JP2007041944A - Image processing device, image processing method, computer program, computer-readable recording medium and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to edit an electronic album or the like as easily as possible by preventing character overflows when character objects are, for example, placed, moved and replaced. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing device has a character overflow detection means, a font size reduction means for reducing a font size upon a character overflow, a character area extension means for extending a character area upon a character overflow, and a layout change means for changing a layout upon a character overflow to prevent the character overflow. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a computer program, a computer-readable recording medium, and an image forming system, and is particularly suitable for use in managing a plurality of objects.

  In recent years, a large number of image data has been managed with an electronic album. A method for creating such an electronic album will be specifically described. First, image data taken by a digital image device typified by a digital still camera or a digital video camera is taken into a client computer. Then, the user selects a desired image from images based on the captured image data, and places the selected image at a desired position in the electronic album. In addition to images, a plurality of objects such as photo frames and character strings are arranged, moved, edited, etc. at desired positions in the electronic album.

  By associating a plurality of objects with each other, when one object is moved or edited, the associated object can be automatically moved or edited (see Patent Document 1).

In addition, an object and a character can be stored in association with each other, and display can be performed in association with each other (see Patent Document 2).
JP 09-190459 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-016514

  By the way, when creating an electronic album as described above, when moving or laying out an image associated with a character string, the character string automatically moved in association with the image may not fit in the destination character area. . In such a case, if it becomes possible to prevent the overflow of characters without the user's knowledge, it is preferable to prevent the occurrence of a defective album.

  However, in the prior art, it was possible to move and edit a plurality of objects associated with each other, but did not know whether the moving character string fits in the destination character area. Therefore, it is necessary for the user to check whether there is a character overflow. When a character overflow is found, it is necessary to perform operations such as reducing the number of characters or expanding the character area.

  As described above, in the conventional technology, when an object such as an image associated with a character string is moved or laid out in an electronic album or the like and character overflow occurs, the user may not be able to easily edit it. was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable a user to edit an object arranged in an electronic album or the like as easily as possible.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is displayed by an object association unit that associates a plurality of different types of objects, an object display unit that displays a plurality of objects associated by the object association unit, and the object display unit. A replacement instruction receiving unit that receives a replacement instruction between any one of the plurality of objects and another object that is not associated with the object; and the object display unit includes a replacement instruction by the replacement instruction receiving unit. When an object is received, at least one of the object that has been instructed to replace and the object that is associated with the object that has been instructed to replace is replaced. When the object to be replaced is a character area that handles characters, a character overflow detecting means for detecting whether the character overflows from the character area, a font size reducing means for reducing the font size when the character overflows, and a character Character area expanding means for expanding the character area when overflowing and layout changing means for preventing character overflow by changing the layout when the character overflows are provided.

  The image processing method of the present invention is displayed by an object association step for associating a plurality of different types of objects, an object display step for displaying a plurality of objects associated by the object association step on a display device, and the object display step. A replacement instruction receiving step for receiving a replacement instruction between any one of the plurality of objects and another object not associated with the object, and a replacement instruction received by the replacement instruction receiving step. , An object exchanging object for exchanging at least one of the object instructed to replace and the object associated with the object instructed to replace. When the object to be replaced is a character area that handles characters, a character overflow detection step that detects whether the character overflows from the character region after replacement, and a font size reduction step that reduces the font size when the character overflows And a character region extending step for expanding the character region when the character overflows, and a layout changing step for preventing the character overflow by changing the layout when the character overflows.

  The computer program of the present invention is displayed by an object association step for associating a plurality of different types of objects, an object display step for displaying a plurality of objects associated by the object association step on a display device, and the object display step. When an exchange instruction is accepted by the exchange instruction acceptance step for accepting an exchange instruction between any one of the plurality of objects and another object not associated with the object, and the exchange instruction acceptance step, An object that replaces at least one of the object that has been instructed to be replaced and the object that is associated with the object that has been instructed to replace If the object to be replaced is a character area that handles characters, a character overflow detection step that detects whether the character overflows from the character area, and a font size reduction that reduces the font size when the character overflows And a step of causing the computer to execute a step, a character region extending step for expanding the character region when the character overflows, and a layout changing step for preventing the character overflow by changing the layout when the character overflows.

  A computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention records the computer program described above.

