JPH10186551A - Method and device for processing image and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide method and device for processing an image and a storage medium capable obtaining a division image in the proper direction for obtaining a natural wide angular image such as a panoramic image with simple operation. SOLUTION: When a scene wide angular in the horizontal direction, etc., is divided to be image picked up, it is image picked up from the left end of the scene, and the fetched division image 41 is kept in a storage area AIMGE, and an image of an image area 44 in the vicinity of the right end of the kept division image 42 is stored in the storage area BIMGE, and the image of the image area 46 in the vicinity of the left end of the newly fetched division image 42 is stored in the storage area CIMGE. The image of the image area 45 in the image area 44 stored in the storage area BIMGE is compared with the image of the image area 47 in the image are 46 store in the storage area CIMGE, and when both are matched, the division image 42 is kept in the storage area AIMGE as the division image in the proper direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus, such as a camera and an image reader, for inputting and storing an image, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A wide-angle lens is sometimes used to obtain a wide-angle image such as a panoramic landscape photograph by an image processing apparatus such as a camera, but a wider angle of view that cannot be captured at one time. When it is desired to obtain an image, it is necessary to divide the angle of view into a plurality of parts by changing the imaging direction little by little, for example.

For this reason, in the prior art, each divided image is sensed by the user himself or herself so that the first image and the second image to be adjacent to it can be overlapped with a margin without causing a blank portion due to omission of imaging. The approximate imaging direction of the image was determined. For example, in a case where a horizontally long panoramic image is obtained by dividing and photographing in order from the left side, the second photographing is performed so that the image near the first right end and the image near the second left end surely overlap. Determine the direction. And in the same way, the second
The imaging direction is gradually changed, such as the third image, and this is repeated until a sufficient number of images are obtained to accommodate the required angle of view. Alternatively, when a tripod is used, the imaging direction of each divided image is set using an angle scale engraved on the tripod in advance, and the image is similarly captured.

[0004] Each of the divided images thus obtained is connected such that the overlapping portions of the images overlap each other, so that a single panoramic image is obtained in a pseudo manner.

[0005]

However, if the appropriate direction of the divided image for obtaining a panoramic image or the like is determined by the user as in the above-mentioned conventional method, the overlapping portion in the image area varies. For example, when the first image and the second image are connected, there is a problem that a vertical step is formed between the first image and the second image, or the two are connected diagonally without being parallel to each other. In some cases, it could not be obtained. In addition, there may be a case where a mistake is made in setting an imaging direction, an unnecessarily overlapping region is formed, or conversely, a gap portion which is not included in any image is generated and a failure occurs. Further, there is a problem that it is troublesome for the user to determine the imaging direction each time.

Further, in the method using the angle scale pre-engraved on the tripod as in the above-mentioned conventional method, there are few failures, but there is a problem that the operation is complicated by always using the tripod.

Further, regardless of the user's feeling or the angle scale of a tripod, a pseudo panoramic image obtained by joining the obtained divided images is, in a strict sense, an image having a desired angle of view. There is a problem that it cannot be said that the images are cut at intervals, and that not only unnaturalness remains, but also it is difficult to reproduce as one complete panoramic image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to make it easy to operate a divided image in a proper direction for obtaining a natural wide-angle image such as a panoramic image. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing method and apparatus and a storage medium which can be obtained by the above method.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing method comprising: receiving an image;
An image storing step of storing the received image, a partial image storing step of storing an image of at least a part of an area of the image stored in the image storing step, and the received image in the image storing step Receiving the new image after storing the image of the partial area in the partial image storing step and storing the image of the partial area, and a part of the area of the new image received in the image receiving step. A comparing step of comparing the image of the area with the image of the partial area stored in the partial image storing step, and as a result of the comparison in the comparing step, a new image area received in the image receiving step When the image of the partial area matches the image of the partial area stored in the partial image storing step, a processing executing step of executing a predetermined processing is included. And wherein the door.

[0010] To achieve the same object, claim 2 of the present invention.
The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein
The predetermined processing is storing of a new image received in the image receiving step.

[0011] To achieve the same object, claim 3 of the present invention.
The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein
The predetermined process is a predetermined teaching process for prompting a user to save a new image received in the image receiving step.

[0012] Claim 4 of the present invention achieves the same object.
The image processing method according to claim 3, wherein
The processing execution step is characterized in that a new image received in the image receiving step is stored according to an instruction of the user for the predetermined teaching processing.

[0013] Claim 5 of the present invention achieves the same object.
5. The image processing method according to claim 2, further comprising an image synthesizing step of synthesizing an image stored in said image storing step and an image stored in said processing executing step. And

[0014] To achieve the same object, claim 6 of the present invention.
The image processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the image of the partial area stored in the partial image storing step is an image stored in the image storing step. The position in the area of the image of a partial area of the area of the new image received in the image receiving step, the position in the area of the new image,
It is characterized by at least one of left-right symmetry, vertical symmetry, and point symmetry with each other.

[0015] To achieve the same object, claim 7 of the present invention.
The image processing apparatus receives an image, an image storage unit that stores the received image, and a partial image storage unit that stores an image of at least a part of an area of the image stored by the image storage unit. An image receiving unit that receives a new image after the received image is stored by the image storing unit and an image of the partial area is stored by the partial image storing unit; and Comparing means for comparing an image of a partial area of the received area of the new image with an image of the partial area stored by the partial image storing means; and a result of comparison by the comparing means, A process for executing a predetermined process when an image of a partial region of the region of the new image received by the receiving unit matches the image of the partial region stored by the partial image storage unit Characterized by comprising a row unit.

[0016] To achieve the same object, claim 8 of the present invention.
The image processing device according to claim 7, wherein
The predetermined processing is storage of a new image received by the image receiving unit.

[0017] To achieve the same object, claim 9 of the present invention.
The image processing device according to claim 7, wherein
The predetermined process is a predetermined teaching process for prompting a user to save a new image received by the image receiving unit.

[0018] To achieve the same object, claim 1 of the present invention.
10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processing execution unit stores the new image received by the image receiving unit in accordance with the user instruction for the predetermined teaching process. Features.

To achieve the same object, claim 1 of the present invention
11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an image synthesizing unit configured to synthesize the image stored by the image storing unit and the image stored by the processing executing unit. It is characterized by.

[0020] To achieve the same object, claim 1 of the present invention.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 11,
In the configuration described in the paragraph, the position of the image of the partial area stored by the partial image storage unit in the region of the image stored by the image storage unit and a new image received by the image reception unit The position of the image in a part of the image region in the new image region is at least one of left-right symmetry, vertical symmetry, and point symmetry with each other.

[0021] To achieve the same object, claim 1 of the present invention.
A storage medium for storing a program for controlling the image processing apparatus, the image storage module receiving an image and storing the received image, and an area of the image stored by the image storage module A partial image storage module that stores an image of at least a part of the image, and after the storage of the received image by the image storage module and the storage of the image of the part by the partial image storage module, An image receiving module for receiving a new image, an image of a partial area of the area of the new image received by the image receiving module, and an image of the partial area stored by the partial image storage module. A comparison module to be compared, and a new image received by the image reception module as a result of the comparison by the comparison module. If the image of the partial area of the area matches the image of the partial area stored by the partial image storage module, a program having a processing execution module that executes a predetermined processing is stored. Features.

[0022]

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

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The image processing apparatus includes a CPU 1, a keyboard 2, an LCD (liquid crystal display) 3, a VRAM 4, an external storage 5 (hereinafter referred to as "FD5"), a ROM 7, and a RAM.
8, a camera unit 9 and a printer 10 are connected to each other via a bus line 6.

The CPU 1 is a central processing unit, which controls the operation of each component of the apparatus. The keyboard 2 is used when performing operations such as image editing. The VRAM 4 is a display write-only memory, and the LCD 3 displays the image information written in the VRAM 4. The FD 5 stores image information and the like received by the camera unit 9 in a floppy disk inserted therein. The ROM 7 is a read-only memory and stores a control program and the like for the CPU 1 to execute.

The RAM 8 is a volatile memory, the inside of which is divided into a plurality of storage areas, and each divided storage area (R
AM8a to RAM8e) are used for specific purposes. The WORK (RAM 8a) is a work area used when the CPU 1 executes various programs. RA
M8b stores the value of the pointer POI for designating an area for storing the image received by the camera unit 9. The value of the pointer POI is a natural number, and is incremented each time a divided image is stored by a process described below.

The RAM 8c has a storage area AIMGE (1)
To (n), and the image received by the camera unit 9 is stored in the storage area corresponding to the value of the pointer POI in the storage areas AIMGE (1) to (n).

In the storage area BIMGE (RAM 8d),
As described later, when an image is stored in the storage area AIMGE, an image of at least a part of the area of the image is stored. The partial area can be set before imaging.

The storage area CIMGE (RAM 8e) stores an image in a partial area of the image newly received by the camera unit 9 after storing the image in the storage area AIMGE.
That is, a part of the divided image to be adjacent in the panoramic image is stored. As described later, the partial area has a symmetrical position in the image area with the area stored in the storage area BIMGE immediately before, and can be set before capturing a panoramic image.

The image of the partial area of the storage area BIMGE and the image of the partial area of the storage area CIMGE are compared by the CPU 1 as will be described later, and the image received by the camera unit 9 when the two coincide with each other is determined. Predetermined processing such as storage in the area specified by the pointer POI of the storage area AIMGE is performed.

The camera section 9 includes a display section for displaying a currently received image, a shutter, and a shutter operation section (both not shown) for releasing the shutter in accordance with an instruction to the CPU 1 or a user's instruction. Is supplied to the RAM 8. The camera unit 9 is an electronic camera, but may be a document reading device such as an image reader. The printer 10 receives image information from the RAM 8 or the FD 5 and visually outputs an image from the image information.

The divided images stored in the storage area AIMGE of the RAM 8 are combined by the CPU 1 and stored in the FD 5 as a panoramic image.

Hereinafter, an imaging procedure of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an image capturing process performed by the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.
This process is executed by the CPU 1. In this processing, when capturing a wide-angle landscape in the horizontal direction so that it is temporarily impossible to capture an image, the imaging direction is gradually changed from left to right, and the angle of view is divided into a plurality to obtain a panoramic image. take.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a divided image obtained by this processing. FIG. 7A shows a panoramic image obtained by synthesizing the divided images 41, 42, and 43. The wide-angle image shown in FIG. 9A is divided into three images 41, 42, and 43 and captured. FIG. 3B shows a divided image 41, and FIGS. 3C and 3D show a divided image 42 whose imaging directions are slightly shifted from each other.

The image area 44 is specified near the right end of the divided image 41, and the image in that area is stored in the storage area BIMGE.
Is stored. The image area 46 is specified near the left end of the divided image 42. In order to ensure continuity between the divided image 41 and the divided image 42, the image of the narrow image region 45 in the image region 44 and the image of the narrow image region 47 in the image region 46 are compared with each other. In addition,
The position of the narrow image area 45 in the image area 44 and the position of the narrow image area 47 in the image area 46 can be arbitrarily set.

In this example, since the camera unit 9 is moved horizontally to capture a divided image, the image area 44 and the image area 46 are captured.
Is set to the position of the left and right target in the imaging area of the camera unit 9.

It is also conceivable that a wide-angle image is divided and picked up and down or obliquely. Therefore, the camera unit 9 is configured such that the image area to be compared can be freely set by an operation unit (not shown) provided in the camera unit 9.
For example, when the camera unit 9 is moved in the vertical direction to capture a divided image, the image regions to be compared are set so as to be mutually upper and lower targets in the imaging region of the camera unit 9,
When an image is taken by moving the camera unit 9 in an oblique direction, the image area to be compared is set so as to be symmetric with respect to the approximate center point of the imaging area of the camera unit 9.

Further, the image area to be compared is set so that the overlapping area is minimized so as not to hinder the comparison processing.

In the process shown in FIG. 2, when the direction of the camera section 9 is set so that the left end of the desired scene is located at the left end of the screen, and then the shutter is released, first, "1" is set to the pointer POI. (Step S201), the divided image 41 received by the camera unit 9 is fetched into the storage area AIMGE (this time is the first time, the storage area AIMGE (1)), and is stored (Step S202). The image in the image area 44 near the right end is stored in the storage area B.
Imported into IMGE and stored (step S20)
3), rotate the camera unit 9 horizontally to the right (panning)
(Step S204).

Here, the rotation of the camera unit 9 may be performed manually, but may be configured to be performed automatically. However, the rotation speed must be sufficiently lower than the processing speed of this program.

Next, the image of the image area 46 near the left end of the divided image 42 newly captured by the camera section 9 is
The image is captured and stored in the storage area CIMGE (step S205), and it is determined whether the image of the image area 44 stored in the storage area BIMGE matches the image of the image area 46 stored in the storage area CIMGE (step S205). Step S
206). In this case, instead of comparing all the images in the image area 44 and the image area 46, as described above, the image of the narrow image area 45 in the image area 44 and the image area 4
6 and the image of the narrow image area 47 is compared. This is to facilitate the comparison process in consideration of the fact that the camera unit 9 slightly moves up and down when the camera unit 9 is panned. The comparison process is performed by a known method such as template matching.

If the result of determination in step S206 is that the image of the image area 44 stored in the storage area BIMGE does not match the image of the image area 46 stored in the storage area CIMGE, the flow returns to step S204. That is, the processes of steps S204 to S206 are repeated until the camera unit 9 is oriented in the direction of capturing the appropriate divided image. For example, since the imaging direction of the divided image 42 shown in FIG. 3C is still slightly to the left of the appropriate imaging direction, the image in the image area 45 of FIG.
It does not match the image in the image area 47 in (c). However, when the camera unit 9 is further rotated rightward, the imaging direction of the divided image 42 eventually becomes an appropriate imaging direction as shown in FIG. 3D, and the image in the image area 45 and the image in the image area 47 are changed. Matches.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S206, if the image of the image area 44 stored in the storage area BIMGE matches the image of the image area 46 stored in the storage area CIMGE, the pointer POI is set to "1". "(Step S207), and it is determined whether or not to continue taking in the divided images (step S20).
8). In this example, it is necessary to capture three divided images in total, but since only one image has been captured this time, it is necessary to continue capturing the divided images. Therefore,
The process returns to step S202. Thus, the divided images to be adjacent are automatically stored.

That is, when returning to step S202, since the value of the pointer POI is "2" this time, the divided image 42 (shown in FIG. 3D) is stored in the storage area AIMGE ( Stored in 2). In step S202 in the next loop,
Since the value of the pointer POI is “3”, the divided image 43
Is stored in the storage area AIMGE (3) as an image in an appropriate direction.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in the step S208, when the capture of the divided image is completed (in this example, the storage of the divided image 43 in the storage area AIMGE is completed), the storage is performed in the storage area AIMGE (1). Divided image (divided image 41), divided image (divided image 42) stored in storage area AIMGE (2), and storage area AIM
The divided image (divided image 43) stored in the GE (3) is image-combined to obtain one panoramic image as shown in FIG. 3A (step S209), and this processing ends.

According to the first embodiment, it is possible to obtain a natural continuous image such as a panoramic image only by gradually moving the camera unit 9 from one side to the other for a desired wide-angle object. A divided image in an appropriate imaging direction can be easily and easily obtained. Further, the obtained divided image is an image obtained by cutting out an image of a desired angle of view at equal intervals and without an excessive overlapping area or a gap portion, and by combining these, one complete natural image is obtained. It can be reproduced as a panoramic image.

(Second Embodiment) An image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment has the same configuration as the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment, and is as shown in FIG. Therefore, FIG.
The same reference numerals are used for the same components. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the division image is taken in by the user's intention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an image capturing process by the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This process is executed by the CPU 1.

In steps S401 to S406, the same processing as in steps S201 to S206 of FIG. 2 is executed. However, the panning of the camera unit 9 in step S404 of the second embodiment is performed not only in the same direction but also in the left and right directions.

As a result of the determination in step S406, if the image of the image area 44 stored in the storage area BIMGE matches the image of the image area 46 stored in the storage area CIMGE, a predetermined process to the user is performed. The teaching process is executed (Step S407). This teaching process is a process for notifying the user that the camera unit 9 is currently facing in an appropriate direction for capturing a divided image and prompting a save operation. It is provided by turning on the light or displaying a message to that effect on the LCD 3. Accordingly, the user can easily know the appropriate imaging direction of the divided image to be adjacent to the previously saved divided image, and can arbitrarily save the direction.

Next, it is determined whether or not the shutter of the camera section 9 has been released (turned on) (step S408).
If the shutter has not been released, the process proceeds to step S404.
Return to In other words, even if the camera unit 9 once faces the proper imaging direction, the divided images are not stored unless the user releases the shutter. For example, the camera unit 9 is rotated too much and the imaging direction of the camera unit 9 is not correct again. When it becomes appropriate, the teaching process is stopped. Then, when the camera unit 9 is rotated in the reverse (left) direction, and the imaging direction of the camera unit 9 becomes appropriate again, the teaching process is executed again.

If the result of determination in step S408 is that the shutter of the camera section 9 has been released, step S409 is reached.
In steps S411 to S411, the same processing as steps S207 to S209 in FIG. 2 is executed, and the processing ends. As a result, the divided image in the appropriate imaging direction is stored.

According to the second embodiment, not only the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained, but also the saving of the divided image can be arbitrarily performed by the user.

In the first embodiment, if the rotational movement speed of the camera unit 9 is not set sufficiently low, there is a possibility that the imaging of the divided image may fail. In the second embodiment, the rotation of the camera unit 9 may be failed. Regardless of the speed or the moving direction, when the image in the storage area BIMGE matches the image in the storage area CIMGE, teaching processing is performed each time. For example, if the camera unit 9 goes too far, the teaching processing is performed again. Imaging can be performed quickly and there are few failures.

Further, for example, even when a wide-angle image is taken in the horizontal direction, the movement of the camera section 9 is not necessarily required to be horizontal, but may be directed to an appropriate direction via a vertical or diagonal movement locus. Therefore, even if the camera section 9 is manually moved, the camera section 9 can sufficiently withstand practical use.

The same effect can be obtained by reading out a storage medium such as a floppy disk (FD) in which a control program represented by software for achieving the present invention is stored by using the FD 5.

Hereinafter, a storage medium that can be used in the image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the storage medium storing the program for controlling the image processing apparatus includes an "image storage module", a "partial image storage module", an "image reception module", a "comparison module", What is necessary is just to store the program of each module of "process execution module".

Here, the “image storage module” is a module for receiving an image and storing the received image.

The "partial image storage module" is a module for storing an image of at least a part of the area of the image stored by the image storage module.

The "image receiving module" is for receiving a new image after the received image is stored by the image storage module and the image of the partial area is stored by the partial image storage module. Module.

The "comparison module" compares the image of the partial area of the area of the new image received by the image receiving module with the image of the partial area stored by the partial image storage module. Is a module for

The “processing execution module” is configured to determine, as a result of the comparison by the comparison module, an image of a partial area of the area of the new image received by the image receiving module and the first image stored by the partial image storage module. The module is for executing a predetermined process when the image of the area of the part matches.

In the first and second embodiments, the object to be imaged is not limited to landscape. For example, as described above, a document reading device such as an image reader may be provided in place of the camera unit 9, and a continuous long document may be divided and photographed without interruption, stored, and reproduced.

In the first embodiment, a process of determining whether or not to arbitrarily interrupt the process of capturing the divided image may be added between steps S204 and S206 in FIG. The same applies to the second embodiment (steps S404 to S406 in FIG. 4).
Between).

[0067]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the image processing method according to the above, the image processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, or the storage medium according to the thirteenth aspect, the image is received, the received image is stored, and at least one of the areas of the stored image is stored. After the image of the region of the region is stored, the storage of the received image and the storage of the image of the partial region are performed, a new image is received, and a part of the region of the received new image is received. The image of the area and the stored image of the partial area are compared, and as a result of the comparison, the image of the partial area of the area of the received new image and the stored partial image are compared. If the image in the area matches,
Since the predetermined process is executed, a divided image in an appropriate imaging direction for obtaining a natural wide-angle image such as a panoramic image can be obtained by an easy operation.

According to the image processing method according to the second aspect or the image processing apparatus according to the eighth aspect, since the predetermined processing is the storage of the received new image, the predetermined processing is performed adjacent to the stored image. The desired divided image can be automatically saved.

According to the image processing method of the third aspect or the image processing apparatus of the ninth aspect, the predetermined process is a predetermined teaching process for prompting a user to save the received new image. Therefore, it is possible to easily know an appropriate imaging direction of the divided image to be adjacent to the stored image.

According to the image processing method of the fourth aspect or the image processing apparatus of the tenth aspect, the received new image is stored according to the instruction of the user for the predetermined teaching process. It is possible to arbitrarily store a divided image to be adjacent to the created image.

According to the image processing method according to the fifth aspect or the image processing apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, since the stored image and the stored image are combined, a natural image such as a panoramic image can be obtained. Can be obtained.

According to the image processing method of the sixth aspect or the image processing apparatus of the twelfth aspect, the position of the stored image of the partial area in the area of the stored image, The position of the image of the partial region of the region of the new image that has been formed is at least one of left-right symmetry, vertical symmetry, and point symmetry with respect to each other. A divided image continuous in the direction can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an image capturing process performed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a divided image obtained by the processing of FIG. 2,
FIG. 11A shows a panoramic image obtained by synthesizing the divided images 41, 42 and 43, FIG. 10B shows the divided image, and FIGS. 5 shows a divided image 42.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an image capturing process performed by an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing program modules stored in a storage medium that can be used in the image processing device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 CPU 2 keyboard 3 LCD 5 FD (external storage medium) 8 RAM 8b RAM (pointer POI) 8c RAM (storage area AIMGE) 8d RAM (storage area BIMGE) 8e RAM (storage area CIMGE) 9 camera unit 10 printer

Claims (13)

[Claims] An image storing step of receiving an image and storing the received image; and a partial image storing step of storing an image of at least a part of an area of the image stored in the image storing step. An image receiving step of receiving a new image after storing the received image in the image storing step and storing an image of the partial area in the partial image storing step; A comparing step of comparing the image of the partial area of the new image area obtained with the image of the partial area stored in the partial image storing step, and as a result of the comparison in the comparing step, the image receiving If the image of the partial area of the area of the new image received in the step matches the image of the partial area stored in the partial image storing step, a predetermined process is performed. An image processing method comprising the steps of: 2. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is storage of a new image received in the image receiving step. 3. The predetermined process according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined process is a predetermined teaching process for prompting a user to save a new image received in the image receiving step.
The image processing method described in the above. 4. The image processing method according to claim 3, wherein in the processing execution step, a new image received in the image receiving step is stored in accordance with an instruction of the user for the predetermined teaching processing. . 5. The image processing method according to claim 2, further comprising an image synthesizing step of synthesizing the image stored in the image storing step and the image stored in the processing executing step. . 6. A position of an image of the partial area stored in the partial image storing step in a region of the image stored in the image storing step, and a position of a new image received in the image receiving step. The position of an image of a partial region of the region in the region of the new image is at least one of left-right symmetry, vertical symmetry, and point symmetry with each other. The image processing method according to any one of the above. 7. An image storing means for receiving an image and storing the received image, a partial image storing means for storing an image of at least a part of an area of the image stored by the image storing means, An image receiving means for receiving a new image after the received image is stored by the image storing means and an image of the partial area is stored by the partial image storing means; Comparing means for comparing an image of a part of the area of the new image thus obtained with the image of the part of the area stored by the partial image storing means; and a result of the comparison by the comparing means, If the image of the partial area of the area of the new image received by the means matches the image of the partial area stored by the partial image storage means, a processing execution step of executing a predetermined processing is performed. An image processing apparatus comprising: a step; 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined processing is storage of a new image received by the image receiving unit. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined process is a predetermined teaching process for prompting a user to save a new image received by the image receiving unit. . 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processing execution unit stores a new image received by the image receiving unit in accordance with an instruction of the user for the predetermined teaching process. . 11. An image processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing an image stored by said image storing unit and an image stored by said processing executing unit. apparatus. 12. The position of the image of the partial area stored by the partial image storage unit in the area of the image stored by the image storage unit, and the position of the new image received by the image reception unit. The position of an image of a partial region of the region in the region of the new image has at least one of left-right symmetry, vertical symmetry, and point symmetry with each other. The image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 13. A storage medium for storing a program for controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising: an image storage module for receiving an image and storing the received image; and an image storage module for storing an area of the image stored by the image storage module. A partial image storage module that stores an image of at least a part of the image, and a new image storage module that stores the received image by the image storage module and that stores the image of the partial area by the partial image storage module. Image receiving module for receiving a new image, comparing an image of a partial area of a new image area received by the image receiving module with an image of the partial area stored by the partial image storage module And a new image area received by the image receiving module as a result of the comparison by the comparing module. If the image of the partial area of the area matches the image of the partial area stored by the partial image storage module, a program having a processing execution module that executes a predetermined processing is stored. Characteristic storage medium.