JP2006202085A - Method, apparatus and program for thumbnailing data - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To contribute to enhancing security during data communications via a communication line. <P>SOLUTION: An apparatus 1 for thumbnailing data thumbnails the original data so as to reduce the amount of the original data. The apparatus includes a computer 3 that implements a process for setting according to a user's instructions the area of the original data to be thumbnailed and the level of thumbnailing associated with the reduction in the amount of the original data, and a thumbnailing process for thumbnailing the set area to be thumbnailed and for thumbnailing the original data according to the level of thumbnailing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an application of thumbnailing technology used for image data.

  Conventionally, when processing image data, a large number of image data is processed at a time (for example, list display processing) by reducing the image data size by converting the entire image data to be processed into thumbnails from the size of the data size. Etc.), that is, a thumbnailing technique is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, conventionally, as a method for ensuring security when data is communicated via a communication network, data to be communicated is encrypted (for example, encrypted with a public key corresponding to a secret key that only a communication partner can know). ) And transmitting to the communication partner via the communication network, or dedicating the communication network (including both physical dedication of the line itself and virtual private network in the open communication network), In addition, both of them are used in combination to prevent leakage and falsification of communication target data.

In addition, as a conventional method for accumulating data history, there is a method of generating duplicate (backup) data of the entire target data at the time of data change (during editing) or at an arbitrary timing, and accumulating this backup data.
JP 2001-75771 A

  In the security ensuring method by encryption when data is communicated via a conventional communication network, the communication target data itself is communicated without changing its contents. In the case of leakage, there is a risk that the contents of communication target data will be leaked to a third party, or that there is a risk that the third party will tamper. This is the same even when communication is dedicated, and when communication target data itself leaks to a third party, it is very difficult to ensure security.

  On the other hand, in the conventional data history storage method, since backup data of the entire data is stored, the storage device for storing the data history has to be increased in capacity.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. By reducing the data amount of at least a user-specified data portion in data to be communicated or history accumulated, a communication line is reduced. It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to improve security at the time of data communication via the Internet and / or to reduce a data storage space necessary for storing data history.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a data thumbnailing device that reduces the amount of data of original data by converting the original data (original data) into thumbnails, the thumbnail data area of the original data and the original data Setting means for setting the level of thumbnailing related to the amount of reduction in accordance with a user instruction, thumbnailing means for thumbnailing the original data based on the set thumbnailing area and the thumbnailing level, It has.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the data thumbnailing device is connected to another device via a communication network so as to be communicable, while the data thumbnailing device is connected to the original data. Storing means, means for transmitting the thumbnailed data (thumbnail data) to the other apparatus via the communication network, and thumbnailing that has been edited by the other apparatus and part of which has been changed When data is transmitted from the other device via the communication network, the edited thumbnail data is compared with the stored original data to obtain a changed portion, and the obtained changed portion is converted into the original data. And means for reflecting.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided the first aspect of the invention, further comprising means for storing the thumbnail data at an arbitrary timing.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, means for duplicating the original data to create backup data, means for editing the original data, and original data after editing (edited original data) And a means for obtaining data representing a difference between the backup data and the backup data as a history thumbnail in association with information representing the timing at the time of editing.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, there is further provided means for reproducing the original data at the time of the editing based on the thumbnail data of the original data.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus further includes means for reproducing the original data at the editing timing based on the thumbnail data of the original data and the history thumbnail.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the thumbnailing means includes a process of thinning out the data in the set thumbnail area in the original data and a process of reducing the resolution of the original data. Means for performing at least one of them.

  The invention according to claim 8 is a program for causing a computer to execute processing for reducing the data amount of the original data by converting the original data (original data) into a thumbnail, and the program includes the thumbnail in the original data. A process for setting the level of thumbnailing related to the area to be reduced and the amount of reduction of the original data in accordance with a user instruction, and the original data is thumbnailed based on the set thumbnailing area and thumbnailization level. The computer is caused to execute the processing to be converted.

