JPH07200635A - Image information management device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] It is possible to reduce the processing time until a desired image that is instructed to be searched on the thumbnail screen is searched, decompressed, and displayed. [Structure] With display processing of acquiring a search file queue, searching for a search sample image file from the thumbnail data storage unit 14 and displaying a thumbnail list on a display screen, and starting the search for the search sample image file by the file management unit 9. In parallel, the OS5 simultaneously activates the decompression process of sequentially decompressing the corresponding compressed image files stored in the original image data storage unit 15 based on the search file queue, and corresponds to the selected search sample image file. The decompressed image file to be read is read from the decompressed image data storage unit 12 and displayed on the display screen.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information management device for managing a database containing image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, multitasking OSs and high performance CPUs
Is becoming widespread, a multi-vendor environment that uses vast amounts of image data is being prepared, and image information management devices that manage image information and data bases are beginning to become popular. As a means to find the image that the user needs from the managed image data, a keyword search is performed, and some images extracted as a result of the search are displayed as thumbnails. The thumbnail display is performed. When the user selects, an image required by the user is displayed.

In general, since image data has a huge amount of information, it is compressed and stored by, for example, the JPEG system, and miniature image data for thumbnail display is prepared separately, and the compressed image data is stored. It is designed to be stored in association with.

[0004]

However, in the conventional method, the miniature image of the image desired by the user is selected from the thumbnail screen displaying the search result, and the compressed original image corresponding to the selected image is selected. There is a problem in that it takes a considerable amount of time to display the actual image because decompression starts.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and displays a thumbnail of a search result performed by a user on a multitasking OS and at the same time activates another task triggered by the fact that the search result is displayed. Then, by starting to decompress the compressed image file corresponding to the image that is the search result, the processing time until the desired image instructed to be searched on the thumbnail screen is searched, decompressed, and displayed is shortened, An object of the present invention is to provide an image information management device capable of significantly improving the image search efficiency.

[0006]

A first image information management apparatus according to the present invention stores image information storage means for storing a compressed image file compressed according to a predetermined compression method, and the image information storage means. A thumbnail storage means for storing a sample image file for searching each compressed image file; an index table for storing file information according to a keyword for searching each compressed image file stored in the image information storage means as an index; The thumbnail is obtained by acquiring a search file creating means for creating a search file queue for the corresponding compressed image file by referring to the index table based on the keyword and a search file queue created by the search file queue creating means. Search the sample image file from the storage means Thumbnail search display means for displaying a list of thumbnails on the display screen, and start of search for the search sample image file by the thumbnail search display means, and at the same time, the corresponding information stored in the image information storage means based on the search file queue. Corresponding to a decompression means for decompressing compressed image files in sequence, a decompression image storage means for storing decompression image files decompressed by this decompression means in sequence, and a search sample image file selected from the thumbnail list displayed on the display screen. The decompressed image file is read from the decompressed image storage means and displayed on the display screen, and the control means controls the multitasking of the decompressing means and the thumbnail search and display means.

A second image information management apparatus according to the present invention is
Each time the decompression means decompresses sequentially, a decompression table creating means for creating a retrieval decompression table for searching the decompressed image files in the decompressed image storage means, and a decompressed image file searched by the file retrieval means have already been created. Determining means for determining whether or not it has been decompressed by referring to the search and decompression table, and interrupting the sequential decompression processing of the compressed image file by the decompressing means based on the determination result of this determining means, and selecting for the decompression means Decompression control means for decompressing the compressed image file corresponding to the retrieved search sample image file is provided.

A third image information management apparatus according to the present invention is
Free space determining means for determining the free space of the decompressed image storage means, and the decompressed image storage means for deleting the decompressed image files stored in the decompressed image storage means based on the determination result of the free space determining means. And a securing means for securing a free space.

A fourth image information management apparatus according to the present invention is
The securing unit is configured to determine the decompressed image file to be deleted from the decompressed image storage unit by referring to the management flag on the search decompression table.

A fifth image information management device according to the present invention is
The registration order of the decompression files registered in the retrieval and decompression table is automatically changed based on the rearrangement of the retrieval sample image files in the thumbnail list displayed on the display screen.

