JP2002204347A - Apparatus for information processing, method therefor and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processing apparatus capable of combining a plurality of image data in separable way. SOLUTION: In an apparatus for information processing with a storage means to respectively store the plurality of image data, a combining means to combine each image data stored in the storage means into a single image data with separability and a means to store the combined image data combined by the combining means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having an image data editing function, an information processing method, and a storage medium storing information processing steps. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a storage medium storing information processing steps capable of outputting data edited on an editing memory to external storage means or communication means with respect to internally generated data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of information processing apparatus,
For example, an information processing apparatus as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-293858 is known. That is, the information processing device includes a plurality of editing memories for storing image data to be edited, image data from an external information processing device, image data from a storage device, image data generated in the information processing device, and Switching means for selecting one of the plurality of editing memories for each of the data from the input means and writing the selected data into the selected editing memory; and converting the image data in the plurality of editing memories into one image data. The data from the external storage means and the information processing device is edited on another editing memory, so that editing such as addition and deletion can be performed without destroying the original data. Things.

[0003]

However, in this conventional apparatus, when storing the image data in the external storage means in the information processing apparatus, one combined image data is stored, or
Data stored in multiple edit memories in a special format had to be saved as one file.
In the former case, when data is read from the external storage means for editing again, the previous editing cannot be undone.On the other hand, in the latter case, a dedicated information processing device or software is required. There is a drawback such that a user who does not have a password cannot see it.

Accordingly, the present invention improves on this point.
An information processing apparatus, a processing method, and a processing step capable of re-editing original data without using a dedicated information processing apparatus when data is read from external storage means in order to edit edited data again. It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage medium having stored therein.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having storage means for storing a plurality of image data, respectively, wherein one of the image data stored in the storage means can be separated. And a means for storing the combined image data combined by the combining means.

Further, in the information processing method according to the present invention, comprising a storage step of storing a plurality of image data, a combining step of separating each of the image data stored in the storage means into one image data in a separable manner. And storing the combined image data combined in the combining step.

Further, according to the present invention, a storing step of storing a plurality of image data, a combining step of separating each of the image data stored in the storage means into one image data in a separable manner, and combining in the combining step Storing the combined image data thus obtained.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0009]

First Embodiment of the Invention A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a main part of a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an information processing device. The information processing apparatus 1 is roughly divided into an information processing unit 2, a storage unit 3, a communication unit 4, an input unit 5, and a display unit 6.

Here, the storage means 3, the communication means 4, the input means 5 and the display means 6 may be connected to the outside of the information processing apparatus 1 or may be connected in plural.

In the information processing section 2, reference numeral 8 denotes a switching means. The switching means 8 is connected to an editing memory 9 comprising n editing memories WM1 to WMn and a synthesizing means 10. The display means 11 is connected to the synthesizing means 10, the converting means 12 is connected to the display memory 11, and the display means 6 is connected to the converting means 12. The switching means 8 includes a combining means 13 which is a feature of the present invention, and a separating means 14.
Is connected. The storage means 3, the communication means 4, and the input means 5 are connected to the switching means 8 as shown in the figure. Further, an external information processing device 15 is connected to the communication means 4. Although not shown in FIG. 1 because the figure becomes complicated, each of the above elements 3 to 6, 7 to
Reference numeral 14 is connected to control means constituted by a CPU, and each is controlled by the control means.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0013]

[Operation] The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention in such a configuration will be described. First, the basic operation of the present embodiment will be described. The storage means 3 is realized by, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a heart disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a PCMCIA cart, a compact flash (registered trademark) cart, a smart media, or the like, and supplies data to the information processing unit 2. Or remember. The communication unit 4 is realized by, for example, optical communication, USB, RS-232C, modem, LAN, mobile phone, PHS, etc., and receives or transmits data to the information processing unit 2 through the external information processing device 15 or the Internet. I do. Input means 5
Is realized by, for example, a keyboard, a touch panel, a mouse, a switch, or the like, and a user inputs a desired input to the information processing unit 2. The display means 6 is a liquid crystal display, CRT
And the like, and displays the image output data of the information processing unit 2. N editing memories WM1 to WMn of the editing memory 9
Is a memory for temporarily storing image data to be edited, and can be realized by, for example, a RAM, and can be used as n editing memories by dividing and allocating an address area of the RAM.

The switching means 8 selects one of the n editing memories WM1 to WMn for the image data from the storage means 3, the communication means 4, and the data from the input means 5, respectively. Switch so that you can write. In addition, the switching unit 8 switches the data written in the n editing memories WM1 to WMn so that all or the data of the selected editing memory can be output to the synthesizing unit 10. The switching means 8 outputs the data written in the n editing memories WM1 to WMn to the combining means 13 and temporarily stores or stores the combined data in the editing memory 9; Switch to output to Further, the switching unit 8 outputs the image data in which the plurality of image data are combined from the storage unit 3, the communication unit 4, and the editing memory 9 to the separating unit 14, and outputs the image data separated into the plurality of image data.
Select one of the n edit memories WM1 to WMn,
Switching is performed so that the data can be written. Further, it comprises a storage means 3, a communication means 4, an input means 5, n editing memories 9, a synthesizing means 10, a combining means 13, and a data converting means between the separating means 14.

The synthesizing means 13 comprises n edit memories WM1 to WM
n, the data written in the display memory 11 is synthesized.
The image data is written as one combined image data above, and the conversion means 12 converts the image data on the display memory 11 and outputs it to the display means 6. This synthesized screen is synthesized by a conventional method. Since each original image data is synthesized and edited into one synthesized screen, each original image data cannot be separated from the synthesized image data. Cannot re-edit based on the original image data.

The combining means 13 comprises n editing memories WM1 to WM
n are combined into one non-overlapping image data, that is, combined image data is created by combining the plurality of image data into one so as to be separable. Or stored in the built-in storage means 3, or stored in the external storage means via the communication means 4. Here, the term “combination” means that, when two image data of 320 × 240 dots are combined, for example, one image data of 320 × 480 dots is combined so as to be separable later. . One image data which does not overlap a plurality of image data can use a dedicated or general-purpose image format, for example, jpeg, tiff, pdf, gif, bitmap, or the like.
This is one of the features of the present invention.

The separating means 14 is stored in the internal storage means 3, or is stored in the external storage means via the communication means 4, or is temporarily stored in the editing memory 9 in a separable manner. The combined image data is separated into image data, and each image data is divided into n editing memories WM.
Write in 1 ~ WMn. This is one of the features of the present invention.

As described above, the present invention comprises the combining means and the separating means which do not exist in the conventional image processing, and combines the respective image data input to the information processing apparatus by the combining means 13 so as to be separable. One piece of combined image data is created, and the combined image data is stored in the information processing device or in an external information processing device. Therefore, each original image data is retained without being destroyed. When the combined image data is to be re-edited or the like, the held combined image data is separated into respective image data by the separating means 14, and these are stored in the editing memory 9, respectively. Each image data can be read and used for reediting. this is,
This is one of the excellent features of the present invention.

Further, the combining and separating operations, which are features of the first embodiment, will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, it is determined whether or not there is an image data input from the storage unit 3 (step S1). If there is an input, the data to which the image data is combined is determined and if the image data is non-combined data (step S2). No), and controls the switching means 8 to store the input image data in the editing memory 9 (step S2). Similarly, it is determined whether or not there is an image data input from the communication means 4 (step S4). If there is an input, the combined data of the input image data is determined and if it is non-combined data ( The control of the switching means 8 is performed to store the input image data in the editing memory 9 (step S6). If the input image data is combined data (No in Step S2, No in Step S5), the combined data is separated by the separating unit 14 (Step S7), and the switching unit 8 is controlled and separated. The data is stored in a separate editing memory 9 (step S8).
Further, it is determined whether or not there is data input from the input means 5 (step S9).
Is stored in the editing memory 9 (step S10). The composite screen is edited by each image data stored in the edit memory 9 and the composite image is displayed on the display unit 6. This composite image data is stored if necessary by a conventional method.

Further, the respective image data in the editing memory 9 are separably connected by the connecting means 13 (step S1).
1) It is determined whether or not to store the combined image data in the storage means 103 (step S12), and if so, the switching means 8 is controlled to store the combined image data in the storage means 3. (Step S13). Further, it is determined whether or not the image data combined by the combining unit 13 is to be output to the communication unit 4.
5 (step S14: Yes), the control unit 8 controls the switching unit 8 to output the combined image data to the communication unit 1 (step S15).

Next, this operation will be described in more detail with reference to a specific example shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows a specific example of the first embodiment. The information processing terminal includes, for example, a digital camera. The digital camera displays captured image data 17 on the screen of the digital camera, and uses a touch panel or the like to add additional data that the user wants to add (eg, shooting location and impression at the time of shooting) 18 to edit the composite image 19. The edited composite image 19 is stored by a conventional method as necessary.

At this time, the photographed image 17 and the additional data 18 inputted by the touch panel are temporarily stored as separate image data in the editing memory 9 in the digital camera. When the user finishes inputting, each editing memory W
The data stored in M1 and WM2 are combined and stored as one non-overlapping image data 20 in the compact flash card.

When viewing the data stored in the compact flash card, one image data 20 in which a plurality of screens read from the compact flash card are combined is separated into input original image data 17 and 18, and each of the plurality of image data is separated. Are temporarily stored in the edit memories WM1 and WM2. The user selects only the photographed image data 17, only the additional data 18 input from the touch panel, or combines two data 17 and 18 to display a combined image 19 ′, and displays the combined image 19 ′ on the screen. If the data stored on the compact flash card is a general-purpose image format, it can be displayed on a PC or the like and edited from the original image data. As described above, it is an excellent feature of the present invention that the original input image data can be read and re-edited at any time without being destroyed.

[0024]

[Second Embodiment] In a second embodiment, an example in which each input image data is separably combined by the combining means 13 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a case where a specific image pattern for making the combined image data separable is used.

In the second embodiment, for example, when image data 17 photographed by a digital camera or the like and additional data 18 added by a user using a touch panel or the like are combined by the combining means 13, the image data 17 Then, a specific image pattern 22 is added and the image data is combined to create a combined image 19. In this example, an example is shown in which the image data 17 and 18 are combined horizontally, but they may be combined vertically as shown in FIG. The combined image data 19 obtained by combining the respective image data is stored in the storage unit 3 or the communication unit 4.
Or stored in the edit memory 9. When reading the combined image data 19 combined from the storage means 3 or the communication means 4 or the editing memory 9, the specific image pattern 22 is detected by the separation means 14 and the specific image pattern 2
2, the respective image data 17 and 18 are separated,
Further, the image data 17 and 18 separated by removing the specific image pattern 22 are respectively divided into n editing memories WM1 to WM.
Write in n. Here, when combining a plurality of image data, the specific image pattern 22 is inserted at a position where each image data is adjacent (that is, at the boundary of each image data area). Are combined in one row, three specific image patterns are used, and when combined in a rectangle, four specific image patterns are used.

[0026]

[Third Embodiment of the Invention] In a third embodiment,
An example in which each input image data is separably combined by the combining means 13 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a case in which image area data for making the combined image data separable is used.

In the third embodiment, when image data 17 photographed by a digital camera or the like and additional data 18 added by a user through a touch panel or the like are combined by the combining means 13, each image data is separated into a file name. The feature is that image region data for performing

That is, for example, image data photographed by a digital camera (having a dot number of 320 × 240 dots, file name “AA”
AAA ") 17 and the additional image data (the number of dots is 320 × 240 dots) 18 inputted by the touch panel, are combined by the combining means 13, and the file name of the combined image data 20 is changed to" original file name ". + & + “1st image data horizontal dot number” + − + “1st image data vertical dot number” + & + “2nd dot
Number of horizontal dots of image data "+-+" Number of vertical dots of second image data "and file name" AAAAA & 320-240 & 320-240 "
And When the combined image data 20 is separated by the separating means 14, the size (image area) of each of the image data 17, 18 is read based on the file name of the combined image, and the combined image 20 is separated. n edit memories WM
Write to 1 ~ WMn. Here, the image area data for image separation added to the combined image is not limited to the case where it is added to the file name, but may be readablely added to the combined image data. The present invention is not limited by the embodiment.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus provided with storage means for storing a plurality of image data, one image data is stored in the storage means so that each image data can be separated. It is configured to include a combining unit that combines the data and a unit that stores the combined image data combined by the combining unit.

Further, in the information processing method according to the present invention, comprising a storage step of storing a plurality of image data, a combining step of separating each of the image data stored in the storage means into one image data in a separable manner. And storing the combined image data combined in the combining step.

Also, according to the present invention, a storing step of storing a plurality of image data, a combining step of combining each image data stored in the storage means into one image data in a separable manner, and combining in the combining step Storing the combined image data thus obtained.

Therefore, one image data which has been edited once and the images in the plurality of editing memories are combined is displayed on a general-purpose information processing device or software without using a dedicated information processing device or software, and is edited again. Can be. Further, one combined image file in which a plurality of image data are combined can be easily divided into a plurality of original image data and stored in a plurality of editing memories, respectively, so that editing can be performed easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a specific example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a case where a specific image pattern for making combined image data separable is used.

FIG. 5 illustrates a case in which image area data is used to make combined image data separable.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Information processing device 2: Information processing unit 3: Storage means 4: Communication means 5: Input means 6: Display means 8: Switching means 9: Editing memory 10: Compositing means 11: Display memory 12: Conversion means 13: Coupling means 14: Separation means 15: External information processing device 17: Captured image data 18: Additional image data 19: Composite image 20: Combined image 22: Specific image pattern

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus comprising storage means for storing a plurality of image data, respectively; a combining means for combining each image data stored in the storage means into one image data in a separable manner; Means for storing the combined image data combined by the combining means. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said combining means is means for adding additional data for distinguishing each image data area boundary between each adjacent image data when each image data is combined. 2. The information processing device according to 1. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said combining means is means for adding additional data indicating an image area of each image data to said combined image data when each image data is combined. Information processing device. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the additional data is added to a file name of the combined image data. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a separating unit configured to separate the combined image data into respective image data based on the additional data. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for separating said combined image data into respective image data by said separation means, and storing the combined image data in a plurality of editing memories as image data to be edited. An information processing device according to any one of the above. 7. An information processing method comprising a storage step of storing a plurality of image data, respectively; a combining step of combining each image data stored in the storage unit into one image data in a separable manner; Storing the combined image data combined in the combining step. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said combining step is a step of adding additional data for distinguishing each image data area boundary between adjacent image data when combining each image data. 8. The information processing method according to 7. 9. The information according to claim 7, wherein the combining step is a step of adding additional data indicating an image area of each image data to the combined image data when each image data is combined. Processing method. 10. The information processing method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of adding the additional data to a file name of the combined image data. 11. The information processing method according to claim 7, further comprising a separating step of separating the combined image data into respective image data based on the additional data. 12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of separating the combined image data into respective image data in the separation step, and storing the combined image data in a plurality of editing memories as image data to be edited. An information processing method according to any one of the above. 13. A storage step of storing a plurality of image data, a combining step of combining each of the image data stored in the storage means into one image data in a separable manner, and combining in the combining step. Storing the combined image data; and a computer-readable storage medium comprising: