JP2007249434A - Album preparation system, album preparation method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prepare an album having desired content, even when images having attributes which should be used for an album are insufficient. <P>SOLUTION: This album preparation system is provided with an image input part for inputting a plurality of images to be used for an album; a deciding part of the number of images for deciding whether the number of input images as the number of images input from the image input part is smaller than the predetermined number; a necessary image acquisition part for acquiring an image, related to a plurality of images input from the image input part, based on the analytic result of the analysis of the image information of each of the plurality of images input from the image input part; and an album preparation part for preparing an album by using the image input from the image input part and the image acquired by the image acquisition part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an album creation system, an album creation method, and a program. In particular, the present invention relates to an album creating system and an album creating method for creating an album from images, and a program for the album creating system.

A system has been proposed in which a customer who desires album creation receives layout data in which images are laid out and creates an album (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the invention described in Patent Document 1, since the customer himself lays out the images in the album and creates the album based on the layout data laid out by the customer, the album as desired by the customer can be created.
JP 2001-331704 A

  However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, images to be arranged in the image frame are selected based on information such as the number of persons included in the image and whether or not the eyes of the person are open. Further, when selecting an image to be arranged in the image arrangement frame, the system described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that if there is no image that matches the predetermined information, the creation of the album is hindered. there were.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an album creation system, an album creation method, and a program that can solve the above-described problems. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous specific examples of the present invention.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an album creating system according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes an image input unit that inputs a plurality of images used for an album, and an input that is the number of images input from the image input unit. An image number determination unit that determines whether or not the number of images is less than a predetermined number, and the image input when the image number determination unit determines that the number of input images is less than a predetermined number A necessary image acquisition unit for acquiring images related to the plurality of images input from the image input unit based on an analysis result obtained by analyzing each image information of the plurality of images input from the unit, and the image input unit And an album creating unit that creates an album using the image input from the image and the image acquired by the necessary image acquiring unit.

  An image information analysis unit that calculates a distribution of imaging times of a plurality of images input from the image input unit and extracts a biased period in the calculated distribution of imaging times, and the necessary image acquisition unit, When the number of input images is determined to be less than a predetermined number by the number-of-images determination unit, images within the period extracted by the image information analysis unit are acquired from an image database storing a plurality of images. It's okay.

  An image information analysis unit that calculates a distribution of imaging positions at which each of the plurality of images input from the image input unit is captured, and extracts an imaging range that is biased in the calculated distribution of imaging positions; The image acquisition unit stores a plurality of images within the imaging range extracted by the image information analysis unit when the number of input images is determined to be smaller than a predetermined number by the image number determination unit. May be obtained from an existing image database.

  An image information analysis unit that analyzes the image contents of each of the plurality of images input from the image input unit and extracts a type of a subject included in the plurality of images input from the image input unit; The necessary image acquisition unit, when the number of input images is determined to be less than a predetermined number by the number of images determination unit, a plurality of images related to the type of subject extracted by the image information analysis unit May be obtained from an image database storing the.

  An image information analysis unit that analyzes the image contents of each of the plurality of images input from the image input unit and extracts characteristic colors in the plurality of images input from the image input unit; When the image acquisition unit determines that the number of input images is smaller than a predetermined number by the image number determination unit, an image including a color related to the color extracted by the image information analysis unit May be obtained from an image database storing the.

  In the album creating method according to the second aspect of the present invention, an image input stage for inputting a plurality of images to be used for an album, and an input image count that is the number of images input in the image input stage are determined in advance. A plurality of images input in the image input step when it is determined that the number of input images is less than a predetermined number in the image number determination step. Based on the analysis results obtained by analyzing the respective image information, a necessary image acquisition step for acquiring images related to a plurality of images input in the image input step, an image input in the image input step, and the necessary And an album creation stage for creating an album using the images acquired in the image acquisition stage.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for an album creation system for creating an album, wherein the album creation system is input from the image input unit for inputting a plurality of images used for the album, and from the image input unit. The number of input images, which is the number of input images, is determined to be less than a predetermined number, and the image number determination unit determines that the number of input images is less than a predetermined number. Necessary image acquisition for acquiring images related to the plurality of images input from the image input unit based on the analysis results obtained by analyzing the respective image information of the plurality of images input from the image input unit And an image input from the image input unit and an image acquired by the necessary image acquisition unit, and function as an album creation unit for creating an album.

  An album creating system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a necessary image type storing unit that stores types of images necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images, and an image selecting unit that selects a plurality of images used for the album. And an image information analysis unit that analyzes the image information of each of the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit and identifies the type of each image, and the type of image stored in the necessary image type storage unit And the image type specified by the image information analysis unit, the image type not stored by the image information analysis unit among the image types stored in the necessary image type storage unit A required image type extracting unit that extracts a necessary image type indicating the image, and an image having a type of image indicated by the required image type extracted by the necessary image type extracting unit. By using the required image acquisition unit that acquires from a database, the image shown by the image and the required image acquisition unit by the image selecting section selects acquired, and a album creating section for creating an album.

  The necessary image type storage unit stores, for each page, an image type necessary for creating a page including a plurality of images in the album, and the image selection unit stores a plurality of images used for each page of the album. Select for each page, the image information analysis unit specifies, for each page, a plurality of image types selected by the image selection unit for each page, and the required image type extraction unit is provided for each page of the album. By comparing the image type stored in the necessary image type storage unit with the image type specified by the image information analysis unit, the type of image stored in the necessary image type storage unit is determined. Among them, a necessary image type that is a type of an image that is not specified by the image information analysis unit is extracted, and the necessary image acquisition unit is a necessary image that the necessary image type extraction unit extracts on each page. An image having a type of image indicated by another is acquired from an image database storing a plurality of images, and the album creating unit acquires the image selected by the image selecting unit and the image acquired by the necessary image acquiring unit. To create an album.

  The required image type storage unit stores information indicating that the image is necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images, which is an image related to a predetermined imaging environment, and the image selection unit includes: A plurality of images to be used for the album are selected in association with the imaging environment of the image, and the image information analysis unit identifies the imaging environment of the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit, and the required image type extraction unit Is stored in the necessary image type storage unit by comparing the predetermined imaging environment stored in the necessary image type storage unit with the imaging environment of the image specified by the image information analysis unit. Among the predetermined imaging environments, a required image type indicating an imaging environment not specified by the image information analysis unit is extracted, and the required image acquisition unit has a required image type extracted by the required image type extraction unit. An image associated with the to imaging environment, may be acquired from the image database that stores a plurality of images.

  The necessary image type storage unit stores information indicating an image related to a predetermined time as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images, and the image selection unit stores the album A plurality of images to be used in association with the image capturing time, the image information analysis unit identifies a plurality of image capturing times selected by the image selection unit, and the necessary image type extracting unit The predetermined image stored in the required image type storage unit is compared with the predetermined time stored in the necessary image type storage unit by comparing the predetermined time stored in the necessary image type storage unit with the imaging time of the image specified by the image information analysis unit. The necessary image type indicating the time not specified by the image information analysis unit is extracted, and the necessary image acquisition unit is related to the time indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit. The image may be acquired from the image database that stores a plurality of images.

  The necessary image type storage unit stores information indicating an image related to a predetermined position as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images, and the image selection unit includes an album A plurality of images to be used in association with the imaging positions of the images, the image information analysis unit specifies the imaging positions of the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit, and the necessary image type extraction unit The predetermined image stored in the necessary image type storage unit is compared with the predetermined position stored in the necessary image type storage unit by comparing the imaging position of the image specified by the image information analysis unit. The necessary image type indicating the position not specified by the image information analysis unit is extracted, and the necessary image acquisition unit relates to the position indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit. The image may be acquired from the image database that stores a plurality of images.

  The necessary image type storage unit stores information indicating an image captured under a predetermined imaging condition as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images, and the image selection unit A plurality of images to be used for the album are selected in association with image capturing conditions, and the image information analysis unit specifies the image capturing conditions selected by the image selecting unit, and extracts the necessary image type The required image type storage unit stores the required image type storage unit by comparing the predetermined imaging condition stored in the required image type storage unit with the imaging condition of the image specified by the image information analysis unit. A required image type indicating an imaging condition not specified by the image information analysis unit is extracted from the predetermined imaging conditions, and the required image acquisition unit is a required image type extracted by the required image type extraction unit An image associated with the imaging conditions shown, may be acquired from the image database that stores a plurality of images.

  The necessary image type storage unit stores information indicating an image related to a predetermined image content as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images, and the image information analysis unit Analyzing the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit to identify image contents of the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit; and storing the necessary image type extraction unit in the necessary image type storage unit The image information analysis of the predetermined image content stored in the required image type storage unit is performed by comparing the predetermined image content being performed and the image content specified by the image information analysis unit. The necessary image type indicating the image content not specified by the image extraction unit is extracted, and the required image acquisition unit extracts an image related to the image content indicated by the required image type extracted by the required image type extraction unit. Image may be acquired from the image database that stores a.

  The necessary image type storage unit stores information indicating that a predetermined type of subject is captured as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images, and the image information analysis The unit identifies the types of subjects included in the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit by analyzing the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit, and the necessary image type extraction unit includes the necessary image By comparing the predetermined type stored in the type storage unit with the type of subject specified by the image information analysis unit, the type of the predetermined subject stored in the necessary image type storage unit Among them, the necessary image type indicating the type of the subject not specified by the image information analysis unit is extracted, and the necessary image acquisition unit is the target image type indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit. An image type of the body is imaged, may be acquired from the image database that stores a plurality of images.

  Among the images selected by the image selection unit and the images acquired by the necessary image acquisition unit, the image generation unit further includes a duplicate image specifying unit that specifies the same image used in a plurality of scenes in the album, The same image used in a plurality of scenes specified by the duplicate image specifying unit may be subjected to different image processing for each scene to create an album.

  The album creating unit may create an album using images obtained by performing trimming of different ranges in each scene on the images specified by the duplicate image specifying unit.

  The image processing apparatus further includes a template storage unit that stores a template in which an arrangement frame of images to be arranged in the album is defined, and the necessary image type storage unit is associated with an image arrangement frame determined by the template stored in the template storage unit Thus, the type of image to be arranged in the image arrangement frame may be stored.

  The album creating method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention includes a necessary image type storing step for storing image types necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images, and an image selecting step for selecting a plurality of images used for the album. And analyzing the image information of each of the plurality of images selected in the image selection step to identify the type of each image, and the image stored in the necessary image type storage step. By comparing the type and the type of image specified in the image information analysis stage, among the image types stored in the necessary image type storage stage, the image not specified in the image information analysis stage A required image type extracting step for extracting a required image type indicating the type of the required image, and a required image type extracted in the required image type extracting step A necessary image acquisition stage for acquiring an image having the type of image shown from an image database storing a plurality of images, an image selected in the image selection stage, and an image acquired in the necessary image acquisition stage. And an album creation stage for creating an album.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for an album creation system for creating an album, wherein the album creation system stores a type of image necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images. A storage unit, an image selection unit that selects a plurality of images to be used for the album, an image information analysis unit that analyzes the image information of each of the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit, and identifies the type of each image; Of the image types stored in the necessary image type storage unit, the image type stored in the necessary image type storage unit is compared with the image type specified by the image information analysis unit. A necessary image type extracting unit for extracting a necessary image type indicating an image type not specified by the image information analyzing unit, and a necessary image extracted by the necessary image type extracting unit. Using a necessary image acquisition unit that acquires an image having a type of image indicated by another from an image database storing a plurality of images, an image selected by the image selection unit, and an image acquired by the necessary image acquisition unit , Function as an album creation unit for creating an album.

  The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be the invention.

  According to the present invention, even when an image having an attribute to be used for an album is not provided, it is possible to prevent the creation of the album from being hindered.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the scope of claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are included. It is not necessarily essential for the solution of the invention.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a usage environment of an album creating system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The album creating system 100 includes an imaging device 110, a communication line 150, an album creating device 130, and an image database 125. The album creation system 100 creates an album 180 using the images provided by the user 190 and provides the album 190 to the user 190. Specifically, the imaging device 110 such as a digital still camera records an image captured by an imaging instruction from the user 190 in a recording medium 160 such as a semiconductor memory. Then, the image input device 120 reads the image recorded on the recording medium 160. Then, the image input device 120 uploads the read image and information for identifying the user 190 to the album creating device 130. The album creating apparatus 130 stores the image received from the image input apparatus 120 in association with the user 190. The image database 125 stores images provided from the image provider 195.

