Patent Publication Number: US-8982264-B2

Title: Imaging apparatus and image communication method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-256085, filed Nov. 22, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an image communication method. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Heretofore, various suggestions have been made regarding imaging apparatuses having a function to collect and edit photographic images. For example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 3-93364 suggests editing, in accordance with a set time schedule, photographic data corresponding to each model image obtained by photographing a three-dimensional model from a given point of view and with a desired angle of field. 
     In connection with, for example, digital cameras, there has been known a technique for creating an image called a composite picture in which photographic images are combined to express a particular theme. For example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2009-237703 provides a technique that enables such a composite picture to be easily created. Images are grouped by an extraction condition input by a user, and samples of the grouped images are displayed so that images used for the composite picture can be easily searched for. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An imaging apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention comprises: a communication unit configured to acquire image data of a connection partner from an external apparatus of the imaging apparatus; a display unit configured to display an image in accordance with the acquired image data of the connection partner; a selecting unit configured to select, as a connection side, one of sides of the image displayed on the display unit; an imaging unit configured to image a subject to acquire image data to be connected to the image data of the connection partner after the connection side is selected by the selecting unit; and a control unit configured to record the image data acquired by the imaging unit in a recording unit together with information indicating the position of the connection side. 
     An image communication method according to a second aspect of the invention comprises: acquiring image data of a connection partner from an external apparatus of an imaging apparatus; displaying an image on a display unit in accordance with the acquired image data of the connection partner; selecting one of sides of the image displayed on the display unit, as a connection side, by a selecting unit; imaging a subject after the connection side is selected, to acquire image data to be connected to the image data of the connection partner. 
     Advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is the first portion of a flowchart showing the operation of an imaging apparatus; 
         FIG. 2B  is the second portion of the flowchart showing the operation of the imaging apparatus; 
         FIG. 2C  is the third portion of the flowchart showing the operation of the imaging apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  shows an example of a top screen of a site managed by an SNS server; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit after the selection of an image; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of a connection side selection guide screen; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of a divided through-image display; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of a composite picture confirmation display; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of a normal through-image display; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram showing an example of image reproduction; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing image sharing processing; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram showing an example of a communication connection destination selection screen; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram showing an example of an image joint permission selection screen; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing the operation of the SNS server; and 
         FIG. 14A ,  FIG. 14B ,  FIG. 14C , and  FIG. 14D  are diagrams illustrating image joint processing by another imaging apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The image communication system shown in  FIG. 1  includes imaging apparatuses  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d , and an SNS server  200 . The imaging apparatuses  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  are connected to the SNS server  200  to be able to communicate via a network  300 . The imaging apparatuses  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  are also connected to be able to communicate with one another. 
     For simplicity of explanation, the configuration of the imaging apparatus  100   a  is described below on the assumption that the imaging apparatuses  100   a  to  100   d  have the same configuration. In actuality, however, the imaging apparatuses  100   a  to  100   d  do not need to have exactly the same configuration. 
     The imaging apparatus  100   a  is, for example, a digital camera or a smartphone, and includes an imaging unit  102 , a display unit  104 , a recording unit  106 , a clock unit  108 , an operation unit  110 , a touch panel  112 , a communication unit  114 , and a control unit  116 . 
     The imaging unit  102  includes a photography lens  102   a  and an image pickup device  102   b . The photography lens  102   a  generates an optical image of an unshown subject, and focuses the generated optical image on the image pickup device  102   b . The driving of the photography lens  102   a  is controlled by the control unit  116  having a function as an imaging control unit  116   a . Here, the photography lens  102   a  may be an interchangeable lens configured to be removable from the body of the imaging apparatus  100   a , or may be configured to be integral with the imaging apparatus  100   a . The image pickup device  102   b  has a light-receiving surface in which photoelectric conversion elements as pixels are two-dimensionally arranged. Each of the pixels converts the image of the subject focused via the photography lens  102   a  to an electric signal (image data). 
     The display unit  104  displays various images such as an image based on image data processed by an image processing unit  116   b  of the control unit  116 . The display unit  104  comprises, for example, a liquid crystal display. 
     The recording unit  106  records an image file generated from the image data processed by the image processing unit  116   b  of the control unit  116 . The recording unit  106  is, for example, a flash memory incorporated in the imaging apparatus  100   a . The recording unit  106  may be configured to be removable from the imaging apparatus  100   a.    
     The clock unit  108  clocks various dates such as a photography date. The clock unit  108  may be incorporated in the control unit  116 . 
     The operation unit  110  includes operation components for various operations of the imaging apparatus  100   a  performed by the user. The operation components include, for example, a release button, a moving image button, and a power switch. The release button is an operation component used by the user to instruct the imaging apparatus  100   a  to start still image photography. The moving image button is an operation component used by the user to instruct the imaging apparatus  100   a  to start and end moving image photography. The power switch is an operation component used by the user to instruct the imaging apparatus  100   a  to turn on or off power. 
