JP2002344721A - Image data processing apparatus and method, image data processing program, and image data management system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and properly attach a keyword to image data and to speed up a speed retrieval processing. SOLUTION: An image composite section 42 composites a photographed image received from a digital camera 10 with a keyword image stored in a RAM 50, where a plurality of keyword buttons selectable by each keyword are laid out and outputs a composite image to a display device 20 when storing. A storage processing section 43 stores a keyword and the photographed image in the composited image to a storage device 30. At retrieving, the display device 20 displays a retrieved image, where a plurality of selectable keyword buttons are laid out by each keyword and a retrieval section 45 retrieves the photographed image, in response to the selected keyword.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data processing apparatus and method, an image data processing program, and an image data management system and method, and more particularly to an image data processing apparatus and method suitable for managing and retrieving image data. The present invention relates to a method, an image data processing program, and an image data management system and method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of organizing files created by a computer user, there is a method of storing files hierarchically using folders, for example. When searching for a necessary file from the stored files, the user can search for the necessary file by referring to a directory list as shown in FIG. 8, for example.

Further, a user can search for a necessary file by inputting a file name, a file creation date and time, a file size, and the like into a search engine as shown in FIG. 9, for example.

A user can search for a necessary file by inputting a keyword on a screen as shown in FIG. 10, for example.

[0005]

However, in the above-described search method, when a required file is searched by referring to a directory list, for example, the required file is searched for only by storing the file name. In other words, if you forget the file name,
Search becomes impossible.

Further, even when a search is performed based on a file name given by a user himself or a file creation date and time automatically added by a search engine, or when a keyword is added as a search key to a data file, addition of a keyword is not required. In addition, it takes time and effort to input, and furthermore, if the user forgets the file name or keyword, the search becomes impossible.

[0007] In the case of image data of a digital camera, it is possible to search by referring to image data displayed as thumbnails by image management software, but it is difficult to search when the number of image data is large. Also in this case, it is possible to perform a search by adding an arbitrary keyword and inputting the keyword, but as in the case described above,
There is a problem that it takes time and effort to add and input a keyword, and furthermore, if a keyword is forgotten, a search becomes impossible.

The present invention has been proposed in view of such a conventional situation, and it is possible to easily and appropriately add a keyword to image data, and to further increase the speed of search processing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data processing device and method, an image data processing program, and an image data management system and method.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-described object, an image data processing apparatus according to the present invention adds additional information to image data and stores the additional information in a storage device. An image data processing apparatus for searching image data from a storage device based on additional information, comprising: a keyword image creating unit for creating a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword are arranged; Image synthesis means for synthesizing data and a keyword image to create a synthesized image, and storage processing means for adding a keyword selected in the synthesized image to the image data as additional information and storing the image data in a storage device. And

Here, the image data processing device includes output means for outputting the composite image to the display device, and the storage processing means uses the keyword selected in the composite image displayed on the display device as additional information as image data. To be stored in the storage device.

In addition, the image data processing device is selected at the time of image data search in a search image displayed on the display device and having a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords. A search unit is provided for searching for image data to which desired additional information is added based on a keyword and reading the image data from a storage device.

When storing image data, such an image data processing device creates a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword are arranged, and combines the image data with the keyword image. To create a composite image, add the keyword selected in the composite image to the image data as additional information, and store it in the storage device. In addition, when searching for image data, a desired addition is performed based on a keyword selected in a search image displayed on the display device and having a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword. The image data to which the information is added is retrieved and read from the storage device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data processing method according to the present invention, wherein additional information is added to image data and stored in a storage device. Image data processing method for retrieving image data from a storage device, comprising: a keyword image creating step of creating a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords are arranged; And a storage processing step of adding a keyword selected in the composite image as additional information to the image data and storing the keyword in the storage device.

Here, the image data processing method has an output step of outputting the composite image to the display device, and in the storage processing step, a keyword selected in the composite image displayed on the display device is used as additional information as image data. And stored in the storage device.