  The invention according to claim 9 is a data thumbnailing method for reducing the data amount of the original data by converting the original data (original data) into thumbnails, the thumbnail data area in the original data, and the original data The level of thumbnailing related to the amount of data reduction is set according to the user's instruction, and the original data is thumbnailed based on the set thumbnailing area and thumbnailing level.

  According to the first, seventh, eighth, and ninth aspects of the present invention, the original data is converted into thumbnails based on the thumbnailing area in the original data and the thumbnailing level of the original data set according to the user's instruction (for example, By thinning out the data in the thumbnail area, reducing the resolution, etc., it is possible to secure the confidentiality of at least the data included in the thumbnail area and improve its security.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, even when the thumbnail data is edited by another device and a part thereof is changed, the changed part is reflected in the original data, so that the entire original data is reflected on the other device. It is possible to reflect the edited portion of the other device in the original data without sending it to.

  According to the inventions of claims 3 and 5, since the original data can be reproduced using the corresponding thumbnail data, even if the original data is erased by overwriting or the like, the reproduction original data is used instead. Can be used.

  According to the fourth and sixth aspects of the invention, since the original data can be reproduced using the corresponding thumbnail data and history thumbnail, even if the original data is erased by overwriting or the like, the reproduction original data Can be used instead.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a data thumbnailing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is configured by, for example, a computer (at least a CPU and a main memory) installed in a predetermined company (hereinafter referred to as company A). The computer 3 has an interface function that enables communication (including an electronic mail communication function) to the outside via a communication network (for example, the Internet or a local area network).

  The computer 3 operates according to a program P loaded in the main memory. The program P1 is loaded into the main memory via, for example, an external storage device connected to the computer, or downloaded from the outside via the communication network N.

  The data thumbnailing device 1 is connected to a computer 3 and is connected to the computer 3 and an input device 5 that can input various information to the computer 3 by an operation of a user of the device 1. Master data database (DB) that stores and stores a plurality of data files (data files in which information such as sentences, drawings, images, etc. is encoded (for example, m bits), hereinafter also referred to as master data and original data) 7 is provided.

  On the other hand, connected to the communication network N is a computer 9 installed in another company (hereinafter referred to as company B) that conducts electronic transactions (communication of data via the communication network N) with the company A. Has been.

  In the present embodiment, the master data M1 stored in the master data DB 7 is a drawing or text data file. When the company A creates a drawing or text data file, the drawing or text data editing work is performed. A part is entrusted to company B.

  At this time, the master data M1 includes data that is desired to prevent leakage to the outside and / or data (key data) k1 that is not related to the editing work of the B company. Mn also includes key data k2 to kn, respectively.

  Next, the overall operation of this embodiment will be described. For example, when a user of company A requests the editing work of the master data file M1 that has been created and edited by his / her own work to the company B side, the “master data” is sent to the computer 3 via the input device 5. “M1 is converted into thumbnails at level L1 (for example, there are n stages of levels L1 to Ln) with the key data k1 portion as a thumbnailing area, and an instruction to send it to an E-mail as an attachment is input.

  At this time, the computer 3 executes the process shown in FIG. 3 according to the program P1. That is, the computer 3 reads an instruction from the input device 5 (step S1), and accesses the master data DB 7 and reads the target master data M1 according to this instruction (see step S2 in FIGS. 2 and 3). ), It is determined whether the thumbnail area in the instruction content is partial (step S3).

  Now, since the thumbnail area is the key data part k1, the determination in step S3 is YES, and the computer 3 specifies the thumbnail area (key data part k1) (step S4). Next, the computer 3 specifies the thumbnailing level L1 in the instruction content (step S5), and based on the specified thumbnailing area and the thumbnailing level L1, the target master data M1 is thumbnailed and the thumbnailed data T1 is obtained. Create (step S6).

