JP2006072523A - Image display device and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image display device and its method for displaying a window for navigation without damaging the overall image of a folder by simplifying and displaying an image file in a folder by using a rectangular frame or the like, and for quickly displaying the window for navigation without making a user feel unpleasant even in resizing or re-plotting of the window. <P>SOLUTION: A folder is selected from a storage part 201 in which image files and folders are hierarchically stored by using a selecting part 202. The reduced images of the image files included in the folders are displayed as a list in a main window by a display part 208, and the reduced images of the image files displayed as a list in the window for navigation are simplified and displayed by using the rectangular frame. When an area of attention is set by a setting part 204, the reduced images of the image files of the area are enlarged and displayed in the main window. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display apparatus and an image display method for displaying image files and lower folders that are hierarchically classified and stored in a folder.

  In recent years, with the spread of digital cameras and broadband Internet, users can easily obtain a large number of images such as digital cameras, images attached to emails from friends, and downloading still images and videos from websites. It became so. Therefore, the user needs to manage a large amount of images.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an image management screen by a conventional image management apparatus. In FIG. 15, the operator can display thumbnails of files in the folder by designating a folder in the tree view 1501. Reference numeral 1502 denotes a pull-down menu capable of switching the display mode. If there is a thumbnail image in the image file or another file, the image management software uses it for display. If not, the image management software creates a thumbnail from the original image and uses the thumbnail in a browser window (hereinafter referred to as “BW”) 1503. To list. Reference numeral 1504 denotes a button for controlling the window display of an application that is mounted as standard ("minimize", "maximize", and "close") from the left. Reference numeral 1505 denotes a scroll bar displayed beside the BW 1503 when a large amount of images exist in the folder.

  Conventionally, in the image management software, there has been a mode (zoom mode) in which all thumbnails can be viewed by showing a folder through. In this case, if there is a lower folder that exists in the same hierarchy as the image file, the lower folder is displayed in parallel with the image file, and thumbnails of images included in the lower folder are further displayed.

Further, conventionally, there is known a technique for displaying an enlarged screen and displaying a navigator palette representing an entire image when the enlarged display is performed (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
“Adobe Photoshop 4.0J User's Guide”, “Chapter 2 Working with the Navigator Palette”, Part number 90005035 (10/97), p.30

  However, the conventional image management method as described above has a drawback that the thumbnails to be displayed become smaller as the number of images increases. Further, when the image is displayed as an image having a certain size, the user needs to search for the target image using the scroll bar 1505 described above, which is very inconvenient in operation. Therefore, in order to solve such drawbacks, it may be possible to enlarge and display the zoom mode screen. Then, when the screen is partially enlarged in this way, it is conceivable to display a navigation window in order to display a screen showing the whole image for the convenience of the user.

  Here, as a method of realizing the navigation window, it is conceivable to use a thumbnail (reduced image) obtained by reducing the original image. However, when a reduced image of the original image is drawn in the navigation window, it takes time to draw the reduced image displayed in the window when the window is resized or redrawn. May not be displayed properly.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can display a navigation window without damaging the entire image of a folder by displaying image files in the folder in a simplified manner with a rectangular frame or the like. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image display apparatus and an image display method that can display a navigation window at high speed without causing the user to feel uncomfortable even when the window is resized or redrawn.

In order to solve the above problems, an image display device according to the present invention provides:
A selection means for selecting a predetermined folder from a storage device in which image files and folders for storing the image files are hierarchically stored;
List display means for displaying a list of reduced images of image files and images indicating lower folders included in the folder selected by the selection means while maintaining a hierarchical structure in the first screen;
Simplified display means for displaying a reduced image of an image file displayed in a list in the first screen and an image indicating a lower folder in a simplified manner in the second screen using a simplified image;
Setting means for setting a region of interest in the list display to be enlarged and displayed in the first screen in the second screen;
An enlarged display means for enlarging and displaying within the first screen a reduced image of an image file included in the list display area corresponding to the attention area set by the setting means and an image showing a lower folder. It is characterized by that.

