JP4072283B2 - Data processing method and apparatus, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data processing method and apparatus for handling binary data and metadata, and a storage medium.
[0002]
[Description of Related Art]
Metadata (meta-data) is “data related to data”, and is used as data describing binary data such as image data and audio data. However, if binary data and corresponding metadata exist in separate files, the user must manage the binary data and metadata at the same time when moving or copying the file, which is very annoying. become.
[0003]
In general, various methods for describing binary data and metadata have been proposed to facilitate the management of binary data and metadata. This type of prior art can be divided into two methods: a method of defining a new binary format and a method of managing with a database.
[0004]
First, as an example of a method for defining a new binary format, there are Tiff, Exif, Flashpix, etc. as image formats. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an overview of a format in which metadata is embedded in binary data. Examples of binary data include image data. As shown in FIG. 8, a general method is that a framework for describing metadata is provided in the header portion of an image, and a user describes the metadata therein. By describing metadata in this way, data search / classification becomes easy. Further, since the metadata is included in the binary data, it can be managed by one file, and the file management becomes relatively easy.
[0005]
Next, a method for managing binary data and metadata in a database will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram conceptually showing a method for managing binary data and metadata in a database. A method of managing binary data and metadata existing in separate files using a database or the like as shown in FIG. 9 is also widely performed. In this case, there is an advantage that the existing binary data can be used as it is in the existing application.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there are problems in both the method for defining a new format for describing metadata as described above and the method for managing metadata using a database.
[0007]
First, when a new format for describing metadata is defined, existing binary data must be converted to the new format, and the metadata must be described in the new format. Furthermore, in order to search using the metadata in the new format, an application corresponding to the new format is required. That is, there is a problem that a large number of steps and a dedicated environment are required to describe and use metadata. Further, in order to process binary data in such a new format (for example, output of an image if it is image data), an application corresponding to the format is required, and it cannot be handled by an existing application.
[0008]
In addition, the metadata description method is also uniquely determined in the new format, and in order to create an application that uses the metadata in the new format, a new metadata search routine must be created. There is also a problem. In addition, there was a problem that the format specification had to be changed to describe the new framework metadata.
[0009]
On the other hand, when managing binary data and metadata at the same time using a database, there is a problem that neither metadata registration nor use is possible without database software. Also, dedicated software is required to display the registered metadata. Furthermore, when the binary data is taken out of the database, there is a problem that metadata is not added and binary data without metadata is obtained.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems relating to metadata description and search, and an object thereof is to enable metadata to be registered in binary data without affecting existing applications.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to provide binary data in which metadata is registered in a form that can be processed by an existing application.
[0012]
Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to use existing tools for data description languages by using a general data description language for describing metadata, and to facilitate the development of corresponding applications. There is.
[0013]
Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to extract metadata from binary data in which metadata is described, and to make it available for processing such as search, reference, and change.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The data processing method of the present invention for achieving the above object includes, for example, the following steps. That is,
A data processing method of a data processing apparatus for registering metadata in binary data,
A first reading step of reading the binary data to be given metadata into the memory;
A second reading step of reading on the memory metadata to be added to the binary data;
A connection step in which the processing unit connects the metadata read in the second reading step after the binary data read in the first reading step;
An output step of outputting the data obtained by the connection step as data of one file from the memory.
[0015]
Moreover, the data processing method by the other aspect of this invention for achieving said objective comprises the following processes, for example. That is,
A data processing method of a data processing apparatus for determining metadata in binary data in which metadata is registered,
A reading process for reading the data of one file into the memory;
The data included in the data exists by checking the data read in the reading process from the end and determining whether there is data described in a proper format in a predetermined data description language. And a determination step in which the processing unit determines this.
[0016]
Moreover, according to the other aspect of this invention, the data processing apparatus which implement | achieves said method is provided. Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to implement the data processing method.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0018]
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the data processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a reading unit, which reads an image using a scanner device or the like. Reference numeral 101 denotes an input unit for inputting instructions and data from the user, and includes a keyboard and a pointing device. An accumulation unit 102 accumulates binary data and metadata. As the storage unit 102, a hard disk is generally used. A display unit 103 displays binary data stored in the storage unit 102 or image data read by the reading unit 100. As the display unit 103, a CRT or a liquid crystal display device is generally used.
[0019]
Reference numeral 104 denotes a CPU, which is involved in all of the above-described processes. The ROM 105 and the RAM 106 provide the CPU 104 with programs, data, or work areas necessary for the processes. It is assumed that the ROM 105 also stores a control program for realizing the processing procedure of the present embodiment described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Of course, the storage unit 102 may store the control program, and the control program may be loaded onto the RAM 106 in accordance with execution by the CPU 104.
[0020]
In addition to the above, the data processing apparatus of the first embodiment is provided with various components, but since it is not the main point of the present invention, the description thereof is omitted.
[0021]
Next, a process for registering metadata in binary data in the data processing apparatus configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining metadata registration processing according to the first embodiment.
[0022]
In FIG. 2, first, in step S301, binary data designated by the user is read into the memory (RAM 106). This is done, for example, by inputting a desired binary data file name from the keyboard, or by pointing an icon of the binary data with a pointing device (for example, a mouse). In step S302, an XML file in which metadata specified by the user is described is read into the memory (RAM 106). The specification of the XML file is also performed by inputting a file name from the keyboard or designating a corresponding icon with a pointing device (for example, a mouse).
[0023]
In step S303, it is checked whether the XML file describing the metadata is XML data in a proper format. In the determination of the suitability format, it is checked whether the description format of the XML file is satisfied (for example, whether the left and right parentheses of the tag are paired correctly, whether the tagging format is correct, etc.). It should be noted that the determination as to whether or not the XML data is in the proper format may be a check including whether or not the data is valid XML data. Here, the determination as to whether or not the data is valid XML data is made, for example, by checking whether or not the XML data is described in accordance with a schema such as DTD (Document Type Definition).
[0024]
If it is determined in step S303 that the data is not properly formatted XML data, the process proceeds to step S305. In step S305, the fact that there is an error in the XML data is displayed on the display unit 103, and this process ends.
[0025]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S303 that the XML file is XML data in a proper format, the process proceeds to step S304. In step S304, the metadata is registered by connecting the metadata after the binary data read into the memory in step S301. Thereafter, in step S306, binary data in which metadata is registered is output, and the process ends. Note that the data output in step S306 causes the data having the data structure shown in FIG. 3 to be stored in the storage unit 102 as one file.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a registration state of metadata in binary data according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, by connecting metadata described in XML data to the end of binary data, the metadata can be registered without affecting other applications. That is, the information in the header part of the binary data does not change before the connection of the metadata. For example, when the binary data is image data, the image can be reproduced by a general browser (the connected metadata is ignored). )
[0027]
Furthermore, since the metadata is described in XML, it is possible to add / change / reference the metadata if there is a tool that understands the XML data by extracting the XML data part. Excellent versatility. The extraction of the XML data portion will be described in detail in the second embodiment.
[0028]
As described above, according to the first embodiment, metadata can be registered in existing binary data by describing the metadata in XML and connecting this XML data to the end of the binary data. .
[0029]
That is, according to the first embodiment, by connecting metadata described in a proper format in a predetermined data description language to the end of binary data, existing binary data is not affected without affecting existing applications. It is possible to register metadata in. That is, binary data in which metadata is registered can be provided in a form that can be processed by an existing application. In addition, if an existing data description language is used as metadata, existing tools for the data description language can be used as they are for editing, referencing, and the like, and it is possible to save labor for development.
[0030]
<Second Embodiment>
The method for registering metadata in binary data has been described in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, a process for determining whether or not metadata is registered in binary data and extracting the metadata when registered is described. Note that the configuration of the data processing apparatus in the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 1), and therefore the description thereof is omitted here.
[0031]
In the following, a description will be given of the determination as to whether or not the metadata as described in the first embodiment is registered in the data of the designated file and the operation of extracting the registered metadata. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for discriminating and extracting registered metadata according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the extracted metadata is displayed on the display unit 103, but the output form is not limited to this. For example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the extracted metadata may be configured to be provided to the search process.
[0032]
According to FIG. 4, first, in step S501, a file for which it is determined whether or not metadata is registered, that is, data to be processed, is designated according to a user instruction. The designation of the processing target data in step S501 is performed by inputting a file name of the binary data from the keyboard or instructing a corresponding icon with a pointing device (mouse).
[0033]
In step S502, it is determined whether or not metadata described in XML is registered in the data of the designated file. Hereinafter, the details of the discrimination processing in step S502 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and the schematic diagram of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining details of the metadata determination processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of binary data in which XML data is registered as metadata.
[0034]
As described in the first embodiment, the data structure of the processing target data in which XML data as metadata is registered is as shown in FIG. Therefore, the presence / absence of metadata is determined as follows.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 5, first, in step S601, the entire data of the file specified in step S501 (the entire processing target data) is read into the memory (RAM 106). In addition, since the data output by step S306 of 1st Embodiment are managed as one file, it is possible to read this whole data with a general file management system.
[0036]
Next, in step S602, it is checked whether there is a character string “</ PhotoXML>” at the end of the data read in step S601. If not, the process proceeds to step S605.
[0037]
On the other hand, if a character string “</ PhotoXML>” exists at the end of the read processing target data, the process proceeds to step S603. In step S603, it is checked whether or not the character string “<PhotoXML>” exists before the character string “</ PhotoXML>”, and the data surrounded by the character string is described in a proper XML format. Make sure that At this time, determination may be made including whether or not the data is valid XML. The determination as to whether the format is appropriate and the determination as to whether the data is valid are as described in the first embodiment (step S303).
[0038]
If it is confirmed in step S603 that the format is proper, the process proceeds to step S604. In step S604, it is concluded that the metadata is registered, and this process ends. On the other hand, if it is not confirmed in step S603 that the format is proper, the process proceeds to step S605. In step S605, it is concluded that the metadata is not registered. That is, if the character string “</ PhotoXML>” does not exist at the end of the binary data in step S602, the character string “<PhotoXML>” does not exist in step S603, or the internal description is not appropriate in step S603. If it is determined, the process proceeds to step S605, and it is concluded that no metadata is registered in the processing target data.
This completes the metadata determination.
[0039]
Next, returning to the flowchart of FIG. If it is concluded that the metadata is registered by the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the process proceeds to step S503. In step S503, the contents of the metadata registered based on the XML data in the portion surrounded by the character strings “<PhotoXML>” and “</ PhotoXML>” are displayed, and the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S502 that the metadata is not registered, the process is terminated as it is.
[0040]
As an example, FIG. 7 shows binary data with metadata in which metadata described in an appropriate XML format is registered. In the metadata in FIG. 7, information such as “photographer”, “date”, “title”, and “keyword” of the image is entered. Therefore, it is possible to perform a search or the like using the information by determining the metadata by the above-described procedure. Furthermore, it is possible to record information such as “shutter speed” and “exposure time” at the time of image capture in metadata, and it is also possible to automatically correct an image using such information. Nor.
[0041]
As described above, according to the second embodiment, discrimination between binary data with metadata and normal binary data is discriminated based on whether or not XML data is described in a proper format at the end of the data. It becomes possible. In addition, when metadata is determined, the metadata can be displayed.
[0042]
That is, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to discriminate between binary data in which metadata is registered and binary data in which metadata is not registered, and extract the registered metadata. Therefore, if an existing data description language is used as the metadata, the existing tool for the data description language can be used as it is in the search using the metadata, and the development effort can be saved.
[0043]
In the above embodiments, XML data is used as metadata, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a data description language such as SGML or HTML may be used. Examples of binary data include still image data, moving image data, audio data, and the like.
[0044]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, and the like), but a device (for example, a copier, a facsimile device, and the like) including a single device. You may apply to.
[0045]
Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for implementing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the.
[0046]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0047]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0048]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.
[0049]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, metadata can be registered in binary data without affecting an existing application. That is, binary data in which metadata is registered can be provided in a form that can be processed by an existing application.
[0051]
Further, according to the present invention, by using a data description language for describing metadata, it becomes possible to use a tool for an existing data description language, and development of a corresponding application is facilitated.
[0052]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, metadata can be extracted from binary data in which metadata is described, and can be used for processing such as search, reference, and change.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data processing apparatus according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating metadata registration processing according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a registration state of metadata in binary data according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a determination and extraction procedure of registered metadata according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating details of metadata determination processing according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of binary data in which XML data is registered as metadata.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating binary data with metadata in which metadata described in an XML proper format is registered as an example.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an overview of a data format in which metadata is embedded in binary data by a general method.
FIG. 9 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a general method for managing binary data and metadata in a database.

Claims (14)

A data processing method of a data processing apparatus for registering metadata in binary data,
A first reading step of reading the binary data to be given metadata into the memory;
A second reading step of reading on the memory metadata to be added to the binary data;
A connection step in which the processing unit connects the metadata read in the second reading step after the binary data read in the first reading step;
A data processing method comprising: an output step of outputting the data obtained in the connection step as data of one file from the memory. A determination step in which the processing unit determines whether the metadata read in the second reading step is described in an appropriate format in a predetermined data description language;
2. The connection unit according to claim 1, wherein, in the connection step, the processing unit connects the metadata after the binary data when it is determined that the processing unit is described in an appropriate format in the determination step. Data processing method. A data processing method of a data processing apparatus for determining metadata in binary data in which metadata is registered,
A reading process for reading the data of one file into the memory;
The data included in the data exists by checking the data read in the reading process from the end and determining whether there is data described in a proper format in a predetermined data description language. A data processing method comprising: a determination step for the processing unit to determine this.   4. The data processing method according to claim 3, further comprising: an output step of extracting the determined metadata and outputting it from the memory when the metadata is determined in the determining step. The discrimination step includes
A check step in which the processing unit checks whether or not an end character string defined in the predetermined data description language exists at the end of the data;
A search step in which the processing unit searches the head character string defined in the predetermined data description language toward the head of the data when the tail character string exists;
When the first character string is searched in the search step, the processing unit determines whether or not the data between the first character string and the last character string has an appropriate format in the predetermined data description language. The data processing method according to claim 3, further comprising an inspection step for inspecting.   6. The data processing method according to claim 1, wherein the binary data is at least one of image data and audio data. A data processing apparatus for registering metadata in binary data,
A first reading means for reading binary data to be given metadata;
A second reading means for reading metadata to be added to the binary data;
Connection means for connecting the metadata read by the second reading means after the binary data read by the first reading means;
A data processing apparatus comprising: output means for outputting data obtained by the connection means as data of one file. Determination means for determining whether the metadata read by the second reading means is described in an appropriate format in a predetermined data description language;
8. The data processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the connection unit connects the metadata after the binary data when it is determined by the determination unit that the data is described in an appropriate format. An apparatus for discriminating metadata in binary data in which metadata is registered,
A reading means for reading data of one file;
Examine the data read by the reading means from the end, and determine whether there is data described in a proper format in a predetermined data description language, thereby determining the presence of metadata included in the data A data processing apparatus comprising: a determination unit for determining.   The data processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an output unit that extracts and outputs the determined metadata when the determination unit determines the metadata. The discrimination means includes
Checking means for checking whether or not the end character string defined in the predetermined data description language exists at the end of the data;
Search means for searching for a head character string defined in the predetermined data description language toward the head of the data when the tail character string exists;
Inspecting means for inspecting whether data between the first character string and the last character string has an appropriate format in the predetermined data description language when the first character string is retrieved by the retrieval means The data processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:   12. The data processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the binary data is at least one of image data and audio data. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program for a data processing apparatus for registering metadata in binary data,
A first reading step of reading the binary data of grantees metadata in memory,
A second reading step of reading on the memory metadata to be added to the binary data ;
A connection step in which the processing device connects the metadata read in the second reading step after the binary data read in the first reading step ;
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the output step of outputting the data obtained in the connection step as data of one file from the memory. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program for a data processing apparatus for registering metadata in binary data,
A reading process of reading data of one file into the memory;
Examine the data read in the reading step from the end, and determine whether there is data described in a proper format in a predetermined data description language, thereby determining the presence of metadata included in the data A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a determination step determined by a processing device.

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