JPS62260273A - Picture data converting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the function of a simple picture retrieving terminal with an intelligent terminal by displaying the retrieved picture after changing the image resolution of this picture in accordance with the image resolution of the display of the intelligent terminal. CONSTITUTION:In the retrieving process of an intelligent terminal, an inquiry is first given to a picture file server about the parameter of a retrieving picture. Then the reduction ratio of the picture to be converted is decided from said parameter and the image resolution of the display of said intelligent terminal. When a picture data reading command is given to the picture file server in the retrieving process, the picture data received by an LAN interface circuit 11 is decoded by a decoding circuit 12 and then reduced by a reducing circuit 14 in a reduction ratio designated in the retrieving process together with the change of the image resolution. Then the picture data is stored in a picture memory 13 and then displayed on the display of the intelligent terminal via a bus interface circuit 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention mediates between an intelligent terminal that has an open bus and a network, reads images from an image file server on the network, and displays images on the intelligent terminal. Data conversion device (: related).

(Prior Art) In recent years, image file systems have been put into practical use, and document file systems in offices have become widespread. For example, 1981 IEICE National Conference Proceedings za31.
``Overview of Electronic File Link System NEOFILE100O'' introduces an example of a conventionally used stand-alone type document file terminal. On the other hand, the integration of office automation systems via networks is progressing, and image file systems are also likely to become more popular as services via networks.

(Problems to be solved by the present invention) However, in order to spread the image file network,
There are still some issues with the device that need to be resolved.

For example: (1) Conventionally, it has been common to use a dedicated terminal with a straw-like image display dedicated to displaying images, but such dedicated terminals are expensive.

■ These dedicated terminals occupy a large amount of space.

■ A dedicated operating system is used, making it difficult to integrate code information processing, such as document creation and database integration processing.

Even if the resolution is poor to some extent, if there were a search terminal that was cheaper, smaller in size, and capable of performing conventional code information processing, we could expect image file services to become more widespread. This terminal does not necessarily need to have its own files. For example, it is sufficient to be able to access a conventional image file server via a network and search for and display images. However, in the past,
Such cheap terminals were not available in the US.

At present, inexpensive intelligent terminals whose main purpose is code information processing, such as personal computers and office workstations, are rapidly becoming widespread in offices, and their networking is progressing. If these intelligent terminals can be equipped with an image file search function, a network of image file services can be constructed very efficiently. Moreover, the drawbacks of conventional image file terminals as mentioned above can also be solved.

The image data conversion device according to the present invention mediates between an existing intelligent terminal that has an open bus and the network in a network having an image file server. By converting and displaying the search image resolution according to the display resolution of this intelligent terminal, it realizes the function as a simple image search terminal, solves the above drawbacks of conventional image file terminals, and is inexpensive. It is an object of the present invention to realize an image retrieval network system.

(Means for Solving the Problems) According to the present invention, there is provided a communication interface means for transmitting and receiving data to and from an image file server connected to the communication line via a communication line, and a communication interface means for decoding encoded image data. (a) a decoding means for storing decoded data transferred from the decoding means; and a storage means) for converting the resolution by enlarging or reducing the stored image data at a specified ratio , the resolution conversion means to be written to another part of the storage means, and the bus of the intelligent terminal that is open to the bus, and commands and images between the intelligent terminal and the communication interface, decoding, and storage means. An image data conversion device characterized by comprising a bus interface means for exchanging data can be realized.

(Function) The image data conversion device according to the present invention solves the drawbacks of the prior art by adopting the above-described configuration.

It is assumed that the intelligent terminal is provided with a search process for image search, and that this search process sends and receives a C message via the bus interface means and communication interface means of the image data conversion device according to the present invention. . In the search process, an initialization command is issued to the image data conversion device according to the present invention in advance to start each means.Procedures for logging into the image file server and opening the image file are provided by the image file server. Use the remote access function as is.

When performing an image search, image size, scanning line density, and encoding method are required as parameters of the searched image. The search process queries the image file server for this. The search process uses this parameter and the resolution of the intelligent edge display to scale up/down the converted image.
Determine the reduction ratio.

Now, the search process is to
Issue an image data read command and start reading. Image data generally has a large amount of data and is communicated several times.

When the communication interface means stores the received 1d data for one time in the communication buffer within the bus interface means,
Notify intelligent terminals. The retrieval process detects this and transfers the received data to a decode buffer in the bus interface means for decoding. (The valley buffer area in the bus interface means is directly connected to the bus of the intelligent terminal and the CPU of the intelligent terminal
can be directly read/written. ) The decoding means decodes this data according to the specified method and stores it in an image buffer within the decoding means. Once this buffer overflows, the decryption means will tell the intelligent terminal to
A request is made to write an image to the storage means. The verification process detects this and causes the decrypted data to be written to the storage means. When the writing is finished, the decoding means and the storage means each notify the completion. The search process detects these, specifies the enlargement/reduction ratio, and causes the resolution conversion means to perform the resolution conversion process. The resolution conversion means converts the image data to a specified resolution, stores it in another area of the storage means, and notifies the intelligent terminal of the completion. The retrieval process detects this and instructs the storage means to transfer the transformed image to a display buffer area within the bus interface means. This buffer can also be directly read/written by the CPU of the intelligent terminal.
U reads the transferred conversion data and transfers it to the display memory area (vaAM). In this way, the display of the intelligent terminal (-resolution converted image is displayed).

The above process is repeated until one page of image data is displayed. If the display of an intelligent device does not have sufficient resolution, the displayed image may be difficult to see, but the overall impression of the image is often a powerful clue for search. Furthermore, by using the mouse to specify a part of the image that the user particularly wants to see, the area of the original image corresponding to this part can be pushed out of the storage means and displayed in an enlarged manner. Furthermore, the function of scrolling the enlarged screen using the mouse can be similarly realized, allowing effective searching.

As described above, even if there is no dedicated image display terminal, an image search service network can be constructed at low cost by using existing intelligent terminals.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a specific example of an image data conversion device according to the present invention (2). In the figure, the portion surrounded by a broken line is the image data conversion device IO.

The LAN interface circuit 11 corresponds to communication interface means and is a local area network (LAN).
) to send and receive messages.

The decoding circuit 12 corresponds to a decoding means and has an image buffer for storing decoded data.

Image bus 16 is a high-speed bus for transferring image buffer data to image memory 13. The image memory 13 corresponds to storage means, and the reduction circuit 14 corresponds to resolution conversion means. The bus interface circuit 15 connects the circuits 11 to 1
4 and the intelligent terminal bus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the bus interface circuit 15. The communication buffer 21 stores messages and image data received from the LAN by the LAN interface circuit 11, or data received by the intelligent terminal from the LAN.
It is used to store messages to be sent out through the interface circuit 11. Decode buffer 22
stores the encoded image data here, and decodes the circuit 1.
2 for decoding. Display buffer 23
is for transferring image data to be displayed on the intelligent terminal from the image memory 13 to the intelligent terminal. The command/status buffer 24 is connected to the LAN interface circuit 11° decoding circuit 129.
Image memory 13. This is for exchanging control messages between the reduction circuit 1-1 and the intelligent terminal. The driver/receiver 25 includes buffers 21 to 2.
4 and the intelligent terminal bus. Hereinafter, control messages from the intelligent terminal side will be referred to as commands, control messages from each circuit of the image data conversion device according to the present invention will be referred to as statuses, and parameters accompanying the commands and statuses will be referred to as arguments.

The buffers 21 to 24 are directly connected to the bus of the intelligent terminal via the driver/receiver 25, and are configured to be accessible by the CPLI of the intelligent terminal by memory read/write. For example, the communication buffer 21.
The decode buffer 221 and the display buffer 23 each have a structure as shown in FIG. The address conversion circuit 31 is
When the buffer memory 32 is allocated to an empty area on the memory map of the intelligent terminal side, the address visible from the intelligent terminal side is assigned to the buffer memory 32.
to a physical address. The selector 33 is i, A
This selects read/write from the N interface, decode, and image memory circuits, and read/write from the intelligent terminal side.

Similarly, the command/status buffer 24 is configured as shown in FIG. 4, for example. Buffer a43゜Buffer b
44. Buffer C45 and buffer d46 are each
LAN interface circuit 11. Decoding circuit 12, image memory 13. It is used to exchange commands/status and arguments between the reduction circuit 14 and the intelligent terminal.

These consist of registers.

Command and status notifications use interrupts.

From the intelligent terminal side, as in the case of Figure 3,
The buffers 43 to 46 are accessed by memory read/write. At this time, the address conversion circuit 41 converts the address and sends it to the selector 42. selector 42
allows a command string (command and argument) to be written to the corresponding buffer register from the converted address and bus-side control signal (for example, a write signal). This write causes an interrupt signal to be generated from the register.

At this time, the gate circuit 47 sends an interrupt signal to the circuit side to notify the interrupt. From the circuit side, a status string (status and arguments) is written to each buffer using the selector 42. The gate circuit 47 now sends an interrupt signal to the intelligent terminal side 1.
Notify status. Interrupts are reset by inserting them into the buffers 43 to 46. In this embodiment, they are commands and statuses. [Consider the following.]

Command ■ L, AN interface circuit 11 (for two/initialization... circuit initialization/transmission...
Message transmission in communication buffer 21■ For decoding circuit 12・Initialization・・Circuit initialization・Mode setting・・・Mode setting before start of decoding・Decoding・・Decode buffer Start decoding data in 22/Write data...Write decoded data to image memory 13 ■ Initialize image memory 13... Initialize circuit/Write data Decode circuit Data writing/direct reading from 12...Reading data in the image memory 13 to the display buffer 23■ For reduction circuit 14/Initialization...Circuit initialization/reduction/
・-・Start status of reduction processing ■ Receive from α interface circuit 11 ... Store received data in communication buffer 21 ■ Request data from decode circuit 12 -- Request data input to decode buffer 22 ・Data write request Image request from image buffer... Write request to memory 13/Data write end "Image message from image buffer..."
・・Complete writing to MoIJ 13・Complete decoding・・Complete decoding the last data■
From image memory 13 - end of data writing End of data from decoding circuit 12... end of writing - direct read end of image data display buffer 23...
■ Completion of reading from the reduction circuit 14 - End of reduction - End of reduction processing Now, the intelligent terminal we are considering now has a search process running, and the search procedure is based on the remote access function provided by the image file server you want to use. shall be compliant. At the start of the search process, the LAN interface circuit 11. Decoding circuit 121 image memory 13. Reduced circuit 1
4, issue an initialization command. In initializing the image memo IJ 13, the original image area and reduced image area are allocated in the memory. Login to the image file server and image file open processing are performed using communication buffer 2.
1. This is done via the LAN interface circuit 11, but
Since this is communication between the intelligent terminal and the image file server, it will be omitted here. The following describes the process from reading image data to displaying it after opening an image file.

FIG. 5 shows the general flow of the process.

When displaying an image, image size, scanning line density, and encoding method are required as parameters.

Now, add this parameter to the image file server.
C. Assume that inquiries can be made. The display resolution of the intelligent terminal is also a necessary parameter. The search process determines the reduction ratio from these. The method of determination will be described later.

Furthermore, a mode set command is issued to the decoding circuit 12 using the image size, scanning line density, and encoding method as arguments. The decoding circuit 12 issues a data request status to prepare for decoding.

In addition, the search process requires the image file server to
Issue an image data read command.

Since an image generally has a large amount of data, it is assumed that the communication is performed several times. The data size for one communication is, for example, 32 kilobytes, and the communication buffer 21. Decode buffer 22
Suppose that it is also this size.

The LAN interface circuit 11 stores the received image data in the communication buffer 21 and issues a reception status. When the search process detects this, the communication buffer 21
The image data excluding a part of the frame is transferred to the decode buffer 22, and a decode command is issued to the decode circuit 12 using the data length as an argument. This starts the decoding process.

The decoding circuit 12 has an image buffer and stores decoded image data. For example, the size is 64 kilobytes. During decoding, when the image buffer becomes full, the decoding circuit 12 issues a data write request status. In this case, the number of lines of data to be written is the argument. When the search process detects this, the image memo IJ 13. A data write command is issued to each decode circuit 12. The writing start address in the memory and the size of the data to be written are given to the image memory 13 as arguments. This is given, for example, by the number of dots (dots) in the main scanning direction and the number of lines (Y) in the sub-scanning direction, as shown in FIG. 6(a). The image data is transferred from the image buffer of the decoding circuit 12 to the image memory 13 via the image bus 16. When the writing is completed, the decoding circuit 121 and the image memory 13 each issue an independent write-in completion status. When the search process detects these, it issues a reduction command to the reduction circuit 14. The reduction ratio to be described, the read address and size of the original image, and the write address of the reduced image are given.

In this embodiment, the reduction ratio is determined by the search process so that when the image is displayed on the display of the intelligent terminal, the entire image is visible.

Taking a document image as an example, the search process stores the following table and determines the reduction rate from the given parameters.

When reading an A4 version of Bunso image at a resolution of 8 lines/■,
The image data size is 1728 dots x 2376 lines. To display the entire image on a horizontal display with a resolution of 1120 x 750, it is easy (2 is 1/4
Reduce to X 1/4 (432 dots x 594 lines).

The following parameters are always known during the search process:

Regarding the original image (Figure 6 (a)), the size of one line of the original image (number of dots) x1 the beginning of the data to be written this time (absolute line a) Yx line the number of lines of the data to be written this time (relative number of lines) N
lThe beginning of the current reduction start (absolute number of lines)
Y2 line Number of lines to be reduced this time (relative number of lines) N2=
(((Yl-Y2)+N1)xr)/r([a] is a
The largest integer not greater than . However, r is the reduction ratio) Regarding the reduced image (Figure 6 (b)), the size of one line of the reduced image (number of dots) xl = X1
xrn2=(((Yl-Y2)+N1)xr)A above
Assume that 295 lines of decoded data are transferred from an image buffer of 3.64 kilobytes, taking 4 images (r=x/4) as an example. In the first data writing and reduction, Yl-o, Nl≠295. Y2=O, N2=(295
/4)X4=292 xl=432. y2=o, n2=73.

The reduction circuit 14 converts the original image data to a specified resolution, stores it in the reduced image area in the image memory 13, and issues a reduction processing completion status.

When the search process detects this, it issues a direct read command to the image memory 13 and causes the reduced image data to be transferred to the display buffer 23. Furthermore, among the above parameters, those related to the absolute number of lines are updated as follows.

Y1=Yt+Nt (Y1=295 in the above example) Y2=Y
2+N2 (Y2=292) y2=y2+n2 (y2=73) After this, the search process reads the data in the display buffer and vaA
Transfer to M.

In the case of the above A4 image, the amount of data is small (432 dots x 73 lines - 3.942 kilobytes), so it is fast. In this way, the resolution-converted image is displayed on the display of the intelligent terminal. The above process is repeated until one page of image data is displayed. Note that the decoding circuit 12 issues the next data request status when all the data in the decoding buffer 22 has been decoded. When the last data of one page has been decoded, a decoding completion status is issued instead.

In order to display one page at high speed, the LAN interface circuit 11. Decode circuit 12. memory circuit 13,
The reduction circuits 14 are operated in parallel. If the operating system of an intelligent terminal is multitasking, it prepares lower processes corresponding to each circuit,
The search process should control these. Even single tasks can be controlled using interrupt flags. Also, the communication buffer 21. Decode buffer 22 The image buffer in the decode circuit 12 may be a double buffer.

If your display doesn't have sufficient resolution, the image may be difficult to see, but the overall impression of the image is often a powerful search engine. In addition, by using a mouse to point to the part of the displayed image that you particularly want to see, and displaying the enlarged image (displaying the original image) with this area as the center, you can perform an effective search. For this, the search process starts from the coordinates of the mouse cursor,
The address of the image data to be displayed is calculated, and a direct read command for the corresponding location is issued to the image memory 13. Subsequently, by performing V8 transfer from the display buffer 23, the enlarged image can be displayed at high speed. Furthermore, the function of scrolling the enlarged screen using the mouse can be realized as well. The same applies to switching to a reduced image.

When displaying on a display with a low resolution, for example, 640x400, if the original image data is displayed as is, it may be enlarged too much and the image may become difficult to see. In the case of the above A4 image, for example, 1/2 x 1
It is conceivable to create a reduced image of /2 (864 dots x 1188 lines) and display it instead of the original image.

In this example, the parameters of the display image are queried in advance from the image file server, but if these are included in the header of the image data, the image data is first read from the server and the header is analyzed. A mode set command may be issued to the C decode circuit 12. In this way, even if images of different sizes and encoding methods coexist in one image file, adaptive resolution conversion can be easily realized for each piece of data. Further, in the embodiment, a case where the original image is reduced is shown, but it is naturally possible to enlarge a small document image such as a slip, for example. In this case, an enlargement circuit may be added to the reduction circuit 14. Further, in the embodiment, the search process determines the reduction ratio and updates the write address information, but these are stored in the image memory 13. Let the reduction circuit 14 do
C is also good. Furthermore, the image data for one page may be received and decoded first, and then the resolution conversion and display may be performed all at once.

If the memory space of the intelligent terminal is sufficiently large, the intelligent terminal may be configured to directly read the memory area of the image memory 13 without having the display buffer 23. Also, the communication buffer 21. It is also possible to consider a configuration in which the decode buffer 22 is made into one 1-.. buffer and communication and decoding processing are performed synchronously. In addition, although we have taken as an example a service via a local area network, in remote locations etc.
Depending on special circumstances, it may be possible to use private lines or public lines. In this case, LAN interface circuit 1
1 with a line interface circuit, it is possible to realize the same functions except for the communication response time.

This embodiment assumes that an existing operating system of an intelligent terminal is used. Therefore,
There is no need to change the software previously used on the terminal.

In addition, by integrating the image search function of this embodiment with the conventional code information processing function, the software development environment and usage environment (same display, for example, multi-window ,
Code information and images can be flexibly switched and viewed). Various applications can be considered using this environment.

For example, searched images can be saved on the intelligent terminal to create a personal image file. It is conceivable to manage index files of these images using existing database software and organically search the existing database and personal image files. Similarly, image editing functions (image cropping, enlarging/
It is also possible to create an integrated document that combines text and images by combining it with a word processing function.

All of the above embodiments are included in the present invention.

(Effect of the invention) With the image data conversion device described above, a network service for image file search can be easily realized at low cost by using existing intelligent terminals without using a dedicated image file terminal. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image data conversion device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of a bus interface section, and FIG. 3 is a detailed configuration of buffers 21 to 23 in FIG. 2. Figure 4 shows an example of the command in Figure 2.
FIG. 5 shows an example of the detailed configuration of the status buffer 24, and FIG. 5 shows the sequence of image reading processing.
The figure is a diagram showing address information of an original image and a reduced image. In the figure, 10 is an image data conversion device, 11 is a communication interface circuit, 12 is a decoding circuit 13 is an image memory, 14 is a reduction circuit, 15 is a bus interface circuit,
16 is an image lot, 21 is a communication buffer, 22 is a decode buffer, 23 is a display buffer, 24 is a command/
status buffer, 25 driver/receiver, 31
32 is an address conversion circuit, 32 is a buffer memory, 33 is a selector, 41 is an address conversion circuit, 42 is a selector, 43 is a buffer a, and 44 is a buffer b. 45 is a buffer C, 46 is a buffer d, and 47 is a gate circuit. r ----- Kobroom t5'' Surface Ca) 62.7.28 Showa Year Month Day 1, Incident Display 1986 Patent Department No. 10406
6 No. 2, Name of the invention 1 Data conversion device 3, Relationship with the person who properly divides ltl 1! 1- Application NEC Corporation, Jino (423), 33-1 Shiba 5-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo Representative Tadahiro Sekimoto, Agent <G591) Patent Attorney Uchihara Maki-'・'Telephone Tokyo <03) 45 [1-3111 <Major Representative) (Contact address NEC Corporation Patent Department>5, Amendment Target (1) Column for detailed explanation of the invention in the specification (21, Column 6 for brief explanation of drawings in the specification, Contents of amendment (1), Lines 6 to 7 of page 22 of the specification) [Memory circuit 13. is corrected to read ``Image memory 13.'' 12+, In the 8th line of page 22 of the specification, the text ``Communication I〉' Tough Nice Circuit'' is corrected to read ``rLAN interface circuit.'' ,・−l′− Agent Patent attorney Uchiatsu End G,−−)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A communication interface means for transmitting and receiving data to and from an image file server connected to the communication line via a communication line, a decoding means for decoding encoded image data, and a decoding unit transferring data from the decoding means. A storage means for storing data, a resolution conversion means for converting the resolution by enlarging or reducing the image data stored in the storage means at a specified ratio, and writing it to another part of the storage means, and a bus is opened. A bus interface means is directly connected to a bus of an intelligent terminal, and is configured to transfer commands and image data between the intelligent terminal and communication interface, decoding, and storage means. Image data conversion device.