JP2007088959A - Image output apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely enhance a section under consideration such as a person regardless of where the person or the like is located in an image when working and outputting an image. <P>SOLUTION: When displaying and outputting an image (output object image) such as a camera photographic image or a television broadcast reception image to a main display unit 9, a CPU 1 specifies a portion of the output object image as a target region, and operates image working processing for enhancing a region to the target region for displaying and outputting the image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output apparatus and a program for performing image processing on a camera photographed image, a television broadcast received image, and the like and outputting the processed image.

In general, in a personal computer that outputs an image to be output such as a camera-captured image with arbitrary image processing, the saturation, brightness, etc. can be changed or the part can be enlarged to highlight a part of the image. Or it is trying to reduce. At that time, the processing range and processing type are arbitrarily specified by user operation. However, each time a part of the image is processed, user operation is required, which places a heavy burden on the user and specifies the range accurately. It was difficult to do. In this case, conventionally, as a technique capable of processing a part of an image without specifying a processing range by a user operation, a technique for enlarging the peripheral part except the central part of the image is available. It is known (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-80472 A

 By the way, in general, when shooting a subject such as a person, the camera is oriented so that the subject comes to the center of the viewfinder screen. Is enlarged, and the subject portion at the center of the image is excluded from the enlargement target.

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably emphasize a portion of interest such as a person regardless of where the person or the like is located in the image when the image is processed and output.

The invention described in claim 1 is an image output device that performs image processing on an output target image and outputs the processed image, a specifying unit that specifies a part of the output target image as a target portion, and a specifying unit by the specifying unit The image processing apparatus includes a processing unit that performs image processing for emphasizing the portion of interest that has been performed, and an output unit that outputs an image processed by the processing unit.
Furthermore, a program for realizing the main functions shown in the invention described in claim 1 is provided to the computer (the invention described in claim 9).
Note that the output target image is not limited to a camera-captured image, and may be, for example, a television broadcast reception image, and the type of image is not limited.

The invention described in claim 1 described above may be as follows.
The specifying unit recognizes a specific object included in the output target image as an attention portion by analyzing the output target image (the invention according to claim 2).

  The specifying unit recognizes a target portion based on the change state by analyzing the output target image (the invention according to claim 3).

  The specifying unit specifies a subject portion focused at the time of camera shooting from an output target image as a shot image as an attention portion.

  The specifying unit specifies a target portion in the image based on additional information added to the output target image (the invention according to claim 5).

  The image processing process is an image enlargement process or an image reduction process, and the processing means sequentially enlarges or reduces the target portion step by step in accordance with the passage of time or a user operation.

  The image processing process is an image enlargement process or an image reduction process, and the processing means enlarges or reduces the target part and its peripheral part when the target part and its peripheral part are enlarged or reduced. The enlargement process or the reduction process is executed at a different rate (the invention according to claim 7).

  The processing means processes the target portion by at least any one of image enlargement processing, reduction processing, color change processing, and highlight processing processing on the target portion (the invention according to claim 8).

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since a part of the output target image is specified as the target part and the image processing process for emphasizing the target part is performed on the target part, the person is output. Regardless of where in the image, etc., the attention part such as a person can be surely emphasized, and the visibility of the attention part can be improved.

