JP3142902B2 - Image storage device and image retrieval method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image storage apparatus having a removable storage means such as a magneto-optical disk and an image retrieval apparatus .
About the method .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electronic file system for filing various images, when retrieving filed image data, a file name given when the file is stored is specified, By specifying an attachment or by specifying a predetermined keyword, the file is called up and displayed on the display unit, and the operator visually judges whether or not the file is the desired file. If the file is not a desired file, another file is called out.

[0003]

However, when such a search method is used, if a file name or the like is forgotten, it is not possible to effectively search only a small number of files, and a large number of files are blinded. Has to be read to find a desired file, which makes the operation extremely complicated.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an image storage device capable of easily performing a search without strictly remembering a file name or the like.

[0005]

According to the present invention, an original image is read.
Reading means, and a plurality of pages read by the reading means
Image data of a series of originals comprising
The first section of storage means having an area and a second storage area;
In the storage area as one file, and
Compressed image data of a document of a predetermined page in a series of documents is
In association with the image data of the series of originals, the second
Storage control means for controlling storage in an area, and image retrieval
Source for image search read by the reading means for
Compresses the image data of the manuscript and stores the manuscript in the first storage area
In the second storage area without comparing with the compressed image data of
Compared with the compressed image data of the original document,
Source in the second storage area that matches the compressed image data of
Series of compressed image data corresponding to the original compressed image data.
Data is read from the first storage area and output.
And a search output control means for performing such control.

[0006]

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

In this image storage device, a scanner 1, a printer 2, and a document feeder (hereinafter referred to as a DF) are provided in an apparatus main body 5.
In general, an original set on the DF 6 is read from the scanner 1, and the image data is output from the printer 2. When filing the image data read from the scanner 1, the data is transferred to the magneto-optical disk drive 4 via the communication line 3.
The image storage device according to the present embodiment can process the read image data by digital signals, and can handle various image processes.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration for controlling the filing operation in such an image storage device.

The apparatus main body 5 has a CP for controlling the entire apparatus.
A U12, an image processing unit 21 for performing various image processes on the image data, a scanner controller 16 for controlling the scanner 1, and an operation panel 10 for performing various inputs and displays are provided.

On the other hand, on the magneto-optical disk drive 4 side,
A filing unit 11 as shown is provided. The filing unit 11 includes a CPU 15 that controls the magneto-optical disk drive 4, a disk controller 19 that controls the operation of the magneto-optical disk drive 4, and a magneto-optical disk. Disk drive unit 20 on which a disk is set detachably and which reads and writes data
And a memory 18 for developing image data.

The filing interface 13 is connected between the apparatus main body 5 and the filing unit 11.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the scanner 1, the image processing unit 21 and the like in the apparatus main body 5.

The CCD sensor 101 reads an image on a document and converts it into electrical signals of three colors of red, green and blue.

The A / D converter 102 converts an analog signal output from the CCD sensor 101 into a digital signal.

The shading correction unit 103 performs shading correction on the digital signal from the A / D converter 102. The color recognition unit 104 uses a marker attached to the document based on the output of the shading correction unit 103. And the like to recognize a predetermined color area. The coordinates of the color area read by the color recognition unit 104 are stored in the RAM in the CPU 12.

Next, the image data is transmitted to the light color density converter 10.
5 is input. Here, the image data is converted into density information of yellow, magenta, and cyan and input to the selector 106. The selector 106 selects image data input from the scanner 1 and image data read from the magneto-optical disk.

The editing unit 107 converts each pixel of the image data selected by the selector 106 into binary image data by comparing each pixel with a predetermined threshold value, or analyzes the spatial frequency of the image and converts the original into text. It is possible to separate the data into halftone and halftone dots, or to separately extract only the marker designated area identified by the color recognition unit 104.

The compression / expansion unit 111 has a function of compressing an image stored on a disk and expanding the image when extracting the image from the disk.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the structure of the operation panel 10. As shown in FIG.

The operation panel 10 includes a file operation key 40 for instructing filing of image data, an LCD display section 41 for displaying various operation screens, etc., an enlargement / reduction key 43, and cursor / set keys 43 to 46. , A numeric keypad 47, a reset key 48, a start key 49, and the like. In addition, the display unit 41 normally displays an operation screen as an image storage device.

