JP2004281045A - Method and device for image retrieval and graphical user interface for image retrieval device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically record date information of a plurality of photographed image data in a memory of a memory cassette, to display the date information as a list, and to search and reproduce desired image data by selecting the date information displayed as a list. <P>SOLUTION: A main microcomputer 3 controls a mechanic microcomputer 2 and a display microcomputer 4, and date information and track numbers corresponding to the date information or the like are taken out from a memory cassette 1 by the mechanic microcomputer 2. The taken-out date information is displayed on a monitor 6 through a display IC 5. A user uses a remote controller 7 to select date information corresponding to desired image data on the basis of display on the monitor 7. Running of the memory cassette 1 is controlled up to the track number corresponding to the date information by the mechanic microcomputer 2, and desired image data is reproduced and displayed on the monitor 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image search apparatus and method for searching for image data recorded on a magnetic tape, for example, and a graphical user interface of the image search apparatus.

  Various image data is photographed on the magnetic tape using a VTR-integrated video camera. An index search function is known as one technique for reproducing desired image data from image data photographed on a magnetic tape. Using this index search function, an index (that is, a relative address) corresponding to the desired image data is immediately searched, and the image data is reproduced.

  However, this index must be entered by the user at the time of reproducing the magnetic tape, and a list of indexes recorded on the magnetic tape cannot be displayed. Furthermore, it was not possible to list recorded dates.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to automatically record date information of a plurality of captured image data on a recording medium, display the date information in a list, and further select the date information in the list to obtain a desired date information. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image search apparatus and method for reproducing image data after a search, and a graphical user interface of the image search apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a reading unit that reads, from a recording medium, related information respectively related to a plurality of pieces of image information recorded on a recording medium, and displays the related information read by the reading unit. Display means, detection means for detecting that a desired one is selected from the related information based on the display on the display means, and image information corresponding to the selected related information based on the detection of the detection means. An image search device that includes search means for searching from a recording medium, the related information corresponding to the image information searched by the search means being held, and the display means displaying the related information the next time the related information is displayed. An image retrieval apparatus characterized in that related information is displayed so as to be distinguishable from other related information.

  Also, the present invention provides a reading step of reading related information respectively related to a plurality of pieces of image information recorded on a recording medium from a recording medium, a display step of displaying the related information read in the reading step, a display step Detecting that a desired one of the related information is selected based on the display of the information, and searching for the image information corresponding to the selected related information from the recording medium based on the detection result of the detecting step. And holding the related information corresponding to the image information searched in the search step, and displaying the related information when displaying the related information in the next display step. This is an image search method characterized in that it is displayed so as to be distinguishable from other related information.

  Further, the present invention provides a reading unit for reading out related information respectively related to a plurality of pieces of image information recorded on a recording medium from a recording medium, a display unit for displaying the related information read by the reading unit, A related information indicator for visualizing on the display means, a selection operation means for selecting a desired one from the related information based on the display of the related information indicator, and the related information based on an operation of the selection operation means Detecting means for detecting that a desired one is selected from among the image data, and searching means for searching the recording medium for image information corresponding to the selected related information based on the detection of the detecting means. In the graphical user interface, the related information corresponding to the image information searched by the search means is held, and the next related information indicator is displayed on the display means. In this case, a discriminating indicator for visualizing the held related information on the display means so as to be distinguishable from other related information is displayed together with the related information indicator. is there.

  In the present invention, desired related information is selected from a plurality of related information (date information or date information and time) displayed on the display microcomputer (microcomputer) 4, and an address corresponding to the selected related information is assigned to the mechanical microcomputer. 2, and the mechanical microcomputer 2 can perform cueing of the image data from the supplied address.

  According to the present invention, related information (date information or date information and time) can be recorded on a recording medium at the time of capturing image data, and the related information can be displayed on a monitor. Further, the user can select the related information displayed on the monitor, search for the address of the image data corresponding to the related information, and reproduce and display the image on the monitor.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a photographed image is digitized using a VTR-integrated video camera, and image data is recorded on a magnetic tape of a cassette with a memory function (hereinafter referred to as a memory cassette) through digital signal processing. At this time, whether to record image data or to record a still image (still) is selected at the time of shooting, and when image data is recorded, items such as date information (shooting date) are recorded at the time of shooting. When a still image is recorded, the date and time of shooting are recorded as date information at the time of recording. In this case, it is possible to enter a title into each date information later.

  When the photographed image data is recorded on the magnetic tape of the memory cassette, the date information and the first track number (ie, absolute address) of the area where the image data is recorded are automatically stored in the memory of the memory cassette. Record. The date recorded as the date information is recorded only in the first recorded image data of the day. When searching for this image data, the image data is searched at least based on date information (hereinafter referred to as a date search). When searching for a still image, the still image is searched at least according to the date information and time (hereinafter referred to as a photo search). ). The data table for the date search and the data table for the photo search are separately provided. In the following description, a memory cassette in which a plurality of pieces of image data and related information are recorded in advance will be used.

  Here, a schematic configuration for performing a date search is shown in FIG. Here, the main microcomputer 3 controls the entire system. That is, in FIG. 1, the main microcomputer 3 controls the mechanical microcomputer 2, the display microcomputer 4, and the like. The mechanical microcomputer 2 controls the mechanical part of the system, and the display microcomputer 4 controls the display on the monitor 6 using the display IC 5.

  The memory cassette denoted by reference numeral 1 is mounted on the VTR-integrated video camera body by the user. When the cassette is mounted, date information and track numbers of a plurality of image data are read from the memory cassette 1 by the main microcomputer 3. The plurality of read date information and track numbers are supplied to the main microcomputer 3 and read into its memory. The main microcomputer 3 supplies the read date information to the display microcomputer 4. The display microcomputer 4 generates a display control signal from the supplied date information, and supplies the display control signal and the date information to the display IC 5. The display IC 5 controls the date information to be displayed in a list on the monitor 6 based on the supplied display control signal.

  In the date information displayed on the monitor 6, a cursor is displayed at a predetermined position, and the date information corresponding to the image data to be searched is selected by the cursor. The user moves the cursor to desired date information using the remote controller 7 while watching the monitor 6. At this time, a command from the remote controller 7 is supplied to the display microcomputer 4 via the main microcomputer 3. In the display microcomputer 4, a display control signal is supplied to the display IC 5 according to the supplied instruction, and the position of the cursor on the monitor 6 is changed.

  When the display microcomputer 4 determines that desired date information is selected by the cursor, search information corresponding to the selected date information is supplied to the main microcomputer 3. In the main microcomputer 3, a track number corresponding to the search information is supplied from the main microcomputer 3 to the mechanical microcomputer 2. In the mechanical microcomputer 2, the traveling control such as fast forward / rewind is performed to the position corresponding to the supplied track number, and the cue of the image data corresponding to the selected date information is performed. Then, the image data is reproduced from the memory cassette 1 and output to the monitor 6. The display on the monitor 6 automatically switches to the image selected from the date information.

  Here, the operation in one embodiment of the present invention will be described using the transition of the screen display of the monitor 6 (FIG. 2). FIG. 2 shows the transition of the screen display in which the search has not been performed yet either after the memory cassette 1 is mounted or after the recording. In this description, the screen transition when performing a date search is shown, but the screen transition when performing a photo search is performed in a similar procedure.

  When the date search is performed as described above, the image data is searched by selecting the date corresponding to the desired image data from the dates displayed on the monitor 6, and the searched image data is reproduced. When performing a photo search, a still image is searched by selecting a date / time corresponding to a desired still image from the date / time displayed on the monitor 6, and the searched still image is displayed. In this example, the [Search Selection] key, the [Fwd Search] key, and the [Rvs Search] key used for selecting date information using the remote controller 7 are provided on the remote controller 7.

  When the [search selection] key is pressed while the normal screen is displayed, the state shifts to a state where a date search is performed to search for image data, and the screen is switched to a screen display in which date information is displayed in a list. When the [Fwd search] key is pressed when selecting the image data, the number of the date information corresponding to the image data is incremented by ‘+1 '(increment), and the cursor moves. When the [Rvs search] key is pressed when selecting image data, the date information number is decremented by -1 (decrement), and the cursor moves. In this example, characters are displayed in reverse video in this cursor, but they may be displayed by blinking (flashing) or reverse flashing.

  Normally, the monitor 6 displays a normal screen as shown in FIG. 2A. The normal screen means a screen in which no item is displayed, and is a screen displaying image data reproduced from the memory cassette 1, for example. When the [search selection] key is pressed in this state, a date search screen shown in FIG. In this date search screen, date information of the memory cassette 1 is displayed on the monitor 6 in order of date. Then, if no key is pressed and the key is left as it is, the screen of the monitor 6 returns to the state of displaying the normal screen (FIG. 2A).

  When the [Search selection] key is pressed and either the normal screen (FIG. 2A) or the date search screen (FIG. 2B) is displayed on the monitor 6, the [Fwd search] key or the [Rvs search] key is pressed. When pressed, the screen moves to the screen shown in FIG. 2C. That is, when the [Fwd search] key or the [Rvs search] key is pressed, the cursor of the date search screen is moved, so that the [Fwd search] key or the [Rvs search] key even in the state of the normal screen (FIG. 2A). Is pressed, the cursor on the date search screen moves, and the screen shifts to the state of the date search screen shown in FIG. 2C. In the example of FIG. 2, since the search has never been performed, the cursor is always displayed first when the [Fwd search] key or the [Rvs search] key is pressed.

  In the state of the date search screen shown in FIG. 2C, a cursor is displayed on the first date information on the date search screen from the state of FIG. 2B, and whether or not to select image data corresponding to the date information indicated by the cursor is determined by the user. It is in a state of waiting for the judgment. Here, when the first date information indicated by the cursor is selected, the image data of the date information indicated by the cursor is determined to be selected by stopping the cursor at the same position for several seconds. Then, a search (position detection) of the image data recorded on the track number corresponding to the date information is performed. When the search for the image data is completed, the searched image data is reproduced, and the reproduced image data is reproduced and displayed on the monitor 6 as shown in FIG. 2E.

  To select image data different from the image data corresponding to the date information shown in FIG. 2C, the [Fwd search] key is pressed. As a result, the cursor is moved to the second date information (FIG. 2D), and the user is waiting for the user to determine whether to select the image data of the second date information. That is, this is the same state as FIG. 2C. As described above, by pressing the [Fwd search] key or the [Rvs search] key, the date information corresponding to the desired image data is selected, and the selected image data can be searched.

  It is also possible to perform a photo search instead of a date search, and the search is performed by the same screen transition as the date search. In this embodiment, a photo mode in which a still image (still) is recorded on a magnetic tape for 7 seconds at the time of photographing is enabled. In this photo mode, the shooting date and time are automatically written in the memory of the cassette. In a photo search for searching a memory cassette photographed in the photo mode, a desired still image can be searched using the [Fwd search] key and the [Rvs search] key, as in the date search. The searched still image is continuously displayed on the monitor 6. Then, when switching the displayed still image, a button for instructing reproduction is operated, thereby enabling a photo mode in which the tape feed of the memory cassette is started.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows an example of transition of screen display when a search has been performed at least once. When the [search selection] key is pressed, the screen shifts from the normal screen shown in FIG. 3A to the date search screen shown in FIG. 3B. If the date search screen (FIG. 3B) is left without pressing any key, the screen of the monitor 6 returns to the normal screen (FIG. 3A). The normal screen is similar to the normal screen shown in FIG. 2A, for example, and means a screen in which no items are displayed, and is a screen displaying image data reproduced from the memory cassette 1, for example.

  Then, on the date search screen of FIG. 3B, a short cursor indicating that the third search was previously performed is displayed. When the [Fwd search] key is pressed from the state of the date search screen of FIG. 3B, the cursor is displayed fourth (FIG. 3E), and when the [Rvs search] key is pressed, the cursor is displayed third ( (FIG. 3C). When the [Fwd search] key is pressed from the state of the normal screen (FIG. 3A), the cursor is displayed fourth (FIG. 3E), and when the [Rvs search] key is pressed from the state of the normal screen (FIG. 3A). , The cursor is displayed third. Further, when the [Rvs search] key is pressed in the state of the date search screen shown in FIG. 3C, the cursor is displayed second (FIG. 3D).

  In the state of the date search screens of FIGS. 3C, 3D, and 3E, when selecting image data corresponding to the date information indicated by each cursor, the cursor is stopped at the same position for several seconds, It is determined that the date information (that is, image data) indicated by the cursor has been selected, and a search for a track number corresponding to the date information is performed. When the search for the image data is completed, the selected image data is reproduced, and the selected image data is reproduced and displayed on the monitor 6 as shown in FIG. 3F.

  In this way, once the search is performed, the date information corresponding to the previously searched image data is held, and when the [Search selection] key is pressed, the short cursor is moved to the number of the previously searched image data. Is displayed. By displaying the short cursor, the number of the previous image data can be known, and can be used as reference for the image data to be searched next.

  Here, an example of the transition of the screen display for switching between the date search and the photo search is shown in FIG. The normal screen shown in FIG. 4A is the same as the above-described normal screen. When the [search selection] key, the [Fwd search] key, or the [Rvs search] key is pressed, the screen shifts to the date search screen (FIG. 4B). . In the state of the date search screen (FIG. 4B), if the image data is selected on the date search screen using the [Fwd search] key and the [Rvs search] key, the monitor 6 displays the normal screen (FIG. 4B). Return to 4A).

  When the [Search Selection] key is pressed in the state of the date search screen shown in FIG. 4B, the state shifts to the state of the photo search screen shown in FIG. 4C. In the state of the photo search screen (FIG. 4C), when the image data is selected on the photo search screen (FIG. 4C) using the [Fwd search] key and the [Rvs search] key, the monitor 6 , A normal screen (FIG. 4D) is displayed. When the [Search selection] key is pressed from the state of the photo search screen (FIG. 4C), the screen shifts to the state of the normal screen shown in FIG. 4A.

  In the state of the normal screen shown in FIG. 4D, that is, in the state of the normal screen to which the previous transition from the photo search screen is made, when the [search selection] key, the [Fwd search] key or the [Rvs search] key is pressed, the photo search screen ( Move to the state of FIG. 4E). When the image data is selected on the photo search screen (FIG. 4E) by the [Fwd search] key and the [Rvs search] key in the state of the photo search screen (FIG. 4E), the monitor 6 , A normal screen (FIG. 4D) is displayed.

  When the [Search Selection] key is pressed in the state of the photo search screen shown in FIG. 4E, the screen shifts to the state of the date search screen shown in FIG. 4F. In the state of the date search screen (FIG. 4F), when the image data is selected as it is, or when the image data is selected on the date search screen (FIG. 4F) by the [Fwd search] key and the [Rvs search] key, the monitor 6 is displayed. Displays a normal screen (FIG. 4A). When the [Search selection] key is pressed from the state of the photo search screen (FIG. 4F), the screen shifts to the state of the normal screen shown in FIG. 4D.

  That is, the normal screen shown in FIG. 4A is one of the normal screen shown in FIG. 2 and the normal screen shown in FIG. Is a normal screen when image data is searched in the previous photo search screen.

  Here, an example of the state transition by the operation key is shown in FIG. First, when the [search selection] key is pressed from the state of the normal screen shown in FIG. 5A, the date search screen (FIG. 5B) is displayed, and the state shifts to the date search state. In the date search screen shown in FIG. 5B, the short cursor is located at the thirteenth position. That is, this indicates that the image data corresponding to the thirteenth date information was searched by the previous date search. When the [search selection] key is pressed from the state of the date search screen (FIG. 5B), the display shifts to the photo search screen (FIG. 5E), and when the [search selection] key is pressed from the state of the photo search screen (FIG. 5E). , To the normal screen (FIG. 5A).

  That is, when the [search selection] key is pressed, the state is changed to a normal screen, a date search screen, and a photo search screen. Further, as described above, the date and time are displayed on the photo search screen, but in FIG. 5, the display of the time is removed from the photo search screen to simplify the drawing.

  When the [Fwd search] key is pressed while the date search screen (FIG. 5B) is displayed, a cursor is displayed at the 14th position on the date search screen (FIG. 5C), and the [Fwd search] key is further pressed. By pressing the cursor several times, the cursor is moved to the position of the date information corresponding to the desired image data, and the desired image data is selected. Similarly, when the [Rvs search] key is pressed while the date search screen (FIG. 5B) is displayed, a cursor is displayed at the thirteenth position on the date search screen (FIG. 5D), and the [Rvs search] key is further pressed. By pressing several times, the cursor is moved to the position of the date information corresponding to the desired image data, and the desired image data is selected.

  When the [Fwd search] key is pressed from the state of the normal screen (FIG. 5A), the screen shifts to the state of the date search screen shown in FIG. 5C, and the [Rvs search] key is pressed from the state of the normal screen (FIG. 5A). Then, the screen shifts to the state of the date search screen shown in FIG. 5D.

  When the [Fwd search] key is pressed while the photo search screen (FIG. 5E) is displayed, a cursor is displayed at the 14th position on the photo search screen (FIG. 5F). By pressing the cursor several times, the cursor is moved to the position of the date information corresponding to the desired image data, and the desired image data is selected. Similarly, when the [Rvs search] key is pressed while the photo search screen (FIG. 5E) is displayed, a cursor is displayed at the thirteenth position on the photo search screen (FIG. 5G), and the [Rvs search] key is further pressed. By pressing several times, the cursor is moved to the position of the date information corresponding to the desired image data, and the desired image data is selected.

  When the normal screen (FIG. 5A) is displayed after the image data is selected by the photo search screen last time, when the [Search selection] key is pressed, the photo search screen (FIG. 5E) is displayed. . Then, when the [search selection] key is pressed from the state of the photo search screen (FIG. 5E), a date search screen (FIG. 5B) is displayed, and the [search selection] key is changed from the state of the date search screen (FIG. 5B). Is pressed, a normal screen (FIG. 5A) is displayed.

  Further, when the [Fwd search] key is pressed from the state of the normal screen (FIG. 5A), the state shifts to the state of the photo search screen shown in FIG. 5F, and the [Rvs search] key is pressed from the state of the normal screen (FIG. 5A). Then, the screen shifts to the state of the photo search screen shown in FIG. 5G.

  As the monitor 6 used in this embodiment, a normal CRT monitor may be used, but a viewfinder may be used. Further, an OSD (On Screen Display) can be used.

  In this embodiment, the [Fwd search] key and the [Rvs search] key used can also have the same function by using a conventional index key.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a magnetic recording information display device according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a date search operation according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a date search operation according to the present invention. It is an approximate line figure used as an example for explaining a date search and a photo search concerning the present invention. It is an approximate line figure used as an example for explaining a date search and a photo search concerning the present invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

1 Memory cassette 2 Mechanical microcomputer 3 Main microcomputer 4 Display microcomputer 5 Display IC
6 monitor 7 remote control

Claims (5)

Reading means for reading, from the recording medium, related information respectively associated with the plurality of pieces of image information recorded on the recording medium,
Display means for displaying the relevant information read by the reading means,
Detecting means for detecting that a desired one is selected from the related information based on the display on the display means,
A search means for searching the recording medium for the image information corresponding to the selected related information based on the detection of the detection means,
The related information corresponding to the image information searched by the search means is held, and the display means can distinguish the held related information from other related information when displaying the related information next time. An image search device characterized by displaying.   The display means, together with the relevant information, displays instruction information representing the relevant information that is currently instructed. When displaying the relevant information for the first time, the display information is displayed at the position of the stored relevant information. The image search device according to claim 1, wherein the image is displayed.   2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays, together with the related information, first instruction information representing related information currently instructed, and second instruction information representing retained related information. An image search device according to claim 1. A reading step of reading, from the recording medium, related information respectively associated with the plurality of pieces of image information recorded on the recording medium,
A display step of displaying the relevant information read in the reading step;
A detection step of detecting that a desired one is selected from the related information based on the display of the display step,
A search step of searching the recording medium for the image information corresponding to the selected related information based on the detection result of the detection step,
The related information corresponding to the image information searched in the search step is held, and when the related information is displayed in the next display step, the held related information is compared with other related information. An image search method characterized in that the image is displayed in a distinguishable manner. Reading means for reading, from the recording medium, related information respectively associated with the plurality of pieces of image information recorded on the recording medium,
Display means for displaying the relevant information read by the reading means,
A related information indicator for visualizing the related information on the display means,
Selection operation means for selecting a desired one from the related information based on the display of the related information indicator,
Detecting means for detecting that a desired one is selected from the related information based on an operation of the selecting operation means,
Based on the detection of the detection means, in the graphical user interface of an image search device comprising a search means for searching the image information corresponding to the selected related information from the recording medium,
The related information corresponding to the image information searched by the search means is held, and the next time the related information indicator is displayed on the display means, the held related information is distinguished from other related information. A graphical user interface for an image search device, wherein a discriminant indicator for visualization is displayed together with the related information indicator on the display means.

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