JP2859772B2 - Image signal processing method, apparatus, image database and information retrieval terminal apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image signal processing method for efficiently storing and transmitting still image data, and an apparatus, an image database, and an information retrieval terminal used directly for implementing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image data management system capable of registering various still image (hereinafter, simply referred to as images) data in a database and reading out desired image data as needed. An example of the image data management system will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of an image data management system, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration in more detail, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of band division.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 50 denotes an image database for storing image data, 60 denotes an image search terminal for inputting a search request for image data and displays the searched image data on a display, and 70 denotes an image database 50 and an image search terminal. 60 is a network for performing communication with the network.

[0005] The network 70 is connected to the image database 5.
There may be various forms such as a wide area network such as LAN or ISDN depending on the physical distance between the image search terminal 60 and the image search terminal 60. The transmission rate of data on the network is several tens KBPS to 10 MBPS, which is at least one digit lower than the data rate that can be processed by the image signal processing circuit. Therefore, the display speed of an image at the image search terminal is determined by the data transmission rate of the network.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 51 denotes an image data input terminal for inputting image data converted into digital signals by sampling at a predetermined frequency and analog-to-digital conversion, and 52 denotes an image data registration command and information (name) on the image. , Source, description, keyword, number of vertical and horizontal pixels, etc.).

Reference numeral 53 denotes a subband encoder which receives image data input, divides the image data into a plurality of bands on the horizontal and vertical frequency axes, and outputs image data for each band, and 54 denotes an output of the subband encoder 53 A coded data memory 55 for outputting image size data to the sub-band encoder 53, outputting data indicating an address for storing the data to the memory 54, and a control signal input terminal 5
2 is a memory control circuit for storing information relating to the image input from 2.

Reference numeral 61 denotes a search input terminal for inputting an image search request;
A sub-band decoder that receives the band-divided image data transmitted through 0 and restores the original image, 63 is a display memory that stores image data output from the sub-band decoder, and 64 is an image search. An image search control circuit for receiving a request and communicating with the image database 50 and outputting a control signal to the subband decoder.
1 is a display for displaying analog image data output from a computer.

Next, the operation will be described. When constructing the image database 50, the sub-band decoder 53 divides the image data, which has been digitized in a portion not shown, into a plurality of bands by passing through a two-dimensional (horizontal and vertical) spatial frequency band filter. Output image data. Note that the number of vertical and horizontal pixels (included in the information regarding the image) required for the signal processing is also input to the subband decoder 53.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of band division.
In FIG. 11, the spatial frequency component of the image is divided into two in each of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and as a result, is divided into four spatial frequency bands. In the figure, (L, L), (L,
The meaning of symbols such as H) is that the first term in () represents the horizontal spatial frequency band, the second term represents the vertical spatial frequency,
L and H mean a low frequency component and a high frequency component, respectively.

For example, the (L, L) component is a component for reducing the horizontal and vertical spatial frequencies, and an image reconstructed from this component alone has a blurred outline compared to the original image, and a fine picture is not restored. Note that the subband decoder 53 reduces the sampling frequency after band division (in this example, the sampling frequency is reduced to, for example, half in both the horizontal and vertical directions). Therefore, the data amount does not change before and after the subband coding.

[0012] The coded data memory 54 stores the band-divided image data output from the sub-band encoder 53 at an address supplied from the memory control circuit 55.

The operation at the time of image retrieval is as follows. When an image search request is input from the search input terminal 61 of the image search terminal 60 together with a keyword indicating the name or content of the image, the image search request is transmitted to the image database 50 via the image search control circuit 64 and the network 70. Is done. Upon receiving the image search request, the memory control circuit 55 searches the data in the memory 54, and if there is only one search result, from the image data memory 54, (L, L), (L, H) , (H, L), and (H, H) components in that order, along with information on the image (name, source, description, number of vertical and horizontal pixels, etc.) and the network 7
The data is sequentially transmitted to the image search terminal 60 via “0”.

In the image search terminal 60, the signal is received, and the subband decoder 62 restores the image data from the (L, L) components in the order of reception. That is, an interpolation filter is applied after doubling the sampling frequency in the horizontal and vertical directions. Characteristic of the interpolation filter, the low input data
In the case of the band component (L), it is a low- pass type, and in the case of the high band component (H), it is a high-pass type. The display memory 63 stores the input data at different addresses for each of the above four spatial frequency bands, and at the time of reading, adds the components of the four bands, which are data of the same pixel, converts them into analog image signals, and converts them into analog image signals. Output to

The image retrieval control circuit 64 receives data other than the image in the signal sent from the image database 50, outputs the number of vertical and horizontal pixels to the subband decoder 62, and outputs the name to the display 65. It outputs information such as the source and the source as required. A blurred image first appears on the display 65 ((L, L) component), and the original image is finally obtained with increasing sharpness. At this time, if the search requester determines that the requested image is different from the blurred image, the requester can cancel or transmit unnecessary image data by inputting a stop or re-search request.

If there are a plurality of search results, only the (L, L) components of those images are sequentially transmitted to the image search terminal 60 . The search requester displays on the display 65
The image to be obtained is selected by looking at the images restored from the (L, L) components sequentially appearing above. For the image, components other than (L, L) are sent to the image search terminal 60 from the image database 50, and the original image is obtained. By performing such processing, the time required for selecting an image is reduced, and unnecessary information is not transmitted.

As described above, the conventional image data management system divides an image into bands in the spatial frequency domain, stores the results, and starts reading and transmitting low-frequency components and finally transmitting high-frequency components. This is performed for the area component. Therefore, on the receiving side, a rough image of the entire image can be grasped in a short time by the low-frequency component, and when the received image is a desired image, a higher-frequency component can be further received to obtain a complete image. If the received image is not the desired image, a re-search request can be issued without waiting for the completion of the reception of the high frequency component.

[0018]

However, in this conventional apparatus, when image data is displayed on a display on the receiving side in combination with character information or graphics, the information is hidden behind the combined character information or graphics. In some cases, data that is not displayed may be transmitted first. In this case, it takes time until the entire image is displayed.

If only a specific area in the original image is to be cut out and used from the beginning, part of the transmitted image data is not used and is wasted. That is, the transmission channel is occupied by the transmission of unnecessary image data that is not actually used, which hinders data transmission of other users, and the receiver must pay unnecessary transmission cost. There was a problem that it had to be done.

Further, the receiving side may want only a specific frequency component of an image, for example, only a high frequency component. However, in the conventional apparatus, it is not possible to obtain an image using the specific frequency component as described above, or an unnecessary frequency component is transmitted. There was also a problem that it would be done.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. In an image signal processing method for performing signal processing for storing and transmitting still image data, the present invention provides a method for responding to an image search request. image de reading - by setting the outer and reading order about the spatial frequency band range of data, high priority de - transmission from the data or the necessary de - aims to allow the transmission of only data.

An apparatus used directly for carrying out the method,
It is another object to provide an image database on the transmission side and an information retrieval terminal on the reception side.

[0023]

An image signal Means for Solving the Problems] and stored in a plurality of bands in the spatial frequency domain, reading and transmitting the image request data of the recipient - profile contained in the data (region) and spatial to perform in accordance with the address generated based on the reading order specified information about the frequency band range,
The receiving side is provided with means for storing image data in a band-divided state, and an image is restored using the data read from the storage means.

That is, the method of the present invention converts the still image data digitized and stored in the image database into
An image signal processing method for sending in response to a search request for information retrieval terminal through the communication network, the image data is divided into a plurality of bands in the spatial frequency domain, the processed data to the geometry and spatial frequency band range The information retrieval terminal receives and restores the image data by designating the read order while storing the read order related to the image data.

The image database used in this method divides an input image signal into L and M (L and M are integers of 2 or more) bands on the horizontal and vertical spatial frequency axes of the image, respectively. a band dividing means for reducing the sampling frequency of the data, the encoded data storing means for storing the output data of said band dividing means, a write address when storing data in the coded data storage unit occurs with the outer shape and it is configurable by providing a coding control means for generating a read address in response to a transmission request data including the read order specification regarding <br/> the spatial frequency band range.

Here, the image database further includes orthogonal transform means for spatially dividing the data of each band into a plurality of pixel blocks and performing orthogonal transform on each block, and reducing the amount of data. Data encoding means, and the encoding control means can specify the data compression as well as the reading order.

The information retrieval terminal used in this method includes a pre-storage means for storing received data, a sampling frequency of output data of the pre-storage means multiplied, and image data band-divided in the image database. a band-restoring means for restoring, stores the output of the band-restoring means, and display data storing means for outputting the data to the display unit, communicates with the encoding control means of the image database, the outer shape and spatial frequency band range outputs the image data transmission request including a reading order specified about the provided the pre-storage means, the band synthesizing means, and an information search control means for generating the data or address related to the image data required by the display data storage means It can be configured by the following.

Here, the information retrieval terminal includes a data decompression means for performing a reverse process corresponding to the data compression, and an inverse orthogonal transform means for performing a reverse process to the orthogonal transform means. Can be configured to generate data or addresses relating to image data required for these means.

[0029]

In the information contained in the image data stored in the image database, it is possible to transmit and receive only the parts necessary for the area and the spatial frequency of the original image. The transmission order can also be set on the receiving side.

[0030]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of an image information search system directly used for implementing an image signal processing method according to the present invention;
2 is a schematic diagram of the image signal processing device, FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram of the image database, and FIG. 4 is a detailed diagram of the information search terminal.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an image database for storing image (still image) data, 2 is a moving image database for storing moving image data, and 3 is graphic data. , 4 is a sentence database for storing sentence data, 20 is for inputting a search request for information, and is used to input searched image, moving picture, figure, and sentence data. An information retrieval terminal 30 displayed on the display is a network for communicating between the information retrieval terminal 20 and the database. As described in the description of the prior art, the network 30 includes various networks including a high-band network such as a LAN or ISDN according to the physical distance between the image database 50 and the image search terminal 60. There can be a form of

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes an image data input terminal for inputting image (still image) data converted into a digital signal by sampling at a predetermined frequency and analog-to-digital conversion, and 12 denotes image data. This is an additional data input terminal for inputting a data registration command and image information (name, source, description of contents, keywords, number of vertical and horizontal pixels, etc.).

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 13 denotes a sub-band encoder serving as a band dividing means, which receives image data and divides the image data into a plurality of bands on the horizontal and vertical frequency axes. Is output. Reference numeral 14 denotes a DCT encoder as orthogonal transform means. This DCT encoder 1
4 receives the output of the sub-band encoder 13 and divides the image data of each band into blocks each consisting of 8 pixels each in the vertical and horizontal directions (a total of 64 pixels) in space, and for each block, for example, orthogonal exchange Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT: Disc)
rete Cosine Trasform).

Reference numeral 15 denotes a coded data memory as coded data storage means, which has a storage capacity twice or more the number of pixels required for a display unit, that is, a display 28 described later.
The output of the CT encoder 14 is stored. A data compressor 16 performs an information amount reduction process on the image data output from the coded data memory 15, and has a function of applying a weight coefficient (including 0) to the image data and a Huffman function. It has an encoding function.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an encoding control circuit, which is required for signal processing for the subband encoder 13 and the DCT encoder 14 based on information relating to an image input via the additional data input terminal 12. Output the dimensions of the image, etc.
Writing data to the coded data memory 15,
It outputs a read address, outputs an information reduction algorithm or a target reduction rate to the data compressor 16 in response to a search request, and further outputs an additional data input terminal 12.
It also stores information about the image input from.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 21 denotes an input terminal for an information retrieval request, and reference numeral 22 denotes a data decompressor which can apply Huffman compound processing to image data input via the network 30. Reference numeral 23 denotes a DCT decoder as an inverse orthogonal transform means, which receives the output of the data decompressor 22 and performs an inverse discrete cosine transform. Reference numeral 24 denotes a pre-memory for storing the output of the DCT decoder 23, and reference numeral 25 denotes a sub-band decoder as band reconstructing means for reconstructing band-divided data using the output of the pre-memory 24. Reference numeral 26 denotes a display memory as display data storage means, which stores the image data output from the sub-band decoder 25 at different addresses for each spatial frequency band, and adds and outputs them at the time of reading.

Numeral 27 communicates with the image database 1 in response to the information retrieval request, and performs data decompression 22 and DC.
T decoder 23, pre-memory 24, sub-band decoder 2
5. An information retrieval control circuit for outputting a control signal to the display memory 26, and a display 28 for displaying analog image data output from the display memory 26. Reference numeral 29 denotes a sentence, figure, and moving image data processing circuit as information retrieval control means, which converts data (sentence, figure, moving image) other than image (still image) data from a corresponding database. Search and output to the display 28.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When the image (still image) database 1 is constructed, the sub-band encoder 13 passes the image data, which has been converted into a digital signal in a portion (not shown), through a two-dimensional (horizontal and vertical) spatial frequency band filter. , Each of which is divided into two in the horizontal and vertical directions and divided into four spatial frequency bands.
Output data.

The image data is composed of a luminance signal Y and two color difference signals I and Q, and the same processing is performed for each signal. The operation is the same as that described in the description of the related art, so that the description is omitted. The subband encoder 13 extracts the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the image required for performing this processing from the information on the image input from the additional data input terminal 12.

The DCT encoder 14 is a subband encoder 13
, The image is divided into blocks each consisting of eight pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions for each of the four spatial frequency bands, and DCT is applied to each block. In the division, data on the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the image output from the encoding control circuit 17 is used. For DCT, "Multi-dimensional signal processing of TV images"
(By Takahiko Fukinuki, 1998, published by Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun)
Since it is publicly known from pages 2 to 256, etc., detailed description is omitted.

The processing for the luminance signal Y and the two color difference signals I and Q is the same, and the amplitude data of a total of 64 pixels, 8 pixels in each of the vertical and horizontal directions, is converted into the amplitude of 64 two-dimensional spatial frequency components for each block. Convert. This conversion does not cause loss of information originally provided in the image (provided that there is no error in the calculation process).

The encoded data memory 15 stores the output of the DCT encoder 14 at an address specified by the encoding control circuit 17. The encoding control circuit 17 converts these addresses into at least signals (Y, I, Q), spatial frequency bands ((L, L), (L, H), (H, L), (H,
H)), the blocks are generated so as to have continuous values. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing addresses of the coded data memory 15 as a two-dimensional plane, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a write order of each block, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing addresses on a spatial frequency plane. For example, the data of all blocks of the (L, L) component of the luminance signal Y is written continuously from the address A1 in FIG. The writing order of each block and the data in the block follows a predetermined rule.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the writing order of each block starts from the upper left block of the image and ends with the lower right block while performing horizontal scanning.
It should be noted that a portion surrounded by a dotted line in FIG.

The data in the block is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), scanning is performed in a zigzag manner starting from the amplitude value of the DC component on the spatial frequency plane, and both horizontal and vertical spatial frequencies end with the amplitude value of the maximum component. By adopting the above-described address generation method, an address can be generated by a simple calculation method when responding to a read request involving designation of an area or an order.

Next, the image database 1
The operation in the case where the image data stored in the encoded data memory 15 in the inside is used in the information retrieval terminal 20 will be described. If the desired image is determined from the search input terminal 21, enter or select the name or registration number of the image. If the target image is not clear, enter a keyword. Search for.

In the latter case, as is apparent from the above configuration, an image search similar to the image data management system described in the prior art can be performed. Here, the former case where the effects of the present invention are exhibited will be described. As an example, it is assumed that a search request item relating to a terrain of a certain region is selected from a menu prepared by the information search terminal 20.

As a first step, the information retrieval control circuit 27 first checks the layout on the display 28 from the data relating to the above items stored in itself.
Assume that the layout designation content is such that the left half of the screen is a text window and the right half is an image window as shown in FIG.

In the second step, the information retrieval control circuit 26 fetches the registration number of the sentence data from the data on the above items, and for the image data, the registration number, the reading order designation, the display procedure, and the like. Take in. In the third step, the text database and the image database 1 are added to the database.
Outputs a data transmission request.

At this time, the image data selected as the image data is an image relating to the terrain taken from the artificial satellite, and the size of the image stored in the image database 1 (converted by the number of pixels). ) Is larger than the screen of the display 28 as shown by A in FIG . Also, what is actually displayed on the display 28 in correspondence with the sentence data is a portion B indicated by a dotted line in the figure, and the image data on the right side according to the scroll of the sentence data. Is scrolled so as to be displayed. At this time, the reading order designation output to the image database A is, for example, as follows.

S1. For the first displayed area, the (L, L) component of the luminance signal Y is applied to all blocks, and the (L, L)
The component is output in the order of all blocks, and the (L, L) component of the color difference signal Q is output in the order of all blocks. Next, (L, H) of each signal,
(H, L) and (H, H) are output in the same order. S2. Regarding the block sequence on the right side of the above-mentioned region, signals and spatial frequency bands are output in the same order as 1. S3. 2. Is repeated to output all data displayed on the screen .

Upon receiving the transmission request, the encoding control circuit 17 generates a read address of the encoded data memory 15 and, since there is no instruction to reduce the information, the data compressor 16 converts the image data into image data. The function of applying the weight coefficient (including 0) does not operate, and control is performed so that only the function of Huffman coding operates. Therefore, the image data read from the coded data memory 15 is transmitted to the data compressor 1
After the Huffman coding in step 6, the data is input to the data decompressor 22 in the information retrieval terminal 20 via the network 30.

Note that Huffman coding is a kind of lossless coding, and is intended to reduce the amount of data without reducing information loss by reducing data redundancy. The image quality is not degraded by the conversion process.

The data decompressor 22 performs Huffman decoding on the input signal and outputs the result. Upon input of the signal, the DCT decoder 23 performs inverse DCT for each block.
The pre-memory 24 stores the output of the DCT decoder 23.

Here, the step of restoring image data is performed in accordance with the reading order designations S1, S2, and S3.
The description will be made in three stages of 1, T2 and T3.

At the stage of T1, the sub-band decoder 25 first executes the pre-memory 24 for all the transmitted areas.
(L, L) of the luminance signal Y, which is the image data stored in
The components are read out, and the interpolation filter is applied after doubling the sampling frequency in the horizontal and vertical directions. At this time, the characteristics of the interpolation filters are both low-pass types.

The output of the interpolation filter is stored in the display memory 26 at an address set for each band component. After the same processing is performed on the data of other band components (the characteristics of the interpolation filter are switched depending on whether the input data is a low-band component or a high-band component, as described in the description of the prior art. ),
It is stored in the display memory 26. The address search circuit 27 generates the address of the display memory 26.

At the time of reading from the display memory 26,
After the data of four bands is added for one pixel, it is output to the display 28. Therefore, for the luminance signal Y, only the (L, L) component is output first, and then the (L, H), (H, L), and (H, H) components are sequentially added and output. At the end of the T1 phase,
First, the restoration work is completed for the area displayed in the image window.

At the stage of T2, when all the data of all the blocks on the right of the region handled at the stage of T1 are stored in the pre-memory 24, the data of the entire region obtained by expanding the sub-band decoder 25 is obtained. Data for the display memory 26.
Update the stored contents of. The operation at the stage of T3 is the same as that at the stage of T2.

In the above process, the data stored in the display memory 26 is expressed as an "image" as follows. First, a black-and-white image blurred in the area corresponding to the image window ((L, L) components of the luminance signal Y)
Appears and the color arrives ((L, L) of the color difference signals I and Q)
Component) and then turn into a sharp image (Y,
(L, H), (H, L), (H, H) components of I and Q signals). When the change ends, a continuous image extends to the right side of the image.

The information retrieval control circuit 27 synchronizes the display of the sentence data with the display of the image data while synchronizing with the display of the sentence data.
From the display 2
8 so as to correspond to the contents displayed in the text window and the image window.

In the above description, a case has been described in which data is transmitted with priorities assigned to image areas. However, in the present invention, as is clear from the configuration, priority is given to image quality or reduction of information is designated. it can. The use of the priority designation regarding the image quality is effective in presenting only the outline component of the image (using only the high frequency component of the spatial frequency), presenting a mosaic screen (designating a DCT block to be transmitted), and the like. Screen presentation can be realized.

Conventionally, such an effective screen presentation has been realized by storing all image data on the receiving side and then performing signal processing. However, according to the present invention, the receiving side only specifies the data transmission order. Is performed, and the network is not occupied by unnecessary image data.

When the image window is small and only the low-frequency spatial frequency component in the image information is sufficient, (L,
L) Only the component needs to be designated for transmission. Further, when image quality degradation can be ignored, necessary frequency band information can be designated, such as by issuing a cut command for a high frequency component in the DCT output, so that the network can be occupied by transmitting unnecessary information. Absent.

Note that the number of divisions of the spatial frequency band, the number of pixels of the DCT block, the capacity of the display memory, the type of image signal, and the order of data transmission are not limited to those described in the description of the above embodiment. Rather, it can vary depending on the purpose of the system.

At the stage of T2, all data of all blocks on the right of the area handled at the stage of T1 are stored in the pre-memory 24.
At this time, the sub-band decoder 25 is applied to "the data of the new block sequence and several block sequences on the left side", and the output is written to the display memory 26 to reduce the amount of signal processing. It is also possible.

As another embodiment of the present invention, when the function of reducing the data amount is not required and only the priority designation regarding the image area and the spatial frequency band is to be realized, the configuration shown in FIGS. Medium, the DCT encoder 14, the data compressor 16, the data decompressor 22, and the DCT decoder 23 may be deleted.

[0068]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, while the image database divides the image into a plurality of spatial frequency band components and accumulates it as data, the information retrieval terminal for restoring the image has Via the network
Required image area (outer shape) and spatial frequency band
The data is read out in order of priority and the required data is received and the image is restored.By specifying the transmission order related to the image area and the spatial frequency band, unnecessary data can be transmitted. The transmission channel is not occupied, so that the transmission channel can be effectively used and the transmission cost can be reduced.

The image database used in this method divides the input image signal into L and M (L and M are integers of 2 or more) bands on the horizontal and vertical spatial frequency axes of the image, respectively. a band dividing means for reducing the sampling frequency of the data, the encoded data storing means for storing the output data of said band dividing means, a write address when storing data in the coded data storage unit occurs with the outer shape and it is configurable by providing a coding control means for generating a read address in response to a transmission request data including the read order specification regarding <br/> the spatial frequency band range (claim 2).

Here, the image database further comprises orthogonal transform means for spatially dividing the data in each band into a plurality of pixels and performing orthogonal transform on each block, and reducing the amount of data. Data encoding means, and the encoding control means can designate data reading as well as the reading order (claim 5).

Further, the information retrieval terminal used in this method includes a pre-storage means for storing received data, a sampling frequency of output data of the pre-storage means multiplied, and image data band-divided in the image database. a band-restoring means for restoring, stores the output of the band-restoring means, and display data storing means for outputting the data to the display unit, communicates with the encoding control means of the image database, the outer shape and spatial frequency band range outputs the image data transmission request including a reading order specified about the provided the pre-storage means, the band synthesizing means, and an information search control means for generating the data or address related to the image data required by the display data storage means This can be configured (claim 3).

Here, the information retrieval terminal comprises a data decompression means for performing the reverse processing corresponding to the data compression, and an inverse orthogonal transformation means for performing the inverse processing to the orthogonal transformation means. Can be configured to generate data or addresses related to image data required for these means (claim 6).

Further, by combining the image database and the information search terminal, an image information search apparatus directly used for implementing the method of the present invention can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of an information retrieval system using an image signal processing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image signal processing device.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the image database.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the information search terminal.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a write address to an encoded data memory;

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the order of blocks stored in an encoded data memory;

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the order of data in one block stored in the encoded data memory;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of information displayed on a display of the information search terminal.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a conventional technique.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of a conventional apparatus.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of spatial frequency division.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image database 13 Subband encoder as band division means 14 DCT encoder as orthogonal transformation means 15 Encoded data memory 16 Data compressor 17 Encoding control circuit 20 Information search terminal 22 Data decompressor 23 As inverse orthogonal transformation means DCT decoder 24 Pre-memory 25 Band restoration means sub-band decoder 26 Display memory 27 Information retrieval terminal 28 Display

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06F 17/30 G06F 12/00 547 G06F 13/00 351

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image signal processing method for transmitting still image data digitized and stored in an image database in response to a search request of an information search terminal via a communication network , wherein the image data is stored in a spatial frequency domain. in divided into a plurality of bands, while the memory to be specified the readout order concerning <br/> the processed data to the geometry and the spatial frequency band range, the information search terminal the image data by designating the reading sequence An image signal processing method comprising receiving and restoring an image. 2. An image database used for image signal processing method according to claim 1, the horizontal direction and respectively the L and the M in the vertical spatial frequency axis of the image input image signals (L, M is 2 or more a band dividing means for reducing the sampling frequency of the data as well as band division in the band of integers); and the encoded data storage means for storing the output data of said band dividing means; when storing data in the coded data storage means image database characterized in that it comprises a; generates a write address, a coding control means for generating a read address in response to a transmission request data including the read order designation regarding <br/> the geometry and spatial frequency band range . 3. Oite information retrieval terminal for use in an image signal processing method according to claim 1, the pre-storage means for storing received data; multiplying the sampling frequency of the output data of the pre-storage means, the image a band-restoring means for restoring the image data is band-divided in the database; stores the output of the band-restoring means, and display data storing means for outputting the data to the display unit; and the coding control means of the image database An information retrieval control means for communicating and outputting an image data transmission request, and for generating data or an address relating to image data required by the pre-storage means, the band synthesizing means, and the display data storage means ; de - information retrieval terminal data transmission request, which comprises a reading order specified about the geometry and spatial frequency band range. 4. An image signal processing device comprising: an image database for storing and transmitting digital signalized still image data; and an information search terminal for receiving transmission data of the image database via a network. image database; reduce the sampling frequency of the data as well as band division in the band of each the L and the M in the horizontal and vertical spatial frequency axis of the input image signal image (L, M is an integer of 2 or more) band division means and for, encoded data storage means and for storing the output data of said band dividing means; when storing data in the encoded data storing means generates a write address, the outer
Wherein the information retrieval terminal; and encoding control means for generating a read address in response to a transmission request data including the read ordering about the shape and spatial frequency band region and pre-storage means for storing received data ; multiplying the sampling frequency of the output data of the pre-storage means, band-restoring means and for restoring the image data is band-divided in the image database; stores the output of the band-restoring unit, display unit and the data a display data storage means for outputting a; communicates with encoding control means of the image database, the outer shape and spatial frequency band
Outputs the image data transmission request including a reading order specified about the band, the pre-storage means, the band synthesizing means,
Information retrieval control means for generating data or addresses relating to image data required by the display data storage means ;
The provided image signal processing apparatus characterized by. 5. An image database used in the image signal processing method according to claim 1, wherein the input image signal is L and M (L and M are two or more, respectively) on the spatial frequency axis in the horizontal and vertical directions of the image. Band dividing means for dividing the band into integer bands and reducing the sampling frequency of the data ; receiving the output of the band dividing means and spatially comprising a plurality of pixels for the data of each of the L and M bands. Orthogonal transform means for dividing into blocks and performing orthogonal transform on each block ; encoded data storage means for accumulating output data of the orthogonal transform means ; and data compression means be reduced; generating a write address when storing data in the coded data storage unit, read about the geometry and spatial frequency band range Ordering out, and thereby generates a read address in response to an image data transmission request including the specifications for data compression, it said to data compression means and encoding control means for outputting a command regarding data reduction; in that it comprises Image database to feature. 6. An information retrieval terminal used in the image signal processing method according to claim 1, wherein the data expansion unit performs a process reverse to a reversible compression process performed by the data compression unit , the received data being input ; Inverse orthogonal transformation means for receiving the output of the means and performing a process reverse to the orthogonal transformation means ; pre-storage means for accumulating the output of the inverse orthogonal transformation means ; sampling frequency of output data of the pre-storage means the multiplying a band-restoring means for restoring the band divided data in the image database; stores the output of the band-restoring means, and display data storing means for outputting the data to the display unit; the image database It communicates with the encoding control means and outputs an image data transmission request, and also includes the data decompression means, the inverse orthogonal transform means, the pre-storage means, the band combining means, and the display data. Information retrieval control means for generating data or an address relating to image data required by the data storage means ;
The image de - information search terminal data transmission request, which comprises a reading order specified concerning <br/> the geometry and spatial frequency band range. 7. An image signal processing apparatus comprising: an image database for storing and transmitting still image data converted into a digital signal; and an information search terminal receiving transmission data of the image database via a network. database; reduces the sampling rate of the data as well as band division in the band of each the L and the M in the horizontal and vertical spatial frequency axis of the input image signal image (L, M is an integer of 2 or more) A band dividing means ; receiving the output of the band dividing means, orthogonally transforming the data of each of the L and M bands into blocks consisting of a plurality of pixels and performing orthogonal transformation on each block; means and; encoded data storing means for storing the output data of said orthogonal transforming means; receives the output of the coded data storage unit Data compression means and to reduce the over data amount; the write address occur when storing data in the encoded data storing means, an image including the specifications for reading order specified about the geometry and spatial frequency band range, and data compression Encoding control means for generating a read address in response to a data transmission request and outputting a command for reducing the amount of data to the data compression means ; and wherein the information search terminal inputs received data ; Data decompression means for performing the reverse processing of the reversible compression processing performed by the data compression means ; inverse orthogonal transformation means for receiving the output of the data decompression means and performing processing opposite to the orthogonal transformation means ; pre storage means and for storing the output of the means; multiplying the sampling frequency of the output data of the pre-storage means, the image database Stores the output of the band-restoring means, display data storage means and for outputting the data to the display unit; band-restoring means and for restoring the band divided data in communicating with the encoding control unit of the image database together and outputs the image data transmission request including a reading order specified about the geometry and spatial frequency band range, the data decompressing means, the inverse orthogonal transform unit, pre-storage means, the band synthesizing means is required by the display data storage means information search control means for generating the data or address related to the image data; comprises, an image signal processing apparatus characterized by.