JPH0765153A - Device and method for processing information - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain information through easy operation until a target position is reached while confirming the traced path. CONSTITUTION:A map original where paths are drawn in a previously specified color is read out (S3-2), the line drawing in the color is extracted (S3-3), and the length of the line drawing is calculated (S3-4). The scale of the map is inputted (S3-5) and the actual distance is calculated (S3-6) from the scale and calculated length of the line drawing. Then this result is displayed (S3-7).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method,
For example, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method for reading a document image and performing a predetermined process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of calculating and using a length of a line drawing in a conventional information processing apparatus will be described below using a car navigation system.

First, use of a contact measure is given. This is to measure the length on the map by tracing an arbitrary route on a general paper map with a measure with a dedicated roller by human hands, and use the scale factor of the map as a measure. The actual distance is calculated and displayed on the display unit by selecting and designating from several registered scales.

In the case of using a digitizer, instead of tracing with the roller as described above, a paper map is overlaid on the digitizer and the extraction route is traced with a dedicated pen. Was there.

Further, in the case of using an electronic file,
A dedicated electronic map digitally processed in advance on a CD-ROM or the like is read by a dedicated reading device and displayed on a display. Then, by designating a target route with the cursor keys, the distance of the route between the two points is displayed.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in tracing the map with the above-mentioned dedicated measure or tracing the map superimposed on the digitizer with the dedicated pen, a special device is required for tracing. Moreover, it is difficult to determine later which route was traced.

Furthermore, by simply tracing a series of routes, the distance between the starting position and the target position can be obtained,
It was difficult to perform arbitrary processing for each arbitrary section of the traced route, and it was difficult to understand at a glance.

On the other hand, in the use of electronic files, the CD-R
An OM drive and a medium in which map information is stored are particularly required, and it is not as easy as a widely used paper map, and there is a problem such that it is difficult to specify a route.

[0009]

The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional example, and it is possible to confirm the route taken by the user with a simple operation until the target position is reached. The present invention aims to provide an information processing device and method capable of obtaining information between the two.

An information processing apparatus of the present invention which solves this problem has, for example, the following configuration. That is, reading means for reading a manuscript image such as a map in which a route to a target position is drawn in a predetermined color in advance, extraction means for extracting the predetermined color route in the read manuscript image, and length of the extracted route. Detecting means for detecting the scale of the original image, second detecting means for detecting the scale of the original image, and calculating means for calculating information up to the target position based on the length and scale of the detected path. And output means for outputting the calculated information.

Further, the information processing method of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, a step of reading a manuscript image such as a map in which a path to a target position is drawn in a predetermined color in advance, a step of extracting a path of the predetermined color in the read manuscript image, and a length of the extracted path is detected. Step, a step of detecting the scale of the original image, a step of calculating information up to the target position based on the length and scale of the detected path,
Outputting the calculated information.

[0012]

In the structure and process of the present invention, the path of a predetermined color in the read original image is detected and its length is detected. Then, the information up to the target position is calculated and output based on the detected length and the separately detected scale.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 is an example of a block configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus in the embodiment, in which a distance of an arbitrary route on a map is obtained.

The outline of the processing in this apparatus will be described below.

First, the route connecting any two points on the map is
A manuscript traced with a pen drawn in a color different from the color on which the map is drawn and the background of the map is read by a color image reading device and colored on the map by conversion based on the scale factor of the map input by the key input device. The actual distance for the route is calculated.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a color image reading device, which reads an original image by a CCD color image sensor, and converts the read analog signals of each color component R, G, B into a digital R, by an internal A / D converter. G,
B signal (for example, 8 bits each) is converted.

An image memory 2 stores the RGB bit image data read by the image reading device 1.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an input device, which is used by the operator to input numerical values to be used for calculations and support for registration in the device, and corresponds to a keyboard and a mouse (registered trademark).

A display device 4 displays a document read by a scanner and presents various calculated information to an operator.

Reference numeral 5 is a control device (CP) that controls the entire device.
It is composed of U and the like) and functions as a processing unit that processes according to the procedure shown in FIGS.

A program memory 6 stores a program executed by the CPU in the control device 5 (a program according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3).

Reference numeral 7 denotes a work memory, which functions as a storage device for temporarily storing various data in the processing performed by the control device 5.

FIG. 2 shows a processing routine for designating the color of the line drawing extracted from the read original image of the processing apparatus of the embodiment.

First, when the color designation is started in step S2-1, in the next step S2-2, the colors tracing an arbitrary route are displayed on the display screen 4 as red (R), green (G) and blue. Select from (B) by entering the English initials from the keyboard.

Here, it is assumed that the "R" key is pressed, that is, red (R) is selected. After that, the process proceeds to step S2-3 to end the present process.

Next, the distance calculation process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

To simplify the description, the read document has a black map on white paper as shown in FIG. 4, and the route handwritten for distance extraction is red. I shall. Then, an example of extracting the distance of the illustrated route line connecting the points A and B in FIG. 4 will be described.

First, when the processing is started in step S3-1, the original image is read by the color image input device and stored in the image memory 2 in the next step S3-2.

In step S3-3, in the read image data on the image memory 2, the previous step S3 is performed.
The red line drawing which is the color designated in 2-2 is extracted.

Here, in order to simplify the processing, the marker pen to be used is one in which the traced background is invisible so as to eliminate the influence of the background, and the RGB data is simplified by reading in binary for each color. I am trying to In addition, it is considered that the point of the color exists when the bit is 1, and does not exist when the bit is 0 (zero).

Therefore, in the plane memories R, G, B of the respective color components developed in the image memory 2, it can be determined that the pixels satisfying the following conditions are red.

{! (B + G)} × R = 1 However ,! Means the inversion of the logical result, and + means the logical wheel (O
R) and × indicate a logical product (AND).

From the above, only the red (R) pixels are extracted (other colors are ignored).

Next, in step S3-4, the length of the extracted line drawing is calculated (the contour of the figure consisting of pixels satisfying the above equation is traced).

Here, a general technique for extracting the contour points of a scalable font is used, the coordinates of the contour points of the read line drawing are extracted, and 1 / the sum of the distances between the coordinates (the length of the contour of the line drawing) is extracted. Let 2 be the line length of the line drawing. The reason for halving is that the contour line extracts both sides of the line segment. An error corresponding to the line width of the line drawing is included, but it is negligible in consideration of practical accuracy. The method of obtaining the length of the line segment is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that any method may be adopted.

Here, it is assumed that the length of the extracted red line drawing is 16 cm.

When the process proceeds to step S3-5, the scale value of the read map is input by the input device.

Here, the scale of the read map is "1 /
50,000 ". In this case, 1/50
The key input is 000.

In step S3-6, the actual distance is calculated from the calculated length of the line drawing and the input scale value.

That is, here, 16 (cm) / (1/50000) = 16 × 50000 = 800000 (cm) = 8 (Km). Here, the calculation result may be in the unit of cm, but in practice, it is easier to understand if it is in kilometers (km), so the unit of km is used in this way.

In step S3-7, the calculated distance (= 8 km) is displayed on the display device 4.

As a result, for example, "the distance of the red route: 8 km" is displayed on the display device. This processing ends in step S3-8.

In the above description, an example in which the distance of the input handwritten route on the map is displayed on the display device has been described.
The contents of the image memory 2, that is, the read map image may be displayed together. In this case, the contents of the image memory 2 may be transferred to a VRAM (not shown) included in the display device 4. However, when comparing the resolution of the display screen with the reading resolution, the latter is generally higher, so
The data is thinned out and transferred to the VRAM. This also applies to the embodiments described below.

In the embodiment, the calculated result (distance)
Although the example in which is displayed on the display screen has been described, it may be printed and displayed. Also in this case, the calculated result may be printed at an appropriate position at the same time when the read original image is copied.

[Description of the Second Embodiment] The second embodiment will be described below. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a reference line (reference scale) for converting the length on the map into an actual distance is simultaneously read from the read document.

First, the flowchart of FIG. 5 shows the procedure of registering the reference line to be read in what color in the apparatus of FIG. 1 and the distance per reference line corresponding to the color.

First, when the process is started in step S5-1, an arbitrary route is selected from the red (R), green (G) and blue B) displayed on the display device 4 in the next step S5-2. Enter the English letters of the tracing color from the keyboard.

Here, it is assumed that "B", that is, blue is designated.

In step S5-3, the distance per reference line is input by the input device 3.

That is, here, the value of the actual distance based on the length of the blue line drawing extracted later is input.

For example, "25" (unit is Km) is input, and this processing ends in step S5-4.

Next, the process as the distance calculating device will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. However, as shown in Fig. 7, the map to be read has a map drawn in black on a white paper, the red pen traces the extraction route to be distanced, and the blue pen shows the reference line. And

First, when this processing is started in step S6-1, the color image reading device 1 reads the read document and develops it in the image memory 2 in step S6-2.

In step S6-3, the image memory 2
In the above image data, the line drawing of the color designated in the previous step S2-2 is extracted. The extraction method is the same as in the first embodiment. In step S6-4, the length of the extracted line drawing is calculated as in the first embodiment.

Here, it is assumed that the length of the extracted red line drawing is 12 cm.

In step S6-5, the reference line of the color designated in the previous step S5-2 is extracted from the read image data on the memory. The extraction method is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the extraction target is blue.

By the way, in order to judge whether the pixel is a blue pixel, B × {! (R + G)} = 1 is satisfied (the calculation logical symbol is the first
Same as the example).

In step S6-6, similarly to the first embodiment, the length of the extracted reference line is calculated.

Here, it is assumed that the length of the extracted blue line drawing is 2 cm. That is, the length of 2 cm on this map corresponds to 25 km registered in the previous step S5-3 in the actual distance.

In step S6-7, the actual distance is calculated from the distance (reference scale) per length of the read reference line of the map.

That is, 25 (Km) / 2 (cm) = 12.5 (Km / cm) (reference scale) 12 (cm) × 12.5 = 150 (Km).

In step S6-8, the calculated distance is displayed. As a result, for example, the display device 4 displays "distance of red route: 150 km". Then, the process proceeds to step SS6-9 to end this process.

[Description of Third Embodiment] The third embodiment will be described below. The third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in that, after converting the length on the map into the actual distance, the route designated by the color registered in advance is
This is the point where the required time is calculated.

The device configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.
A pre-procedure (registration process) for processing the read route will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when registration is started in step S8-1, the process proceeds to step S8-2, and any of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) displayed on the display device is selected. The input device 3 selects an English initial letter of a color that traces the route.

In step S8-3, the average moving speed is input by the input device 3.

In step S8-4, whether to continue registration is selected, and "Y" or "N" is input from the input device.

Here, an example of inputting as follows will be described.

Red: (National Road) Average speed of 30 (Km /
h) Blue: (Vehicle road) Average speed 80 (Km /
h) Green: (General roads other than national roads) Average speed 20 (Km /
h) Thus, the main registration process ends in step S8-5.

Next, the distance calculation process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

However, here, the map to be read is shown in FIG.
As shown in 0, a black paper is drawn on a white paper, and the red, blue, and green pens are used for each arbitrary section for which you want to obtain the distance and the required time. The case of reading a path component will be described.

When the processing is started in step S9-1,
In step S9-2, the original image is read by the color image reading device 1 and developed in the image memory 2.
In step S9-3, the line drawing of the color registered in FIG. 8 is sequentially extracted from the image data on the image memory 2 by the image processing apparatus.

In step S9-4, as in the first embodiment,
Calculate the length of the extracted line drawing.

Here, a case will be described in which the lengths of the temporarily extracted line drawings have the following results.

Red: 2.6 cm Blue: 7 cm Green: 2.4 cm In step S9-5, the scale of the read map is input by the input device 3.

Here, it is assumed that "1/500000" is input.

When the process proceeds to step S9-6, the actual distance is calculated from the calculated length of each line drawing and the input scale value.

That is, here, red: 2.6 (cm) × 500,000 = 1300,000 (c
m) = 13 (Km) Blue: 7 (cm) x 500000 = 3000000 (c
m) = 30 (Km) Green: 2.4 (cm) x 500000 = 1200000 (c
m) = 12 (Km).

In step S9-7, the calculated distance is
The registered arithmetic processing is performed.

Here, the required time is calculated by dividing the calculated distance of the route of each color by the registered average hourly speed for each color.

That is, here, red is 13/30 × 60 = 26 (minutes), blue is 30/80 × 60 = 22.5 (minutes), and green is 12/20 × 60 = 36 (minutes).

When the process proceeds to step S9-8, it is determined whether or not there is a color registered in the process of FIG. 8 in addition to the color of the line drawing extracted so far.

After the line drawing is extracted for all the registered colors, the result is displayed in step S9-9, and the process ends.

In step S9-9, the calculated distance and required time are displayed.

As a result, for example, on the display device 4, red: (national road) route distance 13 km, required time 26 minutes Blue: (motorway) route distance 30 km, required time 22.5 minutes Green: (other than national road) Distance of general road) 12km, required time 36 minutes Distance of all routes 55km, total required time 84.5 minutes.

Then, in step S9-10, the present process ends.

As is clear from the above, according to the present embodiment, the information obtained from the conventional map is taken one step further, and the information is displayed in the map manuscript by the color different from the color drawn on the map and the background color of the map. Is designed to control the.

That is, the color map image is read and any color written in the map original is extracted. And
It is characterized in that the distance of the extracted line drawing is calculated, or the calculated distance is calculated according to the registered control content corresponding to the color of the line drawing.

As a result, the map information can be used in a new way by coloring an arbitrary path in the map document with a paper color or a color different from that of the map document with a highlighter pen or the like. Moreover, there is an excellent effect that a color facsimile or a system combining a general color scanner and a computer can be used easily and easily in terms of cost.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or a single device.

[0092]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to check the route taken by the user with a simple operation.
It becomes possible to obtain information up to the arrival at the target position.

[0093]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a processing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of selecting a color of a line drawing to be extracted in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a distance calculation process in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a map manuscript input in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation for selectively registering a color of a reference line to be extracted and inputting an actual distance with respect to the length of the reference line in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a distance calculation process in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a map original input in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process of designating an extracted color and registering an average speed for each color in the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process of calculating the distance and required time of each route, and further the total distance and required time in the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a map document input in the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Color image reading device. 2 image memory 3 input device 4 display device 5 control device 6 program memory 7 working memory

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A reading unit for reading a document image such as a map in which a route to a target position is drawn in a predetermined color in advance, an extracting unit for extracting the route of the predetermined color in the read document image, and the extracted route Detecting means for detecting the length of the document, second detecting means for detecting the scale of the original image, and calculating information up to the target position based on the length and scale of the detected path. An information processing apparatus comprising: a calculation unit and an output unit that outputs the calculated information. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second detecting means inputs a scale value corresponding to a unit length of the read image from a predetermined input device. 3. The second detecting means inputs the means for detecting the length of a line segment of a color different from the predetermined color in the original image and the actual distance of the extracted line segment. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means. 4. A step of reading a manuscript image such as a map in which a path to a target position is drawn in a predetermined color in advance, a step of extracting a path of the predetermined color in the read manuscript image, and a length of the extracted path. Detecting the scale, detecting the scale of the original image, calculating the information up to the target position based on the length and scale of the detected path, and outputting the calculated information. An information processing method comprising: a step. 5. The information processing method according to claim 4, wherein in the step of detecting the length of the path, a scale value corresponding to a unit length of the read image is input from a predetermined input device. . 6. The step of detecting the length of the path includes the step of detecting the length of a line segment of a color different from the predetermined color in the original image, and the actual distance of the extracted line segment is input. The information processing method according to claim 4, further comprising: 7. A reading means for reading a manuscript image such as a map in which a route to a target position is drawn in a plurality of colors, an input means for inputting a traveling speed of each color, and each of the manuscript images in the read manuscript image. Extraction means for extracting the color path, first detection means for detecting the length of each extracted color path, second detection means for detecting the scale of the original image, and the length of the detected path A calculation unit that calculates information up to the target position based on the scale, the scale, and the traveling speed of each color input by the input unit; and an output unit that outputs the calculated information. Information processing device. 8. A step of reading a manuscript image such as a map in which a route to a target position is drawn in a plurality of colors, a step of inputting a traveling speed of each color, and a step of inputting each color in the read manuscript image. The steps of extracting the path, detecting the length of the extracted path of each color, detecting the scale of the original image, detecting the length of the path, the scale, and the input for each color. An information processing method comprising: a step of calculating information up to a target position based on a traveling speed; and a step of outputting the calculated information.