  The “data thumbnailing process” in step S6 of FIG. 3 in the present embodiment will be described in detail below. The same applies to other embodiments.

  “Thumbnail process of data” in the present embodiment means a process of reducing the data amount of the original data (original data). For example, when a part of the data is designated as a thumbnail area In this process, data corresponding to the partial area is erased, thinned out, or the resolution is reduced (for example, the number of bits of m-bit data is reduced). For example, if the data is represented as a set of pixels, such as image data, chart data, etc., a process for erasing all or some pixels corresponding to some pixel areas that are thumbnailed areas, One example is a process of reducing the number of density values (m bits) of each pixel in the pixel area (decreasing the resolution).

  Also, when all of the original data is designated as a thumbnail area (thumbnail to the whole), a process of thinning out the pixels of the entire original data and a process of reducing the resolution (for example, reducing the number of m-bit bits) It is. For example, in the case of data represented as a set of pixels, such as image data, chart data, etc., a part of all pixels is thinned out or the number of density values (m bits) of all pixels is reduced (resolution). An example is the process of dropping

  Furthermore, the “thumbnail level” in the thumbnailing process means the degree of data amount to be reduced. For example, if there are n levels L1 to Ln, the level L1 is the lowest data reduction amount. , Ln means the level with the highest data reduction amount.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the master data M1 is thumbnailed, the data of the area k (L = 1) designated as the thumbnail area is thinned out at the level L1, and the area k (L = 1) in addition to thinning out data in other areas k (L = 2), and repeating the data thinning process up to level Ln, the data amount can be freely reduced from the minimum reduction amount to the maximum reduction amount. It is possible to reduce it.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the flow of the data thumbnailing process in step S6 of FIG. For example, the original data (1) becomes thumbnailed data (3) by the thumbnailing process (2) in step S6 of FIG. 3, and data corresponding to (4) is omitted from the thumbnailed data (3).

  The thumbnail data T1 created in this way is attached to e-mail, for example, and transmitted from the computer 3 to the computer 9 of company B via the communication network N (see step S7 in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 (5)). ).

  The thumbnail data T1 transmitted to the computer 9 of company B is received by the computer 9. At this time, the computer 9 executes an editing process on the thumbnailed data T1 received in accordance with an instruction from the person in charge at the company B side, and a data change portion by the editing process (see C in FIG. 2 and (6) in FIG. 5). The edited thumbnailed data T1 ′ including is attached to e-mail, for example, and sent back to the computer 3 via the communication network N (step S8).

  At this time, the computer 3 executes the processing shown in FIG. That is, the computer 3 receives the edited thumbnail data T1 ′ transmitted via the communication network N (step S10), and then accesses the master data DB 7 and corresponds to the received edited thumbnail data T1 ′. The original data M1 is read (step S11).

  Subsequently, the computer 3 compares the edited thumbnailed data T1 ′ with the original data M1, and extracts the data changed portion C changed by editing of the company B (step S12).

  The computer 3 reflects the extracted data change portion C in the original data M1 (specifically, rewrites the corresponding area of the original data M1 into the data change portion C), and the reflected original data M1 ′ is master data. Accumulate in DB7 (step S13).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the final original data (9) is reflected by the data change portion (6) by the editing process by the processing of steps S11 to S13 (see (7) in FIG. 5) of the computer 3. Data.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the thumbnail data T1 communicated via the communication network N is included in the data to be prevented from leaking to the outside in the master data M1 and / or the editing work of the B company. Unrelated key data k1 is omitted. For this reason, for example, when the data to be prevented from leaking to the outside is omitted as the key data k1, even if the contents of the thumbnail data T1 are intercepted by a third party during communication via the communication network N, The key data k1 that is desired to be prevented from leaking to the outside can be concealed, and the security of data communication can be improved.

  For example, when data not related to the editing work of company B is omitted as the key data k1, the contents of the thumbnail data T1 are intercepted by a third party during communication via the communication network N. In addition, the data (key data) k1 that is not related to the editing work of Company B can be concealed, and the security of data communication can be improved.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, a security ensuring method such as conventional data encryption processing or a physical / virtual dedicated network, in other words, “(data contents) is not shown and (third party) is not connected”. Without using a passive security ensuring method of “no”, an active security ensuring method is constructed while maintaining the openness of the communication network (accessibility of an unspecified number of users).

  According to this active security ensuring method, it is possible to communicate data with a partner via a communication network while ensuring high security during communication and reducing the amount of data communication. This feature is particularly suitable for data communication via a general-purpose line such as a low-speed line and / or data communication in a terminal having a low data processing capability, such as a portable information terminal (mobile phone, PDA, etc.).

  That is, unlike the conventional thumbnail processing used in image processing, the thumbnail processing in the present embodiment determines where the data is to be thumbnailed and how to set the data amount reduction level in the thumbnailing. This is actively determined according to the instruction, and can contribute to improving the utilization of the thumbnailing technique.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of this embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the data thumbnailing apparatus 11 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a computer (comprising at least a CPU and a main memory) 13, and the computer 13 Compared to the constituent elements of the first embodiment, an external communication function via the communication network may not be provided.

  The computer 13 operates according to the program P1 loaded in the main memory. An example of loading is the same as in the first embodiment.

  The data thumbnailing device 11 is connected to a computer 13 and is a master for accumulating and storing an input device 15 similar to that of the first embodiment and master data M1 (t) (only M1 is shown) at the present time (t). A data DB 17 is provided.

  Further, the data thumbnailing device 11 includes a display output device 19 having a function of displaying data processed by the computer 13 as, for example, an image and / or a function of printing out on a paper medium.

  In the present embodiment, the master data M1 (t) at the current time (t) is, for example, the master data M1 (tk) at the time (tk) of the previous day by multiple overwrite processing based on the user's editing work. ) Is different. In the present embodiment, the computer 13 creates history thumbnail data and stores it in the master data DB 17 at the time of the above editing or at an arbitrary timing. In particular, in the present embodiment, (t−k ) When editing the master data M1 (tk) at the time, the history thumbnail data T1 (tk) is created based on the master data M1 (tk) and stored in the master data DB 17. .

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of editing processing of master data (original data) M1 (tk) and history thumbnailing data T1 (tk) at time (tk) by the computer 13. is there. This process is executed according to the program P2.

  That is, the computer 13 accesses the master data DB 7 in response to an editing instruction for the master data (original data) M1 (tk) via the input device 5 from the user, for example, and the target original data M1 ( tk) is read (FIG. 8; step S21), and duplicate data (backup file) of the read original data M1 (tk) is temporarily created and stored in the master data DB 17 (step S22). Then, the editing work for the original data M1 (tk) is executed (step S23).

  Next, the computer 13 starts a history thumbnail creation process (process) (step S24). That is, the computer 13 compares the edited backup data BM1 ′ (tk) with the backup data M1 (tk) to obtain difference data (step S25), and edits representing the current timing (tk). Timing information (information such as date and time) is attached to the obtained difference data (step S26), and a history thumbnail file F (tk) is created (step S27).

  Subsequently, the computer 13 selects a thumbnail in response to an instruction “to make the master data M1 (tk) as a predetermined partial area thumbnailed area at a predetermined level” input via the input device 5. The creation of process data (process) is started (step S28).

  That is, as in the first embodiment, the computer 13 reads an instruction from the input device 5 (step S29), and accesses the master data DB 7 in accordance with this instruction to access the target master data M1 (tk). ) Backup M1 (tk) (step S30), and it is determined whether or not the thumbnail area in the instruction content is partial (step S31).

  Since the thumbnail area is a partial area now, the determination in step S30 is YES, and the computer 13 identifies the thumbnail area (step S32). Next, the computer 3 identifies the thumbnail level in the instruction content (step S33), and thumbnails the target backup data M1 (tk) based on the identified thumbnail area and thumbnail level. Data T1 (tk) is created (step S34).

