JPH11239313A - Image output processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image output processing unit that automatically specifies an image to be output-processed based on the provision of an automatic extract function by taking note of the provision of the automatic extract function that automatically extracts only an image including a specific object based on contents of total acquired images. SOLUTION: The image output processing unit that applies output processing to an image photographed by a camera is provided with a designation means that designates a specific object included in the image and with a specific image output means that extracts characteristics of the specific object designated by the designation means and detects automatically and outputs the specific image including the specific object based on the extracted data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image output processing apparatus for outputting an image picked up by a camera, and more particularly to extracting only an image of a specific object such as a specific person, a specific object, a specific scenery, and the like. And an image output processing apparatus capable of automatically performing print processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when an image such as a photograph taken by a camera is captured and printed out, the number of printouts (the number of reprints) is designated for each photograph based on the image content of the captured photograph and printed out. ing.

However, in such print output processing of images, it is necessary to count the number of persons appearing in a photograph and specify the number of prints for each photograph. There was a problem that it took time to specify the name.

[0004]

Therefore, the present invention focuses on providing an automatic extraction function for automatically extracting only an image in which a specific object is captured from the total number of acquired images, and provides this automatic extraction function. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image output processing device for automatically extracting a specific image based on the above.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
What is claimed is: 1. An image output processing apparatus for outputting an image captured by a camera, comprising: a designation unit for designating a specific target object in the image; and a feature of the specific target object designated by the designation unit. Specific image output means for automatically detecting and outputting a specific image in which the specific target object is captured based on the obtained data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the designating means is provided with a modifying means for modifying the designated number.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the specific image output means, wherein a specific number of acquired areas in the total number of acquired images is set as an output processing target.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the specific image output means, wherein a specific acquisition date and time of the total number of acquired images is set as an output processing target.

[0009]

According to the present invention, when outputting an image picked up by a camera, a specific object shown in the image is specified by the specifying means to extract the feature of the specific object. From the extracted data, a specific image in which the specific object is shown is output based on the automatic detection operation of the specific image output means.

[0010] As a result, since the image of the specific object can be automatically taken out, if the specific object is specified, the image of the specific object can be specified and output from many images. In particular, when the number of acquired images is large, a specific image can be automatically output efficiently. Therefore,
In the case of photo reprinting or the like, the trouble of designating the number of prints for each photo can be omitted. Further, when a correction means for correcting the designated number is provided, the setting can be changed to a desired output number according to the image content, and only the desired number of images can be obtained.

Furthermore, when a specific number of acquisition areas out of the total number of acquired images is set as an output processing target, an image can be obtained by designating a specific acquisition area in the order of imaging of the total number of acquired images. it can.

When a specific acquisition date and time of the total number of acquired images is set as an output processing target, an image can be obtained by designating a specific acquisition date and time in the order of imaging of the total number of acquired images. .

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an image output processing apparatus 11 for printing out by designating an image and the number of sheets. This image output processing apparatus 11 has a display 12 also serving as a touch panel, a scanner insertion slot 13, a digital It has a camera image input unit 14, and is provided with a print discharge port 15 and a scanner return port 16 on the lower front surface of the apparatus main body.

The image output processing device 11 inputs and captures all captured images captured by a digital camera from a digital camera image input unit 14, displays the total number of captured images on a display unit 12, and displays From the displayed contents, designated data to be printed is designated by touch input on the display 12, the designated image is printed, and the designated image is emitted from the print outlet 15.

[0015] Inputs other than those of the digital camera are also permitted. When one print sheet such as a photograph is inserted into the insertion slot 13 for a scanner, the print sheet is read by an internal scanner, and the read data is displayed on a display. 12, the designated data to be printed can be input from the displayed contents, and after the input setting, the original print paper is returned to the scanner return port 16 and the printed print paper is returned from the print discharge port 15. discharge.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the image output processing device 11. The CPU 21 controls each circuit device according to a program stored in the ROM 22, and stores the control data in the RAM 23 in a readable manner. The touch panel 24 overlaps a thin film sheet having a coordinate pattern on the same screen of the display 12 and allows touch input in accordance with the display content of the display 12.

The scanner 25 is built in the main body of the apparatus communicating with the inside of the insertion slot 13 for scanning, and scans and reads the image of the inserted printing paper. return.

When a connection terminal of the digital camera is connected to the digital camera image input section 14, the digital camera connection interface 26 performs an input process on the image data. The printer 27 prints the designated image data on print paper. The developing device 28 performs a developing process based on the input image data.

The CPU 21 has an automatic extracting function for automatically extracting only an image of a specific object such as a specific person, a specific object, a specific scenery, etc. from the total number of acquired images captured by the digital camera. In this method, a feature of a specific object in the image is extracted, and a specific image of the specific object in the extracted data is automatically determined.

For example, in the case where images are displayed separately for each specific person from a group of images in which a plurality of persons are displayed, as shown in FIG.
The image 32 in which the specific person B is shown and the image 33 in which the third specific person C is shown are classified and group-displayed for each person. At this time, if there is an unnecessary image 34, it can be specified and deleted on the touch panel, and if the desired classification by person is accepted, the OK button 35 is touch-input,
Based on this, the CPU 21 automatically prints out the input and set image contents to be printed.

Conversely, an image excluding a specific person can be extracted. This is, as shown in FIG.
In addition, an image 41 not including the first specific person A, an image 42 not including the second specific person B, and an image 43 not including the third specific person C can be classified and displayed in a group. In this case as well, if there is an unnecessary image 44, it can be specified and deleted using the touch panel, and if it is accepted, the OK button 45 is touched and the desired image is automatically printed out.

As described above, by providing an automatic extraction function for automatically extracting only an image of a specific object or an image of no specific object, an image of a specific person is designated and printed out from many images. be able to. Therefore, when the number of acquired images is large, a specific image can be efficiently automated and printed out. In addition, since it is possible to make corrections such as image deletion, it is possible to easily change the setting to the desired number of images according to the image contents, and to obtain only the desired number of images.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, all images 51 acquired by the digital camera are displayed on the display 12, and only the image 52 of the desired specific acquisition area such as the order of imaging is displayed on the touch panel. The image 52 of the specific acquisition area to be designated as the output processing target is provided.
Can be printed out while distinguishing only one, and thus a large number of sheets can be printed out at once.

As shown in FIG. 6, an image acquisition date and time column 61 when an image is picked up by a digital camera is displayed on the display unit 12, and the displayed image acquisition date and time column 61 to be output is displayed in the display unit 12. If a specific acquisition date and time in a certain period is designated and input, only a desired image in that period can be printed out and obtained.

The image output processing apparatus 1 configured as described above
The first processing operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Normally, the image output processing device 11 displays the handling contents for guiding the printout process on the display device 12 and stands by. After seeing this display screen, the user now touches according to the guidance procedure to request a print. When an input is made (step n1), the CPU 21 sequentially displays printout usage guidance on the display unit 12 and causes the display 12 to select and input (step n1).
2).

At this time, if the contents to be printed out by classifying them by person from the contents of the image data are selected, the image data is fetched from a digital camera or a single photograph (steps n3 to n4). .

When this image data is captured, the CPU 21
As shown in FIG. 5, the display 12 guides the display of all the images 51, and specifies and inputs the image 52 of the specific acquisition area such as the imaging order from the displayed guidance. Alternatively, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the image acquisition date / time column 61 is displayed, and the specific acquisition date / time of the fixed period is designated and input (step n).
Five ).

When a specific person is designated and input, a photograph or the like in which the specific person is photographed is inserted into the scanner insertion slot 13 to be read and designated, or the captured photograph is displayed. The user is touched to specify the specific person shown in the above, or is specified by touch input from the image data (step n6).

Based on this designation input, the CPU 21 automatically extracts the characteristics of the designated specific person. In this method, a feature amount of a face image is extracted from features such as eyes, nose and mouth of a specific person, and the similarity is obtained by comparing the feature amount with collation data registered in advance, and a value satisfying the threshold level is obtained. When it is obtained, it is recognized as a specific person (step n7).

When this specific person is determined, the CPU 21
As shown in FIG. 3, an image 31 showing the first specific person A on the display 12 and an image 32 showing the second specific person B on the display 12.
And the image 33 including the third specific person C are classified and displayed as a group (step n8). At this time, if there is an unnecessary image 34, it is displayed on the display 12 by touch input operation.
If it is deleted from the top and accepted, the OK button 35 is touch-input, whereby the CPU 21 automatically prints out the image of the specific person (steps n9 to n10).

As described above, when an image captured by a digital camera is output, when a specific person in the image is designated by a touch input operation, the CPU extracts features of the specific person and extracts the extracted characteristic. A specific image of a specific person is automatically extracted from the data and printed out. As a result, it is possible to automatically print out and take out an image in which the specific person is shown. In particular, when the number of acquired images is large, a specific image can be automatically printed out efficiently.

Also, since the setting can be changed to a desired number according to the image content, only the desired number of images can be obtained. Further, a specific acquisition area of the total number of acquired images can be designated for printing out, or a particular acquisition date and time can be designated for printing out, so that selection with a high degree of freedom can be performed.

In the correspondence between the present invention and the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the camera of the present invention corresponds to the digital camera of the embodiment, and similarly, the specific object corresponds to the specific person and designated. The means and correction means correspond to the touch panel 24, and the specific image output means corresponds to the CPU 21, but the present invention can be applied based on the technical idea described in the claims. It is not limited only to the configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image output processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control circuit block diagram of the image output processing device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a display diagram showing a display screen when a specific person of the present invention is designated.

FIG. 4 is a display diagram showing a display screen when a specific person of the present invention is specified in reverse.

FIG. 5 is a display diagram showing a state in which an image of a specific acquisition area according to the present invention is designated.

FIG. 6 is a display diagram showing a state in which a specific acquisition date and time according to the present invention is input and designated;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the image output processing device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Image output processing apparatus 12 ... Display 13 ... Scanner insertion port 14 ... Digital camera image input part 15 ... Print discharge port 16 ... Scanner return port 21 ... CPU 24 ... Touch panel 25 ... Scanner 27 ... Printer 31-33 identification Images 34,44 ... unnecessary images 41-43 ... images without a specific person 51 ... all images 52 ... images of specific acquisition area 61 ... image acquisition date and time column

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image output processing apparatus for outputting an image captured by a camera, comprising: a designation unit for designating a specific target object shown in the image; and a feature of the specific target object designated by the designation unit. A specific image output means for extracting, extracting, and automatically detecting a specific image in which a specific target object is captured based on the extracted data. 2. An image output processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said designating means comprises a modifying means for modifying the designated number. 3. The image output processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific image output means sets a specific number of acquired areas in the total number of acquired images as an output processing target. 4. The image output processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific image output means sets a specific acquisition date and time of the total number of acquired images as an output processing target.