JPH042264A - Multi-screen preparing device for picture file - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prepare a multi-screen of a picture file even without preparation of a retrieval use representative screen by using a picture being a specific picture data among picture data filed in a directory included for a object of retrieval, preferably, a picture recorded finally in the directory when the picture data is retrieved from a picture recording medium. CONSTITUTION:Picture data representing each picture are field to directories of a file recording medium 10. For example, picture data representing 6 pictures #1-#6 are recorded in a directory #1. Moreover, picture data representing 4 pictures #1-#7 are recorded in a directory #2. Furthermore, picture data representing 7 pictures #1-#7 are recorded in a directory #2. When a picture is retrieved from the directories #1-#3, multi-screen is prepared by using a specific picture in a directory being an object of retrieval such as a final picture of the directory. Thus, the multi-screen of the picture file is prepared without preparing a representative screen for the retrieval.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image file system, and particularly to an apparatus for creating a multi-screen for searching image files.

Image data file systems that handle a large amount of image data have conventionally adopted a hierarchical structure for image files in consideration of search convenience. When recording image data on a file recording medium, directories with a hierarchical structure are created according to the conceptual structure of the upper and lower parts, and the image data is recorded in nine orders according to these directories. When searching for image data recorded in this way from a file recording medium, first display images corresponding to the covers of each higher-level directory on the display device as a multi-screen, and then select the desired cover from among them. A common method is to enter the lower layer directory and repeat this procedure to select the desired image.

In conventional image file search systems, the operator creates a cover screen, such as a title screen, for each directory, and then cuts out a portion of it, such as the heading text, and incorporates it into a multi-screen. Ta. In other words, when selecting image data in a hierarchical directory on a multi-screen, it is necessary to create a representative screen of the directory to be used for search purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the drawbacks of the prior art and provides a multi-screen creation device for image files that can create multiple screens of image files without creating a representative screen for search. The purpose is to

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An image file multi-screen creation device according to the present invention includes a reading means for reading first image data from an image file recording medium in which the first image data is filed in a hierarchical directory; A means for temporarily storing image data; a display means for displaying the image data stored in the storage means as a visible image; and an input means for inputting instructions for searching the first image data recorded on the recording medium. and controls the readout means, storage means and display means in response to the input means, creates a multi-screen representative of the first image data filed in each directory, and uses the multi-screen as the display means. and control means for displaying, the control means creates second image data representing a reduced image from the last file of the first image data in each directory, and displays the second image data for each directory. Record the second image data.
Create a multi-screen by arranging them in one way.

According to the present invention, there is also a directory having a hierarchical structure, image data is filed corresponding to the directory, and management data indicating a recording area of the image data filed at the end of each directory is recorded in the directory. An image file recording medium is provided.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the image file multi-screen creation apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The apparatus of this embodiment performs a search on an image recording medium in which image data is filed in a directory with a hierarchical structure.
A multi-screen of the directory is created by using a specific image data stored in the directory included in the search target, preferably the last image recorded in the directory. This eliminates the need to create a representative screen for that directory for search purposes.

Documenting FIG. 1, the multi-screen creation device of the embodiment is as follows.
This is a device that searches image data recorded on the image file recording medium IO and reproduces a desired image on the image monitor 12. The image monitor 12 includes an image reproducing device such as a CRT that reproduces and outputs images, and is an output device that converts image data into a corresponding analog signal and reproduces the image. Of course, in addition to this, a recording device for recording the image as a hard copy and/or a transmitting device for transmitting the image to the communication line may be provided.

As the image file recording medium 10, a large capacity file storage device such as a write-once optical disk or a magnetic disk is advantageously applied. The image file recording medium IO is set in both image file reading devices 28, and the latter are connected to the processing device 16 via an interface fI/F) 14. In the file recording medium 10, directories are formed in an upper and lower hierarchical structure, and image data representing individual images are stored in these directories. For example, as shown in Figure 6A, directory #l contains 6
Image data representing each of images #1 to #6 is recorded. Further, in another directory #2, as shown in FIG. 7A, image data representing four images #1 to #4 are recorded, and further, in directory #3,
Image data representing each of images #1 to #7 (FIG. 8A) is recorded. Of course, a plurality of directories may be arranged in a vertical hierarchical structure.

