JP2006133290A - Computer readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a computer readable recording medium capable of creating an image with a moving effect and storing it as a static image file with a small capacity and storing a data file, the file of which can be viewed by a viewer for the static image. <P>SOLUTION: The computer readable recording medium has; an area 3 for storing an image data of a first static image; an area 2b for storing data of at least one image object which is combined to the first static image and displayed as a stamp moving image; and an area for storing control data which indicate a combining method for combining the image object and the first static image, wherein the data file 1 which can be recognized as the static image file by software for displaying the static image is stored. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium storing a data file.

  Adding a visual effect by adding a moving image part that changes over time to a part of the still image to be displayed is effective for electronic albums, e-mails, presentations, etc. When the images are combined, a moving image having a display image size is obtained, and the size of the file after combining is very large compared to the file size of the still image before combining.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for synthesizing a still image having a motion with a still image. In this technology, three types of information, that is, a name of a still image to be displayed, a plurality of still images for applying an effect, and information for designating the movement of the plurality of images on the display target image are grouped into one group. It comes to memorize.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-15993

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, since the still image to be displayed is stored separately from the above three types of information, when transmitting by e-mail or the like, when transmitting a still image with one moving image effect It is necessary to transmit the image information file including the still image itself and the file including the above three types of information separately, and also to manage these two information files in order to manage the information. . For this reason, management of these information files has been complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can generate an image with a moving image effect and store it as a single still image file with a small capacity. The still image viewer can also store the image file as a still image. It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer-readable recording medium storing a data file that can be viewed as a computer.

  In order to solve the above problems, a recording medium according to claim 1 of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium storing a data file, and the data file is software for displaying a still image. An area that can be recognized as a still image file and that stores image data of a first still image, and an area that stores data of at least one image object that is combined with the first still image and displayed as a stamp video And an area for storing control data for specifying a synthesis method for synthesizing the image object and the first still image.

  A recording medium according to a second aspect of the present invention is the recording medium according to the above-described invention, wherein the image object is a second still image, and the control data is on the first still image. The second still image includes data designating a manner in which the second still image is moved or deformed or changes in color / brightness.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium according to the third aspect, wherein the data specifying the movement specifies at least one aspect of parallel movement or rotational movement, and the deformation is performed. The designated data designates at least one aspect of the size, orientation, color, brightness, and transparency of the image object.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording medium according to the fourth aspect, wherein the image object is a plurality of third still images, and the control data is the third still image. This is data for designating a method for generating a moving image in a pseudo manner.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium according to the fifth aspect, wherein the data specifying the method for generating the pseudo moving image is the data of the plurality of third still images. This is timing data for displaying each image or data for designating a transition method to the next third still image.

  A recording medium according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the recording medium according to the above-described invention, wherein the image object is a moving image, and the control data is on the first image of the moving image. This is data for designating the reproduction mode.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium according to the seventh aspect, wherein the control data includes a position or size at which the image object is combined with the first still image, and the image object. And at least one of the number of repetitions of the reproduction.

  The recording medium according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the recording medium according to the above-described invention, wherein the file is an Exif format file, and the first still image data is an Exif format file base image. The image object data and the control data are stored in a base image header information area of an Exif format file.

  According to the present invention, an image with a moving image effect can be generated and stored as a single still image file with a small capacity, and the file can be viewed with a still image viewer.

  The concept of the image composition method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this image composition method, a moving image composed of a still image and a stamp moving image is targeted. Here, the stamp moving image refers to a moving image reproduced and displayed on a still image as a background image.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a concept of an image composition method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  When a moving image of a cracker playing is represented using a bird image stopped on a tree branch as a background, the elements are decomposed into a still image that is a bird image and a stamp moving image that represents a cracking cracker. A definition file defining these synthesis methods is provided, and a display operation is executed based on the description of the definition file.

  If a moving image is configured based on this idea, it can be stored as a file having a smaller size than the moving image data file generated by the conventional technique. Based on this basic concept, the present invention proposes a method that can further reduce the file size of a stamp video or a method that expresses a stamp video in various ways.

  In the following description, a still image used as a background image is referred to as a base image.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a moving image file according to the present embodiment.

  The moving image file 1 is composed of an image header area 2 and an image data area 3. The image header area 2 stores image header information 2a and image object information 2b, and the image data area 3 stores image data information 3a.

