JP2502542B2 - Image information memory retrieval device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information storage / retrieval device, and more particularly to specific image information arbitrarily selected from a plurality of dependent image information and the above-mentioned dependent image information related to this specific image information. The present invention relates to a storage medium (optical disk, magnetic disk, or the like) that stores image information, and an image information storage device that searches for image information using such a storage medium.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, an image information storage / retrieval device capable of storing image information such as a television still image in a storage medium such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk and then searching for and reading out an image when required is At the same time, characteristic data of the image, such as date, person's name, or synopsis of contents, which is generally referred to as a keyword, is simultaneously input and stored, and when the retrieval is performed, some images may be retrieved by the keyword data. The output is narrowed down to
In addition, a keyword search method is generally adopted in which the user searches for the desired image while looking at those output images.

Various proposals have been made for such a keyword search method, for example, a method of two-dimensionally outputting and displaying in a map form has recently been proposed. In addition, when extracting images after narrowing down by keywords, a two-layer extraction method that displays 6 images or 16 pixels at a time in one screen and selects the desired one from the projected images, etc. boom.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, what can be said in common to all of these conventional apparatuses is that a lot of keyword data information must be input at the same time when an image is recorded. Although this point may not be a load that much when the image information storage / retrieval device is used as a business use of a company such as an office or a factory,
When it comes to household use, if keyword data were to be entered using a character keyboard, it would be completely annoying, and even if various measures were taken in entering that keyword data, it would be extremely troublesome for the user. It is expected to be annoying and has the serious drawback of not being practical.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its object is to hierarchically set specific image information arbitrarily selected from a plurality of pieces of subordinate image information and other subordinate image information related to the specific image information. An object of the present invention is to provide an image information storage / retrieval device that enables the most appropriate image for the user to be stored as the specific image information by storing the image and enables more reliable retrieval.

[Means for solving problems]

To achieve the above object, the image information storage / retrieval device of the present invention stores specific image information arbitrarily selected from a plurality of dependent image information and the dependent image information related to the specific image information on a storage medium. Storage means for storing the markings common to the specific image information and each of the subordinate image information related to the specific image information, and the above-mentioned each related to the specific image information after the search by the specific image information. The subordinate image information can be searched based on the marking, and a searching means is provided.

[Action]

In the present invention, the storage medium hierarchically stores specific image information arbitrarily selected from a plurality of dependent image information and other dependent image information related to this specific image information,
A common marking is stored in each image information, and a search (image selection) based on the specific image information is first performed from this storage medium, and then each subordinate image information related to the selected specific image information is displayed. Search based on the above marking. In this way, the specific image information is arbitrarily selected from the subordinate image information and hierarchically stored, and the common marking is stored in each image information. It is possible to perform more reliable search.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a is a storage means for storing specific image information arbitrarily selected from a plurality of subordinate image information and other subordinate image information related to this specific image information in different areas on a storage medium. At the same time, a marking common to the specific image information and the dependent image information related thereto is stored.
Reference numeral b is a search means, and after the search by the specific image information, other subordinate image information related to the specific image information can be searched based on the marking. The storage medium stores a plurality of pieces of specific image information in a first area, stores other dependent image information associated with each piece of specific image information in a second area, and stores the specific image information and the specific image information. The marking common to the subordinate image related to the image is stored, and based on the marking, the image information can be read out independently for each of the regions. As a specific example, the first area and the second area may be different tracks on one disk-shaped storage medium or may be different storage media.

FIG. 2 shows the circuit configuration of the embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, 11 is an input / output interface for inputting / outputting image information to / from an external device, and 12 is control stored in advance in an internal memory as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 (A) and (B). A controller (control device) that controls storage / retrieval of image information and keyword data according to a procedure, 13 outputs and displays information such as an image in the storage device 14 and information from an external device under the control of the controller 12. It is a monitor like a CRT display.

Reference numeral 15 is a printer such as an inkjet printer or a laser beam printer for recording the image read from the storage device 14 on a recording medium such as paper. As the storage device 14, various storage devices such as an optical disk device and a magnetic disk device can be used. Reference numeral 16 denotes a small handy type remote controller (remote control device) that remotely controls the controller 12, and inputs / outputs various operation instructions and data via a display and a keyboard. Signals are transmitted and received between the remote controller 16 and the controller 12 via infrared rays, radio waves, weak ultrasonic waves, or the like.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement configuration example of the remote controller 16 described above. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 21 is a display panel for displaying an operation instruction message from the controller 12, and a liquid crystal is used, for example. 22 to 32 are function keys (button switches) for inputting operations required to store and retrieve images
It is a group. 22 is an input key, 23 is a representative image key, 24 is a child image key, 25 is a print key, 26 is a search key, 27 is an index key, 28 is a representative image key, 29 is a date key, 30 is
NEXT key, 31 is a sequential key, and 32 is a selection key.