Next, the operation of such an apparatus will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an image filing operation.

First, the file operation key 40 of the operation panel 10 is pressed (S1), and a menu selection screen shown in FIG. 4 is called on the display 41 (S2). If the image input is selected here (S3), the screen shifts to the image number input screen shown in FIG. 5 (S4), and the image number 3 is input by the ten keys 47 (FIG. 6). Then, by pressing the "#" key 43 (S5), an image input operation is performed with one or a plurality of documents placed on the DF 6 as a set (S6).

That is, the CPU 12 compresses the image data read by the scanner 1 by the compression / decompression unit 111 of the image processing unit 21 and transmits the image data to the filing unit 11 via the filing interface 13 (S7).
Then, the CPU 15 of the filing unit 11 stores the compressed image data on the magneto-optical disk set in the disk drive unit 20 via the disk controller 19 (S8). At the time of reading, the compressed image data of the first page is extracted as search data, and is separately stored in a search data area provided in the magneto-optical disk in addition to a normal file storage area for storing the entire file. (S9). In addition, this search data includes
Add the address corresponding to the main file.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an image output operation.

In this case as well, first, the file operation key 40 is pressed (S21), the screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed (S22), and when the image output is selected (S23), the image selection screen shown in FIG. (S24). And FIG.
As shown in (2), the desired image data is selected (S2
5) When the "#" key 43 is pressed (S26), the CPU 12
Transmits the instruction to the CPU 15 and transmits the compressed image data stored in the magneto-optical disk to the image processing unit 21 via the filing interface 13 (S27). Thereby, the compressed image data is expanded by the compression / expansion unit 111, and the CPU 12 outputs the expanded image data from the printer 2 (S28).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of searching for an image file.

In this embodiment, when a file of a plurality of pages is filed, the user manages the first page as a document for retrieval, and when retrieving a file, the document for retrieval is sent to the scanner 1. By reading, pattern matching is performed between this image and the image of the search data described above.

Also in this case, first, the file operation key 40 is pressed (S41), and the screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed (S42). If image search is selected here (S43),
The screen shifts to the search guide screen shown in FIG. 10 (S44), and the document to be searched is placed on the DF 6 according to the search guide screen, and the copy key ("#" key 43) is pressed (S46).

Then, the DF 6 sets the original at the image reading position of the scanner 1 based on the command from the CPU 12 (S47), and the scanner controller 16
Is started, the image on the document is read by the CCD 101 (S48), and the compressed image data is stored in the bitmap memory 108 via the image processing unit 21 (S4).
9).

Next, from the CPU 12 to the interface 13
A command is sent to the CPU 15 via the CPU, the first compressed image data for search stored in the search data area of the magneto-optical disk is read out by the disk controller 19 (S50), and is read via the memory 18 and the interface 13. Is sent to the selector 106 of the image processing unit 21 and stored in the bitmap memory 110 (S51).

Then, the contents of the bit map memories 108 and 110 are compared by the matching circuit 109 (S5).
2) Image data in the search data area of the magneto-optical disk are successively read out and set in the bit map memory 110 until they substantially match, and the bit map memory 10 is read.
The operation of comparing with the contents of No. 8 is repeated (S53).

Then, the two almost match, and the matching circuit 1
When a match signal is sent from the CPU 09 to the CPU 12, the CPU 1
2 reads out an image file corresponding to the matched search image data from the file area of the magneto-optical disk, transmits it to the image processing unit 21 (S54), sequentially decompresses it, and outputs it from the printer 2 (S55). .

It should be noted that, instead of automatically outputting the file after the search, the file number obtained by the search is displayed on the display unit 41 so that the file can be output or displayed. The user may be allowed to make a selection.