In the device of this embodiment, these directories #l~
When starting an image search from #3, a multi-screen is created using a specific image in the directory to be searched, for example, the last image in that directory. In this example, image #6 is retrieved from directory #l, image #4 is retrieved from directory #2, and image #3 is retrieved from directory #3.
The images #6 are respectively extracted from , and these are reduced and arranged in the order of the directory to create a multi-screen 100 as shown in FIG. In this example, multi-screen 1
00 accommodates 16 reduced images 102. In other words, in this embodiment, each image is reduced to 1/16 to form one reduced image 102 of the multi-screen 100.

In the figure, the number of the reduced image 102, for example, N-6
j indicates image #6 in directory #l.

For each of these directories #l to #3, the multi-screen 11 as shown in FIGS. 6B to 8B is used to search for individual images contained therein.
0 is created. For example, in the multi-screen 110 shown in FIG. 8B, 7
A reduced image 11.2 of images #l to #7 is included.

The multi-screen creation device of the embodiment creates such multi-images 100 and 110 for search. The processing for creating the multi-screens 100 and 110 is performed by the processing device 16. The processing device 16 is a processing system including a CPU and a program memory and a work memory necessary for its control, and its output 18 is connected to the image monitor 12, and the system bus 20 is connected to the frame memory 22.

The frame memory 22 has a storage area for storing at least one screen of image data, and the image data formed or captured here is reproduced as a visible image on the image monitor 12. Multi-screens 100 and 110 are created in frame memory 22 by processing unit 16. When creating a multi-screen 100 or 110, the storage area of the frame memory 22 has a map configuration as shown in FIG. In this example, the storage area 22 is divided into 16 areas 180, and image data representing the reduced image 102 or 112 reduced to 1/16 is formed in each area 180.

A further interface 24 is connected to the processing device 16, via which a human power device 26 is further connected.

Input device 26 may include, for example, a keyboard and/or
Instructions from the operator of this device, including operating devices such as a mouse,
For example, it is an input device for inputting an instruction to start a search, data specifying a desired image, and the like.

The recording area of the image file recording medium 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2, roughly includes two areas: a file allocation table fFAT+4U area 150 and a data area 152. The data area 152 is an area where image data representing individual images is recorded. This image data may be compressed and encoded.

The FAT area 150 includes a FAT 154 that holds management data corresponding to each directory, and in the figure, a total of N FATs 15 are formed. Each FAT 15
4, as shown in FIG.
56 and 158, and the former has a starting address of 5TA.
RT ADH, and the latter also has the final address ENDAD.
R is accommodated. The starting address 5TART ADH is
This is data indicating the address of the smallest number among the single or plural images specified by the directory and recorded in the data area 152.

Further, the final address END ADH is data indicating the address of the oldest number among the images specified in the directory and recorded in the data area 152. For example, there are three images in a certain directory, and the start address of the storage area for each image data in the data area 152 is r$1000 J r$2000
J r$3000 If J, start address 5
TART ADR is r$1000 J, and final address END ADR is r$3000 J.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, image data #n of one image specified in a certain directory is stored in a part 160 of the data area 152 at a starting address r $11000, for example.
Recorded from J. Another image data 24+1 that is filed in the same directory is stored in a separate header 160, for example, with a header address of "$19000".
recorded from. At the end of the recording area 160 for image data #n, the start address of the storage header 160 for another piece of image data to be filed in that directory, in this example image data #n+1, is stored as the next address FLG ADR. be done. In this example, the next 7th L, FI, G
The ADR value is r$19,000Jr. In the area 160 where the data of the final image in the directory is recorded, data EOF indicating that it is the final file is recorded at the end. In the example shown in FIG. 4, if image data #n+1 is the final image data, EOF is recorded at the end of the recording area 160.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image data to be filed in one mailbox is transferred from the FAT 15 start address data 5TART ADR to the FAT 15 final address via the next address data FLG DADR of the data area 160 of the individual image data. A chain is formed up to the data END ADR, and images in that directory are associated with each other through this chain and searched and reproduced.

When performing a search, the input device 26 is operated to input a search instruction. In response to this, the processing device 16 drives the image file recording medium 10 and records each file in the FAT area 150.
Specify AT 154 in order from the beginning. For example, the first
Addressing the th FAT 154 and processing unit 16
reads its final address END ADR. The processing device 16 specifies an image data area 160 indicated by the final address END ADH, and reads image data from that area 160. The image data read from the image data area 160 represents image #6 in the example of FIG. 1 data area 180. Thus, directory #l
A reduced image #l-6 (FIG. 9) of the final image #6 is completed in the data area 180 of the reduced image #1 of the frame memory 22. This reduced image #l-6 is an image representative of directory #1.

Next, the processing device processes the second FAT15 of the recording medium 10.
4, the final address data END ADH is read, and the image data recorded in the image data area vX160 specified by it is read. This image data is
In the example shown in the figure, it is that of final image #4 of directory #2. This image data is reduced by the processing device 16 and stored in the reduced image #2 data area 180 of the frame memory 22 as reduced images #2-4. This is reduced image #2-4 of final image #4 in directory #2.

Similarly, the final address E of the third FAT 154
ND ADH is read out from the recording medium 10, and the reduced image #3-7 of the final image #7 of the directory #3 is completed in the data area 154 of the reduced image #3 of the frame memory 22.

In this way, 16 reduced images 102 are stored in the frame memory 22.
This multi-screen creation operation is performed until the final address END ADH is completed or until the FAT 154 in which the final address END ADH is not recorded in the final address recording area 158 of the FAT 154 is read. In this way, image data of the multi-screen 100 including the final image of each directory formed on the recording medium 10 is completed in the frame memory 22. The multi-screen 100 includes reduced images 102 each representing up to 16 directories.

When the multi-screen creation operation is completed, the processing device 16 reads out the data of the multi-screen 100 from the frame memory 22, transfers it to the image monitor 12, and visually displays the multi-image], 00 represented by the multi-screen.

The operator then operates the input device 26 to specify a desired image from among the 16 reduced images 102.

This means specifying the desired directory.

If the target reduced image, that is, the directory does not exist, the input device 26 is operated to instruct creation of the next multi-screen 100. In this case, the multi-screen 100 is created for the next series of directories in the same manner as described above.

When an instruction specifying a target reduced image 102 is input from the input device 26, the processing device 16 responds to this and shifts to the operation of creating a multi-screen 110 of the directory corresponding to the instruction. For example, in the example shown in FIG.
When #2-4 of 02 is specified, the processing device 16
From the FAT 154 of the recording medium 10 to the corresponding second
Read the start address 5TART ADR of the th data #2. For example, suppose this value is r $11000J. Then, the processing device 16 accesses the recording position of this start address r$11000J in the recording medium 10, reads the 24 pieces of image data recorded in the area 160 using this as the start address, and also reduces it to 1/16. and stored in the first reduced image data area 112 in the frame memory 22. This image data is stored in the directory # shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B in this example.
This image represents the first image #1 of 2. The reduction operation is similar to the case of creating the multi-screen 100 described above.

The chain of images #1 to #4 in the directory #2 is obtained from the next address FLG ADR recorded at the end of the image data area 160. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the next address FLG ADR is r $190
When 00J is indicated, the image pig of image #n+1 is read out. For final image #4, next address FL
Last display EOF is not recorded instead of GADR.

In this way, until the final display EOF is read,
The processing device 16 reads the image data 160, reduces it, and places it on the multi-screen 110. As a result, data of the reduced image 112 is finally completed in the frame memory 22 for all images filed in this directory #2, images #1 to #4 in this example. Naturally, the final image #4 is the multi-screen 10-screen reduced image #2-4 as an image representative of the directory #2.
This is what was displayed as.

In this way, 16 reduced images 112 are stored in the frame memory 22.
This multi-screen creation operation is performed until the image data is completed or the final display EOF is read from the end of the image data. In this way, the image data of the multi-screen 112 in the directory #2 is completed in the frame memory 22. When the multi-screen creation operation is completed, the processing device 16 reads the data of the multi-screen 110 from the frame memory 22, transfers it to the image monitor 12, and visually displays the multi-screen 110 represented thereon.

When the desired image is found on the multi-screen 110, the operator operates the input device 26 to display the 16 reduced images 112.
Specify the image from among. Target reduced image 112
If it does not exist, the input device 26 is operated to instruct creation of the next multi-screen 112 in that directory, for example. In this case, the multi-screen 110 is created for subsequent images filed in that directory in the same manner as described above.

When a desired image is specified by operating the operating device 26, the processing device 16 responds to this by specifying the file recording medium I.
Read the pig of the image from the data area 152 of O,
It is stored in the frame memory 22. At that time, if this image data has not been compressed and encoded, it is decoded, expanded, and stored in the memory 22.

The full-screen individual images stored in the frame memory 22 are displayed on the image monitor 12. Depending on the purpose, the data may be output to a recording device or transferred to other networks, hosts, terminals, etc. via communication lines.

As described above, in this embodiment, the address END ADR of the first recording position of the area 160 where the last filed image data of the directory is recorded is recorded in each FAT 154 of the image file recording medium IO.

Use this as an image to represent that directory, and use this to create the final reduced screen 10 for each directory.
2, the multi-screen 100 is created. Therefore, this device can create multiple screens of image files without having to create a representative screen for searching as in the conventional system.

Effects According to the present invention, the management area of the image file recording medium retains an identification display that designates the image data filed last in each directory. These final image data are used as images representing each directory, and these are reduced to create a multi-screen. Therefore, multiple double-sided images of an image file can be created without creating a representative screen for search.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of an image file multi-screen creation device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a recording area of an image file recording medium applied to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the FAT included in the recording area shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image data recording area included in the recording area shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a map when creating multi-screen data in the frame memory in the same embodiment. FIGS. 6A, 7A, and 8A are illustrations of the image file recording medium in the same embodiment. Figures 6B, 7B, and 8B are explanatory diagrams conceptually illustrating how image data is filed in directories of 6A and 8B, respectively.
Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a multi-screen in each directory created corresponding to Figures 7A and 8A, and Figure 9 is a multi-screen created by reducing the final image as an image representative of each directory. Examples of
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the example of FIG. A and FIG. 8A; 1018 Image image file recording medium, , Image monitor 16, , Processing device 22, , Frame memory 26, , Input device 100.110. Multi-screen 102, 112. Reduced image 154, , FAT 156, , Start address 158, , Last address 160, , Image data recording area Figure 1 Patent applicant Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Representative Person number Takao Volcano Takao Figure 2 4 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Reading means for reading out first image data from an image file recording medium in which the first image data is filed in a directory having a hierarchical structure; Storage means for temporarily storing image data; a display means for displaying image data stored in the storage means as a visible image; an input means for inputting an instruction to search for first image data recorded on the recording medium; and an input means responsive to the input means. control means for controlling the reading means, storage means, and display means to create a multi-screen representative of the first image data filed in each of the directories and displaying the multi-screen on the display means; and the control means creates second image data representing a reduced image from the last file of the first image data in each of the directories; 2. A multi-screen creation device for image files, characterized in that the multi-screen is created by arranging two image data in the storage means. 2. It has a directory with a hierarchical structure, image data is filed corresponding to the directory, and management data indicating a recording area of the image data filed at the end of each directory is recorded in the directory. An image file recording medium characterized by: