Picture display controlling apparatus and picture display controlling method

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a pictureAn image display controlling apparatus capable of improving the user's ease of operation upon selecting pictureallows a navigation of image data items on a small-size screen of digital cameras or the like an image capturing device. Picture The image data items held in a data holding unit ( 310 ) are sorted into picture image data groups. The location of the picture image data item most recently displayed from any of the picture groups a selected image data group is held as in a picture resume pointer in a resume pointer holding unit ( 320 ). With an operation input accepted from the user by an operation inputting device ( 340 ) unit, a display controlling unit ( 390 ) causes a displaying unit ( 350 ) to display the picture designated image selected by the operation input while effecting transition from the current display status retained in a status holding unit ( 330 ). If the operation input designates transition from a first picture group to a second picture group, the location of the picture data item currently displayed from the first picture group is placed into the resume pointer holding unit ( 320 ), and the location of the picture data item to be displayed anew from the second picture group is retrieved from the resume pointer holding unit ( 320 ). When the operating inputting unit receives a re-selection of the selected image data group after an intervening selection of another image data group, the display image controlling unit displays the image data item.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An image data display controlling apparatus comprising:
 storing means for storing a plurality of image data items categorized by a plurality of image data groups using geographical location; 
 operation inputting means for accepting an operation input for designating any of said image data groups or any of the image data items in the designated image group; 
 display controlling means for controlling to display designated image data group or designated image data item in the designated image data group; 
 pointer holding means for holding a pointer information for identifying image data item associating with a image data group, the pointer information is used for controlling to display the image data item in the designated image data group when a transition of image data group is instructed by the operation inputting means; 
 wherein, if said operation input accepted by said operation inputting means designates transition from a first image data group to a second image data group, then said display controlling means causes said pointer holding means to hold the pointer information of predetermined image data item from said first image data group associating with said first image data group, while retrieving the pointer information for said second image data group from said pointer holding means in order to display anew the image data item pointed to by the retrieved pointer information. 
 
     
     
       2. An image data display controlling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said operation inputting means comprises picture data switching operation inputting means for accepting an operation input for switching said picture data items on an item by item basis, and 
 wherein a plurality of picture groups are displayed so as to arrange picture groups which have the same location information on one direction. 
 
     
     
       3. An image data display controlling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said operation inputting means comprises picture data switching operation inputting means for accepting an operation input for switching said picture data items on an item by item basis, 
 wherein picture groups are obtained by sorting said picture data items according to the location information and time information of which the picture data was acquired, and 
 wherein each picture group is displayed using at least the location information and time information used in sorting said picture items. 
 
     
     
       4. An image data display controlling according to  claim 1 , wherein
 display controlling means updates the picture resume pointer for an old picture group and references the picture resume pointer for a new picture group when a transition is made from picture group to another for picture data display. 
 
     
     
       5. An image data display controlling according to  claim 1 , wherein
 display controlling means updates the folder resume pointer for an old picture group array and references the folder resume pointer for a new picture group array when a transition is made from one picture group array to another for a selection of the picture group. 
 
     
     
       6. An image data display controlling method comprising the steps of:
 storing a plurality of image data items categorized by a plurality of image data groups using geographical location; 
 accepting an operation input for designating any of said image data groups or any of the image data items in the designated image group; 
 controlling of a display of designated image data group or designated image data item in the designated image data group; 
 holding a pointer information for identifying image data item associating with a image data group, the pointer information is used for controlling to display the image data item in the designated image data group when a transition of image data group is instructed by the operation input; 
 wherein, if said operation input designates transition from a first image data group to a second image data group, then said controlling of a display causes said pointer information to hold information of predetermined image data item from said first image data group associating with said first image data group, while retrieving information for said second image data group from said pointer information in order to display anew the image data item pointed to by the retrieved information. 
 
     
     
       7. An image data display controlling method according  claim 6 , wherein
 said operation input comprises picture data switching operation input for accepting an operation input for switching said picture data items on an item by item basis, and 
 wherein a plurality of picture groups are displayed so as to arrange picture groups which have the same location information on one direction. 
 
     
     
       8. An image data display controlling method according  claim 6 , wherein
 said operation input comprises picture data switching operation input for accepting an operation input for switching said picture data items on an item by item basis, 
 wherein picture groups are obtained by sorting said picture data items according to the location information and time information of which the picture data was acquired, and 
 wherein each picture group is displayed using at least the location information and time information used in sorting said picture items. 
 
     
     
       9. An image data display controlling method according  claim 6 , wherein
 controlling of a display updates the picture resume pointer for an old picture group and references the picture resume pointer for a new picture group when a transition is made from picture group to another for picture data display. 
 
     
     
       10. An image data display controlling apparatus according  claim 6 , wherein
 controlling of a display updates the folder resume pointer for an old picture group array and references the folder resume pointer for a new picture group array when a transition is made from one picture group array to another for a selection of the picture group. 
 