     The touch panel  112  is integrally formed on a display screen of the display unit  104 , and supplies the control unit  116  with information regarding a touch position of, for example, a finger of the user on the display screen. The touch panel  112  also functions as a selecting unit used by the user to select a connection side in a connection side selection guide screen described later. 
     The communication unit  114  is, for example, a wireless LAN interface, and serves as an intermediary when the imaging apparatus  100   a  communicates with the network (e.g., the Internet)  300  or the other imaging apparatuses  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d.    
     The control unit  116  controls the operation of each block of the imaging apparatus  100   a  in accordance with the operation of, for example, the operation unit  110  or the touch panel  112 . The control unit  116  has the imaging control unit  116   a , and controls lens driving (e.g., focus driving and zoom driving) of the photography lens  102   a  of the imaging unit  102 . The control unit  116  also has the image processing unit  116   b , and subjects the image data to image processing. The image processing by the image processing unit  116   b  includes various kinds of processing such as white balance correction processing and gamma correction processing necessary when an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the display unit  104  or recorded in the recording unit  106 , and also includes, for example, compression processing and decompression processing. The image processing unit  116   b  also performs processing to combine multiple image data. The control unit  116  also has a metadata changing unit  116   c , and changes metadata recorded in a header information portion of the image file. In the present embodiment, position information of a connection side, which is a side to connect (combine) each piece of image data for the generation of a composite picture, is recorded as the metadata. The metadata is recorded in, for example, an exchangeable image file format (Exif). The control unit  116  also has a display control unit  116   d , which controls the display of an image on the display unit  104 . The imaging apparatus  100   a  according to the present embodiment also has a browser function. The display control unit  116   d  also controls the start of a browser to display a Web page on the display unit  104 . The control unit  116  also has a communication control unit  116   e , and controls the communication that uses the communication unit  114 . 
     The SNS server  200  as an external apparatus of the imaging apparatus  100   a  includes a database  202 , a communication unit  204 , and a control unit  206 . The SNS server  200  has an image server function as well as a social networking service (SNS) server function. Here, previously registered members alone can access the SNS server  200 . The registered member is identified, for example, by the collation of an ID and a password input by the user with previously registered information. 
     The database  202  records image files sent to the SNS server  200  from the imaging apparatuses  100   a  to  100   d , and a composite picture image file generated by image joint processing. The database  202  also records Web page display data (HTML data). 
     The communication unit  204  is, for example, a wired LAN interface, and serves as an intermediary when the SNS server  200  communicates with and connects to the network (e.g., the Internet)  300 . 
     The control unit  206  controls the operation of each block of the SNS server  200 . The control unit  206  includes an image processing unit  206   a , and subjects the image data to image processing. The image processing by the image processing unit  206   a  is processing (image joint processing) for combining multiple image data to generate the composite picture image file. The control unit  206  also includes a Web page managing unit  206   b , and performs Web page management to, for example, send, to the imaging apparatus  100   a , a Web page corresponding to an instruction from the imaging apparatus  100   a . The control unit  206  also includes a communication control unit  206   c , which controls the communication that uses the communication unit  204 . 
     The operation of the image communication system according to the present embodiment is described below. First, the operation of the imaging apparatus is described.  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 2C  are a flowchart showing the operation of the imaging apparatus  100   a.    
     The control unit  116  determines whether an operation mode is a browser mode (step S 101 ). The imaging apparatus  100   a  has at least the browser mode, a photography mode, and a reproduction mode as the operation modes. The operation mode is set in accordance with, for example, the operation of the operation unit  110  or the touch panel  112  by the user. 
     When the operation mode is determined to be the browser mode in step S 101 , the control unit  116  starts the browser. The control unit  116  receives contents from a predetermined sever to display a homepage (step S 102 ). The following explanation continues on the assumption that the Web page of a site managed by the SNS server  200  is set as the homepage. It should be appreciated that any homepage can be set by the user. The user can also browse Web pages of other sites by inputting URLs or selecting links on the browser. This processing is a known art and its details are therefore not described. 
       FIG. 3  shows an example of a top screen of the site managed by the SNS server  200 . In the top screen shown in  FIG. 3 , a list of image files recorded in the database  202  is displayed in thumbnails with titles, as indicated by the reference number  401 . The user can select a desired image and thereby browse the selected image, or give an instruction for the image joint processing to connect another image to the selected image. It is also possible to browse, in this side, a composite picture image generated after the image joint processing. 
     The control unit  116  then determines whether an image has been selected by the user (step S 103 ). The control unit  116  puts the processing on standby until determining in step S 103  that an image has been selected. 
     When determining in step S 103  that an image has been selected, the control unit  116  requests the SNS server  200  to update the Web page (step S 104 ). The control unit  116  then determines whether the downloading of the Web page has been completed (step S 105 ). The control unit  116  waits until determining that the downloading of the Web page has been completed. When the downloading of the Web page has not been completed within a predetermined time, an error warning may be given. 
     When determining in step S 105  that the downloading of the Web page has been completed, the control unit  116  displays the downloaded Web page (step S 106 ).  FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit  104  after the selection of the image. As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the user has selected an image, a selected image  402  is displayed in a magnified form. A title  403  of the image  402  is also displayed. An image joint button  404  and a return button  405  are also displayed. The image joint button  404  and the return button  405  are software buttons selectable in the touch panel  112 . 
     After the Web page corresponding to the selected image as in  FIG. 4  is displayed, the control unit  116  determines whether the image joint button  404  has been selected by the user (step S 107 ). When determining in step S 107  that the image joint button  404  has not been selected, the control unit  116  determines whether the return button  405  has been selected by the user (step S 108 ). When determining in step S 108  that the return button  405  has not been selected by the user, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 106 . In this case, the magnified display of the selected image is continued. When determining in step S 108  that the return button  405  has not been selected by the user, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 101 . 
     When determining in step S 107  that the image joint button  404  has been selected, the control unit  116  ends the browser, and switches the operation mode to a joint photography mode (step S 109 ). The control unit  116  then requests the SNS server  200  to send size information for joint photography and thumbnail image data (connection partner image data), as an instruction to perform the image joint processing (step S 110 ). Although the sending of the thumbnail image is requested here, the sending of the selected image file may be requested. The size information here is used for the adjustment of image quality during image combination. Image quality deterioration may be permitted. When images are not combined into a belt shape, size information for image combination with a uniform width may be acquired. Images do not always need to be combined with the same width. In this case, images different in width may be arranged to produce such an effect that the images show a rhythmical impression when seen. There may be spaces between images. The spaces may change. In this case as well, size information (e.g., the number of pixels constituting the width and height of a side), if any, can be used for further arrangement refinement. Without this information, discretionary image combination is also possible. 
     The control unit  116  determines whether the receipt of the size information and the thumbnail image data for the image joint has been completed (step S 111 ). The control unit  116  then waits until determining that the receipt of the size information and the thumbnail image data has been completed. Here, the size information is information indicating the size of image data that can be uploaded onto the SNS server  200 , and is information preset in the SNS server  200 . The thumbnail image is thumbnail image data of the image selected in step S 103 . When the reception has not been completed within the predetermined time, an error warning may be given. When the sending of the size information and the thumbnail images has not been permitted in the SNS server  200 , an error warning may also be given. 
     When determining in step S 111  that the receipt of the size information and the thumbnail images has been completed, the control unit  116  displays the connection side selection guide screen (step S 112 ).  FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of the connection side selection guide screen. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a downloaded thumbnail image  406  is displayed in the connection side selection guide screen. In this case, four sides of the thumbnail image  406  to be a candidate for a connection side are, for example, blinking, and the positions of the connection side candidates are guided to the user. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a return button  407  is also displayed in the connection side selection guide screen. 
     After the display of the connection side selection guide screen, the control unit  116  determines whether a connection side has been selected by the user (step S 113 ). As shown in  FIG. 5 , the user slides a finger to trace a side which is to be a connection side among the four sides of the thumbnail image  406  displayed on the display unit  104 . When such an operation is detected by the touch panel  112 , it is determined that a connection side has been selected. Here, when a connection side has been selected, the selected side may be displayed in an enhanced state, for example, as indicated by the reference number  408 . This selection of the connection side can be further refined as information for the connection of images. Not only the position of the side to be connected but also part of the side may be specified, and a wider image may be connected along this side. This can be decided by a slide range in the touch panel. Images do not need to be strictly connected, and may be connected with a particular blank. Such a blank may be selected. The touched position may be away to give a blank. 
     When determining in step S 113  that a connection side has not been selected by the user, the control unit  116  determines whether the return button  407  has been selected by the user (step S 114 ). When determining in step S 114  that the return button  407  has not been selected by the user, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 112 . In this case, the display of the connection side selection guide screen is continued. When determining in step S 114  that the return button  407  is selected by the user, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 101 . 
     When determining in step S 114  that a connection side has been selected, the control unit  116  performs a divided through-image display (step S 115 ). As shown in  FIG. 6 , the divided through-image display is processing to display a divided through-image configured by the combination of a through-image  409  and the thumbnail image  406 . For this divided through-image display, the control unit  116  starts the imaging unit  102  to acquire image data for the through-image display. The image processing unit  116   b  of the control unit  116  then performs image processing for a general through-image display such as white balance correction and gamma correction. After the image processing for the through-image display, the image processing unit  116   b  generates image data for the divided through-image display combined so that data of the through-image  409  is located at the position (the position of the right side in the example of  FIG. 5 ) of the connection side selected in step S 113  in the data of the thumbnail image  406 . The image data for the divided through-image display is preferably rectangular image data. The thumbnail image  406  and the through-image  409  may not make a rectangular form when arranged side by side depending on the difference of size therebetween. In this case, the blank is preferably, for example, “transparent” image data so that the whole image is rectangular. After the generation of the image data for the divided through-image display, the control unit  116  causes the display unit  104  to perform the through-image display in accordance with the image data for the divided through-image display obtained by the image processing unit  116   b . The divided through-image display shown in  FIG. 6  allows the user to have an overview of the composite picture image generated by the image joint processing in the SNS server  200  described later. 
     Here, the through-image display is designed to display moving images in accordance with the image data obtained by the repeated operation of the imaging unit  102 . Therefore, during the divided through-image display, data of the thumbnail image  406  is combined with the image data of each frame of the through-image  409 . 
     After the divided through-image display, the control unit  116  determines whether a resize operation has been performed by the user (step S 116 ). The user can use the touch panel  112  to instruct to resize the thumbnail image  406  or the through-image  409  which is displayed as the divided through-image as shown in  FIG. 6 . For example, a pinch operation (operation to spread or narrow the space between fingers) by the user is the resize operation. When determining in step S 116  that the resize operation has not been performed by the user, the control unit  116  shifts the processing to step S 118 . The upper limit of the magnification size is a size indicated by the size information received in step S 111 . The size of the image during connection may be changed by such an operation, or a margin may be provided by a similar operation. 
     When determining in step S 116  that the resize operation has been performed by the user, the control unit  116  resizes the thumbnail image  406  or the through-image  409 . The control unit  116  then uses the image data for the divided through-image display after the resizing to update the display of the display unit  104  (step S 117 ). 
     The control unit  116  then determines whether to perform photography (step S 118 ). In step S 118 , the control unit  116  determines to perform photography when the release button of the operation unit  110  is pressed by the user. When determining in step S 118  that photography is not performed, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 115 . In this case, the divided through-image display is repeated. When determining in step S 118  that photography is performed, the control unit  116  performs still image photography as the joint photography (step S 119 ). 
     In this still image photography, the control unit  116  performs AF control to focus the photography lens  102   a , and also performs AE control to decide an exposure condition for the still image photography. The control unit  116  then causes the image pickup device  102   b  to perform a photography operation for still image recording in accordance with the exposure condition decided by the AE control. 
     After the photography operation for still image recording, the image processing unit  116   b  subjects the image data obtained as a result of the photography operation in the image pickup device  102   b  to general image processing for still image recording such as the white balance correction, the gamma correction, resize processing, and still image compression processing. 
     After the image processing for still image recording, the control unit  116  creates a still image file in accordance with the compressed image data, and records the created still image file in the recording unit  106 . Here, various photography conditions such as a photography date, a recording size of the image data, and an exposure condition are recorded in a header information portion of the still image file as metadata. Moreover, in the present embodiment, information for the identification of the image data regarding the connection partner (e.g., the file name of an image file used to generate the thumbnail image  406 ) and information indicating the position of the connection side are also recorded as metadata. These metadata are recorded as, for example, tag information in the form of the Exif. In the present embodiment, a thumbnail image is also recorded in an image file. 
     After the still image photography, the control unit  116  performs a composite picture confirmation display (step S 120 ). In the composite picture confirmation display, the control unit  116  generates composite picture image data which is combined so that the thumbnail image data received in step S 111  is located at the position of the connection side of the image data obtained in step S 119 . The control unit  116  reproduces the composite picture image data on the display unit  104  as shown in  FIG. 7 . In the composite picture confirmation display, a comment button  410  and a share button  411  are also displayed as shown in  FIG. 7 . The comment button  410  and the share button  411  are software buttons operable in the touch panel  112 . This composite picture confirmation display allows the user to confirm the composite picture image generated in the SNS server  200 . 
     In the example described above, the thumbnail images are combined to generate the composite picture image for confirmation display. In contrast, the image file selected by the user may be downloaded from the SNS server  200 , and image data in the downloaded image file may be combined with image data obtained by photography to generate the composite picture image for confirmation display. 
     After the composite picture confirmation display, the control unit  116  determines whether a predetermined time (e.g., about ten seconds) has passed (step S 121 ). When determining in step S 121  that the predetermined time has passed, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 101 . 
     When determining in step S 121  that the predetermined time has not passed, the control unit  116  determines whether the comment button  410  has been selected by the user (step S 122 ). When determining in step S 122  that the comment button  410  has not been selected, the control unit  116  shifts the processing to step S 125 . When determining in step S 122  that the comment button  410  has been selected, the control unit  116  displays a comment input screen. The control unit  116  then records comment data input by the user in the image file (step S 123 ). The control unit  116  then displays a comment  412  input by the user on the display unit  104  to update the confirmation display as shown in  FIG. 7  (step S 124 ). The control unit  116  then shifts the processing to step S 125 . 
     The control unit  116  then determines whether the share button  411  has been selected by the user (step S 125 ). When determining in step S 125  that the share button  411  has not been selected, the control unit  116  shifts the processing to step S 120 . When determining in step S 125  that the share button  411  has been selected, the control unit  116  performs image sharing processing (step S 126 ). After the image sharing processing, the control unit  116  shifts the processing to step S 120 . The image sharing processing is processing in which the image file being reproduced is sent to a predetermined communication connection destination so that this image file can be shared by more than one person. The image sharing processing will be described later in detail. 
     When determining in step S 101  that the operation mode is not the browser mode, the control unit  116  determines whether the operation mode is the photography mode (step S 127 ). When determining in step S 127  that the operation mode is the photography mode, the control unit  116  performs control for the general through-image display (step S 128 ). The processing for the through-image display in step S 128  is different from that in step S 115  in that display is only preformed in accordance with the image data obtained by the image processing for the through-image display shown in step S 115 . That is, in step S 128 , a through-image is displayed in the whole screen of the display unit  104 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     After the through-image display, the control unit  116  sets a recording size in accordance with the user operation (step S 129 ). To instruct to set the recording size, the user, for example, operates the touch panel  112  on a menu screen displayed on the display unit  104 . In contrast to the joint photography mode, the user can set the recording size in the photography mode. 
     The control unit  116  then determines whether to perform photography (step S 130 ). In step S 130 , the control unit  116  determines to perform photography when the release button of the operation unit  110  is pressed by the user. When determining in step S 130  that photography is not performed, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 128 . In this case, the through-image display is continued. When determining in step S 130  that photography is performed, the control unit  116  performs still image photography (step S 131 ). The still image photography in step S 131  is basically the same processing as the still image photography described in step S 119 . However, in contrast to step S 119 , it is not necessary in step S 131  to record the information for the identification of the image data regarding the connection partner and the information indicating the position of the connection side. 
     After the still image photography, the control unit  116  performs a confirmation display (step S 132 ). In this confirmation display, the control unit  116  reproduces the image data obtained in step S 131  on the display unit  104 . In the confirmation display, a comment button and a share button that are similar to those in the composite image confirmation display are also displayed. 
     After the confirmation display, the control unit  116  determines whether a predetermined time (e.g., about ten seconds) has passed (step S 133 ). When determining in step S 133  that the predetermined time has passed, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 101 . 
     When determining in step S 133  that the predetermined time has not passed, the control unit  116  determines whether the comment button has been selected by the user (step S 134 ). When determining in step S 134  that the comment button has not been selected, the control unit  116  shifts the processing to step S 137 . When determining in step S 134  that the comment button has been selected, the control unit  116  displays the comment input screen. The control unit  116  then records the comment data input by the user in the image file (step S 135 ). The control unit  116  then displays the comment input by the user on the display unit  104  to update the confirmation display (step S 136 ). The control unit  116  then shifts the processing to step S 137 . 
     The control unit  116  then determines whether the share button has been selected by the user (step S 137 ). When determining in step S 137  that the share button has not been selected, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 132 . When determining in step S 137  that the share button has been selected, the control unit  116  executes the image sharing processing (step S 138 ). The control unit  116  then returns the processing to step S 132 . The image sharing processing will be described later in detail. 
     When determining in step S 101  that the operation mode is not the photography mode, the control unit  116  determines whether the operation mode is the reproduction mode (step S 139 ). When determining in step S 139  that the operation mode is not the reproduction mode, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 101 . 
     When determining in step S 139  that the operation mode is the reproduction mode, the control unit  116  displays a list of image files recorded in the recording unit  106  on the display unit  104  (step S 140 ). The control unit  116  then determines whether the image file has been selected by the user (step S 141 ). When determining in step S 141  that the image file has not been selected, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 140 . In this case, the list display is continued. 
     When determining in step S 139  that the image file has been selected, the control unit  116  reproduces the image file selected by the user (step S 142 ). In the reproduction processing, the control unit  116  reads the image file selected by the user from the recording unit  106 , and inputs the read image file into the image processing unit  116   b . The image processing unit  116   b  decompresses the input compressed image data. The control unit  116  inputs the decompressed image data into the display unit  104  to display the image. Moreover, during the reproduction of the image file, a comment button  413  and a share button  414  are also displayed as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     After the reproduction of the image file, the control unit  116  determines whether the comment button  413  has been selected by the user (step S 143 ). When determining in step S 143  that the comment button  413  has not been selected, the control unit  116  shifts the processing to step S 146 . When determining in step S 143  that the comment button  413  has been selected, the control unit  116  displays the comment input screen. The control unit  116  then records the comment data input by the user in the image file (step S 144 ). The control unit  116  then displays the comment input by the user on the display unit  104  to update the display (step S 145 ). The control unit  116  then shifts the processing to step S 146 . 
     The control unit  116  then determines whether the share button  414  has been selected by the user (step S 146 ). When determining in step S 146  that the share button  414  has not been selected, the control unit  116  shifts the processing to step S 148 . When determining in step S 146  that the share button  414  has been selected, the control unit  116  executes the image sharing processing (step S 147 ). The control unit  116  then shifts the processing to step S 148 . The image sharing processing will be described later in detail. 
     The control unit  116  then determines whether the end of the reproduction of the image file is instructed (step S 148 ). When determining in step S 148  that the reproduction end of the image file is not instructed, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 142 . In this case, the reproduction of the image file is continued. Moreover, when determining in step S 148  that the reproduction end of the image file is instructed, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 101 . 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing the image sharing processing. During the image sharing, the control unit  116  displays such a connection destination selection screen as shown in  FIG. 11  on the display unit  104  (step S 201 ). In the connection destination selection screen of the example of  FIG. 11 , as buttons indicating communication connection destinations, a device specifying button  415 , an SNS button  416  and a disclose button  417  are displayed. The device specifying button  415  is selected by the user when the communication connection destination of the imaging apparatus  100   a  is a device which can communicate by direct communication via no network. The SNS button  416  is selected by the user when the communication connection destination of the imaging apparatus  100   a  is the SNS server  200 . The disclose button  417  is selected by the user when the communication connection destination of the imaging apparatus  100   a  is a predetermined site which can communicate via the network  300 . Furthermore, in the connection destination selection screen of the example of  FIG. 11 , a return button  418  is also displayed. 
     After the display of the connection destination selection screen, the control unit  116  determines whether the device specifying button  415  has been selected by the user (step S 202 ). When determining in step S 202  that the device specifying button  415  has been selected, the control unit  116  starts the communication unit  114 , and detects, from an output of the communication unit  114 , a device as a candidate of the communication connection destination communicateable via the communication unit  114 . The control unit  116  displays a list of communication connection destination candidate device names on the display unit  104  (step S 203 ). 
     The control unit  116  then determines whether the communication connection destination has been selected in accordance with the operation of the touch panel  112  by the user (step S 204 ). In step S 204 , the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 203  until determining that the communication connection destination has been selected. When determining in step S 204  that the communication connection destination has been selected, the control unit  116  performs communication authentication processing to establish the communication with the communication connection destination selected by the user (step S 205 ). In this case, the control unit  116  urges the user to input an ID and a password, if necessary. 
     The control unit  116  then determines whether the communication authentication is successful (step S 206 ). When determining in step S 206  that the communication authentication is successful, the control unit  116  sends the image file to the communication connection destination via the communication unit  114  (step S 207 ). The control unit  116  then ends the processing of  FIG. 10 . When the control unit  116  determines in step S 206  that the communication authentication fails, for example, in a case where the authentication of the password fails, a case where the communication cannot be established, or the like, the control unit gives a warning of this failure to the user by the display unit  104  (step S 208 ). The control unit  116  then ends the processing of  FIG. 10 . 
     When determining in step S 202  that the device specifying button  415  has not been selected, the control unit  116  determines whether the SNS button  416  has been selected (step S 209 ). When determining in step S 209  that the SNS button  416  has been selected, the control unit  116  determines whether the present image sharing processing is in the joint photography mode (step S 210 ). When determining in step S 210  that the present image sharing processing is in the joint photography mode, the control unit  116  shifts the processing to step S 213 . The joint photography mode is a state where an image to be sent after this is to be connected to another image, and in this case, confirmation processing of step S 211  and step S 212  is omitted. The confirmation processing of steps S 211  and S 212  is processing for the image file of the image regarding the connection partner. 
     When determining in step S 210  that the present image sharing processing is not in the joint photography mode, the control unit  116  displays such an image joint permission selection screen as shown in  FIG. 12  on the display unit  104  (step S 211 ). In the image joint permission selection screen of the example of  FIG. 12 , a joint permission button  419  and a joint non-permission button  420  are displayed. 
     The control unit  116  then determines whether the permission or the non-permission of the image joint has been selected in accordance with the operation of the touch panel  112  by the user, i.e., whether one of the joint permission button  419  and the joint non-permission button  420  has been selected (step S 212 ). When determining in step S 212  that the permission or the non-permission of the image joint processing has been selected, the control unit  116  records information of the permission or the non-permission of the image joint processing in the header information portion of the image file. That is, the control unit  116  records information indicating the permission of the image joint processing when determining that the joint permission button  419  has been selected, and the control unit  116  records information indicating the non-permission of the image joint processing when determining that the joint non-permission button  420  has been selected. After recording the information of the permission or the non-permission of the image joint processing, the control unit  116  performs processing of communication authentication to establish the communication with the SNS server  200  (step S 213 ). In this case, the control unit  116  urges the user to input the ID and the password, if necessary. 
     The control unit  116  then determines whether the communication authentication is successful (step S 214 ). When determining in step S 214  that the communication authentication is successful, the control unit  116  sends the image file to the SNS server  200  via the communication unit  114  (step S 215 ). The control unit  116  then ends the processing of  FIG. 10 . When the control unit  116  determines in step S 214  that the communication authentication fails, for example, in a case where the authentication of the password fails, a case where the communication cannot be established, or the like, the control unit gives a warning of this failure to the user by the display unit  104  (step S 216 ). The control unit  116  then ends the processing of  FIG. 10 . 
     When determining in step S 209  that the SNS button  416  has not been selected, the control unit  116  determines whether the disclose button  417  has been selected (step S 217 ). When determining in step S 217  that the disclose button  417  has been selected, the control unit  116  displays, on the display unit  104 , a communication connection destination input screen for allowing the user to input information for specifying the communication connection destination (e.g., a URL of the communication connection destination) (step S 218 ). 
     The control unit  116  then determines whether the communication connection destination has been input in accordance with the operation of the touch panel  112  by the user (step S 219 ). In step S 219 , the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 218  until determining that the communication connection destination has been selected. When determining in step S 219  that the communication connection destination has been input, the control unit  116  performs the communication authentication processing to establish the communication with the communication connection destination input by the user (step S 220 ). In this case, the control unit  116  urges the user to input the ID and the password, if necessary. 
     The control unit  116  then determines whether the communication authentication is successful (step S 221 ). When determining in step S 221  that the communication authentication is successful, the control unit  116  sends the image file to the communication connection destination via the communication unit  114  (step S 222 ). The control unit  116  then ends the processing of  FIG. 10 . When the control unit  116  determines in step S 221  that the communication authentication fails, for example, in a case where the authentication of the password fails, a case where the communication cannot be established, or the like, the control unit gives a warning of this failure to the user, for example, by the display unit  104  (step S 223 ). The control unit  116  then ends the processing of  FIG. 10 . 
     When determining in step S 217  that the disclose button  417  has not been selected, the control unit  116  determines whether the return button  418  has been selected (step S 224 ). When determining in step S 224  that the return button  418  has not been selected, the control unit  116  returns the processing to step S 201 . When determining in step S 224  that the return button  418  has been selected, the control unit  116  ends the processing of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing the operation of the SNS server  200 . In  FIG. 13 , the control unit  206  of the SNS server  200  determines whether the image file has been received from the imaging apparatus  100   a  via the communication unit  204  (step S 301 ). When determining in step S 301  that the image file has been received, the control unit  206  records the received image file in the database  202  (step S 302 ). 
     The control unit  206  then determines whether information for specifying the image data of the connection partner (e.g., a file name of an original image file of the thumbnail image  406 ) and the position information of the connection side are recorded in the header information portion of the image file recorded in step S 302  (step S 303 ). When the control unit  206  determines in step S 303  that the information for specifying the connection partner and the position information of the connection side are not recorded in the image file, the control unit returns the processing to step S 301 . In this case, the execution of the image joint is not instructed by the user, and hence only the processing to record the image file is performed. 
     When determining in step S 303  that the information for specifying the connection partner and the position information of the connection side are recorded in the image file, the control unit  206  reads, from the database  202 , the image file recorded in step S 302  (step S 304 ). At this time, not only the position information of the connection side but also information of a length or a pixel size may be used. Then, the image processing unit  206   a  of the control unit  206  performs combination processing (the image joint processing) to dispose the image data recorded in the read image file so that the image data is connected to the position of the connection side of the image data recorded in the image file of the connection partner recorded in the image file, thereby generating composite picture image data (step S 305 ). During the above-mentioned composite picture confirmation display by the imaging apparatus  100   a , thumbnail images are combined with each other, but in the image joint processing, the original images are combined with each other. After the image joint processing, the control unit  206  generates a composite picture image file based on this composite picture image data, and records the generated composite picture image file in the database  202  (step S 306 ). The control unit  206  then returns the processing to step S 301 . 
     In the image combination, images having the same width do not necessarily need to be combined. Images having different widths may be arranged to produce such an effect that the images show a rhythmical impression when seen. There may be spaces between images. The spaces may be changed. Nevertheless, it is necessary to comprehend that a specified image responds and connects to another specified image. 
     Moreover, the same image may be connected to a plurality of images. Therefore, only connection information is beforehand held, and actually, it may be contrived that different images can be switched and displayed in accordance with conditions for seeing the images. 
     In this way, a plurality of users can prepare one composite picture. The function of the present embodiment may be incorporated in a camera. In the camera, there is a restriction on an image size as compared with an image size which can be handled on a cloud. Therefore, every time the composite picture can be prepared, the composite picture may be resized to a suitable size (e.g., a pixel number suitable for printing). In this case, the image to be subjected to a joint operation may be resized in accordance with a size of an image which is an object of the joint operation. Needless to say, the respective images may be held in separate files, and only when the images are displayed, the images may be suitably resized to a size suitable for the display, combined and displayed. 
     When determining in step S 301  that the image file has not been received, the control unit  206  determines whether update of a Web page is requested, for example, from the imaging apparatus  100   a  (step S 307 ). When determining in step S 307  that the update of the Web page is requested, the control unit  206  sends Web page data to a device which makes the request, via the communication unit  204  (step S 308 ). According to such processing, the images and composite picture images recorded in the database  202  of the SNS server  200  can be browsed, for example, in the imaging apparatus  100   a . There is the possibility that this composite picture becomes a long and large band-like image when the number of users who perform the joint increases. In this case, there is the possibility that the composite picture overflows from the page, and hence, it may be intended that by the determination of a user operation, the image is displayed so that pages are turned over, or is displayed in a transition display manner as a moving image. 
     The control unit  206  then determines whether sending of size information and the thumbnail image is requested, for example, from the imaging apparatus  100   a  (step S 309 ). When determining in step S 309  that the sending of the size information and the thumbnail image is not requested, the control unit  206  returns the processing to step S 301 . When determining in step S 309  that the sending of the size information and the thumbnail image is requested, the control unit  206  determines whether the image joint processing of the requested thumbnail image to the original image file has been permitted, i.e., whether the information regarding the permission of the image joint is recorded in the header information portion of this image file (step S 310 ). When determining in step S 310  that the image joint processing has not been permitted, the control unit  206  returns the processing to step S 301 . It is to be noted that in this case, a warning may be given to indicate that the image joint processing has not been permitted. 
     When determining in step S 310  that the image joint processing has been permitted, the control unit  206  sends the size information and the thumbnail image via the communication unit  204  (step S 311 ). The control unit  206  then returns the processing to step S 301 . 
     When determining in step S 307  that the update of the Web page is not requested, the control unit  206  determines whether the comment has been input by the user (step S 312 ). When determining in step S 312  that the comment has not been input, the control unit  206  returns the processing to step S 301 . When determining in step S 312  that the comment has been input, the control unit  206  records data of the input comment in the corresponding image file (step S 313 ). The control unit  206  then returns the processing to step S 301 . Here, the comment data may be recorded in a file separate from the image file. 
     As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user of the imaging apparatus  100   a  can select a given side of an image uploaded onto a site managed by the SNS server  200 , and connect an image photographed by the user to this selected side to prepare a composite picture. In this way, according to the present embodiment, the user can prepare a composite picture by a simple operation. 
     Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 14A , the user of the imaging apparatus  100   b  who browses the composite picture prepared by the user of the imaging apparatus  100   a  can perform the image joint processing similarly to the user of the imaging apparatus  100   a . When the user of the imaging apparatus  100   b  selects the image joint button  404  in a browser screen shown in  FIG. 14A , such a connection side selection screen as shown in  FIG. 14B  is displayed. Then, when the connection side is selected, such divided through-image display as shown in  FIG. 14C  is performed. Here, the example of  FIG. 14C  shows an example where a lower side of the thumbnail image  406  is selected as a connection side. The example of  FIG. 14C  is an example where an already prepared composite picture image is to be connected to another image. The thumbnail image  406  in this case is a thumbnail image of the composite picture image prepared by combining two images. When the execution of photography is instructed by the user of the imaging apparatus  100   b  after the divided through-image display, such composite picture confirmation display as shown in  FIG. 14D  is performed. Afterward, composite picture image data is generated in the SNS server  200 . 
     The above-mentioned processing is repeated among a plurality of users, whereby a composite picture image such as a picture scroll is prepared. In this composite picture image, intentions of the plurality of users are reflected, and hence it can be considered that the image does not easily become a monotonous image. 
     Moreover, in the present embodiment, the image data to be sent to the imaging apparatus  100   a  during the image joint processing is the thumbnail image data. The actual image file is not sent, so that the image uploaded onto the SNS server  200  cannot be shared by any user who does not intend to share the image. 
     Here, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the image data for generating the composite picture image data is acquired by the imaging apparatus  100   a , and the actual composite picture image data is generated by the SNS server  200 . In contrast, the imaging apparatus  100   a  may be provided with functions similar to those of the control unit  206  and the image processing unit  206   a  of the SNS server  200 , so that the imaging apparatus  100   a  may perform processing up to the generation of the composite picture image data. Moreover, when the imaging apparatus  100   a  performs the processing up to the generation of the composite picture image data, the composite picture image may be generated based on image data acquired by communication of the imaging apparatus  100   a  with another imaging apparatus as an external apparatus of the imaging apparatus  100   a . The composite picture image file does not have to be recorded in the server  200 . The composite picture confirmation display has only to be performed. 
     Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an example of the selecting unit is the touch panel  112 , but various operating units other than the touch panel  112  can be used as the selecting unit as long as the connection side can be specified. 
     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.