JP2010111093A - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the retrievability of an image of a user in an index image. <P>SOLUTION: The program comprises: a step (S500) of inputting the number of printing histories by which printed images are classified for every plurality of groups; a step (S550 to 560) of allowing a user to select and print the most images based on the inputted number of printing histories and drawing only images of groups having high provability to be selected hereafter too, to the index image; a step (S580 to 620) of drawing more images from groups in which the more images are printed to the index image; and a step (S590 to 620) of drawing more images from groups in which the printing rate is high and has high provability to be selected hereafter too, whereby the images which reflect the printing histories of the user and match the needs of the user can be printed on the index image and the retrievability of the image of the user in the index image can be improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program.

Conventionally, as this type of image forming apparatus, a printer having an index printing function that reads an image taken by a digital camera or the like and prints a plurality of images side by side in order to search for a desired image has been proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In this apparatus, information on the shooting date and time of each image is printed in the index print area together with each image, so that the user can easily grasp the shooting date of each index-printed image.
JP 2006-69012 A

  However, in the above-described image forming apparatus, although an image can be arranged for each shooting date, in order to search for a desired image, the user needs to search all images with the corresponding date. Here, in recent years, as the capacity of a memory card of a digital camera increases, the number of stored images increases, and the number of images that are index-printed may become enormous. For this reason, the user may not be able to quickly search for an image desired by simply using the shooting date as an index. For example, when the memory for the shooting date is ambiguous, it is necessary to search for several days before and after the shooting date, which takes time.

  The image forming apparatus and program of the present invention are mainly intended to improve the searchability of a user's image in an index image.

  The image forming apparatus and program of the present invention employ the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned main object.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes:
An image forming apparatus that is connected to a storage unit that stores a plurality of images, and that forms an image with user selection from the plurality of images and forms an index image in which a plurality of images without user selection are arranged. Because
Group acquisition means for respectively acquiring which of the plurality of groups for classifying the images the plurality of images belongs to;
A history registration means for registering the formed image as an image formation history in association with the acquired group when an image is formed with the user's selection;
When the formation of the index image is instructed, a group for extracting an image used for the index image is determined from the plurality of groups based on the number of formed images for each group registered as the image formation history. Image forming means for extracting an image from the determined group, and arranging the extracted images together for each of the plurality of groups to form an index image;
It is a summary to provide.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when an index image formation is instructed, an image used for the index image is extracted from a plurality of groups based on the number of formed images for each group registered as an image formation history. A group is determined, and an image is extracted from the determined group, and the extracted images are collectively arranged for each of a plurality of groups to form an index image. Accordingly, it is possible to extract the image used for the index image from each group while reflecting the number of formed images for each group. Since the formed image is accompanied by the user's selection, the image used for the index image reflects the tendency of the user's image selection. Here, an index image is often formed for image retrieval, but an image that meets the user's needs is formed in the index image by reflecting the tendency of the user to select an image. The user can easily search for images. As a result, the searchability of the user image in the index image can be improved. Here, as a plurality of groups, for example, a group of shooting scenes of each image (a person scene shooting a person, a landscape scene shooting a landscape, a night scene shooting a night view, etc.) or a group of color trends of each image And a group of shooting times of each image.

  In such an image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image forming means may be means for determining a group having the largest number of formed images as a group from which the image is extracted. In this way, since only the images of the group that are most frequently selected by the user and are likely to be selected by the user in the future are formed in the index image, the image searchability can be further improved. Alternatively, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image forming unit is a unit that extracts an image from the determined group so that the ratio is substantially the same as a ratio of the number of formed images for each group. You can also. In this way, since more images are formed in the index image from the group in which more images are selected by the user, the image searchability can be further improved. Alternatively, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the image forming unit may have a ratio that is substantially the same as the ratio of the image formation rate for each group obtained by dividing the number of formed images for each group by the number of images for each group. It can also be a means for extracting an image from the determined group. In this way, even if the number of images selected by the user is small, the ratio of the number selected by the user is high with respect to the number of images per group, and more images from the group that are likely to be selected in the future are index images. Thus, the searchability of the image can be further improved.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image forming unit may be a unit that extracts an image from the determined group excluding the formed image. Here, it is conceivable that an image once formed is unlikely to be formed again, and the image search performance can be further improved by eliminating images with low needs.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the history registration unit registers the number of the formed images multiplied by a weighting coefficient exceeding a value of 1 for an image that has been processed by a user at the time of image formation. It can also be a means. In this way, it is possible to obtain an image formation history that places more importance on images that are important for the user, such as processing, and more accurately reflect the tendency of image selection in the index image.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes an image classification unit that classifies each of the plurality of images to which of the plurality of groups, and the group acquisition unit acquires an image classification result obtained by the image classification unit. It can also be a means to do. In this way, images that are not classified at all can be classified into groups.

  The gist of the program of the present invention is to make a computer function as the above-described image forming apparatus. Therefore, the effect which the image forming apparatus of this invention show | plays, for example, the effect which can improve the search property of the user's image in an index image, etc. can be show | played. The program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (for example, a hard disk, ROM, FD, CD, DVD, etc.) or via a transmission medium (communication network such as the Internet or a LAN). It may be distributed from one computer to another, or may be exchanged in any other form.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view and a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a photo printer 10 which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the photo printer 10 according to the present embodiment includes a memory card that controls input / output of data between the printer unit 20 that performs printing on the paper P and the memory card 42 inserted in the memory card slot 40. A controller 44, an operation panel 50 for displaying various types of information on the display unit 52 and inputting user instructions through the operation of buttons 54, and a main controller 60 for controlling the entire apparatus are provided. The photo printer 10 is configured such that the printer unit 20, the memory card controller 44, and the main controller 60 can exchange various control signals and data via the bus 12.

  The printer unit 20 includes a printer ASIC 22 and a printer engine 24 configured as a well-known ink jet system. The printer ASIC 22 is an integrated circuit that controls the printer engine 24. Upon receiving a print command from the main controller 60, the printer ASIC 22 controls the printer engine 24 to print an image to be printed on the paper P.

  The memory card controller 44 inputs / outputs data to / from the memory card 42 inserted into the memory card slot 40. The memory card controller 44 reads data stored in the memory card 42 and transmits it to the main controller 60. Data is written to the memory card 42 based on a command from the main controller 60. The memory card 42 stores a plurality of image files photographed by a digital camera or the like and stores an image list in which the image files are listed. The image file stores image data and thumbnail image data compressed in a predetermined format (for example, JPEG format), Exif attached information including the number of pixels, shooting date / time, aperture value, shooting mode, and the like. The shooting modes in Exif attached information include a plurality of shooting modes including a portrait shooting mode mainly used when shooting a person, a landscape shooting mode used when shooting a landscape, and a night view shooting mode used when shooting a night view. Among these shooting modes, the shooting mode selected by the user at the time of image shooting is recorded. The image list is created or updated at any time by the main controller 60 when the memory card 42 is inserted into the memory card slot 40 or in list update processing after image printing processing described later. FIG. 2 shows an example of the image list 42a. As shown in the figure, an image number, a file name, a shooting date, and a group of images assigned in the shooting order are registered, and an image that has been printed is registered as having been printed. The group of images is acquired according to the shooting mode of the Exif attached information, and the person group J is registered for the portrait shooting mode image, the landscape group F for the landscape shooting mode image, and the night view group Y for the night shooting mode image. Other groups T are registered for images in other shooting modes. Also, in the image list 42a, the newly added images captured after the previous list update and stored in the memory card 42 are registered separately from the conventional images already registered by the previous list update. The reason for this will be described later.

  The operation panel 50 includes a display unit 52 and buttons 54. The display unit 52 is a liquid crystal display, and displays various operation screens for menu selection and setting. The buttons 54 include a power button 54a for turning on / off the power, a start button 54b for instructing printing, a setting button 54c for performing various settings such as setting of a paper size and a frame and a decoration for an image, and increasing / decreasing the number of copies. +/- button 54d, mode selection button 54e for selecting various modes, up / down / left / right arrow keys 54f for selecting various items, OK button 54g for enabling the selected setting, canceling the selected item There is a return button 54 h for returning to the screen, and the like, and a user instruction can be input to the main controller 60 via the internal communication interface 69. Modes that can be selected by the mode selection button 54e include a normal print mode in which an image stored in the memory card 42 is printed with user selection, and an index image in which a plurality of thumbnail images are arranged without user selection. There is an index printing mode for printing for user image retrieval.

