JPS63266579A - Information editing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To generate a large-capacity electronic information file by performing conversion processing such as data compression and the generation and addition of data indicating the attribute of information according to the attributes of an input image, sound, characters, and other information, and storing the resulting information as a control file. CONSTITUTION:The input image, sound, characters, and other information are converted according to their attributes to generate the data file to which the form, attribute, and data length of the data are added and the file is stored in a 1st storage means 3. The information stored in the 1st storage means is edited into specific file format and processed and a procedure for reproduction is generated by an editing means 4, so that the data is stored in a 2nd storage means 5. The information and data after the editing and processing are outputted in specified output format by an output means 8. A control means 10 controls the operations of respective means. Consequently, the conversion processing, editing, and processing of a large amount of information on images, sound, characters, etc., are carried out and the information is confirmed to generate the information file.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Field of Use The present invention relates to an information editing device that inputs images, sounds, characters, and other human information, edits and processes the information, and outputs the contents in a specified format. It is.

Conventional technology In recent years, we have become known as the information society, and a huge amount of information exists around us in various forms.

Information such as images, sounds, and text is provided to people in the form of broadcasts, newspapers, publications, etc. Among these, how a person can search for the specific information he or she needs from among a large amount of information is a major problem, including the means to achieve this.

Meanwhile, with the remarkable development of computers and their peripherals, large amounts of information can be edited and processed at high speed.

It has become possible to accumulate and use it.

Computing and processing devices and storage devices that store information are becoming smaller, cheaper, and more sophisticated, and the cost of processing has also decreased significantly. In particular, with regard to text information, online information search services have become popular, in which databases are constructed based on large amounts of data processed at high speed by large computers, and the databases can be searched via communication lines. Furthermore, there are services in which these data are provided to users using media such as floppy disks.

In addition, many newspaper companies have already put into practical use newspaper editing systems that use large computers to handle everything from inputting collected news manuscripts to editing articles, laying out paper drawings, and creating printing plates. In some cases, services have been launched that provide the full text of newspaper articles online in accordance with search instructions from users earlier than the newspaper is published.

On the other hand, regarding image and audio information, these information are basically analog information, and when converted into digital information, the amount of information is much larger than that of text information, so processing it requires an extremely large amount of data. Requires capacity storage. For example, image information is 360 x 24 per screen.
Even if 0 pixels and 64 colors are displayed, it will require 64 kilobytes, and increasing the color resolution will require several hundred kilobytes. Furthermore, for audio information, assuming a quantization bit number of 8 bits and a sampling frequency of 20 kilohertz, an amount of information of 100 kilobytes is required for audio output for 5 seconds. Furthermore, not only does audio information contain a large amount of information, but in order to reproduce it, it must be output in real time, which requires operations such as time axis correction, and requires a large amount of calculation and storage equipment. The problem was that it was necessary.

In recent years, in addition to advances in compression technology for various images and audio signals, advances in semiconductor technology have increased the capacity of semiconductor memory and the practical use of optical disks has made storage devices extremely cheap. Electronic information files that record large amounts of information and search electronically using large-capacity storage devices have been put into practical use.It is planned that these files will be used as electronic data files such as telephone number directories and patent publications. ing. Furthermore, encyclopedias and illustrated encyclopedias that have traditionally existed as large-capacity information sources, such as animal encyclopedias and plant encyclopedias, are constructed by combining text information and image information, and the contents are stored in storage devices and searched electronically. It has also become possible to realize an electronic encyclopedia device that can output data in a format tailored to the user's purpose. Also, several devices for creating this information have been proposed.

Hereinafter, a conventional information editing device will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 shows an information registration device for editing information to create data files of characters and images.

In FIG. 4, 51 is a microcomputer that controls the entire device, and 52 is a system bus that connects the microcomputer 51 to each interface circuit (hereinafter referred to as I/F) 53 to 59. 60 is an image memory connected to the system bus 52, and 61.62 is a TV connected to the I/F 53.
A first imaging device such as a camera and a shutter switch; 63 a second imaging device such as a scanner connected to the I/F 54; 64 a printer connected to the I/F 55; and 65 connected to the I/F 56. external storage device such as a floppy disk.

66 is a hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as HDD) connected to I/F 57, and 67 is a display device i! connected to I/F 58. 68 and a terminal device 70 having a keyboard 69
is a communication line connected to the I/F 59. The first imaging device 61 is equipped with a two-dimensional image sensor such as an image pickup tube or a COD, and performs electrical scanning to photograph two-dimensional image data such as a photograph of a human face. The shutter switch 62 instructs the timing to capture image data. The second imaging device 63 reads character data such as various records written on the sheet with a high-resolution scanner using a one-dimensional image sensor.

The operation of the information registration device having the above configuration will be described below. Consider creating a personnel record file using this device. When creating a new file, a photograph of a person's face is input using the first imaging device 61, and text data such as personnel records is input using the second imaging device 63. The input data is stored in the image memory 60 via the system bus 52. The stored data is called up on the display device 68 and the data is synthesized while giving necessary instructions from the keyboard 69. Addition of character data to the image memory 60 according to the above instructions;
The data is displayed on the display device 68 after being deleted or corrected. When one file is completed, a predetermined code is added to the file and stored in the HDD 66 as a series of data. When calling up a registered file, when a predetermined key operation is performed, data on the HDD 66 is searched, a series of corresponding data is read out, and transferred to the image memory 60. ``The contents of the image memory 60 are displayed on the display device 68, and when a print instruction is received, the data on the image memory 60 is output to the printer 64 to make a hard copy. Also, the data is I/
It is connected to the communication line 70 via the F59, and data can be exchanged online.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the capacity of the above-mentioned electronic information files is extremely large, and the total amount of data can reach hundreds of megabytes, especially for encyclopedias and illustrated books with a large number of characters. The information editing equipment used for this purpose has also become large-scale, and is capable of inputting images and audio information to create files, conversion processing such as data compression, creation of playback procedures such as search programs, editing and processing of all information data. It is necessary to do this so that it can be stored on a storage medium such as an optical disk.
In order to perform these processes, large amounts of information must be edited at high speed.
A device capable of processing is required. Also, check whether the contents and playback procedures of the files created with the above editing device match the scenario intended by the creator, and whether the contents of each data have been correctly converted to the specified format and the original information is correct. I need to see if it can be restored. In particular, during these editing and processing processes, a program that defines the reproduction procedure must be created correctly, and various information must be reproduced accurately according to the program. Among these, especially audio information, in order to actually hear the original sound, it is necessary to edit it so that it can be output in real time. Currently, it is extremely difficult to edit while adjusting the playback timing and checking the results at the editing stage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide an information editing device that can convert, edit, process, and check a large amount of information such as images, sounds, and characters, and create an information file. Means for Solving Six Problems In order to solve the above problems, the information editing apparatus of the present invention includes an input means for inputting images, sounds, characters, and other information from the outside, a conversion processing means for performing data compression or other conversion processing on information into a predetermined format according to its attributes; a first storage means for storing the input or converted information; and storage in the first storage means. an editing means for editing the information into a predetermined file format, a second storage means for storing the information edited and processed by the editing means, and a second storage means for storing the information edited and processed by the editing means; (2) a reproduction means for reproducing information using the information stored in the storage means; a confirmation display means for testing and confirming the reproduced information and the content and operation of the reproduction procedure; and (1) editing; An output means for outputting processed information to the outside in a specified format.

and coupling means for coupling each of the above-mentioned means to a control means for controlling the operation of each of these means.

Operation With the above configuration, input images, one voice character, and other information are converted according to their attributes, a data file is created with the format, attributes, data length, etc. of the data added, and the data file is stored in the first storage. Store it in your means. The information stored in the first storage means is edited and processed into a predetermined file format by the editing means, and a procedure for reproduction is created, and the information is stored in the second storage means. In the process of editing and processing, the contents of each piece of information edited using the information and data stored in the first or second storage means are converted correctly, and each piece of information is created using a reproduction means. Or follow the predetermined playback procedure to check if it plays correctly. This confirmation is done by checking whether the contents of the program that describes the playback procedure that you have created are written correctly, and by using the playback means to play back the information and digital data stored in the first or second storage means. Realize. The confirmation content is displayed by the confirmation display means, and the displayed information and data that have been edited and processed are outputted to the outside in a specified output format by the output means. The control means controls the operation of each of the above means by setting these operations in advance and inputting them, or by inputting individual operations as commands from the outside.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an information editing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the conceptual basic configuration of an information editing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention specifically showing the basic configuration of FIG. 1. be.

In Fig. 1, 1 is an input means for inputting reproduction procedures and other information such as images, sounds, characters, search programs, etc. from the outside, and 2 is a means for data compression or other means to convert the information input by the input means 1 into a predetermined format. Conversion processing means for performing a conversion process; 3 is a first storage means for storing information inputted by the input means 1 or converted by the conversion processing means 2 and data representing added attributes thereof; 4 is a first storage means; 3 an editing means for editing and processing necessary for creating and reproducing a medium in which the stored information is made into a file, and creating and adding a reproduction procedure such as a search program; 5 an editing means 4 for editing;
a second storage means for storing the processed information, 6 a reproduction means for reproducing the edited and processed information stored in the first and second storage means 3.5, 7 a reproduction means for reproducing the edited information; Confirmation display means for testing and confirming whether the information edited and processed according to the reproduction procedure created in advance in the process of inputting or editing is correctly converted and can be reproduced accurately, and displaying the contents; Output means for outputting the information confirmed to have been edited and processed correctly by the confirmation display means 7 in a specified form to the outside; 9 controls the operations of the above means 1 to 8 and each of these means; Control means 1
This is a coupling means for coupling 0.

In FIG. 2, 11 is a CP that controls the operation of the entire device.
U, 12 is a system bus that connects each component of the device;
13 is an image input device for editing or inputting various image information; 14 is an image memory for storing the image information of the image input device 13; 15 is an audio input device for inputting audio information; 16
17 is a conversion processing device that performs signal compression and other conversions and processing on input information; 17 is an editing device that edits and processes stored information; 18 is a device that allows the user to perform actual operations such as inputting commands and character information; Display device 19 and keyboard 2
21 is a printer that outputs various types of information in the form of printed matter, and 22 is a magnetic tape device (22) that inputs and outputs a large amount of data and backs up data stored in a storage device. (hereinafter referred to as MT device),
23 is an HDD as a storage device for storing information that has been input, converted, or edited; 24 is an HDD that serves as a storage device for storing information that has been input, converted, or edited; , a confirmation display device that tests and confirms whether or not it can be reproduced accurately and displays the contents; 25 is a printer as an output means that outputs the information stored in the HDD 23 in a specified data format in the form of a master tape or the like; Mastering equipment, 26 and 27
28 is an image character output device and a voice output device as a reproduction means for demodulating and reproducing information such as a single image character and voice;
- 39 are I/Os that connect the system bus 12 and each device.
F, 40 is the main storage device (hereinafter referred to as RAM) of the device. Here, 1 edit, the processed information is converted correctly,
In order to test and confirm whether accurate reproduction is possible, the image character output device 26, the audio output device 27, the HDD 23, and the C
A simulated playback device is composed of the PUII, confirmation display device 24, and the like.

The operation of the information editing apparatus configured as described above will be explained using FIG. 2. Now, assume that the information editing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is used to create, for example, an illustrated encyclopedia of animals, which is composed of images, sounds, characters, and the like. Image information of natural images such as photographs showing the appearance and ecology of animals is converted into image signals by an imaging device such as a TV camera, sent to the image input device 13, digitized, and stored in the image memory 14 if necessary. Image processing and editing are performed at the material level using the following software, and the resulting image is stored in the HDD 23 via the I/F 28.37.

Graphs, animations, etc. are created in advance with an external device and input from the image input device 13, or are created using the drawing function of the image input device 13, and are similarly stored on the HDD.
23. Audio information such as animal sounds or explanatory narrations is converted from a pre-recorded medium into an audio signal by a playback device such as a tape recorder and sent to the audio input device 15, and the analog signal is digitized and input to the I/O. /F29.37 and is stored in the HDD 23. Text information such as explanatory text is input from the keyboard 20 of the operating device 18 or created in advance and input all at once from the MT device 22, and is stored in the HDD 23 via the I/F 34 or 36 and the I/F 37. .

These operations may be performed individually by instructions from the keyboard 20, or input procedures may be stored in the RAM 2O in advance and automatically performed by instructions from the keyboard 20 under control from the CPU 11. Alternatively, the input procedure may be stored in the RAM 40 in advance, the operations to be performed by the creator may be displayed on the display device 19, and the creator may input while instructing the specific input procedure.

Among the information stored in the HDD 23, information that requires conversion and processing such as data compression is sent to the conversion processing device 16 via the I/F 37.30, and is converted to a predetermined format and processed (for example, ΔYUV conversion for image information) , ADPCM for audio information
conversion (8Bit, 4Bit), etc.), and I/F30
, 37 to the HDD2 as a conversion method material data file.
3 is stored. This conversion and processing may be performed by directly converting and processing the input information, or by storing the input information once in the HDD 23 and then performing the conversion and processing. During this conversion and processing process, a data file is created or added that indicates the attributes of each information (file name, data type, data length, data conversion, processing method, other information to be synchronized, etc.), and control is performed. It is stored in the HDD 23 as a file. Also,
Data files that were previously created and backed up in the form of magnetic tape, etc. are transferred from the MT device 22 to the I/F 3.
The data is stored in the HDD 23 through steps 6 and 37. Note that the CPU
I controls the operation of the entire series of devices.

On the other hand, based on a scenario created in advance (for example, an author's intention such as the types of animals to be recorded in the encyclopedia, their contents, search methods, search keywords, playback procedures, etc.), the specific playback order and data are The location of the system is determined and created as a program. The order and arrangement of these items can be determined by the creator by inputting the necessary instructions from the keyboard 20 while looking at the display contents of the display bag [1119] of the operating device 18, or by inputting the instruction contents created in advance on another device into the MT. By inputting from the device 22 and other input devices, the arrangement and combination of the data files on the recording medium are determined based on the contents of the control file and input instructions, and the contents are stored as a program file in the editing device 17. Filed in I/F31,
37 and then stored in the HDD 23. In addition, in accordance with this, the editing device 17 edits each data file containing images, sounds, characters, and other information according to its attributes, type, arrangement on the recording medium, combination with other data files to be synchronized, etc. , editing and processing such as summarizing each unit of data (blocking), superimposing it with other data files (interleaving), and converting it into a fixed format (FORMAT) specified by the recording medium,
The data is stored in the HDD 23 via the I/Fs 31 and 37. For example, in an illustrated animal encyclopedia, a data file is structured such that when you specify the animal's name, a picture of the animal appears on the screen, and the animal's sound is output as audio along with the voice of the explanatory narration. is edited and F
The data is ORMAT-converted and stored in the HDD 23.

In order to test and confirm whether the edited and processed data file can be converted correctly and reproduced accurately according to the prescribed reproduction procedure, an image character output device 26,
A simulated playback device including an audio output device 27, an HDD 23, a CPU Ull, a confirmation display device 24, and the like is used. Next, the operation of the simulated playback device will be explained. The program file that is input from the outside or created by this device and defines the playback procedure for the data file is stored on the HDD 2.
From 3 to F37, it is stored in RAM40, and the CPU
II instructs and controls the simulated playback. Individual data files are transferred from HDD 23 to I/F 37.32 according to the procedure predetermined in the program file.
゜33, image character output device 26, audio output device ffi
! 27, which demodulates the contents of the data file and reproduces and outputs the original information such as images, characters, and sounds in a simulated manner. As a result, it is possible to use these devices to perform simulated playback using the data file stored in the HDD 23, assuming that the data file is playing back data recorded on a recording medium in its final form. This makes it relatively easy to check with your eyes and ears the real-time playback of audio signals, the combination of images and audio, the quality of playback timing, etc. For example, in the case of an illustrated animal encyclopedia, if you search for an individual animal, you will be able to find the specified animal without fail, and you will repeatedly test whether the pictures, explanations, sounds, etc. can be played correctly in the specified order and timing. , and can edit files efficiently.

However, when image and audio data are processed at the same time, the processing speed of the HDD 23, system path 12, CPU 11, etc. is not fast enough and it is not possible to play one image or audio in real time, so it is necessary to check the combination of images and audio and the quality of the playback timing. It is possible that something like this cannot be done. In this case, the confirmation display device 24 pulls out the control file stored in the HDD 23, confirms its contents and operations according to the program file, and displays the contents. Third
An example of the display contents is shown in the figure, which allows you to confirm the operation to some extent without actually reproducing images or sounds. Furthermore, by using this confirmation display device, it is also possible to confirm the contents of the program file that defines the playback procedure and its operation.

The program files and data files whose operations have been confirmed through the above-described simulated playback and whose editing has almost been completed are finally arranged in the order and arrangement on the recording medium, and the editing is completed.

The information file that has been edited is sent to the premastering device 25 via the I/F 38, 39, and a master tape for creating a recording medium is created. Further, each data file created in the process of 9 editing is sent to the MT device 22 via the I/F 36 and a backup is created.

In addition to being useful in preventing U-YU from being destroyed due to an unexpected accident during editing, the created file can be used for other purposes as is, and in that case, it saves the trouble of editing it. be able to.

In this embodiment, the confirmation display bag [24] is used to confirm the contents and operations of programs and data files, but this function may also be performed using the display device 19 of the operating device 18. In this case, the dedicated confirmation display bag [24] becomes unnecessary.

Note that in this embodiment, the conversion processing device 16 is used as a conversion processing means such as data compression of input information.
This function can be applied to each image input device 13 and audio input device 15.
You can go there. In this case, a dedicated conversion processing device is not required. Further, although the conversion processing device 16 and the editing device 17 are used as means for converting, processing, and editing information, respectively, software may be used as the means and processing may be performed by CPU II.

Furthermore, although digitized data files are used in this embodiment, files containing analog signals may also be used.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, input images, sounds, characters, and other information can be converted, such as data compressed, according to their attributes.

Create and add data indicating the attributes of that information, store it as a control file, edit and process the data file, and create procedures for playback such as the specific playback order and data arrangement. An information editing device that creates large-capacity electronic information files can be easily realized. especially,
In the process of editing and processing, a confirmation display means is used and a control file in the data file stored in the storage means is used to reproduce real-time audio signals, image and audio without actually reproducing the data. It is easy to test the combinations, playback timing, etc., and it is also easy to test and check the playback procedures such as search programs created using input means or editing means, so large amounts of information can be easily checked. It is possible to easily and efficiently edit and create electronic information files that are organically combined and have a wide range of new application fields.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the conceptual basic configuration of an information editing device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the specific configuration of the information editing device, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the confirmation display device. FIG. 4, which is a diagram showing an example of displaying contents, is a block diagram of a conventional information editing device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Input means, 2... Conversion processing means, 3... First storage means, 4... Editing means, 5... Second storage means, 6... Reproduction means, 7 ... Confirmation display means, 8.
...Output means. 9... Coupling means, 10... Control means. Agent Yoshihiro Morimoto Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 4 120. *

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Input means for inputting images, sounds, characters, and other information from the outside, and conversion processing means for performing data compression and other conversion processing on the input information into a predetermined format according to its attributes. and a first memory that stores the input or converted information.
a storage means, an editing means for creating procedures for editing, processing, and reproducing the information stored in the first storage means into a predetermined file format, and storing information edited and processed by the editing means. a second storage means for reproducing information using the information stored in the first or second storage means; and testing and checking the contents and operation of the reproduced information and reproduction procedure. and a confirmation display means for displaying the confirmation contents, an output means for outputting the edited and processed information to the outside in a specified form, and a connection for coupling each of the above means to a control means for controlling the operation of each of these means. An information editing device having means. 2. A reproduction means for demodulating and reproducing images, sounds, characters, etc., a confirmation display means for testing and confirming the content and operation of the reproduction procedure, and displaying the confirmation contents, and a control means for controlling the operation. Based on the reproduction procedure, the information stored in the first or second storage means is reproduced, or the type and content of the edited information is displayed according to the reproduction procedure, so that the content of the information and the content of the reproduction procedure can be changed. The information editing device according to claim 1, which comprises a simulated playback device for confirming the operation in a simulated manner.