JP2001134603A - System and method for retrieving image data and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly and reliably retrieve a desired retrieval object from among many retrieval objects and to display the desired retrieval object in a contrastable form with high visibility. SOLUTION: When there are a plurality of retrieval objects meeting with a retrieval condition inputted by an operator, this system arranges and displays split screens obtained by combining the image data and character data of each object on the display and also arranges and redisplays only each of the selected split screens in accordance with the selection and redisplay operation of each split screen in this display state by the operator.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data search system, an image data search method, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to image data in which one search object includes a picture or a photograph viewed from at least one or more angles. The present invention relates to a suitable technique used for searching for data having

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is a paper search method for turning over a document, such as a design registration publication, in which one search target (one design) has a large number of drawings (or drawing substitute photographs).
This is a complicated and time-consuming task. Further, comparing and visually recognizing and examining drawings (for example, a perspective view and a front view) which clearly show the characteristics of an article relating to a design in each design is also performed by binding or binding. In the case of a design publication in the state of a combined book, the work is inconvenient and troublesome.

Therefore, a drawing (or a photograph as a substitute for a drawing) cut out from a copy of the design registration publication is placed on a single sheet of, for example, A4 size paper, for example, in a perspective view on the upper left, and a front view in the upper center on the right. , On the right is the right side view,
Place and paste multiple design publications according to a certain arrangement rule, such as a plan view at the lower center in the lower part of the front view, and on the same paper, necessary bibliographic items (registration number, application date , A design right holder, a design classification, etc.), a processed paper for design search has been created, and based on this, search for designs and comparison and discrimination between designs have been conventionally performed.

[0004] In addition, a gazette is recorded on a microfilm or a recording medium, and the recorded gazette is searched for. It has also been done.

[0005]

When the extracted data from one design publication as described above is re-arranged on a single sheet of A4 size or the like, a plurality of processed papers for design search are created. The search time can be reduced compared with the case of turning over and searching for a design publication in a bound state that has been combined or sorted and bound, and the drawings that clearly show the characteristics of the article related to the design can be obtained. The comparison can be easily performed with good visibility.

However, since the above-described search using the processed paper for design search is also a paper search, the search by design right holder and the search by design classification must be performed manually, and time is still required. It is undeniable that it takes time. Furthermore, when it is desired to extract and compare only selected designs from a large number of processed papers for design search, for example, extraction from a processed paper group arranged for each design classification and in the order of registration number, It has been pointed out that there is a problem that the work of inserting paper in the original order is required, and a complicated and time-consuming work is required.

Further, in the prior art in which the screen of the retrieved publication is viewed on the display screen, the contents of the survey can be confirmed on the screen, and the result can be printed out by the nearest printer, but the publication can be performed on a plurality of publications. Then, it is necessary to confirm all the contents, and it is difficult to compare and contrast multiple cases at the same time.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
The goal is that each search target has at least one
Quickly and reliably search for a desired search target from among a large number of search targets consisting of image data including drawings or photographs viewed from one or more angles and character data attached to the image data. This is to display this in a form that can be compared with good visibility. Another object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use image data search technique capable of changing a display mode in accordance with an operation of an operator.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, for example, each object to be searched includes image data including a picture or a photograph viewed from at least one or more angles, and image data attached to the image data. Data storage means for storing image data and character data of a search target in an image data search system comprising a plurality of search targets and displaying a desired search target on a display. A data search unit that searches and outputs the image data and the character data that match the search condition from the data storage unit according to the search condition input by the operator; and processes the data output by the data search unit. And display processing means capable of displaying image data and character data together on a display. When there are a plurality of search targets that match the search condition input by the operator, the display processing unit displays and arranges the divided screens including the image data and the character data for each of the cases on the display. ,
In this display state, only the selected divided screens are aligned and redisplayed in response to an operation of selecting and redisplaying the divided screens by the operator in the display state.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is applied, for example, to a system comprising a server and a client connected to the server via a network, wherein each search target is at least one. It consists of image data including a picture or a picture viewed from the above angle and character data attached to the image data, and a desired search target is displayed on a display from a large number of search targets. In the image data search method, a step of transmitting a search condition input by an operator from the client side to the server via the network; and a step of transmitting image data to be searched on the server side according to the search condition input by the operator. From the data storage means that stores
Searching the image data and character data that match the search condition, and transmitting the data created based on the data to the client side via the network;
In the case where there are a plurality of search targets that match the search condition, the client side arranges and displays, on the display, the divided screens including the image data and the character data for each case on the display, A step of sorting and displaying only the selected divided screens in response to an operator's selection of the divided screens and an instruction to redisplay the divided screens in the aligned display state. You.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, an example in which the search target is design data is shown. However, other search targets applicable in the present invention include, for example, radiograph data used in hospitals and the like, catalogs and the like. Examples include product drawings or photographic data used for presentation, drawings or photographic data of buildings, historical sites, and scenery, and drawings or photographic data of animals and plants used as pictorial books. According to the present invention, one search target includes image data and accompanying character data, and one search target image data includes a plurality of drawings or photograph data having different angles. It is particularly suitable when it is performed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an image data search system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a LAN, 2 is the Internet, and LAN 1
Is connected to the Internet 2.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a server (server machine) for providing image data (design data in this case), which is connected to the LAN 1. Reference numerals 4 and 5 denote clients (client machines) connected to the LAN 1.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an Internet server located on the Internet 2, which has a function such as a bridge, a router, a brouter, or a gateway as appropriate. Reference numerals 7 and 8 denote clients connected to the Internet 2.

In this embodiment, the clients 4 and 5 on the LAN 1 can browse the data from the server 3 free of charge, while the clients 7 and 8 on the Internet 2 transmit the data from the server 3 free of charge. When browsing, the Internet connection provider managing the Internet server 6 charges the content. An appropriate charging method can be adopted, and content charging is performed by the owner of a server that provides design data entrusting charging to a provider.

The server 3 includes a computer 12, a display 12, an input unit 13 including a keyboard and a mouse, a printer 14, an image input unit 15 including an image scanner and a digital camera, and a built-in storage device. And a database 16 comprising an external storage device. An optical disk device, a magneto-optical disk device, a hard disk device, or the like is used as the database 16, and a large-capacity disk array device is suitable as the hard disk device. Each of the clients 4, 5, 7, and 8 is provided with a display 1 on a computer 11 having an appropriate storage device.
2, an input unit 13 and a printer 14. Needless to say, the server 3 and each of the clients 4, 5, 7, and 8 are equipped with appropriate net browsing software such as a web browser as a browsing tool.

The server 3 includes at least image data processing software as a tool for processing image data and search engine software (database engine software) for managing the database 16. The image data format stored in JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts
Group) format, GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
) Format is used.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a simplified configuration of the database 16. As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, the database 16 has a text data file section (text data record section) 16a and an image data file section 16b.

The text data file section 16a contains, for each registered design, a registration number, an application date, a registration date, an article relating to the design, a design right holder, a design classification, a display of the present design, remarks, and the like.
Records that mainly store necessary excerpts from bibliographic items described in the design registration gazette are stored.

The image data file 16b includes:
For each registered design, image data constructed by reading an image from each drawing or drawing substitute photograph described in the design registration gazette, and cutting and pasting as appropriate after reading is stored. I have. In the present embodiment, in one image data file (one image data area), the perspective view is at the upper left, the front view is at the upper center at the right of the perspective view, and the right side view is at the right of the front view. Rearranged according to a certain arrangement rule so that the top view is located at the bottom center below the front view, and the bottom view is located at the bottom right below the right side view as necessary. It is stored. The drawing data (or photograph data) stored in one image data file are all arranged at the same scale size. In addition,
A perspective view that will represent one registered design may be arranged at the upper right of one image data file. In addition, when an article relating to a design is an article in which a drawing viewed from below is emphasized, a bottom view is arranged instead of a plan view at the lower center of one image data file. .

As described above, in this embodiment, by arranging a plurality of drawing data (or photograph data) having different angles in one image data file according to a predetermined arrangement rule, these image files Information that the user wants when multiple images are displayed (drawings)
Since there is no need to look for
Eye fatigue due to eye movement can be reduced. In particular, in the present embodiment, a perspective view in which the overall outline of the article relating to the design is easy to grasp is arranged at the upper left which is conspicuous, and a front view, a side view, a plan view, or a bottom view which is another main view for grasping the three-dimensional object By defining the arrangement, the rectangular image data area can be efficiently used while improving the visibility. By arranging the side view beside the front view, it is possible to easily grasp the three-dimensional object.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since it is easy to grasp the appearance of the article relating to the design stored in each image data file, it is possible to shorten the data grasping time of the user, and as a result, the retrieval time is shortened. can do.

Note that the layout rules of drawings (or photographs) in one image data file specified in the present embodiment are in principle, and those without a perspective view are replaced with perspective views. And similar drawings (for example, reference drawing in use)
Alternatively, another drawing may be arranged.

The image data stored in the image data file 16b is given an identifier consisting of, for example, a design registration number and an extension "JPEG" representing the type of data. In the record for each registered design stored in the above, the identifier of the above-described image data corresponding to the bibliographic matter is recorded in addition to the bibliographic matter. That is, when a registered design is searched for, bibliographic items and image data recorded in the record are displayed on the display.

By using the registration number of the design as the identifier as described above, the identifier can be easily identified without duplication. In this embodiment, since the registered design data is handled, the registration number is used as the identifier. However, when the registration number is used for managing the in-house application data, the application number and the in-house reference number are used. What is necessary is just to use it for an identifier.

Next, a method of storing data in the server 3 will be described using the flow of storing data in the database 16 of FIG. 3 and the input operation screens shown in FIGS.

In the server 3, when the operator operates the input means 13 as appropriate to start the search engine software, the initial screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display screen 12a of the display 12 (FIG. 3). Step ST1). In this initial screen, when the setting field 41 of the new input mode is selected, the display screen 1 of the display 12 is displayed.
A screen for inputting character data shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on 2a (step ST2). Then, the operator uses the input means 13 in the input fields 501 to 509 on the input screen shown in FIG.
The registration number, the filing date, the registration date, the article related to the design,
Design owner, design classification, indication of this design, graphic file name,
Remarks (this is, for example, an item that can be entered when a certain prize has been won, and is an item column that can be freely used by the database user) is input (step ST3). ). Then, after the operator confirms the input items and selects the registration operation section 510 on the screen of FIG. 5, the character data (text data) of one new registered design is stored in the text data file section 16a of the database 16. (Step ST4).
Here, the identification data added to the character data of one registered design is automatically created by inputting a registration number.

The character data of the registered design described above can be input by reading a design registration gazette or the like by an image scanner having a Japanese language identification function. For example, from a document in which various character data are arranged according to a certain rule, the written content is read using an image scanner, discriminated and converted into text data, the registration number is used as identification data, and the text data of each design is used. May be automatically stored in the text data file section 16a. Further, the text data of each design can be automatically stored in the text data file section 16a even if the text data of each design is converted into electronic data and stored in a recording medium.

Further, before or after the input of the character data of the registered design described above, in the server 3, the operator operates the input means 13 as appropriate to activate the image data processing software, and the display screen 12a of the display 12 is displayed. Although not shown, an initial screen of an image processing screen is displayed, and an image scanner input screen is displayed by appropriately operating the initial screen. In this state, the design registration publication is read by the image input means 15 (for example, reading of two pages) (step ST5 in FIG. 3), and the read image data is temporarily stored in a storage area (image buffer) appropriately (step ST5). ST6). In this embodiment, image data scanned at a resolution of 600 dpi by an image scanner is temporarily stored in an image buffer having an image size of 6000 pixels in width and 4000 pixels in height.

The captured image data is displayed on the display screen 1
2a, and an operation for calling the editing window in this state is performed. As shown in FIG.
On 2a, captured image display windows 61 and 62 for displaying two captured image data and an editing window 63 are displayed. Then, in the state shown in FIG. 6, a desired drawing is cut out from the captured image display windows 61 and 62, and an operation of pasting it at a predetermined position in the editing window 63 is sequentially performed. Finally, as shown in FIG. A perspective view is placed at the upper left of the window 63, a front view is placed at the upper center, a right side view is placed at the upper right, and a plan view is placed at the lower center (step ST7).

Thereafter, an image size setting window (not shown) is called up to change the image size of the image data in the editing window 63: 6000 pixels and height: 4000 pixels to width: 600 pixels and height: 400 pixels. The image size is reduced by a reduction algorithm that takes into account the sparseness of the information amount (step ST8). After that, if necessary, the edited single image data is adjusted for gray scale, color tone, contrast, and the like (step ST9). After confirming the result, the image data file unit 16b of the database 16 is checked. In order to use the first image data to be stored in the image file name input field 63a of the editing window 63, a design registration number and identification data indicating the first image data, and an extension of JPEG at the end. Give the child. The image data is stored in the image data file section 16b of the first image data database 16 by an appropriate operation.

Similarly, the image data having a width of 600 pixels and a height of 400 pixels edited and created in step ST8 is reduced to an image size of a width of 375 pixels and a height of 250 pixels by a reduction algorithm in consideration of the sparseness of the information amount. Reduce (step ST10). After that, if necessary, grayscale, color tone, contrast, and the like are adjusted for one edited image data (step ST11), and the result is confirmed.
In order to use as the second image data to be stored in the image data file section 16b, the design file registration number and the second image data must be entered as image file names in the image file name input field 63a of the editing window 63. , And an extension of JPEG at the end.

When the data is a design registration publication, the first
For example, large image data is given a design registration number and “l (L)” meaning large, as identifiers of the image data and the second image data. It is conceivable to attach only the registration number. When three or more pieces of image data are associated with one piece of data, an easy-to-understand identifier may be appropriately attached.

That is, in the present embodiment, two pieces of image data (image files) having different image sizes are created for one registered design. When the divided screen is displayed (displaying the second image data) and when the enlarged window screen corresponding to the divided screen is displayed (displaying the first image data), the appropriate Care has been taken to obtain an image size. In addition, width:
The reason why an image size of 6000 pixels and a height of 4000 pixels is reduced to an image size of a width of 600 pixels and a height of 400 pixels or an image size of a width of 375 pixels and a height of 250 pixels is based on image data having a large amount of information. This is to obtain clear image data by performing the reduction.

FIG. 8 shows a method of browsing data stored in the database of the server 3 by the clients 4 and 5 connected to the LAN 1 and the clients 7 and 8 connected to the Internet 2. A description will be given using a processing flow showing an example of the search processing, a search condition input screen shown in FIG. 9, a search display screen shown in FIGS. 10 to 14, and a print preview screen shown in FIG. I do.

Here, the browsing method at the clients 4 and 5 and the browsing method at the clients 7 and 8 are completely the same, and the only difference is that browsing at the clients 7 and 8 involves charging. Needless to say, the same browsing is possible on the server 3.

By starting the net browsing software on the client and connecting to the server 3, an initial screen (not shown) for design search is displayed on the display 12 of the client.
(Step ST21 in FIG. 8). The initial screen may be the same as the initial screen of FIG. 4 described above, but assuming that new data is not input on the client side, a selection field of the search screen and a selection field of the data correction screen What is necessary if it has. When a search screen is selected and designated on such an initial screen for design search, a search condition input window 81 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display screen 12a of the display 12 (step ST).
22).

As shown in FIG. 9, in a search condition input window 81, a design registration number input field 801 and a filing date input field 802 are set in order to enable a search to be performed under various search conditions. Input field 803 for registration date, input field 804 for publication date of publication, input field 805 for articles related to design, input field 806 for owner of design right, input field 807 for design classification, input field for D term 808, remarks input field 809
Are provided, and a search for a registered design can be performed using the search conditions entered alone or in combination in each of the input fields 801 to 809. Then, the operator uses the input fields 801 to 809 to input search conditions (step ST23).

In the search condition input window 81, the number of display columns of the searched registered design, that is, a divided screen for displaying image data and character data for each design together is displayed on the display screen 12a of the display 12. An input column 810 of the number of display columns is provided on the upper side, in which the number of columns to be displayed can be selected (here, for example, four columns or five columns can be selected). Number input field 81
Specify the desired number of display columns with 0 (step ST2)
4).

After inputting the search conditions and specifying the number of display columns, when the search execution section 811 on the display screen 12a is selected, the search conditions desired by the operator and the number of display columns are transmitted from the client side to the server 3 side. Sent, server 3
Then, data that matches the specified search condition is extracted from the database 16 by the search engine. And
The server 3 combines the extracted character data of each design with the image data associated with the identifier in the character data (by a well-known HTML method or the like) and transmits this to the client side. Thereby, for example, on the display screen 12a of the display 12 of the client, for example,
The split screens 901 to 910 as shown in FIG. 10 are displayed (step ST25). If the search results cannot be displayed on the display screen 12a at one time, the display screen 1
By scrolling the screen up and down with the up and down scroll operation section 91 of 2a, other search results can be visually recognized.