  The main controller 60 is configured as a microprocessor centered on a CPU 62, and includes a ROM 64 that stores various processing programs, a RAM 66 that temporarily stores data, and an electrically rewritable data that is stored even when the power is turned off. Is provided with a flash memory 68 to be held and an internal communication interface 69 that enables communication with the operation panel 50, and these are connected via the bus 12 so that signals can be exchanged with each other. The main controller 60 inputs various operation signals and various detection signals from the printer unit 20 and the memory card controller 44, and inputs operation signals generated in response to the operation of the buttons 54 of the operation panel 50. The main controller 60 also reads out an image file from the memory card 42 and outputs a command to the main controller 60 to the memory card controller 44, outputs a command to the printer unit 20 to execute printing, The control command of the display unit 52 is output to 50.

  Next, the operation of the photo printer 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above, particularly the operation during printing in the normal printing mode and the operation during printing in the index printing mode will be described. First, the operation during normal printing will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a normal print processing routine executed by the main controller 60.

  When the normal print processing routine is executed, the CPU 62 of the main controller 60 first displays the print image selection screen 70 on the display unit 52 (step S100), the print image is selected, and the start button 54b is pressed. (Step S110). An example of the print image selection screen 70 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4A, an image stored in the memory card 42 is displayed so as to be selectable. When the cursor 70a is moved to the desired image by operating the arrow key 54f and the OK button 54g is pressed, a print image is displayed. Selected. Once selected, the selection can be canceled by pressing the return button 54h. The number of copies can be increased or decreased by operating the + -button 54d, and the number in the upper right corner in each image indicates the number of copies to be printed. Further, when the setting button 54c is operated with an image selected, a setting menu is displayed. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the setting button 54c is pressed while the lower center image is selected. In this state, when the cursor 70b is adjusted to “decoration” by operating the arrow key 54f and the OK button 54g is pressed, a list of decorations that can be set is displayed as shown in FIG. 4B. A desired decoration can be set by operating 54f and an OK button 54g. As described above, when the print image is selected, the number of copies to be printed and decoration are set as necessary, and when the start button 54b is pressed, the printing process is executed (step S120). When the printing process is executed, an update process of the image list 42a is executed (step S130). Here, as the update process, a process of setting the printed image to be printed and incorporating the contents of the newly added list into the conventional list to clear the newly added list is performed. When the image list update process is executed, a print history count process for counting the number of print histories for each group is executed (step S140), and this routine ends. Hereinafter, the print history count process will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print history count processing routine executed by the main controller 60.

  When the print history count processing routine is executed, the CPU 62 of the main controller 60 first selects the first printed image as the processing target image (step S200), and sets the number of copies of the processing target image to the printing number coefficient α. (Step S210). Next, it is determined whether or not the image to be processed has been decorated (step S220). If the image to be processed is not decorated, a value 1 is set to the decoration coefficient β (step S230). 2 is set (step S240). Subsequently, the weighting coefficient γ is calculated by multiplying the printing copy number coefficient α and the decoration coefficient β (step S250), and the print history is obtained by multiplying the reference addition value a (value 1 here) by the weighting coefficient γ. Calculation is made as the addition value A (step S260). When the print history addition value A is calculated, a group of processing target images is input from the image list 42a (step S270), and whether the input group is the person group J (step S280) or the landscape group F (step S270). S290), it is determined whether the night view group Y (step S300). If it is determined in step S280 that it is a person group J, the print history number js of the person group J is incremented by a value A (step S310), and if it is determined in step S290 that it is a landscape group F, the number of print histories of the landscape group F. fs is incremented by a value A (step S320). When it is determined in step S300 that the group is night scene group Y, the print history number ys of night scene group Y is incremented by value A (step S330). The print history number ts of the group T is incremented by the value A (step S340). Here, since the weighting coefficient γ increases and the print history addition value A increases as the image considered to be important for the user, such as an image with a large number of prints or an image with a decoration, the print history number corresponds to the printed image. The value takes into account importance. It is assumed that the number of print histories of each group is registered in the memory card 42. When the number of print histories is incremented in this way, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all the print images (step S350). If not, the next printed image is selected as the processing target image (step S360). Returning to step S210, the process is repeated, and when completed, this routine is terminated.

  Next, operations during index printing will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an index print processing routine executed by the main controller 60. When this routine is executed, the CPU 62 of the main controller 60 first inputs the print history number js, fs, ys, ts of each group (step S500), and calculates the total value s of the input print history numbers. (Step S510). Next, it is determined whether or not the calculated total value s exceeds a predetermined threshold value sref (step S520). If the calculated total value s exceeds the predetermined threshold value sref, a pickup that picks up an image corresponding to the user's image selection tendency and performs index printing is selected. A screen for inquiring the user whether or not to perform index printing is displayed on the display unit 52 (not shown), and the selection of the user is awaited (step S530). Here, it is determined whether or not the total value s exceeds the predetermined threshold value sref when there is little accumulation of print history and there is not so much trouble in the searchability of the user image, and there is a need for pick-up index printing. This is because it is not considered high. Note that the threshold value sref is, for example, a value 10 or a value 20. When the total value s does not exceed the threshold value sref, or when the total value s exceeds the threshold value sref and the user selects not to perform pickup index printing, all the images on the memory card 42 are arranged in the order of the image numbers. (Step S640), the index printing process is executed (step S650), and this routine is terminated. Printing is called normal index printing, and an example of a print image in normal index printing is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, thumbnail images of 4 vertical sheets × 3 horizontal sheets are printed on the paper P, and all images are printed. Therefore, the number of prints increases depending on the number of images, and it is difficult to search for images. Become.

  On the other hand, when it is selected in step S530 that pickup index printing is to be performed, a pickup method selection screen (not shown) is displayed on the display unit 52 to wait for the user's selection (step S540). The selectable pick-up methods will be described in the following order. First, when the pickup method based on the maximum value is selected, it is determined which of the groups is the maximum value among the print history numbers js, fs, ys, and ts (step S550). Next, an index image to be posted on the index image is extracted from the determined group (step S560), the extracted image is arranged (step S570), the index printing process is executed in step S650, and this routine is terminated. To do. As a result, it is possible to extract only the image of the group having the largest number of print histories as the index image. That is, since only the images of the group that the user prints most frequently are extracted as index images, it is possible to improve the searchability of the images with the index images meeting the user's needs. In particular, a search is easy for a user who prints only a certain group of images. Here, for example, when the person group J is the largest, in the image list 42a illustrated in FIG. 2, the image numbers are No. 1, No. 3, No. 5, No. 8,. The index image is extracted from the images. At this time, the printed image (No. 1 or No. 8) may be removed, or a new image (No. 100 or No. 102) may be prioritized. In the former case, it is possible to improve the searchability because an image that has been printed once is less likely to be printed again. In the latter case, the searchability is improved because a new image is more likely to be printed than a conventional image. It can be improved further. An example of a print image in this pickup index printing is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, only the image of the person group J is printed. Also, the date in the figure indicates the shooting date, the number of images indicates the number of images shot on that shooting date, and FIG. 8 shows a case where up to three images of the person group J are extracted for each shooting date. Illustrated. For example, there are four images taken on January 1, 20 **, of which two images classified into the person group J are printed. In addition, it is good also as what does not arrange | position according to such an imaging | photography day.

  On the other hand, when the pickup method based on the ratio of the number of histories is selected in step S540, the group from which the index image is extracted and the number of images Jp, Fp, Yp, Tp extracted from each group are determined (step S580). . Specifically, the number of images Jp, Fp, Yp, Tp is determined so that the ratio (Jp: Fp: Yp: Tp) is substantially the same as the ratio of the printing history number (js: fs: ys: ts). The For example, let us consider a case where the print history numbers js, fs, ys, and ts are 9, 9, 5, and 0, and a total of 12 index images are picked up regardless of the shooting date. First, since the print history number ts of the other group T is 0, each group excluding the other group T is determined as a group from which an image is extracted. Next, the ratio of the image numbers Jp, Fp, and Yp is determined so as to be substantially the same as the ratio of the print history numbers (js: fs: ys = 9: 5: 3). For example, the ratio (Jp: Fp: Yp = 6: 4: 2) is determined, and 6 images from the person group J, 4 images from the landscape group F, and 2 images from the night view group Y (12 images in total) are extracted. Decide that. Next, an image is extracted from the determined group according to the number of images Jp, Fp, Yp, Tp (step S620). In this case as well, the printed image may be excluded or a new image may be prioritized. When the images are extracted, the extracted images are collectively arranged for each group (step S630), index printing processing is executed in step S650, and this routine is terminated. As a result, more images are extracted as index images from a group in which more images are printed, so that the searchability of the images can be improved with the index images meeting the user's needs. An example of a print image in this pickup index printing is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, each group is printed together, making it easy to search for images. Note that images may be extracted according to the ratio determined for each shooting date, and the extracted images may be arranged and printed for each shooting date.

  When a method based on the printing rate ratio is selected in step S540, the number of images Js, Fs, Ys, Ts, which is the number of images for each group, is totaled (step S590), and printing for each group is performed. The printing rates Jr, Fr, Yr, Tr for each group are calculated by dividing the number of histories js, fs, ys, ts by the number of images Js, Fs, Ys, Ts of each group, respectively (step S600). Here, the total number of images for each group is calculated by counting the number of images registered for the past in the image list 42a, excluding the newly added portion, for each group. The reason for excluding new additions is that when the number of new images in a group is extremely large, only the printing rate of that group may be greatly reduced. It is for grasping with accuracy. When the printing rate is calculated in this way, the group from which the index image is extracted and the number of images Jp, Fp, Yp, Tp to be extracted from each group are determined (step S610). Specifically, the number of images Jp, Fp, Yp, Tp is determined so that the ratio (Jp: Fp: Yp: Tp) is substantially the same as the ratio of the printing rate (Jr: Fr: Yr: Tr). . For example, the print history numbers js, fs, ys, ts are value 9, value 5, value 3, value 0, and the image numbers Js, Fs, Ys, Ts are value 20, value 10, value 4, value 3. Consider a case where 12 index images are picked up. First, since the print history number ts of the other group T is 0, each group excluding the other group T is determined as a group from which an image is extracted. Next, the number of images so that the ratio is substantially the same as the ratio of the printing rate (Jr: Fr: Yr = 0.45 (9/20): 0.50 (5/10): 0.75 (3/4)). The ratio of Jp, Fp, Yp is determined. For example, the ratio (Jp: Fp: Yp = 3: 4: 5) is determined, and 3 images from the person group J, 4 images from the landscape group F, and 5 images from the night view group Y (12 images in total) are extracted. Decide that. At this time, it can be seen that the largest number of images are extracted from the night view group Y with a small number of print histories. Thus, even if the absolute value of the print history number is small, more images are extracted from the group with a high printing rate. When the number of index images is determined in this way, images are extracted in step S620, images are arranged in step S630, index printing processing is executed in step S650, and this routine is terminated. As a result, a larger number of images are selected as index images from the group with a high printing rate, so that the searchability of the images can be improved with the index images meeting the user's needs. In addition, since the index images are arranged together for each group, it is easy to search for images.

  Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The memory card 42 corresponds to the “storage unit”, the main controller 60 that acquires the group of each image from the Exif information of the image corresponds to the “group acquisition unit”, and steps S130 to S140 of the normal print processing routine of FIG. The main controller 60 that executes the processing and the processing of the printing history count processing routine of FIG. 5 corresponds to “history registration means”, and the main controller 60 that executes the processing of steps S500 to S630 and S650 of the index printing processing routine of FIG. Corresponds to “image forming means”.

  According to the photo printer 10 of the present embodiment described above, only the images of the group that is most likely to be selected by the user and that are likely to be selected in the future are extracted as index images, or more images are stored. Extract more images from the group selected by the user into the index image, or extract more images into the index image from the group that has a high print rate and is likely to be selected in the future. An image that meets the user's needs can be printed on the index image by reflecting the print history of the result of the image selection by the user. As a result, the searchability of the user image in the index image can be improved. In addition, since images that have already been printed and have low needs are excluded, or images are arranged in groups, it is possible to further improve image searchability. Furthermore, since only the image according to the tendency of the image selection of the user is printed, the number of printed sheets can be reduced.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image group corresponding to the shooting mode is acquired. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a known face recognition process or the like is performed based on the gradation values of the RGB values of a plurality of pixels sampled from the image. The scenes of the images may be used to classify the images into groups. Further, the group of images is not limited to four groups, and it is sufficient that the images can be classified. For example, the landscape group F may be subdivided into seas, mountains, etc., the shooting time in the Exif information may be classified into a daytime group, an evening group, and a night group, or RGB of sampled pixels The group may be classified into a group having a strong red tendency, a group having a strong green tendency, or a group having a strong blue tendency based on the gradation value.

  In the above-described embodiment, an image that has actually been printed is counted in the print history. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an image that has been selected once when a print image is selected and then canceled and has not been printed has already been selected. It may be included in the print history as an image. Specifically, even if the image selected as the print image by the OK button 54g on the print image selection screen 70 is included in the print history as the selected image and selected once, even if the selection is canceled by the return button 54h, the print history Should not be excluded. In this way, the user's tendency to select images, including images that have been selected but not actually printed, can be widely reflected in the index image.

  In the above-described embodiment, the pick-up index printing can be selected when the total value s of the number of print histories exceeds the predetermined threshold value sref. However, it may be selected regardless of the value of the total value s.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printed image is excluded when the index image is extracted. However, the printed image may not be excluded. In this case, it may not be recorded in the image list whether or not printing has been completed.

  In the embodiment described above, the weighting coefficient γ is calculated based on the number of copies to be printed and the decoration. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the weighting coefficient γ may be calculated based on only one of them, or the weighting coefficient γ may be calculated. It is good also as what does not weight.

  In the above-described embodiment, the index image is printed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the index image may be displayed only on a display or the like and not index printed. For example, the index image is displayed as a print image selection screen 70. It may be a thing.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the image forming apparatus of the present invention is embodied in a printer having only a printing function has been shown. However, a printer having a scanner function may be used, or a complex printer such as a FAX machine or a copier may be used. Good. Further, the image forming apparatus is not limited to a printer, and the present invention may be applied to an image processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a digital camera.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a photo printer 10. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the image list | wrist 42a. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a normal print processing routine. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a print image selection screen. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print history count processing routine. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an index print processing routine. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the printing image in normal index printing. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the printing image in pick-up index printing. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the printing image in pick-up index printing.

Explanation of symbols

  10 Photo Printer, 12 Bus, 20 Printer Unit, 22 Printer ASIC, 24 Printer Engine, 40 Memory Card Slot, 42 Memory Card, 42a Image List, 44 Memory Card Controller, 50 Operation Panel, 52 Display Unit, 54 Buttons, 54a Power button, 54b Start button, 54c Setting button, 54d +-button, 54e Mode selection button, 54f Arrow key, 54g OK button, 54h Back button, 60 Main controller, 62 CPU, 64 ROM, 66 RAM, 68 Flash memory, 69 I / F, 70 Print image selection screen.

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus that is connected to a storage unit that stores a plurality of images, and that forms an image with user selection from the plurality of images and forms an index image in which a plurality of images without user selection are arranged. Because
Group acquisition means for acquiring which of the plurality of groups for classifying the images the plurality of images;
A history registration means for registering the formed image as an image formation history in association with the acquired group when an image with the user's selection is formed;
When the formation of the index image is instructed, a group for extracting an image used for the index image is determined from the plurality of groups based on the number of formed images for each group registered as the image formation history. Image forming means for extracting an image from the determined group, and arranging the extracted images together for each of the plurality of groups to form an index image;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit is a unit that determines a group having the largest number of the formed images as a group from which the image is extracted.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit is a unit that extracts an image from the determined group so that the ratio is approximately the same as a ratio of the number of formed images for each group.   The image forming unit is configured to extract images from the determined group so that the ratio is substantially the same as the ratio of the image formation rate for each group obtained by dividing the number of formed images for each group by the number of images for each group. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an extracting unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit is a unit that extracts an image from the determined group excluding the formed image.   6. The history registration unit is a unit for registering an image processed by a user at the time of image formation by multiplying the number of formed images by a weighting coefficient exceeding a value of 1. 2. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Image classification means for classifying each of the plurality of images to which of the plurality of groups,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the group acquisition unit is a unit that acquires an image classification result obtained by the image classification unit.   A program for causing a computer to function as the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.