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 (S125). 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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which pickups and records still and moving images and a control method therefor. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Conventionally, image processing apparatuses, which pickups still and moving images by using an image pickup device such as a CCD sensor or CMOS sensor as represented by digital cameras or digital video cameras have been widely used. In such an image processing apparatus, pickuped images are recorded as digital data files (pickuped image files). [0005] In general, pickuped image files are recorded using a file system (folder structure) using folders (directories). There has been proposed a technique of classifying pickuped image files by using folders at the time of recording operation so as to facilitate search and the like afterwards. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-333470 discloses a technique of allowing a user to select...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The present invention has been made to solve such problems in the conventional techniques. More specifically, it is the first object of the present invention to improve user's convenience and suppress the creation of unnecessary folders in an image processing apparatus which can store a pickuped image file in a new folder.

[0014] It is the second object of the present invention to allow a user to know that a new folder is to be created at the time of a next shooting in an image processing apparatus which can store a pickuped image file in a new folder.

[0015] It is the third object of the present invention to achieve automatic classification of pickuped image files so as to more satisfy the user's intention in an image processing apparatus which can facilitate classification of pickuped image files by recording them by creating a new folder.

[0018] With this arrangement, according to the present invention, in an image processing apparatus which can store a pickuped image file in a new folder, the user's convenience can be improved, and the creation of unnecessary folders can be suppressed.

[0021] In addition, with this arrangement, according to the present invention, in an image processing apparatus which can store a pickuped image file in a new folder, a user can know that a new folder is to be created at the time of a next shooting.

[0024] With this arrangement, according to the present invention, automatic classification of pickuped image files can be achieved so as to more satisfy the user's intention in an image processing apparatus which can facilitate classification of pickuped image files by recording them by creating a new folder.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, if a new folder is created and set as a recording destination and the recording destination is changed before an actual shooting, an empty, unnecessary folder is left.

Such an empty folder becomes a search target when a search is made for an image in the recording medium to, for example, play back the image, and hence becomes a cause for an increase in search processing time.

In addition, this folder becomes a hindrance when the user searches for a desired image, and hence also becomes a cause for deterioration in operability.

Furthermore, since the new folder designated as a recording destination does not exist in the newly loaded recording medium, a pickuped image file cannot be recorded in the desired folder.

Although these conventional techniques can display the information of created folders and directories, they cannot notify a user of a state wherein a new folder is to be created in conjunction with shooting operation.

For this reason, even if a camera automatically changes the save destination for a pickuped image to a new folder or new directory, the user cannot know it, resulting in difficulty in performing image search processing or the like.

In addition, the above conventional techniques are not designed to display the state of a camera.

Therefore, the user cannot know the timing at which the camera automatically creates a new folder or new directory.

For this reason, it is difficult to change settings as needed and construct a desired folder structure or directory structure.

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