In this way, one of the files to be searched is
By applying the original of the page to the scanner 1, a file on the magneto-optical disk can be easily searched. In particular, when the image of the first page is extracted for search and separately managed at the time of filing an image, the amount of data to be compared at the time of search can be reduced, and rapid processing can be performed. Further, by comparing the compressed image data with each other, it is not necessary to perform the decompression processing at the time of retrieval, and the amount of data to be compared is smaller than that of the decompressed data, so that more rapid processing can be obtained. In addition, the capacity of each of the bitmap memories 108 and 110 can be reduced, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an image file search operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, when searching for an image file,
A search manuscript in which an image of a specific color for search is written is used. The search manuscript is designated by the above-mentioned search color and the scanner 1 reads the position data of the area of the designated color. Then, after extracting the image data and storing it in the memory, the image of the corresponding position in each page of each file image is sequentially extracted by the above-mentioned position data, and the pattern matching with the color image for search is performed. Do
Search for a matching file. In this embodiment, since pattern matching is performed for all pages of the image file, no special search data is prepared at the time of image filing as in the first embodiment. The operation and output operation are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

In FIG. 11, first, the file operation key 40 is pressed (S61), and the screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed (S62). If image search is selected here (S6
3), the screen shifts to a color selection screen shown in FIG. 12 (S64).
When the color is designated and the "#" key 43 is pressed (S
65) and the screen shifts to the search guide screen shown in FIG. 10 (S6).
6) Then, a document to be searched is placed on DF6 and the "#" key 43 is pressed (S67).

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a search document. In the figure, only the letters "ABCD" at the upper right of the original are written in, for example, red, and
It is assumed that “red” has been designated.

Here, the DF 6 sets the original at the image reading position of the scanner 1 based on a command from the CPU 12 (S68), and the scanner controller 16
Is started, the image on the original is read by the CCD 101 (S69), the red part selected in S65 is recognized by the color recognition unit 104, and the position data of the image is stored in the RAM in pixel units. At the same time, the image data is extracted by the editing unit 107 and stored in the bitmap memory 108.
(S70).

Next, from the CPU 12 to the interface 13
Command is sent to the CPU 15 via the disk controller 19, and the image data stored in the file storage area of the magneto-optical disk is sequentially read out by the disk controller 19 (S7).
1), is sent to the editing unit 107 via the selector 106 of the image processing unit 21 via the memory 18 and the interface 13. Then, the same region as the pixel portion of the red image is extracted and stored in the bitmap memory 110 (S72).

Then, the contents of the bit map memories 108 and 110 are compared by the matching circuit 109 (S7).
3) The image data in the search data area of the magneto-optical disk is successively read out, the extracted area is set in the bit map memory 110, and the operation of comparing with the contents of the bit map memory 108 is repeated until the two almost match. (S7
4).

Then, the two almost match, and the matching circuit 1
When a match signal is sent from the CPU 09 to the CPU 12, the CPU 1
2 displays the number of the matched image file as shown in FIG. 14 (S75). Here, if it is desired to search for another file, the "*" key 46 is pressed, and if the search is to be terminated, the "#" key 43 is pressed (S76). Then, when the "*" key 46 is pressed, the flow returns to S71 to search for more files and search for a new matching file. By repeating this operation, all the matching files can be searched.

In this case, the output of the searched file is performed separately according to the operation of FIG. 8 based on the file number obtained in S75.

In the second embodiment, all file data in the normal file storage area is searched. However, as in the first embodiment, one page prepared at the time of image filing is retrieved. The search may be performed only on the eye search data.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the operation when a search is performed by designating a plurality of colors as a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this case, "ABCD" at the upper right of the search document shown in FIG.
FGH "is written in blue.

First, the file operation key 40 is pressed (S81), and the screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed (S82).
Here, when the image search is selected (S83), the screen shifts to a multiple color selection screen shown in FIG. 16 (S84). Here, the cursor is moved by the cursor keys 44 and 45, and the "*" key 4
6 is used to select a designated color. That is, in this case,
"Red" and "blue" are selected, and the "#" key 43 is pressed to end the designation operation (S85). As a result, the screen shifts to the search guide screen shown in FIG. 10 (S86), the original is placed on the DF 6 according to this display, and the "#" key 43 is pressed (S87).

Then, the DF 6 sets the original at the image reading position of the scanner 1 based on the command from the CPU 12 (S88), and the scanner controller 16
Is started, the image on the document is read by the CCD 101 (S89). First, the red part is recognized by the color recognition unit 104, and the position data and the image data of the image are used.
Under the same control as in the second embodiment, pattern matching is performed between each image file on the magneto-optical disk and a matching file is searched (S90). In this embodiment, all files are searched (S92).
The corresponding file numbers are sequentially stored in the RAM (S9).
1).

