JP2001312736A - Image processor, medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a function capable of efficiently managing and utilizing image data. SOLUTION: This image processor is provided with a means for displaying a compound area, which is the set of unit areas to be filled with images, on a screen and a means for filling the unit areas inside this compound area with the images of processing targets.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for operating image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As such a technique, there has been a technique of arranging and managing a plurality of images on a sheet like a photo album.

In this technique, an image can be arranged at any position on a sheet, and images are superimposed and arranged, and at the time of superimposition, a target image is superimposed on another image. On the other hand, it was possible to specify whether it would be the front or the back. Further, each of the images arranged on these sheets can be changed to an arbitrary size by a user's specification.

In this technique, a system (software) for realizing the above-described functions includes position information of each image arranged on a sheet, superimposition information between the images (front / rear), It was necessary to manage the size information of each image. The technique for managing the superposition between images is generally called layer management.

[0005] Further, by arranging a new image on the sheet or by moving the position of an image already arranged on the sheet,
When the system (software) redraws each image arranged on the sheet, it is necessary to perform processing for obtaining a portion to be displayed of each image from various management information held.

Therefore, in such a conventional technique,
Requires a lot of resources to hold a lot of management information, and system (software) when redrawing each image
However, such a technique has not been practically usable in an apparatus with scarce resources and low processing capacity.

On the other hand, today, image data has been handled in daily life due to the development of the Internet and the spread of digital cameras. In addition, mobile environments such as mobile terminals and mobile phones that can handle image data have remarkably developed. In such a flow, efficiently managing and using the created image data and the like has been a very important issue for a user who handles images. In particular, a function for efficiently operating and editing image data and the like is required even in an environment where resources such as mobile are scarce.

Conventionally, however, there has not been provided a function of allowing a user to efficiently operate and edit image data, for example, a function of combining a plurality of images to synthesize a new image. Also, resources (memory, disk capacity, etc.)
In a poor environment, functions for efficiently managing and using images have not been provided.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has been developed to provide a function that allows a user to efficiently manage and use image data. Subject.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing technique for processing a plurality of images that can be put to practical use even in an apparatus having a low processing capacity and scarce resources.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention employs the following means.

That is, according to the present invention, in an image processing apparatus, means for displaying, on a screen, a composite area which is a set of unit areas for inserting an image, and means for inserting an image to be processed into a unit area in the composite area And

The image inserted in the unit area may be freely moved to another unit area in the composite area.

Further, the image inserted in the unit area may be deleted by being moved out of the composite area.

The image to be processed may be inserted into a unit area by a drag-and-drop operation.

In the above-described image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus may further include a movement detecting unit for detecting an instruction of an image to be processed and a movement of the instructed image, and the instructed image may be embedded in a unit area of the movement destination.

In the above-described image processing apparatus, the composite area in which the image has been inserted may be stored as an image having a predetermined size.

The image processing apparatus further includes a related image designating unit for associating a plurality of images, and when the image to be processed is associated with another image, the image associated with the image to be processed is continuously transmitted to a plurality of unit areas. You may make it fit in. In this case, when the number of images to be inserted exceeds the number of unit areas that can be inserted, the insertion may be terminated.

The composite area may be composed of unit areas having different dimensions.

According to the present invention, in an image processing apparatus, there are provided a plurality of unit storage areas for storing an image to be processed, and a control unit for controlling access to each unit storage area. A composite image may be generated from a unit image by storing the unit image to be processed in the storage area and accessing between the unit storage areas in a predetermined order.
In this case, unit storage areas of different capacities may be provided, and the composite image may be composed of unit images of different dimensions.

The present invention may be a program for causing a computer to realize the above functions. In the present invention, such a program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an external configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of the image processing apparatus, FIG. FIG. 5 is a memory map diagram of the loading area 2 shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing normal loading, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing continuous loading, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the movement of the stuffed image, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the deletion of the stuffed image, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the storage of the stuffed image. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an inserting process, FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a moving / deleting process of an inserted image, and FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an inserted image storing process. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the environment setting process. Is a chart, FIG. 15,
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a modification of the filling area, and FIG. 16 is a modification of the memory map of the filling area.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an insertion area management table for managing the insertion area. <Configuration> FIG. 1 shows an image processing apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. The image processing apparatus 200 is connected to the image acquisition apparatus 101 by a universal serial bus (hereinafter, USB) cable 300.

The image processing apparatus 200 is configured by causing a portable terminal to execute a predetermined control program.

The image obtaining apparatus 101 includes a button 102 for instructing execution of image photographing processing and a lens 103 for forming an image inside the main body 100 on the front side of the main body 100. CCD not shown
It has an image sensor.

FIG. 2 shows a hardware block diagram of the image processing apparatus 200. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 200 reads out a digital image signal generated by the image acquisition apparatus 101 via a USB cable 300, and controls a CPU 201 that controls image processing, and a control program executed by the CPU 201 and processing by the CPU 201. A memory 202 for storing data, and a touch panel 2 for displaying data according to an instruction from the CPU 201 and detecting a user operation
03, a hard disk 204 for recording data, and a keyboard 206.

The CPU 201 executes a control program stored in the memory 202 to control photographing. CPU 20
Reference numeral 1 generally monitors a shooting instruction from the user or an image operation on the touch panel 203.

When the CPU 201 detects a user's photographing instruction, the CPU 201 stores the image data acquired by the image acquiring device 101 on the hard disk 204.

Further, the CPU 201 controls the touch panel 20
When a user's image operation on 3, e.g., drag and drop of an image, is detected, a process corresponding to the instruction is executed. Here, the drag and drop generally refers to an operation of using a touch panel 203 or a mouse to move an operation target displayed on a screen in a desired direction while releasing the pressing.

The memory 202 stores a control program executed by the CPU 201 and image data processed by the CPU 201.

The touch panel 203 is configured by combining a liquid crystal display and a sensor for detecting the position of a pressing operation by the user. On the touch panel 203, icons and image data operated by the user are displayed. It is also used by the CPU 201 to determine that the user has operated these icons and image data via the touch panel 203.

As a sensor of the touch panel 203,
A pressure-sensitive type, an electrostatic type, an ultrasonic type and the like are well known.

The device for detecting the user's operation position in realizing the present invention is not limited to this touch panel, but may be a mouse, a keyboard, or another device (the touch panel 203, mouse,
A device such as a keyboard corresponds to the movement detection unit).

The hard disk 204 stores photographed image data and image data processed by the CPU 201. <Overview of Insertion Operation> The image processing apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment executes an image insertion process as a characteristic function thereof.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the filling process.
The filling process is to reduce or enlarge the image specified by the user,
Alternatively, it refers to a process of displaying images in the insertion area 2 at the same magnification.

The filling area 2 (corresponding to a composite area)
It is configured by combining a plurality of blocks 1 and the like in a tile shape. The user can specify any color prepared in the image processing device 200 as the background color of the embedding area 2. Also, the user can specify the dimensions of the filling area.

A block (corresponding to a unit area) indicates a position and a size at which an image is inserted. The user can set an arbitrary value as the size of the block. Further, the user can specify an arbitrary value as the number of blocks in the filling area 2. In FIG. 3, the block 1 is illustrated by a bold frame on the upper right in the filling area 2.

In the inserting process, the user designates an original image 3 to be inserted and a block 4 to be inserted by a drag-and-drop operation. By this operation, first, the original image 3 is copied. Next, the copied image is reduced or enlarged to the size of the block 4 to be inserted and displayed on the block 4 to be inserted.

In FIG. 3, a drag-and-drop operation (hereinafter, referred to as a filling operation) is represented by an arrow A. By this operation, the original image 3 is inserted into the block 4 at the insertion destination. Any block in the insertion area 2 can be designated as the position of the block to be inserted. In addition, the user inserts the area 2
Is performed, the operation is ignored, and the original image 3 is not inserted into any block of the insertion area 2.

On the other hand, the user moves the loaded image 4 to a desired block by performing a drag-and-drop operation (indicated by an arrow B) on the loaded image (hereinafter referred to as a loaded image) in the loading area 2. it can. Further, when the user performs a drag-and-drop operation (indicated by an arrow C) outside the loading area 2, the loading image 4 can be deleted from the loading area 2.

FIG. 4 shows a memory map for holding each of the inserted images displayed in the insertion area 2. Blocks constituting this insertion area 2 are indicated by B1 to B9. On the other hand, an image memory area 40 (corresponding to a plurality of unit storage areas) is secured in the memory 202 corresponding to these blocks B1 to B9. By the above-described inserting operation, the data of the inserted image is held in the image memory area 40.

The data in the image memory area 40 is displayed as it is on the touch panel 203 as an embedded image. In addition, the image data is moved, deleted, or stored in the hard disk 204 in the image memory area 40 by each of the operations of moving, deleting, or saving.
These processes are executed under the control of the CPU 201. The CPU 201 corresponds to a control unit that controls access to the unit storage area. <Screen Configuration> FIG. 5 is a screen showing an insertion operation on the touch panel 203 (corresponding to a means for displaying a composite area on a screen). The touch panel 203 includes an insertion area 2, a shooting button icon 22, a shot image display unit 23, a shooting mode menu 24, and an environment setting menu 26 on a liquid crystal display.

The shooting button icon 22 is an icon for detecting a user's shooting instruction via the touch panel 203. The user instructs shooting by using either the shooting button icon 22 or the button 102 on the image acquisition device 101.

The photographed image display unit 23 includes a film frame simulating the shape of a film, a three-frame image display unit surrounded by the film frame, and a scroll button icon for scrolling the three-frame image display unit. And
The image display section for three exposures displays the image data of the photographed image.

The shooting mode menu 24 is used to switch the shooting mode between the normal mode and the continuous shooting mode.

The environment setting menu 26 is used for setting the environment of the image photographing apparatus, for example, the continuous shooting interval, the background color of the embedding area 2, and the like. <Normal Insertion Operation> FIG. 5 shows a transition of a screen when a further normal insertion operation is performed. The normal insertion operation is an operation of inserting one original image displayed on the captured image display unit 23 into one block in the insertion area 2.

In FIG. 5, an arrow D represents a user's drag-and-drop operation. The image 23b existing at the start point of the arrow D is the original image to be inserted. Since the image 23b is selected as a drag-and-drop target, the image 23b is surrounded by a thick frame 31. Arrow D
The block 21b located at the end point of is the block into which the data is to be inserted. By such a drag-and-drop operation, the image 23b is inserted into the block 21b.

It is to be noted that as the insertion destination, the insertion area 2
If a position outside of is specified, the fill operation is ignored. <Continuous Filling> FIG. 6 shows a transition of a screen when continuous filling is executed. The continuous filling refers to a process of successively filling a set of a plurality of images (corresponding to a related image indicating means) by one filling operation.

This set of images is composed of a plurality of images shot in the continuous shooting mode. When the image located at the head of such a set of images is designated as the object to be filled,
The entire set of images is to be filled.

In FIG. 6, an arrow E indicates a user's drag and drop operation. The image 23c existing at the starting point of the arrow E is the original image specified by the user as the object to be inserted. Since the image 23c is selected as a drag-and-drop target, it is surrounded by a thick frame 31.

Block 2 located at the end of arrow E
1c is a block to be inserted. Block 21c
The dotted arrow F with the starting point at the point indicates the transition direction of the block to be continuously filled.

As described above, in the continuous insertion of the image processing apparatus 200, the image is inserted into the block existing rightward from the insertion destination block 21c. Also, when the loading destination reaches the rightmost block 21d of the loading area 2 in the middle of the continuous loading, the loading destination moves to the leftmost block 21e of the row below it, and the loading is continued according to the arrow G. That is, continuous filling is performed in the lower right direction with priority given to the horizontal direction.

Also, during the continuous filling, the filling position is
When the block 21f at the lower right of the filling area 2 is reached, the continuous filling ends. Therefore, of the plurality of images shot in the continuous shooting mode to be continuously inserted, the remaining images are excluded from the objects to be inserted.

On the other hand, the insertion position is the insertion area 2
If all the images included in the set of images are filled before reaching the lower right block 21f, the filling ends at that point.

FIG. 7 shows a data structure for managing image data to be inserted in the image processing apparatus 200. This data structure is generally called a list structure. The list structure includes a plurality of elements in the next address 54.
They are connected by a, 54b, 54c, etc. to express the order relation between the elements. In this list structure, the next address 54g is NULL. This element is the last element of the list structure.

In this list structure, the head element is indicated by the head address 50 of the list. The last element is
Indicated by the list end address 51.

On the other hand, the elements corresponding to the image data displayed on the captured image display section 23 of the touch panel 203 are:
This is indicated by the start address 52 in the screen and the end address 53 in the screen.

Each element of this data structure includes a next address 54a
In addition, the file name, date, and continuous shooting attribute 55 are stored. Here, the file name is a file name of a file holding image data. This file is created on the hard disk 204. The date is a shooting date, that is, a date when the image data is created.

The continuous shooting attribute 55 indicates that the image has been continuously shot. The continuous shooting attribute 55 has three types: continuous shooting start, continuous shooting, and continuous shooting end.

The start of continuous shooting indicates that the image is the start image of continuous shooting. The end of continuous shooting indicates that the image is an end image of continuous shooting. At the position between the start of the continuous shooting and the end of the continuous shooting, a continuous shooting attribute 55 of continuous shooting is set, and these form a set of images to be continuously loaded.

When an image corresponding to an element having a continuous shooting start attribute is designated as an object to be inserted, the entire set of images is an object to be inserted. <Movement of Insertion Image> FIG. 8 shows a transition of the screen when the movement of the insertion image is executed. The movement of the stuffed image refers to an operation of moving the stuffed image to an arbitrary block in the stuffing area 2.

In FIG. 8, an arrow H indicates a user's drag-and-drop operation. The inserted image of the block 21g existing at the start point of the arrow H is a movement target. The inserted image of the block 21g is displayed as a dotted line because it has been selected as a drag-and-drop target. The block 21h located at the end point of the arrow H is a destination block.

By such an operation, the inserted image of the block 21g before the movement is moved to the block 21h. <Deletion of Insertion Image> FIG. 9 shows a transition of a screen when deletion of an insertion image is executed. Deletion of the inserted image refers to an operation of deleting the inserted image from the insertion area 2.

In FIG. 9, an arrow I indicates a user's drag-and-drop operation. The inserted image of the block 21i existing at the start point of the arrow I is a deletion target. The image of the block 21i is displayed as a dotted line because it has been selected as a drag-and-drop target. In the deletion of the inserted image, the drop destination (the end point of the arrow I) must be located outside the insertion area 2.

By such an operation, the block 21i
Is deleted. It should be noted that even if such an inserted image is deleted, the original image 23b of the inserted image is not deleted.
Is not deleted (the original image 2 is indicated by an arrow K in FIG. 9).
3b). <Saving of Insertion Image> FIG. 10 shows a transition of the screen when the saving of the insertion image is executed. Saving the loaded image refers to a process of combining a plurality of loaded images in the loaded area 2 into one image and storing the combined image.

The storing of the stuffed image is performed in the stuffing area 2
Is executed when the shooting button icon 22 is pressed in a state where the image is loaded in the. By this processing, the plurality of inserted images in the insertion area 2 are converted into one image 23c.
And are managed in the same manner as other images obtained by the photographing process. <Operation and Effect> FIGS. 11 to 14 show the processing of the control program executed by the CPU 201 (the touch panel 20).
3 and a CPU 201 for executing a control program). When the CPU 201 executes these control programs, the image processing device 20
Provides a function as 0.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the inserting process. In this process, the CPU 201 first reads out the number of blocks, block dimensions (vertical and horizontal), and the background color of the insertion area 2 from the hard disk 204 (S3).
1). Number of these blocks, block dimensions (vertical,
Horizontal), the background color of the embedding area 2 is set by the user through the environment setting menu 26 and the hard disk 204
Is held in.

Next, the CPU 201 calculates the size (length, width) of the insertion area 2 from the number of blocks and the block size (S32). Further, an image memory area 40 (shown in FIG. 4) for holding the data of the insertion area 2 is secured.

Next, the CPU 201 develops the original image before being inserted into the memory (S33). This original image is displayed on the captured image display unit 23.

Next, the CPU 201 detects the user's drag and drop operation on the original image (S3).
4). Next, the CPU 201 determines whether or not it has been dropped into the filling area 2 (S35). If it is not dropped into the filling area 2 (N in S35
), The CPU 201 ends the processing.

On the other hand, when the CPU 201 is dropped in the insertion area 2, the CPU 201 detects the number of objects to be inserted (S36). The number of objects to be inserted is one for an image taken in the normal shooting mode. On the other hand, for images shot in continuous shooting mode, the number of
This is the number of consecutive shots.

Next, the CPU 201 calculates the position of the next block to be inserted on the insertion area 2 (S3).
7). Next, the CPU 201 determines whether the block position is within the insertion area 2 (the lower right block 21 shown in FIG. 6).
f is not exceeded) is determined (S38). When the block position is not within the filling area 2 (when N is determined in S38), the CPU 201 ends the processing.

If the block position is inside the insertion area 2 (Y in the judgment of S38), the CPU 201
Corrects the original image to fit the dimensions of the block (S39). Further, the CPU 201 copies the image to a corresponding block position and displays it on the screen.

Next, the CPU 201 reduces the number of objects to be inserted by one (S3a). Next, the CPU 201 determines whether or not there is a remaining insert target (S3b). If there is any remaining object to be inserted, the CPU 201 returns the control to the process of S37 (in the case of Y in the determination of S3b). on the other hand,
If there is no remaining object to be inserted, the CPU 201 ends the processing.

FIG. 12 shows the process of moving / deleting the inserted image. In the movement / deletion processing of the inserted image, the CPU 2
01 detects the selection of an inserted image (movement source) in the inserted area 2 (S51).

Next, the CPU 201 detects the drag and drop to the destination (S52).

Next, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the destination is in the loading area 2 (S53). If the destination is in the filling area 2, the block position of the destination is detected (S54). Further, the CPU 201 moves the inserted image to that position (S55). Then the CPU
201 ends the processing.

On the other hand, if the destination is outside the loading area 2 (N in S53), the source loading image is deleted (S56). Thereafter, the CPU 201 ends the processing.

FIG. 13 shows the inserted image storing process. The inserted image storing process is executed when a press of the shooting button icon 22 is detected while an image is inserted in the inserted area 2.

In the inserted image storing process, the CPU
First, the image processing unit 201 combines the inserted image included in the inserted area 2 with one image (S71). Furthermore, CP
U201 reduces the synthesized image to the size of one exposure in the captured image display unit 23.

Next, the CPU 201 displays the reduced image on the photographed image display section 23 (S72).

Next, the CPU 201 saves the image obtained by the above-mentioned synthesis in a predetermined size on the hard disk 204 (S73). Thereafter, the CPU 201 ends the processing.

The size of the image stored in the hard disk 204 is defined in advance by the number of blocks (the number of divisions) of the filling area 2 of the filling area 2.

For example, in the case where the filling area 2 is divided into 4 parts of 2 × 2 in length and width, the size of the filling image to be stored is defined as 320 dots × 240 dots in length and width, and the filling area 2 is 3 × 3 in length and width. In the case of nine divisions, the size of the embedded image to be stored is defined as 480 dots vertically and 360 dots horizontally.

On the basis of this definition information, an image set to a size corresponding to the number of blocks (the number of divisions) set at the time of the filling process is stored in the hard disk 204.

Also, in this manner, the hard disk 20
4 is managed as one element of the data structure of FIG. 7 by the same processing as the image newly obtained by the photographing processing.

FIG. 14 shows an environment setting process. The environment setting process is executed when pressing of the environment setting menu 26 on the touch panel 203 is detected.

In the environment setting process, the CPU 201
Displays a menu screen (not shown) (S9).
1).

Next, the CPU 201 waits for a user operation (S92). The user can select the continuous shooting interval, background color,
The block size and the number of blocks of the filling area 2 can be set.

Next, the CPU 201 determines whether to save the setting conditions (S93). Whether or not to save depends on whether or not a save button icon on a menu screen (not shown) is pressed.

When saving, the CPU 201 saves the setting conditions in the hard disk 204 (S94). on the other hand,
If not, the CPU 201 ends the process.

The image processing apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment has a display screen having a block into which an image is inserted and an insertion area 2 as a set of blocks. Generates a composite image. Therefore, the user can easily obtain the composite image.

For this reason, it is not necessary to perform a process of obtaining a display portion and a non-display portion at the time of drawing an image, and an image can be created without a work load even with a device having a low processing capability.

In the image processing apparatus 200 of this embodiment, the filling process, the movement of the loaded image in the loading area 2, the deletion and the saving of the loaded image are realized by the drag and drop operation. Therefore, the user can freely and easily insert the image.

The image processing apparatus 200 of this embodiment manages images taken in the continuous shooting mode as a set of images.
When this set of images is inserted into a block, continuous insertion is performed. Therefore, the user can easily load a large number of images. Also, when the number of images to be inserted exceeds the number of blocks that can be inserted (ie,
When the position exceeds the position of the lower right block of the filling area, the filling is completed. Therefore, the user can execute the insertion without worrying about the number of remaining blocks in the insertion area.

The image processing apparatus 200 of the present embodiment combines the image of the filling area 2 with the image of one exposure and saves it.
As a result, many image data are edited as small-capacity image data. Therefore, it is possible to save and manage the image data and reduce the data capacity at the time of distribution via the communication means. <Modification of Hardware Configuration> In the above embodiment, the image processing apparatus 200 in which the control program is installed in the portable terminal has been described. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, personal computers,
The present invention can also be implemented in a workstation or a television having a memory for storing image data and a CPU for executing a control program. <Modification of Original Image Generation Method> The image processing apparatus 200 according to the above-described embodiment performs an insertion process on image data generated by the image acquisition apparatus 101. However, the image to be inserted in the present invention is not limited to the image generated by the image acquisition device 101. For example, the image processing apparatus 200 includes a memory card interface,
Image data captured by another digital camera or the like may be read out and set as an object to be inserted. Further, the image processing apparatus 200 may include a modem or a LAN interface. Then, an image created by another computer or the like may be received, and this may be used as an object to be inserted.

Further, image data generated by another processing (another application program) in the image processing apparatus 200 may be set as an object to be inserted. <Modification of designation of continuous filling> In the above embodiment,
The continuous filling is executed when the first image in a set of a plurality of images shot in the continuous shooting mode is designated as a filling target. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, when images other than the first image in the set of images are designated as the objects to be filled, all the images included in the set of images may be successively filled.

When an image other than the first image in the set of images is designated as an object to be inserted, images subsequent to the image designated as the object to be inserted may be successively inserted.

The set of images is not limited to a plurality of images shot in the continuous shooting mode. For example, a shooting mode that forms a set of images during normal shooting may be provided.
Further, the image processing apparatus 200 may be provided with a combination designating function for combining a plurality of images. This is, for example, on the touch panel 203 shown in FIG.
What is necessary is to make it possible to specify the desired image by pressing the desired image while scrolling the image on the imaged image display section 23. When the image on the image-captured image display unit 23 is pressed during the execution of the combination specifying function, the CPU 201 may recognize the image data from the coordinates and define a set of images. <Modification of Insertion Area and Block> In the above embodiment, the image processing apparatus 200 including the insertion area 2 composed of blocks of the same size has been described. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a filling area 2a composed of blocks of different sizes as shown in FIG. 15 may be used.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 16, if an image memory area 40 having a different capacity is secured for each block, filling, moving, deleting, and saving are executed similarly to the above embodiment. it can. However, if an image once inserted into a small-sized block is moved to a large-sized block, the amount of information decreases and the image deteriorates. In such a case, an image that matches the designated block size may be generated from the original image and re-inserted.

As described above, when blocks having different dimensions are used as the blocks in the filling area 2, means for managing coordinates, dimensions, and the like indicating the position, size, and the like of each block are required. Further, a means for managing addresses in the image memory area 40 for holding the image data of each block is required.

FIG. 17 shows the configuration of an insertion area management table provided as one of such means. This table has a block number for identifying each block, a start address and an end address of an image memory area, and lower left and upper right coordinates of the block.

The area of this table has a variable length according to the number of blocks specified in the environment setting menu 26.
Therefore, the CPU 201 secures a necessary area on the memory 202 according to the number of blocks.

The CPU 201 detects and sets the lower left and upper right coordinates of each block based on the position and size of each block specified when setting the environment.

The CPU 201 determines the required capacity of the image memory area 40 based on the size of each block, and sets the start address and the end address of the image memory area for each block.

At the time of image insertion, the CPU 201 obtains the position of each block based on the contents of the insertion area management table. Further, the CPU 201 obtains the size of the block from the coordinates of the lower left and upper right of the block, and enlarges or reduces the original image. Further, the CPU 20
No. 1 stores the image data in the image memory area 40 corresponding to the block into which the image data is to be inserted.

Instead of obtaining the size of each block from the lower left and upper right coordinates of the block, the size of each block may be stored in the filling area management table in advance.

By adopting a structure like the inserting area 2a, the user can selectively use blocks such as inserting an important image into a large block and inserting an unimportant image into a small block. <Deformation of Direction of Continuous Insertion> In the image processing apparatus 200 according to the above-described embodiment, in the case of continuous insertion, the insertion direction is such that the horizontal movement from the block at the insertion start position to the lower right direction is prioritized. It was advanced. However, the practice of the present invention is not limited to such a continuous filling direction.
That is, the continuous filling may proceed in any direction of up, down, left, and right. Alternatively, a random number may be generated and randomly inserted. <Computer-readable recording medium> The control program of the present embodiment can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Then, by causing a computer to read and execute the control program of the recording medium, the computer can function as the image processing apparatus 200 described in the present embodiment.

Here, a computer-readable recording medium is a recording medium in which information such as data and programs is stored by electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical, or chemical action and can be read by a computer. Say. Examples of such a recording medium that can be removed from a computer include a floppy (registered trademark).
Disc, magneto-optical disc, CD-ROM, CD-R / W, DVD, DA
T, 8mm tape, memory card, etc.

A recording medium fixed to the computer includes a hard disk, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and the like. <Data communication signal embodied in a carrier wave> The control program can be stored in a hard disk or a memory of a computer and distributed to other computers through a communication medium. In this case, the program is transmitted over a communication medium as a data communication signal embodied by a carrier wave. Then, the computer that has received the distribution can function as the image processing apparatus 200 of the present embodiment.

Here, the communication medium may be any of a wired communication medium (metal cables including a coaxial cable and a twisted pair cable or an optical communication cable) and a wireless communication medium (satellite communication, terrestrial radio communication, etc.).

The carrier is an electromagnetic wave or light for modulating a data communication signal. However, the carrier may be a DC signal (in this case, the data communication signal has a baseband waveform without a carrier). Therefore, the data communication signal embodied in the carrier wave may be either a modulated broadband signal or an unmodulated baseband signal (corresponding to a case where a DC signal of voltage 0 is used as the carrier wave). (Others) (Supplementary Note 1) An image processing apparatus comprising: means for displaying a composite area, which is a set of unit areas into which images are to be inserted, on a screen; and means for inserting an image to be processed into a unit area in the composite area. . (Supplementary note 2) The image processing apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein the image inserted in the unit area can be freely moved to another unit area in the composite area. (Supplementary note 3) The image processing device according to supplementary note 1, wherein the image inserted into the unit area is deleted by being moved out of the composite area. (Supplementary note 4) The image processing apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein the image to be processed is inserted into the unit area by a drag-and-drop operation. (Supplementary note 5) The image processing device according to supplementary note 1, further comprising a movement detection unit that detects an instruction of an image to be processed and a movement of the instructed image, and inserts the instructed image into a unit area of the movement destination. (Supplementary note 6) The image processing apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein the composite area in which the image is inserted is stored as an image having a predetermined size. (Supplementary Note 7) The image processing apparatus further includes related image instruction means for associating a plurality of images, and when the image to be processed is associated with another image, the image associated with the image to be processed is continuously displayed in a plurality of unit areas. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is automatically inserted. (Supplementary note 8) The image processing apparatus according to supplementary note 7, wherein the insertion is terminated when the number of images to be inserted exceeds the number of unit areas that can be inserted. (Supplementary note 9) The image processing apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein the composite area includes unit areas having different dimensions. (Supplementary Note 10) A plurality of unit storage areas for storing images to be processed, and a control unit for controlling access to each unit storage area, wherein the control unit stores the unit images to be processed in the plurality of unit storage areas. An image processing apparatus that generates a composite image from a unit image by accessing the unit storage areas in a predetermined order. (Supplementary note 11) Supplementary note 10 including unit storage areas of different capacities, wherein the composite image includes unit images of different sizes.
An image processing apparatus as described in the above. (Supplementary Note 12) A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to insert an image to be processed into a unit area in the composite area. (Supplementary Note 13) A procedure for causing a computer to display a composite area that is a set of unit areas into which an image is to be inserted, a procedure for detecting an instruction of an image to be processed, a procedure for detecting movement of an instructed image, and an instruction A computer-readable recording medium recording a program comprising a step of inserting the selected image into a unit area of a movement destination. (Supplementary note 14) The image processing apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein the size of the unit area can be specified irrespective of an image size to be processed. (Supplementary note 15) The image processing apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein the number of unit areas in the composite area can be arbitrarily set. (Supplementary note 16) The image processing apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein a background color of the unit area can be arbitrarily set. (Supplementary note 17) The image processing device according to supplementary note 1, wherein the shape of the unit area is a rectangle whose dimensions can be arbitrarily set. (Supplementary note 18) The image processing device according to supplementary note 3, wherein even if the image embedded in the unit area is deleted, the original figure of the graphic inserted in the unit area is not deleted. (Supplementary note 19) Supplementary note 1 in which dimensions of composite area can be set arbitrarily
An image processing apparatus as described in the above. (Supplementary note 20) The image processing device according to supplementary note 7 or 8, wherein the plurality of images are continuously inserted from an arbitrary unit area in the composite area.

[0112]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The image processing apparatus includes means for displaying a composite area, which is a set of unit areas into which images are to be inserted, on a screen, and means for inserting an image to be processed into a unit area in the composite area. Further, the composite area in which one or more images are inserted is stored as an image having a predetermined size. Therefore, the user can efficiently manage and use the image data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the filling process.

FIG. 4 is a memory map diagram of a filling area.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a normal filling;

FIG. 6 is a view showing continuous filling;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data structure for managing image data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the movement of an inserted image.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing deletion of an inserted image.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing storage of an inserted image.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an insertion process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process of moving and deleting an inserted image.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an inserted image storing process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an environment setting process.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a modification of the filling area.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a modification of the memory map of the insertion area.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an insertion area management table.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Block 2 Insertion Area 23 Photographed Image Display Unit 101 Image Acquisition Device 201 CPU 202 Memory 203 Touch Panel 204 Hard Disk 206 Keyboard

Claims (15)

[Claims] An image processing apparatus comprising: means for displaying, on a screen, a composite area which is a set of unit areas into which an image is to be inserted; and means for inserting an image to be processed into a unit area in the composite area. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image inserted in the unit area can be freely moved to another unit area in the composite area. 3. The image embedded in the unit area is deleted by being moved out of the composite area.
An image processing apparatus as described in the above. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image to be processed is inserted into said unit area by a drag-and-drop operation. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a movement detection unit configured to detect an instruction of an image to be processed and a movement of the instructed image, and insert the instructed image into a unit area of the movement destination.
An image processing apparatus as described in the above. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composite area in which the image has been inserted is stored as an image having a predetermined size. 7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a related image designating unit for associating a plurality of images, wherein when the image to be processed is associated with another image, the image associated with the image to be processed is stored in a plurality of unit areas. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is continuously loaded. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the number of images to be inserted exceeds the number of unit areas that can be inserted, the insertion is terminated. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said composite area comprises unit areas having different dimensions. 10. A system comprising: a plurality of unit storage areas for storing an image to be processed; and a control unit for controlling access to each unit storage area, wherein the control unit stores the unit to be processed in the plurality of unit storage areas. An image processing apparatus that stores an image and generates a composite image from a unit image by accessing between unit storage areas in a predetermined order. 11. An image processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising unit storage areas having different capacities, wherein said composite image is composed of unit images having different sizes. 12. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to display a composite area, which is a set of unit areas into which an image is to be inserted, and to insert an image to be processed into a unit area in the composite area. . 13. A procedure for causing a computer to display a composite area which is a set of unit areas into which an image is to be inserted, a procedure for detecting an instruction of an image to be processed, a procedure for detecting movement of the designated image, A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program comprising a step of inserting a designated image into a destination unit area. 14. A program for causing a computer to display a composite area which is a set of unit areas into which an image is to be inserted, and to insert an image to be processed into a unit area in the composite area. 15. A procedure for causing a computer to display a composite area which is a set of unit areas into which an image is to be inserted, a procedure for detecting an instruction of an image to be processed, a procedure for detecting a movement of the designated image, A procedure for inserting the designated image into the unit area of the movement destination.