JPH07253992A - Search method and device in electronic book - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to search from image information in an e-book composed of multiple types of information such as character information or image information, and to facilitate the user's search. [Structure] Character information file 23 storing character information TX
And a search method in an electronic book having the image information file 24 storing the image information SF, wherein when the search by the image information SF is designated, the image information of a plurality of pages starting from the designated page is displayed. Image information SF is extracted from the inside, and extracted image information SF
, A plurality of reduced images RF corresponding to are simultaneously displayed on the screen HG, and when a specific reduced image RF among the reduced images RF displayed on the screen HG is selected, the selected reduced image RF is included. This is a method of searching a page and displaying image information of the searched page on the screen HG.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic book search method and apparatus. In recent years, with the spread of computers, the digitization of information has progressed, and in the fields of newspapers, publishing, printing, etc., electronic publishing has been introduced, and electronic books have appeared. The electronic book is provided with a book-like user interface such as a bookmark or a tag, and can handle color still images and sounds by multimedia technology. Also, some e-books have a hypertext structure.

In order to spread electronic books rapidly in the future, it is possible to realize functions that cannot be realized by conventional printed materials by making the best use of the characteristics of a computer, and make it as easy as possible for users to use traditional paper. It should be as friendly as the book.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electronic books have a text search function. According to the text search function, by inputting an item name, a keyword, or an appropriate word, a page in which those words or phrases exist is searched from the entire text information or a specific part, and the image of the searched page is displayed on the screen. The page numbers of the displayed or retrieved pages are listed on the screen.

In addition, if you have a large-scale database, you may have a search function with similar words or abbreviations for the entered words. In that case, you can enter the target item name or keyword. As long as the user remembers it, it is possible to search for the target page.

[0005]

However, since the conventional search function in the electronic book provides only a text search, the item name or the keyword is remembered in some form or the word in the text is remembered. I couldn't search without it. Further, even if the user has a search function using similar words or abbreviations, if the user can only vaguely remember a word or does not remember it at all, the conventional text search function cannot handle it, The user needed a lot of time and effort for searching.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and enables an electronic book composed of a plurality of types of information such as character information or image information to be searched from the image information and searched by the user. The purpose is to facilitate.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the search efficiency by increasing the number of image information displayed on one screen as much as possible. According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, the image for search displayed on the screen is displayed in a state as close to the actual layout of each page as possible so that the user can easily remember and improve the search efficiency. To aim.

It is an object of the present invention to speed up the display of image information for retrieval and improve the retrieval efficiency.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the method according to the invention of claim 1 is as follows, as shown in FIG.
It has a character information file 23 storing the character information TX and an image information file 24 storing the image information SF, and an image of each page according to the character information file 23 or the information stored at a predetermined position of the image information file 24. A search method in an electronic book, which is configured such that information is configured and image information of a designated page is displayed on a screen HG, which is designated when a search by the image information SF is designated. Image information SF is extracted from image information of a plurality of pages starting from a page, and a plurality of reduced images RF corresponding to the extracted image information SF are simultaneously displayed on the screen HG and displayed on the screen HG. When a specific reduced image RF among the reduced images RF is selected, a page including the selected specific reduced image RF is searched and searched. The page image information that has been a method to be displayed on the screen HG.

A method according to a second aspect of the present invention is a method of displaying only the reduced images RF when displaying the plurality of reduced images RF on the screen HG. Claim 3
The method according to the invention, when displaying the plurality of reduced images RF on the screen HG, displays frame lines FRL indicating the outer shape of the page including the reduced images RF arranged in the order of the pages, and In this method, the reduced images RF are arranged and displayed at the arrangement positions of the image information SF corresponding to the respective frame lines FRL.

The method according to the invention of claim 4 is a method of displaying a graphic TFR indicating the position of the character information TX on each page in each of the frame lines FRL. The method according to the invention of claim 5 has a reduced image information file 26 storing reduced image information RS obtained by reducing the image information SF, and reduction based on the reduced image information RS stored in the reduced image information file 26. This is a method of displaying the image RF on the screen HG.

