JP2000348058A - Device and method for image management and computer- readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily register a desirable key word by relating >=1 key word selected out of stored key words to one selected image. SOLUTION: It is judged whether or not a radio button 'key word registration' is selected in a display screen and when so, a preview image is displayed in an image display area (S1, 2). It is judged whether or not an 'add' button is selected in a display screen and when so, key words are listed in the image display area (S3, 4). It is judged whether or not some icon displayed in the image display area is selected in the display screen and when so, the ID registered for the selected icon is obtained as a key word by referring to data structure and set in the area of the key word of the currently selected image as an object of key word registration (S5 to 7).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image management apparatus and method for storing and managing a plurality of digital images, and a computer-readable storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid spread of digital cameras and personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as PCs) in recent years, software that makes a PC function as an image management device has been proposed.

According to such conventional software,
Storage and management of a plurality of digital images can be performed by relatively simple operations.

[0004]

However, in a conventional image management apparatus or an application program for implementing a digital album, when a keyword is registered for a stored image, generally, a plurality of types prepared in advance are registered. Can be selected only from among the keywords (or keyword icons), and therefore, it is often impossible to register a keyword that the user considers optimal for the target image.

[0005] In addition, since the operation of registering a keyword for a stored image generally has to be performed one image at a time, when registering a consensus keyword for a plurality of images having similar contents, Operation is troublesome.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image management apparatus and an image management method capable of easily registering a desired keyword, and a computer-readable storage medium.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an image management apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, an image storage means in which a plurality of images are stored in advance, a keyword storage means in which a plurality of keywords are stored in advance, and one selected from a plurality of images stored in the image storage means. A registration unit for associating one or more keywords selected from the plurality of keywords stored in the keyword storage unit with the image and registering the keywords in a storage medium;

Further, for example, the plurality of images are stored in a predetermined order in the image storage means, and the registration means is selected from the plurality of images stored in the image storage means. When at least one keyword is registered for one image, the keyword is stored in the image storage means in the predetermined order for the other images after the image in which the keyword is registered. And a collective registration unit for collectively associating and registering them.

[0010] For example, the registration means may include a keyword creation means capable of creating a new keyword based on one image selected from a plurality of images stored in the image storage means. .

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image management method including the following configuration.

That is, an image storage step of storing a plurality of images in a storage medium in advance, a keyword storage step of storing a plurality of keywords in the storage medium in advance, and a plurality of images stored in the storage step For one selected image, one or more keywords are selected from a plurality of keywords stored in the keyword storage step,
A registration step of associating the selected image with a keyword and registering the keyword in the storage medium.

Further, the present invention is characterized by a computer-readable storage medium storing a program code for realizing the above-described image management apparatus and method by a computer.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image management apparatus and an image management method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the hardware configuration of the image management device will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image management apparatus according to this embodiment. For example, a personal computer (PC) may be employed.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a central processing unit (CP
U), and controls the image management apparatus according to the control program loaded in the second RAM. Reference numeral 2 denotes a readable / writable memory (RAM), which is used as a work area when the CPU 1 executes a control process, and temporarily stores various data. For example, the RAM 2 stores an image management process program described later and operation information (for example, page feed information of a display image) corresponding to a signal received from a wireless remote control terminal (hereinafter, remote controller) 4. It is loaded from the storage device 11 when the device is started.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a control unit of the remote controller 4, which controls conversion of a signal (radio signal, infrared signal, etc.) received from the remote controller 4 into digital data. Reference numeral 5 denotes a display controller, which controls image display on a display 6 such as a CRT, cursor display, and the like.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a large-capacity storage medium such as a 3.5-inch floppy disk or MO. Under the control of the drive unit 7, the storage medium 8 reads and stores album file information for recording images, image data, and the like, and stores programs and the like loaded into the RAM 2. A printer 10 prints an image on a recording medium such as recording paper under the control of the printer control device 9.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a storage device such as a hard disk drive, which stores a program for realizing an image management process described later and a plurality of digital image data to be saved by the image management device.

