Abstract:
An image accessing method is disclosed. A search query view is firstly generated in response to a first user input. A time search query is secondly received by the search query view in response to a second user input. Exifs respectively associated the images are compared with the time search query to search image(s), if any, matching the time search query. Next, entry(s) associated with the searched image(s) is generated and displayed. Then, desired entry(s) is selected and thereby is accessed.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to image capturing devices and, particularly, to a digital image capturing device and an image accessing method thereof. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A digital camera typically has a secure digital (SD) card slot available for receiving a SD card therein. Standard SD card capacities range from 8 megabytes to 4 gigabytes, therefore, a great amount of images and videos can be stored in the SD card of the digital camera. However, being limited by display size, the digital cameras commonly enable users to browse only one photo at a time. 
         [0005]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide a digital image capturing device and an image accessing method thereof, which can overcome the above-mentioned problem. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In an exemplary embodiment, an image accessing method is disclosed. A search query view is firstly generated in response to a first user input. A time search query is then received by the search query view in response to a second user input. Exchangeable image files (Exifs) respectively associated with the images are compared with the time search query to search image(s), if any, matching the time search query. Next, entry(s) associated with the searched image(s) is generated and displayed. Then, desired entry(s) is selected and thereby the corresponding image(s) is accessed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]    Many aspects of the present digital image capturing device and image accessing method can be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present digital image capturing device and image accessing method. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a digital still camera including a display panel, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a view of the display panel of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is another view of the display panel of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an image accessing method, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    Embodiments of the present digital image capturing device and image accessing method will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The digital image capturing device may be but not limited to a digital still camera (DSC) or a digital video camera. In the following described embodiments, the digital image capturing device is a DSC. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a DSC  10 , according to an exemplary embodiment, includes a storage unit  12 , a user input unit  14 , and a display panel  16 . The storage unit  12  such as a memory card may have gigabytes in capacity for storing a great number of images  122 . These images  122  are stored in conjunction with their corresponding Exifs  124 . Each of the Exifs  124  may record parameters of a corresponding image such as timestamp, ISO value, aperture value, shutter speed, focal length, flash status, and scene. The timestamp is time information about when the associated image is captured. The user input unit  14  such as a keypad is configured for inputting. The display panel  16 , such as a liquid crystal display panel, is configured for displaying information thereon. The user input unit  14  and the display panel  16  thereby constitute a user interface  18  for accessing desired image(s). In this embodiment, the input unit  14  and the display panel  16  are integrated into a touch screen, i.e., the user interface  18  is a touch screen. For the purpose of miniaturization, the size of the display panel  16  within the user interface  18  is typically small, e.g., smaller than 2.5 inch. 
         [0014]    In addition to the storage unit  12 , the user input unit  14 , and the display panel  16 , the DSC  10  further includes an accessing system  20 . The accessing system  20  includes a view generating unit  22 , a searching unit  24 , and a selecting unit  26 . In this embodiment, various components of the accessing system  20 , such as the view generating unit  22 , the searching unit  24 , and the selecting unit  26  are realized as instructions  126  and stored in the storage unit  12 . These instructions  126  may be written by a variety of programming languages such as C, C++, Java, Visual Basic and many others. The DSC  10  typically includes a micro control unit (MCU)  30 . When the accessing system  20  is activated, the instructions  126  are loaded into the MCU  30  and executed to function as the described view generating unit  22 , searching unit  24 , and selecting unit  26 . It should be understood that the components of the accessing system  20  is not limited by this embodiment, but can be individual chips or integrated into one chip. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the view generating unit  22  is configured for generating a search query view  42  on the display panel  16  in response to a first user input, e.g., a touch on a predetermined area of the display panel  16 . This search query view  42  is configured for receiving a time search query corresponding to a second user input, e.g., symbols and numerical inputs. In particular, the search query view  42  may be a pop-up window in the display panel  16 , including two fields  422 . The fields  422  are capable of receiving sub-queries respectively and complete the time search query. For example, sub-queries, e.g., “&gt;20070304” and “&lt;20070319” are inputted, and form a time search query for searching image(s), for example, images captured between Mar. 4, 2007 and Mar. 19, 2007. It should be understood that the search query view  42  is flexible and can have different layouts. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the searching unit  24  is configured for searching image(s), if any, whose timestamp(s) match the time search query, and subsequently triggering the view generating unit  22  to display a list view  44  over the search query view  42 . The list view  44  is configured for listing entry(s)  442  associated with the matched image(s). More specifically, the searching unit  24  compares the time search query with the timestamp of each image, instructs the view generating unit  22  to generate the list view  44 , and generates the entry(s)  442 , e.g., small-size icon(s), of the image(s) that satisfy the search query on the list view  44 . 
         [0017]    The selecting unit  26  is configured for selecting one or more listed entries in response to a third user input (e.g., a click or a touch on one desired entry), thereby accessing desired image(s) that is associated with the selected entry(s). The selecting unit  26  may also define a focus point on each selected entry to indicate which entry has been selected. 
         [0018]    It should be understood that image(s) taken over a short period of time are typically in the same category, e.g., family members, campus activities, or office meetings. It is common that users may want to process, e.g., delete or encrypt, the images  122  by their categories. This can be efficiently accomplished by the DSC  10 . 
         [0019]    Also referring to  FIG. 4 , an image accessing method, according to another exemplary embodiment, includes the following steps  52 - 58 . The image accessing method can be performed by, e.g., the DSC  10  after the accessing system  20  has been activated. 
         [0020]    Step  52 : presenting the search query view  42  in response to the first user input. This step can be carried out by the view generating unit  22 , and the first user input can be performed by touching/contacting a predetermined area on the display panel  16 . 
         [0021]    Step  54 : receiving the time search query in response to a second user input. This step is also carried out by the view generating unit  22 . 
         [0022]    Step  56 : searching image(s), if any, matching the search query and generating entry(s) respectively associated with the searched image(s). This step can be carried out by the searching unit  24 . In detail, after the time search query is received by the search query view  42 , the searching unit  24  starts comparing the time search query with Exifs  124  associated with the images  122 , instructs the view generating unit  22  to generate and display the list view  44  over the search query view  42 , and generating entry(s) respectively associated with the image(s) that satisfy the time search query. 
         [0023]    Step  58 : selecting desired entry(s) in response to a third user input, thereby accessing the image(s) associated with the selected entry(s). This step can be carried out by the selecting unit  26 . 
         [0024]    Step  60 : applying various manipulations, e.g., deletion or encryption, to the accessed image(s) in response to a fourth user input. These can be carried out by the MCU  30 . 
         [0025]    It will be understood that the above particular embodiments and methods are shown and described by way of illustration only. The principles and the features of the present invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. The above-described embodiments illustrate the scope of the invention but do not restrict the scope of the invention.