  Then, the album creating apparatus 130 counts the number of images uploaded from the user 190. Then, when the number of images counted is equal to or less than the number necessary for creating the album 180, the album creating apparatus 130 determines the similarity from the time when the image was captured, the position, the type of subject included in the image, and the like. The image to be acquired is acquired from the image database 125. Then, the album creating apparatus 130 creates the album 180 using the image uploaded from the user 190 and the image acquired from the image database 125.

  Note that the image database 125 may store images prepared by a provider that provides the album creating system 100. Further, the image provider 195 may be a company, and the image database 195 may store an advertisement image that advertises a product of the company provided by the image provider 195 that is a company. The image database 125 may store images provided by the user 190 who orders the album.

  The album 180 may be a printed material on which images are printed, or may be a recording medium such as a CD-ROM on which electronic data including image data is recorded. In addition, the album 180 may be provided to the user 190 as electronic data in a format that can be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a hard disk. In addition, the function of uploading an image included in the image input device 120 may be included in a kiosk terminal or a computer provided in a store such as Photoshop or a personal computer 170.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a block configuration of the album creating apparatus 130. The album creating apparatus 130 includes an image input unit 200, an image selecting unit 210, an image number calculating unit 290, an image information analyzing unit 220, a necessary image type extracting unit 230, a necessary image obtaining unit 240, a duplicate image specifying unit 250, an album creating unit. 260, a necessary image type storage unit 270, and a template storage unit 280.

  The image input unit 200 inputs a plurality of images used for the album. The image selection unit 210 selects a plurality of images used for the album. Then, the image number determination unit 290 determines whether or not the number of input images, which is the number of images selected by the image selection unit 210, is smaller than a predetermined number. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 obtains image information of each of the plurality of images input from the image input unit 200 when the image number determination unit 290 determines that the number of input images is smaller than a predetermined number. Based on the analyzed result, an image related to a plurality of images input from the image input unit 200 is acquired. Then, the album creation unit 260 creates an album using the image input from the image input unit 200 and the image acquired by the necessary image acquisition unit 240.

  Specifically, the image information analysis unit 220 calculates the imaging time distribution of a plurality of images input from the image input unit 200, and extracts a biased period in the calculated imaging time distribution. Specifically, the image information analysis unit 220 preferentially extracts a period in which the temporal density during which an image is captured is higher. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240, when the image number determination unit 290 determines that the number of input images is less than a predetermined number, the images within the period extracted by the image information analysis unit 220 are displayed as a plurality of images. Is acquired from the image database 125 that stores. For this reason, the album creating system 100 can create an album from images taken at a close time, for example.

  Further, the image information analysis unit 220 calculates a distribution of imaging positions where each of the plurality of images input from the image input unit 200 is captured, and extracts an imaging range that is biased in the calculated distribution of imaging positions. Good. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240, when the image number determination unit 290 determines that the number of input images is smaller than a predetermined number, the image within the imaging range extracted by the image information analysis unit 220 Obtained from the image database 125 storing images. For this reason, the album creating system 100 can create an album from images taken at close positions, for example.

  Note that the image information analysis unit 220 analyzes the image contents of each of the plurality of images input from the image input unit 200, and extracts the types of subjects included in the plurality of images input from the image input unit 200. It's okay. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240, when the image number determination unit 290 determines that the number of input images is less than a predetermined number, the image related to the subject type extracted by the image information analysis unit 220, Obtained from the image database 125 storing a plurality of images. For this reason, the album creating system 100 can create an album from an image obtained by imaging a similar subject, for example.

  In addition, the image information analysis unit 220 analyzes each image content of the plurality of images input from the image input unit 200 and extracts characteristic colors in the plurality of images input from the image input unit 200. To do. The characteristic color may be a color that occupies the largest area in a plurality of images. A characteristic color may mean a plurality of color spaces. The necessary image acquisition unit 240 then selects an image including a color related to the color extracted by the image information analysis unit 220 when the number of input images is determined by the image number determination unit 290 to be less than a predetermined number. Obtained from the image database 125 storing a plurality of images. Specifically, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 acquires an image having, as a characteristic color, a color included in a color palette including the extracted characteristic color from the image database 125. For this reason, the album creating system 100 can create an album having a visually harmonized color scheme.

  The necessary image type storage unit 270 stores image types necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images. Then, the image information analysis unit 220 analyzes the image information of each of the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit 210 and specifies the type of each image. Then, the necessary image type extraction unit 230 compares the image type stored in the necessary image type storage unit 270 with the image type specified by the image information analysis unit 220, thereby obtaining the necessary image type storage unit 270. The necessary image type indicating the type of the image that is not specified by the image information analysis unit 220 is extracted from the image types stored in. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 acquires an image having the image type indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit 230 from the image database 125 storing a plurality of images. Then, the album creation unit 260 creates an album using the image selected by the image selection unit 210 and the image acquired by the necessary image acquisition unit 240.

  Specifically, the necessary image type storage unit 270 stores, for each page, an image type necessary for creating a page including a plurality of images in the album. Then, the image selection unit 210 selects a plurality of images to be used for each page of the album for each page. Then, the image information analysis unit 220 identifies, for each page, the types of a plurality of images selected by the image selection unit 210 for each page. The required image type extraction unit 230 compares the image type stored in the required image type storage unit 270 with the image type specified by the image information analysis unit 220 for each page of the album. Of the image types stored in the necessary image type storage unit 270, a required image type that is an image type not specified by the image information analysis unit 220 is extracted. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 acquires an image having the image type indicated by the necessary image type extracted in each page by the necessary image type extraction unit 230 from the image database 125 that stores a plurality of images. Then, the album creation unit 260 creates an album using the image selected by the image selection unit 210 and the image acquired by the necessary image acquisition unit 240. For this reason, the album creating system 100 can create an album in which the types of images used in the same page are arranged. Note that the page in this embodiment may be a spread page unless otherwise specified.

  The necessary image type storage unit 270 stores information indicating that the image is related to a predetermined imaging environment as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images. Then, the image selection unit 210 selects a plurality of images used for the album in association with the image capturing environment. Then, the image information analysis unit 220 identifies the imaging environment of the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit 210. Then, the necessary image type extraction unit 230 stores the necessary image type by comparing the predetermined imaging environment stored in the necessary image type storage unit 270 with the imaging environment of the image specified by the image information analysis unit 220. Of the predetermined imaging environments stored in the unit 270, a necessary image type indicating an imaging environment not specified by the image information analysis unit 220 is extracted. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 acquires an image related to the imaging environment indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit 230 from the image database 125 that stores a plurality of images.

  Specifically, the necessary image type storage unit 270 stores information indicating that the image is related to a predetermined time as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images. Then, the image selection unit 210 selects a plurality of images used for the album in association with the image capturing time. Then, the image information analysis unit 220 identifies imaging times of a plurality of images selected by the image selection unit 210. Then, the necessary image type extraction unit 230 compares the predetermined time stored in the necessary image type storage unit 270 with the imaging time of the image specified by the image information analysis unit 220, thereby obtaining the necessary image type storage unit. A required image type indicating a time not specified by the image information analysis unit 220 among the predetermined times stored in the 270 is extracted. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 acquires an image related to the time indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit 230 from the image database 125 that stores a plurality of images. For this reason, the album creating system 100 obtains a desirable image related to the time from the image database 125 even when an image captured at a characteristic time necessary for creating the album is not input. To create an album.

  In addition, the necessary image type storage unit 270 stores information indicating that the image is related to a predetermined position as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images. Then, the image selection unit 210 selects a plurality of images used for the album in association with the image capturing positions. Then, the image information analysis unit 220 identifies the imaging positions of a plurality of images selected by the image selection unit 210. Then, the necessary image type extraction unit 230 compares the predetermined position stored in the necessary image type storage unit 270 with the imaging position of the image specified by the image information analysis unit 220, thereby obtaining the necessary image type storage unit. A required image type indicating a position not specified by the image information analysis unit 220 is extracted from the predetermined positions stored in the 270. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 acquires an image related to the position indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit 230 from the image database 125 that stores a plurality of images. For this reason, the album creating system 100 obtains a desirable image related to the position from the image database 125 even when an image captured at a characteristic position necessary for creating the album is not input. To create an album.

  The necessary image type storage unit 270 stores information indicating that the image is captured under a predetermined imaging condition as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images. Then, the image selection unit 210 selects a plurality of images used for the album in association with the image capturing conditions. Then, the image information analysis unit 220 specifies imaging conditions for a plurality of images selected by the image selection unit 210. Then, the necessary image type extracting unit 230 stores the necessary image type by comparing the predetermined imaging condition stored in the necessary image type storage unit 270 with the imaging condition of the image specified by the image information analysis unit 220. Among the predetermined imaging conditions stored in the unit 270, a necessary image type indicating an imaging condition not specified by the image information analysis unit 220 is extracted. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 acquires an image related to the imaging condition indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit 230 from the image database 125 that stores a plurality of images. For this reason, the album creating system 100 stores a desired image captured under the imaging conditions in the image database even when an image captured under the characteristic imaging conditions necessary for creating the album is not input. An album can be created by acquiring from 125. The imaging conditions may be an imaging mode (for example, a distant view mode, a portrait mode, etc.), a focal length, a depth of field, a focus position, etc. of the imaging device 110 at the time of imaging.

  The necessary image type storage unit 270 stores information indicating that the image is related to a predetermined image content as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images. Then, the image information analysis unit 220 identifies the image contents of the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit 210 by analyzing the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit 210. Then, the necessary image type extraction unit 230 compares the predetermined image content stored in the necessary image type storage unit 270 with the image content specified by the image information analysis unit 220, thereby obtaining the necessary image type storage unit 270. The necessary image type indicating the image content not specified by the image information analysis unit 220 is extracted from the predetermined image content stored in. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 acquires an image related to the image content indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit 230 from the image database 125 that stores a plurality of images. Therefore, the album creating system 100 acquires an image having the image content from the image database 125 even if an image having characteristic image content necessary for creating the album is not input. You can create an album.

  The necessary image type storage unit 270 stores information indicating that an image of a predetermined type of subject is captured as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images. Then, the image information analysis unit 220 identifies the types of subjects included in the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit 210 by analyzing the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit 210. Then, the necessary image type extraction unit 230 compares the predetermined type stored in the necessary image type storage unit 270 with the type of the subject specified by the image information analysis unit 220, thereby obtaining the necessary image type storage unit 270. The necessary image type indicating the type of the subject that is not specified by the image information analysis unit 220 is extracted from the types of the predetermined subject stored in. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 acquires an image in which the subject type indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit 230 is captured from the image database 125 that stores a plurality of images. For this reason, the album creating system 100 retrieves an image including a subject of that type from the image database 125 even when an image having a characteristic type of subject necessary for creating the album is not input. Acquire and create albums. The image content may be the direction or color of the subject in addition to the type of subject.

  The duplicate image specifying unit 250 specifies the same image used in a plurality of scenes in the album among the images selected by the image selecting unit 210 and the images acquired by the necessary image acquiring unit 240. Then, the album creating unit 260 creates an album by performing different image processing between the scenes on the same image used in the plurality of scenes identified by the duplicate image identifying unit 250. Note that different scenes refer to display contents captured at different timings such as different spread pages, different pages in the spread pages, or electronic albums.

  Specifically, the album creating unit 260 creates an album using images obtained by trimming different ranges in each scene for the images specified by the duplicate image specifying unit 250. For this reason, the album creating system 100 can prevent the created album from becoming monotonous even when the same image needs to be used multiple times in the same album. . The image processing is a concept including various image processing such as sepia processing, blurring processing, luminance or color enhancement processing in addition to trimming.

  The template storage unit 280 stores a template in which an arrangement frame for images to be arranged in the album is defined. The necessary image type storage unit 270 stores the type of image to be arranged in the image arrangement frame in association with the image arrangement frame determined by the template stored in the template storage unit 280. Therefore, the album creating system 100 can easily create an album by applying an image having the image type defined in the image arrangement frame to each image arrangement frame. Further, the album creating system 100 can create an album by acquiring the image of the type from the image database 125 even when the image of the type determined in the image arrangement frame is not input.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of image information stored in the image database 125. The image database 125 stores image attributes such as time, position, imaging mode, exposure, focal length, subject type, image direction component, characteristic color, and advertiser in association with the image. The time may be information indicating a period of a predetermined time width including the time when the image is captured. The position may be information indicating an area in a predetermined range including the position where the image is captured. The imaging mode is an operation mode of the imaging device 110 when an image is captured, and may be a close-up mode, such as a portrait mode, a landscape mode, a night view mode, or the like. The focal length may be the size of the focal length of the imaging device 110 when an image is captured.