  The image data information 3a stores base image data. The image header information 2a includes attribute information related to the base image. The image object information 2b includes information defining a composition method, for example, information for moving and deforming the stamp moving image, in addition to the stamp moving image data.

  The structure of the moving image file 1 is characterized in that in the normal still image file composed of the image header information 2a and the image data information 3, information related to the stamp moving image is further provided in the image header area. Therefore, since a conventional still image file can be shared without creating a special moving image file, the file capacity can be reduced.

  Also, according to the structure of the moving image file, information related to the stamp moving image can be stored in the user area of the standard Exif format file of the digital camera. Therefore, even if the moving image file is configured, a normal image viewer is used. The base image can be displayed.

[First Embodiment]
Next, the stamp moving image and the image object information 2b according to the image composition method of the first embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, a pseudo moving image is used as the stamp moving image. Hereinafter, a stamp moving image using a pseudo moving image is referred to as a pseudo moving image stamp.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pseudo moving image. In FIG. 3, the manner in which the cracker can be played is represented by four still images. Therefore, a pseudo moving image can be expressed by switching and displaying these four still images at predetermined time intervals.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another example of the pseudo moving image. In FIG. 4, how snow falls is represented by three still images. Therefore, a pseudo moving image can be expressed by switching and displaying these three still images at predetermined time intervals. However, when it snows, it can be displayed as a variety of moving images by adding some effect to the still image, as well as simply switching the still image, such as when it is snowing or rolled up.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of the image object information 2b in the image header area 2 when a pseudo moving image is used. Hereinafter, the contents of the image object information 2b will be described in detail.

  The image object information 2b describes a plurality of pieces of information 10 related to the image object. Here, the information 10 on the image object describes how to represent the pseudo moving image stamp using the still images constituting the above-described pseudo moving image. In the present embodiment, a plurality of pseudo moving image stamps can be defined for one base image. For example, it is also possible to display a cracker and snow pseudo animation stamp on the base image. Therefore, the “total number of objects” represents the total number of pieces of information 10 related to the image object, that is, the number of pseudo moving image stamps defined for one base image.

  In the information 10 relating to the image object, a plurality of object movement information 11, a plurality of still image information 12, and other display definition data are described.

  The plurality of still image information 12 describes, for example, when to switch and display the snow image shown in FIG. The plurality of object movement information 11 describes, for example, how the snow image is moved and what visual effect is imparted.

  The contents will be described according to the description order of the information 10 relating to the image object shown in FIG.

  The “object index” describes identification information for specifying the information 10 related to the image object, for example, an identifier unique to the object. “Object type” represents an object type. For example, 1 is described when the object type is a still image (described in detail later), 2 is described when the object is a moving image (described in detail later), and 3 is described when the object type is a pseudo moving image according to the present embodiment. The “object area” represents the size of an area for displaying an object. For example, the vertical and horizontal sizes are expressed in pixels.

  “Total number of object movement information” describes the total number of object movement information 11 such as how the object is moved on the base image. Here, by describing a plurality of object movement information 11, it is possible to cope with a movement pattern in which an object is moved in a rectangular shape on the base image.

  The object movement information 11 includes the following information.

  In the “object display start position”, the initial display position of the object is represented in pixel units as coordinate values on the base image. The “object moving direction” describes a value that specifies how many directions the object moves in an angle from the current position. In the “object display time”, the display time according to the object movement information 11 is described. In the “object moving speed”, the speed at which the object is moved is described in pixels / second.

  In “effect ID during object movement”, the movement method is represented by a numerical value, for example. When ID = 0, the object goes straight in the moving direction. When ID = 1, the object moves while meandering in the movement direction. When ID = 2, the object moves intermittently rather than continuously in the movement direction. When ID = 3, the object moves while drawing an arc. “Effect data size during object movement” represents the size of data after movement. “Effect data during object movement” describes any necessary data corresponding to the movement method described above. For example, the meandering width in the case of meandering, the center coordinates in the case of an arc, and the radius.

  The following is described as other display definition data related to the object movement information 11.

  In the “effect ID during object display”, an operation while the object is moving is represented by a numerical value, for example. When ID = 0, the object does not change during movement. When ID = 1, the object moves while expanding. When ID = 2, the object moves while shrinking. When ID = 3, the object moves while rotating. When ID = 4, the object moves while changing its color. When ID = 5, the object moves while changing the brightness. When ID = 6, the object moves while changing the transparency.

  “Effect data size during object display” represents the size of data after movement. “Effect data during object display” describes any necessary data corresponding to the movement operation. For example, an enlargement / reduction ratio in the case of enlargement or reduction, color data to be changed in the case of a color change, and the like.

  In the “effect ID at the end of object display”, the operation at the end is represented by a numerical value, for example. When ID = 0, no special operation is performed at the end. When ID = 1, return to the beginning and repeat the operation. When ID = 2, the operation is repeated in reverse. When ID = 3, a specific image is displayed at the end. When ID = 4, this image is gradually disappeared (fade out). When ID = 5, the image is gradually decomposed (dissolved). The “effect data size at the end of object display” represents the size of data at the end. “Effect data at the end of object display” describes any data necessary for the operation at the end. For example, data that occupies the location of a specific image to be displayed.

  The “total number of still image information” describes information such as how long to display still images constituting the pseudo moving image on the base image. Here, a pseudo moving image can be realized by describing a plurality of the still image information 12.

  The still image information 12 includes the following information.

  “Still image display start time” describes the time to start displaying the still image. “Still image data size” describes the size of the still image. “Still image data” describes data representing a still image itself.

  Subsequently, a configuration of an image composition apparatus for realizing the image composition method of the first embodiment described above and a main processing procedure thereof will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image composition device 20. The image composition device 20 includes a moving image file 1, an image control unit 21, a work memory 22, a storage file 23, and a display unit 24.

  The moving image file 1 stores information for displaying a base image and a moving image as shown in FIG. The image control unit 21 synthesizes and displays a moving image based on these pieces of information. The work memory 22 is a buffer memory used for image composition work. The save file 23 is a file for saving the synthesized image as a still image. The display unit 24 displays the synthesized moving image.

  Next, an outline procedure of the image composition processing will be described with reference to FIGS. The process described below is a process related to the main function of the image composition processing function. Therefore, even if the function is not described in the following description, the function described in the description of FIGS. 1 to 6 is included in the image composition processing function.

  In steps S01 to S02 of FIG. 7, the image control unit 21 acquires data designated by the user from the image file, and stores the data in the work memory 22. Thereafter, the image control unit 21 performs image composition processing while reading and writing data to and from the work memory 22.

  In step S03, the image control unit 21 acquires the total number of objects from the image object information 2b. In step S04, an attempt is made to acquire an object index from the information 10 on the image object. If Yes in step S05, that is, if the object index has been acquired, acquisition of information about the object is started.

  First, in step S06, an object type is acquired. If Yes in step S07, that is, if the acquired object type is correct, the total object movement information is acquired in steps S10 to S13, and the object movement information 11 is read by that number. Also, information during object display and information at the end of object display are read from other display definition data.

  In step S14, the total number of still images is acquired. In steps S15 to S18, the display of the still image, the data size of the still image, and the acquisition of the image data of the still image are repeated by that number.

  The processes in steps S04 to S19 are repeated for the total number of objects, data for image composition is read, and the next display process is executed.

  In steps S25 to S26 in FIG. 8, the display start time count is initialized to 0, and the display start time count is started. In step S27, it is checked whether a still image display start time is described.

  If No in step S27, that is, if the display start time is not specified in the still image information 12, only the base image is displayed on the display unit 24 in step S28, and the process is terminated.

  If Yes in step S27, that is, if the display start time is specified in the still image information 12, the base image is acquired from the memory in step S31. In steps S32 to S35, still image data is extracted from the still image information 12, and a moving image is synthesized based on the still image information 12 and the object movement information 11. Then, the synthesized moving image is displayed on the display unit 24 until the set display time elapses.

  When a predetermined display time has elapsed, it is checked whether or not there is a still image to be displayed next. If YES in step S36, that is, if there is a still image to be displayed next, the above steps S32 to S35 are performed. Repeat the process. On the other hand, if No in step S36, that is, if there is no still image to be displayed next, the operation at the end of the object is executed in step S37.

  For example, if repeat is specified (ID = 1), steps S25 to S37 are repeated. If display of the specific image is designated (ID = 3), the designated composite image is saved in the save file 23 and displayed on the display unit 24 in step S38. If not (ID = 0), only the base image is displayed on the display unit 24 in step S28, and the process is terminated.

  The operation of the image control unit 21 can be stopped and terminated at an appropriate timing by an input operation from a user operation unit (not shown).

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the stamp moving image and the image object information 2b according to the image composition method of the second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a still image is used as a stamp moving image. Accordingly, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, a stamp video using a still image is referred to as a still image stamp.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a still image stamp. FIG. 9 shows a state where Santa Claus is moving. As described above, the still image stamp means that a single still image is moved (parallel movement, rotation, etc.) or deformed (reduction / enlargement, color change, transparency change, etc.) and displayed like a moving image.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of the image object information 2b in the image header area 2 when a still image stamp is used.

  The image object information 2b has the same configuration as that of the image object information 2b shown in FIG. 5, except that the still image information 12 is not provided, and as other display definition data, “object data” is the data size of the still image. This is different from the first embodiment in that “size” 15 a and “object data” 15 b which is still image data are newly provided. Since the other points are the same as those in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the configuration of the image composition apparatus for realizing the image composition method of the second embodiment described above and the main processing procedure thereof will be described.

  Since the image composition apparatus 20 of the second embodiment is the same as the image composition apparatus 20 of the first embodiment, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Next, an outline procedure of the image composition processing according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The process described below is a process related to the main function of the image composition processing function. Therefore, even if the function is not described in the following description, the function described in the description of FIGS. 1 to 6 is included in the image composition processing function.

  In steps S <b> 41 to S <b> 42 of FIG. 11, the image control unit 21 acquires data specified by the user from the image file and stores the data in the work memory 22. Hereinafter, the image control unit 21 performs image composition processing while reading and writing data to and from the work memory 22.

  In step S43, the image control unit 21 acquires the total number of objects from the image object information 2b. In step S44, an attempt is made to acquire an object index from the information 10 on the image object. If Yes in step S45, that is, if the object index has been acquired, acquisition of information about the object is started.

  First, in step S46, an object type is acquired. If Yes in step S47, that is, if the acquired object type is correct, the total object movement information is acquired in steps S50 to S53, and the object movement information 11 is read by that number. Also, information during object display and information at the end of object display are read from other display definition data. In steps S56 to S58, the object data size and the object data are further read from the other display definition data.

  The above steps S44 to S58 are repeated for the total number of objects, data for image composition is read, and the next display process is executed.

  In steps S65 to S66 in FIG. 12, the display start time count is initialized to 0, and the display start time count is started. In step S67, it is checked whether there is an object display time.

  If No in step S67, that is, if the display time is not specified in the object movement information, only the base image is displayed on the display unit 24 in step S68, and the process ends.

  If Yes in step S27, that is, if the display time is specified in the object movement information, the base image is acquired from the memory in step S71. In steps S72 to S75, a moving image is generated by combining the base image and the still image stamp based on the position information and the object movement information 11. Then, the synthesized moving image is displayed on the display unit 24 until the designated display time elapses.

  When the predetermined display time has elapsed, it is checked whether or not there is object movement information 11 to be displayed next. If YES in step S76, that is, if there is object movement information 11 to be displayed next, the above step is performed. The processes of S72 to S75 are repeated. On the other hand, if No in step S76, that is, if there is no still image to be displayed next, an operation at the end of the object is executed in step S77.

  For example, when repetition is designated (ID = 1), steps S65 to S77 are repeated. If display of the specific image is specified (ID = 3), the specified composite image is stored in the storage file 23 and displayed on the display unit 24 in step S78. If not (ID = 0), in step S68, only the base image is displayed on the display unit 24 and the process ends.

  The operation of the image control unit 21 can be stopped and terminated at an appropriate timing by an input operation from a user operation unit (not shown).

[Third Embodiment]
Next, the stamp moving image and the image object information 2b according to the image composition method of the third embodiment will be described. The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that a moving image is used as a stamp moving image. Accordingly, the same parts as those of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, a stamp movie using a movie is referred to as a movie stamp.

  In the still image stamp described in the second embodiment, the Santa Claus still image has moved. In the third embodiment, this Santa Claus is composed of a moving image. As described above, the moving image stamp refers to displaying a moving image by moving (translating, rotating, etc.) or transforming (reducing / enlarging, changing color, changing transparency, etc.) one moving image.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of the image object information 2b in the image header area 2 when a moving image stamp is used.

  The image object information 2b has the same configuration as that of the image object information 2b shown in FIG. 10, but an “object display end position” 16 is provided instead of the “object movement direction” and “object display time” of the object movement information 11. The only difference is that Since the other points are the same as those of the second embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The configuration of the image composition apparatus for realizing the image composition method of the above-described third embodiment and the main processing procedure thereof are the same as those in the second embodiment, so that the details thereof will be described. Omitted.

  According to the third embodiment, by providing the “object display end position” 16 in the object movement information 11, the “object movement direction” and the “object display time” in the second embodiment are omitted. It becomes possible.

  Note that the configuration of the image object information 2b shown in FIGS. 10 and 13 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be applied to either a still image stamp or a moving image stamp.

[Effect of the embodiment]
In the above-described embodiment, the necessary stamp moving picture information is inserted into the header information area of the base image file, so that it is smaller than the moving image data file formed by combining the base image and the stamp image. Can be saved and managed as a size file.

  In addition, in an image file having a header area normally used in a digital camera or the like, a general image that cannot handle a moving picture stamp by storing stamp moving picture information in a user-definable area in the header information area Even display software can handle the image file as a normal still image file.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to generate a moving image in which the stamp image performs various operations such as movement, deformation, and change in color / brightness. Since this operation can be performed by adding a small amount of information, an increase in the capacity of the image file is slight.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to change the stamp image in a complex manner by combining translation, rotation, enlargement / reduction, color change, brightness change, transparency change, and the like. Since this operation can be performed by adding a small amount of information, an increase in the capacity of the image file is slight.

  Further, the base image is stored at the conventional resolution. Therefore, the resolution of the base image is not lowered by this image composition processing. Furthermore, the base image can be handled separately from the moving image display.

  Each function described in the above embodiment may be configured using hardware, or may be realized by reading a program describing each function into a computer using software. Each function may be configured by appropriately selecting either software or hardware.

  Furthermore, each function can be realized by causing a computer to read a program stored in a recording medium (not shown). Here, as long as the recording medium in the present embodiment can record a program and can be read by a computer, the recording format may be any form.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

The figure which shows the concept of the image composition method which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the basic composition of the moving image file which concerns on this Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of a pseudo animation. The figure which shows another example of a pseudo moving image. The figure which shows the structure of the image object information in the image header area | region at the time of using a pseudo moving image. The figure which shows the structure of an image composition apparatus. The flowchart which shows the general | schematic procedure of an image composition process. The flowchart which shows the general | schematic procedure of an image composition process. The figure which shows an example of a still image stamp. The figure which shows the structure of the image object information in the image header area | region at the time of using a still image stamp. The flowchart which shows the general | schematic procedure of an image composition process. The flowchart which shows the general | schematic procedure of an image composition process. The figure which shows the structure of the image object information in the image header area | region at the time of using a moving image stamp.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Movie file, 2 ... Image header area, 2a ... Image header information, 2b ... Image object information, 3 ... Image data area, 3a ... Image data information, 10 ... Information about image object, 11 ... Object movement information, 12 ... Still image information, 20... Image composition device, 21... Image control unit, 24.

Claims (8)

A computer-readable recording medium storing a data file,
The data file is
It can be recognized as a still image file by software that displays still images,
An area for storing image data of the first still image;
An area for storing data of at least one image object that is combined with the first still image and displayed as a stamp video;
A computer-readable recording medium comprising: an area for storing control data for specifying a synthesis method for synthesizing the image object and the first still image. The image object is a second still image;
2. The recording according to claim 1, wherein the control data includes data designating a mode in which the second still image moves or deforms or changes in color and brightness on the first still image. Medium. The data specifying the movement specifies at least one aspect of parallel movement or rotational movement,
The recording medium according to claim 2, wherein the data specifying the deformation specifies at least one aspect of a size, orientation, color, brightness, and transparency of the image object. The image object is a plurality of third still images,
The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the control data is data designating a method for generating a pseudo moving image from the third still image.   The data specifying the method of generating the pseudo moving image is timing data for displaying each image of the plurality of third still images, or data specifying the transition method to the next third still image. The recording medium according to claim 4, wherein the recording medium is provided.   The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the image object is a moving image, and the control data is data specifying a reproduction mode of the moving image on the first image.   The control data further includes at least one of a position or size at which the image object is combined with the first still image, a time during which the image object is reproduced as a moving image, and the number of repetitions of the reproduction. The recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The file is an Exif format file,
The first still image data is stored as a base image of an Exif format file;
8. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the image object data and the control data are stored in a base image header information area of an Exif format file.

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