JP2005033267A - Method for converting still picture into moving picture - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for converting still picture data with a high aspect ratio into digital data of a moving picture without losing the image quality. <P>SOLUTION: An image with a prescribed width is segmented from a still picture 1 whose aspect ratio is 16:9 or over, for example, at the segmentation interval of n pixels in a lateral direction of the still picture. The segmented image is used for one moving picture frame and the same frames are generated for the portion of an optional frame rate. The frame for the portion of the frame rate is repetitively generated by n pixels each in the lateral direction of the still picture. Thereafter the generated frames are continuously reproduced at a prescribed time interval. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a still image moving image conversion method, and in particular, an application program to be installed on a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”), an embedded device that handles still images and moving images (digital camera, camcorder, image browsing device, etc.) ) Still image moving image conversion method applicable to the technical field.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional still image moving image conversion method, QuickTime VR technology is known among QuickTime, which is software technology of Apple Computer in the United States, as a technology with user interaction. This is a technique for dynamically moving still images, and no moving image data is generated.
Further, for example, a technology is known from the patent publication in which a still image is based on a plurality of still images, the plurality of still images are compressed by MPEG-2, and the moving image is browsed by a transfer means (see FIG. For example, refer to Document 1.)
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-116606
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the conventional still image moving image conversion method, generally, a technique for converting a still image into a moving image is based on a still image of about 4: 3 or 16: 9. For this reason, there has been a problem that it is very inconvenient for PC users since a technique for converting a still image having an aspect ratio higher than that into a moving image to be converted has not yet been developed.
[0005]
Further, in the prior art, as a means of viewing a still image having an extremely different aspect ratio (for example, a horizontally long panoramic still image of 480 pixels vertically and 3000 pixels horizontally) with an embedded device such as a personal computer. The only resolution is to match the original still image resolution to the display system (for example, resolution VGA size, SVGA size) and to reduce it to the display system resolution size, so the image resolution drops and you do not know what is reflected There was a problem.
[0006]
That is, the above-described technology for converting a still image having an extremely different aspect ratio into a moving image on a PC as a conversion target has not been realized with any current large graphics engine. However, there is a problem that only a method of sliding and viewing a still image using a slider bar or a method of reducing the size of the image itself can be used.
[0007]
Further, as a specific example, since a display panel is about 4 inches in a PC-embedded device (for example, a digital camera), the image resolution is only about 640 × 480 pixels to 800 × 600 pixels. There is no. Therefore, even if the shape image data or image file having a large aspect ratio as described above is created inside another camera device used by the user (for example, a conventional silver halide photography camera), However, there is a problem that no means is provided for displaying it on the display device of the PC or on another digital display device via the PC.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and can convert still image data having a large aspect ratio into digital data that has been converted into moving images without losing image quality, and can be viewed. It aims to provide a video conversion method.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a still image moving image conversion method for converting a still image having either a long width or a long width into a moving image, and in the longitudinal direction of the still image, An image cutout step for cutting out an image from the still image with a predetermined width at predetermined intervals from the end, and an image cut out by the image cutout step as one moving image frame, and the same moving image frame as the moving image frame Frame rate generating step for generating an arbitrary frame rate, a moving image generating step for repeating the frame rate generating step by the number of images cut out by the image cutting step, and a frame generated by the moving image generating step And an image reproduction step for continuously reproducing the image at predetermined intervals.
[0010]
With this configuration, it is possible to animate a still image having a ratio between the horizontal width and the vertical width of the still image of 1 or more without degrading the image quality, and to animate the still image into a moving image. As a result, the user can automatically view the moving image data of the still image, and can also view the video after stopping at the desired location.
[0011]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that a still image having an aspect ratio or aspect ratio larger than 16/9 is converted into a moving image.
[0012]
With this configuration, the image quality is reduced even for a still image in which the ratio of the horizontal width to the vertical width of the still image is extremely large, that is, a still image having an aspect ratio or an aspect ratio of 16: 9 or more. It becomes possible to animate without having to.
[0013]
The predetermined interval when the still image is cut out is 1 to 20 pixels.
[0014]
With this configuration, a moving image converted from a still image can be reproduced with an arbitrary motion, and can be reproduced smoothly.
[0015]
Further, the present invention is a still image moving image conversion method for converting a still image having a larger image resolution than the moving image image resolution into a moving image compared with either one of the horizontal width direction or the vertical width direction, An image cutout step for cutting out an image in an area of an arbitrary size from an arbitrary point of a still image, and an image cut out by the image cutout step as one moving image frame, and the same moving image frame as the moving image frame is arbitrarily set A frame rate generation step for generating only the frame rate, a moving image generation step for repeating the frame rate generation step by the number of images cut out by the image cutout step, and a frame generated by the moving image generation step. And an image reproduction step of continuously reproducing at intervals of.
[0016]
With this configuration, it is possible to arbitrarily set the size (region) of the image to be cut out (and thus can be appropriately reduced), so that trimming is partially performed at an arbitrary cutting position. As a result, even for a still image captured (captured) with a digital camera, it is possible to provide an effect as if it were captured while moving the camera.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a still image moving image conversion method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a specific example of a still image moving image conversion method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0019]
FIG. 1A shows how a frame is cut out when a moving image file is created with an image resolution of 4: 3 that matches the vertical direction of the original still image. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a part of an original still image (that is, a still image to be converted into a moving image file from now on). Reference numeral 2 denotes an interval at which a still image is cut out (hereinafter referred to as “cutout interval”). This cutout interval gives a unit of a time axis when the horizontal direction of a still image is cut out by n pixels. Become.
[0020]
FIG. 1B shows a method of cutting out a still image to be a moving image at intervals of n pixels in the horizontal direction of the original still image. If the image resolution of the portion indicated by reference numeral 1 is 480 pixels in the vertical direction and 3000 pixels in the horizontal direction, for example, in FIG. 1 (b), n = 2 and 640 pixels are obtained for every 2 pixels in the horizontal direction. A still image for moving image indicated by reference numeral 3 is cut out in the width direction (image cutout step).
Next, the clipped image is set as one moving image frame, and the same moving image frame as the moving image frame is generated for an arbitrary frame rate (frame rate generating step).
[0021]
Further, the generation of moving image frames corresponding to the frame rate is repeated by the number of the extracted moving image still images (moving image generation step).
Finally, the generated moving image frame is continuously reproduced at a predetermined interval (image reproduction step).
In the present embodiment, the still image is cut out from the left end toward the right end, but conversely, the still image can be cut out from the right end toward the left end.
[0022]
For example, a 640 × 480 pixel still image cut out at every 2 pixel cut-off interval in the horizontal direction is drawn at 5 frames per second, as shown by frames 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Then, the reproduction time when this is converted into a moving image of a 3000 × 480 pixel still image can be calculated by the following equation (1). However, in the expression (1), the size (unit: pixel) in the direction in which the original image is cut out is x, the time (unit: second) for reproducing the frame cut out at the frame interval n (unit: pixel) is t2, and the final Let t be the playback time (unit: seconds).
[0023]
t = (x / n) × t2 (1)
[0024]
For example, substituting x = 3000, n = 2, and t2 = 0.3 into the equation (1) yields t = (3000/2) × 0.3 = 450. In other words, a moving image with a final playback time t of 450 seconds (7 minutes and 30 seconds) and a frame rate of 5 frames / second is generated.
[0025]
[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a specific example of the still image moving image conversion method according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The specific example shown in FIG. 2 shows a still image cutout method to be a moving image when the resolution in the vertical direction is extremely large compared to the horizontal direction of the original still image.
[0026]
The concept of the method for clipping a still image to be a moving image is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, but the vertical resolution is extremely large in the specific example shown in FIG. A still image to be a moving image is cut out (image cutout step).
[0027]
Next, the clipped image is set as one moving image frame, and the same moving image frame as the moving image frame is generated for an arbitrary frame rate (frame rate generating step). Further, the generation of moving image frames corresponding to the frame rate is repeated by the number of the extracted moving image still images (moving image generation step). Finally, the generated moving image frame is continuously reproduced at a predetermined interval (image reproduction step).
In the present embodiment, the still image is cut out from the upper end to the lower end direction, but conversely, the still image can be cut out from the lower end to the upper end direction.
[0028]
[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another specific example of the still image moving image conversion method according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The specific example shown in FIG. 3 shows a clipping method when the image resolution (number of pixels) of the original still image compared in either the horizontal width direction or the vertical direction is larger than that of the moving image.
[0029]
As indicated by reference numeral 9, a still image to be a moving image is cut out at an arbitrary point of the original still image and at an arbitrary size (region) (image cutout step). As a result, it is possible to make it appear as if such a scene was taken using a camera. Reference numeral 10 denotes a trajectory connecting the cut points in this case.
[0030]
Next, the clipped image is set as one moving image frame, and the same moving image frame as the moving image frame is generated for an arbitrary frame rate (frame rate generating step). Further, the generation of moving image frames corresponding to the frame rate is repeated by the number of the extracted moving image still images (moving image generation step). Finally, the generated moving image frame is continuously reproduced at a predetermined interval (image reproduction step).
[0031]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure viewed in the data flow of the still image moving image conversion method according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the processing procedure viewed in the data flow of the still image moving image conversion method according to the present embodiment will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. 4.
[0032]
First, various parameters necessary for moving images are set (step S1). These parameters include the frame rate, the cut-out interval (number of pixels) when cutting out a still image to be converted into a moving image, and the designation of the image resolution of the moving image (vertical and horizontal).
[0033]
Next, the value set in step S1 is passed to the conversion engine, and still image data is input (step S1). Next, the setting value (image resolution of the moving image) set in step S1 is compared with the original image data (resolution) (step S3). When it is verified that the width of the original image is smaller than the width of the moving image or the height of the original image is smaller than the height of the moving image (step S4), the setting of the resolution of the moving image is performed again (step S4). S5). Also, it is verified that the width of the original image is the same as the width and height of the moving image, or the width and height of the original image are both the width and height of the moving image. Is verified (step S5), the process proceeds to step S7.
[0034]
In step S7, the horizontal width or vertical width of the original image is compared with the horizontal width or vertical width of the corresponding moving image. If both the horizontal width and vertical width of the original image are larger than the horizontal width and vertical width of the moving image, the process proceeds to step S8. If the width of the original image is larger than the width of the moving image × 16/9, the process proceeds to step S10. Furthermore, when the vertical width of the original image is larger than the vertical width of the moving image × 16/9, the process proceeds to step S12.
[0035]
In step S8, frame creation processing is performed in both the horizontal and vertical directions of the original image, and then a moving image file is generated or data is transferred (step S9). In this case, it coincides with the specific example shown in FIG. 3, and the position (point) to be cut out can be arbitrarily set anywhere within the range of the original image.
[0036]
In step S10, frame creation processing is performed using the horizontal direction of the original image (longitudinal direction of the original image) as a time axis, and then generation of a moving image file or data transfer processing is performed (step S11). This case corresponds to the specific example shown in FIG.
[0037]
In step S12, a frame creation process is performed with the vertical width direction (longitudinal direction of the original image) of the original image as a time axis, and then a moving image file is generated or a data transfer process is performed (step S13). This case corresponds to the specific example shown in FIG.
[0038]
Note that the present invention is an invention of a method for converting a still image into a moving image, and therefore description of the moving image file format is omitted.
[0039]
Further, at least a part of the processing method according to the present invention is executed by computer control, and the program for causing the computer to execute the above processing according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. You may store and distribute in computer-readable recording media, such as CD-ROM and a magnetic tape. A computer including at least a microcomputer, a personal computer, and a general-purpose computer may read the program from the recording medium and execute the program.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the still image moving image conversion method of the present invention, for example, a still image whose aspect ratio or aspect ratio is 16: 9 or more is converted into a moving image without degrading image quality. It becomes possible. Further, even a still image having an extremely large aspect ratio can be converted into a moving image without degrading the image quality. Also, by converting the still image into a moving image, the user can automatically view the moving image data of the still image, and can also view the moving image after stopping at the desired position.
[0041]
In addition, a moving image converted from a still image can be reproduced with an arbitrary motion, and can be reproduced smoothly. Furthermore, since it is possible to arbitrarily set the size (area) of the image to be cut out (and thus can be appropriately reduced), trimming can be performed partially at an arbitrary cutting position, As a result, it is possible to provide an effect as if the image was taken while moving the camera, even for a still image captured (captured) by the digital camera.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a specific example of a still image moving image conversion method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another specific example of the still image moving image conversion method according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another specific example of the still image moving image conversion method according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure viewed in the data flow of the still image moving image conversion method according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Original still image part 2 Still image clipping interval 3 Still image for moving image

Claims (4)

A still image moving image conversion method that converts a still image having either a long width or a long width into a moving image,
In the longitudinal direction of the still image, an image cutout step of cutting an image with a predetermined width from the still image at predetermined intervals from one end;
A frame rate generating step for generating the same moving image frame as the moving image frame for an arbitrary frame rate with the image cut out in the image cutting step as one moving image frame;
A moving image generation step that repeats the frame rate generation step by the number of images cut out by the image cutout step;
An image reproduction step of continuously reproducing the frames generated by the moving image generation step at a predetermined interval;
A method for converting a still image into a moving image. 2. The still image moving image conversion method according to claim 1, wherein a still image having an aspect ratio or an aspect ratio larger than 16/9 is converted into a moving image. 3. The still image moving image conversion method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined interval when the still image is cut out is 1 to 20 pixels. A still image moving image conversion method for converting a still image whose image resolution compared in either the horizontal width direction or the vertical width direction is larger than the image resolution of the moving image into a moving image,
An image cutout step of cutting out an image in an area of an arbitrary size from an arbitrary point of the still image;
A frame rate generating step for generating the same moving image frame as the moving image frame for an arbitrary frame rate with the image cut out in the image cutting step as one moving image frame;
A moving image generation step that repeats the frame rate generation step by the number of images cut out by the image cutout step;
An image reproduction step of continuously reproducing the frames generated by the moving image generation step at a predetermined interval;
A method for converting a still image into a moving image.

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