JPH0916746A - Image filing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an image list display function with which a lot of images can be displayed in the state of easily visually recognizing them. CONSTITUTION: Concerning an image filing device having the image list display function with which plural images preserved in an external storage device 20 are simultaneously displayed in one picture on a display 18, plural image areas for displaying images are set on a display screen, a partial image to be displayed in the image area is set from the correspondent image for each set image area, and the set partial image is displayed in the respectively correspondent image areas so that image list display can be performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image filing apparatus having an image list display function for selecting a filed image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image filing apparatus is provided with a list display function for displaying a plurality of images at the same time so that a large number of files can be easily selected.

The list display function is a cover list function for reducing an image to display a plurality of images at the same time, or a headline list function for cutting out a part of an image and setting it as a headline and displaying the headline as a list. There was such a thing.

For example, by the list display function, images are displayed on the display screen in an arrangement as shown in FIG. The user can search for a desired image by referring to each image displayed in the list.

For example, if one file contains a plurality of images, the cover list function reduces each one image (cover) of the plurality of files, as shown in FIG. Place and display.

The index list function sets a part of an image (a fixed part set in advance or a characteristic part in the image arbitrarily designated by the user) as an index for the image to be filed. As a result, when displaying the list, a part of the set images is arranged and displayed as shown in FIG.

However, since the cover list function reduces the images to be displayed on the screen, when many images are displayed in one screen, the images are too small to be visually recognized. Further, if the size is such that the images can be easily viewed, the number of images that can be displayed on one screen is reduced, and efficient image search cannot be performed.

In order to display the list in the headline list function, the headline must be set in advance before executing the list display. Images for which no caption is set are not displayed, so it becomes impossible to specify images from the list display screen. Also, a lot of work is required to arbitrarily set a headline for an image.

[0009]

As described above, in the list display function in the conventional image filing apparatus, in the case of the cover list function, if the number of images to be displayed is increased, it becomes difficult to visually recognize the images. There is a problem in that the number of images that can be displayed on one screen is reduced, and the efficiency of image retrieval is getting worse.

Further, the headline list function has a problem that the headline must be set in advance in order to display the image list, which results in a heavy work load. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image filing apparatus having an image list display function capable of displaying a large number of images in a state where images can be easily viewed.

[0011]

According to the present invention, in an image filing apparatus having an image list display function for simultaneously displaying a plurality of stored images in one screen, an image area for displaying the images is displayed. Image area setting means for setting a plurality of images on the screen; image setting means for setting, for each image area set by the image area setting means, a partial image to be displayed in the image area from the corresponding image; Display means for displaying the partial images set by the image setting means in respective corresponding image areas.

Further, it is characterized by comprising scroll means for scrolling the image displayed in the image area by the display means. The image area changing means may be arranged to arbitrarily change the size of the image area set by the image area setting means.

Further, a selecting means for selecting an arbitrary image from the image list screen in which the image is displayed by the displaying means, a display changing means for displaying the entire image selected by the selecting means, and the display changing means. Image editing means for editing the entire displayed image.

Further, the image area setting means selectively arranges and sets a plurality of image areas in a plurality of specific directions, and is characterized in that the arrangement direction is changed according to an instruction.

When the number of images targeted for image list display exceeds the number of image areas set by the image area setting means, the image displayed in each image area by the display means is designated as an instruction. According to another aspect of the present invention, an image changing unit for changing to another image to be displayed in the image list is provided.

Further, the display means displays one image in a plurality of image groups corresponding to each image area, and displays another image in the image group according to an instruction. Characterize.

[0017]

According to such a structure, in order to set a large number of image areas that can be set in one display screen and to make it easy to visually recognize the image displayed in the image area,
The image displayed in the image area is not the whole image,
It is a part. Further, the partial image displayed in the image area can be arbitrarily set instead of setting a fixed area in advance.

The image displayed in the image area is
It is a part of the image, but the image direction is scrolled in the image area, the size of the image area is changed, and the arrangement direction of the image area according to the characteristics of the filed image (vertical writing, horizontal writing, etc.). By providing the function for changing the number, it is possible to easily confirm the image displayed in the image area.

Further, even if the images to be displayed in the image list cannot be displayed on one screen, the function of switching the image list display screen to the next screen or the previous screen, the next page for each image area, etc. By providing the function of switching the image to be displayed by designating the previous page and the designated page, it is possible to perform an efficient image search.

