JPH10162021A - Picture compiling device and picture compiling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide picture compiling device and method therefor that can easily, speedily and rely select a picture, which is highly frequently used by an operator. SOLUTION: Picture data inputted from a picture input part is stored in a picture data storage part 6. Whether picture data is previously registered in a registration list provided for a used picture storage part 7 or not, is discriminated. When it has been registered, the registration list is updated. When it has not been registered yet, picture data is added to the registration list. The number of picture data which can be registered in the registration list can arbitrarily set. A picture magnification conversion part generates and displays the reduced picture of registered picture data. The operator can speedily, easily and rely select/take out the desired picture by selecting the displayed and reduced picture.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image editing apparatus capable of performing retouching processing, image processing, layout editing processing of a plurality of images, and the like using image data input from an image reading apparatus or stored in storage means. The present invention relates to an apparatus and an image editing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in image editing, image processing is performed on a plurality of images and then layout is performed using the processed images. In some cases, data is stored in a memory, and the image data stored later is taken out to continue the image editing. In addition, as the editing content becomes more complicated, different processes are performed on a plurality of images many times. In some cases, in order to create a single image, a specific plurality of image data is processed. You may have to take it out many times and repeat your memory.

As described above, when an image to be used is selected from a plurality of images and the image data is taken out from a memory, according to a conventional image editing apparatus, the operator must previously remember the file names of the plurality of images to be used. In addition, by designating a required file name when necessary, a desired image can be taken out. Therefore, only when the file is actually opened and displayed on the display unit, it is possible to confirm whether or not the image with the specified file name is the desired image.

[0004]

As described above, when selecting an image to be used, the operator must remember the file name, and easily, quickly and surely select the desired image. There was a problem that it was not possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an image editing apparatus and an image editing method capable of easily, quickly and surely selecting an image frequently used by an operator. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image editing apparatus, comprising: a storage unit for storing image data; and a storage unit for storing the image data when the image data stored in the storage unit is used. A use image storage unit that stores that the image data is used, a display image generation unit that generates a display image corresponding to the image data that is stored in the use image storage unit, And a first display unit for displaying the display image generated by the display image generation unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image editing apparatus according to the first aspect.
Selecting means for selecting at least one display image from the display images displayed on the first display means, and image data corresponding to the display image selected by the selecting means. It is characterized by comprising an image acquisition unit acquired from a storage unit and a second display unit for displaying the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image editing apparatus according to the first aspect.
Alternatively, in the image editing apparatus according to the second aspect, the display image generation unit is configured to generate a display image by reducing the image data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image editing apparatus according to the first aspect.
In the image editing apparatus according to any one of the items (1) to (3), the used image storage means stores, as a use history, that the image data has been stored for a predetermined number of image data from the most recently used image data. It is characterized by being constituted.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image editing apparatus, comprising: storage means for storing image data; and use histogram storage means for storing a use frequency of the image data when the image data stored in the storage means is used. A display image generating means for generating a display image corresponding to the image data in which the use frequency is stored by the use histogram storage means, and a first display for displaying the display image generated by the display image generating means Means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image editing apparatus according to the fifth aspect.
Selecting means for selecting at least one display image from the display images displayed on the first display means, and image data corresponding to the display image selected by the selecting means. It is characterized by comprising an image acquisition unit acquired from a storage unit and a second display unit for displaying the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image editing apparatus according to the fifth aspect.
Alternatively, in the image editing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the display image generating unit is configured to generate a display image by performing a reduction process on the image data.

[0013] The image editing apparatus of claim 8 is the image editing apparatus of claim 5.
8. The image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first
Is characterized in that it is configured to display a display image of frequently used image data stored by the use histogram storage means.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image editing apparatus according to the eighth aspect.
Wherein the first display means is configured to display a data name of frequently used image data stored by the use histogram storage means together with the display image. .

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image editing apparatus, comprising: storage means for storing image data; and use histogram storage means for storing the frequency of use of the image data when the image data stored in the storage means is used. And first display means for displaying a data name of the image data in which the use frequency is stored by the use histogram storage means.

An image editing apparatus according to an eleventh aspect is the image editing apparatus according to the tenth aspect, wherein the selecting means selects at least one data name from the data names displayed on the first display means, and the selecting means. And a second display unit for displaying the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit, the image acquisition unit acquiring image data indicated by the data name selected by the image acquisition unit from the storage unit.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image editing apparatus according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, the first
Is characterized by displaying the data name of frequently used image data stored by the use histogram storage means.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image editing apparatus, comprising: storage means for storing image data; registration means for registering information on the image data stored in the storage means; and the information corresponding to the registered image data. Display image generating means for generating a display image; first display means for displaying the display image generated by the display image generating means; and at least one of the display images displayed on the first display means. Selecting means for selecting one of the display images, image obtaining means for obtaining image data corresponding to the display image selected by the selecting means, and second displaying the image data obtained by the image obtaining means. Display means.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image editing apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, the display image generating means is configured to create a display image by reducing the image data. It is characterized by.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image editing method, wherein image data is stored in a storage means, and when the stored image data is used, the fact that the image data is used is stored. Generates a display image corresponding to the stored image data, and displays the generated display image.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image editing method of the fifteenth aspect, when at least one display image is selected from the displayed display images, the selected display image is selected. Is obtained from the storage means and displayed.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the image editing method according to the fifteenth or sixteenth aspect, the display image is created by reducing the used image data stored. It is characterized by the following.

An image editing method according to claim 18 is the image editing method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein when the stored image data is used, the most recently used image data is used. For a predetermined number of image data, the fact that the image data has been used is stored as a usage history.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image editing method, the image data is stored in a storage means, and when the stored image data is used, the use frequency of the image data is stored, and the use frequency is stored. A display image corresponding to the image data is generated, and the generated display image is displayed.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the image editing method of the nineteenth aspect, when at least one display image is selected from the displayed display images, the selected display image is selected. Is obtained from the storage means and displayed.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the image editing method according to the nineteenth or twentieth aspect, the display image is created by reducing image data in which the use frequency is stored. Features.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the image editing method according to any one of the nineteenth to twenty-first aspects, the image data having a high frequency of use among the image data in which the frequency of use is stored is stored. Only the display image is displayed.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the image editing method according to the twenty-first aspect, among the image data in which the use frequency is stored, the data name of the frequently used image data is displayed together with the display image. It is characterized by displaying.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image editing method, the image data is stored in a storage means, and when the stored image data is used, the use frequency of the image data is stored, and the use frequency is stored. A data name of the image data is displayed.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image editing method according to the twenty-fourth aspect, when at least one data name is selected from the displayed data names, the data name is indicated by the selected data name. The image data is obtained from the storage means and displayed.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image editing method of the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth aspect, a data name of the frequently used image data among the image data in which the usage frequency is stored is displayed. It is characterized by.

The image editing method according to a twenty-seventh aspect stores image data in storage means, registers information relating to the stored image data, and generates a display image corresponding to the registered image data. Displaying the generated display image, and acquiring, from the storage unit, image data corresponding to the selected display image when at least one display image is selected from the displayed display images. Is displayed.

The image editing method according to a twenty-eighth aspect is characterized in that the display image is created by reducing the stored image data.

[0034]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image editing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, an image editing apparatus 100 includes an image input unit 1 for inputting image data.
An image processing unit 2 for editing image data input from the image input unit 1; and a first or an image processing unit for displaying image data input from the image input unit 1 or image data edited by the image processing unit 2. Image display unit 3 as second display means
And an image output unit 4 composed of a printer or the like that prints out an image obtained as a result of the editing processing by the image processing unit 2 and an image selection unit 2a as a selection unit including a pointing device such as a mouse. Is configured.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing unit 2 described above.

The image processing unit 2 includes a CPU 5 that controls the entire apparatus and controls the inside of the image processing unit 2, image data input by the image input unit 1, image data being edited, image data after editing processing, and the like. Image data storage unit 6 as an image data storage unit including a memory or a hard disk for storing the image data, and a used image storage unit as a used image storage unit for storing information on a file name of the image data used in the image processing unit 2. Unit 7, an image magnification conversion unit 8 as a display image creation unit for creating an image for image selection by reducing image data used in the image processing unit 2, and an operator using the image selection unit 2a. And an image acquisition unit 9 for acquiring image data of the image selected by the image data storage unit from the image data storage unit and editing the plurality of image data. And a image editing unit 10. The components 5 to 10 are connected to each other via a bus 11.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering and displaying used image data. A program for executing this flowchart is stored in a memory (not shown), and is executed by the CPU 5 in the image processing unit 2.

First, image data is input by the image input unit 1 (step S1). The image input unit 1 includes, for example, a flat bed type scanner, and a document such as a photograph is set on a document table provided in the image input unit 1. The image input unit 1 scans a document under the control of the CPU 5 and reads image data of an image on the document. Here, the input image data is
It is assumed that the image is a color image composed of 8 bits for each of RGB. The input image data is displayed on the screen of the image display unit 3 in the input order.

Then, it is determined whether or not the input of the number of pieces of image data required for the image editing process has been completed (step S).
2) If the answer is negative (NO), the process of step S1 is repeated.

When the input of the required number of image data is completed and the answer in step S2 is affirmative (YES), the image data input in step S1 is stored in the image data storage unit 6 in order to perform image editing processing. Is performed (step S3).
The image editing processing here means, for example, editing processing in which an arbitrary range is cut out from a plurality of images and arranged at an arbitrary position on a new page. Since the specific contents of the image editing process are not directly related to the present invention, detailed description will be omitted.

When the storage of the image data is completed, the image data stored in step S3 is
It is determined whether or not it is registered in the registration list provided in (step S4).

The registration list is a list in which the use order of the image data used in the image processing unit 2, the file name of the image data, and the file name of the reduced image data obtained by reducing the image data are registered. It is. Here, the file name of the full path including the directory name is registered as the file name of the image data.

If the answer to step S4 is affirmative (YES), that is, if it is determined that the image data stored in step S3 has already been registered, the registration list is updated (step S5).

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the registration list update procedure performed in step S5. FIG. 4A shows an example of the registration list before registration update.
(B) shows an example of a registration list after registration update.
In both registration lists, the left column is a number indicating the order of use of image data, the middle column is a file name of the image data, and the right column is reduced image data used to display a plurality of images collectively as described later. Is the file name.

In FIG. 4A, for example, the image data represented by the file name “registered image” at the stage of the number “3” in the registration list is the same image data as the image data stored in step S3. If there is, the file name registered in the row of the registration list number “3” is deleted, and then the row of the registration list number “1” (the latest position)
"Registered image", which is the file name of the input image data, is inserted into the file. Thus, the registration list is updated as shown in FIG. The number of image data that can be registered in the registration list can be arbitrarily set.

On the other hand, if the answer to step S4 is negative (NO), the file name of the input image data is inserted at the latest position of the registration list, thereby updating the registration list (step S4). S6).

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a procedure for updating the registration list performed in step S6. FIG. 5A shows an example of the registration list before registration update.
(B) shows an example of a registration list after registration update.

In both figures, the number of image data that can be registered in the registration list can be set arbitrarily. If the number of registered file names exceeds the number that can be registered, the oldest registered file names are deleted in order. Is done.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5A, when there is no image data having the file name “registered image” in the registration list before registration update, the registration list in FIG. After the oldest file name "image 4" is deleted, the file name "registered image" is registered at the latest position in the registration list. Therefore, the registration list after registration update is shown in FIG.
It is updated as shown in FIG.

When the registration in step S6 is completed, the image magnification conversion unit 8 reduces the image data whose file name is registered in step S6 to create reduced image data (step S7). In the present embodiment, 5
The image data is reduced so as to fall within the range of 0 × 50 pixels. If the image is a black-and-white binary image or a grayscale image, the reduction process is performed as it is, and if the image is a color image, the image is reduced after the color is reduced to 256 colors. The file name of the reduced image data is registered at a position corresponding to the file name “registered image” of the image data, as shown in FIG.

When the registration in step S5 or step S7 is completed, a process of displaying a reduced image of the image registered in the registration list on the image display unit 3 is performed (step S8).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the image display unit 3 when displaying the registration list. The displayed reduced images are arranged on the display screen in the order registered in the registration list. That is, the rearrangement is performed each time registration is updated so that the leftmost image becomes the latest registered image. Thus, the operator can easily and reliably recognize the image registered in the registration list, that is, the image that has been used recently.

After the display in step S8 is completed, this processing procedure ends.

Next, a procedure for selecting an arbitrary image from the display screen shown in FIG. 6 will be described.

The operator operates the display screen shown in FIG.
An arbitrary reduced image can be selected using the image selection unit 2a. When the selection event is input, the image acquisition unit 9 searches the registration list for the file name of the image data corresponding to the selected reduced image, and stores the image data corresponding to the file name in the image data storage unit. Take out from 6. The extracted image data is displayed on the image display unit 3 in the image editing screen mode.

Next, the procedure for deleting the registration of image data from the registration list will be described.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 6, after an arbitrary image is selected by the operator using the image selecting section 2a, registration deletion is selected from a pull-down menu (not shown). When the registration deletion event is input, under control of the CPU 5, the file name of the reduced image selected from the registration list and the file name of the image data corresponding to the reduced image are deleted. What is deleted at this time is
Only the file name of the registration list, and the image data itself stored in the image data storage unit 6 is not deleted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the file name of the recently used image is automatically registered, and the image is displayed on the display screen as a reduced image. Therefore, the operator can quickly and easily and surely select and take out a desired image using the displayed reduced image. Further, since a plurality of reduced images can be displayed on one screen by reducing and displaying the image data, the operator can quickly select a desired image at a glance. Furthermore, the operator can easily and reliably display the image by only a simple operation of selecting a reduced image corresponding to a desired image from the displayed reduced images.

In the present embodiment, a flat head type scanner is used as the image input unit 1, but an image input device using an area sensor such as a drum scanner or a TV camera is used as the image input unit. Is also good. Further, it may be configured to read image data recorded in advance on a magnetic recording medium such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, and a magneto-optical disk.

In this embodiment, the same processing as described above can be performed not only on a color image composed of 8 bits of RGB but also on a monochrome image.

In the present embodiment, the image editing process has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to other applications that handle image data.

In the present embodiment, the file name of the image data is registered in the registration list. However, even if the file name is not the file name, information such as a data number that can be directly or indirectly linked to the image data. Needless to say, any information may be used.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the image editing apparatus according to the present embodiment can be realized by the image editing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 described in the first embodiment, and thus will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing unit 2.

In the figure, an image processing unit 2 includes a CPU 25 that controls the entire apparatus and controls the inside of the image processing unit 2,
An image data storage unit 26 as an image data storage unit including a memory or a hard disk for storing image data input by the image input unit 1, image data being edited, image data after editing processing, and the like; An image use histogram storage unit 27 serving as a use histogram storage unit for obtaining a use histogram of the image data used in the unit 2 and storing information relating to a file name or the like corresponding to the histogram; Image magnification conversion unit 2 as a display image creating means for reducing and creating an image for image selection described later
8, an image acquisition unit 29 as an image acquisition unit that acquires image data of an image selected by the operator using the image selection unit 2a from the image data storage unit 26, and an image editing unit that edits a plurality of image data And a unit 30. The components 25 to 30 are connected to each other via a bus 31.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering and displaying used image data. A program for executing this flowchart is stored in a memory (not shown), and is executed by the CPU 25 in the image processing unit 2.

In FIG. 8, the processing procedure from step S21 to step S23 is the same as the processing procedure from step S1 to step S3 in FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment.

When the storage of the image data is completed, the histogram of the image data is updated (step S2).
4). That is, it is determined whether or not the information on the image data stored in step S23 is in the histogram list of the image use histogram storage unit 27. If the information is in the histogram list, 1 is added to the histogram counter corresponding to the image data. Is added. If the image data is not included in the histogram list, information on the image data is added to the histogram list, and 1 is added to the corresponding histogram counter.

When the histogram is updated, the display image list is updated (step S25). The display image list is a list in which the file name of each image data recognized from the histogram list and the file name of the reduced image corresponding to the image data are recorded in the order of most frequently used. FIG. 9 shows an example of the display image list. As will be described later, the image data registered in the display image list is displayed on the screen as frequently used image data.
Here, as the file name of the image data, a full path file name including a directory name is recorded.

The display image list is updated in step S24.
In the updated histogram list, the file names of a predetermined number of image data are registered in the display screen list in order from the file name of the image data having the largest histogram.

When the update of the display image list is completed, it is determined whether or not there is a reduced image for the index for all the registered image data (step S2).
6). If the answer to step S26 is negative (NO), that is, if there is no reduced image for the index, reduced image data is created by reducing the image data in the image magnification conversion unit 8 (step S2).
7). In the case of the present embodiment, the image data is reduced so as to fall within the range of 50 × 50 pixels. Also,
If the image is black and white binary or gray scale, the reduction processing is performed as it is, and if it is a color image, the reduction processing is performed after performing the color reduction processing to 256 colors.

The file name of the reduced image data obtained by the reduction processing is registered in a position corresponding to the file name of the original image data in the display image list of the image use histogram storage unit 7.

When the answer to step S26 is affirmative (YES) and when the reduction processing in step S27 is completed, the reduced images registered in the display image list are displayed in the list window on the display screen of the image display unit 3. The process is performed (Step S28).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the list window displayed in step S28. The displayed reduced images are arranged from the left side of the display screen in the order registered in the display image list, that is, in the order of higher use frequency. The file name of the original image data indicated by the reduced image is displayed below each reduced image.

After the display processing in step S28 is completed,
This processing procedure ends.

Next, a procedure for selecting an arbitrary image using the list window shown in FIG. 10 will be described.

The operator can select an arbitrary reduced image from the list window shown in FIG. 10 by using the image selecting section 2a. When the selection event is input, the image acquisition unit 29 searches the display image list for the file name of the image data corresponding to the selected reduced image, and stores the image data corresponding to the file name in the image data storage. It is taken out of the unit 6. The extracted image data is displayed on the screen display unit 3 in the image editing screen mode.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the file names of frequently used images are automatically registered, and the images are displayed as reduced images on the display screen. In addition, the image data to be displayed are arranged and displayed in descending order of frequency of use. Therefore, the operator can easily and quickly and reliably select and take out a desired image.

Further, since a plurality of reduced images can be displayed on one screen by reducing and displaying the image data, the operator can quickly select a desired image at a glance. Further, the operator can easily and surely display the image simply by selecting the reduced image corresponding to the desired image from the displayed reduced images. Furthermore, since only reduced images of frequently used images are registered and displayed, frequently accessed images can be quickly retrieved. Thereby, the efficiency of the entire image editing operation can be improved.

In this embodiment, a flat head type scanner is used as the image input unit 1. However, an image input device using an area sensor such as a drum scanner or a TV camera is used as the image input unit 1. You may. Also, hard disk, floppy disk,
It may be configured to read image data recorded in advance on a magnetic medium such as a magneto-optical disk.

In this embodiment, the same processing as described above can be performed not only on a color image composed of 8 bits of RGB but also on a monochrome image.

Although the embodiment has been described with reference to the image editing process, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to other applications that handle image data.

In the present embodiment, the file names of the image data and the reduced image data are registered in the display image list. Needless to say, any information may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the data to be handled is image data has been described as an example, but the present embodiment can be applied to the case where data other than image data is handled. For example, by creating and registering a reduced image from document data, the document data can be registered, and an effect that a target document can be selected and used easily and quickly can be obtained.

Further, in this embodiment, the reduced image and the file name are displayed in the list window shown in FIG. 10, but the present invention is not limited to this.
It is also possible to configure so that only the reduced image or only the file name is displayed and selected. Even in the case of such a configuration, the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that the image editing apparatus according to the present embodiment can be realized by the image editing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 described in the first embodiment, and will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing section 2 shown in FIG.

In the figure, an image processing unit 2 includes a CPU 35 that controls the entire apparatus and controls the inside of the image processing unit 2,
An image data storage unit 36 as a storage unit including a memory or a hard disk for storing image data input by the image input unit 1, image data being edited, image data after editing processing, and the like; An image registration unit 3 as registration means for registering information relating to a file name of arbitrary image data from the stored image data;
7, an image magnification conversion unit 38 as a display image creation unit for reducing image data in which a file name or the like is registered in the image registration unit 37 to create an image for image selection described later, and an image selection unit 2a. An image acquisition unit 39 for acquiring image data of the image selected by the operator from the image data storage unit 36, and an image editing unit 40 for editing a plurality of image data. . The components 35 to 40 are connected to each other via a bus 41. The bus 41 is a transfer path for instructions and data between the components 35 to 40.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering and displaying a use image. A program for executing this flowchart is stored in a memory (not shown),
This is performed by the CPU 35 in the image processing unit 2.

Steps S31 and S3 in FIG.
The content of the processing executed in step 2 is the same as the content of the processing in steps S1 and S2 shown in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment described above.

If the input of the required number of image data is completed and the answer to step S32 is affirmative (YES), image registration is performed (step S33).

Specifically, when the operator selects an arbitrary image from the input images and selects the “image registration” menu from the pull-down menu, a dialog box for image registration is displayed on the display screen. Displayed above. here,
The CPU 35 displays a text asking the operator for the file name on the screen, and prompts the operator to input the file name attached to the desired image. The input of the file name may be configured to be performed using an input device such as a keyboard,
The icon of the image file to be registered by using the image selection unit 2a may be configured to be dragged and dropped to a list image display window to be described later.

As described above, the image registration is performed by inputting the file name of the image data of the image to be registered. The file name of the image data is registered as a display image list shown in FIG. The display image list is a list in which the file names of the image data and the file names of the reduced image data corresponding to the image data are recorded in the order of registration. In the case of the present embodiment, the image data file The file name of the full path including the directory where is stored is stored. At this time, since the reduced image of the newly registered image has not been created yet, the column of the file name of the reduced image is blank.

When the image registration is completed, the image magnification conversion unit 8
In, a reduced image of the newly registered image is created (step S34). Here, the first
As in the case of the second embodiment, the image data is reduced so as to fall within the range of 50 × 50 pixels. If the image is a binary image in black and white or gray scale, the reduction processing is performed as it is, and if the image is a color image, the reduction processing of the image data is performed after performing the color reduction processing to 256 colors.

Then, it is displayed in a list window on the display screen of the image display unit 3 (step S35). FIG.
5 is a diagram showing an example of a list window displayed on the image display unit 3. FIG. In the present embodiment, step S3
The reduced images created in step 4 are arranged in order of registered date from the left side of the list window. In the present embodiment, the file name of the image data corresponding to the reduced image data is displayed below the reduced image.

Next, a procedure for selecting a desired image using the list window shown in FIG. 14 will be described.

The operator can select an arbitrary reduced image from the list window by using the image selecting section 2a. When a selection event is input, the image acquisition unit 9 searches the display image list for a file name of image data corresponding to the selected reduced image, and stores image data corresponding to the file name in the image data storage unit 6. Taken out of The extracted image data is displayed on the image display unit 3 in the image editing screen mode, thereby ending the image selection procedure.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operator can register frequently used images by himself, and the registered images are displayed on the screen as reduced images. This has the effect that the operator can easily and quickly select and use a target image from the image. Further, since a plurality of reduced images can be displayed on one screen by reducing and displaying the image data, the operator can quickly select a desired image at a glance. Furthermore, the operator can easily and reliably display the image by only a simple operation of selecting a reduced image corresponding to a desired image from the displayed reduced images.

In the present embodiment, a flat head type scanner is used as the image input unit 1. However, an image input device using an area sensor such as a drum scanner or a TV camera is used as the image input unit 1. You may. Also, hard disk, floppy disk,
It may be configured to read image data recorded in advance on a magnetic medium such as a magneto-optical disk.

In this embodiment, the same processing as described above can be performed not only on a color image composed of 8 bits of RGB but also on a monochrome image.

Although the embodiment has been described with reference to the image editing process, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to other applications that handle image data.

In this embodiment, the file name of the image data and the file name of the reduced image data are registered in the display image list. However, even if the file name is not a file name, it is linked to the image data such as a data number. It goes without saying that any information that can be used may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the data to be handled is image data is described as an example. However, the present embodiment can be applied to the case where data other than image data is handled. For example, by creating and registering a reduced image from document data, the document data can be registered, and an effect that a target document can be selected and used easily and quickly can be obtained.

Further, in the present embodiment, the reduced image and the file name of the image data corresponding to the reduced image are displayed in the list window shown in FIG. 14, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, it is also possible to display and select only the reduced image or only the file name. Even in the case of such a configuration, the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

[0107]

As described above, according to the image editing apparatus of the first aspect or the image editing method of the fifteenth aspect, the image data is stored in the storage means, and the stored image data is used. It is stored that the image data has been used, a display image corresponding to the stored image data that has been used is generated, and the generated display image is displayed. The image data of the displayed image is automatically stored and the display image is displayed, so that the operator can take out the desired image quickly and easily using the displayed display image. can get.

According to the image editing apparatus of claim 2 or the image editing method of claim 16, when at least one display image is selected from the displayed display images, the selected display image is displayed. Is obtained from the storage means and displayed, the operator can select a display image corresponding to a desired image from the displayed display images by a simple operation. The effect is obtained that the image can be quickly and reliably selected and taken out.

According to the image editing apparatus of the third aspect or the image editing method of the seventeenth aspect, the display image is created by reducing the image data in which the used image data is stored. Can be displayed on one screen, whereby the effect is obtained that the operator can quickly select a desired image at a glance.

According to the image editing apparatus of the fourth aspect or the image editing method of the eighteenth aspect, when the stored image data is used, a predetermined number of image data from the most recently used image data are used. Since the use history of the image data is stored as the use history, only the image data of the most recently used image is stored and the display image is displayed. An effect is obtained that a desired image recently used can be quickly and easily extracted using the image.

According to the image editing apparatus of claim 5 or the image editing method of claim 19, the image data is stored in the storage means, and when the stored image data is used, the frequency of use of the image data is reduced. A display image corresponding to the stored image data in which the use frequency is stored is generated, and the generated display image is displayed.
An effect is obtained that a desired image can be quickly and easily taken out using the displayed image for display.

According to the image editing apparatus of claim 6 or the image editing method of claim 20, when at least one display image is selected from the displayed display images, the selected display image is displayed. Since the corresponding image data is acquired from the storage means and displayed, the operator can select a desired display image from the displayed display images by a simple operation of selecting the desired display image. The effect is obtained that an image can be selected and taken out quickly and reliably.

According to the image editing apparatus of the seventh aspect or the image editing method of the twenty-first aspect, since the display image is created by reducing the image data in which the use frequency is stored, a plurality of display images can be displayed. The image for use can be displayed on one screen, whereby the effect is obtained that the operator can quickly select a desired image at a glance.

According to the image editing apparatus of the eighth aspect or the image editing method of the twenty-second aspect, of the image data in which the use frequency is stored, only the display image of the frequently used image data is displayed. Thus, the effect is obtained that the operator can quickly and easily and reliably take out the frequently used image using the displayed display image.

According to the image editing apparatus of claim 9 or the image editing method of claim 23, of the image data in which the use frequency is stored, the data name of the frequently used image data is displayed together with the display image. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an effect that the operator can quickly and easily and surely take out the frequently used image using the displayed display image and data name.

An image editing apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 24.
According to the image editing method of (1), the image data is stored in the storage means, when the stored image data is used, the use frequency of the image data is stored, and the data of the image data in which the use frequency is stored Since the name is displayed, the effect is obtained that the operator can quickly and easily and reliably take out a desired image using the displayed data name.

An image editing apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 25.
According to the image editing method, when at least one data name is selected from the displayed data names, the image data indicated by the selected data name is acquired from the storage unit and displayed, With the simple operation of selecting the data name of the desired image from the displayed data names, the operator can quickly and reliably select and take out the desired image.

An image editing apparatus according to claim 12 or claim 26.
According to the image editing method of (1), among the image data in which the use frequency is stored, the data name of the frequently used image data is displayed, so that the operator can use the displayed data name to use the use frequency. The effect is that an image with high image quality can be taken out quickly, easily and reliably.

An image editing apparatus according to claim 13 or claim 27.
According to the image editing method of (1), the image data is stored in the storage unit, information on the stored image data is registered, and a display image corresponding to the image data in which the information is registered is generated. When at least one display image is selected from the displayed display images, image data corresponding to the selected display image is obtained from the storage unit and displayed. Therefore, the operator can display only the display image of the desired image, and can take out the desired image quickly, easily, and reliably using the displayed display image. The effect is obtained.

[0120] An image editing apparatus according to claim 14 or claim 28.
According to the image editing method, the display image is created by reducing the stored image data, so that a plurality of display images can be displayed on one screen,
This provides an effect that the operator can quickly select a desired image at a glance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image editing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for registering and displaying image data used in the image processing unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a registration list update procedure.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a procedure for updating a registration list.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of an image display unit.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit of an image editing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for registering and displaying image data used in the image processing unit.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display image list.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a list window.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit of an image editing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an image registration and display procedure.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display image list.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a list window.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image input unit 3 Image display unit 4 Image output unit 5, 25, 35 CPU 6, 26, 36 Image data storage unit 7, 27, 37 Used image storage unit 8, 28, 38 Image magnification conversion unit 9, 29, 39 Image acquisition unit

Claims (28)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing image data, a used image storage means for storing that the image data has been used when the image data stored in the storage means has been used, and the used image storage A display image generating means for generating a display image corresponding to the image data stored in the means, and a first display means for displaying the display image generated by the display image generating means. An image editing apparatus, comprising: 2. A selecting means for selecting at least one display image from the display images displayed on the first display means, and storing the image data corresponding to the display image selected by the selecting means. The image editing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image acquisition unit that acquires the image data from the unit; and a second display unit that displays the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit. 3. The image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display image generation unit is configured to generate a display image by reducing the image data. 4. The use image storage means is configured to store, for a predetermined number of image data from the most recently used image data, the storage of the image data as a use history. The image editing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. A storage unit for storing image data, a use histogram storage unit for storing a use frequency of the image data when the image data stored in the storage unit is used, and the use histogram storage unit. A display image generation unit configured to generate a display image corresponding to the image data in which the use frequency is stored; and a first display unit configured to display the display image generated by the display image generation unit. Image editing device. 6. A selecting means for selecting at least one display image from the display images displayed on the first display means, and storing the image data corresponding to the display image selected by the selecting means. The image editing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an image acquisition unit that acquires the image data from the unit; and a second display unit that displays the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit. 7. The image editing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display image generation unit is configured to generate a display image by reducing the image data. 8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first display means is configured to display a display image of frequently used image data stored by said use histogram storage means. The image editing device according to any one of the preceding claims. 9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first display unit displays the data name of the frequently used image data stored by the use histogram storage unit together with the display image. Item 9. The image editing device according to Item 8. 10. A storage means for storing image data, a use histogram storage means for storing a use frequency of the image data when the image data stored in the storage means is used, and a use histogram storage means. An image editing apparatus comprising: a first display unit that displays a data name of the image data in which the use frequency is stored. 11. A selecting means for selecting at least one data name from data names displayed on the first display means, and acquiring image data indicated by the data name selected by the selecting means from the storage means. The image editing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: an image acquisition unit that performs image processing; and a second display unit that displays image data acquired by the image acquisition unit. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first display means displays a data name of frequently used image data stored by said use histogram storage means.
12. The image editing device according to 0 or 11. 13. A storage unit for storing image data, a registration unit for registering information about the image data stored in the storage unit, and a display for generating a display image corresponding to the image data in which the information is registered. Image generating means, first display means for displaying the display image generated by the display image generating means, and at least one display image selected from the display images displayed on the first display means. Selecting means, image acquiring means for acquiring image data corresponding to the display image selected by the selecting means, and second display means for displaying the image data acquired by the image acquiring means. Characteristic image editing device. 14. The image editing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said display image generating means is configured to generate a display image by reducing the image data. 15. When image data is stored in a storage unit, when the stored image data is used, the fact that the image data is used is stored, and the used image data is stored in the stored image data. An image editing method comprising: generating a corresponding display image; and displaying the generated display image. 16. When at least one display image is selected from the displayed display images, acquiring and displaying the image data corresponding to the selected display image from the storage unit. 16. The image editing method according to claim 15, wherein: 17. The image editing method according to claim 15, wherein the display image is created by reducing image data in which the used image data is stored. 18. When the stored image data is used, for a predetermined number of image data from the most recently used image data, the fact that the image data has been used is stored as a use history. Claim 15
18. The image editing method according to any one of items 17 to 17. 19. Image data is stored in a storage unit, and when the stored image data is used, a frequency of use of the image data is stored, and a display frequency corresponding to the stored image data is stored. An image editing method comprising: generating an image; and displaying the generated display image. 20. When at least one display image is selected from the displayed display images, acquiring and displaying image data corresponding to the selected display image from the storage unit. 20. The image editing method according to claim 19, wherein: 21. The image editing method according to claim 19, wherein the display image is created by reducing image data in which the use frequency is stored. 22. The image processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein, of the image data in which the use frequency is stored, only a display image of the image data having a high use frequency is displayed. Image editing method. 23. The image editing method according to claim 21, wherein, among the image data in which the use frequency is stored, a data name of the frequently used image data is displayed together with the display image. 24. Image data is stored in storage means, when the stored image data is used, the frequency of use of the image data is stored, and the data name of the image data in which the frequency of use is stored is displayed. An image editing method characterized by: 25. When at least one data name is selected from the displayed data names, image data indicated by the selected data name is obtained from the storage means and displayed. The image editing method according to claim 24. 26. The image editing method according to claim 24, wherein a data name of the frequently used image data among the image data in which the use frequency is stored is displayed. 27. Image data is stored in storage means, information about the image data stored in the storage means is registered, and a display image corresponding to the image data in which the information is registered is generated. Displaying at least one display image from the displayed display images, and displaying and displaying image data corresponding to the selected display image from the storage unit when at least one display image is selected from the displayed display images. An image editing method, characterized in that: 28. The image editing method according to claim 27, wherein the display image is created by reducing the stored image data.