Image processing apparatus, moving image reproducing apparatus, and processing method and program therefor

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• moving image storage means for storing a taken moving image taken by an image taking apparatus;
• conversion information storage means for storing, for each second taken image, conversion information for converting said second taken image located after a first taken image in time axis of said taken moving image with reference to said first taken image configuring said taken moving image;
• image holding means for holding a log image including each taken image located before said second taken image in said time axis;
• decision means for determining whether or not synthesis of said second taken image and said log image is necessary on the basis of an elapsed time from the holding of said log image in said image holding means;
• image conversion means for converting said second taken image on the basis of said conversion information;
• and
• image synthesis means for, if the synthesis of said second taken image and said log image is determined necessary by said decision means, synthesizing said converted second taken image with said log image held in said image holding means and holding the synthesized image in said image holding means as a new log image and, if the synthesis of said second taken image and said log image is determined unnecessary by said decision means, holding said second taken image in said image holding means without synthesizing said second taken image with said log image held in said image holding means.

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• moving image storage means for storing a taken moving image taken by an image taking apparatus;
• conversion information storage means for storing, for each second taken image, conversion information for converting said second taken image located after a first taken image in time axis of said taken moving image with reference to said first image configuring said taken moving image;
• image holding means for holding a log image including each taken image located before said second taken image in said time axis;
• feature quantity extraction means for extracting a feature quantity associated with said second taken image;
• conversion information correction means for correcting said conversion information on the basis of said extracted feature quantity;
• image conversion means for converting said second taken image on the basis of said corrected said conversion information;
• and
• image synthesis means for synthesizing said converted second taken image with said log image held in said image holding means and holding the synthesized image in said image holding means as a new log image.

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• feature quantity extraction means for extracting a feature quantity associated with a taken image configuring a taken moving image taken by an image taking apparatus;
• decision means for determining whether or not division of a synthesized image is necessary on the basis of said extracted feature quantity;
• and
• image synthesis means for synthesizing said taken image with an already formed synthesized image on the basis of a moving information of said image taking apparatus at the time of image taking if the division of a synthesized image is found by said decision means not to be executed and, if the division of a synthesized image is found by said decision means to be executed, creating a new synthesized image different from the already formed synthesized image on the basis of said moving information.

A moving image reproducing apparatus comprising:

• moving image storage means for storing a taken moving image taken by an image taking apparatus;
• conversion information storage means for storing, for each second taken image, conversion information for converting said second taken image located after a first taken image in time axis of said taken moving image with reference to said first taken image configuring said taken moving image;
• image holding means for holding a log image including each taken image located before said second taken image in said time axis;
• feature quantity extraction means for extracting a feature quantity associated with said second taken image;
• image conversion means for converting said second taken image on the basis of said conversion information;
• decision means for determining whether synthesis of said second taken image and said log image is necessary or not on the basis of said extracted feature amount;
• image synthesis means for, if the synthesis of said second taken image and said log image is determined necessary by said decision means, synthesizing said converted second taken image with said log image held in said image holding means and holding the synthesized image in said image holding means as a new log image and, if the synthesis of said second taken image and said log image is determined unnecessary by said decision means, holding said second taken image in said image holding means without synthesizing said second taken image with said log image held in said image holding means;
• and
• display control means for sequentially displaying a new log image held in said image holding means or said second taken image onto a display means.

An image processing method in an image processing apparatus having moving image storage means for storing a taken moving image taken by an image taking apparatus, conversion information storage means for storing, for each second taken image, conversion information for converting said second taken image located after a first taken image in time axis of said taken moving image with reference to said first taken image configuring said taken moving image, image holding means for holding a log image including each taken image located before said second taken image in said time axis, and feature quantity extraction means for extracting a feature quantity associated with said second taken image, said image processing method comprising:

• an image conversion procedure for converting said second taken image on the basis of said conversion information;
• a decision procedure for determining whether or not synthesis of said second taken image and said log image is necessary on the basis of said extracted feature amount;
• and
• an image synthesis procedure for, if the synthesis of said second taken image and said log image is determined necessary by said decision procedure, synthesizing said converted second taken image with said log image held in said image holding means and holding the synthesized image in said image holding means as a new log image and, if the synthesis of said second taken image and said log image is determined unnecessary by said decision procedure, holding said second taken image in said image holding means without synthesizing said second taken image with said log image held in said image holding means.

A program in an image processing apparatus having moving image storage means for storing a taken moving image taken by an image taking apparatus, conversion information storage means for storing, for each second taken image, conversion information for converting said second taken image located after a first taken image in time axis of said taken moving image with reference to said first taken image configuring said taken moving image, image holding means for holding a log image including each taken image located before said second taken image in said time axis, and feature quantity extraction means for extracting a feature quantity associated with said second taken image, said program for making a computer execute:

• an image conversion procedure for converting said second taken image on the basis of said conversion information;
• a decision procedure for determining whether or not synthesis of said second taken image and said log image is necessary on the basis of said extracted feature amount;
• and
• an image synthesis procedure for, if the synthesis of said second taken image and said log image is determined necessary by said decision procedure, synthesizing said converted second taken image with said log image held in said image holding means and holding the synthesized image in said image holding means as a new log image and, if the synthesis of said second taken image and said log image is determined unnecessary by said decision procedure, holding said second taken image in said image holding means without synthesizing said second taken image with said log image held in said image holding means.