JPS6210771A - Image retrieving equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve an operability by providing a display means for taking out a prescribed number of partial areas from plural partial areas stored in a storing means and entirely displaying. CONSTITUTION:On retrieving, by setting the number by a keyboard, characteristic areas are taken out from a characteristic area storing part 16 by the set number by a display control part 17 and they are displayed unitedly on a display device 7. Herein, while viewing the display device 7, whether the characteristic area of a desired image exists or not is recognized and if there is the desired image, the file name is designated by the keyboard, and if there is not the desired image, the next characteristic area is wholly displayed on the display device 7, and the retrieval is progressed while rolling. When the file name of the desired image is designated, the image corresponding to the file name is taken out from an image file part 6 by an image file retrieving part 18 and displayed on the display device 7 through a bit map memory 5. Thereby, many number of the images can be retrieved once and the time requiring for the retrieval can be remarkably shortened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an electronic file device for recording and reproducing image information such as various drawings, graphs, documents, and photographs.

In particular, the present invention relates to an image search device for extracting desired image information from recorded information.

[Conventional technology]

In the above-mentioned devices, it has been common practice to assign a file name to each file of image information, and to perform a search by specifying this file name. However, in this case, does the searcher remember the correlation between the image information and the file name without error?

Or something like a correlation table between them was needed.

Therefore, in the past, multiple image information files were CR
There is a device that allows a search to be performed without storing correlations as described above by displaying them all at once on T. This device is shown in FIG. In the figure, during a search, a plurality of images stored in an image information storage device 1 such as a floppy disk are sequentially scanned by a reduction circuit 2.
The images are reduced in size and temporarily stored in a single display buffer 3, and then displayed all at once on a display device 4 such as a CRT. A searcher looks at the screen of the display device 4 and, if a desired image is found, searches by specifying the image using a keyboard (not shown) or the like.

[Problems with conventional technology]

In the conventional apparatus described above, in order to display as many images as possible within the screen of nine display devices 4, it is necessary to set the reduction circuit 2 to a reduction ratio as high as possible within the range in which the contents of two images can be distinguished. However, the distinguishable range of content is different between an image of a single figure or graph and an image of only sentences. If 2
If you choose a high reduction rate to match the shape or graph image, 2
For images containing only text, the image will be reduced too much, making it impossible to discern its contents. On the other hand, if a low reduction rate is determined for an image containing only one sentence, each image displayed on the nine display devices 4 will become large, and the number of images displayed at one time will be extremely small. Since the reduction ratio is thus limited, only a small number of images, about 10 to 20 images, can be displayed on the display device 4 at one time. Therefore, in order to view many images, the display must be changed many times, causing the problem that it is difficult to find the desired image.

Also, the images stored in the 1-image information storage device 1 are as follows.

The images are reduced one by one by the reduction circuit 2. Therefore 9 display device 4
In order to reduce a plurality of images and display them all at once, it is necessary to pass through the reduction circuit 2 for the number of images to be displayed, which takes a lot of time.

[Purpose of the invention]

In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the present invention allows a large number of images to be easily searched in a short amount of time. The purpose is to provide an image retrieval device with high operational efficiency.

[Key points of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an electronic file that classifies, organizes, and stores input image information, and retrieves and reproduces desired image information from a plurality of stored image information by searching. In the apparatus, when storing the image information, a readout means reads out an arbitrary partial area of the image information, and a size of the partial area read by the readout means is converted into a predetermined uniform size. a converting means; a storage means for storing the partial areas converted to a uniform size by the converting means; and a predetermined number of partial areas stored in the storing means, which are extracted and displayed at once. When searching, a desired image can be retrieved while viewing the display on the display means.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Two embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to nine drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

Note that the characteristic parts of the two embodiments are shown within the dashed line. In the figure, a bitmap memory 5 is shown.

One-dimensionally decomposed image information sent from an image reading device such as a read scanner is expanded into a two-dimensional image and stored. The image file section 6 consists of an optical disk or a floppy disk, and a bitmap memory 5.
The developed images are stored as files, that is, categorized and organized.

A display device 7 such as a CRT visualizes the image developed in the bitmap memory 5.

The characteristic region reading unit 8 reads the above file.

An arbitrary partial area of an image is read out, and in particular, the most characteristic area (hereinafter referred to as a characteristic area) of the entire image is read out.

The characteristic region is, for example, a portion shown by a dotted line in each image in FIG. 2 ta+. This characteristic area is set using a keyboard (K, B, etc. not shown), and may be set to only one character or the entire image. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, while looking at the image displayed on the display device 7, the coordinates P'+ of two points can be used to identify the characteristic region.
(x+, y+).

Freely specify P2 (X2.)'2) using the keyboard, etc. Based on this coordinate determination, the feature region reading unit 8 reads the feature region. Feature region buffer 9.

This feature area is temporarily stored.

On the other hand, the feature region size calculation unit 10 calculates the coordinates P+ (x+, y+) specified on the keyboard.

From P2 ('X2.)'2), the horizontal and vertical size of the feature region! Calculate 9m (j2=lx+X21
゜m = ly + y 21 ) o Multiplier calculation unit 1
1 consists of a horizontal magnification calculation section 11a and a vertical magnification calculation section 11b.

A magnification a/1. for converting horizontal and vertical sizes l and m into predetermined uniform sizes a and b, respectively. Calculate b/m. The enlargement/reduction control unit 12 sets the magnification to a/12.
The feature region stored in the feature region buffer 9 is enlarged or reduced according to b/m and converted to a uniform size (horizontal size a, vertical size b).

In addition, in order to correlate the image filed in the one-image file unit 6 with its characteristic region, the file name buffer 13
temporarily stores the two-isle names corresponding to each image. This input is performed using the keyboard.

The synthesis synchronization unit 14 synchronizes the feature regions output from the enlargement/reduction control unit 12 so that the file names stored in the file name buffer 13 correspond one-to-one. The compositing unit 15 converts the uniformly sized feature region output from the enlargement/reduction control unit 12 into the characteristic region.

The file names outputted by the synthesis synchronization unit 14 are synthesized on a one-to-one basis. The feature area storage unit 16 is composed of a RAM, etc., and has a file name (x in the figure) as shown in FIG.
, y, z) are stored.

When a predetermined number is specified using the keyboard during a search, the display control section 17 extracts the predetermined number of feature regions from the feature region storage section 16 and displays them all at once on the display device 7 as shown in FIG. indicate.

Note 2: Each feature region displayed here has a uniform size (
aXb), but it is now possible to display around 100 characteristic areas on the screen of one display device 7 at a time.

The values of a and b are set in the magnification calculating section 11. The search is
This is done while looking at the characteristic areas displayed on the display device 7 in this way, and if there is a desired image among these characteristic areas, the file name displayed at the same time is specified using the keyboard. The image file search unit 18 retrieves this designated image from the image file unit 6. The bitmap memory 5 develops the image taken out from the image file section 6.

A display device 7 displays this developed image.

Regarding this embodiment having the above configuration and operation,
Figure 5 ('8
1. (Explained based on bl.

First, when filing, an original image read by an image reading device is stored in an image file section 6 via a bitmap memory 5 and displayed on a display device 7. Display device 7
While looking at the screen, specify the characteristic area of the original image using the keyboard, and read it out using the characteristic area reading section 8 (5a-1). This feature region is stored in the feature region buffer 9. The feature region size calculation section 101 is converted into a predetermined uniform size by the magnification calculation section 11 and the enlargement/reduction control section 12 (5a-2). Next, input the file name into the file name buffer 13 using the keyboard (
5a-3). This file name is synthesized with the corresponding feature region by the synthesis synchronization section 14 and the synthesis section 15, and is registered in the feature region storage section 16 (5a-4).

Next, when searching, by setting a number with the keyboard, the display control section 17 extracts the set number of feature regions from the feature region storage section 16 and displays them all at once on the display device 7 (5b- 1).

Here, while looking at the second display device 7, it is confirmed whether or not the desired characteristic region of the image exists (5b-2).

If there is a desired image, specify its file name using the keyboard 5b-'3); if there is no desired image, display the next feature area on the display device 7 at once.

Proceed with the search while rolling. When the file name of a desired image is specified, the image file search section 18 searches for the image (elephant) corresponding to the file name in the image file section 6.
, and displayed on the display device 7 via the bitmap memory 5 (5b-4).

In the above embodiment, the feature area is designated as a square, but is not limited to this, and may be designated as a circle, for example. In this case, by specifying the coordinates and radius of the center point of one circle, and converting this radius, the size can be made uniform.

In addition, as a means of specifying a desired feature area from among the feature areas displayed all at once on the first display device 7, a finger touch key device is provided on the display surface of the first display device 7, instead of inputting a file name using a keyboard. It may also be specified directly.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, when two images are filed, arbitrary partial areas of the images are enlarged or reduced to a uniform size and filed separately, and these partial areas are displayed all at once when searching. .

Since a desired image can be selected while viewing this display, the following effects can be achieved.

(b) When searching, instead of displaying the entire image in a reduced size, it is possible to display only the characteristic parts of the image, so it is possible to display a very large number of images (
(At least 4 to 5 times more than conventional methods) can be searched at once. Therefore, the time required for searching can be significantly reduced.

(b) To automatically set the display magnification so that figures, graphs, characters, etc. are displayed at a uniform size.

Display images are easy to see (and search is easy).

(c) Search speed can be increased because processing such as reduction is not performed at the time of search as in conventional methods.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 (11) is a schematic diagram showing a general image (original image). FIG. 2 (bl is stored in the feature region storage unit according to the above embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the feature region of the image in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing coordinate designation for reading out feature regions. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a display state of characteristic regions according to the above embodiment. Figures 5 (al and b) are flowcharts showing the filing and retrieval procedures of the above embodiment. Figure 6 is a schematic block diagram showing a conventional electronic filing device. 5... Bitmap memory. 6. ... Image file section. 7. Display device. 8. Characteristic region reading section. 9. Characteristic region buffer. 10. Characteristic region size calculation section. 11. Magnification calculation section. 11a. ... Horizontal magnification calculation section. 11b ... Vertical magnification calculation section. 12 ... Enlargement/reduction control section. 13 ... File name buffer. 14 ... Synthesis synchronization section. 15 ... Synthesis section. 16 ...Feature area storage section. 17.. Display control section. 18.. Image file search section. Patent Applicant Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An electronic file device that classifies, organizes, and stores input image information, and retrieves and reproduces desired image information from a plurality of stored image information by searching, comprising: A reading means for reading out an arbitrary partial area of the image information when storing information, a converting means for converting the size of the partial area read by the reading means into a predetermined uniform size, and the converting means. storage means for storing the partial regions converted to a uniform size by the means; and during the search, a predetermined number of partial regions are retrieved from among the plurality of partial regions stored in the storage means and displayed at once. 1. An image retrieval device comprising: a display means for displaying images;