JPH11161808A - Picture processing method and its device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately identify a generated error without interrupting processing even when such an error that picture data to be processed can not be detected is generated in a picture processing system required for continuously processing many pictures such a printing system for photograph service. SOLUTION: When picture data to be processed can not be detected or there are data which can not be treated, processing is continued by substituting previously prepared warning picture data for the disabled data. When a certain user image 9 e.g. can not be detected in picture processing for fitting and synthesizing the user image 9 to a prescribed arrangement position 14 in a background image, a warning image 15 notifying the generation of an error at a glance of a print is fitted to a position 14c on which the user image is to be arranged, synthesized and printed out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus, and more particularly, to an image processing method implemented in a large-scale image processing system for continuously processing a large number of images, such as a print system of a digital photograph service. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as one form of digital photograph service, image data of a user is stored in a lab in advance, an instruction such as editing of the image data is received from the user, and editing is performed in the lab to perform printing. Has been proposed.

At this time, it has been considered that not only data stored in a laboratory but also data held by another system connected via a network can be used for editing.

In the above-mentioned service mode, a user can order a print by transferring an order file in which a file name (path name) of image data is described to a laboratory. In this case, the lab system analyzes the received file, searches the lab's hard disk or a database on the network according to the instructions in the file, loads the specified image data into memory, performs image processing and prints Perform output.

Here, it is impossible that a lab cannot obtain image data with a conventional print service for storing prints and creating prints. However, in the above-described service mode, the image data specified by the user may not be found.

[0006] Generally, it is considered that the search processing of the laboratory system may be the same as the file search processing of the personal computer. For this reason, it is considered that, as a process when the specified data is not found, a process of displaying an error message notifying the fact on the screen and waiting for an instruction input from the operator is appropriate.

[0007]

However, unlike a general-purpose personal computer, a laboratory system dedicated to print processing is required to sequentially and efficiently process a large number of received orders. That is, if the processing is interrupted due to the occurrence of an error and the subsequent processing is not performed unless the operator performs any operation, productivity is expected to deteriorate and the burden on the system monitoring of the operator is expected to increase. .

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an image processing method capable of clearly identifying that an error has occurred without reducing productivity even when image data to be processed cannot be found. And an apparatus. The image processing method and apparatus of the present invention can be applied not only to the above-mentioned lab system but also to all image processing systems requiring similar high-efficiency processing.

[0009]

According to an image processing method of the present invention, image specifying information indicating the location of image data used for image processing and processing specifying information indicating the contents of the image processing are taken in, and the image specifying method is performed. Check whether the image data indicated by the information is usable, and if the result of the check is that the image data is usable, obtain the image data and perform the image processing indicated by the processing designation information When the image data is unusable, performing image processing indicated by the processing designation information instead of warning image data indicating that the image data is unusable, This is a method characterized by recording as a visible image on a predetermined recording medium.

Here, the "image designation information indicating the location of the image data" is specifically a file name such as "sample1.bmp", a path name such as "C: \ data \ sample2", ww
w.fujifilm.co.jp/sample3.jpg ".

The "processing designation information indicating the contents of image processing" includes, for example, when designating a process of embedding and combining a user image at a predetermined position in a certain background image, a file name of the background image, Coordinate information indicating the fitting position may be used as the process designation information. If a template in which a background image or an image insertion position is stored is prepared, the template file name, path name, URL,
Can be used as the processing instruction information.

[0012] The phrase "image data is usable" means that the image data exists at the location indicated by the image designation information, the lab system can obtain the image data, and This means that the image data is in a format that can be handled by the lab system.

In other words, for example, when the image data does not exist at the designated place, when the existence of the image data cannot be confirmed due to a network failure or the like, the image data is similarly obtained due to a network failure or the like ( Download), if the image data is provided for a fee and the download is refused, or if the lab system cannot process it because it is available but in an unknown format, The image data shall be regarded as “unusable”.

"Substitute warning image data" means that, for example, when image data to be embedded at a predetermined position of the template image is not found, the warning image data is embedded at that position. ing.

The "warning image data indicating that the image data is unusable" includes, for example, "Not fo
und "
Data carrying a predetermined pattern image defined in advance for warning, data carrying characters such as a file name indicating the location as an image, and the like can be considered.

"Recording a visible image on a predetermined recording medium" specifically means creating a photographic print, but is not necessarily limited to a normal print. The print shall be included.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for performing image processing according to the above-mentioned method, comprising: image specification information capturing means for capturing image specification information indicating the location of image data used for image processing; A process designation information capturing unit that captures process designation information indicating the content of the image processing, an image availability confirmation unit that confirms whether image data indicated by the image designation information is usable, and a result of the confirmation, When the image data is usable, the image data is obtained and the image processing indicated by the processing designation information is performed. When the image data is not usable, the image data is not usable. Image processing means for performing image processing indicated by the processing designation information in place of warning image data indicating that the image processing is performed, and image recording for recording the processed image as a visible image on a predetermined recording medium And it is characterized in by comprising a stage.

[0018]

According to the image processing method and apparatus of the present invention, when an image to be processed is not found or when the image cannot be handled, warning image data prepared in advance is used. Since the processing is continued instead, the processing rate is not interrupted, and the operating rate of the system can be increased. This is particularly effective in a large-scale image processing system in which the operation rate of the system greatly affects productivity, such as a print system of a digital photograph service.

At the position where the data that could not be processed was to be recorded, a pattern image or a message carried by the warning image data is recorded instead of the data, so that the operator can use his or her own convenience. By examining the output result sometimes, it can be easily confirmed that an error has occurred. That is, since there is no need to constantly monitor the system, the burden on the operator can be reduced.

Further, if the warning image data is a pattern image that allows an error to be recognized at a glance,
In the case where a large number of prints must be confirmed, it is possible to prevent omission of confirmation. In addition, printing not only the pattern image but also the file name of the data not found is convenient for the laboratory operator or the user to find out the cause of the error.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a digital photo service system.

In FIG. 1, a personal computer 1 is a user's personal computer, and an image handling device 2, a user image database 3, a photo printer 4, a template server 5, and a template database 6 are a system of a photo service provider. The image handling apparatus 2 and the template server 5 are connected by a network 7 such as the Internet, and the user's personal computer 1 can be connected to the network 7 as needed.

In the system of the service provider, the image handling device 2, the user image database and the photo printer 4 are systems installed in the lab. The image handling device 2 manages the user image database 3,
It is a computer that reads specified images from the user image database 3 and performs image processing according to an order from the user. The photo printer 4 is a device that records the processed image data transferred from the image handling device 2 on a print sheet and creates a photo print 11.

On the other hand, the template server 5 is a computer that manages the template database 6 and supplies a template in response to a request from a laboratory. As the template, for example, a file storing a bitmap of a background image and an image arrangement position on the bitmap can be considered.

In the above system, the user creates an order file 8 for ordering prints on the personal computer 1 using the order processing application software provided by the service provider. The order file 8 describes image instruction information for designating an image to be printed, and processing instruction information for instructing the contents of the editing processing for the image.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the order file 8. In this example, the path names of three images are described as the image instruction information 13, Image1 is the path name of the user image 9a in FIG. 1, Image2 is the path name of the user image 9b in FIG. Indicates the path name of the user image 9c in FIG. Further, as the processing instruction information 12, a UR indicating the location of the template used for editing those images is provided.
L is described. Here, the URL in FIG.
U of the template 10 managed by the template server 5
RL. Also template 10
Assume that three positions 14a, 14b, and 14c where images designated by Image1, Image2, and Image3 are arranged on a background bitmap including a carnation illustration as shown in FIG.

The order file 8 is received by the image handling device 2 shown in FIG. The transfer of the order file from the personal computer 1 to the image handling apparatus 2 is performed using the network 7 or using a removable medium.

The image handling apparatus 2 analyzes the contents of the received order file, reads the image data specified as the image instruction information 13 from the user image database 3, and transmits the template 10 specified as the processing instruction information 12 to the template server. 5 and download it. Further, the image handling device 2 executes an image editing process using the obtained image data and the template. The processed image is recorded on a print sheet by the photo printer 4, and an edited print 11 is created. For example, as shown in the figure, the edited print 11 ordered by the order file 8 of FIG. 2 includes a user image 9a at the arrangement position 14a of the template 10, a user image 9b at the arrangement position 14b, and an arrangement position 14c. Is a print in which the user image 9c is arranged.

However, as described above, in such a system, all information described in the order file 8 is not always valid information. That is, there is a case where data specified as the image instruction information 13 or the processing instruction information 12 is not found, or even if it is found, it cannot be handled because of an unknown format.

For example, a case where the data indicated by Image3, that is, the user image 9c is not found among the image data indicated by the image instruction information 13 in FIG. 2 will be described as an example. In the method and the apparatus of the present invention, when the user image 9c is not found, as shown in FIG.
The warning image 15 is synthesized at the position where is to be arranged, that is, at the position 14c. The warning image 15 may be any image, but it is preferable that the warning image 15 indicates at a glance that an error has occurred. For example, the example in FIG. 3 is an image in which characters of “Not found” are arranged as a pattern, and it is desirable that the image is clearly different from the image of the user.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, it is clear from the print that an error has occurred, but it is not clear which file was not found unless the order file 8 is checked. On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 4, characters indicating the path name 16 of the file not found are bit-mapped and embedded in the warning image 15. Although the method of FIG. 4 performs character synthesis, the processing efficiency is lower than that of the method of FIG. 3, but it is possible for the operator and the user to know the missing file without confirming the order file, which is convenient for the operator and the user. Good.

As described above, according to the image processing method and apparatus of the present invention, in a large-scale image processing system in which a large number of images must be continuously processed, the system can be implemented without burdening an operator. The operating rate can be increased and the productivity can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a digital photo service system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an order file.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an edited print created according to the method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of an edited print created according to the method of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 User's personal computer 2 Image handling device 4 Photo printer 5 Template server 7 Network 8 Order file 9 User image 10 Template 11 Edit print 12 Image specification information 13 Processing specification information 14 Image layout position 15 Warning image 16 Found The path name of the missing file

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image specifying information indicating a location of image data used for image processing and a processing specifying information indicating a content of the image processing are fetched, and whether or not the image data indicated by the image specifying information is usable is determined. Confirmation, as a result of the confirmation, if the image data is available, obtain the image data, perform the image processing indicated by the processing designation information, and if the image data is unavailable Performing image processing indicated by the processing designation information instead of warning image data indicating that the image data is unusable, and recording the processed image as a visible image on a predetermined recording medium. Characteristic image processing method. 2. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the warning image data is data carrying a predetermined pattern image defined in advance for warning. 3. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the warning image data is data carrying a character image indicating the location. 4. An image designation information acquisition unit for acquiring image designation information indicating the location of image data used for image processing; a process designation information acquisition unit for acquiring process designation information indicating the content of the image processing; Image availability checking means for checking whether the image data indicated by the image designation information is available; and, as a result of the checking, when the image data is available, obtaining the image data and performing the processing Performing image processing indicated by the designation information; if the image data is unusable, replacing the image data indicated by the processing designation information with warning image data indicating that the image data is unusable; An image processing apparatus comprising: an image processing unit that performs the following; and an image recording unit that records the processed image on a predetermined recording medium as a visible image. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image data for warning is data carrying a predetermined pattern image defined in advance for warning. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the warning image data is data carrying a character image indicating the location.