JP2005252811A - Image processor and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently perform target image processing by providing a user with useful category classification about image data types and easily retrieving and selecting an image data group to be an image processing target among a plurality of image data groups stored in a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: A specific (unique) character code showing original image data is given to a free character D2 of a DCF (design rule for camera file system) directory name and a free character F1 of a file name, and the original image data are identified and extracted among a plurality of image file groups including other device image data with high probability on the basis of the character code. When an image acquiring means for a plurality of paths is provided, the character code that is individually unique is allocated to each different input path to thereby be able to identify and extract image data of each different input path. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, and in particular, provides a user with a useful category classification related to the type of image data, and images to be processed from a plurality of image data groups stored in a recording medium. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of easily searching and selecting a data group and efficiently performing a target image processing.

  In recent years, with the rapid spread of still image recording means typified by digital still cameras, digital image data acquired by a plurality of still image recording devices is recorded on the same recording medium, and the user can record on the recording medium. Opportunities for extracting necessary image data from the accumulated image data group and using them for various purposes are increasing.

  Accordingly, for the user, for example, a printer provided with image data reading means from a personal computer or a removable recording medium, various information communication processing devices provided with image data input / output means, an image display device, an image editing processing device, etc. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently retrieve necessary images from a group of image data stored in a recording medium and obtain an image data retrieval means for easily performing various processing processes (image processing). One big factor to raise.

  Further, although not an image data search means, other means for improving the use efficiency include, for example, means for analyzing related information added to image data, and image data based on the contents of the related information analyzed by the analysis means. In addition, there is a method in which image data is automatically classified, registered, and managed by category by means for classifying related information and allocating the information to related categories and means for managing the related information. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there is also provided with a management information creation means and a means for retrieving image data based on a plurality of management information created by the creation means (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  As for image file operations, hierarchical files based on FAT (File Allocation Table) defined in DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) standardized by JEITA (Electronic Information Technology Industries Association) There is one related to efficient file operation in the system (for example, see Patent Document 3).

Further, many methods related to a method for facilitating directory and file management have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 4 and 5).
JP 2003-91545 A JP 2003-91715 A JP 2001-128111 A JP-A-11-110273 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-120052

  That is, each of Patent Documents 1 to 5 described above is based on technology for creating image data management information unique to an apparatus or method separately from an image file based on attached information included in image data, and management information on image data. A technique for searching for an image file in units of categories, a directory in a hierarchical file system, a technique for file management, and the like are described.

  However, from the viewpoint of a total image data search means for efficiently searching for necessary images from a group of image data stored in a recording medium and easily performing various processing (image processing). The techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 5 have a problem that it cannot be said that the technique is sufficient for the user.

  The present invention was devised to solve such problems, and its purpose is to provide a more useful classification for the user in the category of conventional image data, that is, the user is stored in a recording medium. Another object of the present invention is to provide a new category of image data and a search means for making it easy to efficiently select a necessary image from a group of image data and to perform various processing processes. Furthermore, when image data acquired by a plurality of still image recording devices is stored in the same recording medium (specifically, the device or method acquires image data generated by another device or method). Including a case where the device or method itself has a plurality of image input paths), in particular, a removable memory compatible with different devices is used as the recording medium. An image processing apparatus and an image processing method that enable more efficient image data search that does not manage management information separately from image data in consideration of the case where image files are managed in a hierarchical file system. There is to do.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a still image input unit, a recording unit that records a still image as image data on a recording medium, a management unit that manages image data as a file in the recording medium, and an accumulation in the recording medium. An image read out by the reading means, comprising: search means for classifying and reading image data classified by category from the image file group being read; and read means for sequentially reading the image files searched by the search means An image processing apparatus that performs various image processing on data, and whether or not the category classification in the search means of the image file to be processed is original image data generated by the apparatus, and / or Whether it was generated by another device other than the device and / or the image processing has already been performed It is characterized that it is classified or not to the whether condition. Here, the input means includes a camera unit that captures an image of a subject and a recording unit that records image data acquired by the camera unit on the recording medium.

  Further, in the case where a plurality of paths of image acquisition means are provided as still image input means, the category classification in the search means is further classified on the basis of which input path the image data is acquired from. It is also a feature.

  In this case, you may comprise so that the category classification | category in the said search means can be selected by arbitrary combinations for every image processing. As described above, the category classification can be selected in any combination for each image processing including the category based on the related information included in the conventional image data, thereby further improving the convenience for the user.

  The image processing content can be used as a batch selection method of image data by processing and laying out a plurality of image data to generate one image data from the plurality of image data. it can. Here, processing of image data includes reduction / rotation, format conversion, color conversion (conversion to cmyk), and the like.

  Further, the search means is configured to perform image file search by category classification based on the name of the directory to which each file belongs and / or the name of each file. Here, the recording medium includes only a fixed memory of the apparatus and a memory that is removable from the apparatus, or a memory that does not include the fixed memory and is removable from the apparatus. An image file is recorded by a hierarchical file system defined by (Design rule for Camera File System). In this case, the search means is configured to perform image file search by category classification with the lower five characters in the eight characters of the directory name to which each file belongs and / or the upper four characters in the eight characters of each file. As described above, the image data of the recording medium is managed by the hierarchical file system, and the image file search by the category classification is performed by the name of the directory to which each file belongs and the name of each file. The need to manage image data separately is eliminated. In particular, when an image file is managed using a removable memory that is compatible between different devices as a recording medium, this is an efficient image data search method.

  The image processing method of the present invention includes an input step for inputting a still image, a recording step for recording the still image on a recording medium as image data, a management step for managing the image data as a file on the recording medium, A search step for reading out image data classified by category from a group of image files stored in a recording medium; and a read step for sequentially reading out the image files searched in the search step. An image processing method for performing various types of image processing on the output image data, and whether or not the category classification in the search step of the image file to be processed is the original image data generated by the method And / or generated by other methods other than the method Or, and / or already characterized that have been classified to the image processing whether or not Performed as conditions.

  In addition, when the input step includes an image acquisition step of a plurality of paths, the category classification in the search step is further classified based on which image acquisition step the image data is acquired in. It is also a feature.

  In this case, you may comprise so that the category classification | category in the said search step can be selected by arbitrary combinations for every image processing. As described above, the category classification can be selected in any combination for each image processing including the category based on the related information included in the conventional image data, thereby further improving the convenience for the user.

  In the search step, the image file search for each category is performed by the name of the directory to which each file belongs and / or the name of each file. Here, a detachable memory is included as a recording medium recorded in the recording step. In the recording step, the recording medium is a hierarchical file system defined by a DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System). Record the image file in. In this case, in the search step, the image file search for each category is performed with the lower five characters in the eight characters of the directory name to which each file belongs and / or the upper four characters in the eight characters of each file. As described above, the image data of the recording medium is managed by the hierarchical file system, and the image file search by the category classification is performed by the name of the directory to which each file belongs and the name of each file. The need to manage image data separately is eliminated. In particular, when an image file is managed using a removable memory that is compatible between different devices as a recording medium, this is an efficient image data search method.

  According to the image processing apparatus and the image processing method of the present invention, a printer including image data reading means from a personal computer or a detachable recording medium, various information communication processing apparatuses including image data input / output means, an image display apparatus, or Regarding category classification at the time of image data search in an image editing processing device or the like, in addition to the conventionally known category, whether or not the original image data generated by this device or method, other devices or methods other than the device or method Whether or not the image data has already been subjected to the specific image processing of the apparatus or method, and for those having a plurality of image data input paths, By adding a category based on which route is input from each input route, etc. Further reduces stress during image selection of over, it is possible to improve convenience. In addition, since there is no need to manage image management information and image data separately, image data search that is particularly effective when image files are managed using a removable memory compatible with different devices as a recording medium. Techniques can be provided.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a basic configuration in an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention. Note that the image processing method of the present invention relates to an image processing program and tool that operate on hardware such as a personal computer, and shows the following steps in the image processing apparatus and the embodiment. The specific description in is omitted.

  In the image processing apparatus of this embodiment, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 loads a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11 or a memory in the ROM 11 or the storage unit 20 into a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12. Various processes are executed based on the programmed program. The RAM 12 also stores data necessary for executing various processes, and is sequentially updated and changed. Here, the CPU 10, the ROM 11, and the RAM 12 are connected to each other via a bus 13, and each part of the system (storage unit 20, image input unit 30, control unit 40, image processing unit 41) via the bus 13. , Connected to the output unit 42).

  The image input unit 30 acquires image data from the communication unit 32 via a scanner or a communication line (not shown) based on a user instruction. The acquired image data is converted into a data format suitable for management by the control unit 40 (in some cases as it is) and sent to the storage unit 20.

  Here, the case where the camera part 31 like a digital camera is provided as an image input means is demonstrated. The camera unit 31 includes a lens 33 and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) unit 34 that converts the light from the lens 33 into an electrical signal, as well as a shutter and an engineering filter, which are omitted in the figure, to shoot a subject. The electric signal obtained in this way is supplied to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 converts the electrical signal into a data format suitable for management in the same manner as other input means, and sends it to the storage unit 20.

  The data acquired from the image input unit 30 includes original image data generated by a device such as the camera unit 31 and a scanner, and image data generated by another device received via a communication line. is there. Hereinafter, the former is called “original image data” and the latter is called “other device image data” as necessary.

  The control unit 40 has functions such as a control unit for the entire system including handling of image data, a discrimination unit, a search unit for image data, and the like, although not shown, compresses image data input from the image input unit 30. And a function of decompressing compressed image data input from the image input unit 30 and decompressing compressed image data read from the storage unit 20 are also included.

  The storage unit 20 includes a recording medium such as a flash memory 23 that is fixed to the apparatus and a memory card 22 that is a non-developable flash memory that is removable from the apparatus, and is logically operated by a hierarchical file system based on FAT (File Allocation Table). Format is performed. These recording media are controlled by the file management driver unit 21 under a hierarchical file system environment, and each application via the control unit 40 arbitrarily accesses image data based on the concept of directories and image files. The image data sent from the control unit 40 can be recorded as an image file, or a specific image file can be read by a request from the control unit 40. As a result, the image file search for each category can be performed using the directory name and the file name. It is also possible to acquire image data from another device using a removable recording medium.

  The image processing unit 41 converts the image data acquired via the control unit 40 into an appropriate data format suitable for each application of the output unit 42 based on a user instruction, and sends the data to the output unit 42. Although not shown, the output unit 42 may be an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) as a display device and a printer as a hard copy device. It is also possible to output (transmit) the image data after image processing to another device via a communication line. Further, the processed image data after the image processing can be sent to the storage unit 20 via the control unit 40 and recorded again on the storage medium. Thereafter, if necessary, the data processed in the image processing unit 41 by the image processing function provided in the apparatus and recorded on the recording medium is referred to as “image processed data”, and the other data is referred to as “image processed data not processed”. "

  Further, the camera unit 31 is a DCF (Design rule for DCF) standardized by JEITA (Electronic Information Technology Industries Association) as a still image recording method for a removable recording medium (memory card 22) such as a digital still camera. By adopting the Camera File System, compatibility with other devices can be ensured. Also, image data acquired from the communication unit 32 other than the camera unit can be managed on a recording medium according to the directory structure and file hierarchical structure standardized by the DCF, so that file operations including image file search can be easily performed. Become. The same applies to the flash memory 23 fixed to the apparatus.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a directory structure according to DCF, and only main features related to the present invention will be described below.

  The DCF stipulates that a DCIM (Digital Camera Images) directory 101, which is a directory for recording still image data files, is created in the root directory 100. Under the DCIM directory 101, still images are actually created. It is defined that a plurality of directories 102 called DCF directories for storing data files and the like are generated. A plurality of image data files 103 can be recorded under the DCF directory 102.

  In addition, in DCF, the DCF directory name and the file name are specified. The DCF directory name is fixed to 8 characters as a whole, the upper 3 characters are numbers called the directory number (D1), and the lower 5 characters are free characters. It consists of a character code called (D2). Further, the file name is fixed to 8 characters as a whole, and the upper 4 characters are constituted by a character code called a free character (F1) and the lower 4 characters are made up of a number called a file number (F2). Here, it is defined that the directory numbers D1 use numbers “100” to “999” that do not overlap, and the file numbers F2 use numbers “0001” to “9999” that do not overlap.

  Furthermore, it is specified that the image file is compressed by JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) standardized by ISO (International Organization for Standard), and the file name extension is “JPG” Is used. In addition to the main image obtained by compressing the input image data itself, the image file is configured as a single image by adding a thumbnail image (Thumbnail Image) obtained by reducing and compressing the main image.

  In addition to the image file with the extension “JPG”, the DCF directory 102 includes an image file in which only thumbnail images with the extension “THM” are compressed, an audio file with the extension “WAV”, and the like. Stored.

  In the above configuration, in this embodiment, a category in the control unit 40 that is a search unit that searches for image files to be processed from image data stored in a recording medium (the memory card 22 and the flash memory 23 in FIG. 1). The classification is based on whether the image data is original image data and / or other device image data and / or whether or not the image processing has been performed on the apparatus. It has characteristics.

  Further, in the case where the image acquisition unit having a plurality of paths is provided as the still image input unit (such as the image input unit 30 or the memory card 22 in FIG. 1), the category classification in the control unit 40 serving as the search unit is It is also characterized in that it is classified as a condition based on which input path the data is acquired from.

  The category classification to be searched is determined based on a user instruction (selection), and control related to the search is performed on the storage unit 20 by the control unit 40. Here, if the image data is managed on the recording medium in accordance with the above-described directory structure and file hierarchical structure standardized by the DCF, there is no need to manage the image management information separately from the image data. The image search for each category can be performed by using the above-described free characters of the DCF directory name (D2 in FIG. 2) and / or free characters of the file name (F1 in FIG. 2). Accordingly, even when a removable memory compatible with different devices is used as a recording medium (memory card 22 in FIG. 1), a search by category is possible.

  For the free character D2 of the DCF directory name and the free character F1 of the file name, a unique character code is basically used for each manufacturer of the image recording apparatus and / or for each model of the image recording apparatus. Also in the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment, if a specific (unique) character code indicating the original image data is given to the free character D2 of the DCF directory name and the free character F1 of the file name at the time of image recording, this is used. Original image data can be identified and extracted from a plurality of image file groups including image data of other devices with high probability. Further, in the case where a plurality of path image acquisition means are provided, if the character code is uniquely assigned to each input path, the image data for each input path can be identified and extracted.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of image file search according to DCF.

  According to this example, for example, if a search is performed with the free character D2 of the DCF directory name indicating the original image data as “AAAAA” and the free character F1 of the file name as “AAAAA”, the file group in the DCF directory group DG1 FG1 is extracted. If a search is performed with the free character D2 of the DCF directory name indicating the original image data as “AAAAAA” and the free character F1 of the file name as “BBBB”, the file group FG2 in the DCF directory group DG1 is extracted. It will be.

  Similarly, if the free character D2 of the DCF directory name indicating the camera unit 31 in FIG. 1 is determined as “BBBBB”, the DCF directory group DG2 storing the images recorded from the input path of the camera unit 31 is extracted. it can. The other DCF directory group DG3 can be identified as other device image data.

  In addition, for the search based on whether or not the image processing has been performed, which is one of the category classifications in the present embodiment, a unique DCF directory name indicating that the image processing has been completed for the image file at the end of the image processing. This can be realized by renaming a file name to a free character and moving a file to a directory having a free character of a unique DCF directory name indicating that image processing has been completed.

  Therefore, using each of the above means, whether or not the image data is original image data and / or other device image data and / or image processing has been performed in the apparatus in a conventionally known category. Add a category that is conditional on whether or not the data is, and for those having a plurality of image data input paths, the condition is from which path the image data is input for each input path By adding categories and performing image data search by category by directory name or file name, compatibility between different devices is ensured while reducing load by simplifying image search control as a system. be able to. Thereby, the stress at the time of a user's image selection can further be reduced, and the convenience can be improved.

  Further, as image processing contents, image list data is generated from a plurality of image data as shown in FIG. 4 by processing and laying out a plurality of image data by the above-described batch selection method of image data for each new category. be able to. The image list data is displayed if the output unit 42 is an LCD, hard-copied if it is a printer, and FAX-transmitted if it is a FAX communication line, thereby further enhancing user convenience.

  Considering the rapid spread of still image acquisition means typified by recent digital still cameras, digital image data acquired by a plurality of still image recording devices is recorded on the same recording medium, and the user There is an increasing trend in image processing devices that extract necessary image data from a group of image data stored in a medium and provide an opportunity to use it for various purposes. In that sense, the image processing apparatus and the image processing method of the present invention can further enhance the usefulness of search by image category classification.

  The image forming apparatus and the image forming method of the present invention record digital image data acquired by a plurality of still image recording devices on the same recording medium, and extract necessary image data from a group of image data stored in the recording medium. It can be effectively used for such image processing equipment.

1 is a functional block diagram showing a basic configuration in an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the directory structure according to DCF. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an image file search. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the hard copy by an image list layout.

Explanation of symbols

10 CPU
11 ROM
12 RAM
13 Bus 20 Storage Unit 21 File Management Driver Unit 22 Memory Card 23 Flash Memory 30 Image Input Unit 31 Camera Unit 32 Communication Unit 33 Lens 34 CCD Unit 40 Control Unit 41 Image Processing Unit 42 Output Unit

Claims (17)

Still image input means, recording means for recording still images on a recording medium as image data, management means for managing image data as files on the recording medium, and an image from a group of image files stored in the recording medium Search means for classifying and reading data into categories, and reading means for sequentially reading image files searched by the search means, and various image processing on the image data read by the read means An image processing apparatus to be implemented,
Whether the category classification in the search means of the image file to be processed is the original image data generated by the device and / or whether it is generated by another device other than the device And / or an image processing apparatus that is classified based on whether or not the image processing has already been performed.   In the case where an image acquisition unit having a plurality of paths is provided as the input unit, the category classification in the search unit is further classified based on which input path the image data is acquired from. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the category classification in the search unit can be selected in any combination for each image processing.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one image data is generated from the plurality of image data by processing and laying out the plurality of image data as the image processing content.   The said input means is provided with the camera part which image | photographs a to-be-photographed object, and the recording part which records the image data acquired by the said camera part on the said recording medium, The Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Image processing apparatus.   The image according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the search means performs an image file search by category classification by a name of a directory to which each file belongs and / or a name of each file. Processing equipment.   2. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium includes only a fixed memory of the apparatus and a memory removable from the apparatus, or a memory removable from the apparatus without the fixed memory. 6. The image processing apparatus according to any one of 5 above.   8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an image file is recorded on the recording medium by a hierarchical file system defined by DFC (Design Rule for Camera File System).   The search means performs image file search by category classification with the lower 5 characters in the 8 characters of the directory name to which each file belongs and / or the upper 4 characters in the 8 characters of the name of each file. The image processing apparatus according to 8. An input step for inputting a still image, a recording step for recording the still image on a recording medium as image data, a management step for managing the image data as a file on the recording medium, and a group of image files stored in the recording medium A search step for classifying and reading image data classified by category, and a read step for sequentially reading the image files searched by the search step, and various images for the image data read by the read step An image processing method for performing processing,
Whether the category classification in the search step of the image file to be processed is the original image data generated by the method and / or whether it is generated by another method other than the method And / or an image processing method, wherein the image processing method is classified based on whether or not the image processing has already been performed.   In the case where an image acquisition step of a plurality of paths is provided as the input step, the category classification in the search step is further classified based on which image acquisition step the image data is acquired in. The image processing method according to claim 10.   12. The image processing method according to claim 10, wherein the category classification in the search step can be selected in any combination for each image processing.   The image processing method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein one image data is generated from a plurality of image data by processing and laying out a plurality of image data as the contents of the image processing.   The image according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein in the search step, the image file search for each category is performed by a name of a directory to which each file belongs and / or a name of each file. Processing method.   14. The image processing method according to claim 10, wherein a detachable memory is included as a recording medium recorded by the recording step.   16. The image processing method according to claim 15, wherein in the recording step, an image file is recorded on the recording medium by a hierarchical file system defined by a DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System). The image file search for each category classification is performed in the search step using the lower 5 characters in the 8 characters of the directory name to which each file belongs and / or the upper 4 characters in the 8 characters of the name of each file. 16. The image processing method according to 16.

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