JP2004172722A - Image data recorder, image data display apparatus, image data recording method, and image data display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the image quality of a character image from being deteriorated in the case of compressing image data. <P>SOLUTION: A mobile phone 100 includes: an image photographing section 106 for photographing an image; a character entry unit 108 for entering character data; an image processing section 122 for applying compression processing to photographed image data and writing information including the image and character data for displaying characters to a predetermined area of a data file including compressed data; and a data file area 136 for storing the data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to image data processing, and more particularly to control for displaying an image including characters.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, mobile phones have become more sophisticated, and in addition to voice communication and data communication, mobile phones have been added that have functions that are not directly related to information communication such as games, schedulers, cameras, and music playback. are doing. In particular, camera-equipped mobile phones are rapidly spreading because they support easy expression of rich images by communicating images.
[0003]
Some camera-equipped mobile phones have a function of synthesizing data called a frame with a captured image and storing the data as a single still image (hereinafter, referred to as a frame synthesis function). Image data such as photographs, illustrations, handwritten notes, and bit-mapped characters are mainly used for frames.
[0004]
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-332932 (Patent Literature 1) discloses a technique which is different from the frame synthesizing function and expands the expression when communicating images. An image data communication device according to this technology is an image data communication device capable of character input and capable of performing data communication with a portable communication terminal, wherein character data representing a character input in the portable communication terminal is transmitted. A receiving circuit for receiving, a reading device for reading image data recorded on an image recording medium, a generating circuit for generating an image file in which character data and image data are stored in one file, and a generating circuit for generating the image file And a transmission circuit for transmitting the image file to the communication device via the portable communication terminal.
[0005]
According to this image data communication device, an image and a comment associated with the image can be communicated by a mobile phone. This makes it possible to perform communication of image data including a message, a title, and the like, which could not be performed without a personal computer or the like. As a result, applications of the mobile phone can be expanded.
[0006]
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 11-205761 (Patent Document 2) discloses a technique for managing a face image and text information such as a telephone number in association with each other as a technique for improving the performance of a mobile phone. A mobile phone according to this technology is a mobile phone in which a microphone, a transmission circuit for transmitting voice data input to the microphone to a communication partner, an input device for inputting characters, and a character memory are housed in a housing. A digital camera that captures an image and outputs image data; an image memory that stores image data captured by the digital camera; image data output from the digital camera or image data stored in the image memory; Control circuit for associating character data associated with image data stored in the display device, a display device for displaying the associated data, and a switching circuit for switching image data from the image memory to audio data so as to be transmitted by a transmission circuit. And
[0007]
According to this mobile phone, since image data and character data are associated with each other, character data can be searched using the image data. As a result, a mobile phone capable of efficiently searching for character data can be provided.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-332932 A (pages 3-6)
[0009]
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-205761 (pages 3-4)
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the technique described in the above-mentioned publication has a problem in that no consideration is given to the image quality of characters when image data including characters in a frame or the like is compressed and expanded. That is, when communicating image data with a mobile phone, it is common to communicate after compressing the image data. Image data is often compressed using an irreversible compression technique such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) compression. When image data including characters is compressed, small characters, kanji with many strokes, and the like are crushed during data compression, and it is difficult to determine the original character.
[0011]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image data recording apparatus capable of preventing a decrease in image quality of an image of a portion where characters are drawn when compressing image data , An image data display device, an image data processing method, and an image data display method.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An image data recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a camera for capturing an image, an input unit for inputting character data, a compression unit for compressing image data captured by the camera, and storing the data. For writing information including character data for displaying characters together with images in a predetermined area of a data file containing compressed data stored in the storage means. Means.
[0013]
According to the first aspect, the writing means writes information including character data in a predetermined area of a data file including data compressed by the compression means. Thus, the character data is recorded not as image data but as a symbol representing a character. Since the data is recorded as a symbol representing a character, when the compressed data is expanded and displayed, an image of the character corresponding to the symbol can be accurately displayed. As a result, it is possible to provide an image data recording apparatus capable of preventing the image quality of a character image from deteriorating when the image data is compressed.
[0014]
In the image data recording apparatus according to a second aspect, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the information includes character data and data relating to a character display position.
[0015]
According to the second aspect, the information includes the character data and the data relating to the display position of the character. Therefore, when the compressed data is expanded and displayed, the character can be displayed at an accurate position. As a result, when compressing image data, it is possible to provide an image data recording apparatus capable of preventing the image quality of a character image from deteriorating and displaying characters at an accurate position.
[0016]
An image data display device according to a third aspect of the present invention provides a storage unit for storing data, and a data file including information including character data and compressed image data stored in the storage unit. And display means for displaying an image based on the image data included in the data file and displaying characters superimposed on the image based on the information.
[0017]
According to the third invention, the decompression means decompresses the data file stored in the storage means. In this case, decompression refers to restoring compressed data to usable data. The display means displays characters along with the image based on the image data included in the data file. Thereby, the character is displayed based on the character data. Since the data is recorded as character data in the data file, the character corresponding to the symbol can be accurately displayed when the compressed data is expanded and displayed. As a result, it is possible to provide an image data display device capable of preventing a decrease in image quality of a character image when displaying image data based on data of a compressed data file.
[0018]
In the image data display device according to a fourth aspect, in addition to the configuration of the third aspect, the display means includes means for displaying a character based on data included in the information relating to the position at which the character is displayed.
[0019]
According to the fourth aspect, the display means displays the character based on the data regarding the position at which the character is displayed, which is included in the information. Thus, when the compressed data is expanded and displayed, characters can be displayed at accurate positions. As a result, when displaying image data based on the data of the compressed data file, it is possible to provide an image data display device capable of preventing the image quality of a character image from deteriorating and displaying characters at an accurate position. .
[0020]
An image data display device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the image data display device according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein the image data display device has input means for inputting determination data indicating whether or not characters are to be displayed on the display means. Further included. The display means includes means for displaying the character together with the image in response to the determination data indicating that the character is to be displayed.
[0021]
According to the fifth aspect, the input means inputs the determination data indicating whether or not to display the image represented by the character data on the display means. The display means displays characters based on the data input to the input means. Thus, it is possible to select whether or not to display characters based on the input data. As a result, it is possible to provide an image data display device capable of displaying confidential information as needed.
[0022]
An image data recording method according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes a photographing step of photographing an image, an input step of inputting character data, a compression step of compressing image data photographed in the photographing step, and a storage for storing data. And a writing step of writing information including character data for displaying characters together with an image in a predetermined area of a data file containing compressed data stored in the storing step.
[0023]
According to the sixth aspect, in the writing step, information including character data is written in a predetermined area of the data file including the data compressed in the compression step. Thus, the character data is recorded not as image data but as a symbol representing a character. Since the data is recorded as a symbol representing a character, when the compressed data is expanded and displayed, an image of the character corresponding to the symbol can be accurately displayed. As a result, it is possible to provide an image data recording method capable of preventing a decrease in image quality of a character image when compressing image data.
[0024]
In the image data recording method according to a seventh aspect, in addition to the configuration of the sixth aspect, the information includes character data and data relating to a character display position.
[0025]
According to the seventh aspect, since the information includes the character data and the data relating to the display position of the character, the character can be displayed at the correct position when the compressed data is expanded and displayed. As a result, when compressing image data, it is possible to provide an image data recording method capable of preventing the image quality of a character image from deteriorating and displaying characters at an accurate position.
[0026]
An image data display method according to an eighth aspect includes a storage step of storing data, a decompression step of decompressing a data file composed of information including character data and compressed image data stored in the storage step. Displaying an image based on the data included in the data file, and displaying characters superimposed on the image based on the information.
[0027]
According to the eighth aspect, in the decompression step, the data file stored in the storage step is decompressed. The display step displays a character together with the image based on the image data included in the data file. Thereby, the character is displayed based on the character data. Since the data is recorded as character data in the data file, the character corresponding to the symbol can be accurately displayed when the compressed data is expanded and displayed. As a result, it is possible to provide an image data display method capable of preventing a decrease in image quality of a character image when displaying image data based on data of a compressed data file.
[0028]
In the image data display method according to a ninth aspect, in addition to the configuration of the eighth aspect, the display step includes a step of displaying a character based on data on a position at which the character is displayed, which is included in the information.
[0029]
According to the ninth aspect, in the display step, the character is displayed based on the data regarding the position where the character is displayed, which is included in the information. Thus, when the compressed data is expanded and displayed, characters can be displayed at accurate positions. As a result, when displaying image data based on the data of the compressed data file, it is possible to provide an image data display method capable of preventing the image quality of a character image from deteriorating and displaying characters at an accurate position. .
[0030]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.
[0031]
Referring to FIG. 1, mobile phone 100 according to the present embodiment controls control of each unit of mobile phone 100 so as to display received data, and is connected to control unit 102 and stores data. A memory unit 104, an image photographing unit 106 as a camera for photographing an image, a character input device 108 for inputting an instruction of a character input or storage process by a user, a display device 110 for displaying an image, It includes a microphone 112 that receives an input by voice, a communication unit 114 that communicates data with another mobile phone, and a speaker 116 that outputs voice data received from another mobile phone.
[0032]
The control unit 102 includes a file system 120 that manages a file of data stored in the memory unit 104, and an image processing unit 122 that performs image processing based on an image captured by the image capturing unit 106 and causes the display device 110 to display the image. And a system control unit 124 that controls each device and circuit. The memory unit 104 includes an image display memory area 130 for storing image data, a character display memory area 132 for storing character data, a work memory area 134 used for synthesizing image data, an image file and a control unit. And a data file area 136 for storing the program executed in 102.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the image file is stored in the JPEG format. An example of the format of an image file according to the JPEG method will be described with reference to FIG. The image file includes an SOI (Start Of Image) unit 202 representing a leading end of the image file, a COM (Comment) unit 204 for storing a comment, a DQT (Define Quantization Table) unit 206 for defining a quantization table, and an SOF (SOF) for representing a frame header. A Start Of Frame (208) unit, a DHT (Define Huffman Table) unit 210 that defines a Huffman table, a DRI (Define Restart Interval) unit 212 that defines a restart interval, and an SOS (Start Of Frame) that stores compressed image data. A scan unit 214 and an EOI (End Of Image) unit 216 indicating the end of the image file are included. In the present embodiment, character data is assumed to be included in COM section 204.
[0034]
Referring to FIG. 3, the program executed by control unit 102 has the following control structure for processing for creating an image file.
[0035]
In step 100 (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S), the system control unit 124 captures an image using the image capturing unit 106 and stores the captured image in the work memory area 134. The image processing unit 122 performs various processes on image data of a captured image stored in the work memory area 134. The various processes include, for example, white balance adjustment and YUV (Y-signal U-signal V-signal) conversion. In S102, image processing unit 122 stores the image data stored in work memory area 134 in data file area 136 or a removable external memory (not shown).
[0036]
In S104, the image processing unit 122 reads the image file stored in the data file area 136 or the removable external memory into the working memory area 134. Thereafter, when an image needs to be displayed, the image processing unit 122 stores the image file in the image display memory area 130.
[0037]
In S106, based on information input from the user through character input device 108, system control unit 124 determines whether to permit character input. For example, if a character is input from the user to the character input device 108 during image display, the character input mode is entered, and it is determined that frame synthesis is to be performed. After the image is displayed, it is determined that no character input is performed in response to the fact that there is no input from the user to the character input device 108 for a certain period of time, or in response to an instruction to perform a storage process before the character is input. If it is determined that character input is permitted (YES in S106), the process proceeds to S108. If not (NO in S106), the process proceeds to S110.
[0038]
In S108, system control unit 124 stores the input character data in character display memory area 132, and sets the character string storage management flag to “ON”. However, if character data does not exist in the character display memory area 132 after the user's character input is confirmed, the character string storage management flag is set to “OFF”.
[0039]
In S110, system control unit 124 determines whether or not to perform frame synthesis based on the character string storage management flag. If it is determined that frame composition is to be performed (YES in S110), the process proceeds to S112. If not (NO in S110), the process proceeds to S114.
[0040]
In S112, the image processing unit 122 performs JPEG compression on the image data in the image display memory area 130 and stores it in the work memory area 134. The image processing unit 122 writes the character data in the character display memory area 132 and the additional data such as the position where the display of the character starts, into the COM unit 204 of the JPEG-compressed data.
[0041]
In S114, the image processing unit 122 performs JPEG compression on the image data in the image display memory area 130 and stores it in the work memory area 134. Writing of character data is not performed.
[0042]
In S 116, file system 120 converts the data stored in work memory area 134 into a file, and stores the data in data file area 136. The image processing unit 122 reads the character data stored in the character display memory area 132 and causes the display device 110 to display characters.
[0043]
Referring to FIG. 4, a program executed by mobile phone 100 has the following control structure regarding display processing of a received image file.
[0044]
In S120, the file system 120 reads the image file shown in FIG. 2 stored in the data file area 136 or the removable external memory (not shown) into the work memory area 134. In S122, image processing unit 122 decompresses the data read into work memory area 134 and stores the data in image display memory area 130.
[0045]
In S124, system control unit 124 searches COM unit 204 to determine whether the image file contains character data and additional data. If it is determined that character data or the like is included (YES in S124), the process proceeds to S126. Otherwise (NO at S124), the process proceeds to S128.
[0046]
In S126, the system control unit 124 searches the COM unit 204 described above to extract character data and additional data, and stores them in the character display memory area 132. At the same time, the system control unit 124 sets the character string storage management flag, which is present in its own register, to “ON”. In S128, system control unit 124 causes display device 110 to display only the image data stored in image display memory area 130.
[0047]
In S130, system control section 124 determines whether or not the character display flag present in its own register and set according to the user's instruction is "ON". If it is determined that the character display flag is "ON" (YES in S130), the process proceeds to S132. Otherwise (NO at S130), the process proceeds to S128.
[0048]
In S132, image processing unit 122 causes display device 110 to display an image based on the image data stored in image display memory area 130. In S134, image processing unit 122 causes display device 110 to display characters based on the character data stored in character display memory area 132.
[0049]
The operation of the mobile phone 100 based on the above structure and flowchart will be described.
[0050]
[Operation to record captured images]
The system control unit 124 captures an image using the image capturing unit 106 and stores the captured image in the work memory area 134. The image processing unit 122 performs various processes on the image data of the captured image (S100). The image processing unit 122 stores the image data stored in the work memory area 134 in the data file area 136 or the like (S102).
[0051]
The image processing unit 122 reads an image file stored in the data file area 136 or the like into the work memory area 134. Thereafter, when an image needs to be displayed, the image processing unit 122 stores the image in the image display memory area 130 (S104).
[0052]
The data is stored in the image display memory area 130, and when a character is input from the user to the character input device 108 during image display (YES in S106), the system control unit 124 converts the input character data into a character The character string is stored in the display memory area 132, and the character string storage management flag is set to “ON” (S108). Since the character string storage management flag is set to “ON” (YES in S 110), image processing section 122 performs JPEG compression on the image data in image display memory area 130 and stores it in work memory area 134. The image processing unit 122 writes the character data in the character display memory area 132 and the additional data such as the position where the display of the character string starts, into the JPEG-compressed data COM unit 204 (S112).
[0053]
When the character data or the like is written, the file system 120 adds data necessary for handling as a file to the data stored in the work memory area 134 to create a file, and stores the file in the data file area 136. The image processing unit 122 reads out the character data stored in the character display memory area 132 and causes the display device 110 to display the characters (S116). When displaying an image and a character on the display device 110, the character is overwritten on the image on the display device 110 in order to control the display device 110 so that the character layer is displayed over the image layer. Is displayed as follows.
[0054]
[Operation for displaying recorded images]
The file system 120 reads out the image file stored in the data file area 136 or the like to the working memory area 134 (S120). The image processing unit 122 decompresses the data read to the work memory area 134 and stores the data in the image display memory area 130 (S122). The system control unit 124 searches the COM unit 204 and determines that the image file contains character data and additional data (YES in S124). It is stored in the display memory area 132 (S126). Since the system control unit 124 determines that the character display flag existing in its own register is “ON” (YES in S 130), the image processing unit 122 executes the processing of the image stored in the image display memory area 130. An image is displayed on the display device 110 based on the data (S132), and characters are displayed on the display device 110 based on the character data stored in the character display memory area 132 (S134).
[0055]
The image displayed on the display device 110 at this time will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state where an image exists on an image layer. FIG. 5B is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state in which a character exists on a character layer. When displaying the image and the characters on the display device 110, the image processing unit 122 controls the display device 110 so that the character layer is displayed so as to be superimposed on the image layer. The characters appear to be overwritten. FIG. 5C is a conceptual diagram of an image displayed on display device 110 at this time.
[0056]
As described above, the mobile phone according to the present embodiment can provide an image data recording device and an image data display device in which the shape of displayed characters is not impaired even when image data is compressed and expanded. it can.
[0057]
<Modification>
The character data may be stored in the header of EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format). It may be stored in the header of the file. As a result, the same processing as when character data is stored in the COM part of the JPEG file can be performed. Therefore, even if the image data is compressed and decompressed, the shape of the displayed character is not lost. Can be provided.
[0058]
The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a mobile phone according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a format of an image file according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of a process of creating an image file based on image data and character data stored after shooting according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a process for displaying an image file according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a state where images and characters are displayed on the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 mobile phone, 102 control unit, 104 memory unit, 106 image photographing unit, 108 character input device, 110 display device, 112 microphone, 114 communication unit, 116 speaker, 120 file system, 122 image processing unit, 124 system control unit, 130 image display memory area, 132 character display memory area, 134 work memory area, 136 data file area.

Claims (9)

A camera for taking images,
Input means for inputting character data;
Compression means for compressing image data taken by the camera,
Storage means for storing data;
Writing means for writing information, including the character data for displaying characters together with the image, in a predetermined area of a data file containing compressed data stored in the storage means; , Image data recording device. The image data recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information includes the character data and data relating to a display position of the character. Storage means for storing data;
Decompression means for decompressing a data file composed of information including character data and compressed image data stored in the storage means,
An image data display device, comprising: display means for displaying an image based on image data included in the data file and displaying characters superimposed on the image based on the information. 4. The image data display device according to claim 3, wherein the display unit includes a unit for displaying the character based on data on a position at which the character is displayed, which is included in the information. 5. The image data display device,
Input means for inputting determination data indicating whether to display the character on the display means,
The image data display according to claim 3, wherein the display unit includes a unit for displaying the character together with the image in response to the determination data indicating that the character is displayed. apparatus. A shooting step for shooting an image,
An input step for inputting character data,
A compression step of compressing the image data shot in the shooting step;
A storage step for storing data;
A writing step of writing information including the character data for displaying a character together with the image in a predetermined area of a data file containing compressed data stored in the storing step; Data recording method. The image data recording method according to claim 6, wherein the information includes the character data and data relating to a display position of the character. A storage step for storing data;
Information including character data, stored in the storage step, a decompression step of decompressing a data file consisting of compressed image data,
A display step of displaying an image based on the data included in the data file and displaying characters superimposed on the image based on the information. The image data display method according to claim 8, wherein the displaying step includes a step of displaying the character based on data on a position at which the character is displayed, which is included in the information.

Images