JP4830395B2 - Image display program and image display apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display program for displaying an image and an image display apparatus.

  The following image information management method is known from Patent Document 1. According to this image information management method, image data is read to create an image histogram, and images are grouped and managed based on the created histogram.

JP 2003-67722 A

  However, the conventional image information management method needs to create a histogram based on the original image. For this reason, when displaying a list of thumbnail images used in general image browsing software and attempting to display a histogram together with thumbnail images, it may take time to create the histogram and may not be displayed at high speed. There was a problem that there was.

(1) The image display program according to claim 1 is a reading procedure for reading data of a reduced image created based on an original image from a storage unit, and a histogram of the reduced image based on the data of the reduced image. An image display program for causing a computer to execute a histogram creation procedure to be created and an output procedure to associate the histogram of the reduced image with the reduced image and output to the display means, wherein the output procedure includes the reduction procedure A histogram of an original image that is a source of the reduced image is created by using a free time during which the histogram of the image and the reduced image are output in association with each other.
(2) The image display program according to claim 2 is the image display program according to claim 1, wherein the output procedure superimposes and displays the histogram of the reduced image on the reduced image and outputs it to the display means. It is characterized by making it.
(3) According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display program that reads a reduced image data created based on an original image from a storage unit and reads a histogram of the reduced image based on the reduced image data. In an image display program for causing a computer to execute a histogram creation procedure to be created, and an output procedure to output the reduced image histogram and the reduced image in association with the display means, the histogram created in the histogram creation procedure is converted into data a storage procedure for storing the histogram memory means, the histogram data stored in the storage step comprises the update date of the histogram is compared with update date of the original image, and the update date and time of the histogram, the original image If the update date / time of is newer than the update date / time of the histogram, To perform the re-creation procedure for re-creating a histogram of the underlying original image of the reduced image to the computer.
(4) According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display program that reads a reduced image data created based on an original image from a storage unit and reads a histogram of the reduced image based on the reduced image data. In an image display program that causes a computer to execute a histogram creation procedure to be created and an output procedure in which a histogram of the reduced image and the reduced image are associated with each other and output to a display unit, when the original image is edited and updated The computer is further caused to execute a re-creation procedure for re-creating a histogram of the original image that is the original of the reduced image .
(5) The image display program according to claim 5, in the image display program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, an analysis procedure for analyzing a histogram of the reduced image or the original image, and the analysis Based on the analysis result of the procedure, the computer further executes a classification procedure for classifying the reduced image under a predetermined condition and a search procedure for searching for the reduced image using the predetermined condition at the time of the classification as a search condition .
(6) The image display apparatus according to claim 6, execution and storage means for storing the images display program according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the image display program stored in the storage means And executing means for displaying, and display means for displaying the output result of the output procedure .

  According to the present invention, a reduced image histogram can be created based on reduced image data, the reduced image histogram and the reduced image can be output in association with each other, and even when thumbnail images are displayed as a list. Can be displayed at high speed.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an image display apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image display device 100 is, for example, a personal computer, and an input device 101 operated by a user, such as a keyboard and a mouse, an HDD 102 for storing an image display program and image data described later, a CPU, a memory, and the like. A control device 103 including peripheral circuits of the above, a monitor 104 for displaying various screens output from the image display program, an external interface 105 for capturing an image from an external device such as a digital camera, for example, a USB interface, It has.

  Image data that is captured from an external device via the external interface 105 and stored in the HDD 102 is stored in an image format that can be stored by including various information in the image data, for example, the Exif format. In the present embodiment, image data of thumbnail images (reduced images) obtained by reducing the original image data are included in the image data in the Exif format, in addition to the data relating to the imaging conditions such as the imaging date and time and the imaging mode at the time of imaging. Based on the thumbnail image data, the images can be displayed as thumbnails. In this embodiment, an example in which thumbnail images created based on an original image are included in image data together with the original image will be described. However, the thumbnail image may be managed as a separate file from the original image.

  In the image display device 100 according to the present embodiment, when the user operates the input device 101 and selects a display target image from images stored in the HDD 102, a thumbnail image of the selected display target image. Are displayed in a list on the monitor 104. At this time, as will be described later, histogram data created based on each thumbnail image is displayed on the monitor 104 in association with each thumbnail image.

  The control device 103 includes a histogram creation unit 103a, a histogram storage unit 103b, a thumbnail image display unit 103c, and a histogram update unit 103d. As described above, when the input device 101 is operated by the user and the display target image is selected from the images stored in the HDD 102, the histogram creation unit 103a reads the thumbnail data of the display target image. Thus, a histogram based on the thumbnail data of each image is created. Since the histogram creation process based on the image data is a known technique, a description thereof will be omitted.

  The histogram storage unit 103b converts the histogram of the thumbnail image created by the histogram creation unit 103a into data, and stores the histogram data in the HDD 102 in association with each image. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of a histogram data management database for managing histogram data stored in association with each image. As shown in FIG. 2, histogram data 2b of thumbnail images is stored for each file name 2a of each image.

  In the histogram data management database shown in FIG. 2, the histogram data 2b is data representing the distribution of density values of RGB colors in numerical values. For example, the distribution of density values from 0 to 255 per 1 million pixels. The data is represented by the number of pixels. In addition, in the update date 2c of the histogram data 2b, a date before the update date of the original image is set as an initial value. The update date / time 2c is data to be used in the update process of the histogram data 2b described later.

  The thumbnail image display unit 103c associates the thumbnail image of the display target image selected by the user with the histogram of each thumbnail image created by the above-described processing, and displays it on the monitor 104. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the thumbnail image display unit 103c displays in the thumbnail image display area 3a. When one of the thumbnail images is selected by the user, the thumbnail image display unit 103c is created based on the thumbnail image. The histogram is displayed in the histogram display area 3b.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, a histogram 4b of the thumbnail image 4a is displayed below the thumbnail image 4a, and all the thumbnail images 4a and the histogram 4b are displayed in association with each other. Note that it is assumed that the user has previously set which of the display forms shown in FIG. 3 and the display form shown in FIG. 4 the thumbnail image and histogram are displayed on.

  The display of the thumbnail image and the corresponding histogram in association with each other is not limited to the display form shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 described above. For example, the background of the histogram is made translucent and displayed superimposed on the thumbnail image. You may do it. Moreover, you may display with the other display form which understands the relationship between a thumbnail image and a histogram.

  The user can browse the thumbnail image displayed on the monitor 104 and the histogram, and can select one of the thumbnail images and edit the original image. In this embodiment, when the input device 101 is operated by the user and one of the thumbnail images displayed as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 is selected, the editing screen displaying the original image is displayed separately. Display in window. In the editing screen, as in a general image editing application, a plurality of editing buttons to which various functions for editing an original image are assigned are arranged. The user operates any editing button, The original image is edited by performing various processes on the original image. When the original image is edited, the thumbnail image included in the image data is also updated according to the editing result of the original image.

  As described above, when the original image is edited by the user, the histogram update unit 103 d creates a histogram based on the edited original image, and histogram information corresponding to the thumbnail image stored in the HDD 102. Is updated with histogram information reflecting the editing result of the original image.

  The histogram creation unit 103a also reads a thumbnail image of an image for which a histogram has not yet been created, such as an image newly captured via the external interface 105 while the image is being browsed by the user. A histogram based on these thumbnail images is created. Further, even when an image for which a histogram has been created once by the histogram creation unit 103a has been edited using another image editing application, a histogram reflecting the edited state is recreated.

  Whether or not the image stored in the HDD 102 is an image for which a histogram has not been created is determined based on whether or not the file name of the image exists in the histogram data management database shown in FIG. If there is no file name in the histogram data management database, it is determined that the image has not been created, and a thumbnail image of the image is read to create a histogram based on the thumbnail image.

  In addition, it is determined as follows whether or not an image for which a histogram has been created once by the histogram creation unit 103a has been edited using another image editing application. The update date and time of the image stored in the HDD 102 is compared with the update date and time 2c of the histogram data of the corresponding file name 2a in the histogram data management database shown in FIG. As a result, when the update date / time of the image is later (newer) than the update date / time 2c of the histogram data, the image data is not updated by another image editing application between the previous update of the histogram data and the present time. The histogram is recreated on the assumption that it has been edited.

  On the other hand, when the update date / time of the image matches the update date / time 2c of the histogram data, and when the update date / time of the image is earlier (older) than the update date / time 2c of the histogram data, the histogram data Is determined to be the latest state and the histogram is not recreated. In this way, the latest histogram information can always be stored in the histogram data management database shown in FIG.

  The histogram storage unit 103b stores the histogram data created and recreated by the histogram creation unit 103a in association with each image in the histogram data management database. As described above, by creating and re-creating a histogram while an image is being browsed by a user, a time zone in which the CPU load is not excessive, that is, a CPU free time is utilized. Can efficiently create and save histograms.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing of the image display program executed by the image display apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed by the control device 103 when the user operates the input device 101 and gives an instruction to execute the image display program.

  In step S10, the histogram creation unit 103a determines whether a display target image for displaying a thumbnail image has been selected by the user. If it is determined that the image has been selected by the user, the process proceeds to step S20. In step S20, the histogram creation unit 103a reads thumbnail image data from the image data of the display target image, and creates a histogram of the thumbnail image as described above. The histogram storage unit 103b registers the created histogram data in the histogram data management database shown in FIG. Then, it progresses to step S30.

  In step S30, the thumbnail image display unit 103c displays the thumbnail image of the image selected by the user on the monitor 104 in association with the created histogram as described above with reference to FIG. 3 or FIG. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S40, and the histogram update unit 103d determines whether any of the thumbnail-displayed images has been edited by the user. If it is determined that no image has been edited, the process proceeds to step S60 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined that any image has been edited, the process proceeds to step S50.

  In step S50, as described above, the histogram creation unit 103a recreates a histogram that reflects the image that has been edited by the user, and the histogram update unit 103d uses the histogram data that has been recreated as a histogram data management database. Update. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S60, as described above, it is determined whether there is an image in which the thumbnail image histogram has not been created among the images stored in the HDD 102. If it is determined that there is no image for which a histogram has not been created, the process proceeds to step S80 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is an image for which a histogram has not been created, the process proceeds to step S70.

  In step S70, the histogram creation unit 103a reads thumbnail data of an image for which a histogram has not been created, creates a histogram of the thumbnail image, and the histogram update unit 103d registers the created histogram data in the histogram data management database. To do. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S80.

  In step S80, the update date / time of the image stored in the HDD 102 is compared with the update date / time 2c of the histogram data, and it is determined whether or not there is an image whose image update date / time is newer than the update date / time 2c of the histogram data. Determine whether. If a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S100 described later. On the other hand, when an affirmative determination is made, it is determined that the image data has been edited using another image editing application since the previous histogram data was updated. Then, the histogram creation unit 103a recreates the histogram, and the histogram update unit 103d updates the histogram data management database with the created histogram data. Then, it progresses to step S100.

  In step S100, it is determined whether or not the user has operated the input device 101 to instruct the end of the image display program. If it is determined that the end of the program is not instructed, the process returns to step S10 and the process is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the end of the program has been instructed, the process ends.

According to the present embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) When displaying thumbnail images on a monitor, a histogram created based on the thumbnail data is displayed in association with each other. Thus, the user can view the thumbnail image and the histogram of the displayed thumbnail image at the same time to grasp the exposure of the image.

(2) A histogram is created based on thumbnail data included in original image data. As a result, since the histogram creation process may be performed on the thumbnail image obtained by reducing the original image, the processing time can be shortened compared to the case of creating a histogram based on the original image.

(3) Histogram data of the thumbnail image is stored for each image in the histogram data management database, and when displaying the thumbnail image, the data stored in the histogram data management database is read and the corresponding histogram is displayed. Was displayed. Thus, it is not necessary to create a histogram each time a thumbnail image is displayed, and the processing load can be reduced.

(4) When the original image is edited by the user, a histogram is recreated from the original image. As a result, it is possible to always accurately display a histogram based on the latest histogram data reflecting the edited result.

(5) When there is an image for which a histogram has not been created in the HDD 102, a histogram of the image is created and registered in the histogram data management database. Thereby, a histogram of a thumbnail image of a newly captured image can be automatically created.

(6) The histogram data of the image that is newer than the update date and time of the histogram data is updated. Thus, histogram data of an image edited using another image editing application can be automatically updated, and the latest histogram information can always be stored in the histogram data management database.

(7) While the image is being browsed by the user, a histogram is created and recreated from the original image. As a result, an accurate histogram can be efficiently created and stored by using a time zone in which the CPU load is not so much, that is, a free time of the CPU.

-Modification-
The image display device according to the embodiment described above can be modified as follows.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the update date and time is stored in the histogram data management database as information for determining whether or not the histogram data needs to be updated has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a flag for determining whether or not the histogram data needs to be updated may be provided.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the example in which the thumbnail image and the corresponding histogram are displayed in association with each other has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, only the thumbnail image 6 a is displayed on the monitor, and the image includes blackout or overexposure in a certain ratio or more based on the corresponding histogram. Alternatively, the warning mark 6b may be displayed on the thumbnail image.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the example in which only the display on the monitor in which the thumbnail image is associated with the corresponding histogram has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the created histogram may be analyzed, the thumbnail images may be classified based on the analysis result under a predetermined condition, and the thumbnail images may be searched based on the classification result. For example, the thumbnail images are classified into “bright images”, “dark images”, and “intermediate images” according to the histogram analysis results so that the user can search for thumbnail images according to the brightness of the images. Also good.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a personal computer is used as the image display device 100 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when an image captured by the digital camera is displayed as a thumbnail on the rear liquid crystal monitor, the thumbnail image and the histogram may be displayed in association with each other. Moreover, you may make it apply to the other apparatus which can display an image.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the configurations in the above-described embodiments as long as the characteristic functions of the present invention are not impaired.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of an image display apparatus. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the histogram data management database for managing the histogram data memorize | stored linked | related with each image. It is a 1st figure which shows the specific example in the case of displaying a thumbnail image and a histogram in correlation. It is a 2nd figure which shows the specific example in the case of displaying a thumbnail image and a histogram in correlation. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of an image display program executed by the image display device 100. It is a figure which shows the modification of the example of a thumbnail image display.

Explanation of symbols

100 image display device 101 input device 102 HDD
103 Control Device 103a Histogram Creation Unit 103b Histogram Storage Unit 103c Thumbnail Image Display Unit 103d Histogram Update Unit 104 Monitor 105 External Interface

Claims (6)

A reading procedure for reading data of a reduced image created based on an original image from storage means, a histogram creation procedure for creating a histogram of the reduced image based on the data of the reduced image, a histogram of the reduced image, and the In an image display program for causing a computer to execute an output procedure for outputting to a display means in association with a reduced image,
The histogram creation procedure creates a histogram of the original image that is the source of the reduced image using a free time during which the output procedure associates and outputs the histogram of the reduced image and the reduced image. An image display program characterized by that. The image display program according to claim 1,
In the output procedure, the histogram of the reduced image is superimposed on the reduced image and output to the display means. A reading procedure for reading data of a reduced image created based on an original image from storage means, a histogram creation procedure for creating a histogram of the reduced image based on the data of the reduced image, a histogram of the reduced image, and the In an image display program for causing a computer to execute an output procedure for outputting to a display means in association with a reduced image,
A storage procedure for converting the histogram created in the histogram creation procedure into data and storing it in the histogram storage means;
Histogram data stored in the storage step includes a Modified histogram, and update date and time of the original image, by comparing the update time of the histogram, modification date and time of the original image than the update time of the histogram An image display program for causing a computer to execute a re-creation procedure for re-creating a histogram of an original image that is a source of the reduced image. A reading procedure for reading data of a reduced image created based on an original image from storage means, a histogram creation procedure for creating a histogram of the reduced image based on the data of the reduced image, a histogram of the reduced image, and the In an image display program for causing a computer to execute an output procedure for outputting to a display means in association with a reduced image,
An image display program for causing a computer to further execute a re-creation procedure for re-creating a histogram of an original image that is a source of the reduced image when the original image is edited and updated. In the image display program as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
An analysis procedure for analyzing a histogram of the reduced image or the original image;
Based on the analysis result by the analysis procedure, a classification procedure for classifying the reduced image under a predetermined condition;
An image display program for causing a computer to further execute a search procedure for searching for the reduced image using a predetermined condition at the time of classification as a search condition. Storage means for storing the image display program according to claim 1 ;
Execution means for executing an image display program stored in the storage means ;
An image display apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays an output result of the output procedure .

Images