[0020]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image filing apparatus according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1
1 is a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as CPU), 12
Is a memory accessed by the CPU 11.

The CPU 11 controls the entire apparatus, and executes the image filing process and the image list display control by starting the program that accesses the memory 12 and follows the input instruction.

The memory 12 stores various data in addition to various processing programs that determine the operation of the CPU 11. The processing programs include an image list display program 12a for displaying an image list for image search and an image editing program (not shown), and an area for each program is secured.

When the image list is displayed, the memory 12 has areas for storing the management data 12b for controlling the image list display screen and the image data 12c of the image to be displayed.

Further, 14 is a keyboard (KB), 15 is a keyboard interface (KB-IF), 16 is a scanner device (SCN), 17 is an image interface (IMG-IF), 18 is a display, and 19 is a display controller ( Display-CNT), 20 is an external storage device by various media, and 22 is various media interfaces (various media-IF).

The keyboard 14 is an input device for inputting data and giving a specific instruction. The keyboard 14 is provided with a "character" key, a "numerical value" key, a "cursor" key, and the like. An image list display is instructed by pressing a predetermined key. The keyboard interface 15 controls input of information input by the keyboard 14. Although not shown, a pointing device such as a mouse may be provided in addition to the keyboard 14.

The scanner device 16 is a device for inputting an image to be filed. The image interface 17 controls input of an image input by the scanner device 16.

The display 18 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display or a CRT. Display controller 22
Under the control of the CPU 10, develops display data in a VRAM (not shown) and outputs it to the display unit 18.

The external storage device 20 is for filing an image, and is, for example, a hard disk device (H
DD), a floppy disk device (FDD), a magneto-optical disk device (MOD), and the like. The various media interfaces 22 are interfaces according to media used in the external storage device 20, and the CPU 1
1 controls the input / output of data between 1 and the external storage device 20.

Next, the form of image list display on the display screen and the management data for controlling the image list display in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2A shows a form of image list display displayed on the display screen of the display device 18. As shown in FIG. 2A, an area for displaying one image (hereinafter referred to as an image area) is vertically arranged (5 in FIG. 2A). Two rows are provided.

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a part (area for displaying three images) in FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2B, different images are displayed in each image area.

The image displayed in the image area is reduced in size so that the image can be visually recognized easily, and in the present embodiment, the image is reduced by approximately 1/2 (the arrangement is 2). Because there are rows.) In addition, the image displayed in the image area is in a state in which only a part is displayed, not the entire image.

For example, the image to be displayed is shown in FIG.
2B, only the upper part of the image is displayed as shown in the upper image area of FIG.

The management data for controlling the image list display as shown in FIG. 2A includes data as shown in FIG. 3A. That is, for each image area, the display position (or number) of the image area in the display screen, the memory offset indicating the position in the memory where the image to be displayed is stored, the vertical and horizontal size of one image area, and the middle of the image area. The image display position indicating the portion of the image to be displayed in, and the file name indicating the image file including the image to be displayed are set.

The display position of the image area is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the position of the upper left corner point of the image area (rectangular area in this embodiment) is indicated by the distances from the left edge and the upper edge of the display screen.

It should be noted that, instead of setting the distance for each of all the image areas, a number for identifying the image area is added, and the image area of the image area is assigned according to the number from the reference point indicating the position of the uppermost image area. The position of each image area may be specified by sequentially adding distances indicating sizes.

The memory offset designates each image contained in the image file stored in the image data area 12c of the memory 12, as shown in FIG. The vertical and horizontal sizes indicate the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image area, as shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 2A, since the size of each image area is the same, the vertical and horizontal sizes set for each image area are also the same. However, by setting an arbitrary value, an image of a size different from other images can be obtained. You can also set the area on the display screen.

The image display position is, as shown in FIG. 3D, the portion of the image indicated by the memory offset that should be actually displayed in the image area on the display screen.
It is shown by the position from the top of the image. In addition,
The trailing edge of the image is determined by the size of the image area.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
First, the operation of displaying an image list on the display screen of the display 18 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When an instruction to display an image list of image files filed in the external storage device 20 is issued via the keyboard 14 or the like, C
The PU 11 activates the image list display program and starts the process for displaying the image list. Image list display management data is set to display an image list.

First, in order to display an image in the form shown in FIG. 2A, the vertical and horizontal sizes for one image area on the screen of the image are set (step A1).
The vertical and horizontal sizes may be automatically set to predetermined fixed values, or a menu or the like may be displayed to set a value arbitrarily selected by the user from several sizes. Is also good. The vertical and horizontal sizes set here determine the position of the next image area.