When the search using the red part is completed, the search using the blue part is performed by the same operation (S).
93-S95).

When the search operation is completed, the search result is displayed as shown in FIG. 17 (S96). That is, in FIG. 17, the file of "image 1" indicates that only red matches, and the file of "image 2" indicates that red and blue match. Thus, the search operation ends.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a search operation according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this fourth embodiment,
Instead of performing a search by specifying an area using a color image as in the second embodiment, an image for search is read by specifying an area using a color marker or specifying an area using a coordinate input, and a search is performed using the pattern matching.

First, the user presses the file operation key 40 (S101) to display the screen shown in FIG. 4 (S10).
2). If image search is selected here (S103), FIG.
The screen shifts to the search mode selection screen shown in FIG. 9 (S104).
If you select the marker mode here, it will be a process to search by specifying the area with the marker, if you select the coordinate specification mode,
This is a process of performing a search by specifying an area by inputting coordinates.

Here, the case where the marker mode is selected will be described first. In FIG. 19, when the cursor is moved to the marker mode and the "#" key 43 is pressed, the mode shifts to the marker mode (S105), and the search guide screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed (S106). Then, in accordance with this display, the operator places a document in which the search image area is specified in advance by the marker on the DF 6, and presses the "#" key 43 (S107).

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a document in which a search image area is specified by a marker.

Then, the DF 6 sets the original at the image reading position of the scanner 1 based on a command from the CPU 12 (S108), and the scanner controller 16 starts scanning by the scanner 1 to read the image on the original by the CCD 101 (S108). S109) First, the marker part is identified by the color recognition unit 10.
4, the image data surrounded by the marker is extracted by the editing unit 107 (S110), and thereafter, the pattern is exchanged between each image file on the magneto-optical disk by the same control as in the second embodiment. Perform matching,
A matching file is searched (S111). In this embodiment, if there is a matching file, the number is displayed on the display unit (S112), and the search operation is temporarily terminated (S113). If the operator wants to continue the search, he / she presses the “*” key 46 (S11).
4) Return to S111 and restart the search operation. If the user wants to end the search, the user presses the "#" key 43 (S114) to end the process.

Next, the case where the coordinate designation mode is selected will be described. In the display screen of FIG. 19, when the cursor is moved to the coordinate designation mode and the "#" key 43 is pressed, the mode shifts to the coordinate designation mode (S115), and FIG.
The coordinate designation guide screen shown in FIG. 1 is displayed (S116). Therefore, the operator sets the manuscript in the Zushi city editor according to this display, specifies the coordinates of both ends of the diagonal of the search area, for example, as shown in FIG.
Is pressed (S117). As a result, the coordinate data of the area indicated by the broken line in FIG. Next, the search guide screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed (S1
18) In accordance with this display, the operator places the document whose coordinates are specified on DF6 and presses the "#" key 43 (S11).
9).

Then, the DF 6 sets the original at the image reading position of the scanner 1 based on a command from the CPU 12 (S120), and the scanner controller 16 starts scanning of the scanner 1 to read an image on the original by the CCD 101 (S120). S121) The image data of the designated area is extracted by the editing unit 107 based on the coordinate data by the editor (S122), and after that, by the same control as in the second embodiment, each image file on the magneto-optical disk is Is performed, and a matching file is searched (S123). And if there is a matching file,
The number is displayed on the display unit (S124), and the search operation is temporarily terminated (S125). Then, if the operator wishes to continue the search, the operator returns to S123 by pressing the "*" key 46 (S126) and restarts the search operation. If the user wants to end the search, the user presses the "#" key 43 (S126) to end the process.

In each of the above embodiments, the search is performed by pattern matching on the assumption that the search document and the file document have the same size. By performing the above-described pattern matching after the size of the image data is adjusted by changing the size of the image data, the same search processing as in the above-described embodiments can be performed.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing the outline of the operation for adjusting the size at the time of retrieval as the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

First, after performing a setting operation necessary for a search by any one of the above-described embodiments (S130), a document for search is read (S131). In other words, the setting work necessary for the search is to select the image search mode in the first embodiment, and to select the color after the image search mode in the second and third embodiments. Is to do. Further, in the case of the fourth embodiment, the operation is the selection of the image search mode and the area specification mode and the operation of specifying the coordinates.

