JP2004038699A - Device for retrieving image database - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To find and display images other than images of a desired photographing year by retrieving the images. <P>SOLUTION: A retrieval window 30 is displayed on the display screen of a display device in an image database device. In circumferential planes of an operation body 31 of a decagonal cylinder, a front main circumferential plane 32 is the largest and other sub circumferential planes 33 to 36 are smaller. Photographing years are displayed in accordance with the main circumferential plane 32 and sub circumferential planes 33 to 36. Images 42 to 46 that correspond to photographing years are displayed on the circumferential planes 32 to 36. When a user wants images in the year of 2000, the user obtains images photographed in photographing years around the year of 2000 as well. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
【Technical field】
The present invention relates to an image database search device.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When extracting data stored in a database, keywords are often entered into the database. Data matching the entered keyword is extracted from the database. A user who is familiar with database operations can input an appropriate keyword, and can find desired data relatively easily. However, it is relatively difficult for a user unfamiliar with database operations to input an appropriate keyword, and finding desired data is often not easy.
[0003]
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to find data relatively easily.
[0004]
An image database search device according to the present invention includes a keyword specifying means for specifying a keyword for searching for image data stored in an image database, an image corresponding to a specified keyword specified by the keyword specifying means and a similar keyword similar to the specified keyword. The search means for searching the image database so as to search for data, and the image corresponding to the specified keyword is made larger than the image corresponding to the similar keyword, and is represented by the image data found by the search means A first display control means for controlling the display device so as to display an image is provided.
[0005]
You may make it provide the control method suitable for the image database search device by this invention. That is, this method specifies a keyword for searching for image data stored in the image database, searches the image database for image data corresponding to the specified keyword and a similar keyword similar to the specified keyword, and sets the specified keyword as the specified keyword. The corresponding image is made larger than the image corresponding to the similar keyword, and the image represented by the found image data is displayed on the display screen of the display device.
[0006]
According to the present invention, a keyword for finding a desired image is designated. Image data corresponding to the specified keyword is found from the image database. Further, not only image data corresponding to the specified keyword but also image data corresponding to a keyword similar to the specified keyword can be found from the image database. Both the image represented by the image data corresponding to the designated keyword and the image represented by the image data corresponding to the similar keyword are displayed on the display screen of the display device. Since not only the specified keyword but also image data corresponding to a keyword similar to the specified keyword can be found, the desired image data can be found even if the memory for finding the desired image data is not accurate.
[0007]
Since the image represented by the image data corresponding to the designated keyword is displayed larger than the image represented by the image data corresponding to the similar keyword, it is relatively easy to see.
[0008]
The first display control means may display one or a plurality of representative images on the display device. In this case, the representative image corresponding to the specified keyword is made larger than the image corresponding to the similar keyword, and the display device is controlled to display the image represented by the image data found by the search means. It will be. Further, representative image designating means for designating a representative image displayed on the display device, and a second control device for controlling the display device to display an image of a plurality of frames represented by the representative image designated by the representative image designating means. Two display control means will be provided.
[0009]
Even if a large number of images are found by searching, not all of the large number of images are displayed, but a representative image is displayed, so that it is easy to see and a desired image can be easily found.
[0010]
The first display control means displays, for example, an image represented on a peripheral surface of a column on the display device, and an image corresponding to the specified keyword on a main peripheral surface of the column peripheral surface. And the display device is controlled so as to be displayed larger than the image corresponding to the similar keyword on the sub-peripheral surface of the columnar peripheral surface.
[0011]
[Explanation of Examples]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image database apparatus.
[0012]
The overall operation of the image database apparatus is controlled by the CPU 2.
[0013]
The image database apparatus includes an image database 4 in which image files (image data) representing many images are stored. The image database 4 also stores data representing the characteristics of the image file corresponding to the stored image data. The characteristics of the image file include the shooting date (including the time) of the image, the average brightness of the image, the average saturation of the image, and the color ratio of the image.
