Information processing apparatus and method

Abstract

An information processing method and apparatus reproduces predetermined information from a variety of information recorded by, for example, an electronic camera. The information may be reproduced in a predetermined order and with predetermined reproduction time. Reproduction information, for use during reproduction, is generated based on recording information. Reproduction times may be changed by changing a WAIT time between reproduction of each recording unit. A slide show mode may be selected after a series of information are recorded. If information is not being presently recorded in the electronic camera, all of the information previously recorded may be displayed as the slide show. Also, new information may be recorded even under unexpected conditions, for example. Information to be reproduced may be set during slide show mode by changing the order of reproduction if necessary. The new information is recognized as different information from the information that is set during the slide show mode. Thus, if information is reproduced during the slide show mode, the new information is not reproduced.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An information processing apparatus that reproduces information stored as recording units, each recording unit including at least one of image information, memo information and sound information, the information processing apparatus comprising: 
 storage means for storing the recording units;    recording unit selection means for selecting at least one recording unit from among the recording units stored in the storage means;    reproduction order setting means for setting a reproduction order of a plurality of the recording units selected by the recording unit selection means;    reproduction time setting means for setting a reproduction time for each of the recording units set by the reproduction order setting means;    reading means for reading the recording units from the storage means based on the order set by the reproduction order setting means; and    reproduction means for reproducing information contained in each recording unit read by the reading means, in accordance with the reproduction time set by the reproduction time setting means.    
     
     
         2 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 1   , further comprising an information selection means for selecting the information to be reproduced from all the information contained in each recording unit selected by the recording unit selection means; and wherein 
 the reproduction means selects only information selected by the information selection means from among all the information contained in each selected recording unit.    
     
     
         3 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein the reproduction time setting means sets the reproduction time of each recording unit based on the type of information to be reproduced from the recording unit.  
     
     
         4 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 3   , wherein when sound information is included as information to be reproduced in the recording unit selected by the recording unit selection means, the reproduction time setting means sets a value of the reproduction time by adding a predetermined time to the time required to reproduce the sound information.  
     
     
         5 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 3   , wherein when sound information is not included as information to be reproduced in the recording unit selected by the recording unit selection means, the reproduction time setting means sets a predetermined time as the reproduction time.  
     
     
         6 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 1   , further comprising changing means for changing the reproduction time set by the reproduction time setting means.  
     
     
         7 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein when the image information includes multiple frames of continuously photographed images, the reproduction time setting means sets the reproduction time of each frame based on frame rate at the time of shooting.  
     
     
         8 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein the image information includes multiple frames of continuously photographed images, the apparatus further comprising frame selection means for selecting at least a predetermined frame to be reproduced from the continuously photographed images.  
     
     
         9 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 8   , wherein the frame selection means selects all the frames of the continuously photographed images when the continuously photographed images include sound information.  
     
     
         10 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 8   , wherein when the images that are continuously photographed include sound information and there is at least one frame that is not selected by the frame selection means, the reproduction means reproduces a frame which either proceeds or follows the at least one frame which is not selected in place of the frame which is not selected.  
     
     
         11 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 8   , wherein when the images that are continuously photographed include sound information and there is at least one frame that is not selected by the frame selection means, the reproduction means does not reproduce a frame but reproduces only sound in place of the frame which is not selected  
     
     
         12 . An information processing apparatus that reproduces information stored as recording units, each recording unit including at least one of image information, memo information and sound information, said information processing apparatus comprising: 
 generation means for generating a reproduction group including at least one recording unit;    setting means for setting a reproduction order of each recording unit contained in the reproduction group;    designation means for designating a desired reproduction group;    reproduction means for reproducing each recording unit contained in the reproduction group designated by the designation means, the reproduction means reproducing each recording unit based on the reproduction order set by the setting means; and    prohibition means for prohibiting reproduction of recording units that are not contained in the reproduction group designated by the designation means.    
     
     
         13 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 12   , further comprising resetting means for resetting the reproduction group generated by the generation means.  
     
     
         14 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 12   , further comprising dissolution means for dissolving the reproduction group generated by the generation means.  
     
     
         15 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 14   , wherein the reproduction means reproduces the recording units based on the order in which the recording units were recorded when all the reproduction groups are dissolved by said dissolution means.  
     
     
         16 . An information processing apparatus comprising: 
 a memory that stores recording units, each recording unit including at least one of image information, memo information and sound information;    a recording unit selector that selects at least one recording unit from among the recording units stored in the memory;    a reproduction order setting device that sets a reproduction order of a plurality of the recording units selected by the recording unit selector; and    a controller coupled to the memory, the recording unit selector and to the reproduction order setting device to set a reproduction time for each of the recording units set by the reproduction order setting device, and to control reading of the recording units from the memory based on the order set by the reproduction order setting device and reproduction of the information contained in each recording unit in accordance with the set reproduction time.    
     
     
         17 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 16   , further comprising an information selector coupled to the controller to select the information to be reproduced from all the information contained in each recording unit selected by the recording unit selector; and wherein 
 the controller reproduces only information selected by the information selector from among all the information contained in each selected recording unit.    
     
     
         18 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 16   , wherein the controller sets the reproduction time of each recording unit based on the type of information to be reproduced from the recording unit.  
     
     
         19 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 18   , wherein when sound information is included as information to be reproduced in the recording unit selected by the recording unit selector, the controller sets a value of the reproduction time by adding a predetermined time to the time required to reproduce the sound information.  
     
     
         20 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 18   , wherein when sound information is not included as information to be reproduced in the recording unit selected by the recording unit selector, the controller sets a predetermined time as the reproduction time.  
     