Next, the start position of the list display on the screen, that is, the display position of the uppermost image area is set (step A2). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, the upper left corner G of the array is set to the start position. The list display start position may also be automatically set to a predetermined fixed value, or may be arbitrarily designated by the user using a pointing device or the like.

Next, the display position of the image, that is, the start position of the image area is set (step A3). For the uppermost image area (first time), the display position set in step A2 is set as it is.

Next, a designated image file (image data) stored in the external storage device 20 (medium such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk) is called via various media-IF 22, and the memory 12 is read. Is expanded in the image data area 12c (step A4). At this time, the memory offset of the image list display management data is also set.

Next, the start position of image display (image display position) showing the portion to be actually displayed in the image to be displayed in the image area is set (step A5).
The image display position may be automatically set to a predetermined fixed value, or may be set by dynamically changing the value according to the image.

For example, for an image in which the upper margin has a fixed value, such as a document, the image display position can be set without the margin. That is,
It can be used when a document with a large margin or a fixed format is focused on the data at a specific location.
Further, the user may input and set an arbitrary value. Further, by referring to the image to be displayed developed on the memory 12, the position where the substantial contents exist may be obtained by image processing, and this position may be set as the image display position.

Next, the image expanded on the memory 12 is set in the image list display management data, the image display position (cutout position), the display range on the screen (vertical and horizontal size of the image area), and the display magnification. The display is performed according to (1/2 times in the embodiment of FIG. 2A) (step A5).

By the above processing, the display of the image in one image area is completed. Here, as a result of adding the vertical size (E) of the image area to the display position of the immediately preceding image area (step A7), if the image display for the image area for one column is not completed (step A8), the addition is performed. The display position thus obtained is set as the display position of the next image area (step A
3). As a result, the start position of the next image area becomes the point H as shown in FIG.

In order to judge whether the image display for the image area for one column is completed, the display position calculated in step A7 (or the value obtained by adding the display range vertical width to the display position) protrudes from the screen. Whether or not a predetermined number of times (the number of image areas) has been performed.

When the processing of the array for one column is completed, the display start position of the next column is obtained (step A9). That is,
A position obtained by adding a predetermined length (horizontal direction) on the display screen to the display start position of the array of the first column is set as the start position I of the array of the second column as shown in FIG.

In the example shown in FIG. 2 (a), two rows of arrays are provided, but if more arrays are provided,
Similar to step A8 described above, the determination can be made based on the condition that the next display start position is out of the screen and whether the process has been completed a predetermined number of times (step A1).
0).

The functions (first to sixth functions) that can be executed in the set image list display will be described. The first function is a function of scrolling an arbitrary image (or all images) in the image area on the list display screen. In the image list display of this embodiment, an image of a size that is easily visible is displayed, but the entire image is not displayed in the image area. Therefore, when the image cannot be confirmed from the partial image displayed in the image area, the whole can be confirmed by arbitrarily scrolling in the image area.

FIG. 5 shows a part of the image list display screen. FIG. 5 shows a situation in which only one image area is individually scrolled. Further, the flowchart of FIG. 6 shows a processing procedure for scrolling an image. Hereinafter, the operation will be described.

First, on the image list display screen, the user inputs the designation of the image to be scrolled by operating the keyboard 14 or the mouse (step B1).

The CPU 11 judges from the display position on the screen which of the images in the list the specified image is based on the instruction from the keyboard 14 or the mouse (step B2). Here, it is assumed that the image number that identifies the image included in the file that is the target of the list display is determined.

Here, it is determined whether or not the image data of the selected image is currently read in the memory 12 (step B3). That is, if a correct value indicating an image is set in the memory offset corresponding to the corresponding image area of the image list display management data, it is determined that the image is expanded in the memory 12,
In other cases, for example, if the absence flag is set,
It is determined that the memory 12 does not currently exist.

If it does not exist in the memory 12, the CPU
Reference numeral 11 refers to the file name, retrieves the corresponding image from the external storage device 20, and stores it in the memory 12 (step B4).

Next, the display start position is obtained from the display position set in the image list display management data (step B5). Further, the state of the image after scrolling is determined, that is, the next image display position is determined in consideration of the preset scroll width (step B
6).

Then, the scrolled image is displayed in the target image area based on the display position on the screen, the size, the image display position, the magnification, etc. (step B7).