In the image data processing method, at the time of image data search, a search image displayed on a display device and selected on a search image in which a plurality of keyword buttons which can be selected for each of various keywords is arranged. There is a search step of searching for image data to which desired additional information has been added based on the keyword and reading the image data from a storage device.

According to such an image data processing method, at the time of storing image data, a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword is arranged is created, and the image data and the keyword image are combined. To create a composite image, add the keyword selected in the composite image to the image data as additional information, and store it in the storage device. In addition, when searching for image data, a desired addition is performed based on a keyword selected in a search image displayed on the display device and having a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword. The image data to which the information is added is retrieved and read from the storage device.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an image data processing program according to the present invention adds an additional information to image data and causes the storage device to store the additional information. A computer-controllable image data processing program for retrieving image data from a storage device, comprising: a keyword image creating step of creating a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords are arranged; It has an image combining step of combining data and a keyword image to create a combined image, and a storage processing step of adding a keyword selected in the combined image to the image data as additional information and storing it in a storage device. And

Here, the image data processing program has an output step of outputting the composite image to the display device. In the storage processing step, the keyword selected in the composite image displayed on the display device is used as additional information as image data. And stored in the storage device.

In addition, the image data processing program is selected at the time of image data search in the search image displayed on the display device and having a plurality of keyword buttons which can be selected for each of various keywords. There is a search step of searching for image data to which desired additional information has been added based on the keyword and reading the image data from a storage device.

Such an image data processing program comprises:
The computer causes the computer to create a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword are arranged, combines the image data with the keyword image to create a composite image, and selects the keyword selected in the composite image. Is added to the image data as additional information and stored in the storage device. Further, at the time of searching for image data, a computer selects a search image displayed on a display device based on a keyword selected in a search image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for various keywords are arranged. The image data to which the desired additional information is added is retrieved and read from the storage device.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an image data management system according to the present invention adds and stores additional information to image data. An image data management system for retrieving an image, wherein a display device on which various image data is displayed and a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons selectable for each of the image data and various keywords are arranged An image data processing device for outputting and displaying an image on a display device, adding a keyword selected in the composite image to the image data as additional information and outputting the image data, and a storage device for storing the image data with the additional information added It is characterized by having.

Here, in the image data management system, the image data processing device is provided with a plurality of keyword buttons which are search images displayed on the display device and can be selected for each of various keywords when the image data is searched. Based on the keyword selected in the retrieved search image, image data to which desired additional information is added is retrieved and read from the storage device, and the image data is displayed on the display device.

Such an image data management system, when saving image data, displays a composite image in which the image data and a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords are arranged are combined. And display it, and the keyword selected in the composite image is added to the image data as additional information and stored in the storage device. At the time of searching for image data, based on a keyword selected in a search image displayed on the display device and including a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords, desired additional information The added image data is retrieved, read from the storage device, and displayed on the display device.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the image data management method according to the present invention adds and stores additional information to image data, and when searching for the image data, the image data is stored on the basis of the additional information. An image data management method for retrieving the image data, wherein the image data processing device outputs to the display device a composite image in which the image data and a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each type of keyword are arranged are combined The image data processing apparatus adds the keyword selected in the composite image to the image data as additional information, and outputs and stores the keyword in the storage device.

Here, in the image data management method, at the time of image data search, the image data processing device arranges a plurality of keyword buttons which are search images displayed on the display device and can be selected for each of various keywords. Based on the keyword selected in the retrieved search image, image data to which desired additional information is added is retrieved and read from the storage device, and the image data is displayed on the display device.

