JPH05266092A - Image retrieving device and brousing display method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten time for confirmation due to paging when there are a lot of candidates on the initial stage of retrieval, and to improve accuracy for confirmation by automatically enlarging and displaying the size of reduced images on a stage when the number of candidates is narrowed down. CONSTITUTION:At a computer 12, candidate images satisfying retrieval conditions designated from a terminal 14 are retrieved and extracted from an image storage device 11. In the case of brousing display to successively arrange those images at an image display device 13 as reduced images, when the candidate images are too many to be entirely displayed in one screen, the reduced images in the minimum size are continuously displayed over plural pictures and on the other hand, when the number of candidate images is reduced rather than the maximum number of display enable reduced images per picture, corresponding to the number of candidate images, they are displayed as the reduced images in the much larger size.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is selected by displaying a plurality of candidate images satisfying a search condition as a large number of reduced images on an image display device and selecting them by a pointing means such as a cursor or a mouse. The present invention relates to an image search apparatus capable of displaying only an image in a full size, that is, an entire image on an image display apparatus and a browsing display method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Browsing display means a display for scanning and searching, and a large number of images can be sequentially displayed in a short time, such as turning pages of a book, or can be collectively displayed as reduced images on the same screen. It means to display.

In the conventional image retrieval apparatus having a browsing display function, the size of the reduced image is fixed.
That is, the reduced image is displayed with the same reduction ratio until the search is completed. Therefore, when the number of candidate images of the search result is large, the images of the same reduced size are displayed over a plurality of screens, so that the number of page turning for selection is increased. Further, by performing the image search by sequentially specifying the search conditions, even if the number of search result candidate images becomes small, a reduced image having the same size as the initial stage of the search is displayed.

[0004]

As described above, when the number of search candidates is large in the initial stage of the search, the reduction ratio is increased to increase the number of reduced images displayed per screen, thereby increasing the number of page turns. To increase the selection efficiency of candidate images. At the stage where the number of candidate images has been narrowed down, conversely, by reducing the reduction ratio, while confirming what visual characteristics each individual candidate image has, specify more precise search conditions and carefully Need to be able to choose.

Therefore, an object of the invention of claim 1 is to shorten the confirmation time by turning the pages when the number of candidates is large in the initial stage of the search, and automatically reduce the size of the reduced image when the number of candidates is narrowed down. An object of the present invention is to provide an image retrieval device which can be enlarged and displayed to improve the accuracy of confirmation.

The object of the invention of claim 2 is to shorten the confirmation time by page turning when the number of candidates is large in the initial stage of the search, and to automatically enlarge the size of the reduced image when the number of candidates is narrowed down. It is an object of the present invention to provide a browsing display method capable of improving the accuracy of display and confirmation, and more efficiently performing browsing display.

The object of the present invention is to reduce the number of candidates by shortening the confirmation time by turning the page when the number of candidates is large at the initial stage of the search by appropriately program-inputting software into the computer. In the stage, the size of the reduced image can be automatically enlarged and displayed to improve the accuracy of confirmation, and thus a browsing display control device that can be used for more efficiently performing browsing display by a computer is provided. To provide.

[0008]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention according to claims 1 to 3 is configured as follows.

That is, the invention according to claim 1 is an image storage device for storing image data, a means for retrieving image data satisfying a predetermined search condition from the image storage device to retrieve a candidate image, Means for counting the number of candidate images satisfying the search condition, image display device, and means for selecting the number of reduced images that can be displayed on the screen of the image display device by designating the size of the reduced image. Means for reducing the candidate image to the size and displaying it on the screen of the image display device, and dividing the candidate image into a plurality of screens when the number of the candidate images exceeds the number of the reduced images. Means for displaying and displaying one of the plurality of screens, and if the number of candidate images can be displayed within the screen of the image display device, Income That by adjusting the size of the reduced image in a range, characterized in that and means for expanding and displaying a reduced image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image data is stored in the image storage device, a plurality of image data satisfying the condition specified by the terminal is taken out from the image storage device, and the reduced image is displayed on the image display device. Browsing display in which the designated image is selectively displayed as the entire image on the entire screen of the image display apparatus by designating one of the displayed reduced images from the terminal by sequentially arranging A method for retrieving image data satisfying a predetermined search condition from the image storage device to retrieve a candidate image, counting the number of candidate images satisfying the search condition, and reducing the size of the reduced image. Selecting the number of reduced images that can be displayed on the screen of the image display device, And reducing to display on the screen of the image display device, when the number of the candidate image exceeds the number of the reduced image, the candidate image is divided and displayed on a plurality of screens, and, Selecting one of these multiple screens for display,
When the number of candidate images can be displayed within the screen of the image display device, the size of the reduced image is adjusted within a range that fits within the screen, and the reduced image is enlarged and displayed. Is characterized by.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an image storage device for storing image data, input means, an image display device,
A plurality of image data satisfying the condition designated by the input means is taken out from the image data storage device, sequentially arranged as a reduced image on the image display device for browsing display, and one of the displayed reduced images is displayed. A browsing display control device for controlling a browsing display for an image search device comprising a computer for selectively displaying the designated image as a whole image on the entire screen of the image display device by designating from the input means. And a means for retrieving image data satisfying a predetermined search condition from the image storage device to retrieve a candidate image, a means for counting the number of candidate images satisfying the search condition, and a size of a reduced image specified. A means for selecting the number of reduced images that can be displayed on the screen of the image display device, and the candidate image. To reduce the size to the size and display it on the screen of the image display device. When the number of the candidate images exceeds the number of the reduced images, the candidate image is divided into a plurality of screens and displayed. And, means for selecting and displaying one of the plurality of screens, and, if the number of candidate images can be displayed within the screen of the image display device, within the range of fitting within the screen. And a means for adjusting the size of the reduced image and enlarging and displaying the reduced image.

[0012]

In the present invention, when candidate images satisfying the search condition designated by the terminal are sequentially arranged and displayed as reduced images of a size that can be confirmed on the screen of the image display device, many candidate images are displayed. If all of them are too small to be displayed on one screen, a reduced image of the minimum size is displayed, and browsing display is continuously performed on the second screen (that is, two pages) and thereafter. By designating the movement between a plurality of screens from the terminal, it becomes possible to select any desired candidate image from the terminal.

If the number of candidate images becomes smaller than the maximum number of displayable reduced images per screen as the search conditions are applied in stages, the reduction ratio is adjusted according to the number of candidate images. Then, the browsing display is performed with a reduced image of a larger size.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the image retrieval apparatus of the present invention. Here, 11 is an image storage device such as a diskette, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, and 12 is an image processing device that manages image data and controls search display, for example, a CPU 12A, a ROM 12
Computer having B and RAM 12C, 13 is an image display device such as a CRT display or liquid crystal display for displaying image search results, and 14 is a terminal having means for inputting image selection instructions and search conditions, such as a keyboard 14A and mouse 14B That is, the input means. The image display device 11 and the terminal 14 may be connected to the image processing device 12 via a data line or a LAN.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the ROM 1 as software for executing the browsing display method and the browsing display control apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
2B is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a program stored in 2B, and the CPU 12A follows this program.
Executes image retrieval and browsing display processing.
The RAM 12C stores the size of the reduced image input from the terminal 14, the number of reduced images that can be displayed on one screen of the image display device, the search condition designated by the terminal 14, and the number of search results. Use a part as display memory.

2 and 3, the size of the reduced image and the search condition are input from the terminal 14 in step S1. In step S2, the number of reduced images that can be displayed on one screen is determined from the input reduced image size. In step S3, an image that satisfies the search condition input in step S1 is searched, and the number of images is counted as a search result.

In step S4, the image in charge of the search result is read from the image storage device 11, converted into a reduced image of the size specified in step S1, and stored in the memory 12C.

In step S5, it is determined whether or not the number obtained as a search result exceeds the number of reduced images that can be displayed in one screen.

If the image can be displayed on one screen, the process proceeds to step S6, the size of the reduced image is changed, and the reduced image held is enlarged by a fixed magnification to create the screen of the image display device. And store it in the RAM 12C. In the next step S7, it is determined whether or not the screen created in this way can be displayed within one screen. If it can be displayed here, the process returns to step S6 and the reduced image is enlarged again.
It is judged whether or not it can be displayed on the screen. This process is 1
Repeatedly displayed as much as possible on the screen, the reduced image is 1
It will be changed to the maximum size that can be accommodated on the screen.

When the image cannot be displayed on one screen, the process proceeds to the next step S8, where the size of the reduced image is returned to the size of the previous magnification, so that the screen of the image display device is changed to one.
It is returned to the previous state and stored in the RAM 12C. That is, this one previous state represents the maximum reduced image size that can be displayed within one screen. Therefore, step S
The screen obtained in 8 is displayed on the image display device 13 from the RAM 12C.
Transfer to.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S5 that the image cannot be displayed on one screen, the process proceeds to step S10, where the number of search results is calculated within one screen by using the reduced image stored in the memory 12C. Create multiple screens divided by the number of reduced images that can be displayed in the RAM 12
Store in C. Here, it is assumed that the remaining reduced images that cannot be divided constitute one screen.

Of the plurality of screens thus created, only the screen designated by the terminal 14 is taken out from the RAM 12C and transferred to the image display device 13.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the candidate image obtained as a result of the search is used as a large number of reduced images and the image display device 13 is shown.
It is an example displayed on the screen of.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the process of proceeding from step S5 to S10 and S11. Since the number of candidate images of the search result is large, an example of displaying the reduced image 41 of the minimum size on the screen 42 on the image display device As shown, the browsing display of search results is performed over a plurality of screens. The movement between a plurality of screens and the selection of a target image are performed by devices such as a keyboard 14A and a mouse 14B connected to the terminal 14. The selected image is displayed on the image display device 13.
Displayed as one whole image.

FIG. 5 shows the maximum size reduced image that can be displayed on the screen 52 on a single image display device when it can be displayed on one screen in step S5 or when the number of candidate images of the search results has been narrowed down. The example displayed by 51 is shown. The image selection method is the same as in the case of FIG. 4, that is, the keyboard 14A and mouse 14B connected to the terminal 14 of FIG.
Is performed by a selection and designation device such as. The selected and designated image is displayed on the image display device 13 as one whole image.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the number of candidate images is large at the initial stage of image search, the minimum size reduced images are sequentially displayed to facilitate the whole image of the search results. In addition, it is possible to reduce the number of page turns between multiple screens. Moreover, according to the present invention, when the number of candidate images is narrowed down as the image search is advanced, the reduced image is displayed in a large size, so that the visibility when selecting and designating an image is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an embodiment of an image search device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a software program for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a software program for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which a reduced image of a minimum size is displayed over a plurality of screens when there are many search results.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which search results are narrowed down and displayed in one screen as a reduced image having a size as large as possible.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Image Storage Device 12 Image Processing Device 12A CPU 12B ROM 12C RAM 13 Image Display Device 14 Terminal 14A Keyboard 14B Mouse

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Hirotaka Nakano 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image storage device for storing image data, means for retrieving image data satisfying a predetermined search condition from the image storage device to retrieve candidate images, and the number of candidate images satisfying the search condition. Counting means, an image display device, and means for selecting the number of reduced images that can be displayed on the screen of the image display device by designating the size of the reduced image, and reducing the candidate image to the size. Means for displaying on the screen of the image display device, and when the number of the candidate images exceeds the number of the reduced images, the candidate images are divided into a plurality of screens and displayed, and Means for enabling selection and display of one of the screens, and if the number of candidate images can be displayed within the screen of the image display device, the size of the reduced image within a range that fits within the screen. Adjust the image search apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a means for displaying an enlarged thumbnail image. 2. Image data is stored in an image storage device, and a plurality of image data satisfying a condition designated by a terminal is taken out from the image storage device and sequentially arranged as a reduced image on an image display device for browsing display. A browsing display method for selectively displaying one of the displayed reduced images from the terminal as a whole image on the entire screen of the image display device, Retrieving image data satisfying a predetermined search condition from the storage device to retrieve a candidate image, counting the number of candidate images satisfying the search condition, and designating a size of the reduced image, Selecting the number of reduced images that can be displayed on the screen of the image display device, and reducing the candidate image to the size A step of displaying on the screen of the display device, when the number of the candidate images exceeds the number of the reduced images, the candidate image is divided into a plurality of screens and displayed, and among the plurality of screens. A step of allowing one of the images to be displayed by selecting, and if the number of candidate images can be displayed within the screen of the image display device, the size of the reduced image is adjusted within a range that fits within the screen, And a step of enlarging and displaying the reduced image. 3. An image storage device for storing image data, an input means, an image display device, and a plurality of image data satisfying a condition designated by the input means, taken out from the image data storage device and displaying the image. By sequentially arranging as a reduced image on the device for browsing display, and by designating one of the displayed reduced images from the input means, the designated image is displayed as a whole image on the entire screen of the image display device. A browsing display control device for controlling a browsing display to an image retrieval device comprising a computer for selectively displaying, a means for retrieving image data satisfying a predetermined retrieval condition from the image storage device and extracting a candidate image. And means for counting the number of candidate images satisfying the search condition, and specifying the size of the reduced image A unit for selecting the number of reduced images that can be displayed on the screen of the image display device; a unit for reducing the candidate image to the size and displaying it on the screen of the image display device; When the number exceeds the number of reduced images, the candidate image is divided into a plurality of screens and displayed, and one of the plurality of screens can be selected and displayed. When the number of images can be displayed on the screen of the image display device, the size of the reduced image is adjusted within a range that fits within the screen, and the reduced image is enlarged and displayed. Browsing display control device.