JPS63233473A - image search device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image retrieval device that retrieves and displays still image data such as black and white or color photographs, printed materials, and films.

[Prior Art 1] A conventional image search device specifies several attributes to perform a search, reduces the searched image at a uniform magnification, and displays it on an image display device.

In the conventional 3L2t described above, when a large number of images are searched or when all registered image data is viewed, the number of times display screen switching is instructed increases.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional device described above, when a large number of images are searched,
Alternatively, when viewing all of the registered image data, there is a problem in that the image that the searcher originally had in mind becomes unclear, making it difficult to decide which image data to select.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a pause mode in which image display is temporarily stopped, a stop release mode in which the pause mode is canceled and the next image is displayed, and a reverse mode in which images are displayed in reverse. etc. can be selected.

[Operation] The present invention allows selection of a pause mode in which image display is temporarily stopped, a stop release mode in which the pause mode is canceled and the next image is displayed, a reverse mode in which images are displayed in reverse, etc. As a result, when a large number of images are searched, or when viewing all of the registered image data, the image that the searcher had at the beginning of 5 can be clearly maintained, and it is also possible to select which image data. It is easy to decide whether to do so.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of the present invention.

The image reading device 10 corresponds to an image scanner or a TV camera used when registering an original image in the original image storage device 14.

In addition, there is a keyboard 11 for inputting search requests and image registration requests, a CPU 12 for performing various controls, an index file 13 for storing attributes of each image data, an original image storage device 14, and a system for converting reduced images from original images. An image reduction device 15 for creating an image, a screen control device 16 for controlling the display method of the reduced image, an image display bag 2117 for displaying the original image and the reduced image created by the image reduction mold 2115, and an image display bag 2117 used for a search request. CRT1 used as a guide screen for specifying attributes to be used and setting attributes when registering still image data.
9, and a digitizer 20 used for setting attributes, selecting displayed still image data, etc.

Here, the CPU 12 is an example of a data search unit that searches a still image database for still image data that satisfies a predetermined attribute, and is also an example of a display mode designation unit that designates an image display mode in the single-image display unit. . The image display modes include a pause mode in which image display is temporarily stopped, a stop release mode in which the pause mode is canceled and the next image is displayed, and a reverse mode in which images are displayed in reverse.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the index file 13 and still image data and the relationship between the image storage device 14 and still image data in the above embodiment.

When the original image is input from the image reading bag 211G at the time of registration, and the still image database administrator inputs predetermined attributes from the keyboard 11 and digitizer 20, the CPU 12 generates an identification code 22, and the identification code 22 is set. and the attributes 23 are registered in the index file 13 as one record 21. Further, an identification code 22 is added to the beginning of the original image data 25 and stored in the original image storage device 14 as a still IE image data file 24. Therefore, the attributes and still image data for one original image are:
They are associated by the same identification code 22.

Next, the operation at the time of search in the above embodiment will be explained. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations during a search.

When the attribute of the place 9 is inputted as a search request via the keyboard 11 and the digitizer 20 (Sl), the CPU 12 opens the index file 13 to search for still image data that meets the request (32), and reads its identification code 22. obtain. Then, still image data in the original image storage device 14 having the same identification code 22 is obtained, and the original image data 25 is transferred to the image reduction device 15. In this case, the identification code 22 of the hit (searched) still image data is held in the first array (shown in FIG. 5 (1)) of the memory (not shown) in the CPU 12 (S
4) The image reduction type 7115 reduces the original image data to 1/16 of the display size and displays it on the image display device 17 via the CPU 12 (S5).

FIGS. 3(1), (2), (3), and (4) are diagrams showing the relationship between the functions of the image reduction device 15, g&moat of the screen control device 16, and the display screen in the above embodiment. be.

FIG. 3 (1) shows that the screen 51 of the image display bag 2117 is provided with an image display area 52 and a display area 53 for menus, etc. The 0 image display area 52 has 512 pixels in the horizontal direction. , 480 pixels in the vertical direction, 8 per pixel
3-plane color display of RGH is possible with bit gradation.
It is seven. In the above embodiment, in accordance with the specifications of the image display device, the image reading device has 512 x 480 pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions, 8 bits each, -/g gradation, and 3 planes of RGB. An image is input from ilO, and this still image data is used as original image data. Further, in the display area 53 of the menu shade, commands for screen control, commands for search assistance, etc. are listed.

m3[ffl (2) shows a state in which 16 pieces of still image data among the hit still image data are reduced and displayed in the image display area 52. The above-mentioned reduced image is one that has been reduced to one-quarter both vertically and horizontally by an image reduction mold 2115.

They are displayed sequentially from the top left of the display screen to the right.

FIG. 5(1) is a diagram showing a first array that holds identification codes for human static 1L image data provided in the memory within the CPU 1Z.

When a reduced image is displayed, a pointer 61 indicating which image is being displayed is set, and initially moves sequentially downward from the top of the array. Furthermore, the memory within the same CPU 12 has a display array (shown in FIG. 5(2)) that holds the identification code of the image displayed on the image display device 17.

The order of the arrangement corresponds to the display position of the two screens).
Further, in this display array, a pointer 62 indicating which image is being displayed is set by the screen control device 16.

As shown in FIG. 3 (3), after images a1 to 16 images aL6 (bottom right image) are displayed in sequence, images a17, a18, a19, etc. are displayed from the top left of the screen.
. . . The reduced image to be displayed is displayed again. The states of each array and pointer at the time of FIG. 3 (3) are shown in FIGS. 5 (1) and (2).

FIG. 3 (4) shows a screen displaying up to 22 images 11, and FIGS. 5 (3) and (4) show each arrangement and the state of the pointer at that time.

The display section 54 in FIGS. 3(3) and 3(4) displays screen display modes, that is, temporary stop mode, stop I:, cancel mode, and reverse mode. Pause mode is a mode that temporarily stops displaying a reduced image.
The stop release mode is a mode in which the pause mode is canceled and the next reduced image is displayed, and the reverse mode is a mode in which the reduced image is displayed in reverse.

Each of the above modes is controlled by the screen control device 16 and the CPU 12. For example, when the 22nd image a22 is displayed, specify the pause mode (57.
59), the screen stops in the state shown in Figure 3 (4), and in this state, you can compare details, select the necessary images, delete unnecessary images, and edit text on any image. Kasa information C
It can be displayed on RT (S l l).

Here, if you want to display the previously displayed image again, specify the reverse mode displayed in the display area 54 (512, S9).
obtains the identification code (in this case, code a7) in the array below the pointer 62 shown in FIG. 5(4), obtains the array position having that code from the human data array, and selects one of the The pointer 61 is set in the song arrangement (s i o). This state is shown in FIG. 5 (5).

The identification code of the array pointed to by this pointer 61 (code a6
) from the original image storage bag 2t14 to the image reduction device 15.
The image is displayed at the display position pointed to by the pointer 62 on the one-image display device 17, and thereafter, the image is displayed at the display position pointed to by the pointer 61. pointer 6
2 are each set to the previous array position.

In this way, image a6 is displayed in the area where image a22 is displayed. Further, image a5 is displayed in the area where image a21 was displayed, and the image a5 is displayed in sequence until the pause mode is specified or the pointer 61 of the first array reaches the beginning of the array (Sa). The previously displayed image will be redisplayed.

Also, as shown in Figure 3 (4), the screen is frozen! By specifying the stop release mode in the screen, the pointers 61 and 62 point to the next array, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5 (6) and (7). Then, the next reduced image is displayed continuously until all the reduced images to be displayed have been displayed or until the pause mode is designated.

” Each mode is controlled by the screen control device 16. Use these functions to narrow down the images, for example, select A from the images displayed on the first screen, and select B from the A images (A>B). Narrow down the images by making selections several times.

Finally, when the images are narrowed down to one, the CPU 12 selects the corresponding original image from the original image storage device 14.

The data 25 is transferred to the image display device 17 and displayed.

In the manner described above, one image can be searched from a large amount of still image data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a memory for outputting an image prepared inside the CPU 12.

Image memory (1) 34 to image memory (8) 41
have a structure of 512 x 512 x 8 bits, respectively, and a processor 43 operates according to a command from the CPU 32, and can arbitrarily select and input/output image memories 34 to 41 via the image controller 33. Additionally, still image data transfer between arbitrary memories.

It is also possible to perform real-time calculations. Note that the reference numeral 42 is an image input/output interface.

The present invention can obtain the same results as described above even if the still image data storage method, input image size, reduced image creation method, etc. are changed.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, when a large number of images are searched or when viewing all of the registered image data, the searcher can clearly maintain the image that he or she originally had in mind. ,
This has the effect that it is easy to determine which image data to select.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the index file and still image data, and the relationship between the image storage device and still image data in the above embodiment. FIGS. 3(1), (2), (3), and (4) are diagrams showing the relationship between the image reduction machine shop, the screen control function, and the display screen. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the image input/output periphery in the above embodiment. Figure 5 (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6
) is a diagram showing the relationship between the array in the CPU and its pointer in the above embodiment. FIG. 6 is a simple flowchart illustrating the operation at the time of search in the above embodiment. 12... CPU, 14... Original image storage device, 13... Index file, 16... Screen control device, 17... Image display device. Patent Applicant Canon Co., Ltd. Agent Arata Yokubo - Figure 1 Figure 2 Supplement 2: 2) [4) Figure 4 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Data search means for searching still image data satisfying predetermined attributes from a still image database; Image display means for displaying the still image data; Specifying an image display mode in the image display means. a display mode specifying means for displaying the image; An image retrieval device characterized in that the image retrieval device includes a reverse mode in which the image is displayed in a reverse mode.