In such an image data management method, when the image data is stored, a combined image in which the image data is combined with a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword are arranged is displayed on the display device. The keyword selected in the composite image is added to the image data as additional information and stored in the storage device. At the time of searching for image data, based on a keyword selected in a search image displayed on the display device and including a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords, desired additional information The added image data is retrieved, read from the storage device, and displayed on the display device.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

An outline of an image data management system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. For example, an image captured by a digital camera is displayed on a display screen of a display device. As shown in FIG. 1, the display screen displays a composite image in which the captured image PD and a keyword image KD in which a plurality of keyword buttons selectable for each of various keywords are arranged. In FIG. 1, a keyword image KD of 5 × 6 blocks is displayed as an example. The keyword image KD is translucent, and the photographed image PD can be viewed through the keyword image KD. The keyword image KD will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of keywords to be added to the photographed image PD are arranged in the keyword image KD. In FIG. 4, as an example, “Who (WH
O) "includes" You, "" Child, "" Family, "
Information on "house", "park", "sea", "mountain", "other", "what event (WHAT EVENT)" as information of "couple", "other", "Where" (WHERE) ,
"Dance,""Travel,""Leisure,""Sports,"
The information of "Shichigosan", "athletic meet", "announcement", "portrait", "wedding", "other", "when (WHEN)", "spring", "summer", "autumn", " Winter. "

It should be noted that the keyword items are not limited to this example, and may be set by the user. However, at least 4W (WHO, WHERE, WHAT, WHE
By selecting the information of N) as a keyword of the captured image PD, an efficient search can be performed.

The number of keyword images KD is not limited to one, and the user can set keyword images KD corresponding to a plurality of modes. For example, it is possible to create a mode such as a "family mode" for a family or a "couple mode" for a couple without children, and set a keyword according to the mode. The setting of the keyword may be performed by the user himself or may be downloaded.

The selection of a keyword is input using a GUI (graphical user interface) using a pointing device such as a mouse. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the pointing device, and may be, for example, a remote controller. When the display screen is a so-called touch panel, the display may be performed by touching the display screen.

In the example of FIG. 4, the displayed captured image P
Since D is a trip to the mountains with his family in the spring, "family" is used as "WHO" information, "mountain" is used as "WHERE" information, and "what""WHITEEVENT" information includes "Travel" and "When (WH
EN) "is selected as" spring ".
Note that the user does not need to input the detailed date and time when the image was taken because it is recorded in the image data.

As described above, in the image data management system according to the present embodiment, the keyword can be selected while looking at the photographed image, so that the keyword matching the photographed image PD can be selected.

The description will be continued with reference to FIG. In the case of shooting in event units, the same keyword is often selected in the previous and next shot images PD, and therefore the display screen includes
A button PB labeled “Same as before” is provided, and simply by selecting this button PB, the keyword selected in the previous captured image PD is automatically selected. Further, a “rotate” button RB for rotating the display screen by 90 degrees and a “print” button PRB for printing a captured image are provided. Note that FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2 and 3 described later are merely examples, and the buttons and the like can be appropriately changed in design.

By selecting a keyword for all the captured images PD in this way, the captured image PD with the keyword added is stored in the storage device.

Next, a case in which a desired photographed image PD is searched will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, at the time of searching for a captured image PD, a search image D in which a plurality of keywords are arranged is displayed.
A search screen including D is displayed. The search screen is, for example, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, a search screen displays a search image DD in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords are arranged. In the example of FIG. 5, in order to search the captured image PD shown in FIG. 4, the keywords "family", "mountain", "travel",
"Spring" is selected. If the shooting date is memorized, a more efficient search can be performed by inputting the shooting date. For this reason, a combo box CB is provided on the search screen, and the date can be selected with a mouse or the like. In addition to the above, the search screen is provided with a “reset” button RSB for resetting the search screen and a “search” button DB for executing a search.

When searching for a captured image, it is possible to search by referring to a search history screen as shown in FIG. 6, for example. As shown in FIG. 6, past search histories from "# 1" to "# 6" are displayed on the search history screen. The user further edits the content of the search by selecting this search history number with the mouse or the like and various buttons such as "And", "Or", "Not", "(", ")" as necessary. You can search. For example, when searching for a picture of a child at a wedding, the search can be performed by selecting “# 2”, “And”, and “# 4”.