     
         21 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 16   , further comprising a changing device coupled to the controller to change the reproduction time set by the controller.  
     
     
         22 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 16   , wherein the apparatus is a digital camera.  
     
     
         23 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 22   , wherein the digital camera includes: 
 a photoelectric converter through which the image information is input to the memory;    a touch tablet through which the memo information is input to the memory; and    at least one microphone through which the sound information is input to the memory.    
     
     
         24 . An information processing apparatus that reproduces information stored as recording units, each recording unit including at least one of image information, memo information and sound information, said information processing apparatus comprising: 
 a reproduction group generator that generates at least one reproduction group including at least one recording unit;    a setting device that sets a reproduction order of each recording unit contained in the at least one reproduction group;    a designator that designates a desired reproduction group; and    a controller coupled to the reproduction group generator, the setting device and to the designator to reproduce each recording unit contained in the reproduction group designated by the designator, the controller reproducing each recording unit based on the set reproduction order, and prohibiting reproduction of recording units that are not contained in the designated reproduction group.    
     
     
         25 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 24   , further comprising a resetting device coupled to the controller to reset the at least one reproduction group generated by the reproduction group generator.  
     
     
         26 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 24   , further comprising a dissolution command device coupled to the controller to dissolve the reproduction group generated by the controller.  
     
     
         27 . The information processing apparatus according to    claim 26   , wherein the controller reproduces the recording units based on the order in which the recording units were recorded when all the reproduction groups have been dissolved.  
     
     
         28 . A method of controlling an information processing apparatus that reproduces information stored as recording units, each recording unit including at least one of image information, memo information and sound information, the method comprising the steps of: 
 selecting at least one recording unit from among a plurality of recording units stored in memory;    setting a reproduction order of a plurality of the selected recording units;    setting a reproduction time for each of the selected and ordered recording units;    reading the recording units from the memory based on the set reproduction order; and    reproducing information contained in each recording unit, in accordance with the set reproduction time.    
     
     
         29 . The method according to    claim 28   , further comprising: 
 selecting the information to be reproduced from all the information contained in each selected recording unit; and wherein    the reproducing step reproduces only the selected information from among all the information contained in each selected recording unit.    
     
     
         30 . The method according to    claim 28   , wherein the reproduction time setting step includes setting the reproduction time of each recording unit based on the type of information to be reproduced from the recording unit.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to    claim 30   , wherein when sound information is included as information to be reproduced in the selected recording unit, the reproduction time setting step includes setting a value of the reproduction time by adding a predetermined time to the time required to reproduce the sound information.  
     
     
         32 . The method according to    claim 30   , wherein when sound information is not included as information to be reproduced in the selected recording unit, the reproduction time setting step includes setting a predetermined time as the reproduction time.  
     
     
         33 . The method according to    claim 28   , wherein when the image information includes multiple frames of continuously photographed images, the reproduction time setting step includes setting the reproduction time of each frame based on frame rate at the time of shooting.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to    claim 28   , wherein when the image information includes multiple frames of continuously photographed images, further comprising the step of selecting at least a predetermined frame to be reproduced from the continuously photographed images.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to    claim 34   , wherein the frame selecting step selects all the frames of the continuously photographed images when the continuously photographed images include sound information.  
     
     
         36 . The method according to    claim 34   , wherein when the images that are continuously photographed include sound information and there is at least one frame that is not selected by the frame selection means, the reproducing step reproduces a frame which either proceeds or follows the at least one frame which is not selected in place of the frame which is not selected.  
     
     
         37 . The method according to    claim 34   , wherein when the images that are continuously photographed include sound information and there is at least one frame that is not selected in the frame selecting step, the reproducing step does not reproduce a frame but reproduces only sound in place of the frame which is not selected.  
     
     
         38 . A method of controlling an information processing apparatus that reproduces information stored as recording units, each recording unit including at least one of image information, memo information and sound information, the method comprising the steps of: 
 generating at least one reproduction group including at least one recording unit;    setting a reproduction order of each recording unit contained in the at least one reproduction group;    designating a desired reproduction group;    reproducing each recording unit contained in the designated reproduction group based on the set reproduction order; and    prohibiting reproduction of recording units that are not contained in the designated reproduction group.    
     
     
         39 . The method according to    claim 38   , further comprising resetting the contents of the generated reproduction group.  
     
     
         40 . The method according to    claim 38   , further comprising dissolving the generated reproduction group.  
     
     
         41 . The method according to    claim 40   , wherein the reproducing step reproduces the recording units based on the order in which the recording units were recorded when all the reproduction groups are dissolved.  
     
     
         42 . A recording medium that stores a computer-readable control program having instructions that are executable by a controller of an information processing apparatus that reproduces information stored as recording units, each recording unit including at least one of image information, memo information and sound information, to perform the steps of: 
 selecting at least one recording unit from among a plurality of recording units stored in memory;    setting a reproduction order of a plurality of the selected recording units;    setting a reproduction time for each of the selected and ordered recording units;    reading the recording units from the memory based on the set reproduction order; and    reproducing information contained in each recording unit, in accordance with the set reproduction time.    
     
     
         43 . A recording medium that stores a computer-readable control program having instructions that are executable by a controller of an information processing apparatus that reproduces information stored as recording units, each recording unit including at least one of image information, memo information and sound information, to perform the steps of: 
 generating at least one reproduction group including at least one recording unit;    setting a reproduction order of each recording unit contained in the at least one reproduction group;    designating a desired reproduction group;    reproducing each recording unit contained in the designated reproduction group based on the set reproduction order; and    prohibiting reproduction of recording units that are not contained in the designated reproduction group.