The CPU 1, RAM 2, remote controller interface 3, display controller 5, drive unit 7, and printer interface 9 are connected to an internal bus 1
2 and operates according to the control of the CPU 1.

The operation by the remote controller 4 performed through the interface 3 may be realized by a keyboard or a mouse, which is a general input means of a PC.

Next, the keyword registration function realized on the above-described hardware will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic screen of the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, an image display area 20 includes:
One image in the album file previously stored in the storage medium 8 or the storage device 11 is displayed. 21
Is a display area for function buttons. FIG. 2 shows a button for switching pages of an image displayed in the image display area 20, an "end" button for ending the function as an image management device, and an image search function. "Search" button is displayed. In the display screen having such a layout, any one of the display areas is in a selected current state.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data structure for recording an image by the image management apparatus according to this embodiment. Each image in the album file includes image specification information such as an image size and a resolution. Each field has a keyword ID used for image search.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a remote control terminal for remotely operating the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment. The current is shifted to a certain display area in FIG. By pressing the “execute” button, the function at the current position is executed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying a display screen when a “function” button is pressed on the remote control terminal shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the display area 21 is selectable as shown in FIG. A list of functions is displayed. At this time, the user can select any one of the functions displayed on the display area 21 for the image displayed on the image display area 20.

<Registration of Keywords> First, a description will be given of a keyword registration process in which one or more desired keywords can be registered from the keywords registered in advance for the currently displayed image. This processing is shown in FIG.
Is started when the "keyword registration" radio button is selected on the screen.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a keyword registration process by the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 3, steps S1 and S
2: It is determined whether the "keyword registration" radio button is selected on the display screen shown in FIG. 4 (step S).
1) If YES (when selected), a preview screen is displayed in the image display area 20 (step S)
2).

FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying a preview screen in the keyword registration processing according to the present embodiment. A preview screen of a keyword already registered for the image displayed in the image display area 20 (FIG. (A, B, and C images shown). At this time, if no keyword is registered in the displayed image, the preview screen is not displayed.

Step S3, Step S4: It is determined whether or not the "Add" button is selected on the display screen shown in FIG. 5 (Step S3), and if YES (when selected), the image display area 20 is displayed. A list of keywords is displayed (step S4).

FIG. 6 is a diagram exemplifying a keyword list display screen in the keyword registration process. A list of keywords already registered in the image management apparatus is displayed by icons.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data structure of a keyword icon. Each icon stores an identification number (ID) for specifying a keyword and data of an icon to be displayed as an image corresponding to the ID. Path (for example, “/ d0 / DATA / KEYWORD / key00”
001. tif "), and has a variable-size table configuration so that a plurality of keywords can be stored.

In the above-mentioned ID field, a character code of a character string (for example, a nickname such as key00001 or "papa") which can identify one image may be used. Is performed, an ID or a character string is searched.

Step S5, Step S6: It is determined whether or not any of the icons displayed in the image display area 20 has been selected on the display screen shown in FIG. 6 (Step S5). Fig. 7
The ID (or character code of a character string) registered for the selected icon is acquired as a keyword by referring to the data structure shown in (1) (step S6).

Step S7: The ID (or character string) acquired in step S6 is set in the keyword area (see FIG. 8) of the image currently selected as the keyword registration target.

According to such a keyword registration process, one or more desired keywords can be easily registered from the keywords registered in advance for the target image.

<Addition of Keyword> Next, in addition to the keyword registered in the image management apparatus in advance, the user can add a new keyword by using an image stored in the image management apparatus in advance. The keyword adding process will be described. This process is started when the “Add” button is selected on the preview screen of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a keyword adding process by the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 6, step S11: a keyword list display screen shown in FIG. 6 for displaying a list of keywords registered in the image management apparatus is displayed.

Step S12, Step S13: It is determined whether or not the "keyword registration" button is selected on the display screen shown in FIG. 6 (step S12). If YES (when selected), the image display area 20 is displayed. Next, a list of images already stored in the storage medium 8 or the storage device 11 is displayed (step S13).

