KR100647107B1 - Method and apparatus for managing images of mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

An image management method for a mobile communication terminal and an apparatus therefor are provided to allow users to conveniently manage image files stored in the mobile communication terminal. An image collecting unit(110) collects image data. A tree information storing unit(120) stores tree information generated for managing the image data collected through the image collecting unit(110). An image information storing unit(125) stores image information for managing the images collected through the image collecting unit(110). A tree generating unit(130) generates information on the display of a tree structure using information stored in the tree information storing unit(120) and the image information storing unit(125) in response to an image retrieval request of the tree structure. If the images are collected through the image collecting unit(110), a control unit(155) stores tree information including the images together to be capable of retrieving images of the tree structure.

Description

Image management method of mobile communication terminal and its device {METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING IMAGES OF MOBILE TERMINAL}

1A and 1B illustrate screen examples of an image display method of a general mobile communication terminal;

2 is a schematic block diagram of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3A and 3B are diagrams showing examples of information required for image management of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of storing an image of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating an image display method of a mobile communication terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a flowchart illustrating an image display method of a mobile communication terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

7A to 7D are screen examples of an image display method of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly, to an image management method and apparatus for a mobile communication terminal.

With the development of mobile communication technology and the widespread use of mobile communication terminals, mobile communication terminals can support various functions (for example, text transmission, image transmission, etc.) in addition to telephone call functions. For this reason, a mobile communication terminal equipped with a camera (aka camera-phone) has been developed and distributed.

The mobile communication terminal compresses the photographed image, generates an image file including a title, a photographing date, and time information, and stores the image file in the internal memory. At this time, the mobile communication terminal may create a folder based on user input information and store / manage the image file in a desired folder.

The stored image is displayed on the screen of the mobile communication terminal by a user's search request. In this case, the mobile communication terminal typically displays a list of titles in order of creation time of image files or displays a list of images in a preview form.

1A and 1B illustrate screen examples of an image display method of a general mobile communication terminal. In particular, FIGS. 1A and 1B show an example of a method of displaying images stored in a specific folder (eg, 'best'). FIG. 1A shows an example of a screen in which image files included in the folder are displayed, but only image information is displayed in a 3 * 3 arrangement in a preview form, and FIG. 1B shows image files included in the folder, but the image An example of a screen displaying file information (title, file size, and shooting date) in the form of a list with image information is shown.

The conventional image display method simply displays image files stored in the mobile communication terminal in title or time order. Therefore, the conventional image display method could not represent the correlation between each image.

In order to solve this problem, a method of managing image files in a folder structure has been proposed in the related art, but in this case, the image files in the folder are displayed in the order of title or chronological order, so that the association between the images cannot be intuitively conveyed. There was a downside.

An object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide an image management method and apparatus for a mobile communication terminal that can intuitively transfer the association between image files stored in the mobile communication terminal to the user.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an image management method and apparatus for a mobile communication terminal that allows users to conveniently manage image files stored in the mobile communication terminal.

In order to achieve the above object, a mobile communication terminal provided by the present invention includes an image collecting unit for collecting image data; A tree information storage unit for storing tree information generated to manage image data collected through the image collection unit; An image information storage unit which stores image information for managing the image collected through the image collection unit; A tree generator for generating display information of a tree structure using information stored in the tree information storage unit and the image information storage unit in response to a tree structure image search request; And a controller configured to control to store the tree information including the image so that the image search of the tree structure with respect to the image is possible when the image is collected through the image collecting unit.

The tree information storage unit may include: a tree name field for storing information for identifying a corresponding tree; And a root node information field for storing root node information of the tree.

The image information storage unit may include an image identification number field for identifying a corresponding image; An image file name field for storing a name of the image file; An image file creation date field for storing creation date and time information of the corresponding image file; An image file size field for storing size information of the image file; A decoded data field for storing decoded data of the corresponding image file; A tree name field for storing a name of a tree including the image file; And a parent node information field for storing information of nodes existing above the image in the tree structure including the image.

In addition, the tree generating unit searches for names of trees registered in the mobile communication terminal from the tree information storage unit in response to an image search request of a tree structure, detects root node information of each of the trees, and stores the image information. It is preferable to generate a tree by detecting images having the same tree name as the detected tree name from the unit and then rearranging the detected images based on the parent node information.

When the image is collected, the controller first checks whether the image is to be managed in a tree structure, and then receives the tree information including the image for the image to be managed in the tree structure and stores the tree information together.

The controller may be configured to store a tree information including the tree name and parent node information by receiving a tree name to be included in the image and parent node information of the image.

Meanwhile, in order to achieve the above object, an image management method of a mobile communication terminal provided by the present invention includes: a first storing process of receiving an image and storing the image with the image file information; A first confirmation step of confirming whether to manage the image file as a tree; An input process of receiving tree configuration information on a corresponding image when the image file is to be managed as a tree; And a second storing step of storing the input information as tree information of the corresponding image.

At this time, the input process preferably receives the name of the tree to include the image and the parent node information of the image.

The method may further include: verifying an image display form in response to an image display request stored in the mobile communication terminal; A detection process of detecting previously stored tree configuration information when an image display form of the second structure is selected; And generating a photo display form of the tree structure based on the tree configuration information, and then displaying the photo information of the tree structure. It is preferable to generate the photo display form of the tree structure by rearranging the images including the tree configuration information based on the parent node information of the image, and then display the photo information of the tree structure.

The method may further include a first display process of displaying previously stored images in a list form in response to an image display request stored in the mobile communication terminal; A change request process for requesting to change the display form of the images into a tree form; A detection process of detecting previously stored tree configuration information; And a second display process of generating a photo display form of a tree structure based on the tree configuration information, and displaying the photo information of the tree structure, wherein the second display process is a tree input in the input process. It is preferable to generate the photo display form of the tree structure by rearranging the images including the tree configuration information based on the name and parent node information of the image, and then display the photo information of the tree structure.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. At this time, it should be noted that the same elements in the accompanying drawings are represented by the same reference numerals wherever possible. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

2 is a schematic block diagram of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the mobile communication terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a keypad unit 105, an image collecting unit 110, a memory unit 115, a tree information storage unit 120, and image information storage. The unit 125, the tree generating unit 130, the wireless communication unit 135, the display unit 140, the speaker unit 145, the microphone unit 150, and the controller 155 are included.

The keypad unit 105 provides an interface with a user to input a user's manipulation signal for controlling the operation of the mobile communication terminal 100. In particular, the keypad 105 receives a user's manipulation signal for image collection (eg, photographing) and image retrieval and transmits it to the controller 155.

The image collector 110 collects image data. For example, the image collector 110 collects image data in response to a user's manipulation signal input through the keypad 105. To this end, the image collecting unit 110 preferably includes a camera lens.

The memory unit 115 stores information related to the operation of the mobile communication terminal 100 (for example, a drive program for system driving control, data related to the program, a phone book, an address book, a short message, etc.).

The tree information storage unit 120 stores tree information generated to manage an image stored in the mobile communication terminal 100. The present invention manages the images in a tree structure so that the association between the image files stored in the mobile communication terminal can be intuitively transmitted to the users. The tree information storage unit 120 stores the tree information. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of storing such tree information, and shows an example of a database (DB) structure for storing the tree information. Referring to FIG. 3A, the tree information management DB 200 includes a tree name 210 / root node information 220 field. The tree name field 210 stores information for identifying the tree, and the root node information field 220 stores root node information of the tree. In this case, it is preferable that the root node information stores an image identification number constituting the root node of the tree.

The image information storage unit 125 stores the images collected through the image collecting unit 110. That is, image information for managing the image data is stored. 3B is a diagram showing an example of storing such image information, and shows an example of a database (DB) structure for storing image information. Referring to FIG. 3B, the image information management DB 300 may include an image identification number 310 / image file name 320 / image file creation date 330 / image file size 340 / decoding data 350 / tree name. (360) / parent node information (370) field.

The image identification number field 310 stores information for identifying the image, the image file name field 320 stores the name of the image file, and the image file creation date field 330 generates the image file. Storing date and time information, the image file size field 340 stores the size information of the corresponding image file, and the decoding data field 350 stores the decoded data of the corresponding image file.

On the other hand, the tree name field 360 stores the name of the tree when the image is included in the tree, and the parent node information field 370 of the node existing above the image in the tree structure including the image. Save the information. In particular, the parent node information field 370 preferably stores an identification number of an image existing in an upper node of the image.

The tree generator 130 generates a tree by an image search request having a tree structure. To this end, the tree generation unit 130 generates a tree to be displayed on the display unit 140 based on the information stored in the tree information storage unit 120 and the image information storage unit 125. For example, when an image search request having a tree structure is input through the keypad 105, the tree generator 130 is controlled by the controller 155 from the tree information storage unit 120 and the mobile communication terminal 100. Searches for the name of the tree registered in, and detects the root node information of the tree. That is, the image identification number constituting the root node of the tree is detected. The tree may be generated by detecting images having the same tree name as the detected tree name from the image information storage unit 125 and rearranging the detected images based on the parent node information.

The wireless communication unit 135 provides a communication interface through a wireless network. For example, it controls data communication through a wireless network.

The display 140 outputs an image signal under the control of the controller 155. In particular, when the image search request of the tree structure is input from the user, the display unit 140 displays the images stored in the mobile communication terminal 100 in a tree structure. For example, the display 140 displays the tree generated by the tree generator 130 in response to the search request.

The speaker unit 145 outputs a sound signal under the control of the controller 155, and the microphone unit 150 collects a surrounding sound signal (eg, a user's voice) and transmits the sound signal to the controller 155.

The controller 155 controls the mobile communication terminal 100 based on a signal input through the keypad 105 or an operation program previously stored in the memory 115. In particular, the controller 155 controls the mobile communication terminal 100 to display image search information of the tree structure when the image search of the tree structure is requested through the keypad 105.

For example, when a search for an image of a tree structure is requested through the keypad 105, the controller 155 detects tree information (eg, tree name and root node information) from the tree information storage unit 120, and image information. The tree generator 130 is controlled to generate a tree by detecting the image information included in the tree from the storage 125. The display unit 140 is controlled to display the tree generation result.

In addition, when the image is collected through the image collecting unit 110, the control unit 155 preferably stores the tree information including the image so that the image of the tree structure can be searched. To this end, when the image is collected, the controller 155 receives a tree name to include the image and parent node information of the image from the user, and stores the image information including the tree information in the image information storage unit 125. This is preferred. In this case, when the parent node information is an identification number for the current image, the current image is preferably stored as a root node of a new tree.

On the other hand, the controller 155 preferably performs the process after confirming whether to manage the collected image in a tree structure. That is, when the user does not manage the image in a tree structure, it is preferable to store only the corresponding image information and not store the tree information of the image. To this end, when the image is input, the controller 155 confirms with the user whether to perform a tree search on the image and stores the tree information together only when the user selects to perform a search on the tree structure. Do.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of storing an image of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 4 illustrates a method in which the mobile communication terminal takes a picture in a picture taking mode and stores the picture. Referring to FIG. 4, an image storing method of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

First, when the picture taking is completed in the picture taking mode (S205) (S210), the mobile communication terminal displays a message for confirming whether or not to store the taken picture (S215). When the user selects the storage of the corresponding picture through the displayed message (S220), the mobile communication terminal requests input of a file name (S225).

When the user inputs a file name in response to the request (S230), the mobile communication terminal stores the corresponding picture (S235). In this case, the mobile communication terminal preferably stores the file name, the picture taking time information, and the picture file size information input by the user together with the corresponding picture information.

In addition, the mobile communication terminal displays a message for confirming whether or not to configure the picture as a tree (S240). If the user selects that the picture is organized into a tree through the displayed message (S245), the mobile communication terminal requests input of tree configuration information for the picture (S250). For example, the mobile communication terminal requests 'name of the tree' to include the picture and 'parent node information' of the picture.

In response to the request (S250), when the user inputs tree configuration information for the corresponding picture (S255), the mobile communication terminal stores the tree configuration information (S260). For example, the mobile communication terminal preferably receives a 'tree name' and 'parent node information' of the picture from the user and stores the information. At this time, if the 'parent node information' is the identification number for the current picture, it is preferable to save the current picture as the root node of the new tree. The storage example of the input picture at this time is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3A.

5 and 6 are flowcharts illustrating an image display method of a mobile communication terminal according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. That is, the processes illustrated for displaying an image stored in the mobile communication terminal on the screen through the process illustrated in FIG. 4 are illustrated.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of displaying an image of a mobile communication terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows an example of displaying an image in a selected form after checking a display form before displaying an image.

Referring to FIG. 5, if a picture display is requested while the mobile communication terminal is operating in a photo display mode (S305), the mobile communication terminal checks the display form (S315).

If the user selects a list form as a result of the check (S315), the mobile communication terminal detects the picture list and the preview information (S320) and displays the picture list based on the information (S325). To this end, the mobile communication terminal preferably stores preview information (eg, photo reduction screen information, photo file information, etc.) in advance. An example of a photo display in the form of a list is as illustrated in FIG. 7A.

On the other hand, if the user selects a tree form as a result of the checking (S315), the mobile communication terminal detects previously stored tree configuration information (S330), and generates a photo display form of the tree structure based on the tree configuration information, and then the tree structure. Photo information is displayed (S335). At this time, the tree configuration information is preferably information registered in advance by the user when the picture is stored by the processing as illustrated in the example of FIG. An example of a tree-shaped photographic display is also illustrated in FIG. 7C.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an image display method of a mobile communication terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the case where a user requests display of a tree structure after displaying an image in a list form, the image is converted into a tree structure. An example of the case of making display is shown.

Referring to FIG. 6, when a mobile terminal is operating in a photo display mode (S405) and a photo display is requested (S410), the mobile terminal detects previously stored photo lists and preview information (S415) based on the information. The picture list is displayed (S420). To this end, the mobile communication terminal preferably stores preview information (eg, photo reduction screen information, photo file information, etc.) in advance. An example of a photo display in the form of a list is as illustrated in FIG. 7A.

When the user requests the display of the tree structure photo in the state in which the photos in the form of a list are displayed (S425), the mobile communication terminal detects the stored tree configuration information (S430) and then displays the tree structure information based on the tree configuration information. After generating the picture display form, the picture information of the tree structure is displayed (S335). At this time, the tree configuration information is preferably information registered in advance by the user when the picture is stored by the processing as illustrated in the example of FIG. An example of a tree-shaped photographic display is also illustrated in FIG. 7C.

7A to 7D are screen examples of an image display method of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A shows an example of an image display in a list form, FIG. 7B shows an example of a menu configuration for changing the display form into a tree structure while displaying images in a list form, and FIG. 7C is illustrated in FIG. 7B. An example of displaying an image in a tree form when a tree-shaped image display is selected through a menu as shown in FIG. 7D illustrates an example of enlarged display of one image selected on the screen of FIG. 7C.

7A to 7C sequentially illustrate an example of a process of displaying an image according to the second embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 6.

That is, referring to FIGS. 6 to 7C, when the mobile communication terminal requesting the display of the photo displays the previously stored photo information in the form of a list in step S410, the screen of the mobile communication terminal is as illustrated in FIG. 7A. In addition, when the user performs a menu operation to change the display form on the screen as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the screen of the mobile communication terminal is changed as illustrated in FIG. 7B. Meanwhile, when the user selects a tree structure in the screen as illustrated in FIG. 7B (S425), the screen of the mobile communication terminal is changed as illustrated in FIG. 7C.

In the above, specific preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention attached to the claims. .

The present invention as described above, when collecting the image (for example, photo, etc.) using a mobile communication terminal to store the tree configuration information to manage the image in a tree structure, and when the request to search for the image configuration of the tree Image information is displayed with reference to the information. Therefore, the present invention has an advantage that the association between the image files stored in the mobile communication terminal can be intuitively delivered to the users. Therefore, the present invention has an effect that users can more conveniently manage image files stored in the mobile communication terminal.

Claims (15)

In the mobile communication terminal, An image collecting unit collecting image data; A tree information storage unit for storing tree information generated to manage image data collected through the image collection unit; An image information storage unit which stores image information for managing the image collected through the image collection unit; A tree generator for generating display information of a tree structure using information stored in the tree information storage unit and the image information storage unit in response to a tree structure image search request; And And a control unit that controls to store the tree information including the image so that image search of a tree structure of the image is possible when the image is collected through the image collecting unit. The method of claim 1, wherein the tree information storage unit A tree name field for storing information for identifying the tree; And And a root node information field for storing root node information of the tree. The method of claim 2, wherein the root node information field is Mobile communication terminal, characterized in that for storing the image identification number constituting the root node of the tree. The method of claim 1, wherein the image information storage unit An image identification number field for identifying the image; An image file name field for storing a name of the image file; An image file creation date field for storing creation date and time information of the corresponding image file; An image file size field for storing size information of the image file; A decoded data field for storing decoded data of the corresponding image file; A tree name field for storing a name of a tree including the image file; And And a parent node information field for storing information of a node located above the image in a tree structure including the corresponding image. The method of claim 4, wherein the parent node information field is And storing the identification number of the image existing in the upper node of the image. The method of claim 4, wherein the parent node information field is When generating a new tree with the image as the root node, the mobile terminal, characterized in that for storing the identification number of the current image. The method of claim 1, wherein the tree generation unit After retrieving the names of the trees registered in the mobile communication terminal from the tree information storage unit in response to the image search request of the tree structure, the root node information of each of the trees is detected, and the detected information from the image information storage unit is detected. And detecting an image having a tree name identical to a tree name, and generating the tree by rearranging the detected images based on the parent node information. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit And when the image is collected, first check whether the image is managed in a tree structure, and then receive tree information including the image for the image to be managed in the tree structure and store the tree information together. The method of claim 8, wherein the control unit And receiving a tree name including the image and parent node information of the image and storing tree information including the tree name and parent node information. In the image management method of the mobile communication terminal, A first storing step of receiving an image and storing the image file together with the image file information; A first confirmation step of confirming whether to manage the image file as a tree; An input process of receiving tree configuration information on a corresponding image when the image file is to be managed as a tree; And And a second storing step of storing the input information as tree information of the corresponding image. The method of claim 10, wherein the input process The image management method of the mobile terminal, characterized in that for receiving the name of the tree to include the image and the parent node information of the image. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein A second checking step of checking an image display form in response to an image display request stored in the mobile communication terminal; A detection process of detecting previously stored tree configuration information when an image display form of the second structure is selected; And And generating a picture display form having a tree structure based on the tree configuration information, and displaying the picture information of the tree structure. The method of claim 12, wherein the display process Based on the name of the tree input in the input process and the parent node information of the image, the image including the tree configuration information is rearranged to generate a photo display form of the tree structure and then display the photo information of the tree structure. Image management method of a mobile communication terminal. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein A first display step of displaying previously stored images in a list form in response to an image display request stored in the mobile communication terminal; A change request process for requesting to change the display form of the images into a tree form; A detection process of detecting previously stored tree configuration information; And And generating a photo display form of a tree structure based on the tree configuration information, and then displaying a second display process of displaying the photo information of the tree structure. The method of claim 14, wherein the second display process is performed. Based on the name of the tree input in the input process and the parent node information of the image, the image including the tree configuration information is rearranged to generate a photo display form of the tree structure and then display the photo information of the tree structure. Image management method of a mobile communication terminal.

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