Information processing apparatus

Abstract

An information processing apparatus provides improved expressive capability during presentations. Image, sound, memo information and other related input data that are recorded in an electronic camera are set to be reproduced in a predetermined order. When reproducing information that is set, images are displayed on a liquid crystal display that is part of an electronic camera and, in addition, similar images can be displayed on a separate monitor connected to the electronic camera. If it is desired to provide supplementary information during a presentation with the electronic camera, such supplementary information may be overlaid on any arbitrary section of the image being displayed using a pen type pointing device, for example. Furthermore, the supplementary overlaid information may be erased independently from other recorded information as needed because the supplementary information is stored in a different area of memory from the image and memo information.

1 . An information processing apparatus comprising: 
 a first memory area in which image information is stored;    an input device by which line-drawing information is input;    a second memory area in which said line-drawing information input with said input device is stored;    a controller that reproduces the image information from the first memory area and overlays said line-drawing information input with said input device and said image information to produce an image signal; and    an output by which said image signal is output from said apparatus.    
     
     
         2 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a third memory area in which text information is stored, and wherein    said controller overlays said line-drawing information, said image information and said text information.    
     
     
         3 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said controller includes an erasing mode in which said line-drawing information stored in said second memory area is erased without erasing said image information stored in said first memory area or said text information stored in said third memory area.  
     
     
         4 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said controller includes an erasing mode in which said line-drawing information stored in said second memory area is erased without erasing said image information stored in said first memory area.  
     
     
         5 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said input device includes a pen type pointing device and a touch tablet.    
     
     
         6 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a display device on said apparatus, and wherein: 
 said controller displays said image information as a plurality of thumb nail images on said display device, and    said controller displays an overlaid line-drawing information symbol on said display device adjacent one of said thumb nail images when said controller has overlaid said line-drawing information with a portion of said image information represented by said one of said thumb nail images.    
     
     
         7 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first memory area and said second memory area are provided on a memory card that is detachably connected to said apparatus.  
     
     
         8 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first memory area and said second memory area are distinct portions of a single, partitioned memory.  
     
     
         9 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is an electronic camera having a shooting lens and an image conversion device that converts a light image to electronic images, said electronic images being stored in said first memory area as said image information.  
     
     
         10 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said output includes an output jack.  
     
     
         11 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a frame memory, and wherein said controller overlays said line-drawing information and said reproduced image information in said frame memory.  
     
     
         12 . An information processing apparatus comprising: 
 first memory means for storing image information;    reproduction means for reproducing said image information stored in said first memory means;    input means for inputting line-drawing information;    second memory means for storing said line-drawing information input with said input means;    overlay means for overlaying said line-drawing information input with said input means and said image information reproduced by said reproduction means; and    output means for outputting an image signal produced by said overlay means.    
     
     
         13 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 third memory means for storing text information, and wherein    said overlay means overlays said line-drawing information, said image information and said text information.    
     
     
         14 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 13 , further including: 
 erasing means for erasing said line-drawing information stored in said second memory means without erasing said image information stored in said first memory means or said text information stored in said third memory means.    
     
     
         15 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 12 , further including: 
 erasing means for erasing said line-drawing information stored in said second memory means without erasing said image information stored in said first memory means.    
     
     
         16 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said input means includes a pen type pointing device and a touch tablet.    
     
     
         17 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising display means on said apparatus, and wherein: 
 said image information is represented as a plurality of thumb nail images on said display means, and    an overlaid line-drawing information symbol is displayed on said display means adjacent one of said thumb nail images when said overlay means has overlaid said line-drawing information with a portion of said image information represented by said one of said thumb nail images.    
     
     
         18 . A method of processing information with an information processing apparatus, said method including the steps of: 
 storing image information in a first memory area;    reproducing said image information stored in said first memory area;    inputting line-drawing information;    storing said line-drawing information in a second memory area;    overlaying said line-drawing information with said image information; and    outputting an image signal comprising said image information overlaid with said line-drawing information.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further including the step of: 
 erasing said line-drawing information overlaid on said image information without affecting said image information.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , further including the steps of: 
 storing text information in a third memory area, and    overlaying said line-drawing information with said image information and said text information.    
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further including the step of: 
 erasing said line-drawing information overlaid on said image information and said text information without affecting said image information or said text information.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said method is performed in an electronic camera, and said image information stored in said first memory area originating from a shooting lens of said electronic camera.