Image processing apparatus and control method therefor

Abstract

In an image processing apparatus which can store a pickuped image file in a new folder, the user's convenience is improved, and the creation of unnecessary folders is suppressed. If a preset condition for the creation of a new folder is satisfied, a new folder is created when a next shooting instruction is issued (S 125 ). Creating a new folder when a shooting is actually performed prevents the creation of an empty folder. In addition, since a folder creation condition can be set in advance, there is no need to execute a sequence of creating a folder for every shooting.

1 . An image processing apparatus which records an image file obtained by a shooting in a folder in a recording medium, comprising: 
 save destination determination unit adapted to determine a save destination folder for an image file will be obtained by a next shooting from an existing folder in the recording medium and a new folder which does not exist in the recording medium on the basis of a preset new folder creation condition;    folder creation unit adapted to create a new folder in the recording medium when an instruction for the next shooting is issued and the save destination is the new folder; and    recording unit adapted to record an image file obtained in response to the instruction for the next shooting in the save destination determined by said save destination determination unit.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the new folder creation condition includes a mandatory creation request for mandatorily creating a new folder at the time of a next shooting, and    said save destination determination unit determines the new folder as the save destination when the new folder creation condition is the mandatory creation request.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising input unit adapted to allow designation of the mandatory creation request by single operation.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the mandatory creation request is set through a menu window provided by the image processing apparatus.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the new folder creation condition includes a creation request due to a change of date and time which creates a new folder when a condition associated with a lapse of date and time with respect to a preset reference date and time or a calendar is satisfied, and    said save destination determination unit determines the new folder as the save destination when the new folder creation condition is the creation request due to the change of date and time, and the creation request due to the change of date and time is satisfied.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the preset reference date and time are either latest shooting date and time stored in the image processing apparatus or shooting date and time of a latest pickuped image file of image files existing in the recording medium.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the preset reference date and time are older date and time of latest shooting date and time stored in the image processing apparatus and shooting date and time of a latest pickuped image file of image files existing in the recording medium.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said save destination determination unit regards that a date has changed with reference to a preset time different from 0:00 a.m. when determining whether the creation request due to the change of date and time is satisfied.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said save destination determination unit determines one of the existing folders as the save destination when a new folder cannot be created in the recording medium, regardless of whether the new folder should be determined as the save destination.  
   
   
       10 . A control method for an image processing apparatus which records an image file obtained by a shooting in a folder in a recording medium, comprising: 
 a save destination determination step of determining a save destination folder for an image file will be obtained by a next shooting from an existing folder in the recording medium and a new folder which does not exist in the recording medium on the basis of a preset new folder creation condition;    a folder creation step of creating a new folder in the recording medium when an instruction for the next shooting is issued and the save destination is the new folder; and    a recording step of recording an image file. obtained in response to the instruction for the next shooting in the save destination determined in the save destination determination step.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein 
 the new folder creation condition includes a mandatory creation request for mandatorily creating a new folder at the time of a next shooting, and    in the save destination determination step, the new folder is determined as the save destination when the new folder creation condition is the mandatory creation request.    
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 the image processing apparatus further includes input unit for allowing designation of the mandatory creation request by single operation, and    in the save destination determination step, when operation of the input unit is performed, the new folder is determined as the save destination.    
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the mandatory creation request is set through a menu window provided by the image processing apparatus.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein 
 the new folder creation condition includes a creation request due to a change of date and time which creates a new folder when a condition associated with a lapse of date and time with respect to a preset reference date and time or a calendar is satisfied, and    in the save destination determination step, the new folder is determined as the save destination when the new folder creation condition is the creation request due to the change of date and time, and the creation request due to the change of date and time is satisfied.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the preset reference date and time are either latest shooting date and time stored in the image processing apparatus or shooting date and time of a latest pickuped image file of image files existing in the recording medium.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the preset reference date and time are older date and time of latest shooting date and time stored in the image processing apparatus and shooting date and time of a latest pickuped image file of image files existing in the recording medium.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein in save destination determination step, it is regarded that a date has changed with reference to a preset time different from 0:00 a.m. when determining whether the creation request due to the change of date and time is satisfied.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein in the save destination determination step, one of the existing folders, is determined as the save destination when a new folder cannot be created in the recording medium, regardless of whether the new folder should be determined as the save destination.  
   
   
       19 . An image processing apparatus which records an image file obtained by a shooting in a folder in a recording medium, comprising: 
 save destination determination unit adapted to determine a save destination folder for an image file will be obtained by a next shooting from an existing folder in the recording medium and a new folder which does not exist in the recording medium; and    notification unit adapted to notify that the save destination folder is determined as a new folder, when the save destination folder is determined as the new folder.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 folder creation unit adapted to create a new folder in the recording medium when an instruction for the next shooting is issued and the save destination is the new folder; and    recording unit adapted to record an image file obtained in response to the instruction for the next shooting in the save destination determined by said save destination determination unit.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said notification unit performs the notification by performing display which indicates that the new folder is created at the time of a next shooting.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said notification unit notifies that the new folder is created.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein said notification unit notifies creation of the new folder by eliminating an indication indicating that the new folder is created at the time of a next shooting.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising detection unit adapted to detect a change of a shooting mode, 
 wherein when a change of the shooting mode is detected, said notification unit highlights an indication indicating that the new folder is created at the time of a next shooting more than when a change of the shooting mode is not detected.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein when a change of the shooting mode is detected, said notification unit blinks an indication indicating that the new folder is created at the time of a next shooting, displays the indication in a size larger than that when a change of the shooting mode is not detected, or displays the indication in a more noticeable color.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein 
 said save destination determination unit determines the save destination folder as the new folder when a preset new folder creation condition is satisfied, and    said notification unit changes a method of displaying that the new folder is created at the time of a next shooting, in accordance with a type of the satisfied new folder creation condition.    
   
   
       27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the method of displaying is changed depending on whether the satisfied new folder creation condition is a creation condition set by a user or another type of creation condition.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein 
 said save destination determination unit determines that the save destination folder is the new folder, when a preset new folder creation condition is satisfied, and    said notification unit displays the creation condition when the new folder creation condition is a change of date and time.    
   
   
       29 . A control method for an image processing apparatus which records an image file obtained by a shooting in a folder in a recording medium, comprising: 
 a save destination determination step of determining a save destination folder for an image file will be obtained by a next shooting from an existing folder in the recording medium and a new folder which does not exist in the recording medium; and    a notification step of notifying that the save destination folder is determined as a new folder, when the save destination folder is determined as the new folder.    
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 a folder creation step of creating a new folder in the recording medium when an instruction for the next shooting is issued and the save destination is the new folder; and    a recording step of recording an image file obtained in response to the instruction for the next shooting in the save destination determined in the save destination determination step.    
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein in the notification step, the notification is performed by performing display which indicates that the new folder is created at the time of a next shooting.  
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein in the notification step, it is notified that the new folder is created.  
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein in the notification step, creation of the new folder is notified by eliminating an indication indicating that the new folder is created at the time of a next shooting.  
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising a detection step of detecting a change of a shooting mode, 
 wherein when a change of the shooting mode is detected, in the notification step, an indication indicating that the new folder is created at the time of a next shooting is highlighted more than when a change of the shooting mode is not detected.    
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein in the notification step, when a change of the shooting mode is detected, an indication indicating that the new folder is created at the time of a next shooting is blinked, the indication is displayed in a size larger than that when a change of the shooting mode is not detected, or the indication is displayed in a more noticeable color.  
   
   
       36 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein 
 in the save destination determination step, the save destination folder is determined as the new folder when a preset new folder creation condition is satisfied, and    in the notification step, a method of displaying that the new folder is created at the time of a next shooting is changed in accordance with a type of the satisfied new folder creation condition.    
   
   
       37 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the method of displaying is changed depending on whether the satisfied new folder creation condition is a creation condition set by a user or another type of creation condition.  
   
   
       38 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein 
 in the save destination determination step, it is determined that the save destination folder is the new folder, when a preset new folder creation condition is satisfied, and    in the notification step, the creation condition is displayed when the new folder creation condition is a change of date and time.    
   
   
       39 . An image processing apparatus which records an image file obtained by a shooting in a folder in a recording medium, comprising: 
 save destination determination unit adapted to determine that a save destination folder for an image file will be obtained by a next shooting is an existing folder in the recording medium when no preset change of date and time has occurred, and is a new folder which does not exist in the recording medium when the preset change of date and time has occurred;    folder creation unit adapted to create a new folder in the recording medium when an instruction for the next shooting is issued and the save destination is the new folder; and    recording unit adapted to record an image file obtained in response to an instruction for the next shooting in a save destination folder determined by said save destination determination unit    wherein when the preset change of date and time occurs during a sequenced image shooting, said save destination determination unit determines an existing folder in the recording medium as the save destination folder until the sequenced image shooting is complete.    
   
   
       40 . The apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein said save destination determination unit determines occurrence/non occurrence of the preset change of date and time on the basis of preset latest shooting date and time and current date and time.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the latest shooting date and time are a shooting time of a latest pickuped image when the image is not included in sequenced images, and are a shooting time of a first image when the image is included in sequenced images.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the latest shooting date and time are a shooting time of a latest pickuped image of image files existing in the recording medium when the image is not included in sequenced images, and are a shooting time of a first image when the image is included in sequenced images.  
   
   
       43 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the latest shooting date and time are older date and time of data and time at which the image processing apparatus performed a latest shooting and shooting date and time of a latest pickuped image file of image files existing in the recording medium.  
   
   
       44 . The apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the sequenced images are images obtained in a continuous shooting mode or an auto bracketing mode.  
   
   
       45 . A control method for an image processing apparatus which records an image file obtained by a shooting in a folder in a recording medium, comprising: 
 a save destination determination step of determining that a save destination folder for an image file will be obtained by a next shooting is an existing folder in the recording medium when no preset change of date and time has occurred, and is a new folder which does not exist in the recording medium when the preset change of date and time has occurred;    a folder creation step of creating a new folder in the recording medium when an instruction for the next shooting is issued and the save destination is the new folder; and    a recording step of recording an image file obtained in response to an instruction for the next shooting in a save destination folder determined in the save destination determination step    wherein when the preset change of date and time occurs during a sequenced image shooting, in the save destination determination step, an existing folder in the recording medium is determined as the save destination folder until the sequenced image shooting is complete.    
   
   
       46 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein in the save destination determination step, occurrence/non occurrence of the preset change of date and time is determined on the basis of preset latest shooting date and time and current date and time.  
   
   
       47 . The method according to  claim 46 , wherein the latest shooting date and time are a shooting time of a latest pickuped image when the image is not included in sequenced images, and are a shooting time of a first image when the image is included in sequenced images.  
   
   
       48 . The method according to  claim 46 , wherein the latest shooting date and time are a shooting time of a latest pickuped image of image files existing in the recording medium when the image is not included in sequenced images, and are a shooting time of a first image when the image is included in sequenced images.  
   
   
       49 . The method according to  claim 46 , wherein the latest shooting date and time are older date and time of data and time at which the image processing apparatus performed a latest shooting and shooting date and time of a latest pickuped image file of image files existing in the recording medium.  
   
   
       50 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the sequenced images are images obtained in a continuous shooting mode or an auto bracketing mode.