Then, in the same manner as in each of the above embodiments, when reading a document for retrieval, the size of the document is detected and R
It is stored in the AM (S132). Then, a search is started according to the method of each of the above-described embodiments, and image data is sequentially read from the magneto-optical disk. Prior to this read operation, the size of the image to be read is checked, and the size of the document for search is determined. If the size is different, the magnification data is calculated and set in the editing unit 107 (S134).

Then, an operation of reading an image from the magneto-optical disk is executed (S135). In this case, the editing unit 1
In 07, a scaling process is performed together with necessary image extraction and the like (S
136), and after matching the size of the document for search, pattern matching is executed (S137).

Thereafter, the display of the search result is performed by the processing according to the above-described embodiments (S138, S139). The calculation of the magnification data is performed every time the file number read from the magneto-optical disk is updated, and a process according to the image size of each file is performed (S160).

In this way, it is possible to perform a search using originals of different sizes. For example, originals for search can be reduced and managed, which can contribute to a reduction in storage space and the like.

In the fifth embodiment, only the image on the file side is scaled as necessary. However, the image is scaled so that the larger image matches the smaller image. It may be.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation in this case.

By the way, in the sixth embodiment, a magnification process for selecting and reducing one of an image for retrieval and an image read from the magneto-optical disk is performed. It is necessary to subject the image data read from the printer to equal magnification processing or magnification processing as necessary. Therefore, in the sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, a third bitmap memory 112 is provided in addition to the two bitmap memories 108 and 110, and image data for search is Once stored in the bitmap memory 112 and scaled appropriately, the bitmap memory 1
08.

In FIG. 24, first, as in the fifth embodiment, after the setting work necessary for the search is performed (S14).
0), a document for search is read (S141). Then, when reading the search document, the size of the document is detected and stored in the RAM (S142). And
The image data read from the search document is temporarily stored in the bitmap memory 112 (S143).

Next, retrieval is started in accordance with the method of each of the above embodiments. First, prior to the operation of reading out image data from the magneto-optical disk, the size of the image to be read out is checked and compared with the original size for retrieval. (S144). Here, if the size of the search image is large, the same size is set in the editing unit 107 and the image data of the magneto-optical disk is read out (S
145), after performing the extraction process etc. at the same magnification, store it in the bitmap memory 110 (S146). Then, after calculating the reduction ratio and setting it in the editing unit 107, the search image data stored in the bitmap memory 112 is transferred to the editing unit 107, and reduced together with the extraction process (S)
147), and is stored in the bitmap memory 108 (S1).
48).

If the size of the search image is small in S144, a reduction ratio is calculated and set in the editing unit 107, and the image data on the magneto-optical disk is read (S149). The editing unit 107 performs a reduction process together with an extraction process and the like, and stores the result in the bitmap memory 110 (S150). Next, the editing unit 107
Is set to 1, and the search image data stored in the bitmap memory 112 is transferred to the editing unit 107.
An extraction process or the like is performed at the same magnification (S151), and stored in the bitmap memory 108 (S152).

After the two sizes are matched, processing such as pattern matching is performed as in the fifth embodiment (S153 to S154).

[0074]

