JPH0512392A - Album type image data base system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the time required for the registration of the album of the album type image data base system by facilitating input operation for image information. CONSTITUTION:A combination of pieces of information on the kind of image information inputted to pages constituting the album, the display position and display size of the image information, and the input conditions of the image information is defined as page types and registered, a desired page type is selected among the page types registered when the album is registered to set a page in the album, and the image information is inputted to the page according to the combination of pieces of information on the kind, display position, display size, and input conditions of the image information set in the page or by altering part of the combination. Consequently, the input operation for the image information of the album type image data base system is facilitated and the time required for the registration of the album is shortened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image database system, and more particularly to an image database system having means for registering / storing image information, retrieving / displaying image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional album-type image database system of this type, image information is registered according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. 7, for example. A method of registering image information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step 41, a registration function of image information is selected. In step 42, an album type to be registered is set by selecting from the already set / registered album types, and in step 43, registration / registration of the album is performed.
Set values for search indexes and keywords.

In step 44, one page is set in the album or a page that has already been set is selected. In step 45, the type of image information to be input is selected / designated. As the type of image information, for example,
There are color photographic image information, monochrome photographic image information, color scanner image information, and monochrome scanner image information. In step 46, the input condition of the input image information,
Set the image display position and image display dimensions. The image information input conditions include, for example, resolution, brightness, and the number of bits per pixel for the color scanner image information. In step 47, the image information is input and displayed on the image display screen according to the set display position and display size in the page.

In step 48, it is determined whether or not further image information is input. If image information is input, the process proceeds to step 49. When the image information is no longer input, the process proceeds to step 50. In step 49, it is determined whether or not the input page is changed in order to input the next image information. If the page is to be changed, go to step 44. If the page is not changed, the process proceeds to step 45. In step 50, the album is registered in the database.

[0006]

However, in the conventional album-type image database system, when registering image information, information such as the type of image information, the image information input condition, the image display position, and the image display size is registered for each image information. Had to be set or changed. Therefore, there is a problem that a long processing time is required to register a lot of image information, and an operation for registration becomes very complicated.

An object of the present invention is to provide image information to an album in which image information input for each page has a similar or matching set of information such as type, image information input condition, image display position, and image display size. Another object of the present invention is to provide an album-type image database system capable of simplifying the information input operation and reducing the time required to register the album.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, an album that can be uniquely designated by one or a plurality of indexes or keywords is defined, and the album is defined by one or a plurality of pages. One or more image information for each page is registered in association with the type of the image information, the display size and display position information of the image information in the page, and the input condition of the image information. In the album type image database system described above, the type and type of image information registered in the pages constituting the album, the display size and display position of the image information in the page, and the input condition of the image information are defined and registered as the page type. Then, when registering the image information to the album, select the desired page type from the already registered page types and By setting a page in the album, the type of image information set in the page, the display size and display position of the image information, and the input condition of the image information, or a part of them is changed to display the image. It is characterized by registering information on the page.

[0010]

According to the above-mentioned means, a set of information such as the type of image information to be input to the pages forming the album, the input condition of the image information, the display position of the image information and the display size of the image information is defined as the page type. When registering and registering an album, a desired page type is selected from the registered page types and a page is set in the album, whereby the type of image information, the input condition of image information, and the image information are set on the page. Since a set of information such as the display position and the display size of the image information is set, the type of the image information, the input condition, the display position and the display size are set for each image information to be input to the page as in the conventional system of this type. It is not necessary to set a set of information such as, and the image information is input to the page according to the set of information set above or by changing a part of the set of information. Door can be.

For this reason, the operation of setting the above-mentioned set of information such as the type of image information and the input condition accompanying the image information becomes very simple, and the time required for inputting the image information and registering the album is greatly increased. It can be shortened. Also, as the scale of the database increases, it is expected that the number of albums having the same or similar pages of the above information will increase, and the operation of setting the information set accompanying the above image information will be performed. The time required for simplification, image information input, and album registration can be shortened.

[0012]

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

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a page type registration procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus for carrying out one example of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing in detail the contents stored in the album storage unit, page type storage unit and album type storage unit in FIG. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams showing one example of a page type setting screen.

As shown in FIG. 2, the album type image database system embodying apparatus of the present embodiment comprises a command input device 11 including a mouse and a keyboard for inputting commands, a camera for inputting image information, Image information input device 12 including a scanner, display, C
An output device 13 including a display device such as an RT, an external storage device 14 including an optical disk, a main memory 16 including a type management unit 15, and a computer 18 including a central processing unit 17 are provided. Then, the external storage device 14
Includes an album storage unit 14A, and the type management unit 1
5 includes a page type storage unit 15A and an album type storage unit 15B.

