JP2002342743A - Picture processor and picture processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picture processor and a picture processing method capable of efficiently processing a large amount of picture data at the time of classifying, editing, and working the picture data. SOLUTION: This picture processor is provided with a classifying means (12) for automatically classifying picture data read from recording means (2, 3, 16) in which picture data are recorded into groups being units for performing the same picture processing, a first display means for preparing the reduced pictures of the picture data selected from the respective classified groups, and for displaying the picture data for each group, and a second display means for displaying the groups to which the reduced pictures are belonging by discriminating the group with a plurality of picture data from the group with single picture data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a technique for efficiently classifying, editing, and processing a large amount of image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, devices for handling images, such as digital cameras and scanners, have become widespread and a large amount of images have been processed by a PC (personal computer). Processing software is provided.

By the way, with such image processing software, a general configuration is to display a plurality of reduced images called thumbnails obtained by compressing images to be handled, in consideration of convenience in processing a large number of images. I have.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional method of displaying a reduced image.

[0005] On this display screen 70, reduced images 71 of images to be handled are displayed side by side. The operator operates the scroll bar 72 of the display screen 70 to search for and specify the target reduced image 71. The required image processing is selected from the menu bar 73, the toolbar 74, or the like and executed, whereby the corresponding image processing is performed on the original image corresponding to the reduced image 71.

[0006]

However, if a large number of images are to be displayed by such a method, frequent operation of the scroll bar 72 is required due to the size limitation of the display screen. And the efficiency of the processing operation is reduced.

Further, it is necessary to attach a keyword such as a name or a classification name of each image to each image, so that the operation is complicated.

Further, when a plurality of images are processed, even if a function of processing the images to be processed collectively is provided, frequent operation of the scroll bar 72 as described above is required to select the image. In addition to this, it is common to select the images one by one and to specify the images one by one, which further reduces the work efficiency.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of efficiently processing a large amount of image data when classifying, editing, and processing the image data. Aim.

[0010]

According to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention automatically classifies image data read out from recording means in which image data is recorded into groups which are units for performing the same image processing. Classifying means, first display means for creating a reduced image of image data selected from each of the classified groups and displaying the reduced image for each group, and a group to which the reduced image belongs is simply referred to as a group having a plurality of image data. And a second display means for identifying and displaying a group having one image data.

According to the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, by specifying the displayed reduced image, a third display means for displaying all image data of the group to which the reduced image belongs as a reduced image. An image processing apparatus provided with:

Further, according to the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, by specifying the displayed reduced image and designating the image processing method, all the image data of the group to which the reduced image belongs can be collectively collected. An image processing apparatus includes an image processing unit that performs the image processing.

Further, the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the above-mentioned invention, wherein the classifying means classifies the image data whose photographing time is within a predetermined time into the same group.

According to the present invention, there is further provided a classification step of automatically classifying image data read from a recording unit in which image data is recorded, into a group which is a unit for performing the same image processing, and selecting from each of the classified groups. A first display step of creating a reduced image of the reduced image data and displaying the reduced image for each group, and identifying a group to which the reduced image belongs into a group having a plurality of image data and a group having a single image data. And a second display step of displaying.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

The image processing apparatus 1 includes a digital camera 2 serving as image data recording means, and a recording medium 3 such as a CD.
Are connected, and an output device 4 for displaying and outputting the processing result and an operation input device 5 such as a mouse for designating the processing operation content to the image processing device 1 are connected.

The image processing apparatus 1 includes an input / output control unit 10 serving as a signal exchange interface with an externally connected input / output device, a menu display unit 11 for receiving an image processing function, and a recording medium. A reading and classification processing unit 12 for reading image data and classifying the image; an editing processing unit 13 for changing the classification of the read image data; a processing batch processing unit 14 for processing the read image data collectively; and image data And an internal storage device 16 in which is stored.

Next, the image processing apparatus 1 configured as described above
Will be described.

When the operator starts up the image processing apparatus 1, the menu display section 11 is activated to display a menu screen 20 shown in FIG.

When the operator clicks the read tag 21 with the mouse in accordance with the displayed instruction, a pull-down menu is displayed. When the operator designates a digital camera 2, a recording medium 3 such as a CD, an internal storage device 16 or the like as a destination to read an image from this pull-down menu, the read classification processing unit 12 is activated and an image is read from an image file of these devices. Reading is started.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the general operation of the read classification processing unit 12.

The read classification processing unit 12 extracts the image data stored from the designated device and the information accompanying the data (S1), and checks whether or not the image data has been subjected to a grouping process (S1). S2).

Here, a group refers to a unit of a set that collectively performs the same image processing. For example, images at the same place where the background is the same and different persons are observed, and the same place are periodically observed. Images having the same purpose, images having similar images as a whole, and the like are included in the same group.