According to the first and twelfth aspects of the present invention , a file name is obtained by using an original for image search.
Etc., even if you do not strictly remember
Files can be easily searched, and when searching for images
Then, by comparing the compressed image data with each other,
It is not necessary to perform extension processing at the time of
Data volume compared to data
Fast processing is obtained, and the first storage area and the second
Only the second storage area of the storage means having the storage area is compared
Elephant area, comparing data more than necessary
And reduce the amount of data to compare when searching.
Search for files desired by the user
Effects, such as minimizing the time required to complete
To play. In addition, the present invention according to claims 3, 6, 13, and 14
According to Ming, using a document for image search allows
Even if you do not strictly remember the file name,
You can easily search for the file you want to
At the time of retrieval, each original image data stored in the storage
Check only the areas that need to be
Whether the image desired by the user exists in the
Compared with the data extracted for searching,
If not, move on to comparison with other original image data.
To compare the data spent per manuscript
To reduce the time required for
Search for the desired original from the storage means.
The search time can be reduced and the user
Document data where the user's desired image exists
Can be retrieved from the storage device, for example,
Extracted image data for image search in an area different from the desired position
Original image data containing image data that matches the
If data exists in the storage means,
Search along with the image data of the document desired by the user
Longer search time, such as extraction as a result
Not only does it end up with low-accuracy search processing, etc.
Problems and the resulting confusion for users
Troubles such as accidental or extra work
This has the effect of preventing kinking beforehand.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration for performing a filing operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a scanner, an image processing unit, and the like in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a configuration of an operation panel in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an image selection screen display in the first embodiment.

6 is a plan view showing a state where an image number is designated on the image selection screen shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a filing operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an image output operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an image search operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a guide display at the time of image search in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a search operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a color selection screen display in the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a search document according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a search result display at the time of image search in the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a search operation according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a color multiple selection screen display in the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a search result display at the time of image search in the third embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an outline of a search operation according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a search mode selection screen display in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a document in which a search image area is designated by a marker in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing a coordinate designation guide screen display in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a document in which a search image area is specified by specifying coordinates in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an outline of a search operation according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an outline of a search operation according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a scanner, an image processing unit, and the like in the sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Scanner, 2 ... Printer, 3 ... Communication line, 4 ... Magneto-optical disk drive, 5 ... Device body, 6 ... Document feeder (DF), 10 ... Operation panel, 11 ... Filing unit, 13 ... Filing interface, 12 , 15 CPU, 16 scanner controller, 18, 108, 110, 112 memory, 19 disk controller, 20 disk drive unit, 21 image processing unit, 40 file operation keys, 41 display unit, 43 enlargement Reduction key, 43 to 46: Cursor / set key, 47: Numeric keypad, 48: Reset key, 49: Start key, 101: CCD sensor, 102: A / D converter, 103: Shading correction unit, 104: Color recognition unit, 105: light color density converter 106: selector 107: Editing unit, 111: Compression / decompression unit, 109: Matching circuit

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-245478 (JP, A) JP-A-2-204866 (JP, A) JP-A-62-269367 (JP, A) JP-A-63-286974 (JP) JP-A-61-290581 (JP, A) JP-A-2-206873 (JP, A) JP-A-63-60671 (JP, A) JP-A-58-27269 (JP, A) Patent 3017851 (JP, A) JP, B2) U.S. Patent No. 5991466 (US, A) Masato Kurokawa, "Content-dependent retrieval of images using shape features," Proc. Of the 35th IPSJ Annual Conference (late 1987) (III) ), Pp. 2105-2106 Shigeru Matsuzawa et al., "Basic Structure of Image Database in Conversational Image Processing System ISOP", Proc. Of the 33rd IPSJ National Convention (late 1986), II. 1653-1654 (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/30 170

Claims (14)

