Patent Publication Number: US-2019198058-A1

Title: Image recording control apparatus, image recording method, recording medium storing image recording program, image pickup apparatus, and image recording control system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-244971 filed in Japan on Dec. 21, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image recording control apparatus capable of editing and recording a movie, an image recording method, a recording medium storing an image recording program, an image pickup apparatus, and an image recording control system. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, many mobile devices (photographing devices) with a photographing function, such as digital cameras, have a function of not only photographing a still image but also shooting a movie. A movie acquired by shooting includes relatively many useless or monotonous parts in terms of appreciation, and the movie itself may be unvaried and unimpressive in some cases. Accordingly, video editing is performed sometimes to create a movie suitable for appreciation or observation by editing a movie acquired by shooting. 
     In a video editing apparatus for such movies, relatively-long-time complicated work is required because it is necessary to find desired points to edit from a movie recorded over a long time period and perform editing work. Accordingly, Japanese Patent No. 6206699 discloses a technology in which a digest movie is created in accordance with still image photographing directions, and parts to be deleted are deleted from the digest movie in accordance with predetermined conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An image recording control apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an image acquisition section configured to acquire a movie; and a processor including hardware, wherein the processor is configured to identify at least one image part of a specified time period in length as a record candidate part, from a beginning to an end of the movie, and to identifiably display only frames corresponding to the record candidate part to allow the time period of the record candidate part to be changed or to allow the record candidate part to be selected. 
     An image recording method according to another aspect of the present invention, includes: acquiring a movie; identifying at least one image part of a specified time period in length as a record candidate part, from a beginning to an end of the movie; and identifiably displaying only frames corresponding to the record candidate part to allow the time period of the record candidate part to be changed or to allow the record candidate part to be selected. 
     A recording medium storing an image recording program according to a still another aspect of the present invention is configured to cause a computer to execute processes of: acquiring a movie; identifying at least one image part of a specified time period in length as a record candidate part, from a beginning to an end of the movie; and identifiably displaying only frames corresponding to the record candidate part to allow the time period of the record candidate part to be changed or to allow the record candidate part to be selected. 
     An image pickup apparatus according to an even another aspect of the present invention includes: an image pickup section configured to acquire a movie; and a processor including hardware, wherein the processor is configured to identify at least one image part of a specified time period in length as a record candidate part, from a beginning to an end of the movie, and to identifiably display only frames corresponding to the record candidate part to allow the time period of the record candidate part to be changed or to allow the record candidate part to be selected. 
     An image recording control system according to an even still another aspect of the present invention includes: an image pickup apparatus configured to acquire a movie; and an information terminal apparatus including a display and capable of communication with the image pickup apparatus, and the image recording control system further includes: a first processor provided in the image pickup apparatus or the information terminal apparatus and including hardware configured to identify at least one image part of a specified time period in length as a record candidate part, from a beginning to an end of the movie; and a second processor provided in the image pickup apparatus or the information terminal apparatus and including hardware configured to identifiably display only frames corresponding to the record candidate part to allow the time period of the record candidate part to be changed or to allow the record candidate part to be selected. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an image recording control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart for explaining operations in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of highlight recording processing; 
         FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a screen display in highlight editing; 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the screen display in the highlight editing; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in highlight editing processing; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing operations of an image pickup apparatus  60 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing operations of a mobile terminal  70 ; 
         FIG. 10A  is an explanatory diagram for explaining operations in the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 10B  is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operations in the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 10C  is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operations in the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 10D  is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operations in the second embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10E  is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operations in the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an image recording control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment illustrates an example in which the image recording control apparatus is configured with an image pickup apparatus. 
     The image recording control apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured to identify a relatively-short-time candidate for a highlight part in a picked-up image through an operation for specifying a highlight part or through automatic detection of a highlight part and to combine a plurality of the highlight parts at time of shooting or reproducing a movie, whereby the varied and interesting movie is acquired. In this case, in the present embodiment, each candidate for a highlight part is set to have a specified time period (hereinafter, referred to as the candidate period), which is a relatively short time period, in the picked-up image. While such a candidate is, for example, repeatedly reproduced, an operation for changing the candidate period and an operation for combining and editing are accepted from a user, whereby it is possible to create an interesting movie through easy operations. Note that the candidate period is preferably, but is not limited to, for example, a few seconds (two to three seconds, four to five seconds, or the like), comparing and considering easiness of finding and certainty of checking, but can be changed appropriately depending on a content of a movie. 
     Here, a reason why each candidate for a highlight part is repeatedly displayed is from an idea that it is quicker to see a movie if the movie is a short-time one. However, if each candidate for a highlight part is viewed as a movie, the user can also feel a shift of time and easily check an effect of the movie. 
     Moreover, for example, in a case of a movie with 30 frames per second, all 60 frames in two seconds may be displayed as still images, or beginning and end frames, as well as other frames and the like, of each candidate part may be displayed as a list of still images. Thus, it is possible to easily check from which point to which point each highlight part ranges. In this case, since the user cannot feel a shift of time, a configuration may be made to display a reproduction time period or the like of a highlight movie at the same time. 
     The identification of a candidate for a highlight part (hereinafter, referred to as a highlight candidate part) can be performed at any one of time of shooting and time of reproduction. A description below illustrates an example in which a highlight candidate part is identified at time of shooting. However, a highlight candidate part can be identified also at time of reproduction, as at time of shooting. Note that the present embodiment is configured to be able to combine and record highlight candidate parts adopted from among a plurality of highlight candidate parts, which will be described later, and therefore a highlight candidate part can also be said to be a recording candidate part. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the image pickup apparatus  10  can be configured with, for example, a digital camera or the like. The image pickup apparatus  10  includes a control section  11 . The control section  11  is configured with a processor using a CPU or the like. The control section  11  may be configured to control each section by operating in accordance with a program stored in a memory (not shown), or may be configured to implement part or all of functions by using a hardware electronic circuit. 
     The image pickup apparatus  10  includes an image pickup section  21  including an image pickup device  23  such as a CCD sensor, a CMOS sensor, or the like. The image pickup section  21  as an image acquisition section acquires an image pickup signal (picked-up image) by photoelectric conversion of an optical image entered via an optical system  22  by using the image pickup device  23 . Note that the image pickup device  23  may have pixels for focus control to obtain a defocus amount in image plane phase detection. 
     The optical system  22  includes lenses and the like (not shown) for zooming and focusing. The optical system  22  includes a zooming (variable magnification) mechanism (not shown) and a focus and aperture mechanism (not shown), which drive the lenses. The zooming mechanism is configured to be driven and controlled by a variable magnification control section  24 , while the focus and aperture mechanism is configured to be driven and controlled by a focus control section  25  and an aperture control section  26 . Note that the lenses of the optical system  22  may be fixed lenses attached to the image pickup section  21 , or may be interchangeable lenses. 
     The control section  11  is configured to control the variable magnification control section  24 , the aperture control section  26 , and the focus control section  25  so that zooming, aperture, and focus of the optical system  22  can be adjusted. The image pickup section  21  picks up an image under control of the control section  11  and outputs an image pickup signal of the picked-up image (movie and still images) to the control section  11 . The image pickup apparatus  10  also includes a microphone  27 . The microphone  27  is configured to collect voice around the image pickup apparatus  10  and supply a voice signal to the control section  11 . 
     The image pickup apparatus  10  includes an operation section  35 . The operation section  35  includes a release button, a function button, various switches for shooting mode setting, parameter operation, and the like, a dial, a ring member, and the like, which are not shown in  FIG. 1 , and outputs an operation signal based on a user operation to the control section  11 . The control section  11  is configured to control each section including the image pickup section  21  based on the operation signal from the operation section  35 . 
     Moreover, a touch panel  32  is provided on a display screen of a display section  31 , which will be described later. The touch panel  32  can generate an operation signal according to a location on the display screen pointed by the user with a finger. The operation signal is supplied to the control section  11 . The control section  11  thus can detect the location on the display screen touched by the user, and also can detect a slide operation made by the user sliding a finger on the display screen. The control section  11  is configured to be able to perform processing corresponding to such a user operation. 
     The control section  11  outputs a drive signal for driving the image pickup device to the image pickup section  21  and also captures the picked-up image (movie and still images) from the image pickup section  21 . An image processing section  12  of the control section  11  performs predetermined signal processing, for example, color adjustment processing, matrix transformation processing, denoising processing, and other various types of signal processing, on the captured picked-up image. Note that the control section  11  also performs predetermined voice signal processing on the voice signal from the microphone  27 . 
     The control section  11  includes a recording and reproduction control section  14 . The recording and reproduction control section  14  can perform compression processing on the picked-up image and the voice subjected to the signal processing and provide the compressed image and the compressed voice to a recording section  38  to have the recording section  38  record the compressed image and the compressed voice. The recording section  38  is configured with a predetermined recording medium, and can record information provided from the control section  11  and output recorded information to the control section  11 . For the recording section  38 , for example, a card interface can be used. The recording section  38  can record image information, voice information, and the like on a recording medium such as a memory card. The recording and reproduction control section  14  can read and use the information recorded in the recording section  38 . That is, the recording and reproduction control section  14  can reproduce movie data recorded in the recording section  38  and output the reproduced movie. 
     The control section  11  includes a display control section  13 . The display control section  13  can cause the display section  31  to display the picked-up image, which is provided from the image pickup section  21 , or the reproduced image, which is provided from the recording and reproduction control section  14 . The display control section  13  is also configured to be able to cause the display section  31  to display a menu display or the like for operating the image pickup apparatus  10 . The display section  31  is provided, for example, on a back of a housing of the image pickup apparatus  10  and includes a display screen such as an LCD (liquid crystal display). 
     The image pickup apparatus  10  includes a communication section  37 , and the control section  11  includes a communication control section  15 . The communication section  37  is configured to be able to transmit information to and receive information from external equipment (not shown) under control of the communication control section  15 . The communication section  37  is capable of communication through, for example, short-range radios such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), and communication through, for example, wireless LAN such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). Note that the communication section  37  can use communication through various types of communication schemes that are not limited to Bluetooth (registered trademark) and Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The communication control section  15  can transmit movie data acquired by the image pickup section  21  to external equipment or the like via the communication section  37 . 
     The image pickup apparatus  10  includes a clock section  36 . The clock section  36  can generate time-of-day information and supply the time-of-day information to the control section  11 . The control section  11  can manage time information by using the time-of-day information when editing an image. 
     In the present embodiment, the control section  11  includes an editing control section  16 . The editing control section  16  is configured to be able to identify a starting point of a highlight part in the picked-up image based on user operations of the touch panel  32  and the operation section  35  during image pickup. For example, the editing control section  16  as an identification section may be configured to set a timing when a user operation is carried out as a starting point of a highlight candidate part, and to identify the picked-up image as long as the candidate time period as the highlight candidate part. Alternatively, the editing control section  16  may be configured to set a timing a predetermined time period earlier than a timing when a user operation is carried out as a starting point of a highlight candidate part, and to identify the picked-up image as long as the candidate time period as the highlight candidate part. Note that when voice of the user can be picked up during recording, a configuration may be made such that the control section  11  is caused to perform voice recognition processing, and a starting point of a highlight candidate part is identified based on a result of recognition of the voice acquired by the microphone  27 . 
     In the present embodiment, the image processing section  12  is configured to be able to perform image analysis for determination of a highlight candidate part performed by the editing control section  16 . For example, the image processing section  12  can calculate an evaluation value for determining, for example, an image including a greatly varying motion, an image of appropriate brightness, and the like by obtaining luminance distribution, luminance differential value distribution, motion vector distribution, and the like for each frame of the picked-up image. The image processing section  12  can calculate an evaluation value for detecting human being and animal faces and the like in the picked-up image through publicly known face recognition processing. In addition, for example, the image processing section  12  can calculate evaluation values used for determination of a highlight part in various events by comparing image characteristics of the picked-up image with image characteristics of various images such as specific scenes in sports and specific backgrounds. 
     The editing control section  16  is configured to be able to identify a highlight candidate part in the picked-up image based on the evaluation values calculated by the image processing section  12 . Note that in this case, the highlight candidate part is also as long as the predetermined candidate time period. The editing control section  16  may be configured to set a timing a predetermined time period earlier than a starting timing of the highlight candidate part based on the evaluation values calculated by the image processing section  12  as a starting point of the highlight candidate part, and to identify the picked-up image as long as the candidate time period as the highlight candidate part. The editing control section  16  is configured to be able to set the candidate time period based on a user operation. 
     The editing control section  16  is configured to control the recording and reproduction control section  14  to cause the recording and reproduction control section  14  to record the picked-up image in the recording section  38  in such a manner that in the picked-up image, the highlight candidate part and an image corresponding to the other time period than the candidate time period can be distinguished from each other. For example, the editing control section  16  may regard a time period corresponding to the candidate time period starting from a timing of a user operation or a timing based on the evaluation values from the image processing section  12 , which designates the starting point of the highlight candidate part, as an actual recording time period, and regard the other time period as a provisional recording time period, and then make the picked-up image corresponding to the actual recording time period to be recorded as actual-recording record data, and make the picked-up image corresponding to the provisional time period to be recorded as provisional-recording record data. Note that the editing control section  16  may be configured to set indexes indicating the actual recording time period and the provisional recording time period corresponding to the recording record data of the picked-up image, and to distinguish between the provisional recording time period and the actual recording time period by using the indexes. 
     The editing control section  16  as a selection section and a time period change section is configured to control the display control section  13  so that while each highlight candidate part is, for example, repeatedly displayed on the display screen of the display section  31 , the display control section  13  provides a GUI (graphical user interface) for selection of the highlight candidate part, setting of the candidate time period by changing starting and ending points of the highlight candidate part, combining of any highlight candidate parts, the respective candidate time periods of which are reset, and the like. Note that the editing control section  16  only needs to identifiably display frames corresponding to a highlight candidate part. Frames other than the frames corresponding to a highlight candidate part may be displayed, and each highlight candidate part does not need to be repeatedly displayed. 
     The editing control section  16  is configured to control the recording and reproduction control section  14  in accordance with results of user operations so that a combined image obtained by combining the highlight candidate parts, the picked-up image before combining, and the like can be recorded in the recording section  38 . 
     Next, operations in the thus configured embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 6 .  FIG. 2  is a flowchart for explaining operations in the first embodiment.  FIG. 3  is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of highlight recording processing.  FIGS. 4 and 5  are explanatory diagrams showing display examples of a screen display in highlight editing.  FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in highlight editing processing. 
     Now, an example of shooting a pet such as a cat as an object will be described.  FIG. 3  shows a relationship between states of the cat and record data, with a horizontal axis representing time.  FIG. 3  shows that the cat faces the other way (toward the opposite side to the image pickup apparatus  10 ) at timings T 1  and T 3 , the cat turns the face this way (toward the image pickup apparatus  10  side) at a timing T 2 , and the cat turns the face this way and waves the tail at a timing T 4 . 
     It is assumed that a user desires to shoot a movie of the cat in a state where the cat turns the face this way. However, even if the user intends to shoot a movie of the cat only in such a state and waits to shoot, a state of the cat in future cannot be predicted. Even if the user starts shooting in wait for a chance, the user may miss a timing of shooting sometimes. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the user starts shooting the cat, including a scene in which the cat does not turn this way. 
     In step S 1 , the control section  11  of the image pickup apparatus  10  is in a shooting wait state where it is determined whether or not an operation for starting shooting is carried out. For example, it is assumed that an operation for starting shooting is carried out at the timing T 1  in  FIG. 3 . When the editing control section  16  determines that an operation for starting shooting is carried out, the editing control section  16  starts provisional recording of a picked-up image (step S 2 ). 
     That is, the image pickup section  21  starts picking up an image for a movie of the cat facing the other way and outputs the picked-up image to the control section  11 . The image processing section  12  performs the predetermined signal processing on the inputted picked-up image. The recording and reproduction control section  14  sequentially records the picked-up image subjected to the signal processing as provisional-recording record data in the recording section  38  (step S 3 ). Next, in step S 4 , the editing control section  16  determines whether or not an operation for stopping recording is carried out. 
     When an operation for stopping recording is not performed, the editing control section  16  determines whether or not to start actual recording during the provisional recording (step S 5 ). For example, the editing control section  16  starts actual recording when an operation designating a starting point of a highlight candidate part is carried out by the user. Now, it is assumed that the user instructs to start actual recording by operating the operation section  35  and the touch panel  32  when the cat turns the face this way at the timing T 2 . Then, the editing control section  16  controls the recording and reproduction control section  14  to stop the provisional recording (step S 6 ) and to start actual recording (step S 7 ). 
     The actual recording is continued until a time period corresponding to the candidate time period passes from the start of the actual recording. When the time period has passed, the editing control section  16  controls the recording and reproduction control section  14  to stop the actual recording (step S 9 ), and then processing is moved back to step S 2 , where provisional recording is started again. Thereafter, the processing in steps S 2  to S 9  is repeated, and provisional recording and actual recording are performed. The example of  FIG. 3  shows that the provisional recording shifts to actual recording again at the timing T 4  based on an operation by the user who recognizes that the cat turns this way and waves the tail at the timing T 4 . 
     In step S 4 , when the editing control section  16  determines that an operation for stopping recording is carried out, the editing control section  16  stops the provisional recording and shifts to highlight editing processing. Note that when an operation for stopping recording is carried out during actual recording, the editing control section  16  terminates recording processing after stopping the actual recording, and then shifts to highlight editing processing. The example of  FIG. 3  shows an example in such a case. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, provisional recording is started in accordance with a user operation for starting recording, and at a timing designated by the user, actual recording is performed only for a time period corresponding to the candidate time period. 
     In the example of  FIG. 3 , the editing control section  16  sets a time period of actual recording plus a predetermined time period (n seconds) of provisional recording immediately before the actual recording as the candidate time period, and regards provisional-recording record data and actual-recording record data corresponding to the candidate time period as recording record data of a highlight candidate part. In this manner, the highlight candidate part includes the last predetermined time period of provisional recording, whereby even if actual recording is started after a delay of the predetermined time period from a timing when the user recognizes a highlight candidate part, it is possible that the highlight candidate part includes a beginning part of the highlight candidate part recognized. Note that the editing control section  16  may set only the time period of actual recording as the candidate time period, and regard the actual-recording record data as record data of the highlight candidate part. 
     Next, the highlight editing processing will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 6 . When an operation for stopping recording is carried out, the editing control section  16  shifts to the highlight editing processing and controls the display control section  13  so that preview screen display processing is performed. 
       FIG. 4  shows such a preview display screen. A preview display section  41  is provided in an approximate center of a display screen  31   a  of the display section  31 . A time line bar  42  is provided at a lower end of the display screen  31   a.  The time line bar  42  indicates a time axis for a picked-up image. A left end of the time line bar  42  corresponds to a starting point of the picked-up image, and a right end of the time line bar  42  corresponds to an ending point of the picked-up image. Marks “ 43   a ” and “ 43   b ” on the time line bar  42  represent highlight candidate parts, a shaded one of which represents a highlight candidate part currently selected. Note that the shades represent coloring, patterns, brightness, and the like different from others in actuality. The example of  FIG. 4  shows that highlight candidate parts are set at three locations in the picked-up image, and the highlight candidate part denoted by the second mark “ 43   b ” is displayed on the preview display section  41  (not shown). 
     Note that when the user touches the mark “ 43   a ” or “ 43   b ”, the editing control section  16  can select one of the highlight candidate parts corresponding to the touched mark “ 43   a ” or “ 43   b ” and cause the preview display section  41  to display the selected highlight candidate part. Moreover, the editing control section  16  may be configured to change highlight candidate parts to be displayed on the preview display section  41  by the user carrying out, for example, a slide operation from side to side on the touch panel  32  of the preview display section  41 . 
     In the highlight editing processing, the editing control section  16  first selects the beginning one of the highlight candidate parts in step S 11  of  FIG. 6  and displays a preview of the selected highlight candidate part on the preview display section  41  (step S 12 ). Note that the preview display section  41  only needs to be able to identifiably display frames corresponding to the highlight candidate part. Accordingly, the preview display section  41  may display only frames corresponding to the highlight candidate part, or may distinguishably display frames corresponding to the highlight candidate part and other frames. The preview display section  41  may, or does not need to, repeatedly display the highlight candidate part. 
     The editing control section  16 , through the display control section  13 , provides the GUI for processing for changing the candidate time period of the highlight candidate part. In the example of  FIG. 4 , the display control section  13  displays an adopt button  44   a,  a reject button  44   b,  a start button  45   a,  a stop button  45   b,  a minus button  46   a  for moving time back, a plus button  46   b  for moving time forward, and a stop button  47  on a right end of the display screen  31   a.    
     In step S 13 , the editing control section  16  determines whether or not the candidate time period is adjusted by the user. When an operation for adjustment is carried out, the editing control section  16 , in step S 14 , determines whether or not an operation for moving the starting point of the highlight forward or backward is carried out, and in step S 15 , determines whether or not an operation for moving the ending point of the highlight forward or backward is carried out. 
     The user operates the start button  45   a  and thereafter operates the minus button  46   a  or the plus button  46   b,  whereby the editing control section  16  moves processing from step S 14  to step S 16  and can shift the starting point of the highlight candidate part displayed on the preview display section  41  to earlier time or to later time. Similarly, the user operates the stop button  45   b  and thereafter operates the minus button  46   a  or the plus button  46   b,  whereby the editing control section  16  moves processing from step S 15  to step S 17  and can shift the ending point of the highlight candidate part displayed on the preview display section  41  to earlier time or to later time. 
     The editing control section  16  moves processing from step S 16  or S 17  back to step S 12 , where a preview display is continued. Thus, the user can change the candidate time period of each highlight candidate part while checking a preview display of each highlight candidate part. Note that a user operation of changing the candidate time period is reflected on a preview display. 
     When an operation for adjustment is not carried out in step S 13 , the editing control section  16  moves processing to step S 21  and determines whether or not to adopt the highlight candidate part of the adjusted candidate time period. When the user operates the adopt button  44   a,  the editing control section  16  adopts the selected and preview-displayed highlight candidate part to select as a retention candidate (step S 22 ). When the user operates the reject button  44   b,  the editing control section  16  does not adopt the selected and preview-displayed highlight candidate part and releases the highlight candidate part from a retention candidate (step S 23 ). 
     In subsequent step S 24 , the editing control section  16  determines whether an operation for selecting another highlight candidate part is carried out or an operation of the stop button  47  is carried out. When an operation for selecting another highlight candidate part is carried out, the editing control section  16  moves processing back to step S 12  and displays a preview of the selected highlight candidate part. When an operation of the stop button  47  is carried out, the editing control section  16  moves processing to step S 31 , displays a list of movie information on the retention candidate, and then advances to highlight recording processing. 
     The candidate time period of each highlight candidate part is set relatively short, considering a time period that allows the user to certainly do checking, and the user can check each highlight candidate part specified within the short time period. Moreover, even if relatively-long-time recording is performed as a whole, each highlight candidate part can be checked for a relatively short time period, and a change of the candidate time period and adoption or rejection of the highlight candidate part can be performed through easy operations. Accordingly, the user can extremely easily confirm highlight candidate parts for acquiring a varied and interesting movie. 
       FIG. 5  shows a list display displayed in step S 31 . A plurality of preview display sections  51   a  and  51   b  are provided in the approximate center of the display screen  31   a  of the display section  31 . A time line bar  52  is provided at the lower end of the display screen  31   a.  The time line bar  52  indicates a time axis for a picked-up image. A left end of the time line bar  52  corresponds to a starting point of the picked-up image, and a right end of the time line bar  52  corresponds to an ending point of the picked-up image. Marks “ 53   a ”, “ 53   b ”, and “ 54 ” on the time line bar  52  represent highlight candidate parts set during image pickup, shaded ones of which represent the highlight candidate parts adopted in step S 21 . Note that the shades represent coloring, patterns, brightness, and the like different from others in actuality. 
     The example of  FIG. 5  shows that two highlight candidate parts denoted by the marks “ 53   a ” and “ 53   b ” among the three highlight candidate parts are adopted, and the adopted highlight candidate parts are displayed on the preview display sections  51   a  and  51   b,  respectively (not shown). Note that although  FIG. 5  shows an example in which only the two preview display sections  51   a  and  51   b  are displayed, the editing control section  16  is configured to display previews of all highlight candidate parts adopted. Thus, the user can see the adopted highlight candidate parts on a single view and easily predict a movie that can be acquired after editing. 
     The editing control section  16 , through the display control section  13 , displays a combine and record button  55 , an individually record button  56 , a retain original movie button  57 , and a stop button  58  on the right end of the display screen  31   a.  In the highlight recording processing, the editing control section  16  determines in step S 32  whether or not the combine and record button  55  is operated so that it is designated to combine and record the retention candidates. In step S 33 , the editing control section  16  determines whether or not the individually record button  56  is operated so that it is designated to record each retention candidate individually. In step S 34 , the editing control section  16  determines whether or not the retain original movie button  57  is operated so that it is designated to record a movie made of a series of the provisional-recording and actual-recording record data. 
     When the combine and record button  55  is operated, the editing control section  16  moves from step S 32  to step S 35  and controls the recording and reproduction control section  14  so that the retention candidates are combined and recorded. When the individually record button  56  is operated, the editing control section  16  moves from step S 33  to step S 36  and controls the recording and reproduction control section  14  so that each of the retention candidates is recorded individually. When the retain original movie button  57  is operated, the editing control section  16  moves from step S 34  to step S 37  and controls the recording and reproduction control section  14  so that a movie made of a series of the provisional-recording and actual-recording record data is recorded. 
     When the editing control section  16  determines that none of the buttons  55  to  57  is operated in steps S 32  to S 34 , the editing control section  16  determines in subsequent step S 38  whether or not the stop button  58  is operated. When the stop button  58  is operated, the editing control section  16  terminates processing. When the stop button  58  is not operated, the editing control section  16  moves processing back to step S 32  and waits to determine whether or not any of the buttons  55  to  58  is operated. In this manner, the candidate time periods of the highlight candidate parts adopted by the user are adjusted as necessary, and thereafter the highlight candidate parts are combined and recorded, or individually recorded. Thus, the user can easily create a varied and interesting movie. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, highlight candidate parts of the relatively short candidate time period are set at time of shooting, and a user operation for changing the candidate time period and a user operation for combining and editing are accepted while each highlight candidate part is repeatedly reproduced, whereby it is possible to create a varied and interesting movie desired by the user through simple operations. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 7 , same constituent elements as the constituent elements in  FIG. 1  are denoted by the same reference signs, and a description of such constituent elements will be omitted. The present embodiment illustrates an example in which an image recording control apparatus is configured with an image pickup apparatus and a mobile terminal. 
     In the present embodiment, part or all of the processing in the highlight candidate part identification processing, the highlight editing processing, and the highlight recording processing in the first embodiment is performed by a mobile terminal  70 . If all of the processing is implemented by the mobile terminal  70  as an information terminal apparatus, an image pickup apparatus  60  only needs to have, as a minimum function, a function of picking up an image of an object and transmitting the picked-up image to external equipment or the like, and the image pickup apparatus  10  in the first embodiment may be used for the image pickup apparatus  60 . That is, although the editing control section  16  in  FIG. 1  controls all of the processing in the highlight candidate part identification processing, the highlight editing processing, and the highlight recording processing, the editing control section  16  in the present embodiment may perform only part of the processing, or does not need to perform any of the processing at all. 
     In the example of  FIG. 7 , the image pickup apparatus  60  is different from the image pickup apparatus  10  in that communication sections  37   a  and  37   b  are provided in place of the communication section  37 . The communication sections  37   a  and  37   b  are configured to be able to transmit information to and receive information from external equipment under control of the communication control section  15 . The communication section  37   a  is capable of communication through, for example, wireless LAN such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), while the communication section  37   b  is capable of communication through, for example, short-range radios such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). Note that the communication sections  37   a  and  37   b  can use communication through various types of communication schemes that are not limited to Bluetooth (registered trademark) and Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The communication control section  15  can transmit movie data via the communication section  37   a  or  37   b.    
     On the other hand, the mobile terminal  70  can be configured with, for example, a smartphone. The mobile terminal  70  includes a control section  71 . The control section  71  is configured with a processor using a CPU or the like. The control section  71  may be configured to control each section by operating in accordance with a program stored in a memory (not shown), or may be configured to implement part or all of functions by using a hardware electronic circuit. 
     The mobile terminal  70  includes communication sections  81   a,    81   b,  and  82 , and the control section  71  includes a communication control section  72  configured to control the communication sections  81   a,    81   b,  and  82 . The communication section  81   a  is capable of communication through, for example, wireless LAN such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The communication section  81   b  is capable of communication through, for example, short-range radios such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). The communication section  82  is capable of communication using a public telephone circuit. Thus, the image pickup apparatus  60  and the mobile terminal  70  can communicate with each other via the communication sections  37   a  and  81   a,  and also via the communication section  37   b  and  81   b.  An image from the image pickup apparatus  60  can be received by the communication sections  81   a  and  81   b,  and the communication sections  81   a  and  81   b  function as an image acquisition section. 
     The mobile terminal  70  includes a display section  91 , a touch panel  92 , a recording section  93 , and an operation section  94 . Components of the display section  91 , the touch panel  92 , the recording section  93 , and the operation section  94  are similar to the components of the display section  31 , the touch panel  32 , the recording section  38 , and the operation section  35  of the image pickup apparatus  60 , respectively. The control section  71  includes an image processing section  73  configured to perform image processing, a display control section  74  configured to control a display on the display section  91 , and a recording and reproduction control section  75  configured to control recording and reproduction by the recording section  93 . Components of the image processing section  73 , the display control section  74 , and the recording and reproduction control section  75  are similar to the components of the image processing section  12 , the display control section  13 , and the recording and reproduction control section  14  of the image pickup apparatus  60 , respectively. 
     The control section  71  includes an editing control section  76 . The editing control section  76  has a configuration similar to the configuration of the editing control section  16  and is configured to supplement the functions of the editing control section  16  with respect to the highlight candidate part identification processing, the highlight editing processing, and the highlight recording processing. The editing control section  76  only needs to be able to perform processing other than the processing performed by the editing control section  16 , with respect to the highlight candidate part identification processing, the highlight editing processing, and the highlight recording processing. For example, if the editing control section  16  performs only the highlight candidate part identification processing, the editing control section  76  only needs to be configured to perform the highlight editing processing and the highlight recording processing. 
     Next, operations in the thus configured embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 8, 9, and 10A to 10E .  FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing operations of the image pickup apparatus  60 .  FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing operations of the mobile terminal  70 .  FIGS. 10A to 10E  are explanatory diagrams for explaining operations in the second embodiment. 
     In the present embodiment, the image pickup apparatus  60  and the mobile terminal  70  perform the highlight candidate part identification processing, the highlight editing processing, and the highlight recording processing on a movie shot by the image pickup apparatus  60 . For example, an example will be described in which the image pickup apparatus  60  performs only the highlight candidate part identification processing, and the mobile terminal  70  performs the highlight editing processing and the highlight recording processing. 
       FIG. 10A  shows a situation in which a movie is shot at a wedding. As shown in  FIG. 10A , the display screen  31   a  of the display section  31  is provided on a back of a housing  60   a  accommodating each section of the image pickup apparatus  60 . A user  100 , who is a photographer, grasps the housing  60   a  with a right hand  101  and performs shooting while seeing the display screen  31   a  of the display section  31  in a state of capturing an object within a view area. 
     In step S 41  of  FIG. 8 , the control section  11  of the image pickup apparatus  60  determines whether or not a shooting mode is set. If the shooting mode is set, the control section  11  starts acquiring a through image in subsequent step S 42 . That is, the control section  11 , based on an operation of the operation section  35  by the photographer, controls the variable magnification control section  24 , the focus control section  25 , and the aperture control section  26  to adjust zooming, focus, and aperture. An optical image of the object enters through a light entry face of the image pickup device  23  via the optical system  22 , and the image pickup section  21  acquires a picked-up image. 
     The picked-up image is read by the control section  11 , subjected to image processing by the image processing section  12 , and thereafter supplied to the display section  31 . Thus, the through image is displayed on the display screen  31   a  of the display section  31 . Note that  FIG. 10A  shows that the through image is displayed on the display screen  31   a.  When the user  100  carries out an operation for shooting, in step S 42 , the recording and reproduction control section  14  starts shooting, and starts provisional recording by providing the picked-up image subjected to the signal processing by the image processing section  12  to the recording section  38 . 
       FIG. 10B  shows a movie to be provisionally recorded.  FIG. 10B  shows partial frames K 1  to K 5  of the movie acquired by the shooting. The frames K 1  to K 5  show the picked-up image of a candle lighting ceremony in the wedding, and the frames K 4  and K 5  represent frames at a timing of candle lighting. 
     Now, it is assumed that the user  100  desires to set a highlight candidate part at the timing of candle lighting. In this case, the user  100  only needs to operate the operation section  35  at the timing of candle lighting to designate a starting point of the highlight candidate part. For example, the editing control section  16  can be configured to identify the starting point of the highlight candidate part by the user  100  pressing a button  102  as the operation section  35  provided on a back of the housing  60   a  with a thumb  101 T. In this case, the user  100  can specify the starting point of the highlight candidate part through an extremely easy operation of pressing the button  102  with the thumb  101 T during shooting, and therefore can shoot a movie in a manner of concentrating efforts relatively on shooting operations such as composing and focusing. 
     When the editing control section  16  determines in step S 43  that a designation operation is carried out by the user  100 , the editing control section  16 , at a timing of the designation operation, provisionally records an identification signal in association with the movie provisionally recorded currently (step S 44 ). Note that the editing control section  16  may be configured to automatically identify the starting point of the highlight candidate part based on a result of image analysis by the image processing section  12  (step S 43 ). For example, information on characteristics of an image at time of candle lighting in a candle lighting ceremony is stored in the recording section  38  beforehand, whereby the editing control section  16  can detect the timing of candle lighting and can use this timing to identify the starting point of the highlight candidate part. 
     In step S 45 , the control section  11  determines whether or not an operation for stopping shooting is carried out. When an operation for stopping shooting is not carried out, the control section  11  moves processing back to step S 41  and repeats steps S 41  to S 45 . When an operation for stopping shooting is carried out, the control section  11  performs processing for stopping shooting in step S 46 . After rendering a thumbnail display for checking the shooting (step S 47 ), the control section  11  records the provisionally recorded movie and identification signal after compression processing, files the recorded movie and identification signal, and then moves processing back to step S 41 . 
     Note that when the control section  11  determines in step S 41  that the shooting mode is not set, the control section  11  determines in step S 49  whether or not a communication setting is instructed. If a communication setting is instructed, the control section  11  makes the communication setting necessary for communication with the mobile terminal  70  in step S 50  and moves processing to step S 51 . If a communication setting is not instructed, the control section  11  moves processing to step S 51 , without making any communication setting. 
     In step S 51 , the control section  11  determines whether or not a reproduction mode is designated. If a reproduction mode is designated, the control section  11  reproduces a designated file in subsequent step S 52 . That is, the recording and reproduction control section  14  reads and reproduces an image recorded in the recording section  38 , and provides the reproduced image to the display section  31  to display the reproduced image. Note that as in the first embodiment, identification of a highlight candidate part can be similarly performed also in the reproduction mode. For example, at time of reproduction in step S 52 , a highlight candidate part may be identified by performing processing as in steps S 43  and S 44 . 
     It is also possible to display the reproduced image on external equipment by providing the reproduced image to the external equipment. In step S 53  subsequent to step S 52 , the control section  11  determines whether or not external transmission is designated. If external transmission is designated, the control section  11  transmits a designated file or designated frames (step S 54 ). If external transmission is not designated, or when the transmission in step S 54  is completed, the control section  11  determines in step S 55  whether or not it is instructed to stop the reproduction. If it is not instructed to stop the reproduction, the control section  11  moves processing back to step S 53  and repeats steps S 53  to S 55 . When it is instructed to stop the reproduction, the control section  11  moves processing back to step S 51 . 
     When the control section  11  determines in step S 51  that a reproduction mode is not designated, the control section  11  moves processing to step S 56  and determines whether or not a communication request is issued. If no communication request is issued, the control section  11  moves processing from step S 56  back to step S 41 . When a communication request is issued, the control section  11  moves processing from step S 56  to step S 57  and transmits a thumbnail list to the other end of communication. Thumbnails are generated for each movie recorded in the recording section  38 , and a thumbnail list shows each recorded movie. 
     When a selection signal is received, the control section  11  transmits a highlight candidate part of a movie corresponding to a selected thumbnail to the other end of communication (step S 59 ). In step S 60 , the control section  11  determines whether or not communication is completed. If communication is not completed, the control section  11  moves processing back to step S 58 . When communication is completed, the control section  11  moves processing back to step S 56 . 
     Note that data transmitted in step S 59  may include image data of a predetermined time period in length before and after the highlight candidate part in addition to the highlight candidate part so that the mobile terminal  70 , which is the other end of communication, can change the candidate time period. In step S 59 , a configuration is also possible in which only image data of the identified highlight candidate part is first transmitted, and then image data before and after the highlight candidate part is transmitted in accordance with a request from the mobile terminal  70 . Further, in step S 59 , a configuration is also possible in which a selected movie is transmitted in its entirety, and an identification signal for identifying a highlight candidate part is transmitted in association with the transmitted movie. 
     At events such as a wedding, it is difficult to perform highlight editing immediately after a movie is shot, in many cases. In the present embodiment, for example, after an event is finished, highlight editing can be performed by transferring necessary information to the mobile terminal  70 . In addition, high degree of convenience can be provided because the mobile terminal  70  such as a smartphone can be operated on a train and the like on way home from the event, and a varied movie can be easily created. 
       FIG. 10C  shows a state of such highlight editing. A user  110  of the mobile terminal  70 , to which the image data including the highlight candidate part is transferred from the image pickup apparatus  60 , grasps a housing  70   a  accommodating each section of the mobile terminal  70  with a left hand  111 L and operates the touch panel  92  disposed on a display screen  91   a  of the display section  91  with a right hand finger  111 R. 
     In step S 61  of  FIG. 9 , the control section  71  of the mobile terminal  70  renders a mode display. In step S 62 , the control section  71  determines whether or not movie editing is designated. When the user  110  instructs to edit the movie, the control section  71  moves processing from step S 62  to step S 63 , and acquires and displays the thumbnail list. That is, the control section  11  of the image pickup apparatus  60  transmits the thumbnail list in step S 57 , and the control section  71  of the mobile terminal  70  displays the acquired thumbnail list on the display screen  91   a  of the display section  91 . 
     When the user  110  carries out an operation for selecting a predetermined thumbnail from the thumbnail list displayed on the display screen  91   a,  the control section  11  determines in step S 64  that a thumbnail is selected, and displays the selected thumbnail in an enlarged manner.  FIG. 10C  shows a display example in such a case, in which a button  113  for instructing a highlight editing mode and a preview display  112   a  for displaying a preview of a selected image are displayed on the display screen  91   a.    
     In step S 71  subsequent to step S 64 , the control section  11  determines whether or not highlight editing is instructed. When the user  110  operates the button  113  by touching the button  113  with the finger  111 R, the control section  11  moves processing from step S 64  to step S 71  and repeatedly displays the selected display highlight candidate part of the movie. Note that if a thumbnail is not selected in step S 64  or if highlight editing is not instructed in step S 70 , the control section  11  moves processing to step S 65  and determines whether or not an operation for moving processing back is carried out. When an operation for moving processing back is carried out, the control section  11  moves processing back to step S 61 . If an operation for moving processing back is not performed, the control section  11  moves processing back to step S 64  and falls in a state of waiting for a thumbnail to be selected. 
     When the control section  11  determines in step S 62  that movie editing is not designated, the control section  11  moves processing to step S 67  and determines whether or not a communication setting or the like is designated. If a communication setting or the like is designated, the control section  11  makes the communication setting or the like in step S 68 . For example, when the control section  11  determines in step S 67  that image reception is designated, the control section  11  receives an image in step S 68 . When the control section  11  determines in step S 67  that a communication setting or the like is not designated, or after the processing in step S 68 , the control section  11  shifts to another mode. 
       FIG. 10D  shows a display example of a repeated display of the highlight candidate part in step S 71 . In step S 71 , the editing control section  76  controls the display control section  74  so that the display shown in  FIG. 10D  is displayed on the display screen  91   a.  In the example of  FIG. 10D , a preview display  112   b  is displayed in an upper portion of the display screen  91   a,  buttons  114 SB and  114 SF and a display  115   a  are displayed correspondingly to a left end of the preview display  112   b,  and buttons  114 EB and  114 EF and a display  115   b  are displayed correspondingly to a right end of the preview display  112   b.  Moreover, a decide button  116  and a return button  117  are also displayed at a lower end of the display screen  91   a.  Note that in the present embodiment, the preview display  112   b  also only needs to be able to identifiably display frames corresponding to a highlight candidate part. Accordingly, the preview display  112   b  may display only frames corresponding to the highlight candidate part, or may distinguishably display frames corresponding to the highlight candidate part and other frames. 
     The editing control section  16  causes the preview display  112   b  to, for example, repeatedly display the highlight candidate part of the predetermined candidate time period in length. The candidate time period may be configured to be designated by the image pickup apparatus  60 , or may be configured to be set at a predetermined value by the editing control section  16 . In step S 72 , the editing control section  16  determines whether or not an OK operation is carried out. When an operation of the decide button  116  by the user  110  is detected, the editing control section  16  determines that an OK operation is carried out, and moves processing to step S 73  and records the selected highlight candidate part in the recording section  93 . 
     When the editing control section  16  determines in step S 72  that an OK operation is not carried out, the editing control section  16  determines in subsequent step S 74  whether or not an operation for shifting timing is carried out. When the user  110  operates any one of the buttons  114 SB,  114 SF,  114 EB, and  114 EF by touching, the editing control section  16  moves processing to step S 75  and changes the candidate time period of the highlight candidate part according to the operated button. For example, when the user  110  operates the button  114 SB by touching, the editing control section  16  shifts a starting point of the highlight candidate part backward. When the user  110  operates the button  114 SF by touching, the editing control section  16  shifts the starting point of the highlight candidate part forward. When the user  110  operates the button  114 EB by touching, the editing control section  16  shifts an ending point of the highlight candidate part backward. When the user  110  operates the button  114 EF by touching, the editing control section  16  shifts the ending point of the highlight candidate part forward. 
     The editing control section  16  causes the highlight candidate part, the candidate time period of which is adjusted in step S 75 , to be repeatedly displayed in step S 71 . Note that the display  115   a  indicates that the adjusted starting point of the highlight candidate part is three seconds earlier based on the timing of the identification signal as a reference, and the display  115   b  indicates that the adjusted ending point of the highlight candidate part is three seconds later based on the timing of the identification signal as a reference. 
       FIG. 10E  shows the highlight candidate part resulting from such adjustment. The example of  FIG. 10E  shows that the identification signal is recorded correspondingly to a timing of the frame K 4  shown in  FIG. 10B , and as a result of the adjustment to the candidate time period in step S 75 , a total of six seconds (three seconds before and after the timing of the frame K 4  each) are set for the highlight candidate part. 
     In step S 76  subsequent to step S 74 , the editing control section  16  determines whether or not a return operation is carried out. When the editing control section  16  determines that the return button  117  is operated by the user  110 , the editing control section  16  moves processing back to step S 65 , without recording the highlight candidate part. If the editing control section  16  determines in step S 76  that the return button  117  is not operated, the editing control section  16  moves processing back to step S 71  and repeatedly display the highlight candidate part. 
     In this manner, the user  110  can easily adjust the candidate time period of the highlight candidate part. Note that in this case, the highlight candidate part after the candidate time period is adjusted is recorded in the recording section  93 . The editing control section  16  combines a plurality of such highlight candidate parts recorded in the recording section  93 , whereby a varied and interesting movie can be easily created. In this case, as in the first embodiment, the editing control section  16  may be configured to determine highlight candidate parts to be adopted and highlight candidate parts be rejected based on a user operation and create a movie by combining only the adopted highlight candidate parts. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, effects similar to the effects of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, since processing is performed distributedly by the image pickup apparatus and the mobile terminal, the present embodiment offers greater convenience because editing work and the like can be performed using the mobile terminal such as a smartphone, which renders an excellent screen display and provides operational ease of input operation. For example, in contrast to a stationary image pickup section, a highlight movie can be created through free operations with no restriction as to the installation location of an image pickup section. Convenience may be reduced if a high degree of freedom is not given, particularly in uses where a result of picking up an image for a long time period is unvaried, and when a change occurs, it is checked how the change develops. 
     It is also possible to use services of an external server, for the highlight candidate part identification processing, the highlight editing processing, and the highlight recording processing, and also for recording and the like. In this case, by allowing the external server to perform part of the processing, the processing performed by the image pickup apparatus, the mobile terminal, and the like can be reduced, and editing work can be smoothed. In addition, identification of a highlight candidate part according to a desire of a user can be implemented with high accuracy. 
     Note that although each embodiment of the present invention describes an example in which a digital camera is used as shooting equipment, the shooting equipment only needs to be capable of shooting a movie. The shooting equipment may be a lens-type camera, a digital single-lens reflex camera, or a digital compact camera, or may be a video camera or a movie camera. Further, the shooting equipment of course may be a built-in camera of a mobile information terminal (PDA: personal digital assist) such as a mobile telephone or a smartphone, or the like. The shooting equipment may also be optical equipment for industrial use or medical use, such as an endoscope or a microscope, or may be a surveillance camera, a vehicle-mounted camera, a stationary camera, or a camera attached to, for example, a television receiver or a personal computer. 
     In the embodiments, the sections may be configured by combining a dedicated circuit and a plurality of general circuits, or may be configured by combining processors such as a microprocessor and a CPU that operate in accordance with pre-programed software, or combining sequences, as necessary. A design is also possible in which part or all of control of the sections is assumed by an external apparatus, in which case a wired or wireless communication circuit is interposed. Although a communication section is not particularly described here for simplification, an embodiment is also conceivable in which the characteristic processing of the present application and supplemental processing are performed by external equipment such as a server and a personal computer. That is, the present application also covers a case where a plurality of pieces of equipment work in coordination with each other to implement the characteristic features of the present invention. For communication in such a case, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), a telephone circuit, and the like are used. Moreover, in such a case, communication may be performed through a USB or the like. The dedicated circuit, the general circuits, and the control section may be integrated to be configured as an ASIC. 
     The present invention is not limited to each of the above-described embodiments as it is. In a stage of carrying out each embodiment, the constituent elements may be modified and implemented, without departing from the scope of the embodiment. Various inventions can be made by appropriately combining a plurality of the constituent elements disclosed in each of the above-described embodiments. For example, some constituent elements of all the constituent elements shown in each embodiment may be eliminated. The constituent elements in the different embodiments may be combined appropriately. 
     Note that “first”, “next”, “subsequently”, and the like used for convenience to describe the operation flows in claims, the description, and the drawings do not mean that the operation flows need to be followed in such order. It is needless to say that each step included in the operation flows can be appropriately omitted in parts that do not affect the nature of the invention. 
     Of the technologies described here, many of the controls and functions described mainly in the flowcharts can be configured by means of a program. A computer reads and executes the program, whereby the controls and functions described above can be implemented. Part or all of the program can be recorded or stored in a removable medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, or a non-volatile memory, or in a storage medium such as a hard disk or a volatile memory, as a computer program product, and can be distributed or provided at time of product shipment, or via the removable medium or a communication circuit. A user can easily implement the image recording control apparatus according to any of the embodiments by downloading the program via a communication network and installing the program in a computer, or by installing the program in a computer from the recording medium.