The details of the album storage section 14A, page type storage section 15A and album type storage section 15B are shown in FIG.

The album storage section 14A stores the created albums A1, A2 and A3. One album has one or more pages PG1, PG2, PG3
Each page has one or more image information M
1, M2 and M3 are written.

The page type storage unit 15A stores one or a plurality of page types PT1 and PT2 with page type numbers PN. One page type is
A set of one or more image information GJ1, GJ2, GJ
Have three. An image information number GN is attached to each set of image information, and (a) the type of image information, (b) the display size of the image information on the page, and (c) the image information on the page. Display position (d) Information such as the input condition of the image information is written.

The album type storage section 15B stores one or a plurality of already registered album types AT1, A.
T2 and AT3 are stored with the album type number AN attached, and are provided with items for appropriately entering an index for album registration / search or keywords.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the page type setting screen. In FIG. 4, Bi (i = 1, 2, 3, 4) is a button for selecting the type of image information, B1 is a monochrome photographic image, B1
2 is a color photographic image, B3 is a monochrome scanner image,
B4 is a color scanner image. C is an input condition setting area of image information, N is an input area of a page type name, IR is a setting area of the image information input area, IM is an image information input area set in the setting area IR of the image information input area, P1 and P2 are points at the upper left corner and the lower right corner of the image information input area, and W is a display screen.

Next, a page type registration procedure in the album type image database system of this embodiment will be described.

For page type registration, as shown in FIG. 1, in step 1, the page type registration function is selected.

In step 2, the page type setting screen of FIG. 4 is displayed on the display screen W of the image display device 3.

In step 3, the name of the page type to be registered is input. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the page type name is input to the page type name input area N from the keyboard of the command input device 11.

In step 4, the type of image information to be input is selected. In the example of FIG. 4, by designating the button Bi using the keyboard or mouse of the command input device 11, the type of image information corresponding to the designated button Bi is selected.

In step 5, the display position and the display size of the input image information are set. In the example of FIG. 4, by specifying the point P1 at the upper left corner and the point P2 at the lower right corner of the image information input area IM in the setting area IR of the image information input area using the mouse or keyboard of the command input device 11. , The display position and the display size of the image information are set.

In step 6, the image information input condition area C
For example, for color scanner images, the resolution,
Conditions such as brightness and the number of bits per pixel are set.

At step 7, it is determined whether or not the procedure from step 4 to step 6 is repeated. Here, when repeating, it progresses to step 4, and when not repeating, it progresses to step 8.

At step 8, the page type set by the procedure from step 3 to step 7 is registered. The page type number PN is automatically given.

Next, a procedure for registering image information in the album type image database system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering image information in the album-type image database system of this embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for selecting a desired page type from already registered page types. It is a schematic diagram which showed one example of the page set in the album by designating.

In the image information registration procedure, as shown in FIG. 5, in step 21, the image information registration function is selected.

In step 22, a desired type is selected from the album types already registered in the album type storage section 15B of FIG. 2 and the album to be registered is set.

In step 23, values are set in the registration / search index and keyword of the album.

In step 24, one page is set in the album or a page already set in the album is selected.

In step 25, it is judged whether or not the page type is designated for the page set or selected in step 24. If the page type is designated, the process proceeds to step 26, and if the page type is not designated, the process proceeds to step 27.

In step 26, a desired page type is selected / designated from the page types already set / registered as shown in 15A of FIG. 3 for the page set or selected in step 24. ..

FIG. 6 shows an example of a page set by designating the page type. In FIG. 6, PG is a page, IM1 to IM4 are image information input areas,
IMi (i = 1, 2, 3, 4) is registered in the page in association with the type of image information to be input and the input condition of the image information. In order to display the type of image information of IMi, for example, a different color is used for each type of image information.
Is displayed.

In step 27, it is determined whether or not the image information is input to the image information input area IMi set by the designation of the page type. If the image information is input to the image information input area IMi, the process proceeds to step 28. .. If the set image information input area IMi is not used, the process proceeds to step 34.

In step 28, one desired image information input area IMi is selected from the image information input areas IM1 to IM4 set for the page by designating the page type.

In step 29, it is determined whether or not the image information input condition, the image display position, and the image display size set in the selected image information input area IMi are to be changed. If not changed, the process proceeds to step 31. When changing, proceed to step 30.

In step 30, the image information input area IM
Image information input conditions and image display position set to i,
Change the image display size (position and size of the image information input area). For example, when changing the image information input condition, the set input condition is displayed on the image display screen by designating the change, and the set value of the input condition is corrected / changed by the keyboard of the command input device 11. Done by To change the image display position and display size, specify the change, specify the upper left corner position and the upper right corner position of the image information input area, and set the new image information input area. Done.

In step 31, desired image information is input from the image information input device 12 to the selected image information input area IMi and displayed on the output device 13 such as a CRT. In step 32, it is determined whether or not further image information is input. To enter image information, go to step 33,
If no input is made, the process proceeds to step 36.

In step 33, it is determined whether or not to change the page to input further image information. If the page is not changed, the process proceeds to step 28, and if the page is changed, the process proceeds to step 24.

In steps 34 to 35, the image information input area is set when the image information is input without using the image information input area IM set in the page, or because the page type is not specified. This is a procedure for inputting image information to a blank page.

In step 34, the type of image information to be input is selected / designated. The types of image information include, for example, color photographic image information, monochrome photographic image information, color scanner image information, and monochrome scanner image information.

At step 35, the input condition of the input image information, the image display position, and the image display size are set. The input conditions of the image information include, for example, the resolution for the image information of the color scanner, the brightness, the number of bits per pixel, and the like. When the process of step 35 ends, the process proceeds to step 31.

At step 36, the album is registered and the image information registration process is terminated.

As can be seen from the above description, in the album-type image database system of this embodiment, the type of image information input to a page, the input condition of image information, the display position of the image information, and the display size of the image information. A set of information such as is defined / registered as a page type, a desired page type is selected from the registered page types at the time of album registration, and a page is set in the album, whereby an image set in the page is set. Input the image information to the page according to a set of information such as the type of information, the input condition of the image information, the display position of the image information, and the display size of the image information, or by changing a part of the set of the image information. be able to. For this reason, a set of information such as the type of image information input for each page, the input condition of the image information, the display position of the image information, and the display size of the image information are the same or similar to each other. The input operation is simplified, and the time required for inputting image information and registering an album can be greatly reduced.

As the scale of the database increases, it is expected that the number of albums having the same or similar pages of information will increase, and the operation of setting the information set associated with the image information will be performed. The advantages of the system of the present invention such as simplification, input of image information, and reduction of time required for album registration become more and more effective.

Although the present invention has been specifically described based on the embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Absent.

[0051]

As described above, according to the album-type image database system of the present invention, the type, the input condition, and the display of the image information are input for each image information input to the page as in the conventional system of this type. Since it is not necessary to set a set of information such as position and display size, and the image information is input to the page according to the set of information set above or by changing a part of the set of information, the image information is attached to the page. The operation of setting a set of information such as the type of image information and the input condition described above becomes very simple, and the time required for inputting image information and registering an album can be greatly shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a page type registration procedure in an album type image database system according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus for carrying out one example of the present invention;

3 is a schematic diagram showing in detail the contents stored in the memory device in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a page type setting screen of the present invention,

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering image information in the album-type image database system according to the present embodiment,

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing one example of pages set in an album by selecting and designating one desired page type from already registered page types according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for registering image information in a conventional album-type image database system.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Command input device, 12 ... Image information input device, 1
3 ... Output device, 14 ... External storage device, 14A ... Album storage unit, 15 ... Type management unit, 15A ... Page type storage unit, 15B ... Album type storage unit, 16 ... Main memory, 17 ... Central processing unit, 18 … Computer, A
... Album, PG ... Page, M ... Image information, PT ... Page type, PN ... Page number, GJ ... Image information set, G
N ... Image information number, B ... button, C ... Image information input condition setting area, N ... Page type name input area, IR ... Image information input area setting area, IM ... Image information input area, P
1, P2 ... Points at upper left and upper right corners of the image information input area IM, W ... Display screen.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. An album that can be uniquely specified by one or more indexes or keywords is defined.
The album is composed of one or a plurality of pages, and one or a plurality of pieces of image information for each page include the type of the image information, the display size and the display position information of the image information in the page, and the image information. In an album-type image database system that is registered in association with image information input conditions, the type of image information registered in the pages that make up the album, the display dimensions and display position of the image information in the page, and the image information The input condition of is defined and registered as a page type, and when registering the image information in the album, a desired page type is selected from the already registered page types and the page is set in the album. According to the type of image information set on the page, the display dimensions and display position of the image information, and the input condition of the image information, or Change the parts, album type image database system and registers to the page image information.