JPS62159394A - Residual quantity display method in image filing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce a difference between the display of the number of registration possible images and actual number by estimating the number of registration images at an area not in use based on the status of a part registered already, when the area not in use out of image registration areas becomes a regulated value or below, and displaying the number of estimated registration possible images. CONSTITUTION:Assuming that the number of sectors of the images registered at this time, U and Dn are calculated as follows and are updated from the relation of the number (n) of images registered already: Un=Un-1-D1, and Dn=(D1+99Dn-1)/100. In such a case, Un-1 and Dn-1 represent data before updating, and Un and Dn represent the data after updating. Based on these updated data, the number K of the registration possible images are calculated as follows: K=Un/Dn. However, the value of an integer part in a calculation result is handled as the number K of updated registration possible images. The display of a residual quantity, when the attribute display of a registration mode and an optical disk loaded at present are instructed, is displayed on a part of a CRT display device 19 as the number K of registration possible images.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application 1 relates to a method of displaying the remaining amount in an image registration area in an image filing system.

[Prior Art] - Conventionally, in an image filing system, an MH is used to increase storage efficiency when registering images.

Image data is often compressed and recorded using compression encoding methods such as MR and MMR.

Although these compression ratios can achieve a high compression ratio of 11t, the compression ratio differs depending on the image content. In other words, in the case of an image with many black and white edges, the compression rate generally tends to decrease.

Now, when displaying the recording capacity of an image recording medium such as an optical disk used in an image filing system,
Conventionally, the following methods have been adopted.

For example, we define multiple typical A4 size image patterns, binarize each image pattern at a resolution of 8 bells, and
The compression ratio when compressed and encoded is actually measured, and the average value is used to express ``how many typical A4-sized images can be registered.''

Furthermore, when displaying the capacity of the unused area in the image registration area, it is often displayed as ``how many representative A4 size images remain to be registered'' in the same way as above.

By the way, in such conventional display methods, the data size after compression encoding of the reference image is a fixed value.
Due to differences in the user's registered image trends (for example, if the user mainly uses file blur for images with a lot of black and white repetition, such as photographs), as the image registration progresses,
The difference between the displayed number of registrable sheets and the actual number may become large depending on the state of use. For example, in the example above, there is a sufficient number of registerable sheets displayed as 1, but
A problem arises in that there is no actual unused area and registration becomes impossible.

Further, in order to solve this problem, there is an example in which the ratio of the unused area in the image registration area is calculated and displayed as a percentage, and in this way, the remaining amount can be displayed accurately. For example, it is displayed that the remaining capacity of the area is 0.1%.

However, even if it is displayed like this, for the user it is A4
Because it is unclear which autumnal equinox corresponds to the size, in practical terms,
The problem is that it is very inconvenient.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and aims to provide a method for displaying the number of images that can be registered in an image filing system in which there is little difference between the number of images that can be registered and the actual number of images. That is.

[Embodiments of the Invention] An optical disk will be exemplified as a recording device for filing images.

An example of the single-sided recording format of this optical disc is shown in FIG. 1. In this example, each track is composed of 20 sectors, and each side has 25,000 tracks. Also#
40000 from 0 track to #19999) rack
Sector 0 is allocated as image registration area 2, #2
0000) 1 from rack to #24999 track
00000 sector is allocated as management information area 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image filing system for implementing the method of the present invention.

In this image filing system, the main controller 1
In addition to 2, a direct memory access (DMA) controller 13 is provided which controls data transfer within the system.

Note that a data bus 26 for image information and a data bus 11 for main control of the system are provided.

When an optical disc is loaded into the optical disc loading device 24, part of the management data shown in FIG. The contents of the data table 27 are also read at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 3, the data table 27 includes data T indicating the total number of sectors in one image registration area, as well as the number U of sectors of unused areas in the image registration area, and the 100 recently registered images ( Data indicating the average number of sectors per image Mn, the number of registered images n, and the number of registrable images fiK calculated from these data are stored.

When an image reading command is input from the keyboard 16, the main controller 12 sets the DMA controller 13 and the control unit 20 to a reading mode, thereby putting the image scanner 21 into the reading mode.

In this example, a CCD line sensor is used as the image scanner 21, and the image scanner 21 converts image information into electrical signals line by line. This image data is transferred to the image storage section 25 and temporarily stored therein, and the transferred image data is further transferred to the CRT control section 18 and displayed on the CRT display device 2119.

The CRT control section 18 is composed of a CRT control section for system console output and image output, and a video output image memory section (V-RAM).The image data temporarily stored is further transferred to the data compression/expansion circuit 14. In this example, the data is compressed and encoded using the MMR method. This compressed image data is
The image is transferred to the image storage unit 25 again and stored in a predetermined area.

Here, when an image registration command is input from the keyboard 16, the compressed image data stored in the image memory 11fl125 is added from the beginning of the unprocessed area 5 on the optical disk (arrow 9 in FIG. 1). .

Further, when a command to read image data from the optical disk is issued, the image data is transferred to the image storage section 25 via the control section 23 and temporarily stored, and at the same time, the image data is transferred to the data compression/expansion circuit 14. decrypted,
The decoded image data is sent to the CR via the CRT control unit 18.
The image data is displayed by being supplied to the T display device m19. At the same time, the decoded image data is transferred to a printer (a laser printer is used in this example) 22 via a control unit 20 that is controlled to write state.
The image data is printed by being supplied to the image data.

Note that when a command to take out an optical disc from the optical disc unit 21124 is input from the keyboard 16, the main storage unit 1
Necessary management information data including the contents of the data table 27 stored in 7 is stored and additionally written in the management information area of the optical disc (arrow 10 in FIG. 1).

Now, when an image registration command is input from the keyboard 16, the compressed image data stored in the image storage section 25 is added from the beginning of the unprocessed area pressure on the optical disk. With reference to the data table 27 stored above, the number U of sectors in the unprocessed area and the average sector aM per image of registered images including newly added images are updated.

That is, if the number of sectors of the currently registered image is DI, U and Dn are calculated and updated as follows based on the relationship with the number n of registered images.

Un = Un-1-DI Dn = (DI + 990n-1)/100 Here, 0n-1 and Dn-1 are data before updating, and Un and Dn are data after updating.

Based on these updated data, the number of registrable sheets fi
K is calculated. That is, the number of registrable sheets is calculated as follows.

K=Un/Dn However, the value of the integer part of the calculation result is treated as the updated number of registrable sheets.

The number of registered nr sheets is displayed as the remaining number of sheets when the unused area is converted to a general A4 size.

This remaining capacity display is displayed on a part of the CRT display unit 19 as a recordable disc 9 when the registration mode and attribute display of the currently loaded optical disc are commanded.

However, if the number of sectors of unused areas U is 1 relative to the total number of sectors of one image registration area T, for example, U>T/2, there is enough unused area, so in this case, registration is possible. 's number of display devices 1
This is because if there is a sufficient number of areas that can be registered that are not displayed on 9, there is little point in displaying the number of images that can be registered. Instead, a message is displayed indicating that there is sufficient unused area.

In this way, only when the unused area becomes 172 or less of the total number of sectors in the image registration area, the number of images that can be registered is displayed on the screen.

The various data updated as described above are stored in the main storage section 17.

Note that the above-mentioned value of the unused area that displays the number of images that can be registered is only an example.

In the above embodiment, the number of images that can be registered is displayed by predicting the number of registered images in the unused area based on the usage status of the registered area, so the value displayed on the CRT display device 19, etc. The difference with the actual IE can be minimized.

This prevents major discrepancies between the displayed value and the actual situation, and for example, it is possible to reliably eliminate the problem of not being able to register because there is no unused area even though there is a sufficient number of sheets that can be registered. can.

In addition, in the above embodiment, since the number of sheets that can be registered is displayed itself, the remaining amount can be recognized more accurately than in the conventional case where the percentage is displayed, and operator errors can be reliably avoided. I can do it.

Furthermore, when displaying the number of images that can be registered, only if the unused area in the image registration area falls below a certain value,
The number of registered images is now displayed as a result of @calculation, so the number of registered images when the unused area decreases,
Can be easily and accurately identified.

In this case, if the unused area is more than "planted", it will be 1
Although the number of sheets that can be registered is not displayed on the screen, there is no problem as long as there is a separate display indicating that there is still enough registration available.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, there is an effect that there is little difference between the display and the actual number of images that can be registered in an image filing system.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a data registration format of an optical disc. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a system suitable for use in implementing the method of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a format showing an example of a data table used in the above embodiment. l...All areas of the optical disc, 2...Image registration area. 3... Management information area, 4... Registered image data, 5... Unused area, 12... Main controller. Patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd. Agent Arata Yokubo -:') Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image filing system, when the unused area in the image registration area falls below a certain value, the number of registered images in the unused area is predicted based on the usage status of the registered area, and the predicted registrable images are A method for displaying remaining amount in an image filing system characterized by displaying the number of sheets.