In the device 3 according to the invention of claim 6, the character information file 23 storing the character information TX, the image information file 24 storing the image information SF, the character information file 23 or the image information file 24 is stored. Page information DFP for specifying one or more pieces of information stored and specifying image information forming each page
And a page information file 22 storing
A search device 3 in an electronic book configured such that the image information of the page specified by is displayed on the screen HG of the display device 14, and is specified when the search by the image information SF is specified. Image information SF is extracted from the image information of a plurality of pages starting from the selected page, and a plurality of reduced images RF corresponding to the extracted image information SF are simultaneously displayed on the screen HG. M4, and a search means M2 for searching a page including the selected specific reduced image RF when the specific reduced image RF among the reduced images RF displayed on the screen HG is selected. Regarding a page, the normal image display means M3 for displaying the image information of the page on the screen HG based on the page information DFP is configured.

[0013]

[Operation] When the search by the image information SF is designated,
The image information SF is extracted from the image information of a plurality of pages including the designated page, and a plurality of reduced images RF corresponding to them are displayed on the screen HG. The reduced image RF is displayed based on the reduced image information RS about the image information SF.

The reduced image information RS is generated by reducing the image information SF read from the image file 24 in real time, and the reduced image information previously generated and stored in the reduced image file 26. There are cases where RS is read. That is, the extracted image information SF here includes the reduced image information RS. The designation of the search based on the image information SF includes not only the case of directly designating the search but also the case of designating the display of the reduced image RF as a pre-stage of the search.

To display the reduced image RF on the screen HG,
A mode in which only the reduced image RF is displayed (image only mode), a mode in which it is displayed together with a frame line FRL indicating a page (in-page image mode), and a figure TFR indicating the position of the character information TX on each page within each frame line FRL. Display mode (layout display mode, reduced image mode)
There is.

When a specific reduced image RF is selected on the screen HG, the page containing the reduced image RF is searched,
The image information about the searched page is displayed on the screen HG.

[0017]

2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an electronic book apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

The electronic book apparatus 1 includes a processing device 11, a magnetic disk device 12, a CD-ROM device 13, a display device 14,
The printer device 15 includes a printer device 15, a keyboard 16, a mouse 17, a tablet 18, a speaker 19, and the like. The electronic book apparatus 1 is realized by, for example, a so-called personal computer or workstation.

The magnetic disk device 12 is provided with a management data file 21 and a page data file 22. The CD-ROM device 13 has a text file 23 storing text information TX and image information S of a still image.
An image file 24 storing F, a voice file 25 storing voice information AD, and a reduced image file 26 storing reduced image information RS which is information obtained by reducing the image information SF are provided. CD
These files and information stored in the ROM device 13 may be referred to as media files or media information, respectively.

The processing unit 11 includes an arithmetic unit, a main memory, and an RO.
M, etc., and refers to the management data file 21 or page data file 22 in accordance with instructions from the keyboard 16, mouse 17, tablet 18, etc., and reads out the necessary data from each media file 23-26. Then, the image information of each page is displayed on the screen HG of the display device 14 or a sound is emitted from the speaker 19. The processing unit 11 allows the search means M in the present invention.
2. Normal image display means M3 and reduced image display means M4
The input device M1 is realized by the processing device 11, the keyboard 16, the display device 14, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the management data file 21, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the page data file 22. In FIG. 3, the management data file 21 is a file in which management data DMN for managing the image or audio configuration of all pages of an electronic book is stored, and the total number of pages T of the electronic book is T.
PN and page data positions ADF1, ADF2, ADF3 where page data DFP for each page are stored
It consists of ... and. Since the page data DFP is stored in the page data file 22, the page data position ADF
Indicates the storage position (or address) in the page data file 22.

In FIG. 4, the page data file 22 is
It is a file that stores page data DFP indicating what kind of data each page image is composed of. That is, the page data DFP is information indicating the configuration of image information for one screen. The page data DFP of each page is a total of the number of elements TEN of the image information forming the screen, a data set SOD, a display position DCP, and a storage position HCP.
One or more. That is, the page data DFP is the total number of elements TEN and one or more partial page data DFP.
1, 2, ...

The data type SOD includes text information TX, image information SF, audio information AD, reduced image information RS.
Is information that specifies either of The display position DCP is
It is information indicating at which coordinate position in the page the information is displayed. The storage position HCP is information indicating the file name where the information is stored and the address in the file name. In the page data file 22, page data DFP
Are not arranged in page order, but are arranged in any order.

FIG. 5 shows the page data D of the page data file 22.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of FP, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a layout of an image of a page corresponding to the page data DFP of FIG. In FIG. 5, the partial page data DFP1 has the image information S.
Information of the data type SOD indicating F, and the coordinates of the upper left vertex of the displayed image information SF are (x1, y1).
And the vertical and horizontal lengths of the image information SF are a1 × b1
It is composed of the information of the display position DCP indicating that it is (dot) and the information of the storage position HCP indicating that the image information SF thereof is stored in the dd address of the image file 24.

In the partial page data DFP2, the information of the data type SOD indicating that the partial page data DFP2 is the text information TX, and the coordinates of each vertex of the displayed text information TX are (x
2, y2) (x3, y3) ... (x7, y7) information on the display position DCP, and information on the storage position HCP indicating that the text information TX is stored in the ee address of the text file 23. It consists of

In FIG. 6, partial page data DFP1, 2
The image information SF and the text information TX indicated by
The coordinates of the upper left apex of the screen HG1 are set to (0, 0), and are displayed as images at the positions indicated by the respective display positions DCP.

FIG. 7 shows the structure of each media file. The text information TX stored in the text file 23 includes character size, font, style, and body data. The image information SF stored in the image file 24 includes vertical length, horizontal length, gradation, data length, color palette, and body data. The audio information AD stored in the audio file 25 includes time, data size, and body data. The reduced image information RS stored in the reduced image file 26 includes vertical length, horizontal length, gradation, data length, reduction ratio, color palette, and body data. The reduced image information RS is a reduction ratio specified in advance,
For example, with a reduction rate of 50%, image file 2
4 is an image obtained by previously reducing all or part of the image information SF stored in 4.

Therefore, when the page number n to be displayed is designated by the input from the keyboard 16 or the like, the page data position ADFn of the designated page number n is read from the management data file 21 and is referred to. The page data DFP corresponding to the page number n is read from the page data file 22. Based on the page data DFP, the corresponding text information TX or image information SF is the text file 23 or the image file 2 of the CD-ROM device 13.
4 and all images contained in the page are displayed on the screen HG.
Displayed in normal mode at the specified position above.
The screens HG11 and HG12 of FIGS. 14 and 15 are diagrams showing an example in which the image of page number “1” or “35” is displayed in the normal mode, respectively.

When the voice information AD is designated by the page data DFP, the voice information AD is read from the voice file 25, and the speaker 1 is read at a predetermined timing.
A voice is emitted from 9, and it is repeated as many times as necessary.

Further, by inputting an appropriate word / phrase from the keyboard 16 and instructing the search, the page number including the word / phrase is searched, and the image of the searched page is displayed on the screen HG.

A display switching button 41, a previous page button 42, and a next page button 43 are displayed below the screens HG11, 12 and the like. By pressing the display switching button 41 on the normal mode screen, the screen is switched to the image search mode screen. Pressing the previous page button 42 displays the image of the previous page, and pressing the next page button 43 displays the image of the next page.

Next, the image search function of the electronic book apparatus 1 will be described. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the screen HG13 in the image only mode, FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the screen HG14 in the in-page image mode, FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the screen HG15 in the layout display mode, and FIG. 19 is a reduction. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen HG16 by image mode.

The electronic book apparatus 1 has an image search mode (image search function) of searching not only by the text information TX but also by looking at the image information SF. When the image search mode is designated, the image information SF is extracted from the image information of a plurality of pages starting from the designated page, and the plurality of reduced images RF corresponding to the extracted image information SF is 1
It is displayed simultaneously in one screen HG. The size of the reduced image RF and the number of image information SF or the number of pages displayed on one screen are determined according to the size of the original image and the designated reduction ratio.

To specify the image search mode, the display switching button 41 is pressed by operating the mouse 17 or the like in the normal mode. When the display switching button 41 is pressed, the mode selection menu screen HG17 shown in FIG. 20 is displayed in a window. On this mode selection menu screen HG17, various modes are designated according to how the reduced image RF is displayed in the image search mode, and the reduction ratio is designated. There are four modes according to the display method of the reduced image RF: an image only mode, an in-page image mode, a layout display mode, and a reduced image mode. As the reduction rate, for example, an arbitrary value can be designated within the range of 1 to 100%. When the reduction ratio is not designated, or when a specific instruction is given, the reduced image information RS stored in the reduced image file 26 is read and displayed.

In the image-only mode, as shown in FIG. 16, when displaying the reduced image RF on the screen HG, only the reduced image RF is displayed. That is, various kinds of information are prepared as media information, but only the image information SF which is specific media information in the media information is read to generate the reduced image information RS, or only the reduced image information RS is directly read. , And display them as a reduced image RF.

In the example of FIG. 16, the screen HG1 shown in FIG.
By pressing the display switching button 41 with 2 being displayed, the page number "36" including the two reduced images RF35a, b for the image information SF of the page number 35 is started.
Reduced image RF of image information SF of "37" ...
Are arranged in order of page numbers in the vertical direction from the upper left of the screen HG13 downward so as not to overlap with each other, and they are arranged in order from left to right so as not to overlap with each other.

In the in-page image mode, as shown in FIG. 17, frame lines FRL showing the outer shape of the page including the reduced images RF are arranged and displayed in the order of the pages, and correspond to the frame lines FRL. Each reduced image RF is arranged at the arrangement position of the image information SF to be displayed. That is, in the in-page image mode, the image information SF of the image information of each page is displayed at a predetermined position within the frame line FRL indicating the page. Then, the page number is displayed below the frame line FRL indicating each page.

In the layout display mode, as shown in FIG. 18, the frame line FRL, the reduced image RF, and the frame line TFR indicating the position of the text information TX are arranged at the positions corresponding to the layout of the original image. Is displayed.

In the reduced image mode, as shown in FIG. 19, a shaded figure TNF indicating the position of each line of the characters of the text information TX is displayed instead of the frame line TFR shown in FIG.

That is, in the image only mode and the in-page image mode, the text information TX is not displayed at all,
In the layout display mode and the reduced image mode, only the layout of the text information TX is displayed.

When a specific reduced image RF therein is selected by operating the mouse 17 or the like while these reduced images RF are displayed, a page number including the selected specific reduced image RF is searched, The retrieved page is displayed on the screen HG in the normal mode. In selecting the reduced image RF, the reduced image RF is clicked with the mouse 17 or the like, or if the page number is displayed, the page number is clicked or the numerical value of the page number is input.

When the previous page button 42 or the next page button 43 is pressed on the screen HG on which the reduced image RF is displayed, all the reduced images RF displayed up to that point are displayed.
It replaces the page before or after that. Pressing the display switching button 41 switches to the normal mode.

In the image-only mode, the image information S
Since only the reduced image RF of F is displayed, if the same size is used, a large number of reduced images RF are displayed on the screen H as compared with other modes.
It can be displayed on G, is easy to search and is efficient.
Moreover, the processing for displaying is simplified, so that the processing speed can be improved.

On the other hand, in the in-page image mode,
Since the page is displayed as an image, the user can easily think of the page. Further, since the page number is displayed below each frame line FRL, it is easy to specify the page.

Further, in the layout display mode, since the frame line TFR is further displayed, it is easier for the user to think of the page. In the reduced image mode, it is easier for the user to imagine the page because the image is closer to the original image, but the number of reduced images RF that can be displayed is reduced.

Now, the processing operation of the electronic book apparatus 1 in the image search mode will be described with reference to the flowchart. 8 is a block diagram mainly showing an image search function of the electronic book apparatus 1, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing main processing of the electronic book apparatus 1, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a normal mode processing routine, and FIG. 11 is an image only mode processing routine. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a layout display mode processing routine, and FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an image only mode processing routine when the reduced image information RS is used.

In FIG. 8, a display content control unit 51 and a user operation input unit 52 are provided in the processing device 11. A data storage unit 53 is formed by the magnetic disk device 12 and the CD-ROM device 13. The user operation input unit 52 analyzes a command input by an operation input from the keyboard 16 or the mouse 17. As a result, the mode and page are designated, and the reduced image RF in the image search mode is selected.

The display content control section 51 includes a data reading section 61, a switching section 62, buffers 63 and 64, a reduced image generating section 65, a buffer 66, and a display layout calculating section 6.
7 and the like are provided.

The media information read from the data storage unit 53 by the data reading unit 61 is stored in the buffer 63,
Once stored in 64. At this time, under the control of the switching unit 62, the data is alternately stored in the two buffers 63 and 64 for each page. The image information SF of the media information stored in the buffers 63 and 64 is the reduced image generation unit 65.
And is stored in the buffer 66 as reduced image information RS. At this time, the display layout calculation unit 67 always calculates the layout on the screen based on the reduction ratio, and gives an instruction as to whether or not to reduce the next page, the arrangement position of the reduced image information RS, and the like. Further, it is possible to store the image information for a plurality of screens in the buffer 66, and after the first reduced image information RS for one screen is generated, the image information SF of the subsequent pages is sequentially reduced. To generate the reduced image information RS, and the buffer 6
Store in 6. The reduced image information RS stored in the buffer 66 follows the instruction from the mouse 17 or the like.
The reduced image RF is displayed on the screen HG.

As described above, since the media information read from the data storage unit 53 is alternately stored in the two buffers 63 and 64, the waiting time during the reading of the media information from the data storage unit 53 can be reduced or eliminated. You can
The display speed can be increased. Also, the reduced image information RS
Is generated for the next screen and stored in the buffer 66, the waiting time during the generation of the reduced image information RS can be reduced or eliminated, and the display speed can be increased. Further, since the reduced image information RS for a plurality of screens is stored in the buffer 66, the screens stored in the buffer 66 are displayed when the previous page button 42 or the next page button 43 is pressed to switch the screen HG. It switches at high speed.

The switching unit 62 is provided with a flag for performing switching so that the media information is alternately stored in the buffers 63 and 64 and read out. For example, when the flag is set to "1", the reduced image generation unit 65 reads the media information from the buffer 63, and when the flag is set to "2", the reduced image generation unit 65 reads the media information from the buffer 64. The flag setting is changed every time the media information is read from the buffers 63 and 64.

In addition, the display layout calculation section 67 converts the position on the screen HG and the page number of the reduced image RF in order to select the corresponding reduced image RF from the cursor position designated on the screen HG. A table is provided. Therefore, when the reduced image RF is selected on the screen HG, the corresponding page number is searched by this table, and the image of the searched page number is displayed in the normal mode.

In FIG. 9, first, the management data DMN is read from the management data file 21 (# 1). Each processing is performed according to the designation of the mode (# 2, # 3) (# 4 to # 8).

In FIG. 10, in the normal mode display processing, when a page is designated (# 11), page data DFP
Is referred to (# 12), and the media information is read out (#
13), which is displayed on the screen HG (# 14).

In FIG. 11, in the image-only mode processing, when the page and reduction ratio are designated (# 21), the page data DFP is referred to (# 22), and whether the designated page has the image information SF. It is checked whether or not (# 2
3). When the image information SF exists, it is read (# 24) and reduced to generate reduced image information RS (# 25). If there is still room in the display area of the screen HG (Yes in # 26), it is not the final page (#
No in 27), the page number is incremented by 1 (# 28), and step # 22 and subsequent steps are repeated. When the display area of the screen HG is full (No in # 26), the reduced image information RS generated up to that point is displayed on the screen HG as the reduced image RF (# 29).

In FIG. 12, in the layout display mode process, when the page and the reduction ratio are designated (# 31),
The number of pages that can be displayed on one screen and the display position are calculated (# 3
2) The page data DFP is referenced (# 33), and the media information is read (# 34). Reduced image information RS
Is generated (# 35), frame lines FRL and TFR are generated (# 36), and these are displayed at predetermined positions (# 3).
7).

In the in-page image mode, the frame line TFR
In the reduced image mode, a shaded figure TNF is generated and displayed in place of the frame line TFR.
In FIG. 13, when the page is designated in the image-only mode when the reduced image information RS is used (# 4
1), the page data DFP is referred to (# 42), the reduced image information RS is read from the reduced image file 26 (# 43), and displayed on the screen HG as the reduced image RF (# 44). In this case, since it is not necessary for the processing device 11 to generate the reduced image information RS, the processing time can be reduced accordingly, and the reduced image RF can be displayed at high speed.

In the above embodiment, in the image-only mode, the reduced image RF is arranged in the same space regardless of the size of the reduced image RF.
The reduced images RF may be packed and arranged. By doing so, a large number of reduced images RF can be arranged in the screen HG, and the search can be efficiently performed accordingly.

In the above embodiment, the image information S
Although F has been described as a still image, a moving image may be included together with it. A touch panel may be used as an input device to the processing device 11. The configuration of the whole or each part of the electronic device 1, the type of file, the number of files, the structure of data, the content of processing, the order, the timing, and the like can be variously changed in accordance with the gist of the present invention.

[0060]

According to the inventions of claims 1 to 6,
In an electronic book configured by a plurality of types of information such as character information or image information, it is possible to search from image information and facilitate a user's search.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the number of pieces of image information displayed on one screen can be increased as much as possible to improve the search efficiency. According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, an image for search displayed on the screen is displayed in a state as close to the actual layout of each page as possible so that the user can easily remember and improve the search efficiency. You can

According to the invention of claim 5, the display of image information for retrieval can be speeded up and the retrieval efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an electronic book apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of a management data file.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a page data file.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of page data of a page data file.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a layout of an image of a page corresponding to the page data of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of each media file.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram mainly showing an image search function of the electronic book apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a main process of the electronic book apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a normal mode processing routine.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an image-only mode processing routine.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a layout display mode processing routine.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an image-only mode processing routine when reduced image information is used.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed in a normal mode.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed in a normal mode.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a screen in an image-only mode.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a screen in an in-page image mode.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a screen in a layout display mode.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a screen in a reduced image mode.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a mode selection menu screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 electronic book device (electronic book) 3 search device 22 page data file (page information file) 23 text file (character information file) 24 image file (image information file) 26 reduced image file (reduced image information file) TX text information ( Character information) SF image information RS Reduced image information RF Reduced image DFP Page data (page information) HG screen FRL frame line TFR frame line (figure) M1 input device M2 search device M3 normal image display device M4 reduced image display device

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A character information file (23) storing character information (TX) and an image information file (24) storing image information (SF), the character information file (23) or the image information file. (24) The information stored in the predetermined position constitutes the image information of each page, and the image information of the designated page is displayed on the screen (HG). Then, when the search by the image information (SF) is designated, the image information (SF) is extracted from the image information of a plurality of pages starting from the designated page, and the extracted image information ( A plurality of reduced images (R) corresponding to SF
F) is simultaneously displayed on the screen (HG), and when a specific reduced image (RF) among the reduced images (RF) displayed on the screen (HG) is selected, the specific reduction selected A search method for an electronic book, characterized by searching a page including an image (RF) and displaying image information of the searched page on the screen (HG). 2. When displaying the plurality of reduced images (RF) on the screen (HG), the reduced images (R) are displayed.
The search method for an electronic book according to claim 1, wherein only F) is displayed. 3. When displaying the plurality of reduced images (RF) on the screen (HG), each reduced image (R) is displayed.
A frame line (FRL) showing the outer shape of the page including F) is arranged and displayed in the order of the page, and each frame line (F
The retrieval method in the electronic book according to claim 1, wherein the reduced images (RF) are arranged and displayed at the arrangement positions of the image information (SF) corresponding to RL). 4. A figure (TFR) indicating the position of character information (TX) on each page in each frame (FRL).
The method for searching in an electronic book according to claim 3, wherein is displayed. 5. A reduced image information file (26) in which reduced image information (RS) obtained by reducing the image information (SF) is stored, and reduced image information (26) stored in the reduced image information file (26). A reduced image (RF) based on RS) is displayed on a screen (HG).
The retrieval method in the electronic book according to claim 4. 6. A character information file (23) storing character information (TX), an image information file (24) storing image information (SF), the character information file (23) or the image information file ( 24) A page information file (2) storing page information (DFP) for specifying one or a plurality of pieces of information stored in 24) and specifying image information forming each page.
2) and a search device (3) in an electronic book configured so that image information of a page designated by the input means (M1) is displayed on the screen (HG) of the display device (14). Then, when the search by the image information (SF) is designated, the image information (SF) is extracted from the image information of a plurality of pages starting from the designated page, and the extracted image information ( A plurality of reduced images (R) corresponding to SF
The reduced image display means (M4) for displaying F) on the screen (HG) at the same time, and the specific reduced image (RF) in the reduced image (RF) displayed on the screen (HG) are selected. And a search means (M2) for searching a page including the selected specific reduced image (RF), and image information of the searched page based on the page information (DFP). A search device for an electronic book, comprising: a normal image display means (M3) for displaying in (HG).