 504, the frequency of each status item is compared with the threshold value set for each status item, and whether or not the frequency of the status item exceeds the threshold value set for the status item. Judging.
[0089]
FIG. 7 shows an example of the relationship between the trend data accumulated in each state item (in this embodiment, the state item and its frequency) and the threshold value. In FIG. 7, the status items include “use strobe for shooting a distant view in the dark (status item 1)”, “do not use a flash for shooting in backlight (status item 2)”, and “camera shake (status item 3)”. Three items are listed as an example, and the frequency of each state item and the threshold value corresponding to the state item are shown. The state items are not limited to the above three items, and one or more state items can be used.
[0090]
In the example shown in FIG. 7, a threshold value is set for each of three status items. The threshold value TH1 is set for the status item 1, the threshold value TH2 is set for the status item 2, and the threshold value TH3 is set for the status item 3. As understood from the figure, the threshold value TH1 is exceeded for state item 1, and the threshold value TH2 is also exceeded for state item 2. On the other hand, status item 3 is below threshold value TH3.
[0091]
Thus, by counting and accumulating the frequency of the state items, the user's tendency can be easily grasped as a numerical value, and the comparison between the state item frequency and the threshold value can be performed easily and clearly.
[0092]
In step 506, advice information creation processing is performed. This process is a process for generating advice information corresponding to a state item that exceeds a threshold value. The advice information is created from predetermined advice data, but the content may be the same every time the advice information is created, and the relative relationship between the frequency of the state item and the threshold value (for example, how often the threshold value is the threshold value) It may be different depending on whether or not the number of times advice information is created for a specific state item. In the next step 508, advice information is presented, this routine is terminated, and the process returns. In the present embodiment, the advice information is presented by displaying the advice information on the LCD 22 via the LCD control unit 20.
[0093]
Therefore, since the advice information is presented from the relationship between the threshold value and the trend data, the user (user) of the DSC 10 can easily obtain the advice simply by photographing.
[0094]
In the present embodiment, the processing of step 200 (image data reading processing) shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the function of inputting image data in the image data input means of the present invention, and the processing of step 202 shown in FIG. The shooting state analysis process) and the process of step 302 (shooting state analysis process) shown in FIG. 4 correspond to the function of analyzing the shooting state in the analyzing means of the present invention. 2 corresponds to the function of summing up and accumulating for each state item in the tabulation storage means of the present invention. Furthermore, the processing of step 108 (advice information presentation processing) and the processing of step 122 (advice information presentation processing) shown in FIG. 2 correspond to the advice information generation and presentation functions in the advice presentation means of the present invention.
[0095]
As described above, according to the DSC 10 to which the present embodiment is applied, by analyzing the shooting state of the input image data and counting and accumulating the occurrence frequency of each state item, the user's tendency can be determined. Easy to grasp. Further, by displaying the advice information on the LCD 22, the advice information can be easily presented to the user.
[0096]
In addition, since the DSC 10 can change the advice information presentation condition including the threshold value, the degree of freedom of generation and presentation of the advice information can be increased.
[0097]
Further, the threshold value for generating advice information can be automatically set, and an appropriate amount of advice information can be easily generated and presented without requiring a complicated setting operation for the user.
[0098]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the result of analyzing the shooting state of the input image data is aggregated and accumulated for each state item, and advice information is generated and presented from the state quantity and threshold value of the state item. There is an effect that it is possible to easily provide appropriate advice information according to the tendency.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a digital still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing in a digital still camera according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing advice information presentation processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a trend data update process according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing advice information presentation condition setting processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing advice information presentation processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an image diagram showing an example of a relationship between the occurrence frequency of a state item and a threshold value according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Digital still camera
14 Imaging system controller
20 LCD controller
22 LCD
24 memory
26 Media interface
28 Recording media
30 Operation unit
32 Internal memory
34 Infrared sensor
36 Strobe

Claims (6)

Image data input means for inputting image data of a photographed image obtained by photographing the subject;
Based on the image data input by the image data input means, analysis means for analyzing the shooting state of the captured image;
Totalizing and accumulating means for accumulating and accumulating the analysis results of the analyzing means for each state item representing different imaging states;
A threshold value is predetermined for each state item, and an advice presenting unit that generates and presents advice information related to the shooting state based on the state amount of the state item accumulated in the total accumulation unit and the threshold value;
A photography advice camera characterized by comprising: The photographing advice camera according to claim 1, wherein the advice presenting means includes display means for displaying the advice information. The photographing advice camera according to claim 1, wherein the total storage unit totals and stores the occurrence frequency of the state item. The photographing advice camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the advice presenting means includes threshold setting means for setting a threshold for each state item. The said advice presentation means contains the automatic calculation setting means which sets a threshold value from the total frequency | count of imaging | photography and the frequency | count of imaging | photography which the said state item generate | occur | produced, The any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Shooting advice camera described in 1. The automatic calculation setting means counts the total amount of image data input by the image data input means and counts the total occurrence frequency of all status items stored in the total storage means; and the counting means 6. The photographing advice according to claim 5, comprising calculation means for obtaining a photographing state ratio based on a counting result, and automatic setting means for setting a threshold value based on a calculation result of the calculation means. camera.

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