JP3360596B2 - Image search system - 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 retrieval system applied to a digital camera or the like, and more particularly to a technique for retrieving and browsing images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, there has been known an image database in which images photographed by a digital camera or the like are recorded on an image recording medium, and a search system therefor. Generally, this type of image database associates key information (code information) with image data of an image file and inputs the key information at the time of search by a search system.
It is intended to extract a target image. On the other hand, there is known a system having a function of sequentially displaying images recorded in an image database on a display device to search and browse a target image (referred to as browsing). This system not only searches from key information, but also
By displaying one by one, a target image is extracted by visual judgment of the operator.

[0003]

In the case of the former system, it is impossible to search and extract a target image unless key information is organized and key information is input. However, these operations require a great deal of labor.
In particular, for image data of a digital camera, it is necessary to input key information at the time of shooting (it will be forgotten if it is not input immediately), but this work is generally complicated, and if the input of key information is restricted, the shutter Miss a chance.

[0004] In the latter system, browsing of several tens of image data makes it possible to extract a target image practically and reliably. However, when the number of target image data increases, browsing becomes difficult. It is time consuming, inefficient and impractical. In particular, in the case of a digital camera, printing (DPE) is not necessary, so many shots are taken compared to a silver halide camera.
The number of image files tends to be large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and extracts a required image by combining shooting conditions at the time of shooting and history information of operations performed on an image file. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image search system that eliminates the need to add key information to an image file and that enables efficient and accurate search.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, an image photographed by image photographing means, photographing conditions at the time of photographing the image, and an operation on the image are provided. In an image search system using an image display means on which a recording medium capable of recording can be mounted in association with each other, key information relating to the photographing conditions of the image is displayed.
First search condition setting means for setting as image search conditions
And key information relating to operations on the image
Second search condition setting means for setting as search conditions;
Search set by first and second search condition setting means
A search means for searching for an image based on a condition is provided. In the above arrangement, when searching for images, images photographed
Key information on shooting conditions at
Key information is individually set as a search condition , and information at the time of shooting (for example, a shooting date) associated with the image is combined with information on an operation on the image to perform a high-precision search.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium capable of recording an image photographed by an image photographing means, a photographing condition at the time of photographing the image, and an operation on the image in association with each other. In an image search system using a possible image display means, an operation related to the image is performed.
Search condition that sets key information to be used as image search conditions
Setting means, and the search set by the search condition setting means.
Searching means for searching for an image based on a search condition;
Results of the image by the stage, in which with a sorting display means for displaying a list of values of the key information about the operation to the image by sorting the reference. In the above configuration, the search results are listed and displayed based on the value of the key information relating to the operation on the image. As a result, the search results can be edited and arbitrarily prioritized and displayed.

[0008] The invention of claim 3, claim 1
Alternatively, the image retrieval system according to claim 2 , further comprising an editing unit capable of editing a value of key information relating to an operation on the image. In the above configuration, the history information of the operation on the image can be edited, and any search can be performed.

[0009] The invention of claim 4, claim 1
Alternatively, the image search system according to claim 2 , further comprising a browsing means for sequentially displaying a plurality of image files corresponding to the search results. In the above-described configuration, images as search results can be sequentially browsed and browsed.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <Description of Digital Camera>
An image search system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a front view of a digital camera applied to an image search system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof, FIG. 3 is a bottom view thereof, and FIG. 4 shows an electrical configuration of the digital camera. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the overall control unit 211 provided in the digital camera. The digital camera 1 includes a box-shaped camera body 2 and a rectangular parallelepiped imaging unit 3. The imaging unit 3 is detachably attached to the right side of the camera body 2 when viewed from the front, and is configured to be rotatable in a plane parallel to the right side.

The image pickup section 3 has an image pickup device including a photographing lens formed by a macro zoom and a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device).
The image is converted into an image composed of charge signals that have been photoelectrically converted by each pixel of D, and is taken in. Camera body 2
Has a display unit 10 composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a loading unit 17 for loading a memory card 8 in which image data is stored, and a connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected. The camera body 2
After performing predetermined signal processing mainly on the image signal captured by the image pickup section 3, processing for display on the display section 10, recording on the memory card 8, transfer to a personal computer, and the like is performed.

The imaging section 3 is provided with a macro zoom lens 301, and an imaging circuit having a CCD color area sensor 303 is provided at an appropriate position behind the macro zoom lens 301. Further, the imaging unit 3 includes a dimming sensor 305 that receives the reflected light of the flash light from the subject, and is electrically connected to the dimming circuit 304 in the imaging unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the front surface of the camera body 2, a grip portion 4 is provided at an appropriate position on a left end portion, and a built-in flash 5 is provided at an appropriate upper portion on a right end portion. As shown in FIG. 3, on the upper surface of the camera body 2, switches 6 and 7 for frame advance for reproducing a recorded image are provided substantially at the center. The switch 6 is a switch (hereinafter, referred to as an UP switch) for advancing the recorded image in the direction in which the frame number increases (the direction of the photographing order).
The switch 7 is a switch (hereinafter, referred to as a DOWN switch) for advancing the recorded image in the direction of decreasing the frame number. An erasure switch D for erasing an image recorded on the memory card 8 is provided on the left side of the DOWN switch 7 when viewed from the rear side, and a shutter button 9 is provided on the right side of the UP switch 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the back of the camera body 2, an LCD display for displaying a monitor (corresponding to a viewfinder) of a photographed image and reproducing and displaying a recorded image is provided substantially at the center of the left end. An FL mode setting switch 11 for switching a mode related to flash emission and a power switch PS are provided above the LCD display unit 10, and a power switch PS is provided below the LCD display unit 10. A compression ratio setting slide switch 12 for switching and setting the compression ratio K is provided, and a connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected is provided on a side.