Here, it is determined whether there are other images to be scrolled (whether scrolling is designated),
When a plurality of images are designated, the process proceeds to step B2, and the next image is scrolled in the same manner as described above (step B8).

If the stroke request from the user is continued, the scroll is performed in all the image areas for which the scroll is designated in the same manner as described above (step B9).

By the above processing, for example, as shown in FIG.
When the middle image area in (A) is designated as a stroke target and the stroke is executed, the stroke is executed in the designated image area as shown in FIG. 5 (B).

Next, the second function will be described. The second function is a function of arbitrarily changing the size of the image area on the image list display screen. For example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7A, in the state where the image area is set (a part of the image list display screen), when the user instructs to enlarge the size of the image area because it is difficult to visually recognize the image, FIG. As shown in b), the image list display mode is changed to enlarge the size of the image area.

To change the form of the image list display, for example, when an instruction is input from the keyboard 14 or the like, the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image list display management data are changed, and again according to the procedure of the flow chart shown in FIG. This is achieved by performing the image list display process.

The size change width may be automatically set to a predetermined fixed value, or a value arbitrarily selected by the user from several sizes by displaying a menu or the like may be set. You may do it. Further, although FIG. 7 shows only the size change in the vertical direction, the size change in the horizontal direction can be similarly performed.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the size of the image area is enlarged, the size of each image area is changed in the one-column display end check in step A8, and therefore, the images that can be displayed in one screen are displayed. The number of will change.

Next, the third function will be described. The third function is a function that allows an arbitrary image to be selected from the image list display screen to be displayed and edited. For example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8B, when the user selects an arbitrary image area as an object of image editing in the image list display state, as shown in FIG.
Displays the specified image on the entire screen and makes it editable.

That is, on the image list display screen, when the execution of the image editing is instructed together with the designation of the specific image area, the CPU 11 can start the image editing program (not shown) to execute the image editing processing. Change the display screen from the image list display screen to the image editing screen.

At this time, as the image data to be edited, the image data stored in the image data area 12c used for displaying the image list may be used, or an area for image editing may be reserved and edited. You can expand the image you want to edit and edit the image.

Next, the fourth function will be described. The fourth function is a function for arbitrarily changing the arrangement of the image areas in the image list display. For example, if the image to be filed is a document, if it is a horizontal writing document, the form shown in FIG. 2A is used, so that all the lines can be seen from the beginning as shown in FIG. 9A. You can understand the contents. On the other hand, in the case of a vertically written document, if the form shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), since only part of the beginning of each line can be visually recognized, it becomes difficult to grasp the content of the sentence, and an operation such as scrolling is required.

Therefore, the arrangement of the image areas in the image list display is changed to a form in which a plurality of image areas are arranged in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 9C. As a result, each line of the image of a vertically written document can be viewed from the beginning, so that the content can be easily grasped.

To change the arrangement of the image areas of the image list display, for example, when an instruction is input from the keyboard 14 or the like, basically the image list display processing is performed again according to the procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG. It is realized by performing. However, in the fourth function, image display position addition (step A7), list display start position addition (step A9), image display (step A7).
The target direction of the process in 6) is different in the vertical and horizontal directions.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, when a two-stage array is provided, the display position of the first image area is set to point J in the drawing, and the image display position addition processing in step A7 is performed. Set as K point. Step A
Through the process of adding the list display start position in 9, the L point is obtained based on the position of the J point. Thereafter, the image areas are sequentially set, and the right side portion of the image developed in the memory 12 in step A6 is displayed in the corresponding image area.

It should be noted that it is not only necessary to change the image list display form in response to an instruction from the user, but it is better to display the list in any form (FIG. 2 (a) or FIG. 10) for each file or image. It is also possible to add attribute data indicating whether or not it is suitable and determine the form of image list display according to this attribute data.

Next, the fifth function will be described. The fifth function is a function of switching the image list display screen when all the images to be displayed cannot be displayed in the image list display of one screen.

When displaying a list of the filed images in the external storage device 20, a predetermined group can be designated. For example, specify an image in a specific file, all images in a specific directory if the files are stored in a directory structure, or an image included in a specific registration time range based on the filing time. be able to.

When a large number of images are to be displayed as a list, when the list display screen is switched (next screen or previous screen) from the keyboard 14 or the like, the CPU 11
Image data to be displayed next as an image stored in the external storage device 20 is loaded, expanded in the memory 12, and provided for image display. The CPU 11 changes and displays the image in each image area on the image list display screen.