FIG. 9 is a diagram exemplifying a list display screen of images in the keyword addition processing. In the example shown in the figure, 12 images are displayed in the image display area 20 and another image can be displayed by operating the arrow keys in the display area 21 (in FIG. 9, the rightward direction is displayed). By operating the arrow keys, the thirteenth and subsequent images are displayed).

Step S14: It is determined whether or not any image displayed in the image display area 20 of the display screen shown in FIG. 9 has been selected. If YES (when selected), the process proceeds to step S15. move on.

Step S15: A trimming screen is displayed, and it is determined whether or not a "confirm" button is operated on the screen. If YES, the process proceeds to step S16.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views showing an example of a trimming screen in the keyword adding process. The image selected in step S14 is displayed as a preview in the image display area 20, and a broken line for setting a trimming area is displayed. A frame is displayed. The user resizes or moves the displayed broken-line frame using the operation keys (or an auxiliary input device such as a mouse) of the remote controller 4 to determine a trimming area to be registered as a keyword icon. For example, as shown in FIG.
If only the face of a person is trimmed out of the image preview-displayed in the image display area 20, the portion of the trimmed image is selected as a keyword icon.

Step S16: When the "confirm" button is operated in step S15, a data file of image data corresponding to the trimmed portion is created in step S15 and stored in the storage medium 8 or the storage device 11.

Step S17: The automatically assigned unique ID (or an arbitrary character string) and the storage location of the data file created in step S16 are placed at the last position of the keyword icon data structure table shown in FIG. Is added.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of a list display screen of keyword icons. When a new keyword icon is registered by the above-described keyword addition processing, 5 of the list display screen shown in FIG. One keyword icon is added in addition to one keyword icon. As a result, one option for setting a keyword for an image is added.

According to such keyword addition processing, the user can use an image selected from images stored in advance to register a new keyword in which the image is iconified.

[Modification of Embodiment] Next, a modification based on the image management apparatus according to the above-described embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same configuration as that of the above-described embodiment will not be described repeatedly, and will be described focusing on a characteristic portion in this modification.

Generally, a plurality of photographic images are taken at a certain event (for example, a wedding or a sports day). In this case, the user is likely to register a keyword with the same content when assigning a keyword to a plurality of photographed images. Therefore, in the present modification, an image management device that can set the same keyword for a plurality of images at once will be described.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a keyword collective setting process by the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the figure, steps S21 and S22: It is determined whether or not the "keyword registration" radio button is selected on the display screen shown in FIG. 4 (step S21), and when YES (when selected) In
The preview screen shown in FIG. 13 is displayed (step S2
2).

FIG. 13 is a diagram exemplifying a preview screen in the keyword collective setting process. A preview screen (FIG. 13) showing a list of keywords already registered for the image displayed in the image display area 20 is displayed. (A, B, and C images shown) are displayed (here, the icon representing the human face shown in FIG.
5 is additionally displayed). At this time, if no keyword is registered in the image displayed in the image display area, the preview screen is not displayed.

Steps S23 and S24: FIG.
It is determined whether or not the user has selected the "Add" button on the preview screen (step S23).
At the time of ES (when selected), the keyword addition processing similar to the processing of step S4 to step S6 of FIG. Is registered.

Step S25: A preview screen (FIG. 13) to which the keyword icon added by the processing of step S24 is added is displayed (in FIG. 13, the icon representing the human face is replaced with the keyword icon added in step S24). Do).

Step S6: Image display area 2 in FIG.
Any one of the keyword icons displayed as 0 is made current, and it is determined whether the “delete” button of the remote controller 4 has been operated. If YES (deletion has been selected), the flow proceeds to step S27. If NO (deletion is not selected), the process proceeds to step S28.

Step S27: For the keyword icon designated to be deleted in step S26, in order to eliminate the association between the keyword icon and the image that has been associated with it, the keyword icon in the data structure of FIG. The ID (or character string) specifying the keyword icon designated to be deleted is deleted, and a preview screen (FIG. 13) in which the association is deleted is displayed.

Step S28: It is determined whether or not the button "apply to all subsequent images" indicating the batch setting of the keyword is selected on the display screen shown in FIG.
If YES (when selected), the keyword icons displayed on the preview screen (that is, the keywords associated with the images displayed on the preview screen) are displayed in the order registered in the album file. In, the images up to the last image after the currently displayed image are registered, and the process proceeds to step S30. That is, an ID (or character string) for specifying the currently displayed keyword icon is set in the keyword field in the data structure shown in FIG. 8 for a plurality of images from the currently displayed image to the last image. . On the other hand, if the determination is NO,
Proceed to step S29.

Step S29: It is determined whether or not the "OK" button is selected on the display screen shown in FIG.
In the case of ES (when selected), the process proceeds to step S30, and in the case of NO, the process returns to step S23.

Step S30: When the "confirm" button is selected, a confirmation process for registering the currently displayed keyword icon only for the image currently displayed on the display screen shown in FIG. 13 is performed.

As described above, according to the present modification, the same desired keyword can be collectively registered for a plurality of images stored in the album file in advance, and the convenience is improved.

[0064]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or a computer) of the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that the present invention includes a case in which the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing part or all of the actual processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a case is also included in which a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion card or function expansion unit performs part or all of actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An image management apparatus, an image management method, and a computer-readable storage medium capable of easily registering a desired keyword can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image management device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a basic screen of the image management apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a remote control terminal that remotely operates the image management apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying a display screen when a “function” button is pressed on the remote control terminal shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a preview screen in a keyword registration process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a keyword list display screen in a keyword registration process.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data structure of a keyword icon.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a data structure for image recording of the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram exemplifying an image list display screen in a keyword addition process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a trimming screen in a keyword addition process.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a trimming screen in a keyword addition process.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of a keyword icon list display screen.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a preview screen in a keyword batch setting process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a keyword registration process performed by the image management apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a keyword adding process performed by the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating keyword batch setting processing by the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Claims (11)

[Claims] An image storage unit in which a plurality of images are stored in advance; a keyword storage unit in which a plurality of keywords are stored in advance; and one selected from a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit. Registering means for associating one or more keywords selected from among a plurality of keywords stored in the keyword storage means with a single image and registering the keywords in a storage medium. Management device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the registering means includes: a first display screen displaying the selected one image and a keyword already associated with the image on the same screen; and a registration of the keyword is selected. 2. The image management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second display screen displaying a list of a plurality of keywords stored in the keyword storage means, and a man-machine interface means for displaying the second display screen. 3. The image storage means stores the plurality of images in a predetermined order, and the registration means selects one of the plurality of images selected from the plurality of images stored in the image storage means. When at least one keyword has been registered for one image, the keyword is stored in the image storage means in the predetermined order for the other images after the image in which the keyword is registered. 2. The image management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a batch registration unit configured to collectively register in association. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration unit includes a keyword creation unit that can create a new keyword based on one image selected from a plurality of images stored in the image storage unit. The image management device according to claim 1. 5. The image management apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the keyword creating unit uses the one image arbitrarily trimmed as the new keyword. 6. The image management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image storage unit and / or the keyword storage unit is a portable storage medium. 7. An image storage step of storing a plurality of images in a storage medium in advance, a keyword storage step of storing a plurality of keywords in the storage medium in advance, and a plurality of images stored in the storage step For one selected image, one or more keywords are selected from a plurality of keywords stored in the keyword storage step, and the selected images are associated with the keywords and registered in the storage medium. A registration step. 8. In the registration step, a first display screen for displaying the selected one image and a keyword already associated with the image on the same screen; 8. The image management method according to claim 7, wherein a man-machine interface capable of displaying a second display screen displaying a list of a plurality of keywords stored in the storage medium in the keyword storage step is used. 9. In the image storing step, the plurality of images are stored in a predetermined order, and in the registering step, the image is selected from the plurality of images stored in the storage medium in the image storing step. When at least one keyword is registered for one image, the keyword is stored in the predetermined order in the image storing step and for the other images after the image in which the keyword is registered. 8. The image management method according to claim 7, further comprising a batch registration step of collectively registering the images. 10. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program code for operating a computer as the image management apparatus according to claim 1. Description: 11. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program code capable of implementing the image management method according to claim 7 by a computer.