JPS6392181A - Picture information storing and retrieving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently store and retrieve a picture by applying a marking to plural specific pictures selected from the plural pictures, storing and initially staring a retrieval from the specific picture based on the marking. CONSTITUTION:A storing means (a) applies the marking to the specific plural specific pictures (representative picture) selected from the plural pictures and stores together with the selecting information of the specific picture. In a retrieving means (b), the retrieval is initially started from the specific picture based on the marking, and a picture (slave picture) subordinate to the specific picture detected by the retrieval is outputted. In such a way, the branch structure of the representative picture and the slave picture is associated and stored to retrieve, so that a desired picture can be easily extracted with an extremely simple operation.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image information storage and retrieval device, and in particular, it stores image information such as still images on a television in a storage means such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk, and then stores it as needed. The present invention relates to an image information storage and retrieval device that can search and read out a desired image at any time.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in this type of image information storage and retrieval device, when storing an image, characteristic data of the image, such as date, person's name, or data generally called keywords such as a summary of the content, is stored. At the same time, the images are manually memorized, and when searching, the keyword data is used to narrow down the search to a few images and output and display them, and the user then looks at those output images and searches for the desired image. A keyword search method is generally used.

Various proposals have been made regarding such keyword search methods, and for example, one that outputs and displays a two-dimensional map has recently been proposed. Also, when extracting images after narrowing down by keyword, 6
Recently, a two-layer extraction method has become popular, in which 16 pixels of an image are projected at once, and the target object is selected from the projected image.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, a common feature of all of these conventional devices is that when recording an image, a large amount of keyword data information must be input manually at the same time. This point may not necessarily place a heavy burden on image information storage and retrieval devices when they are used for business purposes such as offices or factories, but when used for home use, If keyword data were to be entered manually using a character keyboard, it would be a completely unnecessary hassle, and even if various measures were taken to enter the keyword data, it would be extremely troublesome and troublesome for the user. This has a serious drawback of being impractical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention provides an image information storage and retrieval device that eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks, makes it possible to efficiently store and retrieve images with extremely simple operations, and is especially suitable for home and personal use. The purpose is to

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a storage means for marking and storing a plurality of specific images selected from a plurality of images, and a storage means for marking and storing a plurality of specific images selected from a plurality of images; The present invention is characterized by comprising a search means for starting a search from a specific image.

[Effect]

In the present invention, since the branch structure of the representative image and the child image is stored and searched, the desired image can be easily extracted with an extremely simple operation, and there is no need to input special data when storing the image. This provides an extremely easy-to-use image information storage and retrieval device that is particularly suitable for home use.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a is a storage means that marks and stores a plurality of specific images (representative surface images) selected from a plurality of images. b is a search means that first starts a search from a specific image based on the marking. The storage means a can store the marking and selection information of the specific image at the same time. Furthermore, the search means can output images (child images) that are subordinate to the specific image extracted by the search.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, 11 is an input/output interface for outputting image information to and from an external device, and 12 is an input/output interface that is previously stored in an internal memory (FIGS. 5 and 7(A)).

A controller (control device, 13 is a controller 12/7-1!1) that performs control operations for storing and retrieving image information and keyword data according to the control procedure shown in (B)
．． 11 store first nM2 hand a pasted H+a) rainy h a t
This is a monitor, such as a CRT display, that outputs and displays information etc. from the Lffi device.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a printer, such as an inkjet printer or a laser beam printer, which records the image read from the storage device 14 on a recording medium such as paper. Storage device 1
As the storage device 4, various storage devices such as an optical disk device or a magnetic disk device can be used.

16 is a small handy type remote controller (remote control device) that remotely controls the controller 12;
Various operating instructions and data are output via the display and keyboard. Signals are transmitted and received between the remote controller 16 and the controller 12 via infrared rays, radio waves, weak ultrasonic waves, and the like.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the arrangement of the remote controller 16 described above. In FIG. 3, 21 is a display panel for displaying operation instruction messages from the controller 12, and for example, a liquid crystal is used. Reference numerals 22 to 32 represent a group of function keys (button switches) for performing manual operations necessary for storing and retrieving images. 22 is the human key, 123 is the representative image key, 24 is the child image key, 25 is the print key, 26 is the search key, 27 is the index key, 28 is the representative image key, 2g is the date key, 30 is NEXT 31 is a sequential key, and 32 is a selection key.

33 to 36 are keys for inputting the year, month, day, and time; 37 to 36 are keys for inputting the year, month, day, and time;
40. 42 to 44. 48 to 49 are tension keys for inputting numbers, 41 is a clear key, and 45 is an all clear key. Further, the image position from A to P can be performed using keys 33 to 48.

For example, if you take a still video camera on a trip or the like and record still images, at least 10 images per trip or event, and at most 10 images per trip or event.
00 images, on average about 20 to 30 images, and these images are divided into, for example, 100 images per desk.
Usually, images are recorded on a storage device such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk that has an image capacity of about 0, and retrieved when desired. In this way, when used at home or by an old person, it is not desirable to input a lot of keyword information at the same time when storing an image. On the other hand, for example, if a maximum of 5x4 = 20 images are displayed at once on one screen of the monitor 13, it is necessary to closely observe the screen of the monitor 13 on which the 20 pictures are displayed approximately 50 times. However, as described above, if a still video or the like is used as an input source, there will be 20 to 30 images of the same event.

Therefore, in this embodiment, 11 representative images for one event or trip are selected using the representative image key 23.
In the first search, first select "desired representative surface image from representative surface images" using the date key, etc., and in the second search, select the desired representative surface image from among the representative surface images. Since a large number of images of a group connected to the representative plane image are simultaneously outputted on one screen of the monitor 13, it is possible to search extremely efficiently by linking with human senses and memory.

FIG. 4 shows the state of grouping (grooving) in the above-mentioned search.

As a result, in the first search, one image is selected from approximately 30 to 50 still images, and the user selects the desired image from among approximately 20 to 50 still images that are related to the selected image. can be extracted. Human memory is interconnected and has strong associative power.

For this reason, when you look at one representative face image, you can instantly recall the situation at that time, and you can immediately tell whether what you are looking for belongs to that image, making it possible to search extremely efficiently. In particular, efficiency is good if the representative surface image is selected appropriately. Also, for this level of operation, 4x4 = 4x4 per screen at one time
Since about 16 images are sufficient, a more easily viewable display is also possible.

FIG. 5 shows the control procedure of the controller 12 during manual operation such as marking (memory), and FIG. 6 shows the operation procedure of the user during manual operation.

The operation of the input operation will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6. Note that P1 to P16 are the program steps of the controller 12, and the video source of an external device (for example, a still video player) connected to the input terminal (not shown) of the input/output interface 11 is the "input" of the remote controller 16. ” key 22 is pressed (
51, Pi) displayed on the monitor 13 (S2.P2
1.

The still video player is operated to display an image desired as a representative image on the monitor 13 (S3.P2). Thereafter, when the "representative surface image" key 23 on the remote controller 16 is pressed (SR, P3), that image is registered and stored in the storage device 14 as a new representative surface image (P6). After this, a message “Enter the date, month, and year” appears on the display panel 21.
(P7), enter the date on which the representative image was taken or the date you wish to remember (S7.P8.P9). Next, r
The message "Please manually create the next screen" appears on the display panel 21.
(PIO), so the still video player is switched to another image (S8.pH).

This time, when you press the "child image" switch 24 (510, P
i2), the image displayed on monitor 13 is the one recorded earlier.
(+R child image 1 that yields to the actual image A91 is automatically registered and stored in the storage device 14 (PI3). From here on, this operation is repeated until there are no more child images (Sll, PI
3. PlB). Until a new "representative image" key 2 is input (PI3) or the AC (all clear) key 45 is pressed (512, PIB), the "child image" key 24 is displayed as a child image belonging to the representative image. The pressed image is registered in the storage device 14.

Also, immediately after pressing the AC key 45 (512, PlB)
, or the first time after the power is turned on, you can only input from the "representative image", and if you try to start input from the "r child image" (5
4, P4), the memorization operation is not performed, and a warning sound "bleep" indicating an incorrect operation is emitted, and at the same time, the message "Incorrect operation" and the comment "Please set the representative image first" are displayed on the display panel. 21 (S5°P5).

Note that when the image is manually recorded as described above, a code indicating the location where the image was recorded can be displayed on the monitor 13.

Figures 7(A) and 7(B) show the controller 12 at the time of search.
FIG. 8 shows the user's operating procedure at the time of search.

Next, operations at the time of searching will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7(A) and 8(B) and FIG. Here, P21 to P50 indicate program steps of the controller 12, and T1 to T23 indicate operation steps of the user.

When you press the search key 25 on the remote controller 16 (T
1, P21), a search state is entered, and a "Searching" message appears on the monitor 13 (P22).

On the display panel 21 of the remote controller 16, a comment message ``Please select between ``index'' and ``representative surface image'' 1 appears (T2.P23).

After that, if you press the "Index" key 27 (T3.P
24) Image information can be directly selected by inputting codes "0" to "9" on the numeric keys 37-40, 42-44, and 46-48 (T4.P25). The correspondence between this code and the image can be checked when it is stored, so if the user records it in advance in a memo or the like, direct selection will be possible.

On the other hand, if you select the "representative surface image" key 28 (T5.P2O)
, then choose between "year, month, day" or "sequential".

This instruction is also displayed on the display panel 21 (T6.P27). Select "year, month, day" with key 29 (T7.P28), then use keys 33 to 48 to input the approximate date of when the image you want to see was recorded (T8.P28). )
. For example, enter the key manually as [Once].

Where "0" is included, it indicates that the details are not known. Based on this human power information, representative images are displayed on the monitor 13 in the order of closest to the specified date (T9, P31, P
32). At this time, (4×4=)16 screens are displayed on the monitor.

If the desired screen is not among the 16 screens displayed (T12), press the r NXETJ key 30 (
T13°P35). If the desired screen is found on the display screen, the user presses the "select" key 32 (T14.P34). When the selection key 32 is pressed, the message "Please select one of rA-P" is displayed on the display plate 21 (
P42).

In other words, the keys 33 to 48 will correspond mathematically to the 16 screens on the 13 monitors at that point.For example, if you want the top right representative screen, press the D key 36 (T15). .P2O). Then, on the monitor screen 36, 16 images of that group are displayed at once from the upper left to the upper right in the order in which they were recorded, with the representative plane image placed at the upper left. (T16.P41). If you don't see the one you want on that screen (T17), press rNEXTJ key 307
1B, P44), press the "select" key 32 when there is one piece you want (T21.P43). r NEXTJ key 3
Even if you go too far through the desired images by inputting 0, you can return to the original screen by roughly pressing the rNEXTJ key 30 at the end of the group of images (T22.P46). When inputting the "selection" key 32, select one of the A-P keys 33 to 48.
When the user presses one key (T22.P48), one image desired by the user is displayed on the monitor 13 (T23.P48).
49).

In addition, an output terminal (not shown) of the input/output interface 11
The image signal of the selected image is output. Regardless of the state of use, pressing the "Print" key 25 will cause an interrupt, and the image currently displayed on the monitor 13 can be output to the printer 15 and printed on a recording medium. can.

Now, if you press key 31 in sequence instead of "year, month, day" (TI
O, P29), the 16 representative plane images are displayed on the monitor 13 from the upper left to the lower right in the order in which they were recorded (Tll.

P2O). The next step is to manually select either the r NEXTJ key 30 (T13.P35) or the selection key 32 (T14.P34), and in the case of the above-mentioned "year, month, and day" selection. It is similar to

Note that "C" on the remote controller 16 in FIG.
(Clear) key 41 is a key that corrects only one command or data that is being input when this key is pressed manually, and rAcJ (all clear) key 45
is a key to preset to the initial state.

Furthermore, although the remote controller 16 described above cannot perform functions such as erasing or editing a specific screen,
Such advanced functions can be executed by operating the controller 12 side of the main body.

In addition, if the user realizes that the selection method of the representative image was incorrect after selecting one representative image, the user may press the "all clear" key 45 manually. P2O), the "representative plane image" key 28 may be rekeyed manually (P2O, P45).

In the present embodiment described above, data on the year, month, and day for the representative image are simultaneously recorded in order to facilitate the search, but it is not necessary to record any keyword data such as date data. Of course, data such as a person's name or title may be recorded instead of the date. In addition, when one representative surface image is insufficient, the first representative surface image, the second representative surface image, etc.
It is also possible to create a multi-level structure such as ・to better correspond to the memory of the human brain and make searching easier. Also,
In this embodiment, a still video is taken as an example of the target image, and one representative image is configured for one event, but in addition to this case, for example, in the case of a design drawing file It can be applied to various tasks, such as turning a "floor plan" into a "representative image."

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in the present invention, since the branch structure association between the representative surface image and the child image is stored and searched,
To obtain an extremely easy-to-use image information storage and retrieval device which is particularly suitable for home use and which allows a desired image to be easily extracted by an extremely simple operation and requires almost no special data input when storing the image.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the remote controller in FIG. 2; Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the grouping configuration of the embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure during manual operation of the embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 6 is the operation during manual operation of the embodiment of the invention. Flowchart Showing Procedure, Flowchart Showing Order, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure at the time of search according to the embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12... Controller, 13... Monitor, 14... Storage device, 15... Printer, 16... Remote controller, 21... Display plate, 22-48... Key. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the stem and structure of the Tora-ta-bao-i row.Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the cost of the Tora-ta-bao-i row.Fig. 3rd picture of the flat entrance showing the house? Existing 11th official book (method) February 2, 1986

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) a) storage means for marking and storing a plurality of specific images selected from a plurality of images, and b) first starting a search from the specific image based on the marking. 1. An image information storage and retrieval device characterized by comprising: a retrieval means for; 2) The image information storage and retrieval device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means stores selection information for the specific image at the same time as the marking. 3) An image information storage and retrieval device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the retrieval means sequentially outputs images dependent on the specific image extracted by the retrieval.