Whether the grouping process has been performed is
For example, it can be determined based on whether or not a group number is recorded in information (such as a header of an image file) attached to an image.

If the grouping process has not been performed, the photographing date and time of the read image data is compared with the photographing date and time of the previously read image data by referring to the information attached to the image (S
3) It is determined whether or not these image data belong to the same group from each shooting date and time (S4). For example, when the time difference between the shooting dates and times of both image data is smaller than a predetermined value, it is possible to determine that both images are likely to have shot the same subject at the same place and therefore belong to the same group. . That is, the image data having a difference in shooting date and time within a predetermined time range is classified into the same group.

If the same group is less likely to be determined based on the time, the read image data is recorded as a key image together with the feature amount (S5), and the read image data is assigned a new group number. Is created and displayed (S6). Then, reading processing of the next image data is performed.

If the possibility of the same group is high in the judgment based on time, a secondary judgment is made by comparing the read image with the feature amount of the recorded key image using the same group judgment algorithm (S7). It is checked whether these image data belong to the same group (S8). Here, the feature amount and the determination algorithm used for the secondary determination will be described later.

When the possibility of the same group is low as a result of the secondary determination, the read image data is recorded as a key image together with the feature amount (S5), and the read image data is newly assigned a group number. Is created and displayed (S6). Then, reading processing of the next image data is performed.

If the result of the secondary determination indicates that there is a high possibility of the same group, it is determined that these image data belong to the same group, and the same group number is assigned to perform grouping processing (S9). Then, the read image data is displayed as a reduced image superimposed on the place where the reduced image of the key image is displayed (S10), and the reading processing of the next image data is performed.

If the read image data has already been grouped (S2), it is checked whether the group is composed of a plurality of image data or a single image data (S11). In the case of single image data, a reduced image of the read image data is displayed (S1).
2).

If the image data is composed of a plurality of image data, it is checked whether the read image data is the first data of the group (S13).

In the case of the first data, the reduced image of the read image data is displayed alone (S12), and in the case of not the first data, the reduced image is read in a place where the same group of images is displayed. The image data is displayed as a reduced image (S14).

In this embodiment, the reduced images are superimposed and displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the present invention is applicable to a case where the classified group is a group having a plurality of image data or a single image data. Is displayed in such a form that the group can be identified. Therefore, there are modes such as displaying the reduced image by changing the color, displaying the emphasized image, and adding a character or symbol to be displayed.

Further, the reduced images displayed on behalf of the group are not limited to the images located on the uppermost layer by being superimposed as shown in the embodiment. Alternatively, image data selected by a predetermined logic such as a sharp image may be used.

Hereinafter, identifying and displaying a group having a plurality of image data in this manner is called group identification display.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart showing the secondary judgment procedure of the same group.

First, feature values of a key image and an image to be examined (hereinafter referred to as "main image") are extracted (S20).
Here, examples of the feature amount include an image in which only the contour is extracted from the image, an image in which edges of the image are emphasized, a distribution of hues forming the image, and the like.

Then, the two feature values are compared (S21).
As a comparison method, for example, a method of checking the degree of correlation between the two images to check whether the degree of correlation is high, or calculating the difference between the two images and checking whether the difference is small can be used.

As a result of the calculation and examination, if the two feature amounts are similar (S22), it is determined that the two images belong to the same group (S23), and the secondary determination process is terminated as a conclusion. .

If the two feature quantities are not approximated (S2
2) Then, it is checked whether or not both image data have a panoramic image relationship.

In order to check whether or not the image is a panoramic image, the key image to be compared is not the first image described above but a continuous image, that is, the image read last time is used as the key image. Then, the adopted key image and the images at the ends (upper, lower, left and right) of the main image are compared with each other while being shifted by a predetermined amount, and the respective pattern matching degrees are calculated (S24). It is checked whether it is higher than (S25).

When the maximum value of the degree of pattern matching is higher than a predetermined value, it is determined that both images have a high possibility of a panoramic image relationship and belong to the same group (S2).
6) If the maximum value of the pattern matching degree is lower than the predetermined value, it is determined that the pattern does not belong to the same group (S2).
7) As a conclusion, the secondary judgment processing ends.

As described above, the classification processing for grouping the read images into groups is performed, and the processing result is displayed on the output device 4 as the group display screen 25.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of the group display screen 25.

In this screen, the first display means displays the read image as a reduced image, and the second display means displays the image determined to belong to the same group by the above-described classification processing. It is a configuration to do.

The images read in this manner are automatically grouped and displayed by the image processing apparatus 1, so that the operator can refer to this screen without performing frequent scrolling operations as in the prior art and perform desired operations. Image can be easily specified.

Next, when the operator wants to change the displayed group, clicking on the edit tab 26 activates the edit processing section 13, and the edit processing screen 30 is displayed on the output device 4.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of the edit processing screen 30.

This screen is composed of a group classification display area 31 for classifying and displaying image data into groups and a group area 32 for individually displaying image data in the group.

On this screen, when an image of a specific group is designated by the operation input device 5 and clicked, the reduced images belonging to the group are grouped into the group area 3 by one.
2 is displayed.

Next, an operation method for changing a group based on this screen will be described.

First, when an image is to be added to a group, the image A is added to the group n by dragging the image A in the group classification display area 31 and dropping it on the image of the group n of the addition destination. . This additional operation can also be realized by dragging the image A in the group classification display area 31 and dropping it in the group area 32.

Next, when an image in a group is to be excluded, the corresponding group is clicked to display reduced images belonging to the group in the group area 32, and then the image B to be excluded is dragged out of the group. By dropping the image B in the space of the group classification display area 31, the image B can be excluded from the group. Then, the image B excluded by this operation is treated as a single image.

Next, when a new group is formed,
A new group is formed by dragging the image C in the group classification display area 31 or the group area 32 and dropping it on the image in the group classification display area 31.

In this embodiment, an example in which a single image is dragged has been described. However, it is also possible to select a plurality of images and drag them all together to perform the above-described group change operation.

As described above, according to the present invention, a group classification display area 31 and a group area 32 are provided.
It has a simple configuration in which a group change operation can be performed by performing a drag and drop operation between a single image or a group image displayed in these areas.

Subsequently, when the operator observes the displayed reduced screen and determines that image processing is necessary, the operator clicks the processing tab 33, and the processing batch processing unit 14 is activated to display the processing screen 40. You.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the processing screen 40.

This screen is composed of a group classification display area 31 and a group area 32, which are the same components as the editing processing screen 30, and a menu bar 41 displays image processing functions.

The image processing functions include rotation, color correction, filtering, panorama, compression ratio, and the like. These can be realized by known image processing functions.

When the operator clicks on a specific group in the group classification display area 31, reduced images belonging to that group are displayed in the group area 32. In this state, the processing function is selected from the menu bar 41.
For example, when the rotation function is selected and the image is designated to be rotated to the right by a predetermined angle, all the reduced images displayed in the group area 32 are subjected to the same processing and become images rotated to the right by a predetermined angle.

As described above, since the image can be processed collectively in units of groups, the same operation does not have to be repeated a plurality of times, and the processing can be performed efficiently.

When the editing or processing of the image has been completed, the processing data can be stored and stored in the recording medium 3 or the internal storage device 16 in groups, for example, by selecting the storage tab 42, and the deletion tab 43 can be displayed. By making a selection, unnecessary image data can be deleted in group units.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention, simple operations can be performed on a group basis, so that a large amount of image data can be efficiently processed when being classified, edited, and processed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a menu screen.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation of a read classification processing unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart showing a secondary determination procedure of the same group.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a group display screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an editing processing screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a processing screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional reduced image display method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image processing apparatus 2 ... Digital camera 3 ... Recording medium 4 ... Output device 5 ... Operation input device 11 ... Menu display part 12 ... Read classification processing part 13 ... Editing processing part 14 ... Processing batch processing part 16 ... Internal storage device 25 ... Group display screen 31 ... Group classification display area 32 ... Group area 40 ... Processing screen

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Claims (5)

[Claims] A classification unit configured to automatically classify image data read from a recording unit in which image data is recorded into a group that is a unit for performing the same image processing; and an image selected from each of the classified groups. A first display unit for creating a reduced image of data and displaying the reduced image for each group; and identifying and displaying a group to which the reduced image belongs as a group having a plurality of image data and a group having a single image data. An image processing apparatus, comprising: 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a third display unit that displays all the image data of the group to which the reduced image belongs by specifying the displayed reduced image as a reduced image. An image processing apparatus comprising: 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein by specifying the displayed reduced image and designating an image processing method, all the image data of the group to which the reduced image belongs are collectively collected. An image processing apparatus comprising an image processing means for performing image processing. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the classifying unit determines that the time at which the image data was captured is within a predetermined time in the same group. An image processing apparatus characterized in that the image processing apparatus is classified into: 5. A classification step of automatically classifying image data read from a recording unit in which image data is recorded, into a group which is a unit for performing the same image processing, and an image selected from each of the classified groups. A first display step of creating a reduced image of data and displaying the reduced image for each group; identifying and displaying a group to which the reduced image belongs as a group having a plurality of image data and a group having a single image data And a second display step of performing the following.