  The type of subject may be information indicating the type of subject included in the image, such as a person, an animal, or a mountain. When the image includes a plurality of subjects, the image database 125 may store the types of the plurality of subjects, or may store the types of main subjects in the image. The main subject may be the largest subject in the image, the subject located in the center of the image, the subject in focus, or the subject included in the region having the highest spatial frequency. Further, the direction component of the image may be the main orientation of the subject included in the image. For example, the direction component of the image may be the orientation of a person's face if the subject is a person, or the orientation from the buttocks to the head if the subject is a quadruped walking mammal. In addition, if the subject is a high-rise building such as a building, the orientation may be from the lower floor of the building to the higher floor. The direction component of the image may be each direction component extracted from each of a plurality of subjects included in the image, or may be a direction component extracted from the main subject in the image.

  The characteristic color may be a characteristic color that is a characteristic color in the image. For example, the characteristic color may be a color that occupies the largest area in the image. Note that the image database 125 divides the color space into a plurality of color regions, calculates the area in which the colors included in the divided color regions appear in the image, and the color region having the largest calculated area. May be stored as a feature color. The image database 125 may store information indicating a color area. The image database 125 stores the R value, G value, and B value of the color when storing one color as the characteristic color, and stores the R value, G value when storing information indicating the color area. , And a range of B values may be stored. The provider may be information for identifying the provider 195 that provided the image.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a flowchart in which the album creating apparatus 130 creates an album. The image input unit 200 inputs an image from the user 190 by acquiring an image from the personal computer 170 and the image input device 120 (S402). Then, the image selection unit 210 selects an image to be used for the album from the input images (S404). At this time, the image selection unit 210 detects the presence or absence of an image with a similar composition, and if there is an image with a similar composition, selects one image as an image to be used for the album. Thereby, for example, it is possible to prevent an image having substantially the same image content, such as a series of images captured by continuous shooting, from being used in a plurality of locations in the album.

  Then, the image number determination unit 290 calculates the number N of input images (S406). Then, the image number determination unit 290 determines whether or not the number N of images calculated in S406 is smaller than the required number of images, which is the number of images necessary for creating the album (S408). The required number of images may be the number of images necessary to maintain the quality of the album. For example, an image having an image quality that cannot be viewed as an album, an image that does not match the theme of the album, or the like cannot be used for the album. For this reason, in the album creating system 100, a necessary number of images sufficiently larger than the number of images that can be stored in the album is determined in advance in view of uploading images that are not actually used. The required number of images is empirically determined according to the number of album pages and the number of images used for the album. For example, for a 10-page album, 200 images are empirically determined as the required number of images.

  When it is determined in S408 that the number N of images is smaller than the required number of images, the required image acquisition unit 240 acquires images from the image database 125 (S410). At this time, the image information analysis unit 220 extracts image attributes from the image information of the image selected by the image selection unit 210. Note that the image attributes include, for example, the imaging time, the imaging position, the imaging mode, the exposure, the focal length, the type of the subject, the direction component, and the characteristic color described with reference to FIG. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 extracts characteristic attribute values for at least one of the extracted attributes of the plurality of images. Specifically, the necessary image type extraction unit 230 extracts an imaging time with a bias in the number of images from the distribution of the number of images related to the imaging time for the attribute indicating the imaging time. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 acquires an image stored in the image database 125 in association with the extracted imaging time. For example, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 stores a large number of images captured during the doll festival period (for example, March 1 to March 5) in association with the doll festival period. The acquired image is acquired from the image database 125.

  Then, the album creating unit 260 creates an album by laying out the image selected in S404 and the image acquired in S410 (S412), and ends the process. If it is determined in S408 that the number N of images is equal to or greater than the required number, the album creating unit 260 creates an album by laying out the images selected in S404 in S412 and ends the process. To do. As described above, according to the album creating system 100, when images are uploaded, it is checked in advance whether or not a sufficient number of images have been input to create an album. In the album creating system 100, if a sufficient image has not been uploaded, an album is created by adding an image related to the uploaded image. For this reason, according to the album creating system 100, when the quality of the created album cannot be maintained from the number of uploaded images, the album is created by adding images that the viewer of the album does not feel uncomfortable. be able to.

  FIG. 5 shows another example of a flowchart in which the album creating system 100 creates an album. This flowchart is an example of a flowchart when the album creating system 100 creates an album in which the type of image to be stored is predetermined. The image input unit 200 inputs an image from the user 190 (S502). Then, the user 190 selects one template from the templates stored in the template storage unit 280 (S504). The person who selects the template may be the user 190 who is the orderer of the album, or may be an album creator such as a designer who creates the album. The template storage unit 280 stores templates in association with album types (concepts) such as travel albums and growth albums, for example, and a template is selected by the user 190 selecting an album type.

  Then, the image information analysis unit 220 extracts each type of the plurality of images from the input image information of the plurality of images (S506). Note that the image type is determined using, for example, the imaging timing, imaging position, imaging mode, exposure, focal length, subject type, direction component, and characteristic color described in FIG. 3 as parameters. Then, the image selection unit 210 assigns an image to be used to each page of the album (S508). Note that the template storage unit 280 has predetermined image types defined in advance in an image layout frame defined by the template of each page. Accordingly, a template corresponding to the type is determined according to the type of album designated by the user 190, whereby the type of image required for the album is determined for each page.

  Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 determines whether the necessary image type extraction unit 230 has extracted the type of image required for each page (S510). If it is determined in S510 that the required image type has been extracted, the process proceeds to S514. If it is determined in S510 that the required image type has been extracted, an image is acquired from the image database 125 (S512), and the process proceeds to S514.

  In S <b> 514, the duplicate image specifying unit 250 determines whether there is an image that is used redundantly in the image selected by the image selection unit 210. If there is no duplicated image in S514, the process proceeds to S518. If it is determined in S514 that there are images that are used redundantly, the redundant image specifying unit 250 specifies the images that are used redundantly and performs different image processing on the specified images. (S516), the process proceeds to S518. In S518, the album creating unit 260 creates an album by laying out images on each page, and ends the process.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a template stored in the template storage unit 280. The template storage unit 280 stores a template 600 including image arrangement frames 601 to 606 that define the position, size, and shape of the image on the page 650. The necessary image type storage unit 270 stores the type of image to be fitted in the image arrangement frame in association with the image arrangement frame. For example, the image arrangement frame 601 defines that an image whose image type is other than a person is arranged. The image arrangement frame 602 defines that an image having a large focal length is arranged. Thus, the necessary image type storage unit 270 stores the type of image to be inserted for each image arrangement frame defined by the template of each page of the album.

