JP2001266169A - Image processor and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print where the photographing place of an image is recognized easily. SOLUTION: This image processor reads an image recorded on a recording medium and retrieves map picture information from positional information. Then, an image read from the recording medium and retrieved map image information are synthesized to be one image. The positional information is recorded as attached information in the image in the recording medium. Otherwise, the positional information can be inputted by a user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for synthesizing images and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When photographed by a digital camera, an image is stored as an image file. The standard for recording positional information such as latitude and longitude as additional information in an image file is specified in the digital camera image format EXIF. If a digital camera incorporating a GPS (Global Positioning System) device is used, latitude and longitude information can be recorded in an image file at the time of shooting.

[0003]

A digital camera that adds latitude and longitude information to a photographed image at the time of photographing is already on the market. However, it was difficult to intuitively know the shooting location at the time of printing using only the latitude and longitude information. Also,
It is possible to search and print out maps from latitude and longitude information using commercially available PC software.
However, the operation is complicated, and it is different from the printing of the photographed image, or the image needs to be synthesized using another software. Also, organizing the images was very troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to provide a print in which the photographing place of an image can be easily understood.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: reading means for reading an image recorded on a recording medium; searching means for searching map image information from position information; Compositing means for composing the read image and the map image information retrieved by the retrieval means into one image. In the above-described image processing apparatus, the synthesizing unit obtains, for example, positional information from information attached to an image recorded on a recording medium. Position information (GPS information, etc.) in the additional information recorded on the image
You can search the map of the shooting location from and automatically combine it with the image to be printed. This makes it possible to easily obtain a print synthesized with the map. The image processing apparatus further includes, for example, an input unit for inputting data for specifying a position by a user, and obtains position information from the data input by the input unit. For example, the data specifying the location is an address, telephone number, latitude and longitude, or postal code. The image processing device is preferably
Further, there is provided adjusting means for adjusting the magnification or the center position of the map synthesized by the synthesizing means, and the synthesizing means synthesizes the map with the magnification or the center position adjusted by the adjusting means. An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described image processing apparatus and a printing unit that prints an image synthesized by the synthesizing unit.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference symbols indicate the same or equivalent ones. FIG. 1 shows an outline of a printer 10 with a display device for displaying an image recorded on a recording medium such as a memory stick. In the printer 10, an image processing unit (C) for processing image data
The PU 12 is connected to a working RAM 14, a keyboard 16 as an input device, and a touch panel 18. The touch panel 18 includes a display device 20 such as an LCD and a CRT. The image file recorded on the medium (such as a memory stick) 22 is
Is read into the image processing unit 12 via the. At the time of printing, image data is sent from the image processing unit 12 to the print engine 26, and the image is printed.

In the printer 10, map information can be searched. The map information is recorded in a map information recording unit 28 inside the printer. The map information is read from the network 30 that provides the map information via the network communication device 32. The map information of the map information recording unit 28 may be downloaded from the providing network 30. As described above, the map information is stored in the map information recording unit 28 (or an external storage device (not shown)) built in the printer 10 in advance, or
The map information in the external storage device can be accessed via a network 30 such as the Internet or a LAN.
As described above, the map information is stored in advance in the internal or external storage device of the printer, or the map information in the external storage device can be accessed via the network.

In this printer 10, when a user takes a picture with a digital camera having a position information recording function, the latitude and longitude information (GPS information) recorded as ancillary information in an image file in the medium 22 corresponds to the photographing location. The map information to be searched is automatically retrieved and automatically combined with the image and printed. This makes it possible to easily obtain a print synthesized with the map. If there is no position information in the image file in the medium 22, the user can search for the corresponding map information by inputting an address, a telephone number, etc. (FIG. 5), and combine and print the map information with the image. . When combining the maps, the user can adjust the magnification and the center position of the map to be combined (FIG. 6).

In the composite print shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an image photographed by a digital camera is printed on the left side, and a map near the photographing point is printed on the right side. The circle in the map represents the shooting location. The composite print shown in FIG. 2 shows a case where the scale of the map is small, and the composite print shown in FIG. 3 shows a case where the scale of the map is large. For example, buildings, stores,
For business use for photographing a construction site, an accident site, and the like, a map of a photographing place can be combined with a photographed image. This makes it easy to identify the shooting location,
It is very convenient for preparing reports. In addition, a general user can compose a map with a photograph of a commemorative photograph at a tourist spot or the like. As a result, it becomes a memorial of the trip and the organization of the photos becomes convenient. In the composite print shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the image and the map are pasted on the left and right, but the layout may be arbitrarily specified such as left, right, up, and down.

FIG. 4 shows a map synthesis processing flow for synthesizing a map with an image file recorded on the medium 22. When the medium 22 is inserted into the loading section (YES in S10), and it is determined that the medium 22 has image data (S1).
(YES in 2), the recording file (image data) is read from the medium 22 (S14), and the image data therein is subjected to image expansion processing and stored in the RAM 14 (S16).

Next, if there is longitude / latitude position data in the record file (YES in S18), it is read and R
Store in AM14. If there is no position data, longitude. In order to obtain the latitude position data, a screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display device 20 of the touch panel, and the user inputs data for specifying the location (S20). In this example, the address, telephone number, latitude and longitude or postal code can be entered. The map information recording unit 9 is searched based on data such as an address and a telephone, and the map information of the position is read and stored in the RAM 14. In this way, G
Even when PS information is not recorded, a map can be searched from an address or a telephone number of an arbitrary place and can be combined with an image at the time of shooting.

Next, the map information recording unit 28 is searched based on the position data, and the map information at that position is read.
It is stored in the AM 14 (S22). Then, the image data and the map information are combined into one print size on the RAM 14 (laminated) and displayed on an LCD or the like (S24).

Next, the scale of the map input by the user is set (S26). (The type of magnification is determined in the map information database.) Further, the center position of the map input by the user is set (S28). If nothing is specified, the position data will be the center position of the map. FIG. 6 shows an input screen of the touch panel 18 for adjusting the center position and the magnification. The user can move the center position using the cursor button 180 while viewing the map shown on the display device 20. Also, regarding the magnification,
The user can enlarge or reduce the map while viewing the map shown on the display device 20 by using the scaling button 182. As described above, since the magnification of the map information to be synthesized at the time of printing and the center position of the map can be adjusted by the touch panel 18, it is possible to easily obtain a synthetic print with a map of a desired scale. When the user checks the desired map information by changing the center position and the magnification (S30), the process proceeds to the next process such as printout.

[0014]

According to the present invention, the map information is searched from the latitude and longitude information added to the image at the time of photographing, and as a series of operations, a print in which the photographed image and the map are automatically synthesized is obtained. Creation and album creation can be performed very efficiently. Further, it is possible to retrieve map information from position information (address, telephone number, etc.) input by a user, and obtain a print in which a photographed image and a map are automatically synthesized. The map to be synthesized can be appropriately adjusted by adjusting the magnification and the center position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a composite image.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example of a composite image.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a map synthesis process.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a touch panel for inputting position data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a touch panel for setting a magnification and a center position.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 printer, 12 image processing unit, 18 touch panel, 20 display device, 22 media,
26 print engine, 28 map information recording unit, 30 network for providing map information.

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Claims (6)

[Claims] A reading means for reading an image recorded on a recording medium; a search means for searching map image information from position information; an image read from the recording medium by the reading means; and a map image searched by the searching means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a synthesizing unit that synthesizes information into one image. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said synthesizing unit obtains the position information from information attached to an image recorded on a recording medium. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising input means for inputting data specifying a position by a user, and obtaining position information from the data input by the input means.
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The data for specifying the position includes an address,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image processing apparatus is a telephone number, a latitude and a longitude, or a postal code. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising adjusting means for adjusting a magnification or a center position of the map synthesized by the synthesizing means, wherein the synthesizing means synthesizes the map with the magnification or the center position adjusted by the adjusting means. The image processing device according to claim 1. 6. An image forming apparatus comprising: the image processing apparatus according to claim 1; and a printing unit that prints an image synthesized by the synthesizing unit.