[0014]
The input device 3 includes a keyboard and a mouse. A signal output from the input device 3, for example, a signal indicating that the cursor has been dragged, a signal indicating that the mouse has been clicked, or the like is input to the CPU 2.
[0015]
Also connected to the CPU 2 is a video random access memory (VRAM) 1 that temporarily stores image data representing an image displayed on the display screen of the display device 6. Display of images on the display device 6 is controlled by the display control device 5.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for selecting a representative image.
[0017]
As described above, the image database 4 stores a large number of image files representing images. A large number of image files are grouped in order of shooting date and time (step 11). When the image files are arranged in the order of shooting date and time, if the interval of shooting date and time is 24 hours or more, they are in different groups.
[0018]
Of the image files divided into groups, the image represented by the image file obtained by the first shooting for each group is set as the representative image of the group (step 12).
[0019]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the image database apparatus. 4 and 5 are examples of windows displayed on the display device of the image database device.
[0020]
When an image file is searched in the image database device, a search window 30 as shown in FIG. 4 is first displayed on the display screen of the display device 6 (step 20).
[0021]
In the search window 30 displayed first, an operation tool 31 is displayed at the top. The operating body 31 has a shape in which a decagonal column is placed horizontally. Of the ten peripheral surfaces of the decagonal column, five peripheral surfaces 32 to 36 are visible. Of these five peripheral surfaces 32 to 36, the central peripheral surface 32 is referred to as a main peripheral surface, and the other peripheral surfaces 33 to 36 are referred to as sub-peripheral surfaces. The area of the main peripheral surface 32 is the largest among the five peripheral surfaces 32 to 36. The areas of the sub-peripheral surfaces 34 and 35 adjacent above and below the main peripheral surface 32 are next to the area of the main peripheral surface 32. The area of the sub-peripheral surface 33 adjacent on the sub-peripheral surface 34 and the sub-peripheral surface 36 adjacent below the sub-peripheral surface 35 is the smallest of the peripheral surfaces 32 to 36.
[0022]
The shooting year is displayed on the left side of the peripheral surfaces 32 to 36 corresponding to these peripheral surfaces 32 to 36. An image file representing the representative images 42 to 46 of the images taken in the shooting year is found from the image database 4 and displayed on the corresponding peripheral surfaces 32 to 36. As described above, since the size of the peripheral surface is different, the size of the representative image is also different according to the size of the peripheral surface. The representative image 42 displayed on the main peripheral surface 32 is the largest, the representative images 44 and 45 displayed on the sub peripheral surfaces 34 and 35 are the next largest, and displayed on the sub peripheral surfaces 33 and 36. The representative images 43 and 46 to be displayed are the smallest.
[0023]
In the example shown in FIG. 4, the user is searching for an image of 2000, and “2000” is given to the image database device as a keyword (designated keyword). Nevertheless, similar keywords such as “1999”, “1998”, “2001” and “2002”, which are similar to the keyword “2000”, are given to the image database apparatus, and based on these similar keywords. The image is found by the search.
[0024]
The peripheral surfaces 32 to 36 are each divided into four regions. Four areas are defined for spring, summer, autumn and winter respectively. The representative image 41 is displayed in an area corresponding to any of the season in which the photographed season is spring (March to May), summer (June to August), autumn (September to November), or winter (November to February). Is displayed.
[0025]
The operation body 31 is displayed so as to rotate when dragged by the cursor C. When the operating body 31 is dragged (YES in step 21), the dragged amount (distance from the position where the cursor C is located to the dragged position) is detected (step 22). The rotation speed of the operation body 31 increases as the drag amount increases, and the rotation speed of the operation body 31 decreases as the drag amount decreases (step 23). The shooting year advances when the cursor C is dragged upward, and the shooting year returns when the cursor C is dragged downward. When the dragging of the cursor C is completed, a representative image corresponding to the shooting year is displayed in a corresponding area on the peripheral surface of the operation body 31.
[0026]
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when a representative image 42 of an image taken in 2000 is displayed on the main peripheral surface 32, if the operation tool 31 is slightly dragged upward, the sub peripheral surface It will be easily understood that 35 is the main peripheral surface, and the representative image of the image taken in 2001 is displayed in the largest size on the main peripheral surface.
[0027]
If the operating body 31 is not dragged (NO in step 21), it is confirmed whether any one of the representative images 42 to 46 displayed on the peripheral surface has been double-clicked (step 24). . When any one of the representative images is double-clicked, a thumbnail image display window 50 appears below the search window 30 as shown in FIG.
[0028]
In the thumbnail image display window 50, a large number of thumbnail image display frames 51 for displaying thumbnail images are displayed. On the right side of the thumbnail image display window 50, a scroll bar 52 is formed to scroll the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail image display window 50 by moving up and down. A first scroll button 53 is formed at the upper right of the thumbnail image display window 50, and a second scroll button 54 is formed at the lower right. When the first scroll button 53 is clicked, the thumbnail image displayed in the thumbnail image display window 50 is scrolled upward, and when the second scroll button 54 is clicked, a thumbnail image is displayed. The thumbnail image displayed in the window 50 is scrolled downward.
[0029]
If there is a double-clicked representative image (YES in step 24), thumbnail images of images belonging to the group of the double-clicked representative image are displayed in the thumbnail image display window 50 (step 25). When any one of the many thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail image display window 50 is double-clicked, an image file corresponding to the double-clicked thumbnail image is read from the image database 4. A new window appears on the display screen of the display device 6. The image represented by the read image file is displayed in a newly appearing window.
[0030]
Even when a designated keyword of 2000 is given by the user and an image corresponding to the given keyword is displayed, an image of a shooting year (similar keyword) close to 2000 can be displayed. Even if the shooting year is ambiguous, a desired image can be found. Further, since the size of the image corresponding to the keyword given by the user is larger than the size of the image corresponding to the keyword similar to the keyword, the image is easy to see.
[0031]
In the above-described embodiment, an image of the shooting year is found by searching using the shooting year as a keyword, but it goes without saying that other keywords may be used. For example, when a region is given as a designated keyword, an image corresponding to a region (similar keyword) close to the designated keyword can be displayed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image database apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a representative image selection processing procedure.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the image database apparatus.
FIG. 4 is an example of a search window.
FIG. 5 is an example of a search window.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 CPU
3 Input device 4 Image database 5 Display control device 6 Display device 31 Operating body 32 Main peripheral surface 33 to 36 Sub peripheral surface 42 to 46 Representative image 50 Thumbnail image display window

Claims (3)

Keyword specifying means for specifying a keyword for searching for image data stored in the image database;
Search means for searching an image database so as to search for image data corresponding to a specified keyword specified by the keyword specifying means and a similar keyword similar to the specified keyword, and an image corresponding to the specified keyword corresponding to the similar keyword First display control means for controlling the display device to display an image represented by the image data found by the search means, which is larger than the image to be displayed.
An image database search device comprising: The first display control means displays one or more representative images on the display device.
The representative image corresponding to the specified keyword is made larger than the image corresponding to the similar keyword, and the display device is controlled to display an image represented by the image data found by the search means. Yes,
Representative image designating means for designating a representative image displayed on the display device, and second display for controlling the display device to display an image of a plurality of frames represented by the representative image designated by the representative image designating means. Display control means,
The image database search device according to claim 1, further comprising: The first display control means includes:
The image displayed on the peripheral surface of the column is displayed on the display device, the image corresponding to the specified keyword is displayed on the main peripheral surface of the column peripheral surface, and the sub-surface of the column peripheral surface is displayed. The display device is controlled so that it is displayed larger on the peripheral surface than the image corresponding to the similar keyword.
The image database search device according to claim 1.

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