  Therefore, the necessary image type extraction unit 230 can determine whether or not the image type set in the image arrangement frame has been analyzed by the image information analysis unit 220. Then, the necessary image type extraction unit 230 extracts image types that have not been analyzed by the image information analysis unit 220 from among the image types determined in the image arrangement frame. Then, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 can acquire an image having the image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit 230 from the image database 125.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a layout result 700 obtained by laying out an image on the template 600. The image selection unit 210 assigns an image to each page of the album by a predetermined number in order of imaging time. At this time, the image selection unit 210 calculates the imaging interval between successive images when images are arranged in order of imaging time, and selects the time between them in descending order of the imaging interval. Then, the image selection unit 210 divides the plurality of images into image groups before and after the selected time. For example, according to such a division method, an image corresponding to the time when the user 190 went to climb is assigned to the page 700.

  It should be noted that the image layout frame 605 is determined in advance to include the main image that is the main image on this page. Then, the album creating unit 260 selects an image to be stored in the image arrangement frame 605 from images including a person among the images assigned to the page by the image selecting unit 210. At this time, the album creating unit 260 selects, as an image to be stored in the image arrangement frame 605, an image in which the main person in the album is more emphasized, for example, an image in which the person is located in the center or an image that includes a larger person To do. The main person may be designated as an image of the main person from the image input unit 200, or the album creation device 130 may include persons included in more images among the images input from the image input unit 200. May be specified. As a result, many mountain images captured when climbing are arranged in the image arrangement frame 605.

  In addition, the album creating unit 260 includes, in the image arrangement frame 601, the types of subjects included in more images from the images assigned to the page by the image selecting unit 210 based on the analysis result by the image information analyzing unit 220. To extract. Then, the album creating unit 260 inserts an image having an image in which the extracted subject type is specified into the image arrangement frame 601. Similarly, the album creating unit 260 displays images with a large focal length, images with the subject type being a person, and images captured in the close-up mode in the image frames 602, 603, and 604, respectively. Fit. The album creating unit 260 may preferentially select an image having the same type as the type selected as the main image and place it in the image arrangement frames 601, 602, 603, and 604. For example, the album creating unit 260 may preferentially select an image including a mountain as the type of subject. Thereby, the album creating unit 260 can create a page having a sense of unity in the image contents when viewed from the viewer.

  In the example of this figure, images 701 and 702 are both trimmed images generated by trimming from the same image 710. In the case where only the images 710 and 705 including the person exist among the images classified by the image selection unit 210 in the page 700, the album creating unit 260 defines the image arrangement frame 603 by performing a trimming process on the images. An image having the specified image type may be generated and laid out. Further, when the same image is used in duplicate in one page or one album, the album creating unit 260 may generate an image trimmed from the image in different trimming areas and lay it out on the album. Good. Also, the album creating unit 260 may perform different image processing such as performing sepia processing on the other of such images. Thereby, the album creating apparatus 130 can prevent a monotonous album from being created due to the same image appearing in a plurality of scenes.

  The necessary image type storage unit 270 stores information indicating that an advertisement image can be arranged in association with the image arrangement frame 606. Then, when an image of the image type determined in the image frame 606 is not selected by the image selection unit 210, an advertisement image may be acquired from the image database 125 and arranged. At this time, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 acquires the advertisement image from the image database 125 based on the types of images arranged in the other image arrangement frames 601 to 605. For example, when an image 705 captured in the distant view mode is laid out on the page 650, an advertisement image 706 of the camera in which the telephoto lens is emphasized is arranged. As described above, the necessary image acquisition unit 240 acquires the advertisement image stored in the image database 125 in association with the type of image based on the type of image laid out on the page by the album creation unit 260. For this reason, the album creating apparatus 130 can post an advertisement image effective for the viewer on the album. As a result, the album creating apparatus 130 can provide an album that can effectively stimulate the album viewer's willingness to purchase. Further, according to the album creating system 100, an advertising fee can be obtained from an advertiser who provides an advertisement image, so that an album can be provided to the user at a lower price than when no advertisement image is placed.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a hardware configuration of the album creating apparatus 130 according to the present embodiment. The album creating apparatus 130 includes a CPU peripheral unit including a CPU 1505, a RAM 1520, a graphic controller 1575, and a display device 1580 connected to each other by a host controller 1582, and a communication connected to the host controller 1582 by an input / output controller 1584. An input / output unit having an interface 1530, a hard disk drive 1540, and a CD-ROM drive 1560, and a legacy input / output unit having a ROM 1510, a flexible disk drive 1550, and an input / output chip 1570 connected to the input / output controller 1584. .

  The host controller 1582 connects the RAM 1520, the CPU 1505 that accesses the RAM 1520 at a high transfer rate, and the graphic controller 1575. The CPU 1505 operates based on programs stored in the ROM 1510 and the RAM 1520 and controls each unit. The graphic controller 1575 acquires image data generated by the CPU 1505 and the like on a frame buffer provided in the RAM 1520 and displays the image data on the display device 1580. Alternatively, the graphic controller 1575 may include a frame buffer that stores image data generated by the CPU 1505 or the like.

  The input / output controller 1584 connects the host controller 1582 to the hard disk drive 1540, the communication interface 1530, and the CD-ROM drive 1560, which are relatively high-speed input / output devices. The hard disk drive 1540 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1505. The communication interface 1530 is connected to the network communication device 1598 to transmit / receive programs or data. The CD-ROM drive 1560 reads a program or data from the CD-ROM 1595 and provides it to the hard disk drive 1540 and the communication interface 1530 via the RAM 1520.

  The input / output controller 1584 is connected to the ROM 1510, the flexible disk drive 1550, and the relatively low-speed input / output device of the input / output chip 1570. The ROM 1510 stores a boot program executed when the album creating apparatus 130 is started, a program depending on the hardware of the album creating apparatus 130, and the like. The flexible disk drive 1550 reads a program or data from the flexible disk 1590 and provides it to the hard disk drive 1540 and the communication interface 1530 via the RAM 1520. The input / output chip 1570 connects various input / output devices via a flexible disk drive 1550 and, for example, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, and the like.