In order to solve the above problems, an image display device according to the present invention includes:
A selection means for selecting a predetermined folder from a storage device in which image files and folders for storing the image files are hierarchically stored;
List display means for displaying a list of reduced images of image files and images indicating lower folders included in the folder selected by the selection means while maintaining a hierarchical structure in the first screen;
Simplified display means for simplifying and displaying only an image showing a lower folder displayed in the first screen in the second screen using a simplified image;
Setting means for setting an attention area to be enlarged and displayed in the first screen in the second screen;
An enlarged display means for enlarging and displaying within the first screen a reduced image of an image file included in the list display area corresponding to the area of interest set by the setting means and an image showing a lower folder. It is characterized by that.

Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, an image display method according to the present invention includes:
A selection step of selecting a predetermined folder from a storage device in which image files and folders for storing the image files are hierarchically stored;
A list display step of displaying a list of reduced images of image files and images indicating lower folders included in the folder selected by the selection step while maintaining a hierarchical structure in the first screen;
A simplified display step of displaying a reduced image of the image file displayed in a list in the first screen and an image indicating a lower folder in a simplified manner in the second screen using a simplified image;
A setting step for setting a region of interest in a list display to be enlarged and displayed in the first screen in the second screen;
An enlarged display step of enlarging and displaying within the first screen a reduced image of an image file included in the list display region corresponding to the region of interest set by the setting step and an image indicating a lower folder. It is characterized by that.

Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, an image display method according to the present invention includes:
A selection step of selecting a predetermined folder from a storage device in which image files and folders for storing the image files are hierarchically stored;
A list display step of displaying a list of reduced images of image files and images indicating lower folders included in the folder selected by the selection step while maintaining a hierarchical structure in the first screen;
A simplified display step of displaying only the image showing the lower folder displayed in the first screen in a simplified manner in the second screen using the simplified image;
A setting step for setting an attention area to be enlarged and displayed in the first screen in the second screen;
An enlarged display step of enlarging and displaying within the first screen a reduced image of an image file included in the list display region corresponding to the region of interest set by the setting step and an image indicating a lower folder. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to display a navigation window without damaging the entire image of the folder by displaying the image files in the folder in a simplified manner with a rectangular frame or the like, and also when resizing or redrawing the window. The navigation window can be displayed at high speed without causing the user to feel uncomfortable.

  Further, by not displaying a simple image (for example, a rectangular frame) of a folder or an image file that is smaller than a certain size or smaller than a certain level, the navigation window can be displayed at higher speed. In this case, since the number of displayed items is reduced, the user is not uncomfortable even when the navigation window is small. Furthermore, by making the display mode of the folder and the image file different, the user can simply look at the navigation window to see whether the one displayed in the rectangular frame is a folder or an image file. Can be easily determined.

  Hereinafter, an image display process using an image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a computer system that is a platform capable of realizing an image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 101 is a personal computer (PC) main body, 102 is a display for displaying data, 103 is a mouse which is a typical pointing device, and 104 is a keyboard. The PC main body 101 stores a CPU for overall control, a ROM for storing control programs executed by the CPU and various data, a RAM for temporarily storing various information during control, an image file, and the like. Hard disk etc. are included.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a storage unit such as a memory in which image files and folders for storing the image files are hierarchically stored. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 201 is in the PC main body 101 shown in FIG. 1, but may be held in another device connected via a network or the like.

  A selection unit 202 selects a folder from which the user wants to display an image file or the like from the storage unit 201. Reference numeral 203 denotes a list display control unit that displays a list of reduced images of the image files included in the folder selected by the selection unit 202 and images indicating lower folders in the first screen (main window). Reference numeral 206 denotes a simplified display control unit that displays a simplified image obtained by simplifying a list of reduced images or the like displayed in the first screen in the second screen (navigation window).

  Furthermore, reference numeral 204 denotes a setting unit for setting a region of interest including a reduced image to be enlarged and displayed in the first screen on the second screen on which reduced images and the like are displayed as a list by the simplified display control unit 206. It is. Furthermore, reference numeral 205 denotes a reduced image or the like included in an area in the list display corresponding to the attention area set by the setting unit 204 instead of the list display of the reduced image or the like displayed in the first screen. It is an enlarged display control part which expands and displays in a 1st screen.

  Furthermore, a drawing condition setting unit 207 sets display conditions for reduced images displayed in the first screen and the second screen.

  Note that the selection unit 202, list display control unit 203, setting unit 204, enlarged display control unit 205, and simplified display control unit 206 described above are realized by the PC main body 101 shown in FIG. A mouse 103, a keyboard 104, or the like is used as an interface with the user. Furthermore, reference numeral 208 denotes a display unit that displays the first screen and the second screen described above and is realized by the display 102 shown in FIG.

  In addition, when the size of the attention area set on the navigation window by the setting unit 204 is changed or the position is changed, the display mode of the reduced image displayed on the main window is updated accordingly. Will be.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example of an information tooltip when an image file and a folder in a certain folder are displayed in the preview mode (through). In FIG. 3, the user can display a rectangular frame indicating thumbnails and lower folders of image files in the folder by designating a folder in the tree view 301.

  This will be specifically described. In FIG. 3, the image file group (reduced images 1 to 4) not surrounded by the rectangular frame is an image file directly held in the folder selected by the user. In addition, the reduced images indicated by the rectangular frames A to C are frames indicating subfolders in the hierarchy one level below the selected folder. Furthermore, the image file group (reduced images A-1, A-2) in the rectangular frame A is an image file in a subfolder that is one level lower than the folder selected by the user.

  Similarly, an image file (reduced image B-1) in the rectangular frame B displays an image file in a subfolder that is one level lower than the folder selected by the user. A folder indicated by a rectangular frame D in the rectangular frame B is a subfolder that is two levels below the folder selected by the user. In the subfolder indicated by the rectangle D, there is an image file indicated by the reduced image D-1. Furthermore, in the rectangular frame C, there are subfolders indicated by rectangular frames E-1 to E-9 that are two layers below the folder selected by the user.

  FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a display process in which a folder is selected in an image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and an image for navigation is enlarged to display an image for navigation. It is a flowchart of.

  A user selects a folder (drawing target folder) to be displayed using the image display device from folders in which image files and lower folders are hierarchically stored in a memory or the like (step S101). Next, an undrawn image file or folder existing in the selected drawing target folder is searched (step S102). Then, it is determined from the search result whether an undrawn image file or folder exists (step S103).

  If it is determined that an undrawn image file or folder exists in the selected folder (Yes), it is further determined whether or not it is a folder (step S104). On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no undrawn image file or folder in the selected folder (No), this process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S104 that the drawing target is not a folder (No), it is determined that the drawing target is an image file, and then the image file is a fixed drawing condition or an arbitrary drawing condition set by the user. Is determined whether or not (step S105). Details of the image file drawing conditions will be described later.

  As a result, if it is not determined that the image file drawing conditions are met (No), the process returns to step S102 without drawing the image file, and there is another image file or subfolder in the selected folder. Search whether or not. On the other hand, if it is determined that the image file drawing conditions are met (Yes), a simplified image (eg, a rectangular frame) of the reduced image of the image file is drawn (step S106). Then, the process returns to step S102 to search whether there are other image files or subfolders in the selected folder. If the drawing conditions of the image file are not particularly indicated, the process proceeds to step S106 for all the image files, and the simplified image of the reduced image is drawn.

  If it is determined in step S104 that the drawing target is a folder (Yes), it is then determined whether the folder meets a fixed drawing condition or an arbitrary drawing condition set by the user (step S104). S107). As a result, if it is not determined that the drawing condition of the folder is met (No), the process returns to step S102 without drawing the subfolder, and whether there is another image file or subfolder in the selected folder. Search for. On the other hand, if it is determined that the drawing condition of the folder is met (Yes), a simple image (for example, a rectangular frame) of the image showing the subfolder is drawn (step S108). If the folder drawing conditions are not particularly indicated, the process proceeds to step S108 for all the folders, and a simplified image of the image indicating the folder is drawn.

  Then, the processing from step S102 to step S108 described above is performed for the subfolder drawn next (step S109). Thereafter, the process returns to step S102, and it is searched whether there are other image files and subfolders in the selected folder.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example when an attention area is enlarged and displayed when a certain attention area is set in the list display image illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 5, in FIG. 3, the attention area is enlarged and displayed in the main window (first screen) 51 in which the image files included in the folder and the reduced images of the lower folders are listed. Yes. In addition, a navigation window 52 is newly created.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of the navigation window 52 when all the lower folders and image files in the selected folder are displayed. In the above-described embodiment, as apparent from comparison with the image files and folders shown in FIG. 3, the rectangular frames related to all the image files and folders included in the folder selected by the user are displayed. Further, an enlarged image of a region of interest is displayed in the main window 51 shown in FIG. 5. In the navigation window 52, the extent of the region of interest at which position in the state of the list display in FIG. An icon indicating whether the area is occupied is displayed. In the present embodiment, the range surrounded by the four icons 61 to 64 is the attention area, but may be displayed in a rectangle or the like in addition to the icons.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the image file is not displayed as a thumbnail in the navigation window, but is displayed in a rectangular frame that can be reduced in data size. The same applies to folders, but even in the same rectangular frame, the simplified images of the two are displayed differently so that the user can easily distinguish between the folder and the image file by looking at the navigation window. Is displayed. That is, in the present embodiment, a simplified image of a reduced image of an image file is displayed in a vertically long rectangular frame, and a simplified image of an image showing a folder is displayed in a horizontally long rectangular frame.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment described above, the rectangular frame indicating all the image files included in the folder selected by the user and the rectangular frame indicating the folder are displayed in the navigation window. The rectangular folders of the lower folders and image files may not be displayed. Therefore, a simple image (rectangular frame) is not displayed for a folder and an image file whose size is smaller than that of the folder D shown in FIG. That is, in this case, the size (size) of the folder D is set as a threshold, and only the rectangular frame of the image file displayed larger than that and the rectangular frame indicating the lower folder are displayed in the navigation window.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of a navigation window when displaying lower folders and image files of a predetermined size or larger in the selected folder. Here, as an example, the size of the folder D is set as a threshold value, so that the folders E1 to E9 having a smaller size and the simplified image indicating the image file D-1 are not displayed in the navigation window.

<Third Embodiment>
In the present embodiment, a rectangular frame of a folder or an image file having a predetermined size or less is not displayed, and the size for hiding the folder is made smaller than that of the image file. That is, for the conditions described in the second embodiment, the size at which the folder is not displayed is made smaller than that of the image file.

  FIG. 8 shows a display example of a navigation window when a lower folder and an image file of a predetermined size or larger in the selected folder are displayed so that the size of non-display of the folder is made smaller than the image file. FIG. By performing this process, for example, when an image file smaller than the reduced images 1, 2, 3, and 4 is not displayed, and a folder smaller than the folder E is not displayed, FIG. The simplified images related to the reduced images A-1, A-2, B-1, and D-1 of the image file are not displayed in the navigation window.

<Fourth Embodiment>
In the present embodiment, a rectangular frame is not displayed for folders and image files below a certain level than the folder selected by the user. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of a navigation window when a simplified image is not displayed for a folder or image file that is two or more layers lower than the folder selected by the user. That is, the reduced images (rectangular frames) of the folders and image files below the folders A, B, and C shown in FIG. 3 are not displayed. Therefore, simplified images (rectangular frames) relating to the reduced images A-1, A-2, B-1, D-1 and folders D, E1 to E9 of the image file shown in FIG. 3 are displayed in the navigation window. Do not show.

<Fifth Embodiment>
In this embodiment, a rectangular frame related to a folder or an image file that is lower than a certain level of the folder selected by the user is not displayed, and the hierarchy level for hiding the folder is lower than the image file. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a window. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of a navigation window when image files that are two or more layers lower than the folder selected by the user and rectangular frames of folders that are three or more layers lower are not displayed. That is, if the image files 1, 2, 3, 4, and folders E1 to E9 shown in FIG. 3 are not displayed, the reduced images A-1, A-2, B of the image file are not displayed. -1 and D-1 are not displayed in the navigation window <Sixth Embodiment>
In the above-described embodiment, the reduced image of the image file and the simplified image of the image indicating the folder are displayed with the vertically and horizontally long rectangular frames, respectively, but either one or each may be displayed with a different colored rectangular frame. Good. Further, the frame indicating the simplified image may be other than the rectangle. Furthermore, the display form of the frame may be a broken line or the like instead of a solid line. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of a navigation window when a folder is displayed with a colorless rectangular frame and an image file is displayed with a colored rectangular frame.

<Seventh Embodiment>
In the present embodiment, a navigation window is displayed when all the simplified images in folders lower than the folder selected by the user are displayed and the rectangular frame for the image file is not displayed. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of the navigation window when only the rectangular frame for the lower folder in the folder selected by the user is displayed. That is, the simplified images of the reduced images 1, 2, 3, 4, A-1, A-2, B-1, and D-1 of the image file shown in FIG. 3 are not displayed in the navigation window.

<Eighth Embodiment>
In the present embodiment, only the folders lower than the folder selected by the user are displayed (that is, all the simplified images of the reduced image of the image file are not displayed), and the simplified images for the folder of a certain size or less are not displayed. Displays the navigation window when FIG. 13 shows a table of navigation windows when only the rectangular frames for the lower folders in the folder selected by the user are displayed and the rectangular frames for the folder having a size smaller than the folder D are hidden. It is a figure which shows an example. In this case, the reduced images 1, 2, 3, 4, A-1, A-2, B-1, and D-1 of the image file shown in FIG. The frame is not displayed in the navigation window.

<Ninth Embodiment>
In the present embodiment, only a rectangular frame of a folder lower than the folder selected by the user is displayed, and a navigation window for displaying a rectangular frame of a folder below a certain level is displayed. FIG. 14 shows only the rectangular frames for the lower folders in the folder selected by the user, and hides the rectangular frames for the folders having a size smaller than the images A, B, and C showing the folders. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the window for navigation at the time of having carried out. In this case, the rectangular frames of the reduced images 1, 2, 3, 4, A-1, A-2, B-1, D-1 and the images D, E1 to E9 indicating the folders in FIG. It is not displayed in the window.

<Other embodiments>
Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, the present invention can take embodiments as, for example, a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, or a storage medium (recording medium). The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a single device or an apparatus composed of a single device.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in the figure) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is directly or remotely supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus Is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  As a recording medium (storage medium) for supplying the program, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, non-volatile Memory cards, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R), and the like.

  As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to an Internet homepage, and the computer program of the present invention itself or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the computer system which is a platform which can implement | achieve the image display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of the information tool tip at the time of displaying the image file and folder in a certain folder by the preview mode (through). 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a display process in which a folder is selected in the image display apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and an image for navigation is enlarged to display an image for navigation. . FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen display example when an attention area is enlarged and displayed when a certain attention area is set in the list display image shown in FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the window 52 for navigation at the time of making it display about all the low-order folders and image files in the selected folder. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the window for navigation at the time of making it display about the subfolder and image file more than predetermined size in the selected folder. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the window for navigation in the case of displaying the lower folder and image file more than predetermined size in the selected folder, and displaying so that the size which does not display a folder may be smaller than an image file. . It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the window for navigation in the case of not displaying the simple image of the folder and image file of two or more layers lower than the folder which the user selected. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the window for a navigation at the time of not displaying the rectangular frame of the folder of the 2nd or more hierarchy and the folder of the 3rd or more hierarchy lower than the folder which the user selected. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the window for navigation when a folder is displayed with a colorless rectangular frame inside, and an image file is displayed with a colored rectangular frame inside. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the window for navigation at the time of displaying only the rectangular frame about the subordinate folder in the folder which the user selected. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the window for navigation at the time of displaying only the rectangular frame about the low-order folder in the folder which the user selected, and hiding the folder smaller than the folder D in size. Navigation in the case where only the rectangular frame for the lower folder in the folder selected by the user is displayed and the rectangular frame indicating the folder having a size smaller than the images A, B, and C indicating the folder is hidden. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the image management screen by the conventional image management apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 201 Memory | storage part 202 Selection part 203 List display control part 204 Setting part 205 Enlarged display control part 206 Simplified display control part 207 Drawing condition setting part 208 Display part

Claims (15)

A selection means for selecting a predetermined folder from a storage device in which image files and folders for storing the image files are hierarchically stored;
List display means for displaying a list of reduced images of image files and images indicating lower folders included in the folder selected by the selection means while maintaining a hierarchical structure in the first screen;
Simplified display means for displaying a reduced image of an image file displayed in a list in the first screen and an image indicating a lower folder in a simplified manner in the second screen using a simplified image;
Setting means for setting a region of interest in the list display to be enlarged and displayed in the first screen in the second screen;
An enlarged display means for enlarging and displaying within the first screen a reduced image of an image file included in the list display area corresponding to the attention area set by the setting means and an image showing a lower folder. An image display device characterized by that.   2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the simplified display unit displays a reduced image of the image file displayed in the second screen and a simplified image of an image indicating a lower folder in a rectangular frame. .   3. The image display according to claim 1, wherein the simplified display unit displays only a reduced image of an image file having a predetermined size or larger and a simplified image of an image indicating a lower folder in the second screen. apparatus.   The size at which the simplified image of the image indicating the lower folder is hidden in the second screen by the simplified display means is smaller than the size at which the simplified image of the reduced image of the image file is hidden. The image display device according to claim 3.   The simplified display means displays only an image showing a lower folder existing in a hierarchy from a folder selected by the selection means to a predetermined hierarchy and a simplified image of a reduced image of the image file. 5. The image display device according to any one of up to 4.   The hierarchy in which the simplified image of the reduced image in the lower folder is hidden in the second screen by the simplified display means is lower than the hierarchy in which the simplified image of the reduced image in the image file is hidden. The image display device according to claim 5.   The simplified display means displays a simplified image of an image showing a lower folder displayed in the second screen and a simplified image of a reduced image of an image file in different display modes. 7. The image display device according to any one of items 6 to 6. A selection means for selecting a predetermined folder from a storage device in which image files and folders for storing the image files are hierarchically stored;
List display means for displaying a list of reduced images of image files and images indicating lower folders included in the folder selected by the selection means while maintaining a hierarchical structure in the first screen;
Simplified display means for simplifying and displaying only an image showing a lower folder displayed in the first screen in the second screen using a simplified image;
Setting means for setting an attention area to be enlarged and displayed in the first screen in the second screen;
An enlarged display means for enlarging and displaying within the first screen a reduced image of an image file included in the list display area corresponding to the attention area set by the setting means and an image showing a lower folder. An image display device characterized by that.   9. The image display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the simplified display unit displays a simplified image of an image indicating a lower folder displayed in the second screen with only a rectangular frame.   10. The image display device according to claim 8, wherein the simplified display unit displays only a simplified image of an image indicating a lower folder of a predetermined size or more in the second screen.   11. The simplified display unit displays only a simplified image of an image showing a lower folder existing in a hierarchy from a folder selected by the selection unit to a predetermined hierarchy. The image display device according to item. A selection step of selecting a predetermined folder from a storage device in which image files and folders for storing the image files are hierarchically stored;
A list display step of displaying a list of reduced images of image files and images indicating lower folders included in the folder selected by the selection step while maintaining a hierarchical structure in the first screen;
A simplified display step of displaying a reduced image of the image file displayed in a list in the first screen and an image indicating a lower folder in a simplified manner in the second screen using a simplified image;
A setting step for setting a region of interest in a list display to be enlarged and displayed in the first screen in the second screen;
An enlarged display step of enlarging and displaying within the first screen a reduced image of an image file included in the list display region corresponding to the region of interest set by the setting step and an image indicating a lower folder. An image display method characterized by the above. A selection step of selecting a predetermined folder from a storage device in which image files and folders for storing the image files are hierarchically stored;
A list display step of displaying a list of reduced images of image files and images indicating lower folders included in the folder selected by the selection step while maintaining a hierarchical structure in the first screen;
A simplified display step of displaying only the image showing the lower folder displayed in the first screen in a simplified manner in the second screen using the simplified image;
A setting step for setting an attention area to be enlarged and displayed in the first screen in the second screen;
An enlarged display step of enlarging and displaying within the first screen a reduced image of an image file included in the list display region corresponding to the region of interest set by the setting step and an image indicating a lower folder. An image display method characterized by the above.   A program for causing a computer to execute the image display method according to claim 12 or 13.   A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 14.

Images