JP2000099758A - Image processor, image processing method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To automate individual processing of remaining images when one of a plurality of images to be processed is deleted according to attribute information of a header. SOLUTION: A user selects an image to be deleted from a list (S1). The header of the selected image file is read (S2), and the presence or absence of a paired image is checked (S3). If there is a paired image (S3), the selected image is deleted (S4). Thereafter, the header of the file of the paired image is opened, the column of the paired image name is blank, and the panorama / 3D identifier name is also blank. And save (S5), and the process ends. If there is no paired image (S3), the image selected in S1 is deleted and the process ends (S6).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for handling a plurality of images, and a storage medium for storing program software for executing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A technique for simultaneously synthesizing a plurality of images having common attribute information is known. For example, an apparatus or software that forms a high-definition panoramic image with a wide angle of view by connecting a plurality of images in a two-dimensional direction is known. According to this, it is possible to obtain a high quality image in a wide angle of view range while using a low distortion imaging optical system. In order to realize a panoramic image from a moving image, it is necessary to detect a seam of each component image in real time and to synthesize a plurality of images. In some cases, it is necessary to scale each image.

Further, a stereoscopic image can be viewed by stereoscopically viewing two images by utilizing the fact that parallax is generated between images from two viewpoints arranged in parallel on the left and right.
A method of displaying on a direct-view stereoscopic display without glasses,
There is a method of switching and displaying left and right images using liquid crystal shutter glasses. In the former method, for example, it is necessary to alternately arrange two left and right images for each line of a frame on a display using a lenticular lens or the like and synthesize them. In the latter method, the left and right images are displayed on one screen. It is necessary to perform a process of switching to the display.

As described above, a composite image such as a panoramic image or a stereoscopic image needs to simultaneously process a plurality of constituent images.

[0005]

However, no special processing has been performed on the remaining images obtained by processing at least one or more arbitrary images in a set of image groups. Therefore, when it is desired to perform the same processing on the entire composite image such as a panoramic image or a stereoscopic image, it is necessary to select and process each of the images constituting the composite image. Will be larger.

For example, when erasing a group of images once created from a storage medium, the user must perform an erasing operation for the number of images. Further, when one component image constituting the stereoscopic image is deleted, it is necessary to change the attribute of the other component image so as not to perform the stereoscopic vision.

In other words, when a set of images is to be handled integrally, when an arbitrary image is selected and subjected to processing such as erasure, appropriate processing is performed on the remaining images by the user's own operation. It has to be performed, and an extremely complicated operation has been required.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and method and a storage medium which eliminate such troubles.

The present invention is also directed to an image processing apparatus and method for automatically erasing the remaining images when an arbitrary one of a group of images handled as one is erased, and The purpose is to present a storage medium.

[0010]

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information. When the first image information of the image information is excluded from the target of the certain processing, the information indicating the first image information is deleted from the attribute information of the remaining image information.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information. When the first image information is deleted from the target of the certain processing, the remaining image information is also deleted.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information. When the first image information is deleted from the target of the certain processing, the user selects whether to delete the remaining image information or to delete the information indicating the first image information from the attribute information of the remaining image information. And the remaining image information is processed according to the selection.

According to the image processing method of the present invention, when the first image information of a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information is excluded from the target of the predetermined process, The information indicating the first image information is deleted from the attribute information of the remaining image information.

[0014] The image processing method according to the present invention also includes the step of deleting the first image information of a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a certain process by predetermined attribute information from a target of the certain process. In addition, the remaining image information is also deleted.

[0015] The image processing method according to the present invention may further comprise the step of deleting the first image information of a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information from an object of the predetermined process. In addition, it is possible to select whether to delete the remaining image information or to delete the information indicating the first image information from the attribute information of the remaining image information, and process the remaining image information according to the selection. It is characterized by the following.

In the storage medium according to the present invention, program software for executing the above-described image processing method is stored in an externally readable manner.

[0017]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, each of a plurality of images constituting a composite image is added with attribute information indicating that the images constitute the composite image. In response to an erasing operation of any image, new attribute information is automatically set for the remaining images.

The image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment basically comprises a computer. 12, a storage device for storing a plurality of images and various programs and data;
PU, 16 is a memory, 18 is an image processing circuit, 20 is a parallel interface, 22 is a user interface, 24 is a display control circuit, 26 is a VRAM, 28 is a monitor display (hereinafter referred to as a monitor), and 30 is C.
It is a PU bus. Note that an electronic still camera or a video camera may be included. The monitor 28 includes a CRT monitor or a liquid crystal monitor. The CPU 14 controls the storage device 12
And reads the program stored therein, and controls each unit according to the program.

The image stored in the storage device 12 is displayed on the monitor 2
8 will be described. The image data stored in the storage device 12 is read and transferred to the memory 16 via the CPU bus 30. The image processing circuit 18 performs processing such as left-right difference correction (for stereoscopic viewing) on the memory 16.
The display control circuit 24 converts the image data on the memory 16 into a VR
The data is taken into the AM 26 and displayed on the monitor 28. The user interface 22 is used by a user to input various instructions to the CPU 14. It is also possible to display an image fetched from outside via the parallel interface 16 on the screen of the monitor 26, and the basic operation is the same.

It is assumed that a pair of left and right image data files constituting a stereoscopic image are stored in the storage device 12. This image data may be imaged by a camera, created by computer graphics, or may be a combination of both. Here, it is assumed that the image is captured by a compound-eye camera.

FIG. 2 shows a storage format in the storage device 12, that is, a file name and an attribute. In FIG. 2, the basic file name is "IMAGE1", and "_R" is added to the right image and "_L" is added to the left image to indicate that it is a component of a common stereoscopic image. However, the file name itself is not limited to this. As the extension, a file indicating the image file format (bmp indicating the bitmap format in FIG. 2) is used. The file format is not limited to a bitmap.

Therefore, the image files “IMAGE1_R.bmp” and “IMAGE1_
L. bmp ”is stored. In the present embodiment, the image file“ IMAGE1_R. bmp ”,“ IMAGE1_
L. bmp ”is one image file“ IMAGE1_R.bmp ”to indicate that it is a set of images for stereoscopic viewing.
bmp ”has a paired image file name“ IM ”
AGE1_L. bmp ”and panorama / 3D identifier name P1
_R, and the other image file “IMAGE1_
L. bmp "has a paired image file name"
IMAGE1_R. bmp ”and panorama 3D identifier name P
1_L is stored. The header may include not only the file name of the paired image but also information unique to the image such as the size of the file of the paired image and the update date and time.

For reference, image file for 2D "
IMAGE2. Fig. 2 shows bmp "and its attribute information. Since the image file is for 2D, both the paired image name and the panorama / 3D identification name are blank in the header.

When three or more images are grouped as in the case of panorama synthesis, it is complicated to include all the file names of the remaining constituent images in the header, and the storage area cannot be secured. There is a character string such as a panorama 3D identifier name, which is obtained by adding each identification character to a common character string different from the file name (for example, P
1_R, P1_L). As a result, management independent of the file name becomes possible, and the user can identify the same set of images even when the file name is individually changed. If there are three or more image files, “_1”, “_2” and “_3”
What is necessary is just to add a character string like this.

Each image file is added with the creation date and time of the image file. This is recorded in the directory entry of the storage device 12. FIG. 3 shows the structure of the directory entry in the storage device 12. The directory entry includes a file name column, an extension column, an attribute information column, and a top cluster column of a file stored in the storage device 12. Such a structure is well known. In the first cluster column, the first cluster in the FAT of each file is 16
It is illustrated in hexadecimal.

Next, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, an image file "IMAGE1" constituting a stereoscopic image is displayed.
_R. bmp "and" IMAGE1_L. First, a file manager for displaying the file name of the viewer software of the present embodiment is started. Thus, all the files stored in the storage device 12 are activated. Is displayed.
The user uses the user interface 22 to select a file to be deleted (S1). For example, assume that the file “IMAGE1_L.bmp” is selected as an erasure target.

The selected file "IMAGE1_L.
bmp "is read (S2), and the presence or absence of a paired image is checked (S3). In the example shown in FIG. 2, the paired image name" IMAGE1_R. bmp ", the image file" IMAGE1_
R. It is checked whether "bmp" exists.

If there is a pair image (S3), the file "IMAGE1_L.bmp" to be deleted is displayed while displaying the pair image name "IMAGE1_R.bmp".
Is erased (S4). Thereafter, the header of the file "IMAGE1_R.bmp", which was the paired image, is opened, the column for the paired image name is blank, and the panorama / 3D identifier name is blank, and the process is terminated (S5). Image file "IM"
AGE1_R. bmp ”is a pair image“ IMAGE1_L. bmp "has been erased,
This is because it is necessary to be treated as two pieces of 2D image data.

Assume that the image file “IMAGE1_R.
If the header information of “bmp” is left as it is, the viewer software executes the image file “IMAGE1”.
_R. bmp ”is transferred to the image file“ IMAGE1_L. b
mp "and the image file" IMA "to be always processed for stereoscopic viewing and to be paired during playback.
GE1_L. bmp ", which starts the search process and causes the image file" I
MAGE1_R. bmp ”does not already exist in the storage device 12 (S3), the image file“ IMAGE1_L.
bmp "is erased and the process ends (S6).

In this way, the two-dimensional image constituting the stereoscopic image 2
If one of the two image files is deleted, the attribute information for the stereoscopic image is deleted from the remaining image files, so that the remaining image files can be handled as normal 2D images.

Although a stereoscopic image has been described as an example, basically the same processing may be applied to a panoramic composite image in which three or more images are composited. In other words, when any one image file is deleted, the association with the deleted image is deleted from the header of the remaining image file, so that the remaining image file or image file group is unrelated to the deleted image file. Can be.

The remaining constituent images can be searched using the date and time when the image data was created. Storage device 12
May be removable such as a flash memory card.

In this embodiment, when one image constituting the composite image is deleted, all the remaining images can be automatically deleted. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the operation.

A file manager for displaying a file name of the viewer software is started. Thereby, the file names of all the files stored in the storage device 12 are displayed, and the user can use the user interface 2
2, a file to be deleted is selected (S11).
For example, assume that the file “IMAGE1_L.bmp” is selected as an erasure target.

The selected file "IMAGE1_L.
bmp "is read (S12), and the presence or absence of a paired image is checked (S13). If there is a paired image (S13), the paired image name" IMAGE1 "
_R. bmp "while displaying the file" I
MAGE1_L. bmp ”is deleted (S14), and then the file“ IMAGE1_R. bm
p "is also erased (S15), and the process ends.

The paired image file "IMAGE1_
R. bmp "does not already exist in the storage device 12 (S
13), the image file “IMAGE1_L.bmp” is deleted, and the process ends (S16).

As described above, when at least one of a plurality of images including attribute information common to each other is erased, all the remaining images are erased, so that labor can be saved.

It is preferable that the user can arbitrarily select the processing shown in FIG. 4 and the processing shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the operation in which the deletion of the pair image or the change of the header of the pair image can be selected immediately before. Here, four image files “IMAGE1.bmp”, “IMAG1.bmp”
E2. bmp "," IMAGE3. bmp ”and“ IM ”
AGE4. bmp "are a set.

The viewer software of this embodiment
When the file manager for displaying the file names is started, the file names of all the files stored in the storage device 12 are displayed, and the user operates the user interface 2.
2, the file to be deleted is selected (S21).
For example, suppose that the file “IMAGE1.bmp” is selected as a deletion target.

The selected file “IMAGE1.bm”
The header of "p" is read (S22), and the presence or absence of an image forming a set is checked (S23). bmp "," IMAGE3. bm
p "and" IMAGE4. bmp ".

If there is a set of images (S2
3) Delete the file "IMAGE1.bmp" to be deleted (S24), and display the file "IMAGE1.bmp" to be deleted on the screen of the monitor 28 as shown in FIG.
Is displayed, a list of image files forming a set is displayed, and the user is prompted to select whether to delete the set image or change the header of the set image (S25). When the user selects to delete the set image (S25), the set image files “IMAGE2.bmp” and “IMAGE3.bm”
p "and" IMAGE4. bmp ”(S2
6), end. When the user selects “leave” (S25), the set image file “IMAGE2.bm”
p "," IMAGE3. bmp "and" IMAGE4.
In each header of “bmp”, the column of the pair image name is blank, and the panorama / 3D identifier name is also blank, and saved (S27).
finish. In the latter case, the remaining image file "IMAG
E2. bmp "," IMAGE3. bmp ”and“ IM ”
AGE4. bmp "is hereinafter treated as an independent image.

If the image file to be set does not exist in the storage device 12 (S23), the image file "I
MAGE1. bmp "is erased and the process is terminated (S28).

In this way, the user can select the processing of the constituent image as needed. Note that the processing for the remaining set images is not limited to the mode described with reference to FIG. For example, after arbitrarily erasing one image, the remaining images are grouped one by one or divided into arbitrary numbers, and the attribute information is changed in each group, or the image file is deleted for each group. May be.

FIG. 6 is directed to a panoramic image, but it is apparent that the present invention can be applied to a stereoscopic image.

In each of the above embodiments, the attribute information about the image to be paired is recorded in the header of each image file.
Another file (attribute information file) may be provided, and detailed information about the image to be paired may be recorded therein, and the name of this attribute information file may be recorded in the header of each image file. .

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or to an apparatus constituted by a single device.

Further, in order to operate various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment, software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is installed in a computer in an apparatus or a system connected to the various devices. The present invention also includes a case in which a program (code) is supplied and a computer (CPU or MPU) of the apparatus or system is operated by operating the various devices according to stored programs.

In this case, the program code itself of the software implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example,
A storage medium storing such a program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) or other operating system running on the computer. Even when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized in cooperation with application software and the like, it goes without saying that such program codes are included in the embodiments of the invention according to the present application.

Further, the supplied program code is
After being stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs one of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing all or part of the processes and executing the processing is also included in the invention according to the present application.

[0052]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, one image is deleted from a plurality of images having common attribute information so as to be a certain processing object. Sometimes, the remaining images are automatically erased,
Alternatively, since the common attribute information is changed, it becomes easy to manage the remaining images when one image of such a set of images is deleted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a file stored in a storage device 12 and an example of attribute information thereof.

FIG. 3 is a directory entry example of the file example shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an erase operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a second erase operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a third erase operation according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an example of a display screen in S25 of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Image processing device 12: Storage device 14: CPU 16: Memory 18: Image processing circuit 20: Parallel interface 22: User interface 24: Display control circuit 26: VRAM 28: Monitor display 30: CPU bus

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Katsuhiko Mori 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 5B050 BA06 BA09 CA04 DA07 EA17 EA19 FA19 5C062 AA01 AB20 AB23 AB42 AC06 AC22 AC23 AC24 AC58 AF06 AF13 AF14 BA00

Claims (18)

[Claims] An image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a certain process by predetermined attribute information, wherein the first image information of the plurality of pieces of image information is An image processing apparatus characterized in that, when excluded from processing targets, information indicating the first image information is deleted from the attribute information of the remaining image information. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing of excluding the first image information from the plurality of pieces of image information from a target of the predetermined processing is erasing. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein new information for processing the remaining image information is set as the attribute information of the remaining image information. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information is included in a file name of the image information. 5. An image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a certain processing by predetermined attribute information, wherein the first image information of the plurality of pieces of image information is converted to the certain image information. An image processing apparatus characterized in that, when an image is deleted from a processing target, the remaining image information is also deleted. 6. An image processing apparatus for processing a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a certain processing by predetermined attribute information, wherein the first image information among the plurality of pieces of image information is converted to the certain image information. When erasing from the target of processing, it is possible to select whether to delete the remaining image information or to delete the information indicating the first image information from the attribute information of the remaining image information. An image processing apparatus for processing remaining image information. 7. When the first image information of a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a certain process by predetermined attribute information is excluded from the target of the certain process, the remaining image information An image processing method, wherein information indicating the first image information is deleted from the attribute information. 8. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein the processing of excluding the first image information of the plurality of pieces of image information from the target of the predetermined processing is erasing. 9. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein new information for processing the remaining image information is set as the attribute information of the remaining image information. 10. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein the attribute information is included in a file name of the image information. 11. The first of a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information.
When image information is deleted from the target of the certain processing,
An image processing method characterized by erasing remaining image information. 12. The first of a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information.
When image information is deleted from the target of the certain processing,
It is possible to select whether to delete the remaining image information or to delete the information indicating the first image information from the attribute information of the remaining image information, and to process the remaining image information according to the selection. Characteristic image processing method. 13. The first of a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information.
When the image information is excluded from the target of the certain processing, the program / software for executing the image processing method for deleting the information indicating the first image information from the attribute information of the remaining image information can be externally read. A storage medium characterized by being stored in the storage medium 14. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the processing of excluding the first image information of the plurality of pieces of image information from the target of the certain processing is erasing. 15. The attribute information of the remaining image information includes:
14. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein new information is set to process the remaining image information. 16. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the attribute information is included in a file name of the image information. 17. The first of a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information.
When image information is deleted from the target of the certain processing,
A storage medium for storing program software for executing an image processing method for erasing remaining image information so as to be externally readable. 18. The first of a plurality of pieces of image information linked to each other for a predetermined process by predetermined attribute information.
When image information is deleted from the target of the certain processing,
Image processing for deleting the remaining image information or deleting the information indicating the first image information from the attribute information of the remaining image information, and processing the remaining image information according to the selection. A storage medium for storing program software for executing the method in an externally readable manner.