  A program executed by the CPU 1505 is stored in a recording medium such as the flexible disk 1590, the CD-ROM 1595, or an IC card and provided by the user. The program stored in the recording medium may be compressed or uncompressed. The program is installed in the hard disk drive 1540 from the recording medium, read into the RAM 1520, and executed by the CPU 1505.

  The program executed by the CPU 1505 includes an album creating apparatus 130, an image input unit 200, an image selection unit 210, an image number calculation unit 290, an image information analysis unit 220, a necessary image type extraction unit 230, a necessary image acquisition unit 240, and an overlap. The image specifying unit 250, the album creating unit 260, the necessary image type storage unit 270, and the template storage unit 280 are caused to function.

  The program shown above may be stored in an external storage medium. As the storage medium, in addition to the flexible disk 1590 and the CD-ROM 1595, an optical recording medium such as a DVD or PD, a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MD, a tape medium, a semiconductor memory such as an IC card, or the like can be used. Further, a storage device such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet may be used as a recording medium, and the program may be provided to the album creating apparatus 130 via the network.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a usage environment of an album creation system 100. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the block configuration of the album production apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the image information which the image database 125 has stored. It is a figure which shows an example of the flowchart which produces an album. It is a figure which shows another example of the flowchart which produces an album. It is a figure which shows an example of a template. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a layout result 700. FIG. 2 shows an example of a hardware configuration of an album creating apparatus 130.

Explanation of symbols

100 Album creation system 120 Image input device 130 Album creation device 160 Recording medium 180 Album 190 User 200 Image input unit 210 Image selection unit 290 Image number calculation unit 220 Image information analysis unit 230 Necessary image type extraction unit 240 Necessary image acquisition unit 250 Overlapping Image specifying unit 260 Album creating unit 270 Required image type storage unit 280 Template storage unit 290 Number of images determination unit

Claims (20)

An image input unit for inputting a plurality of images used in the album;
An image number determination unit for determining whether the number of input images, which is the number of images input from the image input unit, is less than a predetermined number;
When it is determined that the number of input images is less than a predetermined number by the number-of-images determination unit, based on the analysis result of analyzing the image information of each of the plurality of images input from the image input unit, A necessary image acquisition unit for acquiring images related to a plurality of images input from the image input unit;
An album creation system comprising: an album creation unit that creates an album using the image input from the image input unit and the image acquired by the necessary image acquisition unit. An image information analysis unit that calculates a distribution of imaging times of a plurality of images input from the image input unit and extracts a biased period in the calculated distribution of imaging times,
The necessary image acquisition unit stores a plurality of images within the period extracted by the image information analysis unit when the number of input images is determined to be less than a predetermined number by the number-of-images determination unit. The album creating system according to claim 1, wherein the album creating system is obtained from a running image database. An image information analysis unit that calculates a distribution of imaging positions at which each of the plurality of images input from the image input unit is captured, and extracts an imaging range that is biased in the calculated distribution of imaging positions;
The necessary image acquisition unit, when the number of input images is determined to be less than a predetermined number by the number of images determination unit, a plurality of images within the imaging range extracted by the image information analysis unit The album creating system according to claim 1, which is obtained from a stored image database. An image information analysis unit that analyzes the image contents of each of the plurality of images input from the image input unit and extracts types of subjects included in the plurality of images input from the image input unit,
The necessary image acquisition unit, when the number of input images is determined to be less than a predetermined number by the number of images determination unit, a plurality of images related to the type of subject extracted by the image information analysis unit The album creating system according to claim 1, wherein the album creating system is obtained from an image database storing images. An image information analysis unit that analyzes the image contents of each of the plurality of images input from the image input unit and extracts characteristic colors in the plurality of images input from the image input unit;
The necessary image acquisition unit, when the number of input images is determined to be less than a predetermined number by the image number determination unit, a plurality of images including colors related to the color extracted by the image information analysis unit The album creation system according to claim 1, wherein the album creation system is obtained from an image database that stores the images. An image input stage for inputting a plurality of images used for the album,
An image number determination step of determining whether the number of input images, which is the number of images input in the image input step, is less than a predetermined number;
When it is determined that the number of input images is smaller than a predetermined number in the number-of-images determination step, based on the analysis result obtained by analyzing the image information of each of the plurality of images input in the image input step, A necessary image acquisition step of acquiring images related to a plurality of images input in the image input step;
An album creation method comprising: an album creation step of creating an album using the image input in the image input step and the image acquired in the necessary image acquisition step. A program for an album creating system for creating an album, wherein the album creating system is
An image input unit for inputting multiple images to be used for the album,
An image number determination unit for determining whether the number of input images, which is the number of images input from the image input unit, is less than a predetermined number;
When it is determined that the number of input images is less than a predetermined number by the number-of-images determination unit, based on the analysis result of analyzing the image information of each of the plurality of images input from the image input unit, Necessary image acquisition unit for acquiring images related to a plurality of images input from the image input unit,
A program that functions as an album creation unit that creates an album using an image input from the image input unit and an image acquired by the necessary image acquisition unit. A required image type storage unit for storing image types required for creating an album including a plurality of images;
An image selection section for selecting a plurality of images to be used for the album;
Analyzing the image information of each of the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit, and specifying the type of each image; and
Of the image types stored in the necessary image type storage unit, the image type stored in the necessary image type storage unit is compared with the image type specified by the image information analysis unit. A required image type extracting unit for extracting a required image type indicating a type of an image not specified by the image information analyzing unit;
A necessary image acquisition unit that acquires an image having the type of image indicated by the required image type extracted by the required image type extraction unit from an image database storing a plurality of images;
An album creation system comprising: an album creation unit that creates an album using the image selected by the image selection unit and the image acquired by the necessary image acquisition unit. The necessary image type storage unit stores, for each page, an image type necessary for creating a page including a plurality of images in the album,
The image selection unit selects a plurality of images to be used for each page of the album for each page,
The image information analysis unit specifies, for each page, a plurality of image types selected by the image selection unit for each page,
The required image type extraction unit compares the image type stored in the required image type storage unit with the image type specified by the image information analysis unit for each page of the album, Of the image types stored in the required image type storage unit, extract a required image type that is a type of an image not specified by the image information analysis unit,
The necessary image acquisition unit acquires an image having the type of image indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit in each page from an image database storing a plurality of images,
The album creating system according to claim 8, wherein the album creating unit creates an album using the image selected by the image selecting unit and the image acquired by the necessary image acquiring unit. The necessary image type storage unit stores information indicating an image related to a predetermined imaging environment as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images.
The image selection unit selects a plurality of images to be used for the album in association with an image capturing environment,
The image information analysis unit identifies an imaging environment of a plurality of images selected by the image selection unit,
The necessary image type extraction unit stores the necessary image type by comparing the predetermined imaging environment stored in the necessary image type storage unit with the imaging environment of the image specified by the image information analysis unit. A required image type indicating an imaging environment not specified by the image information analysis unit from the predetermined imaging environment stored by the unit,
The album creation according to claim 8, wherein the necessary image acquisition unit acquires an image related to an imaging environment indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit from an image database storing a plurality of images. system. The necessary image type storage unit stores information indicating that the image is related to a predetermined time as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images.
The image selection unit selects a plurality of images to be used for the album in association with the image capturing time,
The image information analysis unit specifies imaging times of a plurality of images selected by the image selection unit,
The necessary image type extracting unit compares the predetermined time stored in the necessary image type storing unit with an imaging time of the image specified by the image information analyzing unit, thereby obtaining the necessary image type storing unit. The necessary image type indicating the time not specified by the image information analysis unit is extracted from the predetermined time stored by
The album creating system according to claim 10, wherein the necessary image obtaining unit obtains an image related to a time indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extracting unit from an image database storing a plurality of images. . The necessary image type storage unit stores information indicating an image related to a predetermined position as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images,
The image selection unit selects a plurality of images to be used for the album in association with image capturing positions,
The image information analysis unit identifies imaging positions of a plurality of images selected by the image selection unit,
The necessary image type extracting unit compares the predetermined position stored in the necessary image type storing unit with the imaging position of the image specified by the image information analyzing unit, thereby obtaining the necessary image type storing unit. The necessary image type indicating the position not specified by the image information analysis unit is extracted from the predetermined position stored by
The album creating system according to claim 10, wherein the necessary image obtaining unit obtains an image related to a position indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extracting unit from an image database storing a plurality of images. . The necessary image type storage unit stores information indicating that an image is captured under a predetermined imaging condition as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images.
The image selection unit selects a plurality of images used for the album in association with image capturing conditions,
The image information analysis unit specifies imaging conditions for a plurality of images selected by the image selection unit,
The necessary image type extraction unit stores the necessary image type by comparing the predetermined imaging condition stored in the necessary image type storage unit with the imaging condition of the image specified by the image information analysis unit. A necessary image type indicating an imaging condition not specified by the image information analysis unit among the predetermined imaging conditions stored in the unit,
The album creation according to claim 10, wherein the necessary image acquisition unit acquires an image related to an imaging condition indicated by the necessary image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit from an image database storing a plurality of images. system. The necessary image type storage unit stores information indicating that the image is related to a predetermined image content as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images.
The image information analysis unit identifies the image contents of the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit by analyzing the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit,
The necessary image type extraction unit compares the predetermined image content stored in the necessary image type storage unit with the image content specified by the image information analysis unit, so that the necessary image type storage unit Extracting the necessary image type indicating the image content not specified by the image information analysis unit from the stored predetermined image content,
The album creation according to claim 8, wherein the necessary image acquisition unit acquires an image related to the image content indicated by the required image type extracted by the necessary image type extraction unit from an image database storing a plurality of images. system. The necessary image type storage unit stores information indicating that an image of a predetermined type of subject is captured as an image type necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images,
The image information analysis unit identifies the types of subjects included in the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit by analyzing the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit,
The necessary image type extraction unit compares the predetermined type stored in the necessary image type storage unit with the type of subject specified by the image information analysis unit, so that the necessary image type storage unit Extracting the required image type indicating the type of subject not specified by the image information analysis unit from the stored types of the predetermined subject,
The said required image acquisition part acquires the image by which the type of the object which the required image classification which the said required image type extraction part extracted showed was imaged from the image database which has stored several images. Album creation system. Of the image selected by the image selection unit and the image acquired by the necessary image acquisition unit, further comprising a duplicate image specifying unit for specifying the same image used in a plurality of scenes in the album,
9. The album creating unit according to claim 8, wherein the album creating unit creates an album by performing different image processing for each of the same images used in the plurality of scenes identified by the duplicate image identifying unit. system. The album creating system according to claim 16, wherein the album creating unit creates an album by using images obtained by trimming different ranges in each scene for the image specified by the duplicate image specifying unit. A template storage unit for storing a template in which an arrangement frame of images to be arranged in the album is defined;
The album creating system according to claim 9, wherein the necessary image type storage unit stores a type of an image to be arranged in the image arrangement frame in association with an image arrangement frame determined by a template stored in the template storage unit. . A necessary image type storage stage for storing image types necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images;
An image selection stage to select multiple images to use for the album,
Analyzing the image information of each of the plurality of images selected in the image selection step, and specifying the type of each image;
By comparing the image type stored in the necessary image type storage stage with the image type specified in the image information analysis stage, the image type stored in the necessary image type storage stage Among them, a necessary image type extracting step for extracting a necessary image type indicating a type of an image not specified in the image information analyzing step,
A required image acquisition step of acquiring an image having the image type indicated by the required image type extracted in the required image type extraction step from an image database storing a plurality of images;
An album creation method comprising: an album creation step of creating an album using the image selected in the image selection step and the image acquired in the necessary image acquisition step. A program for an album creating system for creating an album, wherein the album creating system is
Necessary image type storage unit for storing image types necessary for creating an album including a plurality of images,
An image selector that selects multiple images to use for the album,
An image information analysis unit for analyzing the image information of each of the plurality of images selected by the image selection unit and identifying the type of each image;
Of the image types stored in the necessary image type storage unit, the image type stored in the necessary image type storage unit is compared with the image type specified by the image information analysis unit. A required image type extracting unit that extracts a required image type indicating a type of an image not specified by the image information analyzing unit;
A required image acquisition unit that acquires an image having the type of image indicated by the required image type extracted by the required image type extraction unit from an image database storing a plurality of images;
A program that functions as an album creating unit that creates an album using the image selected by the image selecting unit and the image acquired by the necessary image acquiring unit.

Images