Here, in this embodiment, the character data of the divided screen in FIG. 10 is not all the character data of the design hit in the search of the text data file 16a of the database 16 but only the main items. Is to be displayed. Further, the image data of the divided screen has a width of 375 pixels in the design hit in the search of the image data file 16b of the database 16 described above.
High: reduced and created using second image data having an image size of 250 pixels. In the present embodiment,
The display area of the search result on the display screen 12a is 900 × 60
When the number of display columns of the divided screen is 4, one divided screen has a width of 225 pixels and a height of 15 pixels.
When the number of display columns of the divided screen is 5, the width of one divided screen is 180 pixels and the height is 120 pixels.
Pixel.

As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a relatively large number of about ten designs can be simultaneously displayed on one display screen 12a. It can be performed accurately. Moreover,
As described above, the image data of each divided screen has a fixed arrangement rule so that the perspective view is located at the upper left, the front view is located at the upper center, the right side view is located at the upper right, and the plan view is located at the lower center. Since they are arranged, it is easy to compare designs in this regard.

In particular, in the present embodiment, about 10 designs (about 10 divided screens) can be listed on the display screen. Search cases can be easily searched. For example, if the publication is directly converted into electronic data and displayed on a display screen, the screen must be switched about 30 times to view about three publications of about three per publication, which takes time. , The degree of fatigue of the user who searches is large. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, about ten designs can be simultaneously displayed on the display screen, so that the search is quick and easy. Moreover, in this embodiment,
Since a plurality of divided screens are displayed side by side, identification and determination can be performed while comparing with a relatively large number of designs, so that it is easy to extract an object close to a target search target from the displayed designs.

Also, in the divided screen list display state,
When the character data area in the divided screen is clicked with the mouse, this fact is transmitted from the client side to the server 3, and in response, the server 3 transmits the details of the character data of the design to the client. As a result, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, on the display screen 12a, an enlarged display window 1001 showing details of the character data of the design is displayed. Therefore, the operator can check the details of the character data of the design.

That is, in this embodiment, since the size of the character data area in the divided screen is limited, it may be difficult to display long character data in the character data area in the divided screen. Occurs. In such a case, by displaying the enlarged display window 1001, character data having a long character string can be displayed, and information on other character data that could not be displayed in the character data area in the divided screen can be grasped. Becomes

Similarly, in the list display state of the divided screen,
When the image data area in the divided screen is clicked with the mouse, this fact is transmitted from the client side to the server 3 side, and in response, the server 3 receives the image of the corresponding design having the width: 600 pixels and the height: 400 pixels. The image data created using the first image data of the size is transmitted to the client. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, an enlarged display window 1101 showing details of the image data of the design is displayed on the display screen 12a. Therefore, the operator can check the details of the design image data.

That is, in the present embodiment, since a plurality of drawings are displayed in one divided screen, each drawing becomes smaller. Therefore, in the present embodiment, what can be determined from each divided screen is identified in this state, and suspicious things can be confirmed in the enlarged display window 1101 in the determination of only the divided screen, thereby shortening the search time, In addition, an object close to the search target can be accurately identified.

Further, the enlarged display window 1101 of a plurality of image data is sequentially displayed by the same method,
As shown in FIG. 13, by appropriately scrolling the called enlarged display windows 1101a to 1101d using a mouse, it is possible to arrange perspective views, which are representative drawings of each design, close to each other. I have. Therefore,
It is possible to compare the representative drawings with each other by using the enlarged and displayed clear image data, and the visibility for the comparison is extremely good.

Further, in the present embodiment, the operator can select one of the divided screens in the list display state of the divided screens. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, a selection field 901 in each of the divided screens 901 to 910 is selected.
a to 910a are appropriately hit (clicked) to select only the required design, and then, after clicking on the selected redisplay section 92 on the display screen 12a, this fact is changed from the client side to the server 3 side. (Step ST26 in FIG. 8). Then, in response to this, the server 3 creates data in which only the design selected and designated is rearranged, and transmits this to the client. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 14, only the divided screen selected by the operator is rearranged and displayed on the display screen 12a (step ST27).

The example shown in FIG. 14 shows a rearranged display state after the computer is selected in FIG.
In general, when determining the necessity of visually recognized objects, it is easy to be confused if each case is determined. Also,
In particular, when judging a large amount of data, the possibility of the initially determined search content being blurred (shifted) increases. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, it is possible to narrow down the design while comparing and contrasting the neighbors and the like, and since the rearrangement display as described above can be repeatedly performed, the divided screen displayed first can be visually recognized. By using the re-arrangement display as many times as necessary, such as performing a secondary search while further visually comparing the coarsely extracted result with the primary search while comparing the design, the design of the design to be compared is compared. The narrowing down and the comparison study after the narrowing down can be performed easily and easily. Note that the number of times of rearrangement display may or may not be limited.

In this embodiment, the display screen 1
When the user desires to print out the design data called out on 2a and performs a print output preparation operation such as clicking on the print paper size designation section 93 on the display screen 12a in FIG. 10 (step ST28 in FIG. 8). 15), a print preview screen 1401 is automatically displayed on the display screen 12a as shown in FIG. 15 (step ST29). Therefore, the operator can confirm the print mode on the print preview screen 1401 without issuing a print preview instruction. In the display state of the print preview screen 1401, the user clicks the edit instruction section 1402 on the display screen 12a and gives a print instruction in the displayed edit instruction window (step ST30). Is output (step ST31).

Here, in this embodiment, A4 size and A3 size can be designated as the printing paper size. The print preview screen 1 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 401 denotes the number of columns and the number of columns (here, five columns and three lines in A4 size) that fit in a sheet of a designated size in an area excluding the menu input unit at the top of the display screen 12a shown in FIG. (Indicating that the divided screen is output) (for example, in the case where the divided screen is designated to be displayed in five columns, the divided screen is printed in five columns and three rows). The printout is displayed so as to indicate that the printout is to be output), and it is possible to obtain a printout equivalent to the preview. Thus, the search result can be output as a design map in a predetermined format.

In the present embodiment, the client 4 or 5 on the LAN 1 activates the network browsing software,
When an unillustrated initial screen for design search is displayed by connecting to the server 3 (in step ST21 in FIG. 8), when the selection field of the data correction screen is selected, the display 12 of the client on the LAN 1 is displayed.
The modified data search screen shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the display screen 12a (step ST32 in FIG. 8). Further, in a state where the search engine is started on the server 3 and the above-described initial screen of FIG. 4 is displayed,
By selecting the correction selection field 42, the display screen 12a of the display 12 of the server 3 also
Is displayed (step ST12 in FIG. 3).

Then, on the correction data search screen shown in FIG. 16, a registration number for inputting a data content check or data correction is input in a design registration number input field 1501 and a search start instruction section 1502 is clicked. A data correction window screen 1601 shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the display screen 12a. In this data correction window screen 1601, the data of the database 16 is updated and recorded mainly by correcting the erroneous writing of the character data and adding it to the remarks column and clicking the registration instruction section 1602 on the display screen 12a. Has become.

By doing so, it becomes possible for all machines on the LAN 1 on the data providing side to check the data contents and correct the character data, thereby improving the work efficiency.

In the example described above, the design data is provided via the network. However, the data providing side extracts the data of the search range according to the customer's request from the database 16 and, for example, writes the data. The extracted data (character data and image data) may be written on a recording medium such as a once-type optical disk and sold. In addition, in response to a data purchase request from a client on the Internet 2 to the server 3, data in a search range corresponding to a customer's request is extracted from the database 16, and the extracted data (character data and image data) is extracted from the Internet 2. The design data may be sold by downloading the data to a client database via the Internet.

In sales on such a recording medium or sales via the Internet, it is assumed that the client itself has an appropriate data search engine, but the client searches the purchased data for its own data. Using the engine, it is possible to perform the same data search as the data search by the server 3 described above. In the remarks column, the user who purchased the data (user)
By recording user-specific data, it is also possible to search using this user-specific data.For example, a note that indicates when an important matter is extracted during the search, or recorded during the search By using the remarks column to add notes you want to keep, you can reduce the time required to perform the same search again,
Usability is improved.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiments, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and various modifications can be made to the design search and comparison techniques. is there. For example, when the client has image data capturing means and has image processing software, as shown in FIG. 18, a design proposal to be compared with a registered design is displayed on a display screen 12a of the display 12. A design target display window 1701 for displaying one or two of the design targets is provided. The display window 1701 displays the image data of the design plan captured by an image scanner or the like, and displays the character data and the image data. Split screen display window 1 for displaying a split screen for each registered design
702 may be provided so that search result data retrieved from the database 16 of the server 3 is displayed in the display window 1702. In this way, the comparison with the design plan to be investigated becomes easy, and an enlarged image can be obtained from the divided image of the divided screen display window 1702, so that the comparison operation can be performed with good visibility and quickly. Become.

In the above-described embodiment, one set of drawings is used as one image data. For example, in the case of a design registration publication, a perspective view, a front view, a side view, May be stored in the database. In this way, it is possible to call up only the minimum necessary drawings (for example, only perspective views), display a large amount of image data on the display at a time, and compare and examine.

In the above embodiment, the server 3
Although the data input is performed by the above, it is needless to say that the input may be performed by another server to construct the database.

As is apparent from the above description, the search system according to the present invention performs identification based on image data in addition to keyword search based on character strings and search based on classification symbols classified according to certain rules. It is suitable for a search that must be performed, and is suitable for a search that must be searched and extracted by human vision, as in the above-described registered design search system. That is, after performing the keyword search or the classification symbol search, a plurality of extracted cases are displayed in a list, and the rearrangement display of the cases visually extracted is appropriately repeated while comparing and comparing the extracted cases. This method is suitable for narrowing down a search, allows the user to quickly and accurately proceed with extraction work at a user's pace, and prints out final extraction results and the like in a map format. So, like patent search,
In search systems where keyword search is the mainstream,
The present invention is applicable.

In addition to design data and patent data as provided data, X-ray photograph data used in hospitals and the like, product drawings or photograph data used for catalogs and presentations, drawings of buildings, historic sites and landscapes, and the like. Content such as drawings or pictures of animals and plants used as pictorial books or pictorial books can be considered, and image data included in one search target arranges a plurality of drawings or pictures viewed from different angles according to a predetermined arrangement rule. With such data, reference, comparison, and the like can be performed in detail, quickly, and reliably.

Further, if the database has a large capacity, in addition to the image data consisting of one image file in which a plurality of drawings or photographs are arranged, a plurality of drawings or images arranged in one image file The image data of the photograph may be stored in individual image files, and in this case, the drawing or the photograph data of each angle can be displayed as a clearly enlarged one,
In addition, it is possible to easily rearrange a plurality of drawings or photograph data to be arranged in one image file.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention, each search object is composed of image data including a picture or a photograph viewed from at least one angle and character data attached to the image data. From among a large number of search targets, including the search target, it is possible to quickly and reliably search for a desired search target, and display it in a form that can be compared with good visibility,
Further, it is possible to realize easy-to-use image data retrieval in which the display mode can be changed according to the operation of the operator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image data search system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a simplified configuration of a database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for storing data in a database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an input operation screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an input operation screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an input operation screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an input operation screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data search procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a search condition input screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a search display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a search display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a search display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a search display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a search display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a print preview screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a correction data search screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data correction screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a search display screen according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 LAN 2 Internet 3 Server 4, 5 Client connected to LAN 6 Internet server 7, 8 Client connected to Internet 11 Computer 12 Display 12a Display screen 13 Input means such as keyboard and mouse 14 Printer 15 Image input means 16 Database 16a Text data file part 16b Image data file part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B075 ND03 ND06 PP03 PP12 PP23 PQ02 PQ49 PQ62 PQ69 UU29 UU38 5E501 AC15 AC23 AC33 BA03 BA05 CA03 CA04 DA03 EB05 FA06 FA13 FA14 FA23 FB04 FB43

Claims (23)

[Claims] An image data including a drawing or a photograph viewed from at least one or more angles,
An image data search system comprising character data attached to the image data and displaying a desired search target from among a large number of search targets on a display. A data storage means for storing data; a data search means for searching and outputting the image data and character data matching the search condition from the data storage means in accordance with a search condition input by an operator; Display processing means for processing the output data and displaying the image data and the character data together on a display, wherein the display processing means is configured to perform a search that matches a search condition input by an operator. If there is more than one subject, the split screen combining the image data and text data for each subject is arranged on the display. And displaying only the selected divided screens in order according to the selection and redisplay instruction operation of the divided screens by the operator in this display state. Data retrieval system. 2. The image data included in each of the search targets according to claim 1, wherein the image data included in each of the search targets includes a plurality of drawings or photographs stored in one image file. Wherein the pictures or pictures viewed from different angles are arranged in accordance with a predetermined arrangement rule. 3. The drawing or photograph in each of the search target image files according to claim 2, wherein a representative drawing or a representative photograph is arranged in an upper left or upper right part of the image file. Image data search system. 4. The image data search method according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of drawings or photographs of the same scale are arranged in one image file of the image data included in the search target. system. 5. The image data search system according to claim 2, wherein the search target is a registered design. 6. The display processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the display processing unit is configured to perform the designation in response to an enlarged display operation of a predetermined divided screen by an operator in a state where the divided screens are arranged and displayed. An image data retrieval system, wherein an image corresponding to the image data in the divided screen is displayed in an enlarged window on the display. 7. The display processing device according to claim 1, wherein the display processing unit displays, on the display, an output mode on a designated print sheet in response to a print output preparation operation by an operator. An image data search system, which is automatically displayed as a print preview screen. 8. A printer control unit according to claim 7, wherein the printer performs a printout operation in response to a print output operation by an operator while the print preview screen is displayed,
An image data search system, comprising: the printer controlled by the printer control means. 9. The server according to claim 1, comprising: a server including the data storage unit and the data search unit; and a client connected to the server via a network. An image data search system, characterized in that: 10. The image data search system according to claim 9, wherein the network is the Internet, and a billing process is performed when data is provided from the server to the client. 11. The image according to claim 1, wherein a data correction screen capable of performing data correction on data stored in the data storage unit can be displayed. Data retrieval system. 12. Applicable to a system constituted by a server and a client connected to the server via a network, wherein each search target includes image data or pictures viewed from at least one angle. And a character data attached to the image data, and an image data search method in which a desired search target is displayed on a display from among a large number of search targets, Transmitting a search condition input by an operator to the server via a network; and, on the server side, according to the search condition input by the operator, from a data storage unit storing image data and character data to be searched. Search for the image data and character data that match the search condition, and Transmitting the created data to the client side via the network, and when there are a plurality of search targets that match the search condition, the client side displays, on a display, image data for each case. Arranging and displaying the divided screens together with the character data; and selecting each of the divided screens according to an operation of selecting and redisplaying each of the divided screens by an operator in the aligned display state of the divided screens. Aligning only the divided screens and redisplaying the divided screens. 13. The image data search method according to claim 12, wherein when providing data from the server to the client, a charging process is performed. 14. The image data included in each of the search objects according to claim 12, wherein the image data included in each of the search objects includes a plurality of drawings or photographs stored in one image file. A drawing or photograph viewed from a different angle is arranged according to a predetermined arrangement rule. 15. The drawing or photograph in each of the search target image files according to claim 14, wherein a representative drawing or a representative photograph is arranged in an upper left or upper right part of the image file. Image data search method. 16. The image data search method according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of drawings or photographs having the same scale are arranged in one image file of the image data included in the search target. Method. 17. The image data search method according to claim 14, wherein the search target is a registered design. 18. The specified split screen according to claim 12, wherein the specified split screen is enlarged in response to an operator's enlarged display operation of the predetermined split screen in a state where the split screens are arranged and displayed. An image data search method, wherein an image corresponding to image data can be displayed in an enlarged window on the display. 19. The print preview screen according to claim 12, wherein an output mode on a designated print sheet is automatically displayed as a print preview screen on the display in response to an operator's print output preparation operation. An image data search method characterized by causing a search. 20. Each search object includes image data and character data attached to the image data, and the image data of each search object includes a plurality of drawings or photographs in one image file. As well as being stored,
The drawing or photograph in the image file of each of the search targets is a computer that records the data of each search target, the drawing or the photograph viewed from a different angle being arranged according to a predetermined arrangement rule A recording medium characterized by being readable by a computer. 21. The drawing according to claim 20, wherein the drawing or photograph in the image file to be searched is located at the upper left or upper right in the image file.
A recording medium on which a representative drawing or a representative photograph is arranged. 22. The recording medium according to claim 20, wherein a plurality of drawings or photographs of the same scale are arranged in one image file of the image data included in the search target. 23. The recording medium according to claim 20, wherein the search target is a registered design.