[0011]

In the first invention, when the search file queue of the corresponding compressed image file is created by referring to the index table based on the keyword input by the search file queue creating means, the search file queue is created. The thumbnail search display means for acquiring and searching the search sample image file from the thumbnail storage means and displaying the thumbnail list on the display screen, and the search in parallel with the search start of the search sample image file by the thumbnail search display means The decompression means for decompressing the corresponding compressed image files stored in the image information storage means in sequence based on the file queue and the control means are activated at the same time, and the file search means is the search selected from the thumbnail list displayed on the display screen. The decompressed image file corresponding to the sample image file is Is displayed on the display screen is read out from the image storage unit freezing, in which precede the timing for decompressing the decoded image file corresponding to the compressed and the stored search sample image file.

In the second aspect of the invention, the decompression control means decompresses based on the determination result of the determination means that determines whether the decompressed image file searched by the file search means has already been decompressed by referring to the search decompression table. Means for interrupting the sequential decompression process of the compressed image file by the means, decompressing the compressed image file for the search sample image file selected by the decompressing means, and decompressing the target compressed image file with priority. is there.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the securing means deletes the decompressed image files stored in the decompressed image storage means in the order of storage based on the determination result of the free space determination means, so that the decompressed image storage means has a free space. Is ensured and the thawing process by the thawing means is continued.

In the fourth invention, the securing means determines the decompressed image file to be deleted from the decompressed image storage means by referring to the management flag on the retrieval and decompression table, and the decompressed image file with a low degree of retrieval display request. To efficiently secure free space.

In the fifth invention, the registration order of the decompression files registered in the retrieval decompression table is automatically changed based on the rearrangement of the retrieval sample image files in the thumbnail list displayed on the display screen, and retrieval is performed. The compressed image file can be decompressed in the order corresponding to the registration position of the sample image file.

[0016]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image information management apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A GUI management unit 1 for managing a user interface, a search engine unit 2 for searching, The filing engine section that manages the operation of files, and the control section that controls them (O
S part) 5.

The GUI management unit 1 has an input / output control unit 4 and controls input of a pointing device such as a mouse or keyboard and output of a window to a monitor. The GUI management unit 1 manages user interfaces such as search keywords, additional information to files, file input / output, thumbnail image display, and original image display.

The search engine unit 2 has a keyword search unit 6, a search dictionary 7, and an index table 8, and searches for a corresponding file by a keyword sent from the GUI management unit 1.

The filing engine unit 3 displays a list of the file queue 10 that stores the file names extracted as a result of the search by the search engine unit 2, the storage unit 15 that stores the original image data, and the detection results. A recording unit 14 for a miniature image used at the time, a recording unit 13 for storing additional information of the image, a recording unit 12 for storing a decompressed file when the original image is compressed, the decompressed file and the original. Decompressed file table 11 showing the relationship between files, and a file management unit 9 for managing and controlling them
have.

The file queue 10, the image data storage unit 15, the miniature image recording unit 14, the recording unit 13 for storing additional information, the recording unit 12 for storing the decompressed file, and the decompression file table 11 are externally stored. It may be configured on the device or in the main memory.

In the image information management apparatus configured as described above, the index table 8 is referred to based on the keyword input by the search file queue creating means (search engine unit 2) to search the corresponding compressed image file. When the queue (file queue 10) is created, the search file queue is acquired, the search sample image file is searched from the thumbnail storage means (thumbnail data storage unit 14), and the thumbnail list is displayed on the display screen. Display means (file management unit 9)
With the start of the search for the search sample image file by the thumbnail search display means, the corresponding compressed image file stored in the image information storage means (original image data storage unit 15) based on the search file queue is concurrently displayed. The decompression means (file management section 9) and the control means (OS5) for sequentially decompressing are simultaneously activated, and the file search means (file management section 9) corresponds to the search sample image file selected from the thumbnail list displayed on the display screen. Timing to read the decompressed image file from the decompressed image storage means (decompressed image data storage unit 12), display it on the display screen, and decompress the decompressed image file corresponding to the compressed and stored search sample image file. Is to precede.

