JP2003303211A - Image display control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relatively easily find a desirable image. <P>SOLUTION: Images whose photographing times are close to each other are regarded as the same scene, and a time table page PC1 including a time table 30 expressing scenes 31, 32 and 33 and a scene representative image page PC2 including representative images 61, 62, and 63 for every scene are displayed on a display screen. When the scene or the scene representative image is clicked, an album page displaying the images stored in a corresponding scene folder is displayed. The desired image can be thus found by specifying the scene. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image display control device.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As a method for searching a desired image from a large number of frames, there is a method in which a large number of thumbnail images are displayed on a display screen and a user can select a desired image from the displayed large number of thumbnail images. . An image similar to the selected thumbnail image is found in the image database and displayed on the display screen. The user again selects a desired image, and an image similar to the selected image is searched for. Such processing is repeated until the desired image is found.

However, in searching for a desired image in this way, it takes time to search for an image,
The user also takes a lot of trouble.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to find a desired image relatively easily.

The image display control apparatus according to the present invention reads the image data representing the images of a large number of frames from the image database, and classifies the images of the large number of frames represented by the image data read by the reading unit by shooting time. By the classification means, the time table including the photographing times in order of time, and the graph (graph showing the number of frames of the image) corresponding to the images included in the classified photographing times, and the image data read by the reading means. It is characterized by further comprising first display control means for controlling the display device so as to display a representative image of the images of a large number of frames displayed on the display screen in correspondence with the time table.

A method suitable for the image display control device may be provided. That is, the method reads image data representing images of a large number of frames from an image database, classifies images of a large number of frames represented by the read image data by photographing time, shows the photographing times in order of time, and is classified. A time table including a graph corresponding to an image included in a shooting time and a representative image of a large number of frames of images represented by the read image data are displayed on the display screen corresponding to the time table.

According to the present invention, the time table is displayed. The classified shooting times are shown in order of time, and a graph corresponding to the images included in the classified shooting times is included. Therefore, by looking at the time table, the shooting history of images can be almost understood. Since the shooting history is known, it is easy to find the desired image. In addition, since the representative image of the images of many frames represented by the read image data is also displayed,
You can also understand what images are stored in the image database.

The first display control means displays the representative image among the images classified by the time table and the photographing time on the display screen corresponding to the time table, for example. Is to control.

Since the representative image is displayed for each image classified by shooting time, it is possible to confirm what kind of image is included in the images classified by each shooting time. .

By selecting means for selecting the representative image and selecting the representative image by the selecting means,
A second display control means for controlling the display device so as to display the images classified by the shooting time on the display screen may be further provided.

When a representative image close to the image to be searched for is found and selected, images classified according to the photographing time are displayed corresponding to the selected representative image. It's easier to find the image you want to find.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image display control device.

The overall operation of the image display control device is the CPU
It is supervised by 2.

The image display control device includes an image database 4 in which image files representing a large number of images are stored. In the image file, shooting date / time data indicating the shooting date / time is recorded in the header recording area of the file.

Output signals from the input device 3 such as a keyboard and a mouse are input to the CPU 2. From the input device 3,
Signals representing various commands are output.

A memory 1 for temporarily storing image data representing an image displayed on the display screen of the display device 6 and other data is also connected to the CPU 2. Display device 6
The display control device 5 controls the display of images in FIG.

The image display device according to this embodiment creates a virtual album and creates a virtual album.
The desired image can be found in the album.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure for creating a virtual album.

Image pickup date and time data of the image is read from the image file stored in the image database 4 (step 11). The images are arranged in the order of the shooting date and time represented by the read shooting date and time data. Images with a shooting interval of less than 24 hours are determined to be related and are stored in a specific album folder. If the shooting interval exceeds 24 hours, the images are stored in another album folder as unrelated. When the shooting interval exceeds 24 hours, the images are separated, and an album folder is created in which the images for each separation are stored (step 12).

When the album folder is created, a representative image is determined from the images stored for each album folder (step 13). Normally,
The first image taken in the images stored in the album folder will be the representative image. Needless to say, the other image may be used as the representative image instead of the first captured image. For example, the user may browse all the images stored in the album folder and the representative image may be determined by the user.

All the images stored in the album folder are again arranged in the order of shooting. Images whose shooting interval is less than one hour are judged to belong to the same scene and are stored in the scene folder. If the shooting interval exceeds one hour, the images are stored in another scene folder as different scenes. When the shooting interval exceeds one hour, the scenes are divided, and a scene folder in which an image for each scene is stored is created (step 14).

When the scene folders are created, the image taken first among the images stored in the respective scene folders, like the album folders, is determined as the representative image (step 15). ). Similarly to the case of the album folder, in the case of the scene folder, the image taken first may not be the representative image, but other images may be the representative images.

The scene folder storing the image created in this way is stored in the corresponding album folder.

Thereafter, data representing a time table showing shooting history for each album and for each scene is created (step 16). The time table is a graph showing when an image of each scene was captured (see FIG. 6 described later).

FIG. 3 shows the directory structure of the virtual album.

When the virtual album is created as described above, a directory (associating images, scene folders, and album folders) is constructed.

An original virtual album folder has been created. The above-mentioned album folders (album folder names: album 1 to album 9) are stored in the virtual album folder.
Scene folders (scene folder names 1, 2, 3, etc.) are stored in the respective album folders. Images (images 1, 2, 3, etc.) are stored in the scene folder. Of the images stored in the respective scene folders, the image taken first is the representative image.

With such a directory structure, it is possible to find the lowermost layer image from the upper directory (folder).

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure when browsing (image retrieval) a virtual album. 5 to 7 are examples of images displayed on the display screen of the display device 6.

When a virtual album browsing command is input from the input device 3, the display screen of the display device 6 is displayed as shown in FIG.
The album list shown in is displayed (step 21).
The album list contains the albums stored in the virtual album folder created as described above.
The icons showing folders are displayed in a list.
Icons showing folders from album 1 to album 9 are displayed. The shape of the album folder icon is determined so that the thickness is different according to the number of frames of the images stored in the album folder. The album folder icon has a shape in which the thickness of the album looks thick when the number of frames of the image is large, and the thickness of the album looks thin when the number of frames of the image is small. You can see at a glance whether the number of frames of images stored in the album folder is large or small.

On the surface of the album folder icon, a representative image of the images stored in each album folder and the shooting period of the stored image are displayed. By looking at the representative image and the shooting period, it is possible to estimate the image stored in the album folder.

A cursor C operated by a mouse is also displayed on the display screen of the display device 6.

To find the desired image, the album folder icon that may contain the desired image is clicked. Then, the corresponding album is selected (YES in step 22), and the table of contents of the album specified by the clicked album icon is displayed on the display screen (step 23). In this embodiment, it is assumed that the album folder icon of album 7 is clicked.

Referring to FIG. 6, the table of contents of the album includes a time table page P1 and a scene representative image page P2.
And are included.

On the time table page P1, time tables 30, 40 and 50 are displayed for each shooting date of the images stored in the selected album folder. All timetables 30, 40 and 50 are 1
It represents a day (actual activity time is from 6 am to 12 pm, so the left end would be 6:00 am and the right end would be 12:00 pm), and from left to right It indicates that time has passed. The hatched scenes (graphs) 31, 32 and 33, 41, 42 and 43 and 51 and 52 in the time tables 30, 40 and 50 show the shooting times in the respective scenes. Further, the width of the scene indicates the number of frames of the image stored in the corresponding scene folder. The wider the width, the larger the number of image frames, and the narrower the width, the smaller the number of image frames.

The time table 30 shows the photographing time of the image photographed on January 22, 2002. time·
The table 30 includes scenes 31, 32 and 33. Scene 30 indicates that it is a shooting scene from around 7:30 am to around 9:00 am. The scene 31 indicates that it is a shooting scene from about 12:00 am to about 2:00 pm. Scene 32 indicates that it is a shooting scene from about 6 pm to about 9:30 pm. Similarly, the timetable 40 is scene 4
Shows that there are three scenes 1, 42 and 43 on January 23, 2002, timetable 50 shows scenes 51 and 52
Shows that there are two scenes on January 24, 2002.

By looking at the time table 30, 40 or 50, it is possible to know when the image of the shooting scene is stored in the selected album folder.

On the scene representative image page P2, scene representative image display areas 60, 70 and 80 are provided in the time table 30,
It is formed corresponding to 40 and 50. In each of these scene representative image display areas 60, 70 and 80, a scene representative image is displayed corresponding to the scene. Scene representative images 61, 62 and 63 are displayed in the scene image display area 60 corresponding to the scenes 31, 32 and 33 of the time table 30. Similarly, scenes 41 and 42 of timetable 40
And 43, scene representative images 71, 72 and 73 are displayed in the scene image display area 70, and the time table 50
Scene image display area 80 corresponding to scenes 51 and 52 of
Scene representative images 81 and 82 are displayed in.

The contents of each scene can be understood by looking at the scene representative image.

By clicking on a scene represented in the time table displayed on the time table page PC1 or a scene representative image displayed on the scene representative image display page PC2, the corresponding scene folder is displayed. The album page on which the stored image is displayed is displayed on the display screen. You can enjoy the images displayed in the album as if you were flipping through the pages of an actual album.

Bookmarks 91, 92 and 93, bookmarks 101, 102 and 103 and bookmarks 111 and 112 are visible at the top of the scene representative image page PC2. These bookmarks also specify the scene. Bookmarks 91, 92 and 93
Identifies scenes 31, 32 and 33 respectively, and bookmarks 101, 102 and 103 are scenes 41, 42 and 43, respectively.
Bookmarks 111 and 112 specify scenes 51 and 52, respectively. The scene that corresponds even when these bookmarks are clicked
The page of the album in which the images stored in the folder are displayed will be displayed on the display screen. In the directory structure described above (see FIG. 2),
The data that identifies the bookmark corresponding to the folder will be stored.

Returning to FIG. 4, when the user selects a desired scene (YES in step 24), the album page displaying the images stored in the corresponding scene folder is displayed on the display screen. Displayed (step
twenty five).

FIG. 7 shows an example of the album page.

Images (images 1 to 4) stored in the selected scene folder are displayed on the album pages PA1 and PA2. album·
A corresponding bookmark 91 is also displayed on the upper right of page PA1. Furthermore, an arrow 121 clicked by the user when returning to the previous album page is displayed at the lower left of the album page PA1. When the arrow 121 is clicked, the image contained in the previous album page is displayed as if turning over one album mount and returning to the previous page. An arrow 122 clicked by the user when advancing to the next album page is displayed at the lower right of the album page PA2. As if the arrow 122 is clicked, it is as if
Flip through the album mounts and the next page will appear (Fig. 7
The next page of the album
Page PA4 is visible at one time). You can view the album by flipping over the mount of the actual album and search for the desired image.

It becomes possible to find out a desired image by borrowing the form of the virtual album.

The image display control device may be controlled by installing the program in the image display control device from a recording medium (CD-ROM or the like) recording the program for realizing the above-described processing. In that case, a driver (CD-
A ROM driver, etc.) would be provided in the image display controller.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image display control device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a virtual album.

FIG. 3 shows a directory structure of a virtual album folder.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for viewing a virtual album.

FIG. 5 is an example of an image displayed on a display screen.

FIG. 6 is an example of an image displayed on a display screen.

FIG. 7 is an example of an image displayed on a display screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 memory 2 CPU 3 input devices 4 Image database 5 Display control device 6 Display device 30, 40, 50 timetable 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, 51, 52 scenes 61, 62, 63, 71, 72, 73, 81, 82 Representative images PC1 timetable page PC2 scene representative image page

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06T 1/00 200 G06T 1/00 200E G09G 5/00 510 G09G 5/00 510M 530 530T 5/14 5 / 14 AF term (reference) 5B050 BA06 BA15 CA07 EA19 FA02 FA12 GA08 5B075 ND08 ND34 NR12 NS10 5C082 AA00 BA12 BB13 BB15 BB26 BB29 BB53 CA62 CA76 CA81 CB05 DA53 DA63 DA73 DA86 DA89 MM02 MM09

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A reading means for reading image data representing images of a large number of frames from an image database, a classifying means for classifying images of a large number of frames represented by the image data read by the reading means, and a photographing time. A time table including a graph corresponding to images included in classified shooting times in time order and a representative image of a large number of images represented by the image data read by the reading means corresponds to the time table. And an image display control device including first display control means for controlling the display device so as to display on the display screen. 2. The display device, wherein the first display control means displays a representative image among the images classified by the time table and the photographing time on a display screen corresponding to the time table. The image display control device according to claim 1, which controls the image display device. 3. The selection device for selecting the representative image, and the selection of the representative image by the selection device, controlling the display device so as to display the images classified by the photographing time on the display screen. The image display control device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a second display control means for performing the above.