  The image forming system of the present invention includes the above-described image processing apparatus, a server apparatus that provides a service for the electronic album, and an image forming apparatus that visualizes the electronic album on a sheet. And the server apparatus and the image forming apparatus are connected to each other via a network.

  According to the present invention, when the object associated with the character area is replaced with another object not associated with the object, it is detected whether the character overflows from the character area. Therefore, it is detected that the character overflows from the character area. Then, the font size can be automatically reduced, the character area can be expanded, or the layout can be changed to prevent character overflow. Thereby, the user can edit the object as easily as possible.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a printing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an image input device 101 converts an optical image, which is image information, into an electrical signal, performs predetermined image processing on the electronic signal, and records the electronic signal subjected to image processing as digital information. It is for playing. Examples of the image input device 101 include a digital still camera that captures a photographed subject and stores the photographed subject as still image data, a digital video camera that stores the photographed subject as moving image image data, a document, and the like. And a scanner that stores the read original as image data of a still image.

  The data transfer interface 103 is an interface for transferring image data input by the image input device 101 to the client computer 102. Examples of the data transfer interface 103 include a USB (Universal Serial Bus), a wired interface represented by IEEE1394, and a wireless interface represented by IrDA (Infrared Data Association) and Bluetooth (registered trademark). Etc.

  The client computer 102 is for performing processing such as creating an electronic album for editing image data transferred from the image input device 101 via the data transfer interface 103.

  Image data transferred from the image input device 101 via the data transfer interface 103 is stored in the storage area 104 of the client computer 102. An example of the storage area 104 is a hard disk drive (HDD). The image data is transferred after the client computer 102 secures the storage area 104 according to a transfer command issued from the image input device 101 to the client computer 102, for example.

  The image data stored in the storage area 104 in this way is stored in the operating system (OS) installed in the client computer 102 by the CPU (Central Processing Unit) disposed in the client computer 102 or the electronic album editing. It is read by executing the application 105.

  Then, the user uses the electronic album editing application 105 to create an electronic album for editing the image data stored in the storage area 104. Details of the electronic album creation method will be described later.

  Thereafter, the client computer 102 saves the created electronic album or transmits it to the photo site 108.

  The photo site 108 includes a provider server device that provides various services to the client computer 102 using the Internet 107 as a communication infrastructure, and databases 111 and 112. The photo site 108 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of server devices, and each server device realizes various functions independently or in cooperation.

  In the present embodiment, the service provided by the photo site 108 includes a service for storing the electronic album transmitted from the client computer 102 and a service for requesting the print site 113 to print out the stored electronic album. explain.

  Here, the client computer 102 can operate a browser 106 having a standard protocol capable of transferring information via the Internet 104. When a user accesses the photo site 108 using a standard protocol such as the http protocol that the browser 106 has, Web information created in a description language such as HTML or XML is displayed on a monitor provided in the client computer 102. Can be made. This Web information is linked to multimedia information such as images and sounds managed by the photo site 108, and by using this Web information, the user can receive a service provided by the photo site 108.

  The image database (image DB) 111 stores electronic album data (hereinafter referred to as electronic album data) transmitted from the client computer 102 and low-resolution image data (so-called thumbnail images) for displaying the electronic album data. Data) is stored.

  In the attribute information database 112, the attribute information of the electronic album data stored in the image database 111, the attribute information of the user registered in the photo site 108, and the print site that is the request destination for the printout of the electronic album data Various data such as 113 attribute information is centrally managed.

  The photo sharing module 109 stores the electronic album transmitted from the client computer 102 in the image database 111 and the attribute information database 112 together with the attribute information, or requests the print site 113 to print out the electronic album. This is software for performing processing such as referring to the attribute information database 112 and reading out the electronic album requested to be printed out from the image database 111 and transmitting it to the print site 113.

  When there is a request for a service provided by the photo site 108, such as printout of an electronic album, the payment module 110 charges a fee for executing the service to the request source, makes a payment, etc. This is software for processing.

  The print site 113 has a computer for causing the printer 114 to print out an electronic album transmitted from the photo site 108, and a printed matter 115 of the electronic album is output from the printer 114 under the control of this computer.

  In FIG. 1, the case where one client computer 102, one photo site 108, and one print site 113 are provided is described as an example. However, a plurality of these may be provided. Needless to say.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the electronic album editing application 105.