The search results searched in this way are displayed as thumbnails, for example, as shown in FIG. By selecting the “slide” button SB on this display screen, the searched captured images PD can be slid and displayed in full size in order. Further, the user can print the photographed image PD by selecting the “print” button PRB. Thereby, for example, the search image DD
In the case where “eldest son” is provided as a keyword in, an album in which only the eldest son is shown can be created by selecting this.

As described above, in the image data management system according to the present embodiment, the keyword is added by selecting the keyword of the search image displayed superimposed on the photographed image, so that the user needs to consider the keyword. Therefore, there is little possibility of forgetting the keyword.

Further, since all operations can be performed by a pointing device such as a mouse, the user does not need to input a character string using a keyboard or the like, so that the operation of the user is simplified.

Further, by associating a button of a keyword with, for example, one letter of the alphabet, it is sufficient to search for one letter of the alphabet corresponding to the button, and the search process can be sped up as compared with a case where a character string is used as a keyword. It is.

The schematic configuration of an example of the above-described image data management system will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 7, an image data management system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a digital camera 10
A display device 20 such as a television device for displaying an image captured by the digital camera 10 and the like, a storage device 30 such as a hard disk for storing image data and the like, and various processes for storing and retrieving image data. And an image data processing device 40.

The image data processing device 40 includes an image input unit 41 for inputting image data from the digital camera 10.
An image synthesizing unit 42 for synthesizing the photographed image and the above-described keyword image; a storage processing unit 43 for performing a process of recording the photographed image with the keyword added to the storage device 30; an image data processing device 40 and a display device 20 and storage device 30
A transmission / reception unit 44 for transmitting / receiving data to / from, a search unit 45 for searching for image data based on a keyword selected on the display device 20, and an image processing for performing image processing for printing a captured image or the like Unit 46 and image processing unit 4
6, a print output unit 47 for printing and outputting the photographed image subjected to the image processing. The image data processing device 40 includes a control unit 48 that controls each unit of the image data processing device 40, and a ROM (Read
Only Memory) 49 and RAM as a volatile storage medium
(Random Access Memory) 50 and a bus 51 for connecting each unit. That is, the image data processing device 40 is configured as an image forming device having a function of performing all processes such as a storage process and a search process and a print function.

Normally, a user often displays a photographed image on a display device and checks it in order to select an image to be saved from the photographed images. At this time, the image data processing device 40 performs a storage process of adding a keyword to the captured image to be stored.

When saving image data, the image input unit 41
Transmits the photographed image input from the digital camera 10 to the bus 5
1 and temporarily stored in the RAM 50. The control unit 4
8 creates a keyword image in advance and stores it in the RAM 50. The image combining unit 42 reads the keyword image and the captured image from the RAM 50 and performs a combining process. If a plurality of keyword images are prepared, the display device 2
At 0, the keyword image corresponding to the mode designated by the user and the photographed image are combined. The image synthesis unit 42
The display device 20 transmits the synthesized image via the transmission / reception unit 44.
Send to As a result, the display device 20 displays a composite image as shown in FIG.

When the user selects a keyword with a pointing device such as a mouse, the image data processing device 40 associates the captured image with the information of the selected keyword via the transmission / reception unit 44 and stores the image in the RAM 50. . The storage processing unit 43 inputs this information from the RAM 50 and stores the information in the storage device 30 via the transmission / reception unit 44.

At the time of searching for image data, the image data processing device 40 causes the display device to display a search image stored in the RAM 50 and having a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword. The search image is also created by the control unit 48 and stored in the RAM 50. When a plurality of search images are prepared, a search image or the like designated by the user is displayed. As a result, a search screen or a search history screen as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 is displayed on the display device.

The display device 20 supplies information such as a keyword selected by the user on the search screen or the search history screen to the search unit 45 via the transmission / reception unit 44. Search unit 45
Inputs image data from the storage device 30 based on this information and outputs the image data to the display device 20. As a result, a search result as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display device 20. On the search result display screen, the user selects “Print”
When the button PRB is selected, the image processing unit 46
Input the data displayed via the transmission / reception unit 44,
Perform image processing for printing. The image processing unit 46 supplies the image-processed data to the print output unit 47, and the print output unit 47 performs print processing and outputs the data to the outside.