 According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to having the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1, the specific object included in the output target image is recognized as the attention part by analyzing the output target image. Therefore, a specific object, for example, a person, a building, or a car can be recognized as an attention part by image analysis. In this case, the recognition method is arbitrary, such as pattern recognition of the entire shape or analysis and recognition of features such as the positional relationship and shape of each component. Further, a part or the whole of a specific object, for example, a person's face part or the whole person may be set as the attention part.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to having the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 described above, the attention portion is recognized based on the change state by analyzing the output target image. For example, the target portion can be image-recognized based on the magnitude of changes such as contrast, saturation, and brightness.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to having the same effect as the invention described in claim 1, the subject portion focused at the time of camera shooting is specified as the target portion from the output target image as the shot image. As a result, it is possible to specify the portion in focus that is the best in focus as the subject portion (target portion). In this case, an image may be recognized as a subject portion where the focus is best achieved by image analysis.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to having the same effect as the first aspect of the invention described above, the attention portion is specified based on the additional information added to the output target image. Information indicating the “focus position” may be acquired from the attribute information added to the image, and the subject portion may be specified as the attention portion. Further, the attention portion may be specified by referring to various types of information added to the digital television broadcast reception image.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, in addition to having the same effect as the invention described in claim 1 described above, the attention portion is sequentially enlarged or reduced step by step according to the passage of time or user operation. Attention can be directed to the image portion while gradually zooming up or down the attention portion. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a feeling that the attention part gradually jumps out or is sucked in, and an emphasis output that is rich in dynamic change and has a high alerting power is possible.

  According to the invention described in claim 7, in addition to having the same effect as the invention described in claim 1 described above, when the attention part and its peripheral part are enlarged or reduced, the attention part and its peripheral part are Since the enlargement process or the reduction process is executed by changing the enlargement ratio or the reduction ratio, it is possible to perform an emphasized output with a high alerting power rich in relative changes.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, in addition to having the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 described above, at least of the image enlargement process, the reduction process, the color change process, and the highlight process for the target portion. Since the target part is processed by any of the processing processes, in addition to enlargement / reduction of the target part, color change processing (hue change processing, saturation change processing, brightness change processing), highlight processing processing (contrast enhancement) Etc.) can be applied.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This embodiment exemplifies a case where the present invention is applied to a mobile phone device as an image output device. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing basic components of the mobile phone device.
This mobile phone device is a foldable one in which two cases (upper case and lower case) are attached so as to be openable and closable, driven by a secondary battery as a main power source, and has a call function, e-mail function, Internet In addition to the connection function, etc., a TV function that receives and outputs TV broadcast radio waves, a recording function that sequentially records TV broadcasts received by this TV function, and playback and output of the content recorded by this recording function, It has a playback function that reads out and plays back various supplied images.

  The CPU 1 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the mobile phone device according to various programs in the storage unit 2. The storage unit 2 is a non-volatile memory (internal memory), and is configured by, for example, a flash memory, and has a program area and a data area. In the program area, operations shown in FIGS. A program for realizing the present embodiment is stored according to the procedure. The recording medium 3 is a detachable portable memory that supplies photographed image data, various types of data, and programs to the outside. The recording medium 3 includes, for example, smart media and an IC card. The memory 4 is an internal memory having a work area, and is composed of, for example, a DRAM (Direct Random Access Memory), an SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), or the like.

  The telephone communication unit 5 takes in a signal from the reception side of the transmission / reception duplexer connected to the antenna 6 and demodulates it into a reception baseband signal, and then outputs audio data from the audio speaker 7. In addition, the telephone communication unit 5 encodes the audio data input from the audio microphone 8 into a transmission baseband signal, and then provides the transmission baseband signal to the transmission side of the transmission / reception duplexer to transmit and output from the antenna 6. On the other hand, display data such as an image received via the telephone communication unit 5 by the e-mail function or the Internet connection is given to a main display unit 9 constituted by an LCD (liquid crystal display), and is displayed and output. The main display unit 9 has a display screen having a 400 + 240 dot configuration, for example, and displays character information, a television broadcast reception image, a camera image, various messages, and the like with high quality. In addition to the main display unit 9, a sub display unit 10 is provided on the back of the apparatus main body, and displays the current date and time, simple messages, icons, and the like.

  The TV receiver 11 includes a TV antenna 12 and receives terrestrial digital TV broadcasts for mobile receivers such as mobile phones. In addition to TV video and audio information, an electronic program guide (EPG) is also included. It can be received. The television receiver 11 includes a dedicated CPU, a receiver connected to the TV antenna 12, an amplification / separation unit that separates and separates the received television broadcast into a video signal and an audio signal, a decoding unit that decompresses the compressed data, and the like. The TV video signal output from the TV receiver 11 is output from the main display unit 9, and the TV audio signal is output from the built-in speaker 13 or the earphone 14.