  In FIG. 2, the data control unit 201 generates data for creating and displaying an electronic album. The GUI control unit 202 displays a graphic user interface operated by a user to create an electronic album on a monitor provided in the client computer 102. Further, the GUI control unit 202 outputs the content operated by the user using the displayed graphic user interface to the data control unit 201. As a result, the data control unit 201 can determine the content specified by the user.

  More specifically, the data control unit 201 inputs the content designated by the user via the GUI control unit 202, and the electronic album created by the design control unit 203 according to the content designated by the user. An electronic album is created using the design data and images selected by the user (cover image data 205, in-page image data 206, and out-page image data 207). Then, the communication control unit 204 transmits the created electronic album to the photo site 108.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the image data allocation table 209 used when the design control unit 203 creates design data for the electronic album. FIG. 3 shows an image data allocation table 209 as an example when the number of pages of the electronic album is 12.

  In the image data allocation table 209 shown in FIG. 3, the number of images to be pasted on each page is determined according to the total number of images selected by the user. For example, when the total number of images selected by the user is 21, two images are pasted on the first page of the electronic album. By using such an image data allocation table 209, the design control unit 203 can change each of the electronic albums based on the number of pages of the electronic album specified by the user and the total number of images pasted on the electronic album. It is possible to automatically determine how many images are pasted on the page.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the layout file 208 used when the design control unit 203 creates the design data of the electronic album.

  In FIG. 4, the layout file 208 stores a cover of the electronic album and layout data 401 to 414 of each page. For example, in the above-described example, two images are pasted on the first page of the electronic album. Therefore, the design control unit 203 uses the layout data 404 for the first page and the second sheet as layout data 404 for the first page. read out. In this way, the design control unit 203 can determine the design of the electronic album by reading the cover of the electronic album and the layout data of each page with reference to the image data allocation table 209 described above.

  As will be described later, since the electronic album of the present embodiment is created according to the template, the layout file 208 includes layout data 401 to 414 for each of the templates held in the electronic album editing application 105. It will be. In the electronic album of this embodiment, in addition to images, comments on the images can be attached. Therefore, the layout data 401 to 414 are data for determining a layout for an image and a comment for the image. The layout data particularly holds information such as the position, width, and height of the image object and comment area. The template may include a plurality of layout data 401 to 414. That is, for example, there are two types of layout data 401 for one template. If the size of the comment area of one layout data 401 is 10, the size of the comment area of another layout data 401 can be 20.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a work process when creating an electronic album.

  First, in step S1, after the electronic album editing application 105 is activated based on the user's operation, processing for selecting an electronic album (product) desired by the user is performed. Specifically, the GUI control unit 202 displays a product selection screen 601 as shown in FIG. 6 on the monitor of the client computer 102 after receiving an activation instruction for the electronic album editing application 105. The user refers to the product selection screen 601 and selects the size of the electronic album and the number of pages. A product selection screen 601 shown in FIG. 6 shows a state in which a vertically long type 12-page electronic album is selected by the user.

  After the electronic album is selected in this way, when the “next” button 602 is pressed by the user's operation, the process proceeds to step S2, and the GUI control unit 202 displays a template selection screen 701 as shown in FIG. It is displayed on the monitor of the client computer 102. At this time, the data control unit 201 stores the size and the number of pages of the electronic album selected on the product selection screen 601 in a storage medium such as a RAM.

  The user refers to this template selection screen 701 and selects a template (design) of the electronic album. In the template selection screen 701 shown in FIG. 7, “Classic 1” is selected by the user.

  In this embodiment, the client computer 102 can download a template from the photo site 108. Specifically, in the present embodiment, when the “template download” button 702 displayed on the template selection screen 701 shown in FIG. 7 is pressed by a user operation, the GUI control unit 202 can download the template. The template is displayed on the monitor of the client computer 102. When a desired template is selected by the user from the displayed templates, the photo site 108 downloads the selected template to the client computer 102 and performs billing processing according to the downloaded template. In this way, it is possible to create an electronic album using various templates in addition to the default template in the electronic album editing application 105, and it is possible to create a more interesting electronic album. become.

  After the desired template is selected from the default templates and the templates downloaded from the photo site 108 as described above, when the “next” 703 button is pressed by the user operation, the process proceeds to step S3. The GUI control unit 202 causes the monitor of the client computer 102 to display an image selection screen 801 as shown in FIG. At this time, the data control unit 201 stores the type of the template selected on the template selection screen 701 in a storage medium such as a RAM.

  The user refers to the image selection screen 801 and selects an image to be pasted on the cover and each page of the electronic album. In the image selection screen 801 shown in FIG. 8, thumbnail images based on the image data stored in the hard disk drive (storage area 104) of the client computer 102 are displayed in the stored image display area 802. Also, a thumbnail image selected by the user as an image to be pasted on the electronic album from among the thumbnail images displayed in the stored image display area 802 is displayed in the electronic album image display area 803.

  At this time, if the user wants to use an image based on the thumbnail image displayed in the stored image display area 802 for the cover of the electronic album, the user selects the thumbnail image displayed in the stored image display area 802 and then selects “Use for cover page”. The “Yes” button 804 is pressed. Then, the selected thumbnail image is displayed at the top of the electronic album image display area 803. Similarly, when the user wants to use an image based on the thumbnail image displayed in the stored image display area 802 for each page (text) of the electronic album, the user selects the thumbnail image displayed in the stored image display area 802. Then, the “use for text” button 805 is pressed. Then, the selected thumbnail image is displayed in the second and subsequent stages of the image display area 803 for electronic album.

  After the images to be used for the cover and each page of the electronic album are selected in this way, when the “next” button 806 is pressed by the user's operation, the process proceeds to step S4, and the GUI control unit 202 performs FIG. An edit screen 901 as shown in FIG. At this time, the data control unit 201 displays the display image data 205 selected as an image used for display of the electronic album, the in-page image data 206 selected as an image used for each page of the electronic album, and the off-page image. Data 207 is stored in a storage medium such as a RAM.

  The user refers to the editing screen 901 and pastes the image selected in step S3 on the cover and each page of the electronic album. On the editing screen 901, a page layout display field 902, a temporary storage tray 903, and a page designation field 904 are displayed.

  In the page designation column 904, a button for the user to designate a page of the electronic album displayed in the page layout display column 902 is displayed. The edit screen 901 shown in FIG. 9 shows a case where the “6, 7” button 904a is pressed by a user operation.

  The page layout display field 902 displays each page of the electronic album to be edited. The edit screen 901 shown in FIG. 9 shows a case where the 6th page and the 7th page of the electronic album are displayed in a spread. The display content of the page layout display field 902 is determined by the design control unit 203. Specifically, the design control unit 203 refers to the image data allocation table 209 on the basis of the number of pages of the electronic album selected in step S1 and the total number of images selected in step S3. The number of images to be pasted on each page of the album is determined, and layout data 401 to 414 are read from the layout file 208 based on the determined result to determine the design of each page of the electronic album. Then, the GUI control unit 202 displays the determined design in the page layout display field 902.

  As described above, in the electronic album of this embodiment, an image and a comment for the image are attached to each page. Accordingly, the page layout display field 902 displays image objects 905a to 905c and character objects 906a to 906c corresponding to the image objects 905a to 905c.

  Also, when the image objects 905a to 905c displayed in the page layout display field 902 are not suitable for the electronic album, such as when the resolution of the image objects 905a to 905c displayed in the page layout display field 902 is lower than a predetermined value. In accordance with the determination of the data control unit 201, the GUI control unit 202 displays a warning mark near the image objects 905a to 905c. In the warning screen 901 shown in FIG. 9, a warning object 907 is attached beside the image object 905b. Accordingly, the user can easily determine that the image object 905b is not appropriate.

  Similarly, although not shown in FIG. 9, the character objects 906a to 906c displayed in the page layout display field 902 are inappropriate when the number of characters of the character objects 906a to 906c is larger than a predetermined number of characters. In this case, according to the determination from the data control unit 201, the GUI control unit 202 displays a warning mark near the character objects 906a to 906c.

  In another embodiment, when the number of characters of the character objects 906a to 906c is larger than a predetermined number of characters, the character objects 906a to 906c displayed in the page layout display field 902 are inappropriate. Then, according to the determination from the data control unit 201, the font size of the character object management table 1301 shown in FIG. 13 to be described later is set smaller, and the data control unit 201 determines again whether it is appropriate. If the font size is reduced until it is determined to be appropriate, the GUI control unit 202 displays the character objects 906a to 906c without overflowing characters. At this time, by setting a threshold value for the font size, a warning mark can be displayed near the character objects 906a to 906c when overflow occurs even if the threshold value is reached.

  In another embodiment, when the number of characters of the character objects 906a to 906c is larger than a predetermined number of characters, the character objects 906a to 906c displayed in the page layout display field 902 are inappropriate. In accordance with the determination from the data control unit 201, the width of the comment area of the layout data is increased until the width does not cause character overflow. When the comment area is increased until it is determined to be appropriate, the GUI control unit 202 displays the character objects 906a to 906c without overflowing characters. At this time, by setting a threshold value for the width of the comment area, a warning mark can be displayed near the character objects 906a to 906c when character overflow occurs even when the threshold value is reached.

  In another embodiment, when the number of characters of the character objects 906a to 906c is larger than a predetermined number of characters, the character objects 906a to 906c displayed in the page layout display field 902 are inappropriate. According to the determination from the data control unit 201, another layout data is set. The different layout data can be set when a plurality of layout data are set, as shown in the example in which a plurality of layout data 401 is provided. At this time, if character overflow occurs for all layout data that can be set as different layout data, a warning mark is also displayed near the character objects 906a to 906c.

  In another embodiment, when the character objects 906a to 906c displayed in the page layout display field 902 are inappropriate, such as when the number of characters of the character objects 906a to 906c is larger than a predetermined number of characters, By combining a method of reducing the font size, a method of increasing the width of the comment area of the layout data, a method of changing the layout data, and the like, it is possible to efficiently eliminate character overflow.

  Of the image objects selected in step S3, an image object 908 that has not been pasted on the electronic album and a character object 909 corresponding to the image object 908 are displayed on the temporary tray 903.

  FIG. 10 shows the contents of image data for page layout for displaying the image object 905 and the character object 906 in the page layout display field 902, and temporary placement for displaying the image object 908 and the character object 909 on the temporary placement tray 903. It is the figure which showed an example of the content of the image data for trays.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the page layout image data 1001 includes an image data file 1002 for displaying the image object 905, character data 1003 for displaying the character object 906, and trimming for the image object 905. And image editing information 1004 to be added when editing is performed.

  The temporary tray image data 1011 is subjected to editing such as trimming for the image data file 1012 for displaying the image object 908, the character data 1013 for displaying the character object 909, and the image object 908. Image editing information 1014 and page information 1015 to be added.

  In the present embodiment, the location where the image object 905 and the character object 906 are arranged in the electronic album on the editing screen 901 is managed by the link management table 1101 as shown in FIG. ing.

  In FIG. 11, the link ID is an ID for identifying a place in the electronic album. The image object ID is an ID for identifying the image objects 905 and 908. The character object ID is an ID for identifying the character objects 906 and 909. For example, in the link management table 1101 shown in FIG. 11A, if the link ID for identifying the upper position of page 6 of the electronic album is “1”, the image for the image object 905a shown in FIG. The object ID is “10”, and the character object ID for the character object 906a is “20”. Similarly, if the link ID for identifying the lower position on page 6 of the electronic album is “2”, the image object ID for the image object 905 b is “1”, and the character object ID for the character object 906 b. Becomes “2”.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the image objects 905 and 908 displayed on the editing screen 901 are managed by the image object management table 1201 as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 12, an image path indicates a storage location of the image objects 905 and 908. The width and the height indicate the sizes of the image objects 905 and 908, respectively. The warning flag is for indicating whether or not the warning object 907 is attached to the image objects 905 and 908. When “1” is displayed in the warning column, the warning object 907 is displayed. Indicates that is attached.

  In this embodiment, the character objects 906 and 909 displayed on the editing screen 901 are managed by a character object management table 1301 as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 13, the comment content indicates the content of the comment input to the character objects 906 and 909. The font indicates a font describing a comment. The font size indicates the size of the font describing the comment. The color indicates the color of the character describing the comment.

  By using such management tables 1101, 1201, and 1301, the data control unit 201 inputs the content operated by the user on the editing screen 901 via the GUI control unit 202, and according to the input content. Thus, the contents of the link management table 1101, the image object management table 1201, and the character object management table 1301 can be rewritten, the image object and the character object can be associated, and the contents of the image object and the character object are managed. be able to.

  Here, an example of processing performed when the image objects 905 and 908 and the character objects 906 and 909 managed as described above are replaced on the editing screen 901 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S11, the GUI control unit 202 stands by until the replacement source image objects 905 and 908 are selected by the user's mouse operation. When the replacement source image objects 905 and 908 are selected, in step S12, the GUI control unit 202 stands by until the user drags and drops the replacement destination image objects 905 and 908 to the positions of the replacement destination image objects 905 and 908.

  When the replacement source image objects 905 and 908 are dragged and dropped to the replacement destination image objects 905 and 908, the data control unit 201 determines whether the replacement of the image objects 905 and 908 is replacement within the page. Determine. If the result of this determination is that the page is replaced, the process proceeds to step S14, where the data control unit 201 determines that the replacement instruction is for the purpose of changing the arrangement, and based on this determination, the GUI The control unit 202 also replaces the character object 906 related to the image object 905 at the same time. For example, when the image object 905a and the image object 905b are exchanged on the editing screen 901 shown in FIG. 9, the character object 906a and the character object 906b are also exchanged at the same time. Then, the data control unit 201 rewrites the contents of the link management table 1101 according to the replaced contents and ends the process. In the example described above, the contents of the link management table 1101 shown in FIG. 11A are changed to the link management table 1101 shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, the replacement of the image objects 905 and 908 is not replacement within the page, but replacement between the image object 905 (in the page) in the page layout display field 902 and the image object 908 in the temporary placement tray 903. If it is determined, the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the data control unit 201 refers to the link management table 1101 and the character object management table 1301, and comments are input to the character objects 906 and 909 related to the replacement image objects 905 and 908. It is determined whether or not.

  As a result of the determination, if no comment is input to the character objects 906 and 909 related to the replacement source image objects 905 and 908, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the data control unit 201 determines that the replacement instruction is only for changing the image, and based on this determination, the GUI control unit 202 displays the image displayed in the page. The object 905 and the image object 908 displayed on the temporary placement tray 903 are exchanged. Then, the data control unit 201 rewrites the contents of the link management table 1101 according to the replaced contents and ends the process. At this time, even if a comment is attached to the character object 909 related to the image object 908 displayed on the temporary placement tray 903, the character object 909 is not moved.

  If it is determined in step S15 that a comment has been input to the character objects 906 and 909 related to the replacement source image objects 905 and 908, the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, the data control unit 201 refers to the link management table 1101 and the image object management table 1201 to determine whether or not the warning object 907 is attached to the replacement source image objects 905 and 908. . As a result of the determination, if the warning object 907 is not attached to the replacement source image objects 905 and 908, the process proceeds to step S14 described above, and the data control unit 201 indicates that the replacement instruction is to replace the link. Based on this determination, the GUI control unit 202 replaces the character objects 906 and 909 simultaneously with the replacement of the image objects 905 and 908. Then, the data control unit 201 rewrites the contents of the link management table 1101 according to the replaced contents and ends the process.

  If it is determined in step S17 that the warning object 907 is attached to the replacement source image objects 905 and 908, the process proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the data control unit 201 refers to the link management table 1101 and the image object management table 1201 and determines whether or not the warning object 907 is attached to the replacement destination image objects 905 and 908. . As a result of this determination, if the warning object 907 is attached to the replacement-destination image objects 905 and 908, the process proceeds to step S16 described above, and the data control unit 201 aims to avoid the warning by the replacement instruction. Based on this determination, the GUI control unit 202 replaces the image object 905 displayed in the page with the image object 908 displayed on the temporary storage tray 903. Then, the data control unit 201 rewrites the contents of the link management table 1101 according to the replaced contents and ends the process.

  If it is determined in step S18 that the warning object 907 is not attached to the replacement destination image objects 905 and 908, the process proceeds to step S19. In step S 19, the GUI control unit 202 displays a caution message dialog 1501 as shown in FIG. 15 on the monitor of the client computer 102 based on an instruction from the data control unit 201.

  Next, in step S20, the GUI control unit 202 determines which of the OK button 1501a and the cancel button 1501b in the attention message dialog 1501 is pressed based on the user's mouse operation. As a result of this determination, if the cancel button 1501b is pressed, the process proceeds to step S14 described above, and the data control unit 201 does not agree with the user's attention, and the warning object 907 is added to the replacement source image objects 905 and 908. Based on this determination, the GUI control unit 202 replaces the image objects 905 and 908 and simultaneously replaces the character objects 906 and 909 based on this determination. Then, the data control unit 201 rewrites the contents of the link management table 1101 according to the replaced contents and ends the process.

  If it is determined in step S20 that the OK button 1501a in the caution message dialog 1501 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S21, where the data control unit 201 determines that the user has agreed to caution, and the image objects 905 and 908 and the character object are determined. The processing ends without replacing 906 and 909.

  After the editing of the image objects 905 and 908 and the character objects 906 and 909 is completed using the editing screen 901 as described above, the “confirm” button 910 displayed on the editing screen 910 in FIG. When the button is pressed, the process proceeds from step S4 in FIG. 5 to step S5, and the GUI control unit 202 displays a confirmation screen 1600 as shown in FIG. 16 on the monitor of the client computer 102. Using this confirmation screen 1600, the user can confirm the contents of the electronic album edited by the data control unit 201 as described above. Then, the GUI control unit 202 determines whether or not a “print order” button 1601 displayed on the confirmation screen 1600 is pressed by a user operation and a print order is placed. If the result of this determination is that the “To Order” button 1601 has been pressed by the user's operation, the process proceeds to step S6, where the data control unit 201 uses the edited electronic album as PDF data, for example, as photo data. Upload to site 108. At this time, the GUI control unit 202 displays a book transmission dialog 1701 on the confirmation screen 1600 as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, in step S5, if the “save” button 1602 is pressed before the “to order” button 1601 is pressed, it is determined that a print order is not to be made, and step S6 is omitted. Proceed to S7. If the GUI control unit 202 determines in step S7 that the “Save” button 1602 displayed on the confirmation screen 1600 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S8, the data control unit 201 stores the electronic album edited as described above, and ends the electronic album creation process. On the other hand, if the “save” button 1602 is not pressed because the electronic album editing application 105 is forcibly shut down or the like, the electronic album creation process is terminated.

  FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer used in the printing system according to the present embodiment having the above functions.

  In FIG. 18, a CRT (monitor, display device) 1801 displays, for example, a document being edited, a graphic, an image, other editing information, an icon, a message, a menu, and other user interface information.

  The VRAM 1802 is for drawing an image to be displayed on the CRT 1801. The image data generated by the VRAM 1802 is transferred to the CRT 1801 according to a predetermined rule. As a result, an image is displayed on the CRT 1801.

  The bit move unit (BMU) 1803, for example, transfers data between memories (for example, between the VRAM 202 and another memory), and the memory and each I / O device (for example, a network interface (Net-I / F) 1811). ) Control data transfer to and from.

  A keyboard 1804 includes various keys for a user to input a document or the like. The pointing device 1805 is for instructing icons, menus, and other objects displayed on the CRT 1801, for example, a mouse or the like.

  The CPU 1806 controls the computer as a whole and controls each device based on a control program stored in the ROM 1807, the hard disk, or the flexible disk. The control program can be provided to the CPU 1806 from another computer connected via a network or the like.

  The ROM 1807 is for storing various control programs and data. The RAM 1808 has a work area for the CPU 1806, a data save area during error processing, a load area for the control program, and the like.

  A hard disk drive (HDD) 1809 controls access to a hard disk for storing various control programs executed in the computer, contents, and the like. For example, the hard disk of the client computer 102 stores electronic album data edited as described above, the electronic album editing application 105, the browser 106, and the like.

  A flexible disk drive (FDD) 1810 is for controlling access to the flexible disk. A network interface (Net-I / F) 1811 is for communicating with other computers, the printer 114, and the like via a network or the like. The CPU bus 1812 is for enabling communication between devices, and includes an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the image objects 905 and 908 and the character objects 906 and 909 are associated with each other using the link management table 1101, so that the replacement is performed by referring to the link management table 1101. The character object 906 related to the image object 905 for which the image object 905 is designated can be identified, and even when the replacement of only the image object 905 is specified, both the image object 905 and the character object 906 can be replaced at the same time. . Therefore, the user can easily edit the object in the electronic album.

  In this embodiment, the case where the Internet 107 is used as a communication infrastructure is shown as an example. However, instead of the Internet 107, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or the like may be used. Needless to say.

(Other embodiments of the present invention)
In order to operate various devices to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments are provided to an apparatus or a computer in the system connected to the various devices. What is implemented by operating the various devices according to a program supplied and stored in a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is also included in the scope of the present invention.

  In this case, the program code of the software itself realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example, the program code are stored. The recorded medium constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for storing the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code supplied by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS (operating system) or other application software in which the program code is running on the computer, etc. It goes without saying that the program code is also included in the embodiment of the present invention even when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with the embodiment.

  Further, after the supplied program code is stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit based on the instruction of the program code Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing.

1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a printing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the function structure of the electronic album edit application. It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the image data allocation table. It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the layout file. It is a flowchart which shows embodiment of this invention and demonstrates an example of the operation | work process at the time of creating an electronic album. It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the goods selection screen. It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the template selection screen. It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the image selection screen. It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the edit screen. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of page layout image data and temporary tray image data according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the link management table. It is a figure showing an embodiment of the present invention and showing an example of an image object management table. It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the character object management table. It is a flowchart which shows embodiment of this invention and demonstrates an example of the process performed when replacing an image object and a character object on an edit screen. It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the attention message dialog. It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the confirmation screen. It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the book transmission dialog. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer used in a printing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Image input device 102 Client computer 105 Electronic album edit application 107 Internet 108 Photo site 114 Printer 901 Edit screen 905, 908 Image object 906, 909 Character object 1101 Link management table

Claims (11)

An object association means for associating a plurality of different types of objects;
Object display means for displaying a plurality of objects associated by the object association means on a display device;
A replacement instruction receiving means for receiving a replacement instruction between any one of the plurality of objects displayed by the object display means and another object not associated with the object;
When the replacement instruction is received by the replacement instruction receiving unit, the object display unit displays at least one of the object that has been instructed to replace and the object that is associated with the object that has received the replacement instruction. It is characterized by replacing,
A character overflow detection means for detecting whether a character overflows from a character area after replacing the character object when the object for which the replacement is instructed or the object associated with the object for which the replacement is instructed is a character object Image processing device.   A font size reducing means for reducing the font size of the character object, and when a character overflow is detected by the character overflow detecting means, the font size is reduced by the font size reducing means to prevent character overflow The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   A character area expanding means for expanding the size of the character area in the character object, and when the character overflow is detected by the character overflow detecting means, the character area is expanded by the character area expanding means; The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein overflow is prevented.   A layout change unit is provided, and when a character overflow is detected by the character overflow detection unit, the layout change unit prevents a character overflow by changing to a layout having a sufficient character area in which character overflow does not occur. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: An object association step for associating a plurality of different types of objects;
An object display step of causing a display device to display a plurality of objects associated by the object association step;
An exchange instruction accepting step for accepting an exchange instruction between any one of the plurality of objects displayed by the object display step and another object not associated with the object;
An object replacement step of replacing at least one of the object that has been instructed to be replaced and the object that is associated with the object that has been instructed to replace when the replacement instruction has been received by the replacement instruction receiving step;
A character overflow detection step for detecting whether or not a character overflows from the character area after replacing the character object when the object instructed to be replaced or the object associated with the object instructed to replace is a character object; An image processing method comprising:   There is a font size reduction step to reduce the font size of the character object, and when the character overflow is detected by the character overflow detection step, the font size is reduced by the font size reduction step to prevent character overflow The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein:   A character area extending step for expanding the size of the character area in the character object, and when the character overflow is detected by the character overflow detecting means, the character area is expanded by the character area expanding step; The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein overflow is prevented.   A layout change step, and when a character overflow is detected by the character overflow detection step, the layout change step changes to a layout having a sufficient character area where character overflow does not occur, thereby preventing character overflow The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein: An object association step for associating a plurality of different types of objects;
An object display step of causing a display device to display a plurality of objects associated by the object association step;
An exchange instruction accepting step for accepting an exchange instruction between any one of the plurality of objects displayed by the object display step and another object not associated with the object;
When an exchange instruction is accepted in the exchange instruction accepting step, an object exchange step of exchanging at least one of the object for which the exchange instruction has been made and the object associated with the object for which the exchange instruction has been made A character overflow detection step for detecting whether a character overflows from the character area after replacing the character object when the object that is instructed or the object associated with the object that is instructed to replace is a character object A computer program that is executed by a computer.   10. A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 9 is recorded. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a server apparatus that provides a service for the electronic album, and an image forming apparatus that visualizes the electronic album on paper.
An image forming system, wherein the image processing apparatus, the server apparatus, and the image forming apparatus are connected to each other via a network.

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