The image data management system 1 can store and retrieve captured images with the above-described configuration.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to only the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in the above description, the image data processing device 40
Although configured as hardware, it is not limited to this and may be configured by software. In this case, the image data processing program may be stored in the ROM 49, or the image data processing program recorded on a recording medium (not shown) may be installed. Of course, it may be downloaded from outside.

In the above description, the display device 20 and the image data processing device 40 have been described as separate components.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the display device 20 is realized by a personal computer, the display device 20, the image processing unit 46 and the print output unit 4 of the image data processing device 40.
The part other than 7 is constituted by a personal computer,
The image processing unit 46 and the print output unit 47 may be configured by an image forming device. In addition, the digital camera 10
May be realized. In this case, the LCD (Liquid Crystal Displ.
ay) corresponds to the display device 20.

[0054]

As described in detail above, the image data processing apparatus according to the present invention adds additional information to image data and stores it in a storage device.
An image data processing apparatus for searching image data from a storage device based on additional information, comprising: a keyword image creating unit for creating a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword are arranged; Image synthesis means for synthesizing data and a keyword image to create a synthesized image, and storage processing means for adding a keyword selected in the synthesized image to the image data as additional information and storing the image data in a storage device. And

Here, the image data processing device includes output means for outputting the composite image to the display device, and the storage processing means uses the keyword selected in the composite image displayed on the display device as additional information as image data. To be stored in the storage device.

Further, the image data processing apparatus selects a search image displayed on the display device, on which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword are arranged, at the time of image data search. A search unit is provided for searching for image data to which desired additional information is added based on a keyword and reading the image data from a storage device.

In some image data processing apparatuses, when storing image data, a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword is arranged is created, and the image data and the keyword image are combined. To create a composite image, add the keyword selected in the composite image to the image data as additional information, and store the image data in a storage device. When retrieving the image data, the search image displayed on the display device includes various keywords. Based on a keyword selected in a search image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected each time are arranged, image data to which desired additional information is added is searched and read from a storage device, so that the user It is not necessary to consider It is possible to select keyword.

Further, as compared with the case where a character string is input as a keyword, the speed of the search process can be increased.

Further, according to the image data processing method of the present invention, additional information is added to image data and stored in a storage device. When the image data is searched, the image data is searched from the storage device based on the additional information. An image data processing method, wherein a keyword image creating step of creating a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords is arranged, and a combined image is created by combining the image data and the keyword image Image synthesis process,
And a storage processing step of adding a keyword selected in the synthesized image to the image data as additional information and storing the added data in a storage device.

Here, the image data processing method has an output step of outputting a composite image to a display device. In the storage processing step, a keyword selected in the composite image displayed on the display device is used as additional information as image data. And stored in the storage device.

In the image data processing method, at the time of image data search, a search image displayed on the display device and selected on a search image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords are arranged. There is a search step of searching for image data to which desired additional information has been added based on the keyword and reading the image data from a storage device.

According to such an image data processing method, when storing image data, a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons which can be selected for each keyword is arranged is created, and the image data and the keyword image are combined. To create a composite image, add the keyword selected in the composite image to the image data as additional information, and store the image data in a storage device. When retrieving the image data, the search image displayed on the display device includes various keywords. Based on a keyword selected in a search image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected each time are arranged, image data to which desired additional information is added is searched and read from a storage device, so that the user It is not necessary to consider It is possible to select keyword.

Further, as compared with the case where a character string is input as a keyword, the speed of the search process can be increased.

The image data processing program according to the present invention adds additional information to the image data and stores the image data in a storage device. When the image data is searched, the image data is searched from the storage device based on the additional information. A computer-controllable image data processing program, comprising: a keyword image creation step of creating a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword are arranged; and combining the image data and the keyword image. The image processing apparatus is characterized in that it has an image synthesizing step of creating a synthetic image, and a storage processing step of adding a keyword selected in the synthetic image to the image data as additional information and storing the image data in a storage device.

Here, the image data processing program has an output step of outputting the composite image to the display device, and in the storage processing step, the keyword selected in the composite image displayed on the display device is used as additional information as image data. And stored in the storage device.

In addition, the image data processing program selects a search image displayed on the display device and having a plurality of keyword buttons which can be selected for each keyword at the time of image data search. There is a search step of searching for image data to which desired additional information has been added based on the keyword and reading the image data from a storage device.

According to such an image data processing program, the computer causes the computer to create a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword are arranged, and synthesizes the image data with the keyword image. A composite image is created, a keyword selected in the composite image is added to the image data as additional information and stored in a storage device. When the image data is searched, the search image is displayed on a display device to a computer. Based on a keyword selected in a search image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each type of keyword are arranged, image data to which desired additional information is added is retrieved and read from a storage device. There is no need for the user to consider keywords, and image data and keyword images To display simultaneously, it is possible to select appropriate keywords.

Further, as compared with the case where a character string is input as a keyword, the speed of the search process can be increased.

Further, the image data management system according to the present invention is an image data management system for adding and storing additional information to image data and searching for the image data based on the additional information when searching for the image data. A display device on which various image data is displayed, and a composite image in which the image data and a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons selectable for each keyword are arranged are output to a display device and displayed. The image data processing apparatus is characterized by including an image data processing device for adding the keyword selected in the composite image to the image data as additional information and outputting the image data, and a storage device for storing the image data to which the additional information is added.

Here, in the image data management system, the image data processing device is provided with a plurality of keyword buttons which are search images displayed on the display device and can be selected for each of various keywords at the time of image data search. Based on the keyword selected in the retrieved search image, image data to which desired additional information is added is retrieved and read from the storage device, and the image data is displayed on the display device.

According to such an image data management system, when storing image data, a composite image in which the image data and a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword are arranged is displayed. The image data is output to the device and displayed, and the keyword selected in the composite image is added to the image data as additional information and stored in the storage device. When searching for image data, the search image displayed on the display device and various keywords Based on a keyword selected in a search image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected each time are arranged, image data to which desired additional information is added is retrieved, read from a storage device, and displayed on a display device. This eliminates the need for the user to consider keywords, and also allows image data and keyword images to be Order indicated, it is possible to select appropriate keywords.

Further, as compared with the case where a character string is input as a keyword, the search processing can be speeded up.

The image data management method according to the present invention is an image data management method in which additional information is added to image data and stored, and when the image data is searched, the image data is searched based on the additional information. The image data processing apparatus outputs a composite image in which the image data and a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords are arranged are output to a display device and displayed, Is characterized in that the keyword selected in the composite image is added to the image data as additional information, output to a storage device, and stored.

Here, in the image data management method, at the time of image data search, the image data processing device is provided with a plurality of keyword buttons which are search images displayed on the display device and can be selected for each of various keywords. Based on the keyword selected in the retrieved search image, image data to which desired additional information is added is retrieved and read from the storage device, and the image data is displayed on the display device.

In such an image data management method, at the time of storing image data, a combined image in which the image data is combined with a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords are arranged is displayed on the display device. The keyword selected in the composite image is added to the image data as additional information and stored in the storage device. When searching for image data, the search image displayed on the display device can be selected for each keyword. Based on a keyword selected in a search image in which a plurality of keyword buttons are arranged, image data to which desired additional information is added is retrieved, read from a storage device, and displayed on a display device. The user does not need to consider the keyword, and the image data and the keyword image are displayed simultaneously. Therefore, it is possible to select the appropriate keywords.

Further, as compared with the case where a character string is input as a keyword, the search processing can be sped up.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a display screen when image data is stored in an image data management system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a display screen when searching for image data in the image data management system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display screen of a search result of image data in the image data management system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram in which image data and a search image are displayed in an overlapping manner in the image data management system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a search screen in the image data management system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a search history screen in the image data management system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image data management system.

FIG. 8 is a list of directories indicating files hierarchically stored in the related art.

FIG. 9 is an example of a conventional search engine.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a file is searched for using a keyword in the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image data management system, 10 digital cameras,
Reference Signs List 20 display device, 30 storage device, 40 image data processing device, 41 image input unit, 42 image synthesis unit, 43 storage processing unit, 44 transmission / reception unit, 45 search unit, 46 image processing unit, 47 print output unit, 48 control unit , 49 R
OM, 50 RAM, 51 bus, PD image, K
D Keyword image, DD search image

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/76 H04N 5/76 E 5C076 5/765 5/781 510L 5/781 5/91 H 5/91 F-term (Reference) 5B050 AA09 BA15 DA04 EA20 FA02 FA03 FA19 5B057 AA11 BA02 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB01 CB08 CB12 CB16 CB19 CC01 CE08 5C025 BA30 CA06 CA09 CB10 DA10 5C052 AA01 AA11 AB04 AC04 DD04 FA06 FA03 FA06 JA16 KA05 KA24 LA01 LA03 LA06 5C076 AA16 BA03 BA04 BA06 CA02

Claims (39)

[Claims] 1. An image data processing apparatus for adding additional information to image data and storing the additional data in a storage device, and for searching the image data, searching the storage device for the image data based on the additional information. A keyword image creating means for creating a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword are arranged; and an image combining means for creating a combined image by combining the image data and the keyword image. An image data processing apparatus comprising: a storage processing unit that adds a keyword selected in the composite image to the image data as the additional information and stores the keyword in the storage device. 2. An image processing apparatus, comprising: output means for outputting the composite image to a display device, wherein the storage processing means converts a keyword selected in the composite image displayed on the display device into the image data as the additional information. 2. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is additionally stored in the storage device. 3. At the time of image data search, a desired image is displayed based on a keyword selected in a search image displayed on a display device and having a plurality of keyword buttons arranged to be selectable for each of various keywords. 2. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a search unit that searches for the image data to which the additional information is added and reads the image data from the storage device. 4. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising external output means for outputting the retrieved image data to the outside. 5. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said external output means prints the retrieved image data and outputs the image data to the outside. 6. The keyword image creating means creates a plurality of keyword images corresponding to a plurality of modes, and the image combining means combines the image data with the keyword image according to a selected mode. 2. The image data processing device according to claim 1, wherein: 7. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the keyword image creating means creates the keyword image based on a plurality of keywords set by a user. 8. An image data processing method, wherein additional information is added to image data and stored in a storage device, and when the image data is searched, the image data is searched from the storage device based on the additional information. A keyword image creating step of creating a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each type of keyword are arranged; and an image combining step of combining the image data and the keyword image to create a combined image. Storing a keyword selected in the composite image as the additional information to the image data and storing the keyword in the storage device. 9. An output step of outputting the composite image to a display device, wherein in the storage processing step, a keyword selected in the composite image displayed on the display device is added to the image data as the additional information. 9. The image data processing method according to claim 8, wherein the image data is added and stored in the storage device. 10. At the time of image data search, a desired image is displayed based on a keyword selected in a search image displayed on a display device and provided with a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords. 9. The image data processing method according to claim 8, further comprising a search step of searching for the image data to which the additional information is added and reading the image data from the storage device. 11. An external output step of outputting the searched image data to an external device.
0. The image data processing method according to item 1. 12. The image data processing method according to claim 11, wherein in the external output step, the searched image data is printed and output to the outside. 13. In the keyword image creating step, a plurality of keyword images corresponding to a plurality of modes are created. In the image combining step, the image data is combined with the keyword image according to a selected mode. 9. The image data processing method according to claim 8, wherein: 14. The image data processing method according to claim 8, wherein in the keyword image creating step, the keyword image is created based on a plurality of keywords set by a user. 15. Computer-controllable image data processing for adding additional information to image data and storing the image data in a storage device, and for retrieving the image data from the storage device based on the additional information. A keyword image creating step of creating a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword are arranged; and a combined image created by combining the image data and the keyword image. An image data processing program, comprising: an image synthesizing step; and a storage processing step of adding a keyword selected in the synthesized image as the additional information to the image data and storing the image data in the storage device. 16. An output step of outputting the composite image to a display device, wherein in the storage processing step, a keyword selected in the composite image displayed on the display device is added to the image data as the additional information. The image data processing program according to claim 15, wherein the image data processing program is added and stored in the storage device. 17. At the time of image data search, a desired image is displayed based on a search image displayed on a display device and a keyword selected in a search image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords are arranged. 16. A search step for retrieving image data to which the additional information has been added and reading the image data from the storage device.