(57) [Claims] 1. A reading device for reading a document image, and a series of documents consisting of a plurality of pages read by the reading device.
Image data of the first storage area and the second storage area.
One file is stored in the first storage area of the storage means having an area.
File as well as the
The compressed image data of the document of the predetermined page is
The image data is stored in the second area in association with the image data.
A storage control unit for controlling the image processing unit;
Compressing image data of a search document and storing the compressed image data in the first storage area
Without comparing with the compressed image data of the original in the second
Comparing with the compressed image data of the original in the storage area,
The second storage area corresponding to the compressed image data of the original document
Of a series of originals corresponding to the compressed image data of the originals in the area
Reading the reduced image data from the first storage area;
An image storage device comprising: a search output control unit that controls output . 2. The image storage device according to claim 1, wherein the image data of the predetermined page is image data of a cover page. Reading means for reading a document image; and image data of a plurality of documents read by the reading means.
Storage control means for storing in the storage means; a color selecting means for selecting a desired color from a plurality of color candidates
Columns and images read by the reading means for image retrieval
From the image data on the original for search by the color selecting means
Image data of the selected color is used as image search data
Search image extracting means for extracting and recognizing the position
And the image data of each document stored in the storage means.
Corresponding to the position recognized by the search image extracting means.
Image data of the area to be compared
Extracting and comparing with the image data for image search
From the position recognized by the search image extracting means.
An image corresponding to the image data for image search
The image data of an original including image data is stored in the storage unit.
And a search control unit for searching from within . 4. A document according to claim 4, wherein each of said originals is a cover original, and said storage control means is configured to output a plurality of pages of an original image.
Data is stored in the storage unit as one file
And the search control means recognizes by the search image extracting means.
Image data for image search in an area corresponding to the position
Original image data containing image data that matches the data
A series of document image data having
An image storage device characterized in that a search is performed from the image storage device. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the color selection means copies a desired color from a plurality of color candidates.
An image storage device wherein the number can be selected . 6. Reading means for reading a document image; and image data of a plurality of documents read by said reading means.
Storage control means for storing in a storage means; a desired area on a document for image search is set as an area to be compared
Area specifying means for specifying an image, and an image read by the reading means for image search.
Specified by the area specifying means on the original for search
The image data of the selected area as data for image search.
Search image extraction means and image data of each document stored in the storage means.
Corresponding to the area specified by the area specifying means.
Extract image data of each area as data to be compared
And comparing the image data with the image data for image search.
Corresponding to the area specified by the area specifying means.
Image data that matches the image data for image search in the area
Image data of the document containing the data from the storage means.
An image storage device comprising: search control means for searching; 7. The image storage device according to claim 6, wherein the area specified by the area specifying means is an area specified by a marker. 8. The image storage device according to claim 7, wherein the area specified by the area specifying means is an area specified by a coordinate input. 9. The size comparison unit according to claim 1, wherein a size of the document read by the reading unit and a size of an image stored in the storage unit are compared, and the comparison result is provided. Auto-scaling means for changing the size of at least one of the read document or the stored image based on the size of the read document or the stored image, and An image storage device, wherein the stored image is searched for by comparing. 10. The size of the image stored in the storage unit according to claim 9, wherein the size is measured by reading the image from the storage unit or measuring the size in advance when reading the image. An image storage device, characterized in that it is stored. 11. The image storage device according to claim 9, wherein the automatic scaling unit performs scaling to match a smaller size. 12. A reading step of reading a document image, Compresses image data of a series of scanned originals
Storage means having a first storage area and a second storage area
Is stored as one file in the first storage area.
And compression of a document of a predetermined page in the series of documents.
Associating image data with image data of the series of originals
A storage control unit for controlling storage in the second area.
About Image search read in the reading step for image search
Image data of the original document, and compresses the image data in the first storage area.
Without comparing with the compressed image data of the original.
Compared with the compressed image data of the original in the area,
The second storage area corresponding to the compressed image data of the original
Corresponding to the compressed image data of the original Compression of manuscripts
Reads and outputs image data from the first storage area.
A search output control step of controlling to output An image search method comprising: 13. A reading step of reading a document image; and recording image data of a plurality of documents read in the reading step.
A memory control step of storing in a storage means; a color selecting step of selecting a desired color from a plurality of color candidates
And the image search read in the reading step for the image search.
Selected in the color selection step from the image data on the original
Extracted color image data as image search data.
And a search image extraction step for recognizing the position of the image data.
Corresponding to the position recognized in the search image extraction step.
Image data of the region to be compared is extracted as data to be compared.
Out, and comparing it with the image data for image search.
Corresponding to the position recognized in the search image extraction step.
Image data that matches the image search image data
The image data of the document containing the data in the storage means
And a search control step of searching from the image. 14. A reading step of reading a document image; The image data of the plurality of originals read in the reading step is
A storage control step of storing in the storage means; A desired area on the image search document is set as a comparison target area.
An area specifying step for specifying Image search read in the reading step for image search
Area specified by the area specifying means on the original
To extract the image data of the area as image search data
Cable image extraction process; The image data of each document stored in the storage means
Corresponds to the area specified in the area specifying step.
Extract image data of each area as data to be compared
And comparing the image data with the image data for image search.
Area corresponding to the area specified in the area specifying step.
Area matches the image data for the image search image data
From the storage means.
A search control step to search; An image search method comprising: