Patent Publication Number: US-7714905-B2

Title: Digital camera and method of changing data processing sequence used for the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/419,070 filed Oct. 15, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part application of PCT/JP98/01252 filed on Mar. 20, 1998 which claims benefit of priority based on Japanese Application Nos. Hei. 9-99454, filed Apr. 16, 1997 and Hei. 10-61020, filed Mar. 12, 1998. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a digital camera and, more particularly, a digital camera which can change the processing sequence such as display sequence of image data recorded on a recording medium. 
   Upon taking pictures successively, there may be occurred such a case wherein after pictures of a certain object A are taken and then pictures of another object B are taken, a photographer wants to take pictures of the object A again due to some reason, for example, he could not or forgot to take desired images. It is of course that the suceedingly taken picture of the object A is recorded after the pictures of the object B. In such case, if the suceedingly taken picture of the object A can be rearranged to continue to the precedingly taken pictures of the object A, it is convenient for handling. According to the normal camera using the film, since the taken pictures are recorded on the film in time series, it is very difficult to change sequence of the taken pictures on the film. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In recent years, the digital camera (electronic still camera) are now spreading. Since image data which are picked up and recorded by the digital camera are electronic data (digital data), it is convenient for the user if picked-up and recorded sequence of the image data can be changed to display them when the image data are displayed on a liquid crystal display, and if the image data can be transmitted while changing the sequence of the image data when the image data are transmitted to a personal computer (abbreviated as “PC” hereinafter). Especially, in the digital camera which has a function for reproducing the recorded images in order, it is very convenient if the user can change the reproduction order. 
   The present invention has been made in view of the above requests, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera which can change processing sequence of the image data recorded on the recording medium into desired sequence, and a method of changing processing sequence of image data recorded in a digital camera. 
   In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, there is provided a digital camera for recording image data onto a recording medium by converting an image pickup light photoelectrically, comprising: an image data management file for storing a plurality of recording information of the recorded image data in connection with the respective image data, the image data management file stored into the recording medium separately from the image data; and means for updating the image data management file. 
   Processing sequence of the recorded image data is changed by updating at least a part of the plurality of recording information stored in the image data management file. 
   The digital camera further comprises display means for displaying the recorded image data. An order of which the image data are displayed on the display means is changed in compliance with the change of the processing sequence. 
   The digital camera further comprises output means for outputting the recorded image data to an external device. An order of which the image data are outputted to the external device is changed in compliance with the change of the processing sequence. 
   The digital camera of the present invention other than the above contains those evident from description of the best modes for implementing the present invention or the drawings as an aspect of the present invention. 
   According to the present invention, there is also provided a method of changing processing sequence of image data recorded in a recording medium of a digital camera by converting an image pick up light photoelectrically, the digital camera an image data management file for storing a plurality of recording information of the recorded image data in connection with the respective image data, the image data management file stored into the recording medium separately from the image data, the method comprising the steps of: deciding processing sequence of predetermined image data; and updating the image data management file in compliance with the processing sequence. 
   The step of updating the image data management file includes a step of updating at least a part of a plurality of recording information stored in the image data management file. 
   The method for the digital camera of the present invention other than the above contains those evident from description of the best modes for implementing the present invention or the drawings as an aspect of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings: 
       FIGS. 1(   a ) and  1 ( b ) are block diagrams showing an example of a configuration of a digital camera according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view showing an example of a configuration of a controller; 
       FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ) are views showing an example of a configuration of a data management file; 
       FIGS. 4(   a ) and  4 ( b ) are views showing update of the data management file in order to change logically the image processing sequence; 
       FIGS. 5(   a )- 5 ( c ) are views showing an example of a configuration of another data management file; 
       FIGS. 6(   a ) and  6 ( b ) are views showing logical change of the image processing sequence by updating the data management file shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a view showing another logical change of the image processing sequence by updating the data management file shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIGS. 8(   a )- 8 ( c ) are views showing an example of an image insertion display; 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of an image insertion section; 
       FIGS. 10(   a )- 10 ( c ) are views showing another example of the image insertion display; and 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing another example of the operation of the image insertion section. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Next, embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings hereinafter. 
     FIG. 1(   a ) is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a digital camera according to the present invention. The digital camera  100  comprises an optical system  1  composed of lenses, a diaphragm mechanism, etc., and for irradiating a reflected light reflected from an imaging object onto a CCD  2 ; the CCD  2  for converting an image pickup light supplied from the optical system  1  into an electric signal; a signal processor  3  for processing the signal from the CCD  2  and then outputting the signal as multi-valued (R, G, B) raster data (image data) to a frame memory  6 ; a control section  4  for controlling operations of the signal processor  3 , the frame memories  6 , a signal processor  7  and a recording medium controller  8 , and controlling the image processing, the image compressing/expansion processings, etc.; an input section  5  for inputting an instruction from the user by the operation of the switch, etc. to provide it to the control section  4 ; the signal processor  7  for converting the R, G, B raster data on the frame memory  6  into a luminance component Y and color difference components U, V, JPEG(Joint Photographic Experts Group) compressing these components, and executing the contraction processing to generate thumbnail image; the recording medium controller  8  for receiving the output of the signal processor  7 , and executing the controls to write JPEG-compressed image data (referred to as “JPEG image data” hereinafter) and thumbnail image data into a predetermined location of a built-in recording medium  9  or an extended recording medium  10 , to read respective recorded JPEG image data, etc.; the built-in recording medium  9  for storing the JPEG image data; the extended recording medium  10  which is attached as occasion demands; an interface  11  employed to communicate the data with external devices; a display section  15  composed of LED indicators, etc., for displaying operation states of the switch and functional specifications; and a display screen  16  composed of a liquid crystal display, etc., for displaying the picked-up image or the imaging object image. 
   The built-in recording medium  9  is composed of a 4 MB flash memory being fixed on the inside of the camera  100 . A 4 to 45 MB compact flash (trademark of SanDisk Corporation) card is employed as the extended recording medium  10 . As the built-in recording medium  9  and the extended recording medium  10 , a SRAM (Static RAM), a memory card, a FD (floppy disk), HDD (hard disk drive), MD (mini disk), etc. may be employed. 
     FIG. 1(   b ) shows a configuration of the control section  4 . The control section  4  is composed of a CPU  41 , a RAM  42 , and a ROM  43 . Control means  430  ( FIG. 2)  which consists of a group of programs necessary for operation control and data processing in the digital camera  100  is stored in the ROM  43 . If a group of programs constituting a controller  430  stored in the ROM  43  are stored in the built-in recording medium  9 , the ROM  43  may be omitted. 
     FIG. 2  is a view showing an example of a configuration of the controller  430  stored in the ROM  43 . The controller  430  is composed of a means required for the operation control of the digital camera  100 , and an means required for the JPEG compression of the image data, storing/reading of the JPEG image data, or the expansion of the JPEG image data. 
   The controller  430  comprises a control system  431 , an operation judgement section  432 , internal programs  433 , data management section  50 , and an image insertion section  60 . Although the a data management section  50  and the image insertion section  60  are contained in the internal programs  433  in the embodiment, they are illustrated independently by way of explanation. 
   The control system  431  executes an overall operation control of the digital camera  100 , for example, control of a diaphragm motor driver (not shown) of the optical system, operation controls of the signal processor  3 , the frame memory  6 , the signal processor  7  and the recording medium controller  8 , and controls of the operation judgement section  432 , the data management section  50 , and the image insertion section  60 . 
   The operation judgement section  432  judges what operation is input from the input section  5  in accordance with the instruction given by the user when a desired operation or processing is selected by the user to operate the switch, etc. provided on the digital camera  100 . In response to the decision result, the operation judgement section  432  transfers the control to the concerned program of the internal programs  433  to the image insertion section  60 , or transfers the control to the control system  431  to execute the externally introduced program. 
   The internal programs  433  are made up of programs for picking up the images, generating the JPEG image data, and controlling LED display at the time of picking up the image, etc., and are built in the ROM  43 . As an example of the internal program, there is a compression program in the JPEG specification, which is necessary for writing the JPEG image data into the built-in recording medium  9 . 
   The image data (JPEG image data) are processed by the internal programs  433  or a circuit equivalent thereto, and stored in the built-in recording medium  9  or the extended recording medium  10  by the recording medium controller  8 . 
   The data management section  50  associates with load/deletion/addition of the picked-up image data into/from/into the recording medium  9  and load/deletion/addition of the program code introduced from the external device, and executes data management which is equivalent to file management being widely conducted by the computer device such as the PC, etc. For example, there is the file management in MS-DOS (trademark of Microsoft Corporation), etc. 
   The generated image data are loaded onto the recording medium  9  or the extended recording medium  10  by the recording medium controller  8 . In this case, there is a necessity that the recording location of the image data on the recording medium  9  must be managed. For example, the data must be written into empty areas, i.e., write enable areas when the image data are recorded, but there is a need that the recording medium controller  8  must know which area of the recording medium  9  is the empty areas. 
   For this reason, the data management section  50  is constructed to handle a sheet of image data as the data file, provide separately its register list, e.g., directory, and record the register list itself in a predetermined location of the recording medium as a file (referred to as a “data management file  51 ” hereinafter). The predetermined location of the recording medium corresponds to a predetermined block if the recording medium  9  is composed of the flash memory, or a predetermined sector and track if the recording medium  9  is composed of the magnetic disk. 
     FIGS. 3(   a ) and ( b ) show an example of the data management file  51 . The data management file  51  has a management record  510  every image data, and such management record comprises at least an image number (or ID number)  511 , a recording start position  512  and a recording end position  513  of the image data, a pointer  514  indicating a continuous recording start position, an associated image number  515 , and a write inhibit/enable flag  516 . 
   The image number  511  consists of a data type code and a number. The thumbnail image data, the image data, etc. are present as the data type, and the data type code is defined such that the thumbnail image data are indicated by “A”, the image data are indicated by “B”, or the like. 
   Normally the recorded address of the image is written into the recording start position  512  and the recording end position  513 . If the recording medium  9  is composed of the flash memory, the block number of the corresponding image data is written thereinto. 
   The pointer indicates a continuous recording start position which is searched by the recording medium controller  8  when an area where one data is to be written is smaller in size of the data and which is separated from the area where the one data is to be written. According to use of the pointer, the data can be logically continuously loaded and read. In this case, if the recording end position coincides with the end position of the loaded data, a special code, e.g., 0000, is written into the pointer  514 . 
   The associated image number  515  records the image number of the corresponding thumbnail image data if the concerned data are the image data, or the image number of the corresponding image data if the concerned data are the thumbnail image data. In this event, as shown in  FIG. 3(   a ), if thumbnail image management records and JPEG image management records correspond to each other at a fixed distance (address distance), the associated image number  515  should not be provided since the thumbnail image management records and the JPEG image management records can be correlated with each other. 
   As for the write inhibit/enable flag  516 , normally the write inhibit code is written when the data are loaded while the write enable code is written when the data are deleted, etc. Since the data management section  50  checks the flag  516 , then treats the data in the area which is defined by the recording start position  512  and the recording end position  513  and the in area which is defined by the pointer  514  as the read inhibit data, the image data can be logically deleted in fact when the write enable flag is written into the area. 
   The data management section  50  is not limited to the above system. The data management section  50  may be constructed to write several places of data identification numbers to head positions of the thumbnail image data and the JPEG image data, for example, A 01  to An for the thumbnail image data and B 01  to Bn for the JPEG image data upon loading the data, and then to manage recording information such as attributes, write location, occupied areas, etc. of respective data by searching the identification numbers from the head of the recording medium. 
   As the method of changing processing sequence of the recorded image data, there are change of physical sequence of the image data and change of logical sequence of the image data. 
   As a particular example of change of physical sequence of the image data, in the image data recorded in the order of the image numbers A 010 , A 020 , A 030 , . . . , An−1, An, an example in which A 011  picked up after An is inserted after A 010  will be considered. First, the image data of the image number A 020  are saved to the RAM  42 , then the image data of the image number A 011  are written into the location of the image data of the image number A 020 , and then the image data of the image number A 011  are canceled from the original location. Then, the image data of the image number A 030  are saved into the RAM  42 , and then the image data of the image number A 020  which have already been saved in the RAM  42  are written into the location of the image data of the image number A 030 . All image data are replaced in the order of the image numbers A 010 , A 011 , A 020 , A 030 , . . . , An−1, An by repeating the above operations. 
   The above method is suitable for sequence change in the record which has a relatively small data size, e.g., sorting of a key record of the index file. It is difficult to save the image data having the large data size into the RAM  42  having a small capacity. Since save and load must be repeated in unit of block, or the like to write one image data, the image data must be saved into a working memory, e.g., for which the frame memory  6  is substituted, in practice. However, since the number of writing times of the flash memory cannot be assured only about ten thousand times if the flash memory is employed as the built-in recording medium  9 , it is impossible to say that it is not desired to repeat load/cancel operations many times in changing the sequence of the image. 
   Next, the change of logical sequence of the image data will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 3(   a ) and ( b ). The change of the processing sequence of the image data can be achieved by replacing the management record  510  registered in the data management file  51  in unit of the image number. Since the number of the management records which can be registered in the data management file  51  is small and also the size of the management record  510  which consists of the image number  511 , the recording start position  512 , the recording end position  513 , and addition information ( 514  to  516 ) is small, the sequence of the management record  510  can be updated physically by loading the data management file  51  itself into the RAM  42 . Also, the data management file  51  can be stored in the built-in memory medium  9  and the extended memory medium  10  respectively, but it may be stored in a rewritable memory such as EEPROM, etc. 
     FIGS. 4(   a ) and ( b ) are views showing the logical change of the processing sequence. 
     FIG. 4(   a ) shows the data management file  51  before the processing sequence is changed.  FIG. 4(   b ) shows the data management file  51  after the processing sequence has been changed. For convenience of explanation, only the image number  511 , the recording start position  512 , and the recording end position  513  are illustrated for five image data. 
   In  FIG. 4(   a ), it is assumed that the image of the image number A 05  is inserted as an inserted image between A 01  and A 02 . To begin with, the management records  510  of A 02  to A 04  are saved in the RAM  42 , and then the management record  510  of A 05  is loaded in the location A 02 . Then, when the management records  510  of A 02  to A 04  are loaded in the locations A 03  to A 05 , the order of the management records  510  is A 01 , A 05 , A 02 , A 03 , A 04  and thus A 05  is inserted between A 01  and A 02 . After this, as shown in  FIG. 4(   b ), the image numbers are updated in ascending order like A 01 , A 02 , A 03 , A 04 , and A 05 . As a result, the image insertion can be achieved logically without the change of the physical location of the image data which are stored in the recording medium. 
   If the flash memory is employed as the built-in recording medium  9 , the block number is written into the recording start position  512 , the recording end position  513 , and the pointer  514 , and the data management file  51  itself is loaded in unit of block. Therefore, the new data management file  51  being changed as above can be implemented by saving all the data management files  51  in the RAM  42  once, and then canceling the contents of the block of the flash memory on which the data management files  51  has been written. 
   Other Embodiments of the Present Invention 
   Another example of data management by the data management section  50  is shown in  FIGS. 5(   a ) to ( c ). The image data are managed by a file name management file  71 , a file management table  72 , and an image data  73 . The file name management file  71  consists of a file name  711  for indicating each image data  731 , and a pointer  712  for indicating a location in which the image data  731  is recorded. The above pointer  712 , and a recording start location  721  and a recording end location  722  in which the image data  731  is recorded are stored in the file management table  72 . In order to indicate the end of the image data, a special code, e.g., “FFFFFFFF” is written as the file name. 
   Another Embodiment 1 
   The logical change of the processing sequence of the image data will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 6(   a ) and ( b ). 
   The processing sequence of the image data is given in compliance with the stored order of the file names  711  stored in the file name management file  71 . As shown in  FIG. 6(   a ), it is assumed that the image data A corresponds to the file name of image  001  and then the image data B, C, D, E correspond to the file names of images  002  to  005  in sequence. At this time, the processing sequence can be given as the processing sequence of the image data A, B, C, D, E in compliance with the stored order of the file names  711 . 
   Then, let us consider the case where the image data are arranged in the processing sequence of the image data A, E, B, C, D by updating the processing sequence of the image data. As shown in  FIG. 6(   b ), the image data are updated by checking the pointer  712  in the file name management file  71 . Since the pointer  712  in the file name management file  71  is not updated, the processing sequence of the image data is changed in the order of the image data A, E, B, C, D. 
   Another Embodiment 2 
   Although the processing sequence of the image data is set in the stored order of the file names  711  in the above another embodiment 1, data indicating the processing sequence will be attached to the file name  711  per se in this another Embodiment 2. 
   For instance, “XXX” in the image XXX of the file name  711  is managed as the data indicating the processing sequence. In the example shown is  FIG. 6(   a ), since image  001  is first processed and then images  002 , . . . , image  005  are processed in order suceedingly, the processing sequence of the image data  731  is given as the order of the image data A, B, C, D, E. 
   Next, let us consider the case where the above processing sequence is set in the order of the image data A, E, B, C, D. Since the processing sequence of the image data is given by the sequence of the numerals in the file names if only the file names  711  in the file name management table  71  are updated as shown in  FIG. 7 , such processing sequence of the image data can be changed on the order of the image data A, E, B, C, D. 
   Another Embodiment 3 
   Unless the image data management table is not particularly provided, the processing sequence can be changed by attaching information indicating the processing sequence to a part of the image data and then updating the information. 
   Embodiment 1 
     FIGS. 8(   a ) to ( c ) are views showing an example of a display screen on which an inserted image and an inserted position candidate image are displayed.  FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of an image insertion section  60 . 
   (1) Display of Inserted Image and Inserted Position Candidate Image 
   In step S 1 , first the first thumbnail image on the recording medium as well as the image number is displayed. If the user continues to push a button  19 , the thumbnail images as well as the image numbers are displayed continuously, as shown in  FIG. 8(   a ). If the user pushes a button  20 , the display returns to the thumbnail image which is precedingly displayed. If the user pushes the button  17  when the image to be inserted is displayed, the desired inserted image and the mountain landscape image of the image number A 051  can be displayed fixedly on the right side of the screen, as shown in  FIG. 8(   b ). 
   In step S 2 , the first thumbnail image A 001  (portrait image) is displayed as the inserted position candidate image on the left side of the screen. For example, if the user desires to combine the suceedingly picked-up mountain landscape image A 051  with the precedingly picked-up mountain landscape image together and then pushes a button  19  to search the mountain landscape image, the thumbnail images are displayed subsequently. If the user pushes the button  20 , the screen returns to the precedingly displayed thumbnail image. If the user pushes the button  17  when the desired mountain landscape image A 020  is displayed, the image A 020  can be displayed fixedly as the inserted position candidate image on the left side of the screen. The processing advances to step S 3 . 
   (2) Decision of Image Insertion Position 
   In step S 3 , the inserted position deciding screen in  FIG. 8(   c ) is displayed to promote the user to decide that the inserted image A 051  should be inserted before the image A 020  or after the image A 020 . If the user pushes the button  19  to insert the inserted image A 051  before the image A 020 , the image A 051  and the image A 020  are switched and displayed on the left side and the right side respectively. If the user pushes the button  19  to insert the inserted image A 051  after the image A 020 , the image A 051  and the image A 020  are displayed as they are. In either case, flashing the OK mark requests the user to confirm them. If the button  17  is pushed, an insertion flag is set to “1” when the inserted image A 051  should be inserted before the image A 020  while the insertion flag is set to “2” when the inserted image A 051  should be inserted after the image A 020 , and then the processing goes to step S 4 . 
   (3) Image Insertion 
   In step S 4 , the management record  510  of the image number A 051  is held by searching the data management file  51 . If the flag is “1”, the management records  510  of the image number A 051  and subsequent image numbers are read from the data management file  51 , and then saved in the RAM  42 . The management record  510  of the image number A 051  is loaded into the location of the management record  510  of the image number A 020  in the data management file  51 . The management record  510  which has been saved in the RAM  42  is then read, and then written in next recording locations subsequently. Then, the processing goes to step S 6 . Since the image number (associated image number  515 ) of the corresponding JPEG image is written in the thumbnail image, the sequence of the management record  510  of the JPEG image can be similarly changed. If the insertion flag is set to “2”, step S 5  is carried out. 
   In step S 5 , the management records  510  of the image number A 021  following to the image number A 020  and subsequent image numbers are read from the data management file  51 , and then saved in the RAM  42 . The management records  510  of the image number A 051  is loaded into the location of the management records  510  of the image number A 021  in the data management file  51 , and then the management records  510  which have been saved in the RAM  42  are read and written into the succeeding recording locations successively. Then, the processing is shifted to step S 6 . In this case, the sequence of the management records  510  of the JPEG images can be similarly changed. 
   In step S 6 , the thumbnail image management record of the data management file  51 , the image number  511  of the JPEG image management record, and the associated image number  515  are updated in ascending order. 
   According to the above steps, the desired inserted image can be logically inserted into the desired locations. Since the data recording medium controller  8  refers to the data management file  51  in reading/loading or deleting the image data, the image data train can be output in accordance with the sequence of the management record  510  in the data management file  51  at the time of display onto the liquid crystal display  16  or output of the image data to the external device. 
   Embodiment 2 
     FIGS. 10(   a ) and ( b ) are examples of the display screen on which only the inserted position candidate image is displayed.  FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing the operation of the image insertion section  60 . 
   (1) Display of Inserted Image and Inserted Position Candidate Image 
   In step S 11  in  FIG. 11 , first the first thumbnail image on the recording medium together with the image number is displayed. If the user continues to push the button  19 , the thumbnail images as well as the image numbers are displayed continuously as the inserted position candidate image, as shown in  FIG. 10(   a ). If the user pushes the button  20 , the display returns to the precedingly displayed thumbnail image. If the user pushes the button  17 , the processing goes to step S 12 . 
   For example, it is assumed that the image number of the desired fish image to be inserted (not shown), e.g., A 56 , is stored and then the image A 56  is inserted into the location of the previously picked-up fish image by looking for such location. If the user continues to push the button  19 , the inserted position candidate images  82 ,  82 ′ are displayed, as shown in  FIG. 10(   a ). When the images are displayed by operating the buttons  19 ,  20 , and then the user, if finds the fish image, pushes the button  17 . When the button  17  is pushed, the processing goes to step S 12 . 
   (2) Decision of Image Insertion Position 
   In step S 12 , the inserted position deciding screen in  FIG. 10(   b ) is displayed to promote the user to decide that the stored image A 56  to be inserted should be inserted before the image Al  1 , or between the images Al  1  and Al 2 , or after the image Al 2 . 
   If the user pushes the button  19 , the insertion flag is set to “1” to insert the inserted image before the image Al 1 . If the user pushes the button  20 , the insertion flag is set to “2” to insert the inserted image between the images Al  1  and Al 2 . If the user pushes the button  18 , the insertion flag is set to “3” to insert the inserted image after the image Al 2 . 
   (3) Image Insertion 
   In step S 14 , when the user pushes the button  19  shown in  FIG. 10(   c ) one time, “10” is added to the inserted image counter and the counter value is displayed on the liquid crystal display  16 . When the user pushes the button  17 , the thumbnail image of the concerned image number is displayed, and then the processing goes to step S 15 . While, if the button  18  is pushed as the error, then the counter value is set to “0” and the display returns to the display shown in  FIG. 10(   c ). 
   In step S 15 , the management record  510  of the image number A 56  is held by searching the data management file  51 . If the flag is “1”, the management records  510  of the image number A 051  and subsequent image numbers are read from the data management file  51 , and then saved in the RAM  42 . The management record  510  of the image number A 56  is loaded into the location of the management record  510  of the image number Al  1  in the data management file  51 . The management record  510  which has been saved in the RAM  42  is then read, and then written in next recording locations subsequently. Then, the processing goes to step S 18 . Since the image number of the corresponding JPEG image is written in the thumbnail image, the sequence of the management record  510  of the JPEG image can be similarly changed. In step S 16 , if the image insertion flag is set to “2”, the management records  510  of the image number Al 2  and subsequent image numbers are read from the data management file  51  and saved in the RAM  42 . The management record  510  of the image number A 56  is loaded into the location of the management record  510  of the image number Al  2  in the data management file  51 . The management record  510  which has been saved in the RAM  42  is then read, and then written in next recording locations subsequently. Then, the processing goes to step S 18 . The sequence of the management record  510  of the JPEG image can be similarly changed. 
   In step S 17 , if the image insertion flag is set to “3”, the management records  510  of the image number A 13  and subsequent image numbers are read from the data management file  51  and saved in the RAM  42 . The management record  510  of the image number A 56  is loaded into the location of the management record  510  of the image number A 13  in the data management file  51 . The management record  510  which has been saved in the RAM  42  is then read, and then written in next recording locations subsequently. Then, the processing goes to step S 18 . The sequence of the management record  510  of the JPEG image can be similarly changed. 
   In step S 18 , the thumbnail image management record  510  of the data management file  51 , the image number  511  of the JPEG image management record  510 , and the associated image number  515  are updated in ascending order. 
   The embodiments of the present invention have been explained as above, but it is needless to say that the present invention should not be interpreted to be limited to the above embodiments and various variations and modifications may be adopted. 
   According to any digital camera or any method of changing processing sequence of recorded image data of the present invention, the processing sequence of the image data can be changed. Therefore, the image data can be displayed in good order on the liquid crystal display as associated images. The image data to be output to the external device can also be output in good order as associated image data.