33 to 36 are key groups for entering the year, month, day, and hour, 37 to 40,4
2 to 44, 46 to 49 are tension keys for inputting numbers, 41 is a clear key, and 45 is an all clear key. Also, key 33 ~
48 allows image positions from A to P.

For example, if you take a still video camera on a trip to record still images, you should record at least 10 photos per trip or event (event), and 10 photos at most.
About 0, on average, about 20 to 30 images are taken, and these taken images are recorded in a storage device such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk having an image capacity of, for example, about 1000 images per desk, and want to see them. It is common to search from time to time. In this way, it is not preferable to input a lot of keyword information at the same time when storing an image when it is used in a general home or an individual. On the other hand, for example, a maximum of 5 × 4 can be displayed on one screen of the monitor 13.
= Even if 20 images are displayed at one time and two layers are selected, it is necessary to closely observe the screen of the monitor 13 with 20 pictures at the maximum of about 1000/20 = 50 times. However, as described above, when a still video or the like is used as the input source, there are 20 to 30 images of the same event.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the same event or trip 1
"1 representative image" for a group of representative image key 23
In the first search, first select "the desired representative image from the representative images" with the date key, etc., and in the second search, the selected representative image Since a large number of images in a group connected to the image are simultaneously output to one screen of the monitor 13, it is possible to search very efficiently in connection with human sense and memory.

FIG. 4 shows a state of grouping (grouping) in the above search.

As a result, in the first search, one is selected from approximately 30 to 50 still images, and one of the approximately 20 to 50 still images related to the selected image is selected by the user. Can be extracted. Human memories are related to each other and have strong association power. For this reason, if you look at one representative image, you will be able to instantly remember the situation at that time, and it will be immediately possible to determine whether or not the one you are looking for belongs to it, so you will be able to search very efficiently. In particular, the efficiency is good if the representative image is properly selected. Further, with this level of operation, it is sufficient to display about 4 × 4 = 16 images per screen, so that it is possible to display more easily.

FIG. 5 shows a control procedure of the controller 12 at the time of input operation (during storage) such as marking, and FIG. 6 shows an operation procedure of the user at the time of input operation.

The operation of the input operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6. Note that P1 to P16 are program steps of the controller 12, and S1 to S12 are user operation steps.

The video source of the external device (for example, still video player) connected to the input terminal (not shown) of the input / output interface 11 is the “input” key 22 of the remote controller 16.
When is pressed (S1, P1), it is displayed on the monitor 13 (S2, P1
2).

The still video player is operated to display the desired image on the monitor 13 (S3, P2). Then, press the "representative image" key 23 on the remote controller 16 (S6, P
3), the image is registered and stored in the storage device 14 as a new representative image (P6). After this, the message "Enter the date" appears on the display panel 21 (P7).
Input the date on which the representative image was taken or the date you want to memorize (S7, P8, P9). Next, the message "Enter the next screen" appears on the display panel 21 (P10), and the still video player is switched to another image (S8, P11).

This time, if you press the "child image" switch 24 (S10, P1
2) The image displayed on the monitor 13 is automatically registered and stored in the storage device 14 as a "child image" belonging to the "representative image" recorded previously (P13). Hereinafter, this operation is repeated until there are no child images (S11, P15, P16). Until the "Representative image" key 2 is newly input (P14) or the AC (all clear) key 45 is pressed (S12, P16), the "child image" key 24 is pressed as a child image belonging to the representative image. The registered image is registered in the storage device 14.

Immediately after the AC key 45 is pressed (S12, P16) or at the first time after the power is turned on, only the "representative image" can be input, and if the "child image" is used to start the input (S4 , P4),
The memory operation is not performed, and a beeping sound, which indicates a malfunction, is uttered, and at the same time, a message "Misoperation" and a comment "Please set a representative image first" are displayed on the display panel 21.
Go up (S5, P5).

A code indicating the place where the image is recorded can be displayed on the monitor 13 when the image is input.

7A and 7B show the control procedure of the controller 12 at the time of search, and FIG. 8 shows the operation procedure of the user at the time of search.

Next, the operation at the time of retrieval will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 (A), (B) and FIG. Here, P21 to P50 represent program steps of the controller 12, and T1 to T23 represent user operation steps.

When you press the search key 25 on the remote controller 16, (T1, P
21), the search state is entered, and "Searching" is displayed on the monitor 13 (P22).

On the display panel 21 of the remote controller 16, a comment display "Please select" index "or" representative image "" appears (T2, P23).

Then press the "Index" key 27 (T3, P2
4), 37-40, 42-44, 46-48 numeric keypad "0"-"9" code input, you can select the image information immediately after (T4, P
twenty five). Since the correspondence between this code and the image can be checked at the time of storage, the user can directly select it if he / she makes a note in advance.

On the other hand, if the "representative image" key 28 is selected (T5, P26), then "year / month / day" or "sequential" will be selected. This instruction also appears on the display panel 21 (T6, P27). Select "Date" with key 29 (T7, P28), then use keys 33 to 48 to key in the approximate date when the image you want to view was recorded (T8, P28). ). For example, Key in. Where there is a "0" in it, it means that you do not know in detail up to that point. Based on this input information, the representative images are displayed on the monitor 13 in the order from the designated date (T9, P31, P9).
32). At this time, (4 × 4 =) 16 screens are displayed at once on the monitor.

If there is no desired screen among the 16 displayed screens (T12), press the "NEXT" key 30 (T13, P35). If the screen you want is on the display, press the "Select" key 32 (T14, P34). Press the select key 32 and display plate 21
A message is displayed saying "Please select one of A to P" (P42).

That is, the keys from 33 to 48 are now 16 on the monitor 13.
It corresponds geometrically to a screen. For example, 1
When you want the representative image in the upper right corner, press D key 36 (T15,
P40). Then, on the monitor screen 36, the representative image is set to the upper left in the order in which the images of the group are recorded.
16 pieces appear from the upper left to the upper right at once. (T16, P41). If there is no desired one on the screen (T17), press the "NEXT" key 30 (T18, P44), and if there is one desired, press the "Select" key 32 (T21, P43). By pressing the "NEXT" key 30, when the group image is over even if the desired image is overshot, press the "NEXT" key 30 again to return to the original screen (T22, P46). When inputting the "Select" key 32, A ~
If one of the P keys 33 to 48 is pressed (T22, P4
8) One image desired by the user is displayed on the monitor 13 (T23, P49).

Also, the output terminal of the input / output interface 11 (not shown)
The image signal of the selected image is output to. The "Print" key 25 is the key 25
When is pressed, an interrupt occurs, and the image displayed on the monitor 13 at that time can be output to the printer 15 and printed on a recording medium.

Now, if you press the key 31 one after another (T10,
P29), 16 representative images are displayed on the monitor 13 from the upper left to the lower right in the order of recording (T11, P30). The next procedure is to use the "NEXT" key 30 (T13, P35) or select key 32.
It's just a key input for (T14, P34),
This is the same as in the case of selecting the “date” described above.

In addition, "C" on the remote controller 16 in FIG.
The (clear) key 41 is a key for correcting only one command or data being input when this key is input, and the "AC" (all clear) key 45 is a key for presetting to an initial state. .

Further, the remote controller 16 described above cannot perform a function of deleting or editing a specific screen,
Such advanced functions can be executed by operating the controller 12 side of the main body. Also, after selecting one representative image, when the user notices that the selection method of the representative image is incorrect, "All clear" is displayed.
You may key in key 45 (P50), or "Representative image"
You may re-enter the key 28 (P36, P45).

In the above-described embodiment, the date data for the representative image is recorded at the same time to facilitate the search, but it is not necessary to record any keyword data such as the date data. Of course, data such as a person's name and title may be recorded instead of the date. Further, when one representative image is insufficient, the first representative image, the second representative image ...
As described above, the multi-stage structure may be adopted to better correspond to the memory of the human brain to facilitate the search. In addition, in this embodiment, a still video is taken as an example of the target image,
Although it is assumed that one representative image is configured for one event, in addition to such cases, for example, in the case of a design drawing file, various tasks such as "sketch drawing" as "representative image" can be performed. It can be applied.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, first, from a storage medium that hierarchically stores specific image information arbitrarily selected from a plurality of dependent image information and other dependent image information related to this specific image information, Since the search is performed based on the specific image information and then the subordinate image information is searched based on the marking related to the selected specific image information, the image most suitable for the user is specified as the specific image information. It is possible to obtain the effect of enabling more reliable search.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an arrangement configuration of the remote controller of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a grouping structure of the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure at the time of input operation of the embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 6 is an operation at the time of input operation of the embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a flow chart showing a procedure, FIGS. 7 (A) and 7 (B) are flow charts showing a control procedure at the time of retrieval of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 8 (1) and 8 (2) are embodiments of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure at the time of searching. 12 ... Controller, 13 ... Monitor, 14 ... Storage device, 15 ... Printer, 16 ... Remote controller, 21 ... Display plate, 22 ... 48 ... Keys.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. Specific image information arbitrarily selected from a plurality of subordinate image information and the subordinate image information related to the specific image information are stored in different areas on a storage medium, and the specific image information is stored. A storage unit storing a marking common to each subordinate image information related thereto, and after the search by the specific image information, each subordinate image information related to the specific image information can be searched based on the marking. An image information storage / retrieval device comprising the retrieval means as described above.