JPH10250261A - Family tree and family tree generation system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] A family tree generation system which can not only efficiently create electronic family data but also create a genealogy chart having a vast expanse. An image scanner 11 for inputting as electronic data, a keyboard 12 for inputting relative character attribute data, and a person image storage means 20 for storing a person image input by the image scanner 11 linked to the character attribute data of the corresponding person And a family template storage means 40 for storing, by generation number, family templates connecting person nodes over predetermined generations by link lines, and assigning a person image corresponding to the person node of the selected family template and its character attribute data. And an image processing means 50 for generating a family tree image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a family tree showing the relationships of relatives such as parents and grandparents, together with their portraits, and a family tree generation system for creating such a family tree.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A family tree panel in which pockets are arranged so that photographs of relatives can be systematically mounted is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-10016.
No. 6 and Published Utility Model Publication No. 1-108769. As described above, the image is created by writing the relative level (parent, grandparent, etc.), name, and date of birth from the reference person as the attribute data of each person while attaching or pasting the photograph of each relative to the panel. In the case of a family tree, there is no sense of unity such as photographs, characters, and link lines indicating kinship, there is an aesthetic problem, and there are many generations of blood and marriage due to limitations due to the physical size of the panel. It is difficult to create a family tree. In addition, it is impossible or very difficult to add a relative who has been found or joined later. Also, in order to make a family tree commercially, traditional methods such as attaching and pasting photos may not be productive if mass processing is considered, leading to commercial success. Can not.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an excellent family tree which has solved the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional family tree, and to not only create such a family tree efficiently, An object of the present invention is to provide a family tree generation system capable of creating a family tree having a vast expanse.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a family tree according to the present invention is a family tree formed by connecting person nodes by link lines. And a family image generated by electronically synthesizing the character attribute data of the corresponding person. Since the electronic ancestry image as the basis of such a family tree is created on a computer, silver halide photographs, digital photographs, portraits, etc. were used as the original of the human image, and various modifications were made as necessary. It can be used later, and furthermore, it is possible to generate a family image with sufficient expansion of relatives including marriage and generations. By hard-copying the whole or a part of such an electronic family tree image using an ink-jet printer, a laser printer, or the like, a required number of family trees printed on paper or vinyl can be obtained. Since the original family image is of course digital data, there is no fear of deterioration over time, and it is possible to easily cope with the increase of relatives that will increase in the future.

[0005] A family tree generation system according to the present invention for generating the above-described family tree includes input means for inputting a personal image of a target relative as electronic data, and a character attribute for inputting the relative character attribute data. Data input means;
A person image storage unit for linking the person image input by the input unit with the character attribute data of the corresponding person and storing the same, and a family tree storing family templates in which person nodes over a predetermined generation are connected by link lines for each number of generations The image processing apparatus includes a template storage unit and an image processing unit that generates a family image by assigning a person image corresponding to the person node of the selected family template and its character attribute data. In this configuration, relative names and names of parents, grandparents, etc., and birth dates input by character attribute data input means such as a keyboard to a relative person image read by an input means such as a scanner or a memory card. In some cases, attribute data represented by characters such as the date of death is linked and temporarily stored. These person images and their character attribute data are assigned to the corresponding person nodes of the selected family template, and a family image is generated. By hard-copying the generated family tree image, a family tree printed on a sheet of paper, vinyl, or the like is obtained. Since the person image and its character attribute data are linked, mistakes such as names being replaced during work can be avoided, and family templates for each generation can be easily created. Can be created.

As one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the image processing means uses a relative level of a father, grandfather, or the like stored as a character attribute data linked to the person image. If the configuration is such that the person image is assigned to the corresponding person node in the family tree template, the work of the operator is drastically reduced, and the efficiency of the family tree creation work is improved.

As another embodiment, display means for displaying a family image in the first area and displaying a person image in the second area is provided, and character attribute data input means is displayed in the second area. If it is possible to input the character attribute data of the specified person while identifying the specified person image, it is possible to input the character attribute data of the person while checking the person image, so that input errors can be suppressed. .

[0008] In another embodiment, a family crest database storing a plurality of family crest images is provided, and a selected family crest image is combined with a family image. When creating a family tree, there are many requests to attach a family crest, but the task of creating an accurate family crest pattern is difficult, and there are cases where relatives themselves do not have accurate patterns, as in this configuration If the database in which the family crest data is stored in advance is provided in the form of, for example, a CD-ROM, an accurate family crest can be easily combined with the family image. Furthermore, in synthesizing a digital image, it is possible to easily perform a watermark display or an emboss display of a family crest. As a preferred embodiment of the operation of selecting a desired family crest from the family crest database, a third area for displaying a family crest image is provided on the display means, and one of the family crest images displayed in this third area is specified. If the specified family crest image is configured to be combined with the family image, the family crest can be selected on the same screen as the screen for creating the family image, and the work efficiency is improved.

[0009] In yet another embodiment, a topic image database storing historical topic images by age is provided, and topic images in a family image in a time when a person lived are read from the topic image database; Some images are synthesized near the relevant person image. In this configuration, the era in which the predecessor played an active part is what kind of era, and it is visually explained by an image showing typical topics of that era. In this case, if the family image is to be viewed on a computer, the topic image is not limited to a still image, but may be incorporated into the family image as a moving image. Again, as a preferred embodiment of the operation of selecting a desired topic image from the topic image database, a fourth area for displaying the topic image is provided on the display means, and one of the topic images displayed in the fourth area is provided. If the topic image specified by specifying is combined with the family image, the topic image can be selected on the same screen as the screen for creating the family image, and the work efficiency is improved.

In general, taking into account that the relatives' personal images from which the family tree is created are often formed on photographic film obtained by photographing relatives who are close to the Bon Festival or New Year's Day. As a preferred family tree generation system by
It is proposed to realize this by giving an additional function to a printer processor located in a DPE store or the like. Such a system includes a reading unit that reads an image of a relative of interest from a photographic film, a character attribute data input unit that inputs character attribute data of the relative,
A person image storage unit for linking the person image input by the input unit with the character attribute data of the corresponding person and storing the same, and a family tree storing family templates in which person nodes over a predetermined generation are connected by link lines for each number of generations Template storage means, image processing means for generating a family image by assigning a person image corresponding to the person node of the selected family template and its character attribute data,
It has a printing means for printing the generated family image on photographic paper, and can be used as a printer processor in terms of hardware, and combines the captured human image with character attribute data in accordance with the template. Simply incorporate the image processing software. As a result, a family tree with a photo-like finish can be provided only by receiving a photographic film of a relative from a customer. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an example of a family tree according to the present invention.
Is shown in By connecting the elliptical person nodes 2 by link lines 3, a relative family is represented. FIG. 1 shows a family tree of a direct male of a reference person. An image of a reference person is formed on a person node 2a, and an image of the spouse is formed on a person node 2b. Further, a parent node image is formed in the person node 2c, a grandparent image is formed in the person node 2d, a great-grandparent image is formed in the person node 2e, and a child image is formed in the person node 2f. In the center area of the background 6, a family crest 5 formed in an embossed style is formed. A family name and a family crest 5 are formed at the upper left of the family tree 1. This family tree 1
It is created by printing out a family tree image generated by a family tree generation system described below with an inkjet printer.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a family tree generation system according to the present invention. This family tree generation system is a system in which image input / output devices are connected to a general-purpose personal computer, and various functions are created by programming. Although the image scanner 11 is used as a person image input device, for example, in the case of a photographic film, a film scanner is used depending on a target medium.
In the case of printed photos and printed matter, a flatbed scanner is used properly. Although not shown, it is of course possible to input an image via a memory card or a communication line. For operations such as input images,
A keyboard 12, a mouse 13, and a monitor 14 are also provided. Although the printer 15 is used as the image output device, various printers such as an ink jet type, a thermal transfer type, and a sublimation type can be used. As an output device, a digital recording device such as a floppy drive or a CD-R may be used.

The person image input by the image scanner 11 is stored in the person image storage means 20 under the control of the CPU 10 and, if necessary, displayed on the monitor 14 while the photo retouching function of the image processing means 50 is provided. Various modifications are made using. In the person image storage means 20, each person image is provided with a key code, so that it can be distinguished from other person images. Names and names of relatives such as parents and grandparents, date of birth,
Attribute data represented by characters such as the date of death in some cases is input to a keyboard 12 as character attribute data input means.
And is stored in the character attribute data storage means 30. A key code is assigned to the character attribute data of each person image, and the corresponding person image and the character attribute data can be linked via the key code.

