JPH11185029A - Device and method for processing image and computer readable memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently manage inputted image data and to easily confirm the image data of a processing object by identifying effective image data in image data and displaying the effective image data based on an area where the effective image data exist. SOLUTION: An entire image picture 200 readable by a scanner is stored in an external storage device such as hard disk or magneto-optical disk. The inputted image 200 is separated into plural image teas (blank image and the other image) for each attribute. The head image area of the image except the blank image is detected. The position information of the detected head image area is acquired. Based on the acquired position information, the determined image is transmitted to an image display device 100. The transmitted image is displayed on the image display device 100. The meaning image excepting for the blank image is displayed on an initial display picture 300.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for displaying an image based on input image data on a display unit, and a computer readable memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image processing system has been used to display image data obtained by reading a document image as a CRT (so-called cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystal display), or the like in order to display the image data as an image that can be visually recognized and recognized. Are widely used as image display media. However, in general, the size of the image display medium used in the image processing system often does not have a necessary and sufficient area as compared with the area of the image data to be displayed. Therefore, in order to display an image and recognize the contents, a so-called scroll function for arbitrarily moving the display area is required. Therefore, this scroll function is standardized in an image processing system that handles most images.

When an original image read by an image reading device or an image created by an application such as image creation software is stored in a recording device, identification information such as a name and a number is distinguished from other images. It needs to be added. As an example, there is an image processing system that automatically recognizes a part of an image to be saved as a name and saves the image as additional information. By using such an image processing system, the operator is not required to check the name of an existing image that has already been stored or to set a name by operating a keyboard or the like. In addition, the user can concentrate on the image saving operation, and even when searching for a saved image, a clue to know a necessary image from a part of the saved image.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a conventional image processing system.

In FIG. 13, reference numeral 100 denotes an image display device;
Reference numeral 200 denotes an entire image to be displayed, and 300 denotes an initial display screen.

[0006] The full image 200 is an image obtained by reading with a scanner (not shown), an image stored in an external storage device such as a hard disk or a magneto-optical disk, and an image to be displayed by the image display device 100. It is.

[0007] For the sake of explanation, a grid-like matrix that is pixels having a resolution that can be displayed on the image display device 100 is shown in the entire image 200 (actually, this matrix is invisible). In this example, M
An image (all images 200) recorded on O (magneto-optical disk) is displayed on the image display device 100. Then, the entire image 200 is displayed on the image display device 10.
The order of the pixels for calling the whole image 200 from the MO (magneto-optical disk) in order to display the image at 0 is as follows: from the upper left corner of the whole image 200, first go to the right (main scanning direction), and go to the end. The pixel moves one pixel in the (sub-scanning direction) and advances from the left corner of the column in the main scanning direction. By repeating this operation, the entire image 200 is displayed.

[0008] In the full image 200 shown in FIG.
The cover image is composed of "1995 Report-1". Although not shown in FIG. 13,
It is assumed that the "1995 report" is composed of a plurality of pages, and the following pages are composed of sentences, tables, and graphs. Furthermore, since this image is the first page of an image composed of a plurality of pages, that is, an image corresponding to a cover, almost all image areas other than a large title are constituted by blank images.

Next, an example of an operation when an image as shown in FIG. 13 is stored in a plurality of storage media and a desired image is selected from the images stored in the storage medium will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 14 described using FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing an operation example of a conventional image processing system.

It is assumed that an image stored in a storage medium is added with an ID number issued at the time of storage and information (index) obtained by automatically recognizing a part of the image.

In FIG. 14, reference numeral 110 denotes a display unit of the image display device 100 (FIG. 6) which also functions as a touch-type operation panel. Reference numeral 120 denotes an ID number display area for displaying an ID number added to each image. Reference numeral 130 denotes an index display area for displaying an index added to each image. Reference numeral 140 denotes a size display area for displaying the size of each image. Reference numeral 150 denotes a page number display area for displaying the number of pages of each image.

Next, images corresponding to the ID numbers displayed in the ID number display area 120 of FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 15 shows an image 160 corresponding to the ID number 0015, which is A4 vertical in size and has 5 pages. FIG. 16 shows an image 170 corresponding to the ID number 0016.
And the size is irregular, and the number of pages is 1. FIG.
7 is an image 180 corresponding to the ID number 0018,
The size is A3 horizontal size and the number of pages is 1. FIG.
This is an image 190 corresponding to D number 0020, the size is B4 vertical size, and the number of pages is 10. In each of the images 160 to 190 in FIGS. 15 to 18, rectangular areas 16A to 19A surrounded by a dotted line indicate areas that are automatically recognized as indexes when stored. As shown in each figure, the area automatically recognized as an index is a predetermined area at the upper left corner of the image irrespective of the image content.

