JP2003108284A - Image contents delivery system and apparatus for image display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily browse, with simple operation, without reducing on a contents provider side an image file having a size larger than displayable in an image display terminal nor scrolling on the image display terminal side. SOLUTION: Coordinates information dividing an image file of one page of a comics file in order of browsing is delivered to a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) 7 via a network together with the comics file from a server 9 of an electronic-publishing company. The comics file of the one page is divided to display by the PDA based on the coordinates information. When a right cursor key 22 is operated, each divided image is switched in the order of browsing to display.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image content distribution system and an image display device for displaying an image file larger than a screen such as an electronic book.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a display of a personal computer, a 17-inch or 20-inch size is sometimes used for business such as CAD, but about 15-inch is the mainstream for home use and general office use. The notebook personal computer, which has been increasing in sales in recent years, is equipped with a smaller display. Furthermore, with the downsizing technology of terminals and the speeding up of mobile radio, P
A small palmtop type terminal called DA (Personal Digital Assistance) has become widespread, and the old PDA, which only displayed monochrome text, is now capable of displaying still images with natural gradations due to high definition and high gradation. It comes to have the right function for displaying moving images. In addition, the remarkable progress of mobile phones is not only colorized on the screen but also uses TFT liquid crystal to express vivid color tones, and in terms of functionality, it is equipped with an Internet browser as standard and supports JAVA (R) language. Models that can run various applications by doing so are also widespread.

As described above, the mainstream of terminals for displaying images is from desktop personal computers to notebook personal computers, and further P
DA and mobile phones are becoming smaller, but of course,
Along with this, the screen size to be displayed has become smaller. For this reason, it is usually necessary to process the displayed content into a size suitable for each output screen size.
For example, when browsing the web on the Internet, the standard description language is the HTML language, but the description language for mobile phones is the C-HTML language, and a screen configuration suitable for a small screen can be assembled. In addition, for example, for video, select a compression method for small screens such as MPEG4, and for still images, reduce the screen size. For example, use the flexibility of digital contents to edit for PDA and mobile phone applications. I went.

[0004]

However, no matter how flexible the digital content is, if the original is a hand-drawn original picture such as a painting, a highly artistic photograph, or a comic (manga), the original details are It is of utmost importance to reproduce the elements that speak to human sensibilities, such as various expressions, touches, and textures, and when converting to digital content, be careful to avoid smashing these elements by making them small in size. There must be.

Even if the quality of the original image is reduced to the utmost extent to convey the nuances of the image and the image is converted into digital content, a size several times larger than the effective screen of a general PDA is required. Ah Therefore, in order to view these images on the PDA, there is a problem that a very small amount of time is required for scrolling and displaying a small screen, which is also very troublesome. It is possible to be frustrated.

In view of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example, the present invention does not reduce the size of an image file larger than the size displayable by the image display terminal on the content provider side, and
An object of the present invention is to provide an image content distribution system and an image display device that can be viewed easily by a simple operation without scrolling on the image display terminal side.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention divides an image file for one page in a viewing order, and displays each divided image by switching the viewing order. . That is, according to the present invention, the image content provider distributes the coordinate information obtained by dividing the digital image file and the image file for one page in the browsing order as image content to the image display terminal via the network, and the image display terminal The distributed one-page image file is divided and displayed based on the distributed coordinate information, and when the screen switching instruction is input, each divided image is switched and displayed in the distributed browsing order. The image content distribution system described above is provided.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration according to the present invention. The mobile communication network 2 is constructed by wirelessly connecting mobile terminals such as mobile phones 5 and PDAs 6 and 7 by a plurality of base stations 4 arranged in a cellular system. The mobile communication network 2 provides mobile terminals 5 to 7 with a mobile telephone service by connecting to the existing telephone network 3 and an internet connection service by connecting to the internet 1.

Here, a server 9 of an electronic publishing company is connected to the Internet 1, and the server 9 is connected via a communication terminal (personal computer 8) directly connected to the Internet 1 or a mobile communication network 2, for example. An electronic comic publishing service is provided to the portable terminals 5 to 7. It is assumed that the electronic publisher of the server 9 is in the business of selling comics on a network, and most of the comics to be distributed cover a huge group of works published in the past. , It is assumed that the image file is scanned and compressed.

FIG. 2 shows an example showing one page of a comic file provided as a still image by the server 9. The page 10 obtained by scanning the original of the comic is divided into frames and drawn. The order of the circled numbers usually indicates the order of the frames to be read when reading the comic. Also, depending on the direction of the comic writer's drawing, it may not be framed like a frame. Further, the relative scale 12 is a virtual scale for showing the relative size of the vertical axis (Y) and the horizontal axis (X) of the page 10, and is not displayed in the actual image.

Next, a service using the present invention will be described by taking as an example the operation of displaying a comic file purchased from an electronic publisher on the PDA 7. In FIG. 1, the PDA 7 is connected to the mobile communication network 2 so that the PDA 7 is connected to the Internet 1 through the mobile communication network 2 and the server 9 of the electronic publisher.
It is possible to receive the comic network sales service by. The procedure for the user of the PDA 7 to purchase a comic file from the electronic publisher of the server 9 is omitted, and it is assumed that the PDA 7 has already downloaded a tens of pages of the purchased comics into the PDA 7.

The area list of FIG. 4 shows an example in which areas corresponding to the respective frames are set as areas in order to separately display the respective frames of the comic on the page 10 shown in FIG. This area list is for convenience of explanation
Although it is described as a table format, the area information does not always exist in an independent table format as shown in FIG. 4, and when it is incorporated into each image file or area information over all pages of a comic is collectively attached in a binary format. Various formats are possible, such as existing as a file.

In the area list shown in FIG. 4, areas A to F corresponding to the six frames on page 10 in FIG.
An area G for displaying a shaded area 15 which is a part of the frame in FIG. 2 is set. Area information is shown in Figure 2.
Based on the relative scale 12 showing the relative size of the vertical axis (Y) and the horizontal axis (X) of the page 10 of FIG. 2, the starting point 11 of FIG. 2 is set as the origin (0/35, 0/50), The starting point coordinates of each area on the image represented as a circle on the upper right shoulder of the shaded area 15 and the vertical and horizontal sizes are described in a format for the relative total length. For example, Area A in the first row
The starting point coordinates are 0 for the total length = 35 on the X-axis and 0 for the relative total length = 50 on the Y-axis, and the size of the area A is 17 for the relative total length = 35 in the X direction, Y. The direction is 10 with respect to the relative total length = 50.

FIG. 3 shows a general PDA main body 20 and shows only the screen display and the function buttons necessary for explaining the present invention. The right cursor button 22 is a button for sequentially switching the display screens to be displayed according to the area setting,
The areas are switched in the order of the area list in FIG. The left cursor button 21 is used to switch the display in reverse. That is, in the case of browsing comics, since the area setting is set along the frames and the balloons, it is possible to browse the comics along the story by using only one right cursor button 22. Further, since there are some parts that are difficult to see depending on the displayed part, it is possible to enlarge the image displayed on the screen 25 by the + button 24 and reduce the image by the − button 23.

On the screen 25, the entire frame of page 10 in FIG. 2 is displayed. This display is performed because the application running on the PDA 7 displays the vertical and horizontal dot sizes of the page 10 and the effective display dot size of the screen 25, which are already known from the information of the page image file of the comic, and the frame. The area A is calculated in accordance with the designated size information, and the entire frame is displayed by the area set in the area A in accordance with the display start point 26 on the screen 25.

Next, when the user presses the right cursor button 22 and selects the frame forward, the application running on the PDA 7 displays information on the area B, which is the area next to the area A, from the area list. Is acquired, the same calculation and display control as in the case of area A are performed, and the frame is displayed on the screen 25. Further, when the user presses the right cursor button 22 to continue the forward feeding, the frame indicated by the area C, the frame indicated by the area D, the frame indicated by the area E, and the area F according to the order and the set value in the area list.
The frame indicated by is displayed. Further, in the area list in FIG. 4, only the last area G is not a frame,
The area corresponding to the shaded area 15 is covered. This reflects the intentions of the author and the publisher, and can also be used for the effect of enlarging and displaying not only the entire frame but also the object to be highlighted. When the user further presses the right cursor button 22, the process moves to the next page.

As described above, by dividing the page 10 of FIG. 2 according to the user's forward instruction and displaying it by each part,
It is possible to read the story drawn on the page 10 without using a stress-causing technique such as scrolling. In addition, the present invention is not limited to PDAs, but rather to FIG.
In the same manner as the PDA 7, the present invention can be applied to a mobile phone 5 connected to the mobile communication network 2, a personal computer 8 connected to the Internet 1, or a personal computer connected to a display having a large screen size.

Next, depending on the type of network to which the PDA or mobile phone is connected, the picture can be identified when it is necessary to reduce the image size of one comic page to the limit to increase the transmission efficiency. , It is possible that the text in the speech bubble is crushed and the text cannot be read. In the present invention, such a problem can be solved by providing only the characters that are blank as the character string information associated with the area information.

FIG. 5 is a list in which the text linked to the area list of FIG. 4 is set. That is, the character string information (Good morning) set as area A in FIG. 5 is set in the area set in area A in FIG. 4, and the area B set in FIG. 5 is set in the area set in area B. The set character string information (the weather is good today) is equivalent.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a PDA screen. The application on the PDA divides the screen into upper and lower parts, a comic image is displayed on the large screen 30 on the upper side, and the characters set in FIG. Displaying columns. As a result, in the image displayed on the screen 30 at the top, even if the text on the balloon is not visible because it is crushed, the text string on the bottom is displayed on the band screen 31 so that even small characters can be read without stress. It becomes possible.

Further, although the present invention has been described for the purpose of reading a comic on a PDA, it may be applied as a guidance system, for example. For example, in the case of a fine work in which various scenes are scattered in one painting, such as the work of the artist Bruegel, if you can appreciate the whole image while enlarging the important points , You should get a deep understanding and empathy for the work. However, it is not possible to appreciate the details because it is not possible to get close to the paintings, such as when there is an exhibition with a large off-limits area in front of the paintings, such as a Japanese museum, or when the hall is crowded. It is possible.

In the guidance system to which the present invention is applied, an image file of each painting and a plurality of areas important for explaining the painting are designated in the PDA loaned to the visitors at the entrance of the museum for viewing assistance. By preparing the list, the visitors can check the enlarged commentary points according to the area list setting by the application on the PDA while viewing the entire target painting. The enlarged points can be played in various ways, such as playing the audio data in the PDA or being directly explained by a guide. Also, the text files related to the areas already explained can be used to explain the screen division of the PDA. The sentence may be displayed.

Also, switching of areas in which a plurality of areas are set for one picture may be operated by the customer using the button on the PDA, or the PDA connected to the same in-house wireless network owned by the guide. If the PDA is a master and the PDA owned by the visitor is a slave, the slave PDA owned by the customer will be adjusted according to the pace explained by the guide.
It is also possible to perform the switching by the remote control via a wireless network.

As described above, there is a problem in that digital contents such as paintings and comics, which are required to reproduce original original images with the highest image quality, have a size that cannot be displayed on a small display of a PDA or a mobile phone. With respect to the above, in order to display on a small display, the problem is that only scrolling of the screen is required, but according to the present invention, an area list for designating areas at a plurality of locations in relation to an image file is prepared, and the order thereof is set. According to the above, a terminal such as a PDA magnifies and displays an image in accordance with the area information, so that a large size image can be divided and sequentially displayed, and important points can be magnified and displayed. Furthermore, if the image is a comic, One-touch jump between frames, especially small displays such as PDAs and mobile phones Convenience to the user of the stomach to improve. Since the concept of a small display is subjective, the present invention may naturally be applied to a desktop personal computer.

Further, according to the present invention, since character string information associated with the area information and binary information such as a program can be set, it is possible to assist the explanation by the character string information for each area of the image and to relate the image enlarged and displayed as the area. It is possible to add depth to one image by executing the Java (R) program described above.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, 1
Image files for pages are divided in the browsing order, and each divided image is displayed by switching to the browsing order.
An image file larger than the size that can be displayed by the image display terminal can be easily viewed by a simple operation without reducing the content provider side and scrolling operation on the image display terminal side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an image content distribution system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a comic image for one page.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the appearance and display screen of the PDA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing coordinates when the comic image of FIG. 2 is divided in a browsing order.

5 is an explanatory diagram showing text data of the comic image in FIG. 2. FIG.

6 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the text data of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Internet 2 mobile communication networks 5 mobile phones 6, 7 PDA 9 servers (electronic publishers, image content providers) 21, 22 Cursor keys

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G09G 5/00 530 H04N 1/00 C H04N 1/00 G09G 5/00 555D F term (reference) 5B075 KK07 KK33 ND06 PQ02 PQ20 PQ62 UU11 5C062 AA12 AA14 AA25 AA29 AA37 AB23 AB46 AC24 AC60 AF07 BA00 5C082 AA00 BA02 BA12 BB01 CA76 CB05 DA87 MM09 MM10 5E501 AA04 AB03 BA05 CA04 CB03 EB05 FA06 FA14 FA23 FB34

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image content provider delivers coordinate information obtained by dividing a digital image file and an image file for one page in the browsing order as image content to an image display terminal via a network, and the image display terminal delivers the distribution. The divided one-page image file is divided and displayed based on the distributed coordinate information, and when the screen switching instruction is input, each divided image is switched and displayed in the distributed browsing order. Image content distribution system. 2. The image content provider delivers text data converted from image data representing a character string in each divided image to the image display terminal, and the image display terminal distributes the text together with the divided image. The image content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein a character string is displayed based on the data. 3. The image content provider delivers a program related to each of the divided images to the image display terminal, and the image display terminal executes the program while the divided image is displayed. The image content distribution system according to claim 1 or 2. 4. An image display means, and an image content having coordinate information obtained by dividing a digital image file and an image file for one page thereof in a browsing order, and an image file for one page is divided based on the coordinate information. And a display control unit that displays each divided image by switching the display order when the screen switching instruction is input. 5. The display control means displays a character string together with the divided image based on text data converted from image data representing a character string in each of the divided images. The image display device according to item 4. 6. The image display device according to claim 4, wherein the program is executed based on a program associated with each of the divided images while the divided image is being displayed.