  The key operation unit 15 is provided with various push button type keys, and performs dial input, character input, command input, etc. In addition to a TV ON / OFF key and a channel switching key for TV functions, it records TV broadcasts. (Including recording) recording start key, playback key for playback of recorded content, pause key for pause playback, fast-forward key for fast-forward playback, and processing the image during image display It has a function selection key for selecting a special output function to be displayed. The CPU 1 executes processing according to a key input signal from the key operation unit 15. The notification unit 16 includes an LED (light emitting diode) and a vibration motor including the built-in speaker 13 described above. The notification unit 16 notifies the incoming call when a call / mail is received, and is also driven when a warning alarm is given.

  The camera imaging unit 17 can shoot moving images in addition to still images, and includes a photographing lens, a lens / mirror block such as a mirror, an image sensor such as a CCD image sensor, its drive system, a distance measuring sensor, a light quantity A sensor, an analog processing circuit, a signal processing circuit, a compression / decompression circuit, and the like are provided to adjust and control the optical zoom, and to control drive control during autofocus, shutter drive control, exposure, white balance, and the like. The captured image captured by the camera imaging unit 17 is stored and saved in the storage unit 2 and the recording medium 3. In this case, the main display unit 9 functions as a photographing monitor screen (finder screen) for displaying a monitor image, a reproduction screen for reproducing and outputting the photographed image stored and stored in the storage unit 2 and the recording medium 3.

FIG. 2 shows a special output function for performing a predetermined process on an image (image to be output) such as a camera-captured image or a television broadcast received image (output target image) on the main display unit 9 and displaying it. FIG. 6 is a diagram exemplifying images before and after the execution of this image processing process when selected by (1). In the drawing, the left side shows an image before execution of the processing process, and the right side shows an image after execution of the processing process.
Here, before performing image processing, the CPU 1 determines whether or not a specific object to be noticed, for example, a person, a building, a car, or an object (such as a character or a graphic) is included in the output target image. When a specific object is included, the center position of the portion (target part) in which the specific object is reflected is specified as the target position.

 In this case, when the output target image is a captured image, a portion in focus (for example, a human face portion) based on focus information (focus position information) added to the captured image is determined as the target position. However, if the focus information is not added to the captured image, or if it is a TV broadcast received image, etc., image recognition is performed while analyzing this image, and the specific object is included in the image. Whether or not there is is determined. The specific object recognition algorithm is performed by using a well-known technique. However, the entire shape may be recognized by pattern recognition, or by analyzing features such as the positional relationship and shape of each component. Changes such as contrast, saturation, and brightness may be detected by image analysis, and a specific object may be recognized based on the magnitude of the change, and the method of recognition is arbitrary (the same applies hereinafter). Based on the target position specified in this way, the CPU 1 specifies an area including the specific object as the target area.

 FIG. 2A illustrates a sequential enlargement process in which the target portion is sequentially enlarged and displayed for output according to the passage of time or a user operation as the image processing process. In the figure, a frame surrounded by a dotted line indicates a cutout frame for cutting out a part of the output target image, and the image in the cutout frame is an enlargement target. The in-frame image is enlarged to the original image size. In this case, every time a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) elapses, the enlargement process is automatically executed, and the enlargement process is executed in response to a user operation.

  In FIG. 2B, in addition to enlarging the target area, the area including the peripheral area other than the target area is also enlarged. At that time, the enlargement ratio is sequentially changed exponentially as the distance from the target area increases. It is the figure which showed the peripheral part ratio change expansion process made. In this case, the CPU 1 divides the image to be output into an N × M matrix (a grid pattern), and targets the entire area including a specific object (person) based on the target position in each grid area. After the area is specified, all other areas except the target area are specified as the peripheral area. In addition, when substantially the entire output target image corresponds to the target area, for example, when a person in the upper body is enlarged in the entire image, a part of this person image (a person's face) is set as the target area. Other portions may be used as the peripheral region.

  When the peripheral part other than the target area is enlarged together with the person part (target area), the peripheral part is enlarged so that the enlargement ratio of the peripheral area becomes smaller than the enlargement ratio of the target area. Yes. At that time, the magnification is changed so as to decrease exponentially as the distance from the target region increases. In the figure, the arrow mark indicates enlargement with an upward arrow, and the thickness of the arrow indicates the size of the enlargement ratio. Also in this case, as described above, a sequential enlargement process is performed in which the target region is sequentially enlarged and displayed for output in accordance with the passage of time or user operation.

 FIG. 2C illustrates a case where color change processing (brightness change processing) is exemplified as the image processing processing, and emphasis processing is performed so that the brightness of the person portion included in the image becomes brighter than the surrounding portion. Is applied. In addition to color change processing (hue change processing, saturation change processing, brightness change processing), image processing can be specified arbitrarily with highlight processing (various processing such as contrast enhancement processing). It has become.

  Next, the operation concept of the mobile phone device in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, each function described in these flowcharts is stored in the form of a readable program code, and operations according to the program code are sequentially executed. In addition, the operation according to the above-described program code transmitted via the transmission medium can be sequentially executed. In other words, in addition to the recording medium, an operation peculiar to this embodiment can be executed by using a program / data supplied externally via a transmission medium.

3 to 5 are flowcharts showing operations started when a special output function for performing predetermined processing on an image such as a camera-captured image or a television broadcast reception image is displayed by a user operation. .
First, after acquiring one image such as a camera photographed image or a television broadcast received image as an output target image (source image) (step A1), the CPU 1 determines an image processing type selected and designated by a user operation (step A1). Step A2).

 This image processing type is selected and designated by a user operation before the above-described special output function is activated. In this embodiment, “image enlargement / reduction”, “color change”, “highlight processing”. An arbitrary processing type is selected and specified in. In this case, “image enlargement / reduction” includes “sequential enlargement” shown in FIG. 2A, “peripheral ratio change enlargement” shown in FIG. 2B, and “sequential reduction” similar to this. And “ratio change reduction”. “Color change” includes “hue change”, “saturation change”, and “brightness change”, and “highlight processing” includes “contrast enhancement”. If “image enlargement / reduction” is selected as the image processing type (YES in step A3), the center position of the face portion of the person included in the source image is specified as the target position. The process proceeds to the target position specifying process (step A4).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the target position specifying process in detail.
First, when the output target image is a captured image, the CPU 1 checks whether or not focus information (focus position information) is added to the captured image (step B1). If the focus information is added, A focused part (subject part) is specified as a target position based on the focal position in the image (step B2). If focus information is not added (NO in step B1), it is recognized whether or not a human face portion is included by analyzing the output target image (step B3), and the face portion is included. If so (YES in step B4), the top two face parts are specified from among them, and the center positions thereof are specified as target positions (step B5). When there is one person, one face part is specified as the target position.

 If the face portion of the person is not included (NO in step B4), whether or not the character portion is included in the image is recognized by image analysis (step B6), and the character portion is included. If so, the character portion is specified as the target position (step B7). In this case, if it is a character string, the whole area | region is specified as a target position. In addition to recognizing human face portions and character portions, other image recognition processing (step B8) recognizes whether or not a specific object such as a predetermined car or building is included. Then, the position (center point) of this specific object is specified as the target position. If the output target image is a television broadcast reception image with subtitles, the overwriting position of the character portion added to the reception image may be specified as the target position.

 When such a target position specifying process is completed, the CPU 1 checks whether or not the target position has been specified with reference to the processing result (step A5 in FIG. 4). Here, when a specific object is not included in the source image, that is, when the target position cannot be specified (NO in step A5), the entire source image is changed to a uniform size (step A6). . That is, normal processing for changing the entire image to a specified size is performed. If a specific object is included in the source image (when the target position can be specified) (YES in step A5), “sequential enlargement” is selected as “image enlargement / reduction”. A check is made (step A7).

 If “sequential enlargement” of “image enlargement / reduction” is selected as the image processing type (YES in step A7), a cutout frame for cutting out a part of the output target image is generated (step A8). ). As shown in FIG. 2A, the cutout frame has a size that is one size smaller than the output target image, for example, 3/4, and the CPU 1 sets the cutout frame to the target position on the source image. Are placed on the basis of the image, and the image within the frame is cut out (step A9). Then, the CPU 1 enlarges the clipped image so that the clipped image becomes the original image size (source image size) (step A10), and switches and displays the magnified image instead of the source image (step A11). .

 Then, after clearing the time counting operation of the 2-second timer (step A12), check whether the time is up (step A13), and if 2 seconds have elapsed, check whether an enlargement instruction by a user operation has been received (Step A14). If there is no enlargement instruction, it is checked whether an end instruction is received from the user (step A15). If there is no end instruction, the process returns to step A13. Here, if 2 seconds have passed since the enlarged image was displayed (YES in step A13) or if an enlargement instruction was received from the user (YES in step A14), the process returns to step A8 described above and is currently displayed. A cut-out frame for cutting out a part of the generated image is generated, the image is cut out from the generated frame (step A9), and enlarged and displayed at the source image size (steps A10 and A11). Thereafter, the above-described operation is repeated every time a time-up or enlargement instruction is received. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2A, the face portion of the person is gradually zoomed up with reference to the target position.

 On the other hand, when “ratio change enlargement” of “image enlargement / reduction” is selected as the image processing type (YES in step A16 in FIG. 4), the image to be output is arranged in an N × M matrix form in the vertical and horizontal directions. In addition to being divided into (a grid shape) (step A17), a grid area (rectangular area) including a specific object is specified as a target area among the grid areas (step A18). In the example of FIG. 2B, all areas where the upper body of a person is shown are specified as target areas. Then, after enlarging the image in the target area by one step (for example, enlarging to 1.2 times) (step A19), the lateral direction of the peripheral area other than the target area is sequentially enlarged while changing the enlargement ratio (step A20). . That is, an enlargement process is performed so that the enlargement ratio sequentially decreases exponentially as the area is farther from the target area.

 Next, the vertical direction of the peripheral area other than the target area is enlarged while sequentially changing the enlargement ratio. Even in this case, enlargement processing is performed so that the enlargement ratio sequentially decreases exponentially as the distance from the target area increases. (Step A21). The image obtained by enlarging the target area and the surrounding area in this way is converted into the source image size and displayed and output (step A22). Then, as in the case described above, after starting the time counting operation of the 2-second timer (step A23), it is checked whether the time is up (step A24). It is checked whether an instruction has been received (step A25). If there is no enlargement instruction, it is checked whether an end instruction is received from the user (step A26), and the process returns to step A24 until the end instruction is received.

 Here, when 2 seconds have elapsed since the enlarged image was displayed (YES in step A24) or when an enlargement instruction is received from the user (YES in step A25), the process returns to the above-described step A19, and within the target area. After the image is enlarged by one step, the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the peripheral area other than the target area are enlarged and displayed sequentially while changing the enlargement ratio (steps A20 to A22). Thereafter, the above-described operation is repeated every time a time-up or enlargement instruction is received. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2B, the face portion of the person is gradually zoomed up with reference to the target position.

 If “enlargement / reduction” other than “sequential enlargement” and “ratio change enlargement” described above is selected (NO in step A16), the process proceeds to other enlargement / reduction processing (step A27). If “sequential reduction” is selected, the entire image is reduced by one step, and the entire image is sequentially reduced step by step as time passes or by a user operation. If “ratio change reduction” is selected, the target area is reduced by one step, and then the process of reducing the vertical direction of the peripheral area other than the target area while sequentially changing the reduction ratio is performed over time or by the user. Repeat every time an operation is performed. In addition, processing for enlarging or reducing the entire image to a specified size is performed.

 On the other hand, when color change processing or highlight processing other than “enlarge / reduce” is selected as the image processing type (NO in step A3 in FIG. 3), the flow proceeds to FIG. 5 and the selected image processing is performed. It is checked whether the seed is “lightness change” (step A28). If it is “lightness change”, the process proceeds to the execution of the process for specifying the target position as described above (step A29). Then, the CPU 1 checks whether or not the target position can be specified with reference to the processing result (step A30), and if the target position cannot be specified, the brightness change process is performed on the entire source image. (Step A33).

 If the target position can be specified (YES in step A30), the output target image is divided into a matrix shape (a grid shape) and specified with respect to the target position in each grid area. A cell area (rectangular area) including an object (for example, a human face) is specified as a target area (step A31). Then, a brightness change process is performed on the target area (step A32). In this case, for example, an emphasis process is performed so that the brightness of the target area becomes brighter than the surrounding area. In addition, when “saturation change”, “hue change”, “contrast change” or the like is selected, after specifying the target area from the target position, the saturation is applied to the target area as described above. A degree change process, a hue change process, a contrast change process, and the like are executed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the CPU 1 causes the main display unit 9 to display and output an image (an output target image) such as a camera-captured image or a television broadcast reception image, a part of the output target image is used as a target region. In addition to specifying the target area, the target area is subjected to an image processing process for emphasizing the area so that the target area is output. Therefore, regardless of where the person is located in the image, the target such as the person is selected. It is possible to surely emphasize the target, and it becomes possible to improve the visibility of the target.

 In this case, since the CPU 1 recognizes a specific object included in the output target image by analyzing the output target image, the specific object, for example, a person, a building, a car, an object (character, graphic) is analyzed by the image analysis. Etc.) can be recognized as targets. Further, since the specific object is recognized based on the change state by analyzing the output target image, for example, the specific object is image-recognized based on the magnitude of change such as contrast, saturation, and brightness. be able to.

Since the CPU 1 obtains information indicating the “focus position” from the attribute information added to the photographed image and specifies the subject portion, the subject portion focused (at the best focus) during camera photography. Can be specified as a target.
Also, since the character part included in the output target image is specified as the target, for example, when taking a bus timetable instead of a memo, characters are included in this captured image. Can be specified as a target.

  In addition, since the CPU 1 sequentially enlarges or reduces the target stepwise in accordance with the passage of time or user operation, the CPU 1 can focus attention on the image portion while gradually zooming up or down the target. . Therefore, it is possible to obtain a feeling that the target gradually jumps out or is sucked in, and an emphasis output that is rich in dynamic change and has a high alerting power is possible.

  The CPU 1 executes the enlargement process or the reduction process while changing the enlargement ratio or the reduction ratio between the target and the peripheral part when the target and the peripheral part are enlarged or reduced. It is possible to produce a highly emphasized output with high alerting power. In this case, when enlarging or reducing the peripheral portion, the enlargement process for gradually changing the enlargement rate as the distance from the target is increased, or the reduction process for gradually changing the reduction rate as the distance from the target is performed. The distance from the target can be gradually increased or the distance from the target can be gradually decreased. This allows for a perspective effect centered on the target and makes the target stand out. It is also possible to add a sensory highlight effect.

  Since the CPU 1 processes the target by at least any one of the image enlargement process, the reduction process, the color change process, and the highlight process for the target, in addition to the enlargement / reduction of the target, the color Changing processing (hue changing processing, saturation changing processing, brightness changing processing) and highlight processing (various processing processing such as contrast enhancement) can be performed.

 In the above-described embodiment, when a character portion included in an output target image is specified as a target, the character portion is specified by image recognition. Target identification may be performed by referring to various types of information added to the received image.

When a plurality of target areas are specified in one image, the sizes of the plurality of target areas may be compared to narrow down only to the largest target area. That is, one target may be specified from a plurality of targets, and the other targets may be invalidated. A plurality of targets may be effective.
In the above-described embodiment, information indicating the “focus position” is acquired from the attribute information added to the photographed image and the target is specified. May be specified.

 In the above-described embodiment, the case where the output target image is divided into N × M matrix (a grid shape) in the vertical and horizontal directions is illustrated. However, the output target image is divided into N pieces in the vertical direction to obtain N pieces. The image may be divided into horizontal frame regions, or the image may be divided into N vertical frame regions by dividing the image into N equal parts. In this case, it is only necessary to specify one or more horizontal frame region areas or vertical frame areas that include a specific object with reference to the target position as the target area.

 In the above-described embodiment, when enlarging / reducing the peripheral area other than the target area, the enlargement process is executed so that the enlargement rate gradually decreases as the distance from the target area increases, or gradually as the distance from the target area increases. Although the reduction process is executed so that the reduction ratio becomes smaller, conversely, the enlargement process is executed so that the enlargement ratio gradually increases as the distance from the target area increases, or gradually as the distance from the target area increases. The reduction process may be executed so that the reduction ratio increases.

In addition, although the case where an image is displayed has been described in the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited to image display, and can be similarly applied to a case where an image is printed out or transmitted via a network.
Further, the present invention is not limited to a mobile phone device, and can be applied to a mobile terminal device such as a PDA, an electronic camera, an electronic wristwatch, a portable music player, a portable video recorder, and the like. Alternatively, it may be a stationary image output device (a personal computer, a television receiver, a video recorder, etc.).

The block diagram which showed the basic component of the mobile telephone apparatus applied as an image output apparatus. (A) is a diagram showing a sequential enlargement process in which a target is enlarged in stages step by step according to the passage of time or user operation as an image processing process, (B) The figure which showed the ratio change expansion process which changes the expansion rate sequentially exponentially so that it leaves | separates from a target when enlarging also including peripheral parts other than this target area, (C) is a color change as an image processing process The figure which showed the case where a process (brightness change process) was selected. The flowchart which showed the operation | movement started when the special output function which performs a predetermined process and displays on images, such as a camera picked-up image or a television broadcast reception image, is selected by user operation. The flowchart following FIG. The flowchart following FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the target position specifying process of FIGS. 3 and 5 in detail.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 Storage unit 3 Recording medium 5 Telephone communication unit 9 Main display unit 11 TV reception unit 15 Key operation unit 17 Camera imaging unit

Claims (9)

An image output apparatus that performs image processing on an output target image and outputs the image,
A specifying means for specifying a part of the output target image as a target part;
Processing means for performing image processing for emphasizing the part of interest specified by the specifying means;
Output means for outputting an image processed by the processing means;
An image output apparatus comprising: The specifying unit recognizes a specific object included in the output target image as an attention part by analyzing the output target image.
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. The specifying means recognizes a target portion based on the change state by analyzing the output target image,
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. The specifying unit specifies a subject portion focused at the time of camera shooting from an output target image as a shot image as a target portion.
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. The specifying unit specifies a target portion in the image based on additional information added to the output target image;
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. The image processing process is an image enlargement process or an image reduction process, and the processing means sequentially enlarges or reduces the target portion step by step according to the passage of time or a user operation.
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. The image processing process is an image enlargement process or an image reduction process, and the processing means enlarges or reduces the target part and its peripheral part when the target part and its peripheral part are enlarged or reduced. Execute enlargement or reduction at different rates
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. The processing means processes the target portion by at least any one of the image enlargement processing, the reduction processing, the color change processing, and the highlight processing processing on the target portion.
2. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the image output device is configured as described above. Against the computer,
A function for identifying a part of an output target image as a target part,
A function of performing image processing for emphasizing the part of interest identified by the identifying unit;
A function to output the processed image;
A program to realize

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