JPH04299774A - System for storing and retrieving image data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use the system for storing and retrieving image data read by an image scanner. CONSTITUTION:At the image data storing and retrieving system to store the image data read by an image scanner 11 in an outside storage medium 51 and to retrieve the desired data, the format of the data in the outside storage medium 51 is composed of an image data part corresponding to the image data and a status data part showing the class and attribute or the like of the relevant image data and based on the information of the status data part, the image data are retrieved from the outside storage medium 51. Since the status data are stored while being linked with the image data, the image data can be retrieved based on the status data. Further, the status data linked to the image data can be read out as well.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for storing and retrieving image data, and more particularly, it is used for storing and retrieving image data read by an image scanner.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image data processing devices called image scanner devices have been known. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of such an image scanner. As shown in the figure, the image scanner includes a main body 11, an upper plate 22 provided on the upper surface of the main body 11, and a lid body hinged to the upper plate 22 (not shown) and configured to be openable and closable. 23, and an original 3 to be read is set between the transparent plate 21 and the lid 23. A slit-shaped opening (a slit in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 4) is provided in the upper part of the outer case of the main body 11, and a condenser lens array 12 is provided here, and a lamp 13 is provided to sandwich this. It is being Therefore, the original 3 illuminated by the light from the lamp 13
The reflected light is received by the condensing lens array 12, and guided to the CCD 14, which is a photodetector, via the reflecting mirror M1, the relay lens L, and the reflecting mirror M2.

[0003] In the above image scanner, the original 3
The image is captured by moving the upper plate 22 and the lid body 23 as shown by arrows and dotted lines in FIG. 4, and is outputted from the CCD 14 as image data obtained by image scanning.

The image data of the original 3 obtained as described above, that is, the output signal of the CCD 14, is subjected to predetermined processing and stored in an external storage medium such as a floppy disk. It is then stored for a certain period of time and then retrieved.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when the types and amounts of captured image data increase, it is not easy to search for them later. In addition, for the imported image data,
Although data is often recorded and saved after being subjected to processing such as binarization or gamma correction, it is difficult to identify what kind of processing has been performed when searching for it later.

[0006]The present invention therefore provides a method for storing and storing image data on an external storage medium that allows easy searching of image data recorded and stored in the external storage medium, and also allows easy identification of processing contents that have already been carried out. The purpose is to provide a search method.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides an image data storage and retrieval method in which image data read by an image scanner is stored in an external storage medium and desired data is retrieved. The format is composed of an image data section corresponding to image data and a status data section indicating the type, attribute, etc. of the image data, and the image data is searched from an external storage medium based on the information in the status data section. do.

[0008]

According to the present invention, since the status data is stored in linkage with the image data, it is possible to search for the image data using the status data as a clue. Also,
Status data linked to the image data may also be read.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the conceptual overall configuration of a system to which a storage and retrieval method according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. As shown in the figure, this system includes an image scanner device, a personal computer 41 connected thereto, a floppy disk device 51 as an external storage device, and a CRT display device 6 connected thereto. The image scanner device is driven by a CPU 71 including a control section 72 and a calculation section 73, a monitor 15 connected thereto, a drive driver 16, and an output of the drive driver 16 to slide the top plate 22 and the lid 23. It has a drive mechanism 17 for moving. The personal computer 41 has a keyboard 42 and a mouse (not shown) as input devices, a display 43 such as an LCD, and a floppy disk device 51.
is configured such that a floppy disk 52 as an external storage medium can be loaded therein.

Next, the capture of image data by the above system will be explained. The output of the CCD 14, that is, the image data, is given to the CPU 71, and is subjected to predetermined processing according to the condition settings in the image scanner device or the processing settings from the keyboard 42, thereby forming data to be stored. FIG. 2 shows the data format in this case, which consists of an image data section and a status data section. As shown in Figure 2, the status data section contains the name of the image data, the date of import (processing), whether it is color or monochrome, whether it has been binarized or shaded, and the size and size of the image. This includes the magnification ratio, presence or absence of gamma correction, resolution (high precision or normal), etc. In this way, the image data section and the corresponding status data section are linked and stored on the floppy disk 52 loaded into the floppy disk device 51.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing this import and storage processing. First, a status data table is created in the personal computer 41 by operating the keyboard 42 (step 301), and is sent to the floppy disk device 51 and stored on the floppy disk 51.
(step 302). Next, the image data is sent to the floppy disk device 51, linked with the above status data, and stored as information on the floppy disk 52 in the format shown in FIG.

The data stored as described above is saved on the floppy disk 52 and is available for later retrieval. When searching, first use the stored floppy disk 5.
2 is loaded into the floppy disk device 51, and the status data table is read from the floppy disk 52 to the personal computer 41 as shown in FIG. 4 (step 401). This status data table is displayed on the display 43 of the personal computer 41 or the CRT display device 6 (step 40).
2) Based on this, the operator selects desired image data using the keyboard 42 (step 403). Since the operator makes selections while looking at the status data table, easy and quick operation is possible. Next, desired parameters are set in the image processing routine by operating the keyboard 42 (step 404). Parameters to be set include emphasis on image edges and contrast. After the parameters are set, the image data is read from the floppy disk 52 to the personal computer 41 (step 405).
, image processing is performed according to the parameters (step 406
), the results are displayed on the CRT display device 6 (step 407). In this case, the results may be output using a printer (not shown). Note that the gamma correction of image data performed during the import and storage processing shown in FIG. 5 may be performed as post-search processing, and the status data section may be updated at this time.

[0014]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above in detail, the present invention provides
Since the status data is stored linked to the image data, the image data can be searched using the status data as a clue. It is also possible to read status data linked to the image data. To this end, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage and retrieval method for an external storage medium that allows image data recorded and stored on the external storage medium to be easily searched, and also allows for easily identifying processing contents that have already been performed. be able to.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system to which a method of an embodiment can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data format.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the capture and storage of image data.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing searching and reading of image data.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an image scanner device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11...Image scanner, 21...Top plate, 23... Lid body, 3...Manuscript, 41...Personal computer, 51...floppy disk device, 6...CRT display device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image data storage and retrieval method in which image data read by an image scanner is stored in an external storage medium and desired data is retrieved, wherein the format of the data in the external storage medium is changed to the image data. Image data comprising a corresponding image data section and a status data section indicating the type, attribute, etc. of the image data, and wherein the image data is retrieved from the external storage medium based on information in the status data section. storage and retrieval strategies.