  Subsequently, the computer 13 synthesizes the created history thumbnail file history thumbnail file F (tk) and the thumbnail data T1 (tk) to create history thumbnail data HT1 (tk). The created history thumbnail data HT1 (tk) is stored in the master data DB 17 (step S35).

  As a result, a history thumbnail is formed by synthesizing the thumbnail data T1 (tk) corresponding to the original data M1 (tk) at the time (tk) and the history thumbnail representing the change to the edited original data. Data HT1 (tk) can be stored in the master data DB 17.

  By executing the above processing not only at the time point (t−k) but whenever the original data M1 is edited and overwritten, the master data DB 17 stores the history thumbnail data HT1 at the time of original data editing (overwriting). Each is saved. At this time, if it is desired to refer to the original data in the past, for example, yesterday (t−k) at the present time (t), the computer 13 executes the process shown in FIG. 9 according to the program P2. That is, the computer 13 accesses the master data DB 7 in response to the original data reproduction request at the time (t−k) via the input device 5 from the user, for example, and records the history thumbnail data HT1 (t -K) is read (FIG. 9; step S41), and the original data M1 (t) at the present time (t) is also read (step S42).

  Subsequently, the computer 13 compares the read history thumbnail data HT1 (tk) with the original data M1 (t) to detect a changed portion (step S43), and based on the detected changed portion, the history is recorded. It is determined whether there is a data portion that exists in the thumbnail data HT1 (tk) but has already been deleted in the current original data M1 (t) (step S44).

  If the result of the determination in step S44 is YES (there is a data portion that has already been deleted), the computer 13 quotes the data of the deleted portion from the history thumbnail data HT1 (tk), and in step S46. The process proceeds (step S45).

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S44, NO (no deleted data part), or after the process in step S45, the computer 13 reflects the changed part in the current original data (t−k) as the original data M1 (t− k) ′ is reproduced, and the reproduced original data M1 (t−k) is stored in the master data DB 17 and is displayed and output via the display output device 19 (step S46).

  As a result, the user can confirm the contents of the past original data M1 (tk) ′ with respect to the current time by visually recognizing the displayed reproduced original data M1 (tk) ′. Also, a new business process can be performed using the reproduced original data M1 (tk) ′.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the flow of the original data reproduction process in steps S43 to S46 in FIG.

  For example, the original data (10) at the present time and the history thumbnail data (11) at the time (tk) are changed to {(tk) at the changed portion {(tk) by the comparison process (12) in step S43. It is detected that the data that was 14a) is changed to (14) in the original data and that the data (15) is missing from the original data (11)}.

  Then, by the processing of steps S45 and S46 of the computer 13, the data portion (14) of the original data (11) is changed to data (14a), and the data (15) is newly added (tk). The original data M1 (tk) ′ is reproduced. The reproduced original data M1 (t−k) ′ is a reproduction from the historical thumbnail data (11) because the data portion missing from the original data M1 (t) at the current time (t) is reproduced. Strictly different from the original data M1 (tk) at the time of the true (tk).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the original data M1 is created, edited, transmitted, etc., preferably at the timing when the contents of the original data M1 may be changed. Thumbnail data is created from M1 and stored in the master data DB 17 as history data.

  For this reason, when the entire original data M1 is edited without being backed up, even if it is desired to know the contents of the original data M1 at a past time point back from the present time, the corresponding thumbnail data and the current original data By using, it is possible to easily reproduce the original data M1 at the corresponding past time point. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of stored data as compared with the case where the entire original data M1 is backed up at every timing when the contents of the original data M1 may be changed.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, history thumbnails, that is, data representing the difference between the original data after processing and the original data before processing that may change the contents of the original data M1 are retained.

  In this embodiment, it is also possible to reproduce the original data at the past time using only the thumbnail data at the past time {for example, thumbnailed data T1 (t−k) Is used to reproduce the original data of (t−k)}, but the data compression reversibility can be maintained by reproducing the original data using the history thumbnail data including the history thumbnail.

  Further, in this embodiment, for example, when the original data M1 is backed up and stored every day for one week, if the entire original data M1 is backed up, a data amount seven times that of the original data M1 is stored after one week. As a result, the data capacity of the master data DB 17 or other storage device must be increased, which may increase the capital investment cost required for data storage. However, in the present embodiment, the entire data M1 is not backed up, but only the historical thumbnail data is accumulated. Therefore, even if a backup for one week is performed, the storage required for storage is more necessary than when the entire data is backed up. The space of the apparatus can be reduced. As a result, the capital investment cost required for data storage can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the present embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made to the configuration of the present invention within the scope of the subject matter of the present invention and the claims described. Is possible.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the thumbnailing apparatus concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the process and data flow of the thumbnailing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart showing an example of processing of a computer of the thumbnailing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is the schematic of the master data used in order to demonstrate the thumbnailing level in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the thumbnailing process in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a schematic flowchart showing an example of processing of a computer of the thumbnailing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the thumbnailing apparatus concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic flowchart which shows an example of the process of the computer of the thumbnailing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a schematic flowchart which shows an example of the process of the computer of the thumbnailing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the reproduction process of the original data in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Thumbnail conversion device 3, 9, 13 Computer 5, 15 Input device 7, 17 Master data DB
N Communication network M1 to Mn Master data T1 Thumbnail data HT1 (tk) History thumbnail data at the time of (tk) (tk)
M1 (t) Master data at present (t) (t)

Claims (9)

A data thumbnailing device that thumbnails original data (original data) to reduce the data amount of the original data,
A setting means for setting the area to be thumbnailed in the original data and the level of thumbnailing indicating the reduction amount of the original data in accordance with a user instruction;
A thumbnailing means for thumbnailing the original data based on a set thumbnailing area and a thumbnailing level;
A data thumbnailing device characterized by comprising: While the data thumbnailing device is communicably connected to other devices via a communication network,
The data thumbnailing device
Means for storing the original data;
Means for transmitting the thumbnailed data (thumbnail data) to the other device via the communication network;
When thumbnailed data that has been edited in the other device and part of which has been changed is transmitted from the other device via the communication network, the edited thumbnailed data is compared with the stored original data. Means for obtaining the changed portion and reflecting the obtained changed portion in the original data;
The data thumbnailing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   2. The data thumbnailing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing the thumbnail data at an arbitrary timing. Means for duplicating the original data to create backup data;
Means for editing the original data;
Means for comparing the original data after editing (editing original data) and the backup data and obtaining the data representing the difference as a history thumbnail in association with the information indicating the timing at the time of editing;
The data thumbnailing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   5. The data thumbnailing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for reproducing the original data at the editing timing based on the thumbnail data of the original data.   5. The data thumbnailing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for reproducing the original data at the editing timing based on the thumbnail data of the original data and the history thumbnail.   2. The data thumbnail according to claim 1, wherein the thumbnailing means includes means for performing at least one of a process of thinning out the data of the set thumbnail area in the original data and a process of reducing the resolution of the original data. Device. A program for causing a computer to execute processing for reducing the amount of data of original data by converting the original data (original data) into thumbnails,
The program is
A process of setting the area to be thumbnailed in the original data and the level of thumbnailing indicating the reduction amount of the original data according to a user instruction;
A program that causes the computer to execute a process of thumbnailing the original data based on a set thumbnailing area and a thumbnailing level. A data thumbnailing method for reducing the amount of data of original data (original data) by thumbnailing,
An area to be thumbnailed in the original data and a level of thumbnailing indicating a reduction amount of the original data are set according to a user instruction, and the original thumbnail data is set based on the set thumbnailing area and thumbnailization level. A data thumbnailing method characterized in that data is thumbnailed.

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