JP2001297320A - Device and method for filing image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and a method for filing image, with which image working information can be surely managed without using a method such as preparation of a managing file or addition of limited information to the file name of a principal image. SOLUTION: The image working information such as trimming or rotation designated by a user is recorded in the comment enable area of an image file with low possibility of erasure. In the case of Exif form, the working information is stored in a maker note area inside the file. Besides, corresponding to the source image of a large data amount, a small image file for reproducing display is preserved on a recording medium 28 and the acceleration of display is attained. The information of working to the source image is recorded in the small image file for display and the working information is reproduced at high speed without access to the source image. While utilizing the working information in the image file, only required one part in the image file is segmented and only irreducibly minimum data are transferred to a printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image file apparatus and method for storing and managing images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a dedicated image file device for storing and managing images photographed by an electronic camera has been developed, and a technology related to such a device has been proposed (Japanese Patent No. 925306).
No. 13, Japanese Patent No. 9296801). For example,
As shown in FIG. 11, there is a method of using a management file (hereinafter, referred to as a management file) such as text or binary describing information necessary for management and display of an image, separately from the image file. There is a method of recording information such as image trimming information (coordinates of a trimming reference point, image width, image height, and the like) and a brightness correction value in a file. When the management file is not used, as shown in FIG. 12, a method is used in which a predetermined code string is used for the file name of the image file and certain limited information is added.

[0003]

However, the method using a management file has a disadvantage that an extra medium capacity is required for the management file. In addition, since the management file is not an image file, the user easily deletes or moves the folder, and the possibility that the information cannot be managed is high. A method of prohibiting user operation of the management file, such as describing the management file in a format other than the general DOS format, can be recalled. In this case, however, it is extremely difficult for the user to freely use the image file on the personal computer. Even big effects are lost.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and does not use a method of creating a management file or adding limited information to the file name of a main image. An object of the present invention is to provide an image file device and a method capable of managing information.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an image file device according to claim 1 stores, in an image file, image processing information of the image and another image file related to the image. A function of recording at least one of the pieces of processing information of the image being processed.

According to the present invention, the processing information designated by the user is stored in the image file, so that the conventional management file becomes unnecessary. The image file is less likely to be deleted or moved by the user than the management file, and the necessary processing information can be managed reliably.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image filing apparatus, comprising: image capturing means for capturing an original image; processing instruction input means for designating processing details on the original image captured by the image capturing means; Image processing means for performing processing on the original image in accordance with the processing content specified by: and file creation means for writing processing information on the processing content specified by the processing instruction input means together with the original image into one image file; Recording means for recording the image file created by the file creation means on a recording medium.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in place of the file creating means, processing information on the processing content designated by the processing instruction input means is stored in an image obtained by the processing by the image processing means. In addition, there is also a mode in which a file creating means for writing into one image file is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image file device, comprising: an image capturing means for capturing an original image; a processing instruction input means for designating a processing content for the original image captured by the image capturing means; Generating a small image having a size smaller than the image size of the original image based on the image processing means for processing the original image in accordance with the processing content specified in the above, and the original image captured by the image capturing means An image size conversion means, a file creation means for writing processing information relating to the processing content designated by the processing instruction input means together with the small image in one image file, and an image file created by the file creation means are recorded. Recording means for recording on a medium.

[0010] In this case, as described in claim 5, the file creation means separates the processing information on the processing content designated by the processing instruction input means from the image file of the small image together with the original image. The image file of the original image also serves as a means for writing in the image file of
There is an aspect characterized in that the information is recorded on the recording medium by the recording means.

[0011] As shown in claim 6, claims 2 to 5
The image file device according to any one of the above, further includes a reading unit that reads information from the recording medium, and a display unit that can display an image captured by the image capturing unit and an image read by the reading unit. Embodiments are preferred.

According to the aspect of the present invention, in consideration of the relationship with the display means, the image size conversion means displays the entire image content of the original image on the screen of the display means as the small image. The image file device generates an image file of an original image on the recording medium and an image file of a display small image created from the original image on the recording medium. When both of the files are recorded, a control means is provided for selectively reading the image file of the small image for display and displaying the small image for display on the display means.

A small display image is held separately from the original image, and the image is thinned by accessing a small display image file having a small data amount instead of the original image file having a large data amount when displaying the image. Processing and interpolation are not required, and high-speed display on the display unit can be realized. Further, by recording the processing information for the original image in the small display image file, the processing information can be obtained at high speed without accessing the file of the original image.

Further, as described in claim 8, claim 1 is
In addition to the configuration of the image file device according to any one of the above items, further, an image transfer means for transferring an image to an external device, and an image transfer device for obtaining an image file of the original image based on the processing information. It is preferable to add a transfer control unit that takes out only the necessary part and transfers it by the image transfer unit. For example, as described in claim 9, the image file device of the present invention is connected to a printer via the image transfer means.

According to this aspect, since only a part of the necessary image file is transferred to the printer based on the processing information recorded in the image file, the print data can be transferred at a high speed.

Further, a function capable of designating a print mode such as one-sided print, divided print, index print, etc. is provided on the printer side, and an original image and a small image after processing are selected in accordance with the designated print mode, and the selected image is processed by the printer. There is also a mode of transferring.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for achieving the above object, and an image file method according to the present invention captures an original image and receives a processing instruction for the captured original image. In addition, processing information on the specified processing content is written together with the original image in one image file, and the created image file is recorded on a recording medium.

An image file method according to claim 11, wherein an original image is fetched, a processing instruction for the fetched original image is received, and processing is performed on the original image in accordance with a specified processing content. The processing information is written in one image file together with the image obtained by the processing, and the created image file is recorded on a recording medium.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image file method, wherein an original image is fetched, a processing instruction for the fetched original image is received, and a small image having a size smaller than the image size of the original image based on the fetched original image. Is generated, the processing information on the specified processing content is written together with the small image in one image file, and the created image file is recorded on a recording medium.

In this case, as described in claim 13, as the small image, a display small image of a predetermined size capable of displaying the entire image content of the original image on one screen of a display device is generated. When both the image file of the original image and the image file of the small display image created from the original image are recorded on the recording medium, the image file of the small display image is selectively read. There is a mode in which the display small image is displayed on the display device.

Further, the image file method of the present invention is not limited to an embodiment implemented as a dedicated device for image filing,
The present invention can also be implemented by a computer. As shown in claim 14, a computer program for achieving the image filing function of the present invention can be stored in a CD-ROM or other information recording medium and provided. It is possible.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an image file apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image file device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Image file device 10
Are image transfer means 12, display means 14, input means 16,
The control unit 18 includes a control unit 18, a search unit 20, an image processing unit 22, and a recording unit 24. These units are connected to a bus 26. Then, a user's instruction is input from the input unit 16, and the reading and writing processing of the recording medium 28 is performed via the recording unit 24.

The image transfer means 12 includes a printer (not shown)
This is a block corresponding to an interface unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from a personal computer and other external devices. For example, various communication interfaces such as USB, SCSI, IEEE1394, video output terminal (VIDEO OUT terminal), Bluetooth, etc. can be applied regardless of wired or wireless.

The display means 14 is a liquid crystal display (LC)
D), a CRT, a plasma display, and other display devices capable of color display are applied. The input unit 16 is a block corresponding to an operation unit for inputting an instruction by a user, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and operation buttons. The contents input from the input unit 16 can be confirmed on the screen of the display unit 14.

The control means 18 controls the image file device 10
And a central processing unit (CPU), a ROM storing reference data of the CPU, a RAM as a work area, and the like.

The search means 20 is a block for performing a process of extracting a file that matches the search condition from the recording medium 28 based on the search condition input from the input means 16. The search result is displayed on the screen of the display unit 14. The image processing unit 22 performs a process of generating a small image and a thumbnail image for display from the data of the original image, and performs processing based on a trimming instruction, a color correction instruction, a filter process, and other image editing instructions specified by the input unit 16. An image processing unit that processes the main image.

The recording means 24 is a block including an interface unit for reading and writing the recording medium 28 based on a command from the control means 18. The recording medium 28 records image data, processing information, and the like. Recording medium 28
Can be in various forms such as smart media, PC card, compact flash (registered trademark), magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, and memory stick, and signal processing means and interfaces according to the medium to be used are applied. You.

The recording medium 28 is not limited to a removable medium, but may be an internal memory (storage means) provided inside the image file device 10, and the information stored in the internal memory is transferred to an external device by the image transfer means 12. It is also possible to adopt an embodiment. It is also possible to adopt a mode in which a plurality of recording means are provided so that a plurality of recording media of different types or the same type can be used.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a folder structure of the recording medium 28. As shown in the figure, one or more image folders are formed under “image root folder”,
Individual image files are stored in each folder. FIG.
In, below the “image root folder”, the lower folders of “image folder 1” and “image folder 2” are formed,
Image file 1 and image file 2 are stored in “image folder 1”, and image file 3 and image file 4 are stored in “image folder 2”. The folder name and the file name may be automatically given by the control unit 18 or a digital camera, or may be a user-defined one. Note that a plurality of files having the same file name cannot be stored in the same folder, but the same file name can be used if the folder is different.

An image file is created according to a predetermined file format. In this example, it is assumed that a file according to the Exif standard is created. Here, Exif
The standard will be briefly described. The Exif standard defines two types of file formats, an uncompressed data file and a compressed data file.
Compatible with FF Rev.6.0, compressed data file is JP
It conforms to the EG format.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the basic structure of an uncompressed data file. Image data is recorded in either RGB or YCbCr format. It is recommended that a thumbnail image be recorded in the file, and the thumbnail image data can be recorded in any of RGB or YCbCr formats regardless of the format of the main image data.

One file contains two Image File Dirs.
ectory (IFD) can be described, and the IFD described at the beginning of the file is called "0th IFD" and the main image (Prim
aryImage) is described. Subsequent IFD
Is referred to as “1st IFD” and describes information about a thumbnail image.

After the header 30, "0th IFD pointer" 3
1 is described, and this pointer indicates the start address of the 0th IFD. Following the “0th IFD pointer” 31, the IFD (“0th IFD for Primary Data” 33) relating to the main image is described below, starting from the entry count code 32. "0th IFD for Primary Data" 33
Includes image width, image height, Exif IFD pointer, etc.

Following the "0th IFD for Primary Data" 33, the "1st IFD pointer" 34 is described.
h Specific data of IFD (“Value of 0th IFD” 35)
Is described. If "1st IFD" does not exist in the file, a termination code (terminal) is described instead of "1st IFD pointer" 34.

After the “Value of 0th IFD” 35, the entry count code 36 starts, and the “Exif PFD”
private tag "37 is described. "Exif Private Tag"
37 includes Exif version information, a maker note, and the like. The maker note area is an area in which a vendor-specific description can be made. In the embodiment of the present invention, an image management information tag described later is stored in this maker note area.

At the end of the “Exif Private Tag” 37, a terminal 38 is described.
The value 39 of the if data and the maker note data 40 are described. Below that, starting with the entry count code 41, hereafter the IFD relating to the thumbnail image
("1st IFD for Thumnail Data" 42) is described. The “1st IFD for Thumnail Data” 42 includes the width of the image and the height of the image. 1s following Terminal 43
A value (“Value of 1st IFD”) 44 of t IFD and data 45 of the thumbnail image are described, followed by main image data 46.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of a compressed data file. In the compressed data file, an application marker segment (APP1) is described immediately after an SOI (Start of Image) marker indicating the beginning of the file, followed by a quantization table (DQT), a Huffman table (DHT), and a frame. Header (SOF), scan header (SOS), entropy coded data,
And an entropy coded data end code (EOI).

The inside of APP1 is an APP1 marker, Ex1
It consists of the identification code of the if and the attached information body. The attached information has a TIFF structure including a header, and has two IFDs (0t
h IFD and 1st IFD) can be recorded. FIG. 5 shows the basic structure of a JPEG compressed data file in APP1. As shown in the figure, the APP1 unit includes the structure (TIFF structure) of the uncompressed data file described in FIG.

Next, the image management information described in the maker note area will be described. FIG. 6 is a list showing an example of the image management information Tag for the image file device. T
The ag name “Main Image Path” is an item indicating the relative path of the main image file, and specifically, data of the relative path of the main image corresponding to the display image file is described.
Based on the main image, a resizing process is performed according to the screen size of the display unit 14, and when a new display image is created, the file for the display image includes a file for specifying the original main image. The main image path is added as tag information. The directory serving as the reference of the relative path is the directory in which the display image file is stored. Note that “CM” in the “description level” column in the chart shown in FIG. 6 means that it is a semi-essential entry, and must be entered unless there is a restriction on hardware. It is shown that.

The tag name “Main Image TrimmingX” indicates the X coordinate of the trimming reference point of the main image. In the Value, the horizontal coordinate (X coordinate) of the trimming reference point of the trimmed image area (meaning the image area obtained by trimming) in the main image file is described by an integer value in image units. When trimming is designated for the main image, information about trimming is added to the file of the main image as tag information.

Here, an example of trimming the main image will be described with reference to FIG. The number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the original image is 1
It is assumed that 280 (500.H in hexadecimal) and 1024 (400.H) pixels in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 7, when the upper left of the screen is the coordinate origin (0, 0), the horizontal right direction is the positive direction of the X axis, and the vertical lower direction is the positive direction of the Y axis, for example, the trimming reference point is (X, Y) = (20
0,100), image width W of the image area after trimming = 10
00 (= 3E8.H), image height H = 600 (= 25
8. H). In this case, a value representing the X coordinate of the trimming reference point is described as the value of the main image trimming X.

The tag name “Main Image TrimmingY” indicates the Y coordinate of the trimming reference point of the main image. In the Value, the vertical coordinate (Y) of the trimming reference point is described by an integer value in pixel units. Tag name `` Main Image Trimm
ingW "indicates the width of the image area after trimming the main image,
In the Value, the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the trimmed image area in the main image file (the trimmed image area width W shown in FIG. 7) is described as an integer value. Tag name `` Main I
“mage TrimmingH” indicates the height of the trimmed image area of the main image, and Value indicates the number of pixels in the vertical direction of the trimmed image area in the main image file (the trimmed image area height H shown in FIG. 7). Is described as an integer value.

The tag name “Main Image Rotation” designates a rotation angle in the rotation processing of the main image.
The rotation angle is in units of 90 degrees (0, 90, 180, 270
Can be set only in degrees). If any other value is used, it is assumed that a reservation is required. The rotation direction of the image is a clockwise rotation (CW rotation) as a positive direction.

The display direction of the main image when there is no rotation (rotation angle 0 degrees) is a specification for each model, and the other rotation angles are defined relative to the state without rotation. The rotation center is a model-specific specification.

Next, the operation of the image file device 10 configured as described above will be described. When a recording medium 28 in which an image captured by a digital camera or the like is stored is attached to the recording means 24 and a necessary operation is performed from the input means 16, the control means 18 causes the recording medium 28 to respond to the input operation instruction signal. To execute information reading processing.

The display means 14 displays a list of image files stored in the recording medium 28. The user can select a desired image file from the list display screen. As a form of the list display, the folder of the storage destination is displayed in a tree structure, the image contents in the recording medium 28 are displayed in a predetermined display order (for example, the display order in which the recording time is reversed from the latest image to the oldest image, or , File names, etc.), or thumbnail images are displayed in an array. It may be configured such that the user can select the form of the list display.

To explain an example of displaying a list of thumbnail images, if data of a thumbnail image is included in the main image file, the thumbnail image is displayed by utilizing the thumbnail data in the file. On the other hand, when thumbnail data is not included in the main image file, a thumbnail image is created in the image processing means 22 based on the data of the main image. Image processing means 22
Performs a pixel thinning process and other necessary data processing from the data of the main image, and performs a specified size (for example, 160 × 1
20, 80 × 60).
The thumbnail image generated in this way is displayed on the display means 14 and written in the main image file, or recorded on the recording medium 28 as an image file different from the main image file. Therefore, when the next thumbnail image is displayed, the thumbnail data is called from the recording medium 28, and the thumbnail image is displayed in a short time.

In the list display screen, an input field for receiving an input of a search condition is displayed. When the user inputs search conditions for a desired image file, the search means 20 extracts image files that match the search conditions. The search conditions include a title keyword, a shooting date and time, a target folder, a file type, and the like, and these search conditions can be combined by “AND” or “OR”. The search result is presented on the display means 14, and a condition for further narrowing down the target can be additionally inputted. As described above, by using the search means 20, a desired image file can be found from a large number of image files in a short time. Note that the list display screen and the image search screen may be configured as separate screens, and the screen may be switched to the image search screen in response to a command input by a user's predetermined operation.

When the user selects a desired image from the list display screen or the image search screen, the image content of the image file is displayed on the display unit 14. On this playback display screen, various image editing such as image trimming, rotation, brightness correction, color correction, and filter processing can be performed. Image processing is performed by the image processing unit 22 in accordance with the designated image processing content, and the image obtained by the processing can be stored in the recording medium 28 based on a user's storage instruction. The designated image editing information (processing information) is added to the maker note area of the original image file as image management information as described with reference to FIG.

This image management information is used for display reproduction on the display unit 14 or for image transfer to a dedicated printer or other device (not shown). For example, when printing an image to which trimming information has been added, it is not necessary to transfer the entire main image to the printer. Therefore, in the case of the image file device 10 of this example, only a necessary portion of the image file is cut out based on the trimming information recorded in the file, and the cut out image portion is transferred to the printer. Thus, by transferring only necessary and sufficient image data to the printer, high-speed transfer of print data is achieved. Note that JPEG files (.J
PG), a restart marker is used as a means for specifying the image cutout position. On the other hand, TIFF files (.
For an uncompressed file such as a TIF or a bitmap file (.BMP), the image cutout position and the file cutout information correspond one-to-one.

The image file device 10 has two modes of a high-speed display mode and a normal display mode as image display functions, and the display mode can be set by the input unit 16 used as the mode selection unit. It is possible.
When the high-speed display mode is designated, the control unit 18
Performs the following control. That is, the image size of each image file in the recording medium 28 is compared with a predetermined size defined by the screen size of the display unit 14, and if the image size of the image file is large, the image content ( The entire image is converted into a predetermined image size that can be displayed on one screen of the display unit 14, and the obtained display image is recorded on the recording medium 28 as an image file different from the original image file.

For example, if the screen size of the display means 14 is V
When the image of the target image file is a GA size (640 × 480) and has a larger image size (e.g., 1280 × 1024), an image conforming to the VGA size based on the main image Is automatically created and recorded in a separate file as a display image. And
The processing information specified for the original image, that is, the image management information described with reference to FIG. 6 is added to this display image file. This makes it possible to read out the image data and the processing information from the display image file without accessing the original image file,
High-speed display and high-speed reproduction of processing information can be realized.

FIG. 8 shows a folder structure in the embodiment according to the present invention. According to the figure, an image folder 1 is formed under an image root folder. In the folder, an image file 1 and an image file 2 corresponding to a main image are stored, and a lower layer folder called a display image folder 1 is stored. Created. In the display image folder 1, a display image file 1 corresponding to the image file 1 and a display image file 2 corresponding to the image file 2 are stored.

As described above, when both the main image file and the corresponding display image file are recorded in the recording medium 28, the single image reproduction in the high-speed display mode or the automatic reproduction (slide show) is executed. At the time of image reproduction, such as at the time, a display image file is selectively read. The main image file can be reproduced by the user performing a predetermined operation as needed. Note that the automatic playback function means that the recording medium 2
8 is a function of automatically playing back the image files in sequence at predetermined time intervals. The user can specify a playback order, a playback time, a wipe pattern at the time of screen switching, and the like.

As described above, by describing the related information of the original image (main image) in the display image file,
It is possible to achieve a high-speed one-screen display of the main image and to extract processing information and the like for the main image at a higher speed.

On the other hand, when the normal display mode is designated, the display image is generated from the original image file as necessary without automatically storing the display image, and Will be displayed.

According to the image file apparatus according to the present embodiment, the image processing information designated by the user is recorded as ancillary information in the image file, so that it can be erased unlike the conventional management file. It is possible to manage the processing information with low reliability.

Further, by providing a display image separately from the main image, it is possible to display at a higher speed than before. By recording the processing information for the main image specified by the user in the display image file, the processing information can be reproduced at high speed without accessing the main image.

Further, since only necessary parts in the image file can be transferred to a dedicated printer or the like by utilizing the processing information recorded in the file, useless data transfer can be omitted, and the speed of image transfer can be increased. Can be planned.

In the system in which the image file device and the printer according to the present embodiment are combined, there is a mode in which the following functions are added. That is, the image file device determines an appropriate image size required for printing in accordance with the designated print form, and based on the determination, appropriately selects the processed original image or thumbnail image (small image). And transfer it to the printer.

The printer has a one-sided printing mode in which one image is printed on one recording sheet in a large size, and a recording area of one recording sheet is divided into a plurality of blocks (two divisions, four divisions).
Division, 9 divisions, 16 divisions, etc.) to print a plurality of small images, and a list of image contents recorded on a recording medium (or a specific folder in the medium). Each mode of the index printing mode for printing on recording sheets is prepared, and the user can select the printing mode by operating the mode switching unit.

When the one-sided printing is designated, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9B, while the original image after processing is transferred to the printer, when the divided print is specified and the index print is specified, the small image (in this case, the thumbnail image) is transferred to the printer as shown in FIG. Will be transferred. The printer further converts the image size, if necessary, based on the image transferred from the image file device, creates print data, and drives the print mechanism to execute printing.

In the case of the divided printing and the index printing, since each image area is smaller than that of the one-sided printing, the data amount necessary for the printing is also small. Therefore, even if the data of the thumbnail image is provided to the printer, a sufficient image quality level for print reproduction can be achieved, and the speed of data transfer can be increased.

FIG. 10 shows an example of nine-division printing. The printer, which has received the plurality of small images from the image file device, arranges these images in a predetermined arrangement form (in this case, 3 ×
3) and are recorded on one recording sheet 50.

In addition to the designated print mode,
The image to be transferred may be automatically selected in consideration of the size of the recording sheet and the resolution of the printer, and the speed of data transfer may be increased while maintaining the image quality at the time of printing.

It is to be noted that not only a mode in which small images to be printed are provided from the image file device and the printer side performs processing such as appropriately arranging them, and then printing is performed. Perform array processing,
A mode is also possible in which data is provided to the printer in the form of a final image printed on a recording sheet.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the maker note area in the Exif format is used has been described.
The scope to which the present invention is applied is not limited to this. It is only necessary to add the image management information to the commentable area provided in the image file, and the file format is not limited.

In the above embodiment, a dedicated file device having an image filing function has been described as an example.
The present invention may be applied to an electronic camera. Electronic camera
It has a function of converting an optical image into an electric signal by an image pickup device including an image pickup device, appropriately processing the obtained signal, and recording image data obtained on the recording medium, and converting an image recorded on the recording medium into a liquid crystal. It has a function of displaying on a monitor or other display device. In the case where the present invention is applied to an electronic camera, not only the interface unit of the recording medium functions as the image capturing unit, but also the image capturing unit plays the role of the image capturing unit.

Further, the image file method of the present invention can be realized by a computer, and the image management software (program) having the image file function of the present invention can be stored on a CD-ROM, a magnetic disk or other information recording medium. It can also be provided to a third party, or distributed via a communication line such as the Internet.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, the processing information of an image designated by a user is recorded in an image file which is unlikely to be erased, so that the processing information is reliably managed. be able to. In addition, a small display image is stored for the original image with a large amount of data, and instead of the original image file, the file of the small display image with a small amount of data is accessed. Can be planned.

Further, by recording the processing information for the original image in the display small image file, the processing information can be obtained at high speed without accessing the original image file. Based on the processing information added to the image file, only a necessary part of the image file can be cut out and only the minimum necessary data can be transferred to a device such as a printer. Higher speed can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a folder structure of a recording medium.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic structure of an uncompressed data file in Exif format.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of a compressed data file in Exif format.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a basic structure of a JPEG compressed data file in APP1 shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of image management information Tag for an image file device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of trimming of a main image.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a folder structure in a mode in which a small display image is recorded on a recording medium.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which an image is appropriately selected according to a designated print form and transferred to a printer.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a nine-part print.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional image management method.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the conventional image management method.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 image file device, 12 image transfer means, 14
Display means, 16 input means, 18 control means (file creation means, transfer control means), 20 search means, 22 image processing means (image size conversion means), 24 recording means (image capture means, reading Means), 26 bus, 28 recording medium

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A function of recording at least one of processing information of an image stored in an image file and another image file related to the image together with the image in the image file. An image file device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. An image capturing means for capturing an original image, a processing instruction input means for designating a processing content for the original image captured by the image capturing means, and a processing instruction specified by the processing instruction input means. Image processing means for performing processing on the original image; file creation means for writing processing information regarding the processing content designated by the processing instruction input means together with the original image into one image file; Recording means for recording the image file on a recording medium. 3. The image file device according to claim 2, wherein the processing information on the processing content designated by the processing instruction input means is obtained by the processing by the image processing means instead of the file creating means. An image filing apparatus comprising a file creating means for writing in an image file together with an image. 4. An image capturing means for capturing an original image, a processing instruction input means for designating a processing content for the original image captured by the image capturing means, and a processing instruction specified by the processing instruction input means. Image processing means for processing the original image; image size conversion means for generating a small image smaller than the image size of the original image based on the original image captured by the image capturing means; File creation means for writing processing information on the processing content designated by the instruction input means together with the small image in one image file; recording means for recording the image file created by the file creation means on a recording medium; An image file device comprising: 5. The image file device according to claim 4, wherein the file creating unit stores processing information on the processing content designated by the processing instruction input unit together with the original image as an image file of the small image. An image file device, which also serves as a means for writing in another image file, wherein the image file of the original image is recorded on the recording medium by the recording means. 6. The image file device according to claim 2, wherein the image file reading device reads information from the recording medium, an image captured by the image capturing device, and an image read by the reading device. An image file device, comprising: display means for displaying the following. 7. The image file device according to claim 6, wherein said image size conversion means includes:
A small image for display of a predetermined size capable of displaying the entire image content of the original image on the screen of the display means on one screen, the image file device includes an image file of the original image on the recording medium, When both the image file of the display small image and the image file of the display small image created from the original image are recorded, the image file of the display small image is selectively read, and the display small image is sent to the display means. An image file device comprising a control unit for displaying. 8. The image file device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises: an image transfer unit for transferring an image to an external device; and an original image file based on the processing information. Transfer control means for extracting only a necessary portion from the image file and transferring the image file by the image transfer means. 9. The image filing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said apparatus is connected to a printer via said image transfer means. 10. An original image is fetched, a processing instruction for the fetched original image is received, processing information on specified processing contents is written together with the original image in one image file, and the created image file is An image file method for recording on a recording medium. 11. An original image is fetched, a processing instruction for the fetched original image is received, a processing is performed on the original image in accordance with a specified processing content, and processing information on the specified processing content is processed by the processing processing. An image file method, wherein the image file is written in one image file together with the image obtained by the above, and the created image file is recorded on a recording medium. 12. An original image is fetched, a processing instruction for the fetched original image is received, and a small image having a size smaller than the image size of the original image is generated based on the fetched original image. An image file method, wherein processing information on contents is written into one image file together with the small image, and the created image file is recorded on a recording medium. 13. The image file method according to claim 12, wherein, as the small image, a display small image of a predetermined size capable of displaying the entire image content of the original image on one screen of a display device, When both the image file of the original image and the image file of the display small image created from the original image are recorded on the recording medium, the image file of the display small image is selectively selected. An image file method comprising reading and displaying the display small image on the display device. 14. An information recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the image file method according to claim 10.