JPH0424769A - Picture retrieve and display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To discriminate whether or not a picture is the desired one at a comparatively early step by extracting the picture data of a picture memory progressively from coarse to fine according to a stepping parameter, and successively displaying it. CONSTITUTION:A stepping circuit 21 is provided between a picture memory 16 and a display device 17, and a stepping parameter is inputted from a keyboard 15 through a system bus 11. The output side of this stepping circuit 21 is connected to a display device 17, and is also connected to a comparator 24. Further, this comparator 24 is connected to a retrieving information setting part 26. This comparator 24 and the retrieving information setting part 26 are each directly connected to the system bus 11. Thus, the supplied picture data is once stored in the picture memory 16, and is extracted progressively from coarse to fine according to the step (showing by) the stepping parameter, and is successively displayed. Thus, a user can make the discrimination of whether the picture to be displayed on the screen is the desired one at an early stage.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to information processing devices such as computers, workstations, and image filing devices, and particularly to an image search and display device that searches and displays image information.

``Prior Art'' Workstations, image filing devices, and the like are equipped with large-capacity image storage devices that store large amounts of image data. Necessary image data is searched from among these image data at any time and output to a display device such as a bit map display device or a laser printer.

FIG. 9 shows a conventional image search and display device that performs such search and display of image data. In this diagram,
A system control section 12 , a read-only memory (ROM) 13 , an image storage device 14 , a keyboard 15 , and an image memory 16 are connected to the system bus 11 . The system control unit 12 is configured to control the entire apparatus in accordance with instructions from the keyboard 15 and control procedures stored in the read-only memory 13. As the image storage device 14, a device having a large capacity storage area such as a magnetic disk device is used, and it stores image data input from an image scanner or a communication line (not shown). The image memory 16 further includes bits and
It is connected to a display device 17, such as a map display device.

The operation of the conventional image search and display device configured as above will be explained. When the user inputs a predetermined command for image retrieval using the keyboard 15, the system control unit 12 decodes this command, reads out one image's worth of image data from the image storage device 14, and transfers it to the image memory 16. . The image data for one image stored in the image memory 16 is read out in order from the data corresponding to the first pixel, and the display device 1
Transferred to 7. The display device 17 performs display pixel by pixel in the order in which they are transferred. By looking at the image displayed on the screen, the user judges whether the image is the desired one or not, and if the image is not the desired one, the user operates the keyboard 15 to display the next image data. was.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" As described above, in the conventional image search and display device, image data for one image stored in the image memory is sequentially transferred from the image storage device to the display device and displayed. Therefore, images are normally drawn sequentially from the top left of the screen of the display device at the original image density. In this case, the user cannot judge whether or not the image is the desired one until most of the image data for one image stored in the image memory has been transferred, which takes time. There were drawbacks.

Furthermore, even if an image comparison circuit or the like is installed to automatically determine whether a searched image corresponds to a desired image, it is still necessary to perform processing based on this large amount of data. Therefore, it still takes time and has the disadvantage that it is not possible to perform a quick image search.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide an image search and display device that allows a user to determine at an early stage whether or not an image that is being displayed on a screen is a desired one. be.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image search and display device that can search for image data that satisfies predetermined conditions in a shorter time.

``Means for solving the problem,'' the invention according to claim 1 provides: (1) an image data supply means for supplying image data; and (ii) one screen worth of image data supplied from the image data supply means. (iii) a grading parameter setting means for setting a grading parameter indicating the number of stages of density of pixels constituting the image; and (iv) a grading parameter setting means for setting a grading parameter indicating the number of stages of density of pixels constituting the image; (v) a display for sequentially displaying the image data extracted by the image data extraction means; and (v) a display for sequentially displaying the image data extracted by the image data extraction means. The image retrieval and display device is provided with means.

In the invention as claimed in claim 1, after the supplied image data is temporarily stored in the image memory, it is extracted step by step from coarse to dense according to the number of stages indicated by the grading parameter and sequentially displayed. To achieve the purpose.

In the invention according to claim 2, (i) an image data storage device that stores image data, (11) an image scanner that manually stores image data, and (iii) one screen captured from the image data storage device or the image scanner. (1) an image data reading circuit that reads image data from this image memory;
(v) a grading parameter setting unit that sets a grading parameter indicating the number of density levels of pixels constituting an image;
(vj) a grading circuit that causes the image data reading circuit to read out image data in stages from coarse to fine in accordance with the number of stages indicated by the grading parameter set by the grading parameter setting means; (vm) A search image information setting means for setting information regarding desired image data to be searched; The image search and display device is provided with an image data determination circuit that determines whether the image data read out is desired image data.

In the invention as claimed in claim 2, it is possible to determine whether the image data taken into the image data storage device or the image scanner image memory and read out in stages from coarse to fine in accordance with the grading parameter is desired image data. The second objective is achieved by determining whether the search image information is the same or not based on the information set in the search image information setting means.

"Example" The present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Examples below.

FIG. 1 shows an image search and display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the conventional example (Fig. 9)
The same parts are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation will be omitted as appropriate.

In this device, a grading circuit 21 is provided between the image memory 16 and the display device 17, and grading parameters 22 are input from the keyboard 15 via the system bus 11. The output side of the grading circuit 21 is connected to the display device 17 and also to a comparison circuit 24, which is further connected to a search information setting section 26. The comparison circuit 24 and the search information setting section 26 are also directly connected to the /stem lot 11, respectively. The other configurations are the same as the conventional example.

The operation of the image search and display device configured as above will be explained.

Prior to image retrieval, the user manually inputs grading parameters from the keyboard 15 and sets them in the grading circuit 21 in advance. When a predetermined command for image retrieval is input from the keyboard I5, the system control unit 12 decodes this command, reads out one sheet of image data from the image storage device 14, and transfers it to the image memory 16. The grading circuit 21 reads image data from the image memory 16 in stages based on the given grading parameter 22.

The operation of the staging circuit 21 will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that each image data to be searched consists of 1120×750 pixels, and each pixel has a pixel number as a continuous address.

In this case, the total number G of pixels constituting one image is 840,000. In addition, the grading parameter 22 is 4″′
shall be set.

The grading circuit 21 first resets the roughness level display counter N to O (step 2 in FIG. 2), and then increments this value by 1 (step 2).

At this time, the value of N ``1°'' is less than the grading parameter value ``4'' (step ■, Y), so an operation is performed to subtract the grading parameter value ``4'' from this N. , '-3' is obtained as the calculation result P (step ■).

Next, the grading circuit 21 performs an operation to add the grading parameter value "4" to the operation result P, and sets this as a new value of P (step 2).

As a result, the value of P becomes "1". This value is less than the total number of pixels G of the image data stored in the image memory 16 (
Step (2); N), the pixel number to be read from the image memory 16 is "1". As a result, the first pixel data is read out (step ■).

Subsequently, the grading circuit 21 performs an operation that adds the grading parameter value "4" to the previous value of P, and sets this as the new value of P (step ■).The value of P at this time is 5. ”. This value is less than the total number of pixels G of the image data stored in the image memory 16 (step ■; N)
, the pixel number to be read next from the image memory 16 is “5”.
” becomes.

As a result, the fifth pixel data is read out (step ■).

Similarly, pixel numbers 9, 13, 17, etc.
Pixel data corresponding to the first level of roughness is read out in this order and sent to the display device 17 and the comparison circuit 24.

FIG. 3 shows that the pixel number "2245" is displayed on the screen of the display device 17.
” represents the state immediately after the pixels are displayed. As shown in this figure, the pixels read from the image memory 16 are arranged from left to right and from top to bottom on the screen of the display device. Then, every four dots are sequentially displayed.

After the last pixel corresponding to the roughness of the first stage is sent out as shown in step 2, the calculation in step ■ is performed. Since this calculation result exceeds the total number of pixels G (step ■;
Y), and the roughness stage display counter N is incremented by 1 (step ■).

The value of N at this time is ``4'', which is the value of the grading parameter ``4''.
Since the following is true (step ■, Y), perform a calculation to subtract the grading parameter value "4" from this N, and the calculation result P
As a result, "-2" is obtained (step ■).

Next, the grading circuit 21 performs an operation to add the grading parameter value "4" to the operation result P, and sets this as a new value of P (step 2).

At this time, the value of P "2" is less than the total number of pixels G of the image data stored in the image memory 16 (step ■; N
), the pixel number to be read from the image memory 16 is “2”
becomes. As a result, the second pixel data is read out (step ■).

Subsequently, the grading circuit 21 performs an operation to add the grading parameter value "4" to the previous value of P, and sets this as the new value of P (step ■).The value of P at this time is " It becomes 6″. This value is less than the total number of pixels G of the image data stored in the image memo IJ 16 (step ■: N
), the pixel number to be read next from the image memory 16 is "
6”.

As a result, the sixth pixel data is read out (step ■).

Similarly, pixel data corresponding to the second stage roughness is read out in the order of pixel numbers 10, 14, 18, . . . and sent to the display device 17 and the comparison circuit 24.

FIG. 4 shows the state immediately after the pixel with pixel number "2246" among the pixels corresponding to the second stage of roughness is displayed on the screen of the display device 17. At this point,
All pixel data corresponding to the first level of roughness is displayed, and in addition, some of the pixels corresponding to the second level of roughness are displayed.

In this way, each time the roughness level display counter N is incremented by 1, the pixel data constituting the third and fourth levels of roughness are read out sequentially, and when N exceeds '4'' (step ■;N), reading is finished.

FIG. 5 shows how image data is displayed step by step on the screen of the display device 17.

As shown in this figure, the roughness of the image display gradually becomes denser in the order of (a) to (d>) as time passes, and the outline gradually becomes clearer.Then, at the end of the fourth stage (d)
, all pixels will be displayed, but the user can
When it is determined that the image being displayed is not what is desired, the display can be stopped and the next image data can be displayed without waiting until the next step.

In this way, it is possible to improve the speed of image searches performed by the user while looking at the screen.

On the other hand, at the same time as the image data is sent to the display device 17, data is also sent to the comparison circuit 24. In this comparison circuit 24, the search information setting section 26 (first
Based on the search information set in FIG. The operation of this comparison circuit 24 will be explained with reference to FIG.

The operation of this comparison circuit 21 will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. Here, color ratio is used as the search information set in the search information setting section 26. The second color ratio indicates the proportion of pixels of a given color among all the pixels out of hundreds to thousands of colors, and is calculated by dividing the number of pixels with the color number in 1 by the total number of pixels. It can be found by -For example,
This will be explained as searching for images with a color ratio of 1 or more.

In this case, the user manually inputs the color ratio T in advance from the keyboard 15 (FIG. 1) and sets it as the color ratio darkness value 27 in the search information setting section 26.

In the comparator circuit 24, first, the value of the counter indicating the cumulative number of human data is reset to O (step ① in Fig. 6).
). When data is input, the value of this counter is incremented by 1 (step ■), and the color number indicated by the input data is determined (step ■), and the value of color counter C1 corresponding to that color number is incremented by 1. (Step ■). Then, the color ratio R1 is calculated by dividing the value of the color counter C1 by the value of the counter (step 2). When the value of this color ratio R1 is greater than or equal to the darkness value T, (
Step ■, Y), set the level of the comparison result signal 28 (Figure 1) to "1" and display the match (Step ■ in Figure 6),
If not (step ■; N), comparison result signal 2
The mismatch is displayed by setting the level of 8 to 0'° (step ■).

Then, when the user selects to stop displaying (step 2; N), the display processing regarding this image data ends. Further, when the user selects to continue displaying, the next data is inputted (step ■; Y), and the same processing is performed thereafter. Then, unless you choose to stop displaying, all data is displayed (step ■; Y
) Repeat.

Immediately after starting data input, the value of the comparison result signal 28 may frequently fluctuate between “0” and “1”;
By the time the display at the first level of roughness is finished, it will have stabilized, so the user can make a final decision by considering the comparison results and the screen display status at the time when the roughness has stabilized. can. As a result, the speed when searching for an image in which the ratio of green pixels is 30% or more, for example, is reduced to about one-fourth of the conventional speed.

Note that this final judgment may be made by the system control unit 12 on the apparatus side based on the value of the comparison result signal 28 at the time when the display of the image data reaches a desired stage.

FIG. 7 shows an image search and display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this device, in addition to the first embodiment (FIG. 1), an exclusion pattern comparison circuit 31 is provided and connected to the grading circuit 21 (I). Exclusion information setting 832 is connected to this exclusion pattern comparison circuit 3I, and exclusion information 33 is inputted via the system path 11. The exclusion pattern comparison circuit 31 outputs a second comparison result signal 34.
is now output. The other configurations are the same as the first embodiment (FIG. 1).

In this device, an exclusion pattern comparison circuit 31 determines image data that is not a search target based on exclusion information 33 set in an exclusion information setting section 32.

For example, the ratio of white pixels to all pixels is 0. When the user decides to search and exclude image data that is below 3a and above 0.7, the user sets the darkness value "0.3a" as the exclusion information 33.
3” and “0.7” manually from the keyboard 15.

The exclusion pattern comparison circuit 31 sequentially calculates the white ratio using a procedure similar to that shown in FIG. When the value of the white ratio is 0.3 or less or 07 or more, the level of the second comparison result signal 34 is set to "0'" to indicate that the image data should be excluded. With this, manual input and display of undesired image data can be stopped at an early stage.

FIG. 8 shows an image search and display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this device, an image scanner 36 is provided in place of the storage device 14 in the first embodiment (FIG. 1). Furthermore, a communication circuit 37 is connected to the grading circuit 21 instead of the display device 17. The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

In this apparatus, image data is manually generated by reading a document with an image scanner 36 and stored in the image memory 16. Then, the data graded by the grader circuit 21 is outputted from the communication circuit 37 and transferred to other systems such as other workstations or image processing devices via, for example, the Ethernet 38. This allows images to be searched and displayed more quickly at a remote location, and requires a smaller capacity image memory in the system at that remote location.

"Effect of the invention" As explained above, the invention according to claim 1 has the following effects:
Since the image data in the image memory is extracted step by step from coarse to dense according to the grading parameter and displayed sequentially, the user can check the image at a relatively early stage without having to wait for all the data to be displayed. It can be determined whether it is the desired one or not. Then, when it is determined that the image data is not the desired one, the display can be stopped and the next image data can be displayed, which has the effect of improving the speed of visual image retrieval.

Further, according to the invention as claimed in claim 2, images matching preset image search information can be retrieved by reading out image data from the image memory in stages from coarse to fine. Therefore, it is possible to search for an image that satisfies the desired conditions using a small amount of image data. Therefore, there is an effect that an image search can be performed in a shorter time without involving the user.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 8 are for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention, of which FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image search and display device, and FIG. 2 is a grading circuit in FIG. 1. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the screen of the display device in the roughness display state of the first stage.
The figure is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the screen of the display device in the roughness display state of the second stage, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the change in the screen state of the display device from the first stage to the fourth stage, 7 is a block diagram showing an image search and display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an image search and display device in the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional image search and display device. 11...System bus, 12...System control section, 13...ROM. 14... Image data storage device, 15...
・Keyboard, 16... Image memory, 7... Display device, 1... Graduation circuit, 2... Graduation parameter, 4... - Comparison circuit, 6... Search information setting section, 6... Image scanner, 7... Communication circuit. Applicant: Fuji Serotox Co., Ltd. Agent: Patent Attorney: Kain Yamauchi and 1 other person Figure 2 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image data supply means for supplying image data; an image memory for storing one screen worth of image data supplied from the image data supply means; and stages of density of pixels constituting the image. a grading parameter setting means for setting a grading parameter indicating the number of grading parameters; and grading parameter setting means for setting a grading parameter indicating the number of steps; An image search and display device comprising: an image data extracting means for extracting image data; and a display means for sequentially displaying the image data extracted by the image data extracting means. 2. An image data storage device for storing image data; an image scanner for inputting image data; an image memory for storing one screen worth of image data taken in from the image data storage device or the image scanner; and an image from the image memory. an image data reading circuit for reading data; a grading parameter setting section for setting a grading parameter indicating the number of density levels of pixels constituting an image; a grading circuit that causes the image data reading circuit to read image data in stages from coarse to fine according to the number of stages; and a search image information setting means that sets information regarding desired image data to be searched; Based on the information set in the search image information setting means, it is determined whether or not the image data read out in stages from the image memory by the image data reading circuit and the grading circuit is the desired image data. An image search and display device comprising: an image data determination circuit for determining image data.