The digital camera 1 has an "automatic flash mode" in which the built-in flash 5 is automatically fired according to the brightness of the subject as a mode relating to flash emission, and a "forced flash" in which the built-in flash 5 is forcibly fired regardless of the brightness of the subject. There are provided a "flash mode" and a "flash inhibition mode" for inhibiting the flash of the built-in flash 5. Each time the FL mode setting switch 11 is pressed, each mode of "auto flash", "forced flash" and "flash disabled" is set. Switches cyclically, and one of the modes is selected and set. In the digital camera 1, two compression ratios K of 1/8 and 1/20 can be selected and set. When the compression ratio setting switch 12 is slid to the right, the compression ratio K = 1/8 is set. Then, when sliding to the left, the compression ratio K = 1/20 is set. In the present embodiment, two types of compression ratios K can be selectively set. However, three or more types of compression ratios K may be selectively set.

Further, a photographing / playback mode setting switch 14 for switching between a "photographing mode" and a "playback mode" is provided at the upper right end of the rear surface of the camera body 2. The photographing mode is a mode for photographing, and the reproducing mode is for photographing images recorded on the memory card 8 on an LCD.
This is a mode for reproducing and displaying on the display unit 10. The photographing / playback mode setting switch 14 includes a two-contact slide switch. For example, sliding to the right sets the playback mode, and sliding to the left sets the shooting mode. On the bottom surface of the camera body 2, a card loading chamber 17 for the memory card 8 and a battery loading chamber 18 are provided.
The loading port 18 is closed by a clamshell type lid 15. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment
The drive source is a power supply battery formed by connecting four AA batteries in series.

In FIG. 4, a CCD 303 converts an optical image of a subject formed by a macro zoom lens 301 into an R image.
The image signal is a signal that is photoelectrically converted into an image signal of a color component of (red), G (green), and B (blue) (a signal composed of a signal sequence of pixel signals received by each pixel) and output. The timing generator 314 generates various timing pulses for controlling driving of the CCD 303. The exposure control in the imaging unit 3 is performed by adjusting the exposure amount of the CCD 303, that is, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 303, which corresponds to the shutter speed, since the stop is a fixed stop. If an appropriate shutter speed cannot be set when the subject brightness is low, the improper exposure due to insufficient exposure is corrected by adjusting the level of the image signal output from the CCD 303. That is, when the luminance is low, the exposure control is performed by combining the shutter speed and the gain adjustment.

A drive control signal of the CCD 303 output from the timing generator 314 is generated based on a reference clock transmitted from the timing control circuit 202, and includes, for example, a timing signal of integration start / end (exposure start / end), A clock signal such as a read control signal (horizontal synchronizing signal, vertical synchronizing signal, transfer signal, etc.) for the light receiving signal of the pixel is generated and output to the CCD 303. Signal processing circuit 31
Reference numeral 3 denotes a unit for performing predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 303.
It has a DS (correlated double sampling) circuit and an AGC (auto gain control) circuit. The CDS circuit reduces the noise of the image signal, and the level of the image signal is adjusted by adjusting the gain of the AGC circuit.

The dimming circuit 304 controls the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 in flash photography to a predetermined light emission amount set by the overall control unit 211. In flash photography, the reflected light of flash light from the subject is received by the light control sensor 305 at the same time as the start of exposure, and when the amount of received light reaches a predetermined light emission amount, the light control circuit 3
04 from the flash unit via the control unit 211
It is output to the control circuit 214. The FL control circuit 214
The light emission of the built-in flash 5 is forcibly stopped in response to the light emission stop signal, whereby the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled to a predetermined light emission amount.

In the camera body 2, the A / D converter 205 converts each pixel signal of the image signal from the signal processing circuit 313 into a 10-bit digital signal. The A / D converter 205 converts each pixel signal (analog signal) into a 10-bit digital signal based on an A / D conversion clock input from an A / D clock generation circuit (not shown). The timing control circuit 202 generates a reference clock and a clock for the timing generator 314 and the A / D converter 205 in the camera body 2, and is controlled by the control unit 211.

The black level correction circuit 206 corrects the black level of the pixel signal (hereinafter referred to as pixel data) A / D converted by the A / D converter 205 to a reference black level. The WB circuit 207 also adjusts R, G, B so that the white balance is adjusted after the γ correction.
The level conversion of the pixel data of each color component is performed, and the level of the pixel data of each color component of R, G, B is converted using a level conversion table input from the overall control unit 211. The conversion coefficient (gradient of the characteristic) of each color component in the level conversion table is set by the overall control unit 211 for each captured image. The γ correction circuit 208 corrects the γ characteristics of the pixel data,
There are various types of γ correction tables, and γ correction of pixel data is performed using a predetermined γ correction table according to a shooting scene and shooting conditions.

The image memory 209 stores pixel data output from the gamma correction circuit 208 and has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, the image memory 2
09, when the CCD 303 has n rows and m columns of pixels, it has a storage capacity for pixel data of n × m pixels, and each pixel data is stored in a corresponding pixel position. . The image memory (VRAM) 210 is a buffer memory for image data reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10, and has a storage capacity of image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD display unit 10.

In a shooting standby state, each pixel data of an image picked up by the image pickup unit 3 every 1/30 seconds is A / A
A predetermined signal processing is performed by each circuit of the D converter 205 to the γ correction circuit 208, and thereafter, is stored in the image memory 209, and is stored in the VRAM via the overall control unit 211.
The data is transferred to 210 and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. Thus, the photographer can visually recognize the subject image from the image displayed on the LCD display unit 10. In the reproduction mode, after the predetermined signal processing is performed on the image read from the memory card 8 by the general control unit 211,
This image is transferred to the image memory 210 and reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. The card I / F 212 is an interface for writing image data to the memory card 8 and reading image data. The communication I / F 213 is an interface conforming to, for example, the USB standard for externally connecting the personal computer 19 so that communication is possible.

The FL control circuit 214 has a built-in flash 5
This is a circuit for controlling the light emission. The FL control circuit 214
The built-in flash 5 based on the control signal of the overall control unit 211
The presence or absence of light emission, the amount and timing of light emission,
The light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled based on the light emission stop signal input from the light control circuit 304. RTC 219
This is a clock circuit for managing the shooting date and time, and is driven by another power source (not shown). The operation unit 250 includes the above-described UP switch 6, DOWN switch 7, shutter button 9, FL mode setting switch 11, compression ratio setting switch 12, and shooting / playback mode setting switch 14.

The overall control section 211 is composed of a microcomputer, and controls the driving of each member in the image pickup section 3 and the camera main body section 2 in an organic manner to control the photographing operation of the digital camera 1 in an integrated manner. is there. As shown in FIG. 5, the overall control unit 211 includes a luminance determination unit 211a for setting an exposure control value (shutter speed (SS)),
A shutter speed setting unit 211b. The brightness determination unit 211a is configured to operate the CCD 30 in the shooting standby state.
In step 3, the brightness of the subject is determined using an image captured every 1/30 second. That is, the luminance determination unit 211a
Is used to determine the brightness of a subject using image data that is renewedly stored in the image memory 209. The storage area of the image memory 209 is divided into nine blocks, and G ( The luminance data representing each block is calculated using the pixel data of the (green) color component.

The shutter speed setting unit 211b sets the shutter speed (integration time of the CCD 303) based on the result of the brightness determination of the subject by the brightness determination unit 211a, and has a table of the shutter speed SS. . The shutter speed SS is initially set to 1/128 seconds when the camera is started, and in a shooting standby state,
The shutter speed setting unit 211b includes a brightness determination unit 211
The setting is changed from the initial value to the high-speed side or the low-speed side step by step according to the determination result of the brightness of the subject by a.

The overall control unit 211 includes a “low-brightness scene”, a “medium-brightness normal scene”, a “low-brightness scene”, and a "Medium brightness backlight scene"
And a scene determination unit 211c that determines four types of shooting scenes of “high brightness scene”. "Low brightness scene"
Is a scene that normally requires auxiliary light from a flash, such as indoor shooting or nighttime shooting. A “medium-luminance normal scene” is a mode in which illumination light (including natural light and artificial light) for the main subject is in direct light. In addition, the scene can be photographed without auxiliary light because its brightness is appropriate. The “medium brightness backlight scene” is a scene in which the overall brightness is appropriate, but the flash light is preferable because the illumination light for the main subject is backlight, and the “high brightness scene” is, for example, a clear sea scene. It is a very bright scene like shooting at a ski resort.

Further, the overall control unit 211 determines whether the captured image is an image of a normal photograph of a landscape, a person, or the like (hereinafter, such a captured image is referred to as a natural image), a character drawn on a board, An image determination unit 211e that determines whether an image such as a chart (hereinafter, an image similar to a binary image of this type is referred to as a character image) is provided. The image determination unit 211e creates a histogram of luminance data at each pixel position based on the pixel data constituting the captured image stored in the image memory 209, and determines the content of the captured image based on the histogram. In general, a histogram of luminance data of a captured image is a so-called one-peak distribution having a single peak value with a small bias in the luminance distribution in the case of a natural image. In the case of a character image, the luminance distribution is biased in each of a white background portion and a black character portion, resulting in a two-peak distribution. Therefore, the image determination unit 21
1e determines whether the captured image is a natural image or a character image by determining whether the histogram of the brightness data BV (i, j) of the captured image has a single-peak distribution or a two-peak distribution. Determine. Then, this determination result is stored in the memory 211d.
Is stored.

The overall control unit 211 includes a filter unit 211f for performing a filtering process and a recorded image generating unit 211g for generating a thumbnail image and a compressed image in order to perform the recording process of the photographed image.
In order to reproduce the image recorded on the LCD display unit 10, a reproduced image generation unit 211h that generates a reproduced image is provided. The filter unit 211f corrects high-frequency components of an image to be recorded by a digital filter to correct image quality related to contours. Filter section 211f
Is, for each of the compression ratios K = 1/8 and 1/20,
A digital filter for performing standard contour correction, two types of digital filters for strengthening the contour and two types of digital filters for weakening the contour are provided for the standard contour correction, that is, a total of five digital filters. .

The recording image generation unit 211g is provided in the image memory 2
The pixel data is read from 09 and a thumbnail image and a compressed image to be recorded on the memory card 8 are generated. The recording image generation unit 211g reads pixel data for every eight pixels in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction while scanning in the raster scanning direction from the image memory 209, and sequentially transfers the pixel data to the thumbnail image area in the memory card 8. Thus, the thumbnail images are recorded on the memory card 8 while being generated. Further, the recording image generation unit 211g reads out all pixel data from the image memory 209, performs predetermined compression processing by JPEG such as two-dimensional DCT conversion and Huffman coding on the pixel data, and converts the image data of the compressed image. Generate
This compressed image data is recorded in the main image area of the memory card 8.

In the photographing mode, when photographing is instructed by the shutter button 9 in the photographing mode, the overall control unit 211 compares the thumbnail image of the image taken into the image memory 209 after the photographing instruction and the compression set by the compression ratio setting switch 12. A compressed image compressed by the JPEG method is generated based on the rate K, and tag information (frame number, exposure value, shutter speed, compression rate K, shooting date, flash on / off data at shooting, scene information, Both images are stored in the memory card 8 together with information such as image determination results).
Images taken by the digital camera 1 are stored in a memory card 8
In addition, 40 frames of images can be stored at a compression ratio of 1/20, and each frame has a tag portion, high-resolution image data (640 × 480 pixels) compressed in JPEG format, and image data for thumbnail display ( 80 × 60 pixels). This image file can be handled as an image file in, for example, an EXIF format on a frame-by-frame basis. Further, the memory card 8 has an area for storing history information for each image for each frame (see FIG. 6).

<Attachment of history information> Next, the memory card 8 of the history information regarding the image file in the digital camera 1
The process of writing data to is described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As described above, when the shooting / playback mode setting switch 14 is slid to the right, the playback mode is set. When any switch is pressed in the playback mode (Yes in S100), if it is the UP switch 6 (Yes in S110), the timer T1 (described later) of the playback display time currently being counted is cleared (S12).
0), and after incrementing the display frame number (S13)
0), the displayed frame image is updated (S14)
0). For example, in a state where the third frame is displayed, U
When the P switch 6 is pressed, the next fourth frame is displayed. Then, the timer T1 for counting the display time of the new frame image is started (S150). Next, the timer T2 whose value is updated when no switch is pressed is cleared (S160) and restarted (S1).
70). This timer T2 is used for an auto power-off process of turning off the power when the value is equal to or more than a predetermined value.

On the other hand, if No in S110, it is determined whether the power switch PS has been pressed (S180), and if the power switch PS has been pressed, termination processing is performed (S19).
0), except for the power switch PS, it is determined whether or not the delete button D is pressed with Del 1; if the delete button D is pressed, whether or not the image data has been transferred to the magneto-optical disk with Del 2 It is determined whether the image data has been transferred and the image data and its history information are deleted (Del 3). If the data has not been transferred to the magneto-optical disk, a warning message is displayed to the operator (Del 4), and when the delete button D is pressed thereon (Del 4).
5), deletes the image data and its history information (De
l 3), proceed to S160. If the delete button D is not pressed after the warning is displayed (No in Del 5), the process proceeds to S160 without deleting the image data and the history information. Whether or not the transfer to the magneto-optical disk has been completed can be determined based on history information recorded on the memory card 8 at the time of transfer, as described later.

Next, a process for recording history information according to the reproduction and display time of an image on the memory card 8 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. S200
When the timer T1 counts 30 seconds or more, that is, when the UP switch 6 is not pressed for 30 seconds or more, it means that a specific image is continuously displayed and displayed. Unlike this, it is considered an image having important meaning. Therefore, for such an image, after clearing the timer T1 (S210), for an image for which no history information is recorded (No in S220), the history information of the display time corresponding to the image frame is obtained. (S230-1), and for an image for which history information is already recorded (Yes in S220), the history information of the display time corresponding to the image frame is incremented (S230-2). By adding one to the display time history information, the priority of the image is raised.

Further, when the value of the timer T2 exceeds 300 seconds (Yes in S240), the history information of the display time corresponding to the image frame recorded as described above is reset to 0 (S250). ). This is because even if the displayed image is not an important image, if the image is left as it is, the history information is added in S230, which may cause noise at the time of search.
In such a case, the history information is deleted. Thereafter, the timer T2 is cleared (S260), and an auto power-off process is performed (S270). Note that S110, S1
As shown at 80 and S190, even after the image is displayed for a long time, if the power is turned off by pressing the power switch PS, the history information is not deleted.

<System Configuration of Image Transfer Apparatus for Transferring Data from Memory Card to Magneto-Optical Disk> Next, an image in the memory card 8 storing an image captured by a digital camera is stored in an image search system of the present invention. A description will be given of a case where the image is displayed on the image display device as a component or is transferred to another large-capacity medium (magneto-optical disk).

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an image retrieval system including an image display device, FIGS. 9A and 9B are a front view of the image display device and a plan view of the jog shuttle, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the image display device. . The image display device 21 has a memory card slot 2 for mounting a memory card 8 (image recording medium) on which an image recorded by a digital camera is recorded.
9, a printer 30 and a PC (personal computer)
2 USB (Universal Serial)
Bus) port 31 is provided. Image display device 21
Further, a magneto-optical disk drive 33 for driving a magneto-optical disk 32 (a large-capacity image recording medium) can be directly connected via a magneto-optical disk interface 34. The images recorded on the memory card 8 and the magneto-optical disk 32 are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 36 by operating various switches of the operation unit 37 of the image display device 21.
Will be displayed. The display unit 36 also displays an operation menu for performing various operations. The operation unit 37 is provided with a history setting button H for displaying history information (described later) of image frames on the display unit 36.

To control the image display device 21, the CPU in the data processing unit 39 reads a program stored in the ROM 40, and reads the memory card slot 29, USB port 31, magneto-optical disk interface 34, graphic controller and VRAM 41, liquid crystal Display unit 36,
This is performed by controlling the operation unit 37. The data processing unit 39 includes an RTC driven by the backup battery 43.
(Real time clock) 44 is connected,
The date and time at which the data was processed can be recorded on the magneto-optical disk 32 or the memory card 8. The flash memory 45 records the result of the transfer to the magneto-optical disk. The image display device 21 is supplied with electric power by a battery of the power supply unit 46, and can also be supplied with electric power by an AC adapter (not shown).

<Data Arrangement in Memory Card and Magneto-Optical Disk> The data arrangement in the memory card 8 and the magneto-optical disk 32 is shown in FIG. The image recorded by the digital camera is composed of 40 frames. Each frame includes a portion of the operation history information M for this frame and a tag (heading).
Information section and JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Grou
High resolution image data (640 × 480 pixels) and image data for reduced display (80 × 60 pixels) (thumbnail image data) are recorded in the p) format. For example, each frame can be handled as an image file in the EXIF format. The history information stores the above-described history information regarding the display time of the image frame and the like, and the tag stores the shooting date, flash on / off data at the time of shooting, and the like.

The magneto-optical disk 32 has a memory card 8
Can be transferred and recorded. In the order of recording, image file numbers of No1, No2, No3, ..., No.n, ..., No.3000 are assigned, and each file has a high-resolution image as in the case of the memory card 8. Data, low-resolution image data for thumbnail display (thumbnail image data), tag information, and history information R are recorded. This history information R
Are upwardly compatible with the history information M of the memory card 8 provided by the digital camera 1. This is because the image display device 21 has more functions, for example, the digital camera 1 cannot edit an image, but the image display device 21 can do so. Therefore, when transferring an image from the memory card 8 to the magneto-optical disk 32, not only the history information M of the memory card 8 is transferred, but also the history that will be given by the image display device 21 in the future. The area to which information is to be given
2 above. That is, the capacity of a single frame file is larger on a magneto-optical disk than on a memory card.

There is also a file management unit 51 for managing each image file, in which a directory (hierarchical) structure of the whole and a table for associating file numbers and file names with directories are recorded. ing. For example, when a directory is created as shown in the following table, the configuration is as shown in FIG.

[Table 1]

<Operation of Jog Shuttle 78> A case where the jog shuttle 78 is operated will be described. The jog shuttle 78 includes an outer rotating wheel 781 and an inner rotating portion 782, as is well known. External rotating wheel 781 is ± 90 °
It can be rotated in the range of and has the same function as the following keys according to the rotation angle. State1: + 10 ° to + 30 °: feed key 75 State2: + 50 ° to + 70 °: fast-forward key 76 State3: −10 ° to −30 °: reverse key 73 State4: −50 ° to −70 °: high-speed reverse key 72 State0 : Other angles Note that when the state transits from State1, State2, State3, State4 to State0, it is equivalent to pressing the stop button 74.

The outer rotating wheel 781 is biased by a spring.
As long as the finger is not held in the rotating state, it is at the 0 degree position. Also, a recess 78 for putting a finger is provided in the internal rotating portion 782.
There is a click stop and a contact every 30 °.
When an image is displayed on the screen D13 (FIG. 12 to be described later), if the internal rotation unit 782 is rotated one unit in the + direction (Event +), the image of the next frame is displayed. When the image is rotated by one unit in the negative direction (Event-), the image of the previous frame is displayed. When the feed key 75 is pressed and released immediately,
When Event + occurs and the reverse key 73 is pressed and released immediately
Event- occurs.

<Screen Transition> The transition state of the screen displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 36 of the image display device 21 is described with reference to FIG.
A description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a transition state of this screen. When the magneto-optical disk drive 33 is mounted on the image display device 21 and the power button 71 is turned on, the main unit ROM connected to the data processing unit 39
After the program in the ROM 40 is read and the RAM 52 and the like are initialized according to the processing procedure in the ROM 40, the operation unit 37, the memory card slot 29, the USB port 31, and the magneto-optical disk interface 34 become usable. . Thereafter, the graphic controller and the VRAM 41 under the control of the data processing unit 39 are controlled,
An initial screen D1 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 36.

On the screen D1, "display image" is selected from the options. Arrow keys 791, 7 on screen D1
By pressing 93, the options can be changed in order. When the enter key 772 is pressed while the display of the image is selected, a media selection screen D10 is displayed. Here, a state in which the mounted one of the magneto-optical disk 32 and the memory card 8 is selected is shown. The device that is not mounted may be unselectable or its display method may be changed. For example, a method of displaying in a light color is conceivable. When both are mounted, either the magneto-optical disk 32 or the memory card 8 may be preferentially selected.

When the jog shuttle is set to State 1 on the screen D10, the high-resolution image data of the image file recorded on the magneto-optical disk 32 is sequentially displayed for each frame in the order of the photographing date (browsing mode; screen D11). When the jog shuttle is set to State0 in the browsing mode, the browsing stops, and the image that was displayed when the jog shuttle was set to State0 remains displayed (screen D13). on the other hand,
When the jog shuttle is set to State 2 on the screen D10, the thumbnail image data of the image files recorded on the magneto-optical disk 32 is sequentially displayed for each frame in the order of the shooting date (high-speed browsing mode; screen D12). Thumbnail data size is 80 × 60 (pixel) display area is 6
Since it is 40 × 480 (pixel) and the data amount is small, high-speed browsing is possible. At the time of display, the visibility is enhanced by complementing and enlarging the thumbnail image.

When the jog shuttle is set to State 0 in the high-speed browsing mode on the screen D12, the browsing is stopped, and the image displayed when the state is changed to State 0 remains displayed (Screen D13). Screen D13
When the menu key 771 is pressed, the screen transits to the screen D14. When the jog shuttle is set to State 1 again on the screen D13, the browsing mode is set and the jog shuttle is set to Stat.
Set to e2 for high speed browsing mode.
When Event + occurs on the screen D13, the next frame is displayed, and when Event- occurs, the previous frame is displayed.
For example, in browsing mode, No1, No2, ...., No9, N
At the stage where o10 is displayed and No10 is displayed, if you notice that you have gone too far, then turn the jog shuttle to State 0
Then, by rotating the internal rotating unit 782 in the negative direction by one unit (Event-), a necessary image can be reached. Although the screen transition has been described by exemplifying the case where the jog shuttle is operated, the same applies when the keys 72 to 76 are operated.

<Screen Transition, File Transfer> Next, file transfer processing will be described. When "3. Transferring an image" is selected on the screen D3 and the enter key is pressed, the screen shifts to the transfer of the image on the screen D31. In this screen, the memory card 8
From the optical disk 32 to the magneto-optical disk 32 or from the magneto-optical disk 32 to the memory card 8. When the transfer from the memory card 8 to the magneto-optical disk 32 is selected and the enter key is pressed, a display indicating that the image is being transferred is displayed (screen D32). Screen D3 indicating that transfer has been completed
3 is displayed, and if the enter key is pressed at this time, the screen returns to the screen D3.

<Image Editing> Next, an image editing operation in the image display device will be described with reference to FIGS. When the menu key 771 is pressed on the screen D13, an image editing menu is displayed (screen D1).
4). On this screen, there are five options of image editing, printout, data processing, transfer to a PC, and enlarged display. Arrow keys 791, 793 or jog shuttle 7
The selected one is cyclically changed by the operation of 8 (screen D14 to screen D19). Screen D14 to Screen 19
In, when the enter key is pressed, a transition is made to the next layer. Here, when the enter key 772 is pressed on the screens D14 to D18, the screens D140 to D18 of the next layer are pressed.
When the menu key 771 is pressed on the screens D140 to D180, the screen returns to the screens D14 to D18 of the previous hierarchy.

When "edit image" is selected on the screen D14 and the enter key 772 is pressed, the screen is changed to a screen D140 on which an image edit item can be selected. By operating the arrow keys 791 and 793 or the jog shuttle 78 on this screen,
The screen transits to screens D141 and D142, and rotation and color balance adjustment can be selected. When the enter key 772 is pressed on the screen D140 where trimming has been selected, the screen transits to a trimming screen D1400. On the screen D1400, a trimming frame can be set by operating the arrow keys 791, 793 or the jog shuttle 78. When the enter key 772 is pressed on the screen D1400, the screen returns to the screen D140 with the trimming frame set. When the menu key 771 is pressed on the screen D1400, the setting of the trimming frame is canceled and the screen returns to the screen D140.

When the enter key 772 is pressed on the screen D141, the screen transits to an image rotation editing screen D1410. Screen D
At 1410, right or left rotation can be selected by operating the arrow keys 791 and 793 or the jog shuttle 78. When the enter key 772 is pressed on the screen D1410, the screen returns to the screen D141 with the image rotated right or left.
When the menu key 771 is pressed on the screen D1410,
The rotation of the image is canceled and the screen returns to the screen D141.

When the enter key 772 is pressed on the screen D142, the screen transits to a color balance setting screen D1420. On the screen D1420, five adjustment items, brightness, contrast, R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) can be selected by operating the arrow keys 791, 793 or the jog shuttle 78. Here, for example, when adjusting the brightness, the set brightness is displayed in a bar graph shape. Contrast, R, G, and B can be similarly adjusted.

When the enter key 772 is pressed on the screen D15 (printout), printing is started and a message indicating that printing is in progress is displayed (screen D150). When printing is completed, a message indicating that printing has been completed is displayed (screen 15).
1) When the enter key 772 or the menu key 771 is pressed, the screen returns to the screen D15. When the enter key 772 is pressed on the screen D16 (in a state where data processing is selected), the screen D1 is displayed.
The state transits to 60 (data arrangement), and data deletion and history information editing become possible. Menu key 77 on screen D160
Pressing 1 returns to the screen D16.

When the enter key 772 is pressed on the screen D17 (transfer to PC), the transfer to the PC is started, and the fact that the transfer to the PC is being performed is displayed (screen D170). When the transfer to the PC is completed, a message indicating the completion of the transfer to the PC is displayed (screen D171), and when the enter key 772 or the menu key 771 is pressed, the screen returns to the screen D17. When the enter key 772 is pressed on the screen D18 (enlarged display), an enlarged screen display screen D1 in which the image displayed in the background is enlarged by 200%
It changes to 80. When the jog shuttle 78 or the arrow keys 791 to 794 are operated on the screen D180, the enlarged image displayed on the background is scrolled. When the menu key 771 is pressed, the display magnification is restored and the screen D is restored.
Return to 18. On the screen D19 (return), the enter key 772 is displayed.
Pressing returns to the screen D13.

<History Information> How the history information is recorded as a result of performing the above-described file transfer and editing operations will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 15 and 16 are tables showing tables of tag information and operation history information for each frame image stored on the magneto-optical disk 32. FIG. The first to fifth columns are tag information recorded on the memory card 8 at the time of photographing with the digital camera. When the image data is transferred from the memory card 8 to the magneto-optical disk 32, the tag information shown in the first to fifth columns is also transferred at the same time. The sixth column is history information recorded on the memory card 8 when an image is reproduced and displayed on the digital camera 1 as described above. The seventh column is the ID information of the transferred magneto-optical disk 32, which is recorded when the image data is transferred from the memory card 8 to the magneto-optical disk 32. This is recorded on the memory card 8 on the transfer side, and its own ID is also recorded on the magneto-optical disk 32 on the transfer side. The ID of the magneto-optical disk 32
Is given when the format operation of the magneto-optical disk 32 is performed. The ninth column is information on the date when the image data was transferred. From the eighth and tenth columns,
Immediately after the transfer, all 0s are registered, and only the storage area is secured. The sixth and seventh columns correspond to the history information M described above.

After data is transferred from the memory card 8 to the magneto-optical disk 32, browsing is performed by the image display device 21, and when the history setting button H is pressed while browsing, the number of times is recorded in the tenth column. It is incremented each time the history setting button H is pressed. The display time of the image of the specific frame at the time of browsing is recorded in the eleventh column. The unit is seconds, and the decimal part is rounded up. The latest date when the history setting button H was pressed or the latest date when an image was picked up and the image was displayed for 20 seconds or more is recorded in the twelfth column. The number of prints is recorded in the thirteenth column, and the date of printing is recorded in the fourteenth column. The latest date when the image data was transferred to the personal computer is recorded in the fifteenth column. The number of times the image has been edited is recorded in the 16th column, and the value is incremented each time an editing operation is performed. The most recent date of editing is recorded in the 18th column. In the 17th column, a value indicating the latest editing type is recorded. This value is recorded according to:

[0057]

[Table 2]

In the eighth column, the rank of the image frame is recorded. The rank is an index for evaluating importance of an image of a specific frame from an operation on the image. The rank is calculated by the following formula, and is constantly updated and recorded each time a corresponding operation is performed.

[Equation 1] Rank = Int (Sqrt ((display time on camera) ＾ 2/10 + (number of times history button is pressed) ＾ 2 + (time when same image is displayed) ＾)
2/10 + (number of prints) ＾ 2 + (number of edits) ＾ 2))
Otherwise, it is rounded to 10.

The above is an example of a method of determining a rank. For example, a printed image does not necessarily need to be stored in the magneto-optical disk 32 because a printout exists. Based on such a concept, the following rank determination method may be used.

[Equation 2] Rank = Int (Sqrt (Abst ((display time on camera)) ＾ 2/10 +
(Number of times the history button is pressed) ＾ 2 + (time when the same image was displayed) ＾ 2/10-(number of prints) ＾ 2 + (number of edits) ＾ 2))) The definition of the function is as follows is there. Int () Function indicating an integer value not exceeding the argument Sqrt () Function indicating the square root of the argument Abst () Function indicating the absolute value of the argument

Although the history information is provided by the above-described procedure, it is necessary to take measures against an erroneous operation. For this purpose, the image display device 21 is provided with a function of editing history information. FIG. 17 is a state transition diagram of a screen showing editing of history information. When the arrow keys 791 and 793 or the jog shuttle 78 are operated on the initial screen D1 (FIG. 12) and the enter key 772 is pressed on the screen D16 in which data processing is selected, the screen transits to the data organizing screen D160. On the screen D160, editing of history information, deletion of data, and recompression in accordance with the rank can be selected. If the user selects the editing of the history information and presses the enter key 772, the screen transits to a history information editing screen D1601. In this screen, the screen is scrolled by operating the arrow keys 791, 792, 793, 794 or the jog shuttle 78, so that editing of all data in the second and subsequent columns of the history table in FIG. It is possible.

The following is an example of editing. Screen D16
In 01, the editing of the shooting date is selected. D160
When the arrow key 794 is pressed with 1, the shooting date is incremented by 1 as shown in FIG. 18 (screen D16010),
Thereafter, each time the arrow key 794 is pressed, the shooting date is sequentially incremented by one. Conversely, when the arrow key 792 is pressed on the screen D16010, the shooting date is sequentially decremented by one. When the arrow key 793 is pressed on the screen D1601, an edit screen D1 for the next item “presence or absence of flash emission” is displayed.
602. Arrow key 79 as in screen D1601
2,794, the presence or absence of light emission can be set.

Next, the case of deleting data will be described. When the arrow key 793 is pressed on the screen D160, the screen transits to a data deletion screen D161. When the enter key is pressed in D161, the screen transits to a warning screen D1611. When the enter key 772 is pressed on this screen, the image data including the tag information and the history information is deleted. When the menu key 771 or the enter key 772 is pressed in D1611, the display returns to D161 without deleting the image data. At the time of this data deletion, image data with a rank value of 4 or more in the eighth column of the history table are stored with a reduced compression and increased file size. This is a measure for preventing important data from completely disappearing due to an erroneous operation.
In this case, the compression ratio is changed as follows according to the rank. This is realized by changing the compression ratio of the JPEG file. Not only the compression ratio but also reducing the file size may be used together.

[Table 3]

The compressed image data (image data designated to be deleted) is stored in a partial area of the file management unit 51 of the magneto-optical disk 32 together with the tag information and the history information. However, the thumbnail image data is deleted because it can be created from the compressed image. Note that the apparently deleted data is indicated by an arrow key 792 on the screen D161.
Is restored by pressing (screen D1612). Also, by deleting the image data, for example, 206
When the data area of the image frame is blank, the new data is stored in the blank area No. 206 when the next file transfer is performed.

When the arrow key 793 is pressed on the screen D161,
The screen transits to the data recompression screen D162 according to the rank. This saves limited disk space by storing images with different compression ratios for images that are likely to be used (images with a higher rank) and images that are less likely to be used (images with a lower rank). It is something to try.
When the enter key is pressed in screen D162, D1621
Is displayed to indicate that recompression is in progress. When the compression process ends, the screen transits to a screen of D1622.

The recompression of the image file on the screen D162 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When compression processing is performed on the screen D162,
Image files are read out one by one, and the following processing is performed on all recorded image files. First, the item of the rank of the image file is read (S10).
00), if the rank is 0 (Ye in S1001)
s) The process directly exits from the process and performs the process for the next image file. If the rank is 7 or more (Yes in S1002)
s) and store the image file in an expanded state (S10)
03, S1004). This is because important image files are frequently used. By performing this processing, the image data decompression processing when using the file can be omitted. When the rank of the image file is 1 to 6 (N in S1002
o), a process of changing the compression ratio according to the rank as described below is performed (S1005).

[Table 4]

<Search Screen> Next, the image display device 21
Will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 22, which show image transitions at the time of search. By operating the arrow keys 791, 793 or the jog shuttle 78 on the screen D1 of the in-menu, a search is selected (screen D2). When the enter key 772 is pressed on the screen D2, the screen transits to a search condition setting screen D200. On the screen D200, search conditions for a shooting date are set. Screen D200
Indicates that shooting date = ignore. The meaning of "ignore" means that the item is excluded from the search condition. When the arrow key 794 is pressed on the screen 200, the screen transitions to a shooting date condition setting screen D205 for the data to be searched.
When the arrow key 794 is pressed on the screen D205, the screen shifts to a setting screen D2010 for setting the “year” at the lower limit of the shooting date range. Or later,
Each time the arrow key 794 is pressed, the setting screen D2030 of the lower limit of the shooting date range, the setting screen D2050 of the lower limit of the shooting date range, and the setting screen of the upper limit of the shooting date range “Year” (FIG. The screen transitions to a setting screen (not shown) for setting the upper limit of the shooting date range "month" (not shown) and a setting screen (not shown) for setting the upper limit of the shooting date range "day". Also, when the arrow key 792 is pressed, the screen transitions to the year, month, day setting screen in a screen transition opposite to the previous one.

Setting screen D for "year" at the lower limit of the photographing date range
Each time the arrow key 791 is pressed in 2010, the year is decremented by one (screens D2009, D2008). Conversely, each time the arrow key 793 is pressed on the screen D2010, the year is incremented by one (screen D2011, D
2012), the same applies to the setting of the month and the setting of the day (D2029, D2028, D2031, D2032).
D2049, D2048, D2051, D2052).

When the arrow key 793 is pressed on the screen D200 or the screen D205, the screen transits to a search condition setting screen D210 for determining whether or not there is a flash. Each time the arrow key 794 is pressed on the screen 210, the search condition is changed to “Yes” or “No”, and when the arrow key 792 is pressed, the search condition is changed in reverse (Screen D).
211, D212). Screen 210, Screen 211, Screen 2
When the user presses the arrow key 793 in step 12, the screen for setting the rank as the next search item (screens D220, D221, and D222)
Transitions to. On the screens D220, D221, and D222, the screen can be changed to a screen for selecting the ranks A to E by the same operation as the other operations. The relationship between the rank display on the search screen and the rank of the data stored in the magneto-optical disk 32 is as follows.

[Table 5]

Next, transition of the screen display after the search will be described with reference to FIG. Screen D200, D205, D
When the enter key is pressed on the screens 210 and D220, the screen transits to the search execution screen D201 and the search is executed. When the search is completed, the screen transits to a search result display screen D202, and the number of searched items is displayed. Here, for example, as a search condition, photographing date = 1997/09/15 to 1997/09/1
5. If rank = C and all other items are “ignored”, only the image data of frame No. 116 is extracted, and the number of cases is displayed as one.

On the screen D202, for the search result, thumbnail display, browsing, re-search, and options can be selected. Use arrow keys 791, 7 to select each mode.
This is performed at 93 (screens D202 to D205). Screen D20
Enter key 772 on the screen where option 5 is selected
When the user presses the button, the screen transits to an option screen D2051 related to a display method of the search result. Here, it is a screen for determining the order in which the search results are displayed. On screen D2051, 1:
Display in date order (ascending order) is selected. Arrow keys 79
By pressing 1,793, other items, 2: display in order of date (descending order), 3: display in order of rank (ascending order), 4: display in order of rank (descending order) can be selected. Here, when the enter key is pressed, the display order of the search results is determined by the selected item. Thereafter, the screen transitions to D205.
On the screen D205, every time the arrow key 791 is pressed,
The screen transitions to screen D204, screen D203, and screen D202.

When the jog shuttle is set to State 1 on the screen D202, the thumbnail data is displayed every nine frames from the search result in the order of the shooting dates (when the date order display (ascending order) is selected on the screen 2051) (browsing mode). Screen D2021). The arrangement of the nine frames is, in order of shooting date, upper left, middle upper, upper right,. . . , Lower right. When the jog shuttle is set to State0 in the screen D2021 of the browsing mode, the browsing is stopped, and the nine images displayed when the jog shuttle is set to State0 remain displayed (screen D2023). At this time, the upper left image is selected from the nine thumbnail images. Screen D2
Pressing the arrow keys 791, 792, 793, 794 at 023 moves the image selected from the nine thumbnail images. When the jog shuttle is set to State 1 again, the mode changes to the browsing mode. When the jog shuttle is set to State 3 on the screen D2023, the browsing mode (reverse rotation) is set. When the enter key is pressed in the screen D2023, the screen transits to the screen D13. When Event + occurs on screen D2023, the next nine thumbnail images are displayed,
When Event- occurs, the previous nine thumbnail images are displayed. Although the screen transition has been described by exemplifying the case where the jog shuttle is operated, the same applies when the keys 72 to 76 are operated.

On the other hand, on the screen D203, the jog shuttle
When ate1 is selected, high-resolution data is displayed for each frame from the search results in order of shooting date (browsing mode;
Screen D11). On the other hand, jog shuttle on screen D203
When the state is set to State2, the thumbnail image data is displayed for each frame in the order of the shooting date from the search results (high-speed browsing mode; screen D12). The subsequent screen transition has already been described with reference to FIG.

<Processing at Startup> The processing at startup of the image display device 21 will be described with reference to FIG. The image display device 21 looks at the history information of all files at the time of startup, and performs a process of lowering the rank of a file that has not been operated for a predetermined period. At the time of startup, when the magneto-optical disk 32 is mounted, the items in which the date of the history information is recorded in S2000 sequentially from the first frame (second, ninth, twelfth, twelfth, twelfth, and thirteenth in FIGS. 15 and 16).
Column), look at the latest date (S2001), and if the date is more than six months ago (Ye in S2002)
s) In S2003, the rank is reduced by one. When the editing process is performed again on a frame with a lowered rank, the value of the rank is recalculated. Thus, the history information is appropriately updated.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image can be searched for by a combination of key information relating to photographing conditions at the time of photographing and key information relating to an operation performed on an image file. Since a desired image can be extracted without adding information, management of image data is facilitated. In addition, since the search results are displayed in a list by sorting based on the value of the key information relating to the operation on the image, the operation history information can be easily viewed or displayed with a priority. Further, since the history information can be edited, the accuracy of the search can be improved, and necessary information can be immediately extracted.
Further, by sequentially browsing and displaying the searched images, the extracted images can be easily visually recognized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera applied to an image search system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the digital camera.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of an overall control unit provided in the digital camera.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data array in a memory card.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are flowcharts of a process of writing history information to a memory.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an image search system including an image display device.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are front views of the image display device and the jog shuttle.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an image display device.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams showing a data arrangement and a memory structure in a magneto-optical disk and a memory card.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing data transfer from a memory card to magneto-optics and image browsing.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing screen transition of image display and editing.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a screen transition of image editing.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a history table.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a history table.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a screen transition of editing of history information.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a screen transition for editing history information.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a file recompression process.

FIG. 20 is a screen transition diagram of a search.

FIG. 21 is a screen transition diagram of a search.

FIG. 22 is a screen transition diagram of a search.

FIG. 23 is a screen transition diagram after a search.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of activation.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 8 Memory card (image recording medium) 21 Image display device 32 Magneto-optical disk (image recording medium) 36 Liquid crystal display part (sort display means, browsing means) 37 Operation part 39 Data processing part (search means, sort display means) , Editing means, browsing means) 211 overall control unit 250 operation unit

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image photographed by an image photographing means.
And photographing conditions at the time of photographing this image, and
Recording media that can be recorded by associating operations with each other can be installed
In an image search system using a functional image display means,Key information relating to the photographing condition of the image
First search condition setting means for setting as Key information relating to an operation on the image is stored in an image search condition.
Second search condition setting means for setting as a condition, Set by the first and second search condition setting means.
Based on search criteria Providing search means for searching images
An image retrieval system characterized by the following. 2. An image photographed by an image photographing means.
And photographing conditions at the time of photographing this image, and
Recording media that can be recorded by associating operations with each other can be installed
In an image search system using a functional image display means,Key information relating to an operation on the image is stored in an image search condition.
Search condition setting means to set as a condition, Based on the search condition set by the search condition setting means
Search means for searching for images By the search means Image search results,SaidFor images
Key operationInformationSort by value
Characterized by having a sort display means for displaying a list
Image search system. Characterized in that wherein further comprising editing means editable values of key information about the operation on the images
The image retrieval system according to claim 1 or 2 . 4. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 image retrieval system according to, further comprising a browsing means for displaying a plurality of image files corresponding to the search results successively.