JP2006148692A - Image input system and method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image input system wherein image data read from a film or a printed picture and image data photographed by a digital camera can be unitarily managed. <P>SOLUTION: The image input system comprises a reader 9 and a processor 3 including an OCR module, the reader 9 reads image data from a document 7, and the OCR module performs OCR processing on the image data read by the reader 9 and detects text information contained in the image data. The processor 3 then writes date information and/or time information contained in the detected text information into Exif information and embeds the Exif information into a file of image data, thereby creating an Exif file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image input system and method, and a program.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of digital cameras, it has become an environment where pictures can be easily taken and the taken images can be viewed and enjoyed. In addition, since personal computers are also widely used, image data taken with a digital camera can be easily stored and managed in a personal computer.

  In many cases, image data taken with a digital camera is stored in a TIFF or JPEG file in Exif format. In an Exif format file, information such as shooting date and time, shooting conditions, and the like can be embedded in a format that conforms to each TIFF or JPEG format (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As a result, the information embedded at the time of storing or printing the image data can be used.

On the other hand, until digital cameras have become widespread, many photographs have been taken with a silver salt camera, and there are many developed films and printed photographs printed on photographic paper. By reading image data from these films and print photographs with an image scanner (image reader), images taken with a digital camera of the films and print photographs can be similarly stored and managed in a personal computer.
JP 2004-140664 A

  However, the image data read from the film or the printed photograph does not include information such as the shooting date and time and the shooting conditions unlike the image data shot by the digital camera. Therefore, image data taken with a digital camera and an image read from a film or a printed photograph cannot be managed centrally, for example, depending on the shooting date and time.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image input system and method, and a program that can centrally manage image data read from a film or a printed photograph and image data taken by a digital camera.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image input system according to claim 1 includes a reading unit that reads a document and outputs image data, a text information detection unit that detects text information included in the image data, and the text. Date and time information detection means for detecting date information and / or time information from the information, and addition means for adding the date information and / or time information to the image data.

  To achieve the above object, an image input method according to claim 6 includes a reading step of reading a document and outputting image data, a text information detecting step of detecting text information included in the image data, and the text A date and time information detecting step for detecting date information and / or time information from the information; and an adding step for adding the date information and / or time information to the image data.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image input program according to claim 11 is an image input program executed by an image input system, wherein a reading module that reads a document and outputs image data, and a text included in the image data. A text information detection module for detecting information; a date / time information detection module for detecting date information and / or time information from the text information; and an additional module for adding the date information and / or time information to the image data. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, information such as shooting date and time is also added to image data read from a film or a print photograph, and thus image data read from the film or print photograph and image data shot by a digital camera are combined. It can be managed centrally.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image input system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the image input system according to the present embodiment is connected to an image reading device 1 that reads image data from a document 7, and the image reading device 1 via an interface 11, and an image read by the image reading device 1. And an information processing apparatus 2 for processing and storing data.

  The image reading apparatus 1 includes a document table glass 15 on which the document 7 is placed, a document table cover 13 that covers the document table glass 15 and presses the document 7 placed on the document table glass 15, and light from above the document 7. A transparent original light source 6 for irradiating the original 7, a reflective original light source 8 for irradiating the original 7 with light from the lower side, and a reading unit 9 including a reading sensor 10 for receiving the light from the original 7 and reading image data.

  The information processing apparatus 2 includes a storage unit 4 that is configured of a storage medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory, stores image data, a processing unit 3 that performs image processing on the image data stored in the storage unit 4, a CRT, And a display 5 composed of a display device such as an LCD.

  When the document 7 is a reflection document such as opaque paper or photographic print, the user designates “reflection document” with an operation unit (not shown) of the image reading apparatus 1, whereby the reflection document light source 8 is turned on and the document 7 is turned on. Is irradiated from below, and the reflected light of the document 7 is guided to the reading sensor 10. On the other hand, when the document 7 is a transparent document such as transparent paper or film, the user designates “transparent document” with an operation unit (not shown) of the image reading apparatus 1 so that the transparent document light source 6 is turned on and the document is turned on. 7 is irradiated from above, and the transmitted light of the document 7 is guided to the reading sensor 10.

  The reading unit 9 scans all areas of the document 7 by moving in the direction of arrow A when the document 7 is read. The reading unit 9 is moved in the direction of arrow A with the reading operation of the reading sensor 10 stopped, and the reading unit 9 is moved to a designated position, and then the reading operation of the reading sensor 10 is started. Thus, a part of the area of the document 7 can be read. Further, by controlling the moving speed of the reading unit 9 and the operation of the reading sensor 10, it is possible to read an image with an arbitrary resolution.

  The image data read by the reading sensor 10 is transferred to the information processing apparatus 2 via the interface 11 and stored in the storage unit 4. The processing unit 3 performs image processing such as processing for extracting a region outline of a photograph or film on the image data stored in the storage unit 4. The display 5 performs image display based on the image data stored in the storage unit 4 and the image data obtained by image processing in the processing unit 3.

  The processing unit 3 includes an OCR module that executes OCR processing for detecting text information included in image data.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the image reading apparatus 1 in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the image reading apparatus 1 protects the transparent original light source 6 and is detachably attached to the original table cover 13, a film guide 17 placed on the original table glass 15, an original And a document alignment mark 16 attached to the corner of the table glass 15.

  When the document 7 is a reflective document, the protective sheet 14 is attached to the document table cover 13 and placed on the document table glass 15 so that the document 7 is aligned with the document alignment mark 16. When the document 7 is a transparent document, the protection sheet 14 is removed from the document table cover 13 and the film guide 17 on which the document 7 is set is placed on the document table glass 15.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image reading apparatus 1 in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the reading unit 9 of the image reading apparatus 1 constitutes a transparent original light source 6 and a reflective original light source 8 (FIG. 1) that irradiate an original 7 and irradiates light of each color of R, G, and B. An LED 201C, an LED drive circuit 201B that controls lighting of the LED 201C, and an image sensor 201A that constitutes the reading sensor 10 (FIG. 1) that detects light from the document 7 are provided.

  While the reading unit 9 is moved in the direction of the arrow A (FIG. 1) along the original surface of the original table glass 15, the LED drive circuit 201B switches the LEDs 201C for each color of R, G, and B for each line. As a result, line-sequential color image data of each color can be read. The LED 201C itself emits white light, and an optical color filter of each color of R, G, B (or C, M, Y, K may be provided) is provided on the optical path from the LED 201C to the reflection original. Thus, line-sequential color image data of each color may be read by the same method as described above.

  The image reading apparatus 1 includes an amplifier 202 that amplifies a signal output from the image sensor 201A, and an A / D conversion circuit 203 that performs A / D conversion on the signal output from the amplifier 202 and outputs, for example, an 8-bit digital signal. And a shading RAM 205 for storing shading correction data acquired by reading a white reference plate / document restriction plate (not shown) in advance, and image data output from the A / D conversion circuit 203 in the shading RAM 205. The shading correction circuit 204 that performs shading correction based on the stored shading correction data, and the image data output from the shading correction circuit 204 are subjected to gamma conversion according to a gamma curve preset by the information processing apparatus 2. Gamma conversion circuit 206 and image In order to synchronize the timing of the actual reading operation of the image capturing apparatus 1 with the timing of the communication between the image reading apparatus 1 and the information processing apparatus 2, output from the buffer RAM 208 that temporarily stores image data and the gamma conversion circuit 206 The packed image data is subjected to packing processing according to an image output mode (for example, binary, 4-bit multi-value, 8-bit multi-value, 24-bit multi-value) set in advance by the information processing apparatus 2, and the buffer RAM 208 And a packing / buffer RAM control circuit 207 that reads out image data from the buffer RAM 208 and outputs it to the interface circuit 209, and an interface circuit 209 that receives control signals and transmits image data between the information processing apparatus 2 and Is provided.

  An oscillator (OSC) 212 such as a crystal oscillator that generates a clock signal that is a source of various signals, a CPU 213 such as a microcomputer that controls each part of the image reading device 1 output from the oscillator 212, and a setting of the CPU 213 The clock signal output from the oscillator 212 is frequency-divided to generate various timing signals serving as a reference for operation, and the timing signal is output to the image sensor 201A, the LED drive circuit 201B, the shading correction circuit 204, and the interface circuit 209. A circuit 211.

  The CPU 213 includes a ROM 213A storing processing procedures and a RAM 213B as a work area, and controls each unit of the image reading apparatus 1 according to the processing procedures stored in the ROM 213A. The CPU 213 outputs a motor drive signal to a motor driver (not shown) for driving a stepping motor (not shown), inputs a document detection signal from a document detection sensor (not shown), and receives information via the interface circuit 209. A start / stop signal for interrupting and resuming reading of an image output from the processing device 2 is input.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of image input processing executed by the image input system of FIG.

  In this process, the image reading device 1 reads image data from a document 7 such as a film or a printed photo, adds Exif information such as the shooting date and time to the read image data, creates an Exif format file, and creates the Exif format This is a process of storing a file in the storage unit 4.

  In FIG. 4, the reading unit 9 reads image data from a document 7 such as a film or a printed photo placed on the platen glass 15 (step S <b> 301), and the read image data is processed through the interface 11. To the OCR module (step S302).

  Next, the OCR module performs OCR processing on the image data read by the reading unit 9 to detect text information included in the image data (step S303), and the processing unit 3 adds a photograph to the detected text information. It is determined whether or not date information and / or time information indicating the shooting date and time printed at the lower right or the like is included (step S304).

  If the detected text information includes date information and / or time information as a result of determination in step S304, the date information and / or time information included in the detected text information is written into the Exif information ( In step S305, when the detected text information does not include date information and / or time information, the user interface 400 (hereinafter referred to as “UI400”) of FIG. 5 described later is written without writing the date information and / or time information in the Exif information. Is displayed on the display 5 (step S306).

  In FIG. 5, a UI 400 is information included in an Exif format file. An Exif information display area 401 automatically added to the Exif format file and an Exif information input area that can be selected and added by the user. 402 and an OK button 403 for ending the display of the UI 400.

  If date information and / or time information is detected in step S304, date information and / or time information is automatically input to the shooting date / time input area 404 of the input area 402, and date information and / or time is detected in step S304. When the information is not detected, the user manually inputs date information and / or time information in the shooting date / time input area 404. In other input areas of the input area 402, the user selects and inputs information on shooting conditions such as an exposure program and a shutter speed.

  Returning to FIG. 4, in step S <b> 307, the processing unit 3 creates an Exif file by embedding the Exif information in a file of image data in a form conforming to the file format, as shown in FIG. 6, and creates the Exif file It memorize | stores in the memory | storage part 4 (step S308), and complete | finishes this process.

  In FIG. 6, the Exif format file 501 in the TIFF (Baseline TIFF Rev.6.0 RGB Full Color Image) format and the Exif format file 503 in the JPEG (JPEG Baseline ADCT) format are photographed in a form compliant with the respective file formats. Exif information 505 including data such as information and thumbnail images is embedded.

  An Exif file 501 in TIFF format has a private tag 502 for storing data such as shooting information and thumbnail images, and the Exif information 505 is embedded in the private tag 502. The JPEG format Exif file 503 has an application marker segment 504 for storing data such as shooting information and thumbnail images, and the Exif information 505 is embedded in the application marker segment 504.

  According to the present embodiment, the reading unit 9 reads image data from the document 7 (step S301), and the OCR module performs OCR processing on the image data read by the reading unit 9, and is included in the image data. (Step S303), the processing unit 3 writes the date information and / or time information included in the detected text information into the Exif information (step S305), and puts the Exif information into a file of image data. Since the Exif file is created by embedding (step S307), information such as the shooting date and time is added to the image data read from the film or the print photo, and the image data read from the film or the print photo is added to the digital data. Image data captured by the camera can be managed in an integrated manner.

  If date information and / or time information is not detected in step S304, the user manually inputs the date information and / or time information into the shooting date / time input area 404 via the UI 400, so that the lower right of the photograph etc. Even when the date information is not printed on, the manually input date information and / or time information can be added to the read image data.

  Furthermore, since the user selects and inputs information on photographing conditions such as an exposure program and a shutter speed in the input area 402 via the UI 400, image data photographed with a digital camera can be used for image data read from a film or a printed photograph. The same information can be added.

  Also, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus as a storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the stored program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code However, it is needless to say that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, the above-described program only needs to be able to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments by a computer, and the form includes forms such as object code, program code executed by an interpreter, and script data supplied to the OS. It may be a thing.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, other ROM, etc. can be used. Alternatively, the program is supplied by downloading from another computer or database (not shown) connected to the Internet, a commercial network, a local area network, or the like.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image input system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the image reading apparatus in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image reading apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart of the image input process performed by the image input system of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI displayed in step S306 in FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the Exif format file memorize | stored by step S307 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image reading apparatus 2 Information processing apparatus 3 Processing part 4 Storage part 5 Display part 9 Reading part

Claims (11)

  A reading unit that reads a document and outputs image data; a text information detection unit that detects text information included in the image data; a date and time information detection unit that detects date information and / or time information from the text information; An image input system comprising: addition means for adding date information and / or time information to the image data.   The image input system according to claim 1, wherein the adding unit adds the date information and / or time information as Exif information to the image data.   The image input system according to claim 1, wherein the text information detection unit detects text information included in the image data by OCR.   2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit that inputs the date information and / or time information, wherein the adding unit further adds the input date information and / or time information to the image data. 4. The image input system according to any one of items 3.   5. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit inputs information on shooting conditions, and the adding unit adds the input information on shooting conditions to the image data. Image input system.   A reading step of reading a document and outputting image data; a text information detecting step of detecting text information included in the image data; a date information detecting step of detecting date information and / or time information from the text information; An image input method comprising: an addition step of adding the date information and / or time information to image data.   The image input method according to claim 6, wherein the adding step adds the date information and / or time information as Exif information to the image data.   8. The image input method according to claim 6, wherein the text information detecting step detects text information included in the image data by OCR.   7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising an input step of inputting the date information and / or time information, wherein the adding step further adds the input date information and / or time information to the image data. 9. The image input method according to any one of 8 above.   10. The information input device according to claim 6, wherein the input step inputs information on a shooting condition, and the adding step adds the input information on the shooting condition to the image data. 11. Image input method.   In an image input program executed by an image input system, a reading module that reads a document and outputs image data, a text information detection module that detects text information included in the image data, and date information and / or from the text information An image input program comprising: a date / time information detection module for detecting time information; and an additional module for adding the date information and / or time information to the image data.

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