Next, the sixth function will be described. The sixth function is to change each image area in the image list display screen.
For example, when it is used for each file (each document), it is a function to switch the image display of the previous page and the subsequent page for each image area.

The page switching process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. As an operation by the user, an image (image area) is specified on the image list display screen by operating the cursor key of the keyboard 14 or a mouse, and page switching is instructed by the previous page key and the next page key (step C1). .

When the image is designated and the page is switched, the CPU 11 determines the image (image number) to be displayed in the designated image area according to the instruction (step C2). Then, the image data of the corresponding image is called from the external storage device 20, and the memory 1
2 (step C3).

Further, the position (coordinates) on the screen of the designated document is calculated (step C4), and the image called from that position, that is, the image of the designated page is displayed (step C5).

As described above, in the image list display according to the present embodiment, even if the number of images that can be displayed in one screen is increased, it is possible to display an image with a magnification that is easily visible. In addition, in the present embodiment, only a part of the image is displayed in each image area, but the work load is reduced because it is not necessary to preset headings and the like, and it is possible to scroll and check it arbitrarily. , The contents of the image can be surely grasped and the image can be searched easily (first function).

In some cases, even when the image area is narrow and it is difficult to visually recognize the image,
Since the size of the image area can be changed arbitrarily, the image can be reliably viewed (second
function).

Further, since it is possible to select an arbitrary image from the image list display screen capable of displaying a large number of images and shift to the image editing process, the work load for performing the image editing process is reduced (third embodiment). function).

Further, the format of the filed image,
That is, since the arrangement direction of the image area can be arbitrarily changed according to the characteristics of the document such as vertical writing and horizontal writing, the image list display can be used more effectively (fourth function).

Even when the number of images to be displayed in the list cannot be displayed in one screen, the screens can be switched arbitrarily, so that the image search can be efficiently performed (fifth function). Further, since the displayed image can be switched by arbitrarily designating the previous page and the next page for each image area, the image search can be easily performed in the same manner (sixth function).

[0086]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when a large number of filed images are displayed as a list, it is possible to display a large number of images in a state where they are easy to visually recognize. It is possible to carry out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image filing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a form of image list display in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining image list display management data in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of displaying an image list on the display screen in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a situation in which only one image area of the image list display screen in the present embodiment is individually scrolled.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for scrolling an image in an image area in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the size change of the image area in the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a process of shifting from an image list display screen to image editing in the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a change in the form of an image list display screen in the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation when changing the form of the image list display screen in the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a process of switching pages in the image area according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a view for explaining the form of a conventional image list display screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Microprocessor (CPU), 12 ... Memory,
12a ... Image list display program area, 12b ... Image list display management data, 12c ... Image data area, 14 ... Keyboard (KB), 15 ... Keyboard interface (KB-IF), 16 ... Scanner device (SC)
N), 17 ... Image interface (IMG-I
F), 18 ... Display, 19 ... Display controller (display-
CNT), 20 ... External storage device (hard disk device (HDD), floppy disk device (FDD), magneto-optical disk device (MOD)), 22 ... Various media interfaces.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. In an image filing apparatus having an image list display function for simultaneously displaying a plurality of stored images on one screen, an image area setting for setting a plurality of image areas for displaying images on the display screen. Means, an image setting means for setting a partial image to be displayed in the image area from a corresponding image for each image area set by the image area setting means, and an image setting means set by the image setting means. An image filing apparatus comprising: display means for displaying partial images in corresponding image areas. 2. The image filing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising scroll means for scrolling the image displayed in the image area by the display means. 3. The image filing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image area changing means for arbitrarily changing the size of the image area set by said image area setting means. 4. A selection unit for selecting an arbitrary image from an image list display screen on which the images are displayed by the display unit, a display changing unit for displaying the entire image selected by the selecting unit, and the display change. The image filing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image editing means for editing the image displayed as a whole by the means. 5. The image area setting means selectively arranges and sets a plurality of image areas in a plurality of specific directions, and changes the arrangement direction according to an instruction. 1. The image filing device described in 1. 6. When the number of images targeted for image list display exceeds the number of image areas set by the image area setting means, an image displayed in each image area by the display means is designated. The image filing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image changing means for changing to another image to be displayed as an image list. 7. The display means, for each image area,
The image filing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one image in a plurality of image groups corresponding to each is displayed, and another image in the image group is displayed according to an instruction.