Information processing apparatus

Abstract

Thumbnail images are promptly created while reducing the required memory capacity for storing the thumbnail images. When input (of an image or a command) is not completed in more than a prescribed time period, only the picture images photographed on that day from among the photo-images stored in a memory are read to create thumbnail images. The created thumbnail images are stored in a buffer memory. When set to the reproduction mode, the thumbnail images stored in the buffer memory are read and displayed on a screen in a list format. Furthermore, when the power is in the OFF position, the thumbnail images stored in the buffer memory can be deleted.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An information processing apparatus comprising: 
 storage means for storing at least one picture image;    thumbnail image creation means for reducing by a fixed ratio the at least one picture image stored in the storage means to create at least one thumbnail image;    control means for controlling the thumbnail image creation means; and    output means for outputting to a display the at least one thumbnail image created by the thumbnail image creation means.    
     
     
         2 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control means controls the thumbnail image creation means to create only as many of the thumbnail images as can be simultaneously displayed on one screen of the display.  
     
     
         3 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control means controls the thumbnail image creation means to create as many of the thumbnail images as can be simultaneously displayed on one screen of the display and a prescribed number of additional thumbnail images to be newly displayed on the screen when the screen of said display is scrolled by the prescribed number of images.  
     
     
         4 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control means controls the thumbnail image creation means to create the at least one thumbnail image a prescribed time after the image is stored.  
     
     
         5 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control means controls the thumbnail image creation means to create the at least one thumbnail image when the apparatus enters a reproduction mode in which the at least one picture image stored in the storage means is reproduced.  
     
     
         6 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control means controls the thumbnail image creation means to create the at least one thumbnail image when a power switch of the apparatus is switched to the ON position.  
     
     
         7 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control means controls the thumbnail image creation means to create one or more thumbnail images that are to be newly displayed on the screen when the screen of the display is scrolled.  
     
     
         8 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control means controls the thumbnail image creation means to create the at least one thumbnail image when a prescribed operation does not occur after a prescribed time period.  
     
     
         9 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control means controls the thumbnail image creation means to create the at least one thumbnail image in order starting with either the newest or the oldest recording date and time of the at least one picture image.  
     
     
         10 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control means controls the thumbnail image creation means to create the at least one thumbnail image in the order that thumbnail images are displayed on the display.  
     
     
         11 . The information processing apparatus of claims  1 , further comprising secondary recording means for recording the at least one thumbnail image created by the thumbnail image creation means; and wherein the control means erases the at least one thumbnail image recorded in the secondary recording means when the apparatus is changed from a reproduction mode, in which the apparatus reproduces the at least one picture image stored in the storage means, to a recording mode in which information is stored in the storage means.  
     
     
         12 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising secondary recording means for recording the at least one thumbnail image that was created by the thumbnail image creation means; and wherein the control means erases the at least one thumbnail image recorded in the secondary recording means when a power switch of the apparatus is switched to the OFF position.  
     
     
         13 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display simultaneously displays the at least one thumbnail image and additional information that is related to the picture image from which the at least one thumbnail image was created.  
     
     
         14 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is an electronic camera, the apparatus further comprising: 
 photographing means for photographing objects to produce the at least one picture image; and    recording means for recording the at least one picture image produced by the photographing means in the storage means.    
     
     
         15 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is operable in a successive photo mode in which the object is photographed successively to produce a series of the picture images, and wherein the control means prohibits the creation of the thumbnail images during successive photography and controls the thumbnail image creation means to create thumbnail images subsequent to completing the successive photography.  
     
     
         16 . An information processing apparatus comprising: 
 a memory in which at least one picture image is stored;    a thumbnail image generator coupled to the memory to generate at least one thumbnail image by reducing the at least one picture image stored in the memory by a fixed ratio;    a controller coupled to the thumbnail generator to control the thumbnail generator; and    a display coupled to the thumbnail generator to display the at least one thumbnail image generated by the thumbnail generator.    
     
     
         17 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the controller controls the thumbnail generator to generate only as many of the thumbnail images as can be simultaneously displayed on one screen of the display.  
     
     
         18 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the controller controls the thumbnail generator to generate as many of the thumbnail images as can be simultaneously displayed on one screen of the display and a prescribed number of additional thumbnail images to be newly displayed on the screen when the screen of said display is scrolled by the prescribed number of images.  
     
     
         19 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the controller controls the thumbnail generator to generate the at least one thumbnail image a prescribed time after the image is stored in the memory.  
     
     
         20 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the controller controls the thumbnail generator to generate the at least one thumbnail image when the apparatus enters a reproduction mode in which the at least one picture image stored in the memory is reproduced.  
     
     
         21 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the controller controls the thumbnail generator to generate the at least one thumbnail image when a power switch of the apparatus is switched to the ON position.  
     
     
         22 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the controller controls the thumbnail generator to generate one or more thumbnail images that are to be newly displayed on the screen when the screen of the display is scrolled.  
     
     
         23 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the controller controls the thumbnail generator to generate the at least one thumbnail image when a prescribed operation does not occur after a prescribed time period.  
     
     
         24 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the controller controls the thumbnail generator to generate the at least one thumbnail image in order starting with either the newest or the oldest recording date and time of the at least one picture image.  
     
     
         25 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the controller controls the thumbnail generator to generate the at least one thumbnail image in the order that thumbnail images are displayed on the display.  
     
     
         26 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a buffer memory in which the at least one thumbnail image generated by the thumbnail generator is stored; and wherein the controller erases the at least one thumbnail image recorded in the buffer memory when the apparatus is changed from a reproduction mode, in which the apparatus reproduces the at least one picture image stored in the memory, to a recording mode in which information is stored in the memory.  
     
     
         27 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a buffer memory in which the at least one thumbnail image that was generated by the thumbnail image generator is stored; and wherein the controller erases the at least one thumbnail image recorded in the buffer memory when a power switch of the apparatus is switched to the OFF position.  
     
     
         28 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the display simultaneously displays the at least one thumbnail image and additional information that is related to the picture image from which the at least one thumbnail image was generated.  
     
     
         29 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is an electronic camera, the apparatus further comprising: 
 photographing system that photographs objects to produce the at least one picture image; and    a memory controller coupled to the memory to record the at least one picture image produced by the photographing system in the memory.    
     
     
         30 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the apparatus is operable in a successive photo mode in which the object is photographed successively to produce a series of the picture images, and wherein the controller prohibits the generation of the thumbnail images during successive photography and controls the thumbnail image generator to create thumbnail images subsequent to completing the successive photography.  
     
     
         31 . A method of processing information to create thumbnail images in an information processing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: 
 storing at least one picture image in memory;    creating at least one thumbnail image by reducing the at least one picture image stored in the memory by a fixed ratio;    controlling the thumbnail image creation step; and    outputting to a display the at least one thumbnail image.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the controlling step controls the thumbnail image creating step to create only as many of the thumbnail images as can be simultaneously displayed on one screen of the display.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the controlling step controls the thumbnail image creating step to create as many of the thumbnail images as can be simultaneously displayed on one screen of the display and a prescribed number of additional thumbnail images to be newly displayed on the screen when the screen of the display is scrolled by the prescribed number of images.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the controlling step controls the thumbnail image creating step to create the at least one thumbnail image a prescribed time after the image is stored in the memory.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the controlling step controls the thumbnail image creating step to create the at least one thumbnail image when the apparatus enters a reproduction mode in which the -at least one picture image stored in the memory is reproduced.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the controlling step controls the thumbnail image creating step to create the at least one thumbnail image when a power switch of the apparatus is switched to the ON position.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the controlling step controls the thumbnail image creating step to create one or more thumbnail images that are to be newly displayed on the screen when the screen of the display is scrolled.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the controlling step controls the thumbnail image creating step to create the at least one thumbnail image when a prescribed operation does not occur after a prescribed time period.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the controlling step controls the thumbnail image creating step to create the at least one thumbnail image in order starting with either the newest or the oldest recording date and time of the at least one picture image.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the controlling step controls the thumbnail image creating step to create the at least one thumbnail image in the order that thumbnail images are displayed on the display.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising recording the at least one thumbnail image created by the thumbnail image creating step in a buffer memory; and wherein the controlling step erases the at least one thumbnail image recorded in the buffer memory when the apparatus is changed from a reproduction mode, in which the apparatus reproduces the at least one picture image stored in the memory, to a recording mode in which information is stored in the memory.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising recording the at least one thumbnail image that was created by the thumbnail image creating step in a buffer memory; and wherein the controlling step erases the at least one thumbnail image recorded in the buffer memory when a power switch of the apparatus is switched to the OFF position.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the displaying step simultaneously displays the at least one thumbnail image and additional information that is related to the picture image from which the at least one thumbnail image was created.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the apparatus is an electronic camera, the method further comprising the steps of: 
 photographing objects to produce the at least one picture image; and    recording the at least one picture image produced during the photographing step in the memory.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the apparatus is operable in a successive photo mode in which the object is photographed successively to produce a series of the picture images, and wherein the controlling step prohibits the creation of the thumbnail images during successive photography and controls the thumbnail image creating step to create thumbnail images subsequent to completing the successive photography.