In a conventional image processing system,
The initial display screen for displaying an image uniformly displays a part of image data for any image. In general, the head of image data is often displayed, but it is psychologically understood that the head is displayed first, and it is only necessary to display the image data in the order in which it was read. This is for the device specifications. Also, an image not displayed on the initial display screen is arbitrarily displayed by the above-described scroll function.

[0015]

However, the display of the initial display screen by the above-described conventional image processing system does not always display a representative partial image symbolizing the image to be displayed. For example, when referring to an image from a storage medium such as an MO (magneto-optical disk) that stores a series of document images composed of a plurality of pages, FIG.
5 or the image shown in FIG. 18, that is, the first page has only the title written in the center, or the center of the image is the initial part of the blank image due to the logo or the date written in one corner. Nothing was displayed on the display screen, and the image could not be easily grasped.

Also, the switching display of images is slow,
In the case of an image processing system that handles a huge amount of image information, it takes a lot of time to reach a display area of a desired image by a scroll function, so that extra work is required to perform an original task.

Further, when a part of an image is automatically recognized as a simple title of an image file, the recognition position is fixed, so that a simple title cannot be added to some images. However, after the image is stored, it cannot serve as a key when searching for the image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently managing input image data and easily confirming image data to be processed. And a method thereof, and a computer-readable memory.

[0019]

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement.
That is, an image processing apparatus for displaying an image based on input image data on a display unit, comprising: identification means for identifying valid image data in the input image data; and an effective image identified by the identification means. A detection unit that detects an area where data exists; and a display control unit that performs display control based on the area detected by the detection unit so that the effective image data is included and displayed on the display unit.

Preferably, the display control means includes:
Image data corresponding to the size of the display area of the display unit is extracted from the effective image data and displayed on the display unit.

Preferably, the valid image data is an image other than at least blank image data.

Preferably, the identification means includes a dividing means for dividing the effective image data into a plurality of rectangular areas, and the display control means includes a control means for dividing the effective image data in each rectangular area divided by the dividing means. Is reconstructed and displayed on the display unit.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, an image processing apparatus for displaying an image based on image data on a display unit, an input unit for inputting image data in a predetermined unit, and whether or not the image data input by the input unit is valid image data And display control means for performing display control based on the determination result of the determination means so that the effective image data is included and displayed on the display unit.

[0024] Preferably, when the determination means determines that the input image data is valid image data, the determination means determines whether the input image data is valid image data based on position information indicating the position of the valid image data. The input image data is stored in the memory. Preferably, the display control unit extracts image data corresponding to a size of a display area of the display unit from image data stored in the memory based on the position information, and displays the image data on the display unit. .

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, an image processing device that manages the input image data, a detecting unit that detects valid image data in the input image data, and based on the valid image data detected by the detecting unit, The image processing apparatus includes a generation unit that generates an index for managing the input image data, and a management unit that manages the index generated by the generation unit in association with the input image data.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises input means for inputting an instruction to select image data to be processed, using an index corresponding to each image data group managed by the management means.

Preferably, when displaying the image data corresponding to the index designated by the input means, the display control means displays the effective image data in the image data on the display unit. Display control as follows.

An image processing method according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, an image processing method for displaying an image based on input image data on a display unit, comprising: an identification step of identifying valid image data in the input image data; and an effective image identified in the identification step. A detection step of detecting an area where data exists;
And a display control step of performing display control based on the area detected in the detection step so that the effective image data is included and displayed on the display unit.

An image processing method according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, an image processing method for displaying an image based on image data on a display unit, wherein an input step of inputting image data in a predetermined unit and whether or not the image data input in the input step is valid image data And a display control step of performing display control based on the determination result of the determination step so that the effective image data is included and displayed on the display unit.

An image processing method according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, an image processing method for managing input image data, wherein a detecting step of detecting valid image data in the input image data, based on the valid image data detected in the detecting step, A generating step of generating an index for managing the input image data; and a managing step of managing the index generated by the generating unit and the input image data in a storage medium in association with each other.

A computer readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
A computer-readable memory storing a program code of image processing for displaying an image based on input image data on a display unit, the program code of an identification step of identifying valid image data in the input image data, Based on the program code of the detection step of detecting an area where the effective image data identified in the identification step is present, and the area detected in the detection step, the effective image data is displayed on the display unit. And a program code for a display control step for performing display control in such a manner as to perform the above-described steps.

A computer readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
A computer-readable memory storing a program code for image processing for displaying an image based on image data on a display unit, the program code for an input step of inputting image data in a predetermined unit, and the image input in the input step A display code for performing display control so that the effective image data is included and displayed on the display unit based on a program code of a determination step of determining whether data is valid image data and a determination result of the determination step Control program code.

A computer readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
A computer-readable memory storing a program code of image processing for managing input image data,
An index for managing the input image data is generated based on a program code of a detection step of detecting valid image data in the input image data and the valid image data detected in the detection step. A program code for a generating step; and a program code for a managing step of managing the index generated by the generating means and the input image data in a storage medium in association with each other.

[0034]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing apparatus applicable to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a CPU 1 controls the entire information processing apparatus 10 via a main bus 7 and controls an input device 11 connected to the outside of the information processing apparatus 10.
(E.g., an image scanner, a storage device, another information processing device connected via a network line, a facsimile connected via a telephone line, and the like) via an input I / F (interface) 4. Further, an output device 12 (for example, a printer, a monitor, another information processing device connected via a network line, a facsimile connected via a telephone line, etc.) connected to the outside of the information processing device 10 is output to the output I. / F5. Also, CPU
Reference numeral 1 denotes image input, image processing, color conversion processing, and image output according to an instruction input from an input unit (for example, a pointing device 23, a keyboard 24, or a pen 25) via a KBDI / F (keyboard interface) 6. A series of processes such as control is executed. Further, the image data input from the input device 11 and the pointing device 23
A display unit 30 for displaying image data created using the keyboard 24 and the pen 25 is controlled via a video I / F (interface) 28.

The ROM 2 stores various control programs for executing various controls of the CPU 1. RAM3 is C
The PU 1 loads and executes an OS and other control programs including a control program for implementing the present invention. In addition, it functions as various work areas used for executing the control program and a temporary save area. Also,
A VRAM (not shown) is configured to temporarily hold image data input from the input device 11 and image data created using the pointing device 23, the keyboard 24, and the pen 25. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an image processing system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the same components as those of the conventional image processing system are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the details are omitted. Further, an image display device 100 described below corresponds to the display unit 30 in FIG. 1, and will be expressed as the image display device 100 in the following description.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the initial display screen 300, an image other than the blank image in the entire image 200 is identified and the image is controlled to be displayed.

Hereinafter, the processing executed in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing executed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S100, an input image is divided into a plurality of image regions (here, a blank image and other images) for each attribute by a region separation technique used in optical character recognition (OCR) or the like. To separate. Step S101
Detects the leading image area of the image excluding the blank image. In step S102, position information of the detected leading image area is obtained. In step S103, an image determined based on the acquired position information is transmitted to the image display device 100. In step S104, the transmitted image is displayed on image display device 100.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, three images are identified for each set of character strings, and the first image area (x in the figure) of the identified images is identified.
(The area enclosed by). Then, an image corresponding to the detected top image area is set as an image used for the initial display screen 300. Also, the present invention is not limited to this, and an image corresponding to the smallest section including the above three images may be used as the image used for the initial display screen 300.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the first image area of the image excluding the blank image is detected, and the image other than the blank image is imaged based on the position information of the detected first image area. Initial display screen 30 of display device 100
Used for 0. As a result, a meaningful image other than the blank image is displayed on the initial display screen 300, and the user can instantly grasp the contents of the image to be processed.

Further, even if the display screen of the image display device 100 is small, the operator can quickly display a desired image without scrolling the image. (Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an image processing system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Incidentally, the entire image 200 exists as image data in a data format such as TIFF or BMP which is not actually visible, and the operator can recognize the image as an image displayed on the image display device 100 or in an unreadable state. This is an image printed by the illustrated printer or plotter. In the second embodiment, a case where the image is displayed on the image display device 100 will be described.

In the second embodiment, it is assumed that an image is read line by line from the line sensor in the main scanning direction, and the right direction of the entire image 200 in FIG.
The downward direction is the sub-scanning direction. That is, generally, when transmitting image data to the image display device 100, the element arrangement direction of a sensor that converts light into an electric signal is rightward in FIG. This corresponds to the downward direction in FIG. Also, if the addresses indicating the respective pixel positions of the pixels indicated by the image data are represented by a matrix, the addresses can be defined by addresses (1, 1) to (M, N). In FIG. 4, in order to simplify the explanation, a relatively coarse 50 × 75 pixel image full image 200 is shown.
Display device 10 having a display area of 30 × 15 pixels
It is represented by 0.

In FIG. 4, black squares are pixels having an information amount, and a rectangular area surrounded by squares marked with “x” indicates an area that can be displayed on the image display device 100. The image processing system sequentially arranges (1,2) (1,1) on the bitmap of the entire image 200 from address (1,1).
3) The pixels indicated by the image data are sequentially transmitted to the image display device 100 so as to scan (1, N) (2, 1). At this time, a blank pixel having no information amount from the address (1, 1) to the address (22, 4) does not actually transmit the image data but has the information amount detected first (22, 5). )
The image data is displayed on the image display device 100 based on the pixel at the address.
Will be sent to

That is, while scanning image data, each pixel is determined to be a blank pixel having no information amount or a pixel having the information amount, and the position of the pixel having the information amount (referred to as a head pixel position) (22) , 5). Then, image data is sequentially input from the top pixel position until image data of 30 × 15 pixels corresponding to the display area of the image display device 100 is cut out and temporarily stored in the memory. Thereafter, 30 × 1 from the image data stored in the memory.
The image data for 5 pixels is cut out and the image display device 10
Send to 0.

In FIG. 4, from (1, 1) to (2)
The blank pixels up to addresses 2, 4) have been described as pixels having no information amount. However, in practice, the background color of the document is determined as a pixel having an information amount due to dust, dirt, or reading density at the time of image reading. It may be misrecognized. Such a pixel is referred to as a noise pixel.

If the noise pixel exists in the entire image 200, the position of the head pixel is erroneously recognized, and a blank image is displayed as an initial image. In order to avoid such a situation, it is determined whether or not there is a pixel having the information amount by referring to the vicinity of the pixel having the information amount detected during the scanning. From this determination result, it can be determined whether the pixel having the detected information amount is a noise pixel. This is based on the fact that images having meaningful information cannot often be represented by a few pixels. Therefore, when there is no pixel having a continuous information amount around the detected pixel having the information amount, it can be determined to be a noise pixel.

Hereinafter, the processing executed in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the second embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S200, image data is sequentially input from the line sensor, and pixels having an information amount are detected. In step S201, based on the detected pixel position information, image data is input and stored in the memory until image data for pixels corresponding to the display area of the image display device 100 is cut out. After that, image data for pixels corresponding to the display area is cut out from the image data stored in the memory and transmitted to the image display device 100. In step S203, the clipped image data is displayed on the image display device 100 as the initial display image 300.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, each pixel of the entire image 200 is sequentially scanned from the top, and the initial display screen 300 is displayed on the basis of the pixel having the detected information amount. Determine the image to use. Thus, in addition to the effects described in the first embodiment, the contents are determined while sequentially inputting image data, and the initial display screen 30 is displayed.
Since the image data to be used for the image 0 is determined, a large-capacity memory or a storage device such as a hard disk for temporarily storing all information indicated by the entire image 200 is not required, and an inexpensive image processing system can be constructed. Can be. (Embodiment 3) FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an image processing system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

The third embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment.
First, an image other than a blank image is identified from all the images 200 by the area separation technique as in the first embodiment. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, three images are identified. Then, when transmitting the identified images to the image display device 100, the images collected together except for a blank image interposed between the three images are transmitted. In FIG. 6, the image is a character, but the image identified by the region separation is not only a character but also a halftone image such as a line drawing or a photograph.
Although there are a wide variety of frames, tables, and the like, what kind of image is adopted as the image is arbitrary, and the selection of the adoption can be determined by the operator's intention.

Further, when displaying the assembled image excluding the blank image on the image display device 100, adjacent images are displayed in order to distinguish whether the collected images are adjacent or one image. It is good to arrange a blank pixel between an image.

The amount of blank pixels is determined by the image display device 100.
Although it depends on the display resolution, 1 to 5 dots is appropriate, and FIG. 6 shows a case where a blank pixel of 1 dot is arranged.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, an image obtained by reconstructing a plurality of images excluding a blank image is displayed as the initial display screen 300 of the image display device 100.
Thereby, the contents of the image can be grasped in more detail than in the first embodiment.

Further, by minimizing the number of blank images in the initial display image displayed on the image display device 100 and preferentially displaying only the images other than the blank images, an efficient image search can be realized. . (Embodiment 4) FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

Reference numeral 400 denotes a digital multifunction copying machine. 50
Reference numeral 0 denotes a multi-controller that controls the digital multi-function peripheral 400 as various functions and also functions as an interface with external devices. Reference numeral 600 denotes a magneto-optical disk drive (MO drive) as one of the external devices. Reference numeral 700 denotes a personal computer (which functions as a client in a network) such as the information processing apparatus 10 described with reference to FIG. 800 is a personal computer 700
Disk drive (MO drive) connected to
It is. 900 is a network (LAN) server. A hub 1000 connects the network server 900 and the personal computer (client) 700 to each other. It is assumed that the functions described in the first to third embodiments are installed in the personal computer 700 or the network server 900.

The digital multifunction copier 400 is connected to the multi-controller 500 to add functions such as a facsimile, a printer, and a scanner in addition to the copier. Has a management function. For example, when an original is read by the scanner of the digital multi-functional copier 400, the read image is stored on a magneto-optical disk (MO) set in the MO drive 600 through the electronic file management function of the multi-controller 500. By setting the MO in the MO drive 800 directly connected to the personal computer 700 and using the viewer software installed in the personal computer 700, the images stored in the MO can be browsed. Further, an operation via a network can be performed through an interface set in the multi-controller 500.

When the user wants to print out an image stored in the MO, the user sets the MO in the MO drive 600 and designates an image to be processed, so that the image can be printed out from the digital copier 400. Here, in order to indicate a desired image, an index must be added to each image stored in the MO. In the fourth embodiment, however, a part of the image (first to first embodiments) Initial display screen 300 as described in Embodiment 3
Is automatically registered as an index. This index can be changed later, and an arbitrary keyword can be input instead of an image.

Next, an operation example in the case of selecting a desired image from the images stored in the MO in the personal computer 700 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of the image processing system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Here, for comparison with the conventional example, FIG.
Assume that the images shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 corresponding to the images shown in FIGS. 5 to 18 are stored in the MO. In addition, in order to distinguish the images shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the indexes added to the images are rectangular areas 16 surrounded by dotted lines, respectively.
Images within 0A to 190A (images other than the blank image obtained by the processing described in the first to third embodiments) are used. That is, instead of using an image in a predetermined area on an image as an index as in the conventional example, a meaningful image is detected for each image and used as an index.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the index added to each image stored in the MO always exists as meaningful information, and the image can be easily identified.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, when an index is added to an image and managed in a storage medium, the image obtained by the processing described in the first to third embodiments is used as an index. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the index from becoming blank, and the management of images becomes easy.

Since some information is always displayed in the index, it is easy to identify the image stored in the storage medium, and it is possible to simplify the work of storing the image in the storage medium.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (eg, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), a device including one device (eg, a copier, a facsimile machine) Etc.).

Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or the apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0075]

As described above, according to the present invention,
You can manage the input image data efficiently,
Further, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus and method capable of easily confirming image data to be processed, and a computer-readable memory.

[0076]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus applicable to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the image processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing executed in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the image processing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of the image processing system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a conventional image processing system.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of a conventional image processing system.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data according to a fourth embodiment of the related art.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data according to a fourth embodiment of the related art.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data according to a fourth embodiment of the related art.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data according to a fourth embodiment of the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 image display device 200 whole image 300 initial display screen 400 multifunction copier 500 multi-controller 600 magneto-optical disk drive 700 personal computer 800 magneto-optical disk drive 900 network server 1000 hub

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for displaying an image based on input image data on a display unit, comprising: identification means for identifying valid image data in the input image data; Detecting means for detecting an area where the effective image data exists, and display control means for performing display control based on the area detected by the detecting means so that the effective image data is included and displayed on the display unit. An image processing apparatus comprising: 2. The display control unit according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit extracts image data corresponding to a size of a display area of the display unit from the effective image data and displays the image data on the display unit. Image processing device. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the effective image data is an image other than at least blank image data.
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The dividing means divides the effective image data into a plurality of rectangular areas, and the display control means reconstructs the effective image data in each rectangular area divided by the dividing means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is displayed on the display unit. 5. An image processing apparatus for displaying an image based on image data on a display unit, wherein the input unit inputs image data in a predetermined unit, and the image data input by the input unit is valid image data. Determining means for determining whether or not the effective image data is displayed on the display unit based on the determination result of the determining means. Image processing device. 6. When the determination unit determines that the input image data is valid image data, the determination unit determines whether the input image data is valid image data based on position information indicating a position of the valid image data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the incoming image data is stored in a memory. 7. The display control unit extracts image data corresponding to a size of a display area of the display unit from image data stored in the memory based on the position information and displays the image data on the display unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: 8. An image processing apparatus that manages input image data, comprising: a detection unit that detects valid image data in the input image data; and a detection unit that detects valid image data detected by the detection unit. hand,
Generating means for generating an index for managing the input image data; andmanaging means for managing the index generated by the generating means in association with the input image data. Image processing device. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: input means for inputting an instruction to select image data to be processed by using an index corresponding to each image data group managed by said management means. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 10. When displaying image data corresponding to an index specified by the input unit, the display control unit displays the effective image data in the image data so as to be displayed on the display unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control is performed. 11. An image processing method for displaying an image based on input image data on a display unit, comprising: an identification step of identifying valid image data in the input image data; A detection step of detecting an area where the effective image data exists, and a display control step of performing display control based on the area detected in the detection step so that the effective image data is included and displayed on the display unit. An image processing method comprising: 12. The display control method according to claim 11, wherein the display control step extracts image data corresponding to a size of a display area of the display unit from the effective image data and displays the image data on the display unit. Image processing method. 13. The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein the effective image data is an image other than at least blank image data. 14. The identification step includes dividing the effective image data into a plurality of rectangular areas; and the display control step includes reconfiguring the effective image data in each of the rectangular areas divided in the division step. The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein the image is displayed on the display unit. 15. An image processing method for displaying an image based on image data on a display unit, wherein: an input step of inputting image data in a predetermined unit; and the image data input in the input step is valid image data. A determination step of determining whether or not the effective image data is displayed on the display unit based on a determination result of the determination step. Image processing method. 16. When the input image data is determined to be valid image data, the determination step is based on position information indicating the position of the valid image data, 16. The image processing method according to claim 15, wherein incoming image data is stored in a memory. 17. The display control step extracts, from the image data stored in the memory, image data corresponding to a size of a display area of the display unit based on the position information and displays the image data on the display unit. 17. The image processing method according to claim 16, wherein: 18. An image processing method for managing input image data, comprising: a detecting step of detecting valid image data in the input image data; and a detecting step based on the valid image data detected in the detecting step. hand,
A generation step of generating an index for managing the input image data; and a management step of managing the index generated by the generation unit and the input image data in a storage medium in association with each other. An image processing method characterized by the following. 19. An input step of inputting an instruction to select image data to be processed using an index corresponding to each image data group managed in a storage medium in the management step. Item 19. The image processing method according to Item 18. 20. When displaying image data corresponding to the index designated by the input step, the display control step includes displaying the effective image data in the image data so as to be displayed on the display unit. The image processing method according to claim 19, wherein the image processing is controlled. 21. A computer readable memory storing an image processing program code for displaying an image based on input image data on a display unit, wherein the identification code identifies valid image data in the input image data. A program code of a step; a program code of a detection step of detecting an area where the effective image data identified in the identification step is present; and the effective image data is displayed on the display unit based on the area detected in the detection step. And a program code for a display control step of performing display control so as to be displayed by being included in the computer-readable memory. 22. A computer readable memory storing a program code for image processing for displaying an image based on image data on a display unit, wherein: a program code of an input step of inputting image data in a predetermined unit; Based on the program code of the determining step of determining whether or not the image data input in step is valid image data, and based on the determination result of the determining step, the valid image data is displayed on the display unit. And a program code for a display control step of performing display control. 23. A computer readable memory in which a program code for image processing for managing input image data is stored, wherein a program code for a detection step for detecting valid image data in the input image data; Based on the effective image data detected in the detection step,
A program code of a generation step of generating an index for managing the input image data; and a management step of managing the index generated by the generation unit and the input image data in a storage medium in association with each other. A computer-readable memory comprising program code.