     
     
       11. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium that stores program code executable for performing operations comprising:
 storing a plurality of image data items categorized by a plurality of image data groups using geographical location; 
 accepting an operation input for designating any of said image data groups or any of the image data items in the designated image group; 
 controlling of a display of designated image data group or designated image data item in the designated image data group; 
 holding a pointer information for identifying image data item associating with a image data group, the pointer information is used for controlling to display the image data item in the designated image data group when a transition of image data group is instructed by the operation input; 
 wherein, if said operation input designates transition from a first image data group to a second image data group, then said controlling of a display causes said pointer information to hold information of predetermined image data item from said first image data group associating with said first image data group, while retrieving information for said second image data group from said pointer information in order to display anew the image data item pointed to by the retrieved information. 
 
     
     
       12. A computer program product according to  claim 11 , wherein
 said operation input comprises picture data switching operation input for accepting an operation input for switching said picture data items on an item by item basis, and 
 wherein a plurality of picture groups are displayed so as to arrange picture groups which have the same location information on one direction. 
 
     
     
       13. A computer program product according to  claim 11 , wherein
 said operation input comprises picture data switching operation input for accepting an operation input for switching said picture data items on an item by item basis, 
 wherein picture groups are obtained by sorting said picture data items according to the location information and time information of which the picture data was acquired, and 
 wherein each picture group is displayed using at least the location information and time information used in sorting said picture items. 
 
     
     
       14. A computer program product according to of  claim 11 , wherein
 controlling of a display updates the picture resume pointer for an old picture group and references the picture resume pointer for a new picture group when a transition is made from picture group to another for picture data display. 
 
     
     
       15. A computer program product according to  claim 11 , wherein
 controlling of a display updates the folder resume pointer for an old picture group array and references the folder resume pointer for a new picture group array when a transition is made from one picture group array to another for a selection of the picture group. 
 
     
     
       16. An image data display controlling apparatus comprising:
 a storage circuitry configured to store a plurality of image data items categorized by a plurality of image data groups using image-taking information;   an operation inputting circuitry configured to receive a selection of a selected image data group from the plurality of image data groups and a selected image data item from within the selected image data group;   a display controlling circuitry configured to control a display of the selected image data group or the selected image data item;   a pointer holding circuitry configured to hold pointer information for associating the selected image data item with the selected image data group, the pointer information being used for retaining the selected image data item in association with the selected image data group when a selection of another one of the plurality of image data groups received by the operation inputting circuitry;   wherein when the operation inputting circuitry receives a re-selection of the selected image data group after an intervening selection of the another one of the plurality of image data groups, the display controlling circuitry causes a display of the selected image data item.   
     
     
       17. The image data display controlling apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the image-taking information comprises an image-taking date and time. 
     
     
       18. The image data display controlling apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the image-taking information comprises an image-taking location. 
     
     
       19. The image data display controlling apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the pointer holding circuitry is a RAM. 
     
     
       20. The image data display controlling apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the selected image data item in the selected image data group is searched by navigation along a first direction on the display. 
     
     
       21. The image data display controlling apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the selected image data group is searched by navigation along a second direction different from the first direction on the display. 
     
     
       22. The image data display controlling apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising an image capturing device to capture the plurality of image data items. 
     
     
       23. The image data display controlling apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a clock circuit configured to generate the image-taking date and time. 
     
     
       24. The image data display controlling apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the image-taking date and time are displayed with the selected image data item on the display. 
     
     
       25. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium that stores program code executable for performing operations comprising:
 storing a plurality of image data items categorized by a plurality of image data groups using image-taking information;   receiving, by an operation inputting circuitry, a selection of a selected image data group from the plurality of image data groups and a selected image data item from within the selected image data group;   controlling, by a display controlling circuitry, a display of the selected image data group or the selected image data item;   holding pointer information for associating the selected image data item with the selected image data group, the pointer information being used for retaining the selected image data item in association with the selected image data group when a selection of another one of the plurality of image data groups received by the operation inputting circuitry;   wherein when the operation inputting circuitry receives a re-selection of the selected image data group after an intervening selection of the another one of the plurality of image data groups, the display controlling circuitry causes a display of the selected image data item.   
     
     
       26. A method of controlling image data display comprising:
 storing a plurality of image data items categorized by a plurality of image data groups using image-taking information;   receiving, by an operation inputting circuitry, a selection of a selected image data group from the plurality of image data groups and a selected image data item from within the selected image data group;   causing, by a display controlling circuitry, a display of the selected image data group or the selected image data item;   holding pointer information for associating the selected image data item with the selected image data group, the pointer information being used for retaining the selected image data item in association with the selected image data group when a selection of another one of the plurality of image data groups received by the operation inputting circuitry;   wherein when the operation inputting circuitry receives a re-selection of the selected image data group after an intervening selection of the another one of the plurality of image data groups, the display controlling circuitry displays the selected image data item.   
     
     
       27. The image data display controlling apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the selected image data item and the selected image data group are controlled to display simultaneously on the display. 
     
     
       28. The image data display controlling apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the selected image data item and the selected image data group are controlled in a transverse direction on the display. 
     
     
       29. The image data display controlling apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the selected image data group is controlled to display emphatically on the display. 
     
     
       30. The image data display controlling apparatus according to claim 16, further comprises a communication circuitry configured to communicate with another apparatus and disposed to send the plurality of image data items to the another apparatus and to receive the plurality of image data items from the another apparatus, wherein the communication circuitry includes a radio frequency circuitry and an analog-digital conversion circuitry.