Further, the decompression control means (file management unit 9) determines whether the decompressed image file searched by the file search means has already been decompressed based on the judgment result of the judgment means by referring to the search decompression table. In accordance with the procedure shown in FIG. 9, the sequential decompression processing of the compressed image file by the decompression means is interrupted, the compressed image file for the search sample image file selected by the decompression means is decompressed, and the target compressed image file is extracted. It preferentially defrosts.

Further, the decompressed image stored in the decompressed image storage unit (decompressed image data storage unit 12) by the securing unit (file management unit 9) based on the determination result of the free space determination unit (file management unit 9). The files are deleted in the order of storage to secure a free space in the decompressed image storage means, and the decompression processing by the decompression means is continued.

The securing means (file management section 9) is
Determining the decompressed image file to be deleted from the decompressed image storage means (decompressed image data storage unit 12) by referring to the management flag on the search and decompression table, and deleting from the decompressed image file with a low search display request efficiency, It often secures free space.

The image search processing operation in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

2 to 4 are views showing operation screens for image search processing characters in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 corresponds to a state in which the operation window 17 is displayed on the display unit not shown in FIG.

First, the user uses the pointing device such as a mouse or input operation means such as a keyboard to move the cursor 1
9 is operated to select the item of "keyword" from the items on the menu bar 18, the search dialog box 22 of FIG. 3 is opened. The user inputs a keyword to be used for the search in the keyword input text input field 23 displayed in the search dialog box 22.

In FIG. 3, as an example, the keyword "thinking" is entered. Then, when the user clicks the execute button 21, the search is started, and the status display field 24 in FIG. 3 displays "Search is being executed". The status display field 24 is used to inform the user of the current status.

The resulting files are sequentially displayed as miniature images 25a-25i. If you want to cancel the search on the way, you can click the cancel button 20.

When the search is completed in this way, "Search completed" is displayed in the status display field 24, and if there is no corresponding file as a result of the search, "No corresponding file" is displayed. Is displayed to inform the user.

FIG. 4 shows the original image corresponding to the image selected by the user from the miniature images 25a to 25i of the file displayed as a result of the search.

In FIG. 4, 27 is the displayed original image 2
6 for title field, 28 for displayed original image 2
6 is a comment field. The text information input in these two fields will be stored in the attribute data storage unit 13 of FIG. 1 as additional information.

In the conventional technique, since the user selects a desired image from the miniature images 25a to 25i and then starts decompression when the original image is compressed, it takes time until the original image display 26 is completed. It was hanging.

Therefore, the search display processing operation of the means from the search to displaying the result on the thumbnail screen and the means for displaying the original image desired by the user from the displayed thumbnail screen will be described with reference to FIGS. explain.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of a search processing procedure in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention.
Note that (1) to (9) indicate each step. In particular, this corresponds to the processing from the start of the search to the display of the thumbnail screen.

When it is detected that the user has input a keyword in the keyword input text field 23 of the search dialog box 22 shown in FIG. 3 and pressed the execute button 21 (1), the index table 8 shown in FIG. 1 is referred to. Then, the file corresponding to the keyword is searched (2). The index table 8 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, such that files A, B, C, D and E having a certain keyword A are grouped together.

Of course, the method of retrieval and the form of the index table are not limited to this form, and there is no problem with a commonly used method.

By the process of the step (2), it is judged whether or not the file corresponding to the keyword is found (3), and if found, the corresponding file name is set as shown in FIG.
It is put in the file queue 10 shown in (7), and it is judged whether the decompression task is already activated (8). If it is not activated, the decompression task is activated (9). The activation task will be described in detail later.

Thereafter, it is judged whether or not the search is completed (4). If not completed, the process returns to the step (2) to start the next search.

Similarly, when it is determined in step (8) that the decompression task has already been started, the process returns to step (4), it is determined whether the search is completed, and if it is not completed, the step is executed. The process returns to (2) to start the next search.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the search is completed as a result of the determination in step (4), it is determined whether there is at least one search result (5), and if at least one search result exists. The miniature images corresponding to the respective files are loaded from the thumbnail data storage unit 14 shown in FIG. 1 and displayed as thumbnail images (6).

The decompression task processing operation in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of the decompression task processing procedure in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (6) indicate each step.

The decompression task is step (9) in FIG.
The message corresponds to the processing of starting the compressed original image, decompressing the compressed original image, and creating the decompressed file which is an intermediate file in the decompressed image data storage unit 12 in FIG.

First, in step (1), FIG.
The file name of the decompression search result file shown in
Will come from.

At this time, when the file queue 10 is empty (2), the search result file does not exist, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the search result file name exists in the file queue 10 in the determination of step (2), it is checked whether or not the image file corresponding to the search result file name is compressed (3). At this time, a part of the header of the image file may be referred to determine whether the image is a compressed image or the extension of the file name may be referred to.

When it is judged as compressed as a result of the judgment in step (3) (4), the image file is decompressed by the decompression method corresponding to the compression method, and decompressed in the decompressed image data storage unit 12. Generate a file (5).

The step (5) corresponds to the compressed image decompression routine shown in FIG.

Then, the decompression file name is registered in the decompression table as shown in FIG. 8 (6), the process returns to the process of step (1) and the same process is performed until the file name in the file queue does not exist. Is repeatedly executed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that the original image is an uncompressed file, the original file name is registered in the decompression table as it is.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the name of the file C is registered. That is, only when the image is compressed, the decompressed image data file, which is an intermediate file, is displayed in FIG.
Created in the decompressed image data storage unit 12 shown in FIG. 3, register the pointer to the decompressed file in the decompressed file table, and if the image is not compressed, the pointer to the original image file is registered in the decompressed table. .

Then, returning to the processing of step (1), the same processing is repeatedly executed until there is no file name in the file queue.

Next, FIG. 9 shows the processing up to the display state of FIG. 4 in which the original image corresponding to the image selected by the user from the miniature images 25a to 25i of the corresponding file displayed as a result of the search is displayed. This will be described with reference to the flowchart.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an example of a selected image display processing procedure in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (11) indicate each step.

When it is detected that the user has selected the desired miniature image from the thumbnail screen displayed as described above (1), the file name corresponding to the selected miniature image is registered in the decompression table. Check whether it is done (2). As a result, when it is determined that the file is registered (3), the data is loaded from the decompressed image data storage unit 12 in FIG. 1 by referring to the registered decompressed file name (10), and the target image is displayed. Yes (11).

On the other hand, if the file name corresponding to the selected miniature image is not registered in the decompression table in the judgment of step (3), it is checked whether the above-mentioned decompression task is in operation (4), and operation is performed. If it is determined that the file is being decompressed, it is determined whether the file is being decompressed, and if the file being decompressed is the selected file (6). If YES, wait until the decompression is completed (9).

On the other hand, if the file being decompressed is a different file from the selected file in the judgment of step (6), the decompressing task which is currently operating is interrupted (7) and shown in FIG. The selected file name is put in the decompression file queue 10 and the decompression task is operated again (8).

By this processing, it becomes possible to decompress the file selected preferentially.

Then, the end of the decompression operation is waited (9), the decompression file name registered in the decompression table is referred to, and data is loaded from the decompression image data storage unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 (10). The target image is displayed (11).

Further, by adding Open Flg to the decompression table of FIG. 8 as shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to deal with the case where the decompressed image data storage unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 runs out of storage space.

The processing will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of a compressed image decompression processing procedure in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (11) indicate each step.

First, it is checked whether or not the space for storing the decompressed file in the decompressed image data storage unit 12 is free (1), and if it is determined that it is free (2), the image file is decompressed by the decompression method corresponding to the compression method. Is decompressed, and a decompressed file is generated in the decompressed image data storage unit 12 (3).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (2) that there is no free space, the pointer TblPtr indicating the decompression file is set in the decompression file at the beginning of the decompression table (4), and the pointer is set. TblP
Examine the Open Flg of the decompressed file indicated by tr (5). The Open Flg is a flag added to the decompression table as shown in FIG. 10, and becomes On when the decompression file registered in the decompression table is opened even once by the user.

It is judged whether or not this Open Flg is "On" (6). If it is judged that it is "On", the decompressed file indicated by the pointer TblPtr is opened once. Therefore, it is kept in the decompressed image data storage unit 12 as it is. Then, the pointer TblPtr is advanced to the next decompression file (10), it is judged whether or not the pointer TblPtr points to the end of the freezing table (11), and if it is not the end yet, the process returns to step (5) and the above-mentioned processing is performed. repeat.

On the other hand, at the judgment of step (6), Open
When it is determined that Flg is Off, it is determined that the decompressed file has never been opened, and the decompressed image data storage unit 12 deletes it (7).

Then, the item corresponding to the decompression file is deleted from the decompression table (8), and the decompression table is shown in FIG.
Update as 2 (9).

This operation is repeated until the area required for storing the decompressed image data can be secured. When the area is secured, the image is decompressed by a decompression method suitable for the compression method, and a decompression file is created in the decompression image data storage unit 12. [Other Embodiments] In the first embodiment described above, the purpose was to efficiently decompress a compressed image and shorten the time until the decompressed image data is displayed. The display process may be controlled so that the compressed image is efficiently presented in a slide show.
The details will be described below. Since the system configuration is the same as that in FIG. 1, the compressed image display processing operation will be described.

13 to 15 are diagrams showing operation screens in the image information management apparatus showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

On the display screen shown in FIG. 13, the same operation as in the first embodiment is performed, and the miniature image corresponding to the searched image file is displayed. At this stage, the user can freely change the order of the displayed miniature images using a mouse or the like.

On the display screen shown in FIG. 13, the miniature image 25a and the miniature image 25f have been exchanged. Then, when "Option" on the menu bar 18 is selected and "Registration" is selected from the pull-down menu, the registration order of the index table 8 is changed and the index table 8 is registered as a slide table. FIG. 16 shows the state of the index table 8 when the registration order is changed.

After that, when "Option" on the menu bar 18 is selected, "Slide" is selected from the pull-down menu and a check is put as shown in FIG. 14, the menu will be displayed for the user to search next time. When "Search" on the bar 18 is selected and "Keyword" is selected from the pull-down menu, the slide dialog box 32 is displayed as shown in FIG. When the user inputs a keyword in the keyword input field 23 displayed on the slide dialog box 32 and presses the effective button 21, the images 31 are displayed in the order of file names registered in the slide table.

Further, the frame return button 29 and the frame advance button 30 displayed on the slide dialog box 32 of FIG. 15 are used when returning or advancing the display image 31, respectively.

Next, the processing for the slide display will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing an example of a keyword search selection control procedure in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (7) indicate each step.

First, when the user selects a keyword item from the menu for searching, it is judged whether or not the "slide" is checked (1). If it is not checked, the same as in the first embodiment. Then, a normal search is executed (5) to (7).

If the "slide" is checked in the judgment of step (1), a slide box is displayed instead of the dialog box (2) until the user inputs a keyword and presses the execute button. Wait (3). When it is detected that the execution button has been pressed, a slide display routine described later is executed (4).

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing an example of a slide display processing procedure in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (8) indicate each step.

In the slide display routine, first, the file names in the slide table are sequentially put into the file queue 10 (1), and the decompression task is activated (2) as in the first embodiment.

Then, the pointer SPTr is set to the head of the slide table (3), and it is determined whether or not the decompression of the file pointed to by the pointer SPtr is completed (4). The decompressed image data is displayed for a preset time with reference to (5) and (6).

Next, it is judged whether or not the pointer SPtr points to the end of the slide table (7). If not, the pointer SPtr is advanced by 1 and the process returns to (8) to return to the last file of the slide table. Is repeated until is displayed.

Here, in the processing when the frame return button 29 and the frame advance button 30 shown in FIG. 15 are pressed, the pointer SPTr may be returned or advanced.

Further, in the second embodiment, the slide table is used when registering the order of the slide display, but instead, the order of the registered files of the index table used for the keyword search is directly changed. You may switch and register again. In this case, FIG.
In the above flowchart, the index table may be used instead of the slide table.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

In the above embodiment, in the image information management apparatus for managing the image data on the multi-task OS, the retrieval keyword input means, the keyword retrieval section, the index table, the image data storage section and the miniature image data are stored. A thumbnail data storage unit and an image additional information storage unit, and based on a keyword input by the search keyword input unit, the keyword search unit has a corresponding search unit by referring to the index table, Since the decompression means activated by the decompression request signal issued by the retrieval means is provided and the retrieval means and the decompression means are activated independently, it is possible to shorten the substantial retrieval processing time required until the retrieval.

Further, it has a file queue 10 for storing the file name extracted by the retrieval means, and the decompression means acquires the file name of the file queue 10 and starts decompression, and the file name of the file queue 10 becomes empty. In this case, the decompression process by the decompression means is automatically terminated, so that the unnecessary decompression process can be stopped.

Further, since it has a decompression data storage section 12 for storing the image data decompressed by the decompression means and a decompression file table for holding a pointer to the data stored in the decompression data storage section 12, It is possible to reliably distinguish the data in the data from the data that has already been decompressed.

Further, since the decompressed data storage unit 12 stores the compressed image only when decompressed, the decompressed file table stores the decompressed image data when the decompressed image is stored in the decompressed data storage unit. Is stored in the decompression file table when the image file corresponding to the file name extracted by the search means is not compressed. Therefore, the image retrieval process can be performed by identifying the compressed image and the uncompressed image in one table.

Further, when decompressing the compressed image by the decompression means, if the decompressed data storage unit runs out of storage space, the decompressed image data corresponding to the storage order of the decompression table is deleted from the decompressed data storage unit. Because I did
A desired compressed image file can be decompressed even if the decompression data storage unit is limited.

Further, a flag indicating whether or not the decompressed image data has been displayed at least once is provided in the decompression table, and if the flag is set, the priority of deleting the decompressed image data from the decompressed data storage unit is lowered. Since it is configured as described above, the decompressed image file can be selected and deleted.

Further, the user has a means for displaying the miniature image displayed by the user by selecting the miniature image, and if the miniature image file is registered in the decompression file table, it is registered in the decompression file table. Since it is configured to display by referring to the pointer to the corresponding image file, if the corresponding miniature image file is not registered in the decompression file table, the decompression means being executed is interrupted and the user selected Since the image data corresponding to the miniature image is prioritized and decompression is performed again by the decompression means, the time required to decompress the desired miniature image can be shortened.

The user can change the display positions of the displayed miniature images to change the order of the registered file names in the index table, and the new registration can be performed again. Therefore, the decompression order can be freely changed. , You can increase the hit rate to thaw.

As described above, it is possible to display the thumbnail of the search result performed by the user on the multitask OS and simultaneously start another task to start decompressing the compressed image file corresponding to the image as the search result. It is possible to quickly display the image selected by. Further, the user can easily perform a slide-like display simply by changing the order of the displayed miniature images, and the decompression processing of the compressed image can be efficiently executed in the display order.

[0096]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the invention, when the search file queue for the corresponding compressed image file is created by referring to the index table based on the keyword input by the search file queue creating means, the search file queue is acquired and the Thumbnail search display means for searching the search sample image file from the thumbnail storage means and displaying the thumbnail list on the display screen, and start of searching for the search sample image file by the thumbnail search display means, and in parallel with the search file queue. Then, the decompression means for decompressing the corresponding compressed image files stored in the image information storage means and the control means are activated at the same time, and the file search means opens the search sample image file selected from the thumbnail list displayed on the display screen. Decompress the corresponding decompressed image file Since it is read from and displayed on the display screen, the total processing time until the desired image is retrieved and displayed is preceded by the timing of decompressing the decompressed image file corresponding to the compressed and stored retrieval sample image file. It can be substantially shortened.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the decompression control means determines the decompression image file searched by the file search means based on the determination result of the determination means for determining whether or not the decompression image file has already been decompressed by referring to the retrieval and decompression table. Since the decompression means sequentially decompresses the compressed image file and decompresses the compressed image file for the search sample image file selected by the decompression means, the target compressed image file should be decompressed preferentially. You can

According to the third aspect of the invention, the securing means deletes the decompressed image files stored in the decompressed image storage means in the order of storage based on the determination result of the free space determination means, and the decompressed image storage means becomes free. Since the capacity is secured, even if the capacity for storing the decompressed image file is limited, the decompression processing by the decompression means can be continued without any trouble.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the securing means determines the decompressed image file to be deleted from the decompressed image storage means by referring to the management flag on the retrieval and decompression table, so that the decompressed image with a low request for retrieval display is displayed. You can efficiently reserve free space by deleting from the file.

According to the fifth invention, the registration order of the decompression files registered in the retrieval decompression table is automatically changed based on the rearrangement of the retrieval sample image files in the thumbnail list displayed on the display screen, The compressed image files can be decompressed in the order corresponding to the registration position of the search sample image file.

Therefore, it is possible to shorten the processing time required to search for a desired image instructed to be searched on the thumbnail screen, decompress it, and display it, thereby significantly improving the image search efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image information management apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation screen for image search processing characters in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation screen for image search processing characters in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation screen for image search processing characters in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a search processing procedure in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the index table shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a decompression task processing procedure in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention.

8 is a diagram showing an example of a decompression file table shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a selected image display processing procedure in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention.

10 is a diagram showing an example of a decompression file table shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a compressed image decompression processing procedure in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention.

12 is a diagram showing an example of a decompression file table shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an operation screen in the image information management apparatus showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an operation screen in the image information management apparatus showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an operation screen in the image information management apparatus showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

16 is a diagram showing an example of the index table shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a keyword search selection control procedure in the image information management device according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of a slide display processing procedure in the image information management apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 GUI management unit 2 Search engine unit 3 File ring engine unit 4 Input / output control unit 5 Operating system (OS) 6 Keyword search unit 7 Search dictionary 8 Index table 9 File management unit 10 File queue 11 Decompressed file table 12 Decompressed image Data storage unit 13 Additional information storage unit 14 Thumbnail data storage unit 15 Original image data storage unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page (72) Inventor Fumiaki Takahashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Koji Hatanaka 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated (72) Inventor Hideo Takiguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image information storage unit for storing a compressed image file compressed according to a predetermined compression method, and a thumbnail storage unit for storing a search sample image file of each compressed image file stored in the image information storage unit. An index table that stores, as an index, file information according to a keyword for searching each compressed image file stored in the image information storage means, and a corresponding compressed image with reference to the index table based on an input keyword Search file queue creating means for creating a file search file queue, and a search file queue created by this search file queue creating means to retrieve a search sample image file from the thumbnail storage means and display a thumbnail list screen Thumbnail search to display Display means, and decompression means for decompressing the corresponding compressed image files stored in the image information storage means in parallel based on the search file queue in parallel with the start of the search for the search sample image file by the thumbnail search display means. , A decompressed image storage means for storing decompressed image files sequentially decompressed by the decompressing means, and a decompressed image file corresponding to the search sample image file selected from the thumbnail list displayed on the display screen from the decompressed image storage means. An image information management apparatus comprising: a file search means for reading and displaying on the display screen; and a control means for controlling multitasking of the decompression means and the thumbnail search and display means. 2. Each time the decompression means decompresses sequentially, a decompression table creating means for creating a retrieval decompression table for retrieving a decompressed decompressed image file in the decompressed image storage means and a file retrieving means. Determining means for determining whether or not the decompressed image file has already been decompressed by referring to the search and decompression table, and interrupting the sequential decompression processing of the compressed image file by the decompressing means based on the determination result of the determining means, and decompressing The image information management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising decompression control means for decompressing a compressed image file for the retrieved sample image file selected by the means. 3. A free space determination means for determining the free space of the decompressed image storage means, and the decompressed image files stored in the decompressed image storage means are deleted in the order of storage based on the determination result of the free space determination means. The image information management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a securing unit that secures a free space in the decompressed image storage unit. 4. The image information management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the reserving unit determines the decompressed image file to be deleted from the decompressed image storage unit with reference to the management flag on the search decompression table. 5. The registration order of the decompression files registered in the retrieval decompression table is automatically changed based on the rearrangement of the retrieval sample image files in the thumbnail list displayed on the display screen. The described image information management device.