JPH0962694A - Image retrieving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the load of machine from being increased even when the paging speed is accelerated, and to improve image retrieval performance by continuously displaying images optimum for a user while controlling the display states of images. SOLUTION: An image display means 11 displays plural images in different areas. An image storage means 13 stores plural images having an order relation. A continuous image display means 12 displays the plural continuous images having the order relation among the plural images having the order relation in the image storage means 13 on the different areas of the image display means 11 and displays the images advancing or returning the order relation rather than the respective images in the respective areas repeatedly at decided time intervals. An image display state operating means 14 outputs the instruction for controlling the display states of images. A display control signal converting means 15 analyzes the instruction from the image display state operating means 14, outputs an instruction to the continuous image display means 12 and continuously provides the optimum image display to the user.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image retrieving apparatus for selecting a desired image from a large number of images at high speed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image retrieval apparatus, the user can control the page turning speed, display the previous and next pages to facilitate the search, and adjust the page turning speed according to the amount of image data. There was one that changed the display size depending on the page turning speed.

[0003]

By combining these, the user can control the speed of page turning while displaying the previous and next pages, but in order to display an image with a large amount of data on a plurality of pages, , Machine power is required and cannot be easily realized with an inexpensive machine. In order to solve this, that is, to reduce the load required for display, the display size can be changed according to the page turning speed, but in this case, the higher the speed, the smaller the image becomes. Therefore, there is a drawback that it becomes difficult for the user to discriminate the image.

The present invention solves the above problems, and provides an image retrieval apparatus that does not increase the load on the machine and improves the image retrieval performance even if the page turning speed increases.

[0005]

In order to provide such an image retrieving apparatus, the first image retrieving apparatus of the present invention has an order relation with image display means for displaying a plurality of images in different areas. An image storage unit that stores a plurality of images that the user has and a plurality of images that have a sequential relationship among the plurality of images that have a sequential relationship in the image storage unit are displayed in different areas in the image display unit. In addition, the image continuous display means for repeating the display of the images in the order relation advanced or returned from the respective images in the respective regions at a predetermined time interval, and the instruction of the control of the image display state. And an image display state operation means for displaying the image display state operation means, and a display control signal conversion means for interpreting the instruction from the image display state operation means and giving an instruction to the image continuous display means so as to provide an optimum image display to the user. That.

Further, in order to provide such an image retrieval apparatus, the second image retrieval apparatus of the present invention displays the plurality of images in different areas and at the same time displays the image position information. And an image storage unit for storing a plurality of images having an order relation, and a plurality of images having a continuous order relation among the plurality of images having an order relation in the image storage unit are stored in the image display unit. It is displayed in separate areas, and at a fixed time interval, the images that have advanced or returned to the order of the images are repeated in each area, and the image currently displayed is repeated. The image continuous display means for displaying the position information of the image display means in the image display means, the image display state operation means for giving an instruction of the control of the display state of the image, and the instruction from the image display state operation means are interpreted, and the most suitable for the user To provide an indication image, and a display control signal converting means instructs the image continuously displaying means.

[0007]

When the user gives an instruction to control the display state by the image display state operating means, the display control signal converting means receives the instruction, interprets the content of the instruction, and provides the user with the optimum image display. The image continuous display means is instructed to do so. In response to the instruction, the continuous image display means displays a plurality of images having an order relation stored in the image storage means at an instructed time interval, in an instructed number of screens, and in an instructed traveling direction. Images whose order relation has been advanced or returned are sequentially displayed in a plurality of regions of the image display means.

[0008]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A shows the configuration of the image search apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Where 11
Is an image display means for displaying three images in three areas respectively, and 12 internally holds the number of display screens, scroll speed, scroll direction, each display state of the currently displayed page, and stored in the image storage means 13. The displayed images on the image display means 11 on the basis of the information, and in response to an instruction from the display control signal conversion means 15, the image continuous display means for changing each held display state, 1
Reference numeral 3 is an image storage means for storing images, 14 is a signal for determining scroll speed and scroll direction of continuously displayed images, sending a signal to the display control signal converting means 15, and also for initializing image display. The image display state operation means 15, which converts the scroll speed, scroll direction, and display initialization instruction from the image display state operation means 14 into the display states of the number of display screens, scroll speed, scroll direction, and current display page. , Image continuous display means 12
It is a display control signal conversion means for instructing to.

Further, in the case of the first embodiment, the image display state operating means 14 is assumed to be as shown in FIG. 1 (b).
Here, 141 is an image display speed operation means for operating the speed at which the image scrolls, 142 is an image display direction operation means for operating the direction in which the image scrolls, and 143 is an image continuous display initialization means for initializing the continuous display of images. Is.

In the case of the first embodiment, the image display speed operation means 1
41 outputs five kinds of signals of signal 0, signal 1, signal 2, signal 3, signal 4 and signal 5, and correspondingly, stop, 1 frame in 2 seconds, 1 frame in 1 second, Two
It is assumed that a scroll speed of 8 frames per second, 4 frames per second, is designated. Further, the image display direction operation means 14
2 outputs two kinds of signals, a signal 0 and a signal 1, and corresponds to them and instructs scrolling in a page increasing direction and a page decreasing direction, respectively.

For example, when the image display speed operation means 141 outputs the signal 3 and the image display direction operation means 142 outputs the signal 0, it is instructed to scroll two frames per second in the page increasing direction. Hereinafter, the signal to the display control signal converting means 15 at this time will be referred to as a scroll control signal, and will be referred to as a scroll control signal (3, 0).

Further, in the case of the first embodiment, the display control signal converting means 15 is 3 for signal 0, 1 for signal, 2 for signal, and 3 for signal from the image display speed operating means 141.
For the screen display, signal 4 and signal 5, one screen display is instructed to the image continuous display means 12. Further, the display control signal conversion means 15 includes the image continuous display initialization means 143.
When the display initialization signal is received from the display continuous display means 12, the display screen number 3, scroll speed 0, scroll direction 0, and current display page 2 are instructed.

The manner in which the image continuous display means 12 is controlled by the image display state operation means 14 to change the image display state will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, when the user gives an initialization instruction by the image continuous display initialization means 143, the display control signal conversion means 15 receives the instruction and the number of display screens 3, scroll speed 0, scroll direction 0, current display page. 2 for continuous image display means 1
Instruct 2.

In response to this, the continuous image display means 12 displays the still image stored in the image storage means 13 on the page 2 in the current area 2 and the page 1 in the areas 1 and 3 before and after the current area 2, as shown in FIG. 3, a total of three still images are displayed on the image display means 11. In this case, the scroll speed is 0, so the image is not scrolled.

Next, the user operates the image display speed operating means 14
1 and the image display direction operation means 142, when the scroll in the direction in which the page increases in one frame per second, that is, the scroll control signal (2, 0) is instructed, the display control signal conversion means 15 converts the instruction. Then, the number of display screens 3, scroll speed 2, and scroll direction 0 are instructed to the image continuous display means 12. In response to this, the image continuous display means 12 sets the number of display screens, the scroll speed, and the scroll direction held therein to the number of display screens of 3, the scroll speed of 2, and the scroll direction of 0, and the image is displayed based on these information. As shown in FIG. 3, the continuous display means 12 scrolls and displays one image per second.

In this case, the image continuous display means 12 is required to display three images per second because three images are scrolled at a rate of one image per second.

Next, the user operates the image display speed operating means 14
1 and the image display direction operation means 142, when scrolling in a direction in which the page increases in 4 frames per second, that is, a scroll control signal (4, 0) is instructed, the display control signal converting means 15 converts the instruction. Then, the number of display screens 1, scroll speed 4, and scroll direction 0 are instructed to the image continuous display means 12. In response to this, the image continuous display means 12 sets the number of display screens, the scroll speed, and the scroll direction held therein to the number of display screens 1, the scroll speed 4, and the scroll direction 0, and the image is displayed based on these information. The continuous display means 12 displays an image only in the area 2 at a rate of four sheets per second, as shown in FIG.

In this case, the image display capability required for the continuous image display means 12 displays one image at a rate of four images per second, so that it becomes four images per second, and scrolls at a rate of one image per second. You can achieve 4 times the moving speed with the ability that is not much different from that when it was on, and when the image is switching at such high speed, human ability can recognize the image only in a narrow range, so only one screen is displayed It is enough not to do, and as a result, 1 when 3 screens are displayed
With the image display capability of / 3, it is possible to provide an image search device having a similar search efficiency.

In this way, the user can reach the target image quickly by operating the image display state operating means 14 while switching between the state of slowly viewing the image in detail and the state of viewing the image at high speed. .

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows the configuration of an image search apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Here, 21 displays three images in three areas,
Also, an image display means for displaying the positional information of the image at the same time,
Reference numeral 22 internally holds the display states of the number of display screens, scroll speed, scroll direction, and current display position, and displays the image stored in the image storage means 23 on the image display means 21 based on the information. In addition, the current position information of the image is displayed on the image display unit 21 based on the current display position held inside and the number of images stored in the image storage unit 23, and the display control signal is displayed. In response to an instruction from the conversion means 25, image continuous display means for changing each display state held therein, 23 is an image storage means for storing image data of tree structure, 24 is a scroll speed of the displayed image, An image display state operating means for determining the scroll direction, sending a signal to the display control signal converting means 25, and initializing the image display. Crawling speed, scroll direction, the display screen number display instruction initialization, scroll speed, scroll direction, is converted into the display state of the current display position, a display control signal converting means for instructing the image continuous display unit 22.

Further, in the case of the second embodiment, the image display state operating means 24 is assumed to be as shown in FIG. Here, 241 is a jog shuttle for operating the scroll speed and direction of the image at the same time, and 242 is a reset button for resetting the displayed position to the beginning. In the case of the second embodiment, the jog shuttle 241 has its scale, -5, -4,-.
3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 according to signal (-5), signal (-4), signal (-3),
A signal (-2), a signal (-1), a signal 0, a signal 1, a signal 2, a signal 3, a signal 4, and a signal 5 are to be issued, and corresponding thereto, 8 frames per second in the order returning direction, 4 frames per second, 2 frames per second, 1 frame per second, 1 frame per second, stop, 1 frame per 2 seconds in the direction of stop, 2 frames per second, 4 frames per second, 8 frames per second It shall indicate the speed.

In the case of the second embodiment, the display control signal converting means 25 responds to the signal from the jog shuttle 241 by the signal (-3), the signal (-2), the signal (-1), the signal 0, Signal 1, signal 2, and signal 3 are displayed on three screens, signal (-4), signal 4 is displayed on one screen, and signals (-
5) For the signal 5, no image display is instructed to the image continuous display means 12. At the same time, the signal (-
5), signal (-4), signal (-3), signal (-2), signal (-1), scrolling in the direction in which the order returns, signal 1, signal 2, signal 3, signal 4, signal For 5, the image continuous display means 22 is instructed to scroll in the direction in which the order advances.

Regarding the scroll speed, the signal (-
5), the signal (-4), the signal (-3), the signal (-2), the signal (-1), the signal 0, the signal 1, the signal 2, the signal 3, the signal 4, and the signal 5, respectively. The scroll speed 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is instructed to the image continuous display means 22.

In the case of the second embodiment, the image storage means 23
Holds the tree-structured data as shown in FIG. The data here includes two types of data, one is a node represented by a black circle in FIG. 7, and the other is a leaf represented by a square in FIG. 7. In this case, the leaf is a still image. Further, the branches extending from each leaf have an order relation, and in this case, if the branches are shown by the numbers in FIG. 7, the still images in FIG. 7 stored in the image storage means 23 are stored. The order relationship of the strokes is ABCDEFGHIJKL
The order is MNOPQRST, that is, depth-first ordering is performed.

Also, the image display means 21 of the second embodiment.
Shows the still image at the current display position in area B, as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that still images before and after the current display position are displayed on A and C, respectively, and the current position is displayed by the upper indicator. This indicator is controlled and displayed by the image continuous display means 22.

As shown in FIG. 8, the display is white at the current position, that is, the still image displayed in the region 2, gray is displayed before and after it, that is, the still images displayed in the regions 1 and 3, and other than that. Is displayed in dark gray with one frame per still image. The total number of still images is represented by the number of frames.

The manner in which the image continuous display means 22 is controlled by the image display state operation means 24 to change the image display state will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, if the user presses the reset button 242, the reset button 242 sends an instruction for screen display initialization to the display control signal conversion means 25, and the display control signal conversion means 25 receives the instruction, and the display screen number 3, The scroll speed is 0, the scroll direction is 0, and the current display position 2 is image continuous display means 2.
Instruct 2.

In response to this, the image continuous display means 22 displays the number of display screens held internally, the scroll speed, and the scroll direction as the number of display screens 3, scroll speed 0,
From the tree-structured data shown in FIG. 7 which is set in the scroll direction 0 and is currently displayed at the display position 2 and is stored in the image storage means 23, the first, second and third positions in the order relation, that is, A and B. , C, still images are displayed, and still images B and C are displayed on the image display means 21 in the current region 2 and the regions 1 and 3 before and after the still images B and C, respectively, as shown in FIG. In this case, the scroll speed is 0, so the image is not scrolled. In addition, the image continuous display means 22 counts the total number of still images in the tree-structured data shown in FIG. 7 stored in the image storage means 23, and based on that and the information of the current display position, FIG. , To display the indicator.

Next, if the user adjusts the jog shuttle 241 to the scale 4, a signal 4 is sent from the jog shuttle 241 to the display control signal conversion means 25, which the display control signal conversion means 25 displays. , Scroll speed 4, scroll direction 0, and instructs the continuous image display means 22. In response to this, the image continuous display means 22
9 sets the number of display screens, the scroll speed, and the scroll direction held therein to the number of display screens 1, the scroll speed 4, and the scroll direction 0, and the image continuous display means 22 of FIG. As described above, images are displayed only in the area 2 at a rate of 4 sheets per second. At the same time, the image continuous display means 22 displays, as shown in FIG. 9, frames indicating the current position on the indicator and the positions before and after the current position.
Advance one by one every 1/4 second.

After that, when the user adjusts the jog shuttle 241 to the scale 5, the jog shuttle 241 sends a signal 5 to the display control signal converting means 25, which the display control signal converting means 25 displays. The scroll speed is changed to 5 and the scroll direction is changed to 0, and the continuous image display means 22 is instructed. In response to this, the image continuous display means 2
2, the number of display screens, the scroll speed, and the scroll direction held internally are set to the number of display screens 0, the scroll speed 5, and the scroll direction 0. Based on these information, the image continuous display means 22 is set to FIG. As in (a) to (d), the still image is not displayed, and only the indicator position display is advanced frame by frame at a rate of 1/8 second. Next, if the user returns the jog shuttle 241 to the scale 4 again, the same operation as described above is performed, and the operation shown in FIG.
As described above, the screen is displayed only in the area 2. Then, if the user immediately returns the jog shuttle 241 to the scale 0, as shown in FIG. 10 (g), the screen returns to the three-screen display again, the scrolling stops, and as a result, the current position advances to the 19th position. The time taken by this time was 10/4 seconds, which is shorter than 17/4 seconds when moving continuously at 4 frames per second.

In this case, the image display capability required for the continuous image display means 12 is only an indicator display when advancing one frame every ⅛ second of the scale 5, so this is not a problem, and in the end , 4 sheets per second when the scale is 4. Therefore, even if the search device has only the ability to display four images per second,
High-speed scrolling at 8 frames per second can be realized, and since humans cannot recognize an image at a high speed of 1 frame per 1/8 second, an image may be displayed when advancing 1 frame per 1/8 second. Since it is the same even without it, the search efficiency is the same as that of a search device that advances one frame every ⅛ second while displaying an image. Further, when scrolling at 4 or less sheets per second, as in the first embodiment, the optimum image display is provided to the user according to the speed, so it can be said that necessary and sufficient image information is provided for each speed.

In this way, when the user knows the approximate position of the image in advance, the user moves at high speed only by looking at the indicator, and then makes fine adjustments while watching the image provided according to the speed. By doing so, the target image can be reached quickly.

In the second embodiment, the still image is represented as a bar with a still image corresponding to one frame per still image, but this representation method allows intuitive determination of the current position and the total number of sheets. There is an advantage. However, the expression of the indicator is not limited to this expression. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the position of the currently displayed image from the beginning of the order relation and the entire image are displayed. There is also a method of writing the number of as a fraction so that an accurate value of the current display position and the total number of images can be known at a glance. Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, there is also a method of using the bar display and the numerical display in combination to make use of the respective advantages of the intuitive expression and the logical expression while compensating for the respective drawbacks. Further, there is also a method in which the tree structure of the image data is expressed as it is, as shown in FIG. 11C, so that the semantic positional relationship between the respective images can be easily grasped.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, switching of images is performed in the image search apparatus in which the previous and next pages are displayed and scrolled, and the search effect is enhanced by providing a means by which the user can freely control them. By taking advantage of the fact that the range that humans can recognize becomes narrower as the speed increases, by reducing the number of display screens when the scroll speed increases, it is possible that humans cannot recognize images when the scroll speed further increases. By utilizing the display of the indicator indicating the position of the image, but not displaying the image, in practice, the machine load during high-speed scrolling can be reduced without reducing the search effect, resulting in lower performance. It is possible to provide a search device having an equivalent search effect on a machine, and thus on a cheaper machine.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a configuration diagram of an image search apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a configuration diagram of image display state operation means according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an image display means 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Initial screen diagram of 1

FIG. 3 is an image display means 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
1st operation screen diagram

FIG. 4 is an image display means 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Second operation screen diagram of 1

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an image search device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of image display state operation means in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an image data structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an image display means 2 in the second embodiment of the present invention.
Initial screen diagram of 1

FIG. 9 is an image display means 2 in the second embodiment of the present invention.
1st operation screen diagram

FIG. 10 is a second operation screen diagram of the image display means 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a display conceptual diagram of the image display means 21 in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Image Display Means 12 Image Continuous Display Means 13 Image Storage Means 14 Image Display State Operating Means 15 Display Control Signal Converting Means 21 Image Display Means 22 Image Continuous Display Means 23 Image Storage Means 24 Image Display State Operating Means 25 Display Control Signal Converting Means 141 image display speed operation means 142 image display direction operation means 143 image continuous display initialization means 241 jog shuttle 242 reset button

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Ikuo Inoue 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. An image display means for displaying a plurality of images in different areas, an image storage means for storing a plurality of images having an order relationship, and an image storage means for storing a plurality of images having an order relationship in the image storage means. home,
Displaying a plurality of images having a continuous order relationship in separate areas in the image display means, and displaying an image in which the order relationship is advanced or returned from each image in each area, Image continuous display means that repeats at fixed time intervals, image display state operation means that gives instructions for controlling the image display state, and instructions from the image display state operation means are interpreted to provide the optimum image display to the user. As described above, the image retrieving apparatus further comprises display control signal converting means for giving an instruction to the image continuous display means. 2. The image display state operating means according to claim 1, wherein the image display speed operating means controls at least an image display switching time interval, and the display control signal converting means operates from the image display speed operating means. , Image display switching time interval according to the control information,
An image retrieving apparatus for instructing an image continuous display means to increase or decrease the number of images displayed on the image display means. 3. The image display switching time interval control information received from the image display speed operating means according to claim 2, wherein the display control signal converting means receives a large number of images when the image display switching time interval is long. The image continuous display means is instructed to display the image, and when the image display switching time interval is short, the image continuous display means is instructed to display a small number of images. Characteristic image retrieval device. 4. The image display state operation means according to claim 3 also has an image display direction operation means for instructing whether to switch the display of the image in the forward direction or the backward direction of the order relationship. An image retrieval device characterized by the above. 5. The image display state operation means according to claim 4, wherein the target image can be designated as a display start position by designating a position of the target image from the beginning of the ordered images. An image retrieval device characterized by having a position specifying means as well. 6. The image search device according to claim 5, wherein the image is a still image document of continuous pages. 7. The image according to claim 5, wherein the image is a still image located at an end of data having a tree structure, each node portion of the tree structure data is ordered in each layer, and the still images at the end are in that order. According to the above, the image retrieval apparatus is characterized in that the depth is prioritized. 8. The image search device according to claim 5, wherein the image is a moving image. 9. The image search apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image is a still image representing each scene in the moving image. 10. The image search apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image is an index still image that has a one-to-one correspondence with a moving image. 11. An image display means for displaying a plurality of images in different areas and simultaneously displaying positional information of the images, an image storage means for storing the plurality of images having an order relationship, and an image storage means Of the multiple images that have an order relation,
A plurality of images having a continuous order relationship are displayed in different areas in the image display means, and at a predetermined time interval, an image in which the order relationship is advanced or returned from each image is displayed. Repeating the display in the area, the image continuous display means for displaying the position information of the image currently being displayed in the image display means, and the image display state operation means for giving an instruction to control the display state of the image, An image retrieving apparatus comprising: a display control signal converting means for interpreting an instruction from the image display state operating means and providing an instruction to the image continuous display means so as to provide an optimum image display to a user. 12. The image display state operating means according to claim 11, wherein the image display speed operating means controls at least an image display switching time interval, and the display control signal converting means operates from the image display speed operating means. ,
An image retrieval apparatus characterized by increasing or decreasing the number of images to be displayed on the image display means or issuing an instruction to the image continuous display means so as not to display the images according to the image display switching time interval control information. 13. The display control signal converting means according to claim 12, wherein in the image display switching time interval control information received from the image display speed operating means, a large number of images are displayed when the image switching time interval is long. The image continuous display means is instructed to display the image, and when the image display switching time interval is short,
The continuous image display means is instructed to display a small number of images, and when the image display switching time interval is shorter, the continuous image display means is instructed not to display the image. Characteristic image retrieval device. 14. The image display state operation means according to claim 13 also has an image display direction operation means for instructing whether to switch the display of the image in the forward direction or the backward direction of the order relationship. An image retrieval device characterized by the above. 15. The image display state operating means according to claim 14, wherein the target image can be designated as a display start position by designating a position of the target image from the beginning of the ordered images. An image retrieval device characterized by having a position specifying means as well. 16. The position information of the image displayed by the image continuous display means in the image display means according to claim 15,
An image retrieval device characterized in that it is information representing the position of the currently displayed image from the beginning of the order relation and the number of all images in a fraction. 17. The position information of the image displayed by the image continuous display means in the image display means according to claim 15,
Information expressed by displaying each image as one square, displaying them in parallel in order, highlighting the position of the image currently displayed, and displaying the position of the image that does not appear on the screen inconspicuously An image retrieval device characterized by: 18. The position information of an image displayed by the image continuous display means in the image display means according to claim 15,
The position of the currently displayed image from the beginning of the order relation, information expressing the number of all images in a fraction, each image is represented by one square, and it is displayed in parallel according to the sequence.
An image retrieval apparatus, which is information that also displays information expressed by highlighting the position of the image currently displayed and displaying the position of the image that does not appear on the screen inconspicuously. 19. The image according to claim 15, wherein the image is a still image located at the end of the data having a tree structure, and each node part of the tree structure data is ordered in each layer of the tree structure, and the still image at the end is provided. Are prioritized in depth order according to the order, and the position information of the images displayed by the image continuous display means in the image display means is information in which the tree structure of the images is schematically drawn. Image search device. 20. The image search apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the image is a still image document of continuous pages. 21. The image according to claim 18, wherein the image is a still image located at an end of data having a tree structure, and each node portion of the tree structure data is ordered in each layer of the tree structure, and the still image at the end is provided. The image retrieval device is characterized in that depths are prioritized according to the order. 22. The image search device according to claim 18, wherein the image is a moving image. 23. The image search device according to claim 18, wherein the image is a still image representing each scene in the moving image. 24. The image according to claim 21, wherein the image is a moving image and 1
An image retrieval apparatus characterized in that it is an index still image corresponding to one-to-one.