To create a family tree in a predetermined format, a family tree template 41 is prepared in advance.
There are many kinds of family templates 41 according to the design, the number of generations, and the type of relatives (including marriage, only direct males, etc.), and are stored in the family template storage means 40. Reference numeral 60 denotes a family crest database storing various family crests by image resolution and size.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a topic image database that stores topic images representing representative topics of each era for each era. Normally, the family crest database 60 and the topic image database 70 can use those supplied on a CD-ROM.

Next, a process of creating a family tree using the above-described family tree generation system will be described. FIG. 3 shows a main screen 90 displayed on the monitor 14 during the activation of this system. On the main screen 90, four operating windows functioning as first to fourth operation areas, that is, a family tree window 91, a person image window 92, a topics image window 93, and a family crest window 94 are arranged. Each operating window is provided with a close box 95a at the upper right thereof for deleting its own window, a size box 95b at the lower left thereof for changing the size of the window, and a close bar 95c at the left and lower sides for moving the screen in the window. ing. On the upper side of the main screen 90, there is provided a menu bar 90a which collects the overall operation commands of the system.

When creating the family tree diagram 1, first, an image of a person constituting the family tree is captured by the image scanner 11 and stored in the person image storage means 20. Since the person image stored in the person image storage means 20 is displayed in the person image window 92, if image correction is required, the user selects the image correction on the menu bar 90a and performs necessary correction. Since all the characters appearing in the family tree 1 can be displayed, it is convenient to unify the sizes and color tones of these characters.

Below the person displayed in the person image window 92, there is provided an input field 92a for inputting character data of the person's attribute data. Parents and grandparents as relative levels of the reference person are provided. And the like, the date of birth, and in some cases, the date of death, are input through the keyboard 12. The input character attribute data is stored in the character attribute data storage unit 30 in a form of being divided into records by the key code. As described above, even if the person image and the character attribute data are separately stored, the corresponding ones can be linked by the key code.

The family tree window 91 displays the selected family template. In the illustrated example, the descent of a direct male boy who is three generations back from the reference person 91a and the reference person 91
This is a template for the child a. Since the relative level is set in advance in the person node 2 of the template,
It is possible to automatically read and incorporate a person image from the person image storage means 20 into each person node and read and incorporate character attribute data from the character attribute data storage means 30 near each person node. Of course, without adopting such an automatic mode, the person image selected manually from the person image window 92 using the mouse 13 is dragged and dropped to the corresponding person node 2 in the family tree window 91, thereby dropping the family tree. A family image may be generated in the window 91. The drag and drop operation using the mouse 13 is a well-known technique and will not be described in detail here. Just move to the area and release the mouse button.

In the topic image window 93, topic images classified by age read from the topic image database 70 are displayed. By operating the scroll bar 95c, an appropriate topic image is dragged and dropped in the family tree window 91. It can be attached to an appropriate area. The family crest image read out from the family crest database 60 is displayed in the family crest window 94, and the corresponding crest image can be pasted to an appropriate area in the family tree window 91 by dragging and dropping the scroll bar 95c. it can. As the family crest image, various types of the same family crest such as a background image and an image used as a logo type are stored.

In this embodiment, a family tree window 91
Is composed of a plurality of layers such as a background layer, a person image layer, and a character layer, and the background, the person image, and the like can be individually corrected. Of course, as a single layer configuration, all objects may be formed on the same layer. When the family tree image is completed in the family tree window 91, it is stored on a storage medium, a floppy disk, an MO disk, or the like, and the required number of prints are printed out from the printer 15 as a hard copy of the completed family tree image.

Next, the above-described family tree generation system is referred to as D
An example in which a printer processor arranged in a PE store or the like is used for construction will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a functional block diagram of a typical printer processor 100. A film reading device 120 for reading an image frame such as a human image formed on the photographic film 110; a projection exposure unit 130 for projecting and exposing the image frame formed on the film onto a photographic paper 115 as a photosensitive material; Processing unit 140 that develops photographic paper 115, and printer processor 100
Is provided with a controller 150 for controlling the operation of each unit. Further, a CRT printer 160 that prints image data read by the reading device 120 on the photographic paper 115 after image processing by the controller 150 is also provided. The CRT printer 160 is for performing index printing. The controller 150 is also connected with a keyboard 170 and a mouse 175 for inputting operations during various operations, and a monitor 180 for displaying various data.

Since the controller 150 is substantially constituted by a computer, the same processing can be performed by installing the program for generating a family tree as described above. Therefore, the controller 150 includes an inkjet printer 165 for printing out a family tree, and a C for using a CD-ROM as a family crest database or a topic image database.
The D-ROM drive 190 is also connected.

When a customer who wishes to create a family tree brings photographic film 110 in which a photograph of a relative has been taken and indicates their relative level, the DPE shop sets the photographic film 11
After the person image is read by the reading device 120 from 0, the operator operates the keyboard 170 and the mouse 175,
A family image is created by the controller 150. The created family image is output using the CRT printer 160 or the inkjet printer 165.

As described above, if the family tree generation system is configured by diverting the existing printer processor 100,
Since the relatives' personal images from which the family tree is created are often formed on a photographic film photographing relatives who have approached the Bon Festival or the New Year, it is a suitable service product for a DPE store.

In the above-described embodiment of the family tree generation system, a still image is used as the person image in consideration of the fact that the family tree is finally printed out on a sheet of paper or vinyl. When a family tree is stored in an electronic medium such as a CD-ROM, a moving image can be used as a person image or a topic image. At this time, software for handling the moving image may be incorporated as an image processing means. Can adopt a form similar to the GUI (graphic user interface) shown in FIG.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 Family tree printed out

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a family tree generation system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a monitor screen showing a GUI of the system according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a family tree generation system according to the present invention using a printer processor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 person node 3 link line 11 image scanner 12 keyboard 20 person image storage means 30 character attribute storage means 40 family template storage means 50 image processing means

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. In a family tree formed by connecting person nodes with link lines, each family node is generated by electronically combining a corresponding person image with character attribute data of the corresponding person. Family tree with printed family tree image. 2. An input means for inputting an image of a relative of interest as electronic data; a character attribute data inputting means for inputting character attribute data of the relative; Person image storage means for linking and storing character attribute data of the same, family template storage means for storing, by generation number, family templates connecting person nodes over predetermined generations by link lines, and persons of the selected family template A family tree generation system, comprising: a family image corresponding to a node; and image processing means for generating a family tree image by assigning character attribute data thereof. 3. The image processing means converts the person image into a family tree template using a relative level such as a father or grandfather stored as character attribute data linked to the person image. The family tree generation system according to claim 2, wherein the system is assigned to a person node. 4. A display means for displaying the family image in a first area and displaying the person image in a second area, wherein the character attribute data input means displays the person image displayed in the second area. The family tree generation system according to claim 2, wherein the system is capable of specifying and inputting character attribute data of the specified person. 5. A family crest database storing a plurality of family crest images, wherein the selected family crest image is combined with the family image by the image processing means. Family tree generation system according to any one of the above. 6. A third area for displaying the family crest image is provided on the display means, and the family crest image specified by specifying one of the family crest images displayed in the third area is displayed on the image processing means. The family tree generation system according to claim 5, wherein the family tree is synthesized with the family tree image. 7. A topic image database for storing historical topic images by age is provided.
The topic image of the age in which the person in the family image lived is read from the topic image database and is synthesized by the image processing means near the relevant person image. Family tree generation system. 8. A fourth area for displaying said topics image is provided on said display means, and the topics image specified by specifying one of the topic images displayed in said fourth area is displayed on said image processing means. The family tree generation system according to claim 7, wherein the family tree is synthesized with the family tree image by the following. 9. The family tree template includes a background layer, a person image layer on which the person image is written, and a character layer on which the character attribute data is written, and is printed out in a form in which all the layers are combined. The family tree generation system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the family tree is output by this. 10. A reading means for reading an image of a relative of interest from a photographic film; a character attribute data inputting means for inputting character attribute data of the relative; Person image storage means for linking and storing character attribute data, family template storage means for storing family templates connecting person nodes over predetermined generations by link lines for each generation, and person nodes of the selected family template A family tree generation system, comprising: an image processing unit that generates a family tree image by assigning a person image corresponding to the above and character attribute data thereof; and a printing unit that prints the generated family tree image on photographic paper.