The image data processing program according to the description. 18. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an external output step of outputting the retrieved image data to an external device.
7. The image data processing program according to 7. 19. The image data processing program according to claim 18, wherein in the external output step, the searched image data is printed and output to the outside. 20. In the keyword image creating step, a plurality of keyword images corresponding to a plurality of modes are created. In the image combining step, the image data is combined with the keyword image according to a selected mode. 16. The image data processing program according to claim 15, wherein: 21. The image data processing program according to claim 15, wherein in the keyword image creating step, the keyword image is created based on a plurality of keywords set by a user. 22. An image data management system for adding and storing additional information to image data and searching for the image data based on the additional information when searching for the image data, wherein various image data are displayed. A composite image in which the image data and a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of the various keywords are arranged are output to the display device and displayed. An image data management device comprising: an image data processing device that adds a selected keyword to the image data as the additional information and outputs the image data; and a storage device that stores the image data to which the additional information is added. system. 23. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when searching for image data, the image data processing device selects a search image displayed on the display device and having a plurality of keyword buttons selectable for each of various keywords. 23. The image data management according to claim 22, wherein image data to which desired additional information is added is retrieved based on the keyword, read from the storage device, and the image data is displayed on the display device. system. 24. The image data management system according to claim 23, wherein the image data processing device outputs the searched image data to the outside. 25. The image data management system according to claim 24, wherein the image data processing device prints the searched image data and outputs the image data to the outside. 26. The image data management system according to claim 23, wherein the image data processing device slides and displays the searched image data on the display device. 27. The image data management system according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of keyword buttons according to a mode selected on the display device are arranged on the keyword image. 28. The image data management system according to claim 22, wherein a user can set the various keywords. 29. The image data management system according to claim 22, wherein the selection of the keyword on the display device is performed by a pointing device. 30. A display screen of the display device capable of recognizing a contact, wherein the selection of the keyword in the display device is performed by touching a desired keyword portion in the display screen. The image data management system according to claim 22, wherein: 31. An image data management method in which additional information is added to image data and stored, and at the time of searching for the image data, the image data is searched based on the additional information. A composite image in which image data and a keyword image in which a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each keyword are arranged is output to the display device and displayed, and the image data processing device performs An image data management method, wherein a selected keyword is added to the image data as the additional information and output to a storage device for storage. 32. At the time of image data search, the image data processing apparatus is selected in a search image displayed on the display device and provided with a plurality of keyword buttons that can be selected for each of various keywords. 32. The image data management method according to claim 31, wherein image data to which desired additional information is added is retrieved based on the keyword, read from the storage device, and the image data is displayed on the display device. . 33. The image data management method according to claim 32, wherein the image data processing device outputs the searched image data to an external device. 34. The image data management method according to claim 33, wherein the image data processing device prints the searched image data and outputs the image data to the outside. 35. The image data management method according to claim 32, wherein the image data processing device slides and displays the searched image data on the display device. 36. The image data management method according to claim 31, wherein the plurality of keyword buttons according to a mode selected on the display device are arranged in the search image. 37. The image data management method according to claim 31, wherein the user can set the various keywords. 38. The image data management method according to claim 31, wherein the selection of the keyword on the display device is performed by a pointing device. 39. The display screen of the display device is capable of recognizing contact, and the selection of the keyword on the display device is performed by touching a desired keyword portion on the display screen. The image data management method according to claim 31, wherein: