Abstract: This invention enables an intention of a photographer to be reflected with greater accuracy in image processing based on actions performed by the photographer when taking an image. Based on user information acquired by a user information acquisition section, supplementary information such as whether a composition flag is on or off and assignment of an image classification is recorded with an image. Based on the supplementary information, various types of image processing such as setting an image trimming range, imparting an effect, and arranging an image on a mount are performed.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus or reproducing apparatus which allows a user to easily obtain a desirable sound and image is provided.

Abstract: An image displaying system for displaying an image operable to change a displayed image according to a direction of a image displaying apparatus, including: an image storing unit storing thereon the image; a displaying unit operable to display the image, the displaying unit being carried by a user; a photographing unit operable to photograph exterior as a plurality of photographed images, the photographing unit being carried with the displaying unit all together; a travel distance computing unit operable to compute a travel distance of the displaying unit by analyzing the plurality of photographed images which are photographed by the photographing unit at different times; and a display control unit operable to change the image, which is different from the photographed images, based on the travel distance computed by the travel distance computing unit and to causes the displaying unit to display the image.

Abstract: A face image in which a user's face turns to a direction different from the front is picked up clearly and individual authentication is executed more precisely. An authentication system for executing authentication of a user is provided, wherein the authentication system comprises a first image pickup unit for picking up a face image of the user; a second image pickup unit for picking up a face image of the user from a direction different from that of the first image pickup unit, a direction calculation unit for acquiring a direction to which the user's face turns on the basis of the face images picked up by the first and the second image pickup units, and a selection unit for selecting at least one of the face images picked up by the first and second image pickup units on the basis of the direction to which the user's face turns.

Abstract: In a slideshow which reproduces a content associated with comment information, the reproduction timing of the content can be controlled according to the reproduction timing of the comment information. In a reproduction table, the following are associated with each other: reproduction order; image-document combinations indicated by an image (or the identification information of the image, such as a JPEG file name) and a document (or the identification information of the document, such as a TXT file name); the number of characters in the document; and reproduction time of the image and the document identified by the identification information of the image and the document, respectively. The greater the number of characters the document has, the longer the reproduction time the image associated with the document has. Not every image needs to be associated with the document. For example, basic reproduction time of 5 seconds is assigned to image No. 3.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an object processing apparatus, comprising: a connecting unit which connects to one or more external information terminals; an input unit which accepts input of a desired object manipulation among predetermined one or more kinds of object manipulations corresponding to a particular object from an information terminal connected via the connecting unit; a processing unit which processes a desired object based on a kind of an object manipulation accepted by the input unit; a usage environment identifying unit which identifies a usage environment of an information terminal connected via the connecting unit; and an input control unit which restricts, in accordance with a usage environment of an information terminal identified by the usage environment identifying unit, a kind of an object manipulation that the input unit can accept from the information terminal.

Abstract: A contents display device configured to enable one or more users to perform screen operations of an application, comprises: a plurality of operating units respectively that executes operations of a screen; a contents storing unit that stores contents to be displayed on the screen; an operation information acquiring unit that acquires operation information related to an operating situation of each operating unit by the one or more users; a screen dividing unit that divides the screen based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquiring unit; a display unit that displays contents stored in the contents storing unit based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquiring unit on the screen divided by the screen dividing unit; and a process executing unit that executes operations performed by each operating unit.

Abstract: The synthesized image generation method for generating synthesized image data by extracting face images of characters contained in image data and synthesizing the extracted face images with a template into a plurality of synthesis positions which have been set in advance on the template, the method comprising the steps of: forming groups of the synthesis positions by combining the adjacent synthesis positions; determining an order of the groups according to number of synthesis positions belonging to each of the groups; detecting the face images of the characters contained in the image data; detecting a relationship between the detected face images; distributing the face images to the groups in the determined order according to the relationship between the face images; and generating the synthesized image data by synthesizing the distributed face images with the template into the synthesis positions of the groups.

Abstract: The image layout device configured to enable users to lay out images includes a layout data storing unit configured to store layout data sets that specify image arrangement regions for laying out the images, a layout selecting unit configured to automatically select the layout data set from the layout data storing unit based on a number of the users, an image storing unit configured to store images, one or more position instructing unit configured to select an image to be arranged based on the selected layout data set from stored images, and provide an instruction regarding an arrangement location with respect to the layout data set for the selected image and a layout processing unit configured to determine whether or not an instruction from the instructing unit is executable and, if it is executable, arrange the selected image in accordance with the selected layout data set.

Abstract: The image capturing apparatus instructs a user to take an image of a type not stored among types of images necessary for making an album.

Abstract: A size of a region to be allocated to an image layout date is bigger than a size of a region to be allocated to a date other than the image layout date (image-not-layout date). An image to be allocated to the image layout date is enlarged so that a size of the image matches a size of an allocation region allocated to the image layout date, and the enlarged images is laid. Characters indicating the dates are arranged to regions allocated to previous dates, the image layout date, and following dates. Accordingly, a calendar with an attractive appearance can be generated by altering the layout of the dates and information to be output, even if a user has taken photographs on not so many days in the unit such as a month or a week.

Abstract: The content processing apparatus and method perform an operation instruction for contents by using at least one operation unit, allocate corresponding pattern identification information to an operation pattern of the at least one operation unit, store the operation pattern and the pattern identification information allocated to the operation pattern related to each other, acquire, when the operation instruction is performed, the pattern identification information based on the operation pattern of the operation instruction and the stored operation pattern and execute processing of the contents based on the operation instruction.

Abstract: An output apparatus for outputting sounds associated with the captured images without boring sound repetitions with image repetitions. The image output apparatus has an image storage section storing a plurality of captured images, an image output control section controlling an image output section to output the stored images, a sound output control section selecting and causing a sound storage section storing a plurality of recorded sounds to output a first sound stored in the sound storage section when the image output section first outputs a particular image or particular images, and when the image output section outputs the particular image or particular images at a subsequent time, selecting and causing the output of a sound different from the first sound to reduce possible user boredom.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus for generating a visual field image seen from a photographed person who is photographed in at least one part of plural two-dimensional images, based on the plural two-dimensional images captured by plural image capturing apparatuses, comprises a photographed person's position detector for detecting a position of the photographed person, based on at least two of the plural two-dimensional images; a photographed person's direction detector for detecting a face direction of the photographed person; a three-dimensional information generating section for generating three-dimensional information of space that is photographed, based on at least two of the two-dimensional images; and an image generating section for generating the visual field image seen from the position of the photographed person along the face direction, based on the three-dimensional information, the position of the photographed person, and the face direction of the photographed person.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus for generating a visual field image seen from a photographed person who is photographed in at least one part of plural two-dimensional images, based on the plural two-dimensional images captured by plural image capturing apparatuses, comprises a photographed person's position detector for detecting a position of the photographed person, based on at least two of the plural two-dimensional images; a photographed person's direction detector for detecting a face direction of the photographed person; a three-dimensional information generating section for generating three-dimensional information of space that is photographed, based on at least two of the two-dimensional images; and an image generating section for generating the visual field image seen from the position of the photographed person along the face direction, based on the three-dimensional information, the position of the photographed person, and the face direction of the photographed person.

Abstract: A collation system for selecting a registrant matched with a passer-by among a plurality of registrants registered in advance includes a photographing section for photographing the passer-by, a candidate searching section for searching a plurality of candidates for the registrant matched with the passer-by among the plurality of registrants based on a first image of the passer-by photographed by the photographing section, and a passer-by collating section for selecting the registrant matched with the passer-by among the plurality of candidates based on a second image of the passer-by photographed by the photographing section when the passer-by is closer to the photographing section than when the first image is photographed.

Abstract: A partial image identifying section extracts objects from an inputted image inputted by an image inputting section, and identifies types of the objects. A characteristic information generating section generates characteristic information of each object on the basis of a characteristic amount computed for each object. A plurality of partial image databases are provided for the respective types of objects. For each object, a degree of similarity computing section computes, on the basis of both characteristic information, degrees of similarity with all objects registered in the partial image database which corresponds to the type of the object. A photographing time period specifying section specifies a photographing time period, from the respective degrees of similarity computed by the degree of similarity computing section. A registering section registers extracted objects in association with the specified photographing time period, in the databases of the types corresponding to the objects.

Abstract: The sense of contrast perceived by a viewer of an image is quantified and adequate image processing is carried out on image data based on the sense of contrast. Contrast-sense quantification means generates unsharp image data of the image data and then generates a histogram of the unsharp image data. Since the histogram of the image data includes lightness information of details of the image, a distribution width thereof does not represent the contrast perceived by the viewer of the image as a whole. However, since the histogram of the unsharp image data excludes information of the details, a distribution width of the unsharp image data represents the contrast of the overall image. The distribution width of the histogram of the unsharp image data is found as the sense of contrast and input to processing means. In the processing means, tone conversion processing is carried out on the image data by changing a tone conversion LUT based on the sense of contrast, and processed image data are obtained.

Abstract: Photography can be assisted at the time of photography with a digital camera. A base station stores photography assistance information such as a map around the base station, a sightseeing spot or an event site, a photography point therein, and an explanation of the photography point. Communication means of the digital camera accesses the base station and receives photography information comprising the various kinds of photography assistance information. The photography information is displayed on a liquid crystal display monitor and a photographer carries out photography by selecting a desired kind of the photography assistance information representing the sightseeing spot or the event site around the base station from the photography information. The selected photography assistance information is added to image data obtained by photography and recorded in a memory card.

Abstract: The image playback device includes: an image database storing, in association with one another, specific places in a predetermined region, photographed images relating to the specific places, position information of photographed places of the photographed images, and photographing time period information of the photographed images; a display section displaying the specific places; a selecting section for selecting a specific place; an operation section for instructing display, in the order of the eras, of the photographed images relating to the specific place selected by the selecting section; and a display control section which, in accordance with operation of the operation section, reads-out the photographed images relating to the specific place from the image database in the order of the eras, and displays the photographed images at the display section.