JP6523116B2 - Image data processing system, image data processing method and image data processing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image data processing system, an image data processing method, and an image data processing program, and in particular, an image data processing system, an image data processing method, and an image data for grouping a large amount of photographic data photographed by a plurality of cameras. It relates to a processing program.

  In recent years, there is a photo business that takes commemorative photos at photo studios and sells photos and photo data to customers. A large number of photos of the customer are taken at the photo studio etc., the customer selects any photo from among the large number of photos, the selected photo is printed at the photo studio etc, or the photo data is stored in the storage medium. Make them memorized and provide them to customers.

  At this time, it has become common practice to take photos of customers using a plurality of cameras at a photo studio or the like.

  In addition, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for a system related to reception of photographing, photographing, confirmation of a photograph, and ordering.

JP 2003-37798

  In the photo business, it is necessary to give up the same costumes and scenes together when presenting a large number of customer photos to the customer, but in order to give up, a large number of photo data files taken with multiple cameras It is necessary to perform troublesome work such as changing the name of and grouping.

  A conventional system such as Patent Document 1 includes a management server and a display device operated by a staff member at a photo studio side, an image server for storing a large number of photographed pictures, and a large display device for allowing a customer to confirm a picture. However, no consideration was given to organizing a large amount of photo data taken by multiple cameras.

  Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a novel image data processing system, an image data processing method and an image data processing program.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image data processing system, an image data processing method and an image data processing program capable of organizing a large amount of image data with a simple operation.

  A first invention is an image data processing system for processing image data using image data stored in an image database, which is an image for reading image data from a monitor or image database and displaying an image on the monitor A storage device for storing data, table creation means for creating an image data management table including a plurality of image data based on image data stored in the storage device, a plurality of images on a monitor based on the image data management table Image list display means for displaying a list, grouped image specifying means for specifying a plurality of images for grouping selected by the operator upon receipt of a selection operation of the operator for a plurality of images displayed in a list, the operator A first group updating the image data management table so that a plurality of selected images can be identified as one group Ping setting means, group list display means for displaying a list of images of a plurality of groups on the monitor based on the image data management table updated by the first grouping setting means, selection of the operator for the plurality of groups displayed in a list Group specifying means for receiving a manipulation and specifying a plurality of groups selected by the operator, and a second grouping setting means for updating the image data management table so that the plurality of groups selected by the operator can be identified as one group An image data processing system comprising:

  In the first invention, the image data stored in the image database (32) is read out to the storage device (30) and stored. The table creation means (24, S3) creates an image data management table (42d) based on the image data stored in the storage device, and the image list display means (24, S5) is based on the image data management table. Display a list of multiple images on the monitor. When the operator selects or designates an arbitrary plurality of images of the images displayed in a list, such an operator's selection operation is accepted, and the grouped image specifying means (24, S21, S23) causes the operator to Identify multiple images for the selected grouping. The image data management table is updated so that the first grouping setting unit (24, S25) can identify a plurality of images selected by the operator as one group, and the group list display unit (24, S51) is updated. A list of images of a plurality of groups is displayed on the monitor based on the image data management table. The group specifying means (24, S71) receives an operator's selection operation on the plurality of groups displayed in a list, and specifies an arbitrary plurality of groups selected by the operator. Then, the second grouping setting unit (24, S73) regroups the plurality of groups selected by the operator so as to identify them as one group, and updates the image data management table.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, since the groups once grouped are grouped again, a large number of image data can be efficiently organized.

  A second invention is according to the first invention, and receives a selection operation of an operator on an image of an arbitrary group displayed in a list, and determines a cancellation image for specifying a cancellation image for canceling the grouping selected by the operator. The image data processing system further includes identification means and first grouping release means for updating the image data management table so as to release the release image selected by the operator from the group.

  In the second invention, the release image specifying means (24, S31) receives the selection operation of the operator with respect to the images of the arbitrary groups displayed in a list, and specifies the release image for releasing the grouping selected by the operator. . First grouping release means (24, S25) The image data management table is updated so as to release the release image selected by the operator from the group.

  According to the second invention, even when grouping is erroneously made by the first grouping setting means, it is possible to release a specific image from the group.

  A third invention is an image data processing system according to the first or second invention, further comprising an addition means for adding another image data to an arbitrary group listed.

  In the third invention, the adding means (24, S19) adds another image data to an arbitrary group listed. For example, although the group list display means displays a list of groups grouped by the first grouping setting means on the monitor, at this time, images not yet grouped are also displayed together. In this state, the image data management table is rewritten by designating an image to be added and selecting an addition destination group, and the image is added to the addition destination group.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, even after grouping is performed by the first grouping setting unit, images can be added to the group, so that grouping can be performed efficiently.

  A fourth invention is according to any one of the first to third inventions, and a second grouping setting unit regroups the monitor into a monitor based on the image data management table updated by the second grouping setting unit. It is an image data processing system further provided with the 2nd grouping processing result display means which displays a grouping processing result.

  In the fourth invention, the second grouping processing result display means (24, S73) displays the second grouping processing result regrouped by the second grouping setting means.

  According to the fourth invention, since the result of the regrouping is displayed, the operator can easily confirm the result of the second grouping setting.

  A fifth invention is according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, and in the second grouping setting result displayed on the monitor, an operator's selection operation is received by an operator's selection operation on an arbitrary group. The image data processing system further includes a group specifying unit that specifies a group, and a second grouping cancellation unit that cancels the group selected by the operator from the regrouped group.

  In the fifth invention, the group identification means (24, S81) identifies the group selected by the operator in the second grouping setting result displayed on the monitor, and the second grouping release means (24, S83) is operated The group selected by the person from the regrouped group. Specifically, the image data management table is updated, and the specified group is released from the groups collected by the regrouping.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since any group grouped together in the regrouping can be released from the group, even if it is erroneously regrouped, it can be easily restored.

  A sixth invention is an image data processing apparatus for processing image data using image data stored in an image database, which is an image for reading image data from a monitor or image database and displaying an image on the monitor A storage device for storing data, table creation means for creating an image data management table including a plurality of image data based on image data stored in the storage device, a plurality of images on a monitor based on the image data management table Image list display means for displaying a list, grouped image specifying means for specifying a plurality of images for grouping selected by the operator upon receipt of a selection operation of the operator for a plurality of images displayed in a list, the operator A first group image updating the image data management table so that a plurality of selected images can be identified as one group Setting means, group list display means for displaying a list of images of a plurality of groups on the monitor based on the image data management table updated by the first grouping setting means, selection of the operator for the plurality of groups displayed in a list Group specifying means for receiving a manipulation and specifying a plurality of groups selected by the operator, and a second grouping setting means for updating the image data management table so that the plurality of groups selected by the operator can be identified as one group An image data processing apparatus comprising:

  A seventh invention relates to a computer of an image data processing apparatus including a monitor and a storage device for reading out image data from an image database and storing the image data on the monitor as image data stored in the storage device. Table creation means for creating an image data management table including a plurality of image data, image list display means for listing a plurality of images on a monitor based on the image data management table, and a plurality of images listed Grouped image specifying means for specifying a plurality of images for grouping selected by the operator upon receiving a selection operation of the operator, image data so that a plurality of images selected by the operator can be identified as one group A first grouping setting unit that updates the management table, and an update performed by the first grouping setting unit Group list display means for displaying a list of images of a plurality of groups on the monitor based on the image data management table, a plurality of groups selected by the operator upon receipt of an operator's selection operation for the plurality of groups listed. The program is an image data processing program that functions as a group specifying unit that specifies a group, and a second grouping setting unit that updates an image data management table so that a plurality of groups selected by the operator can be identified as one group.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, an image data processing apparatus comprising a monitor and a storage device for reading out image data from an image database and storing the image data for displaying the image on the monitor is based on the image data stored in the storage device. Creating an image data management table including a plurality of image data, an image list display step of displaying a plurality of images on the monitor based on the image data management table, selecting an operator for the plurality of images displayed as a list Accepting the operation, updating the image data management table so that the grouped image identification step of identifying a plurality of images for grouping selected by the operator, and the plurality of images selected by the operator can be identified as one group Image data updated in the first grouping setting step and the first grouping setting step A group list display step for displaying a list of images of a plurality of groups on a monitor based on the management table, accepting an operator's selection operation for a plurality of groups displayed in a list, and identifying a plurality of groups selected by the operator The image data processing method includes a group identification step to be performed, and a second grouping setting step of updating an image data management table so that a plurality of groups selected by the operator can be identified as one group.

  According to the present invention, since the groups grouped in the first grouping setting are further grouped by the second grouping process, a large amount of image data can be easily organized.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view showing an image data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a control device in the image data processing system of FIG. FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing one example of a memory map of a RAM in a storage device in the control device of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing one example of an image data list stored in a data storage area of a RAM of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing one example of a GUI displayed on a first monitor in the image data processing system of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing one example of a screen display example 1 showing an initial state in which images are displayed as a list on a first monitor. FIG. 7 is an illustrative view showing one example of an initial state corresponding to FIG. 6 of the image data management table stored in the data storage area of the RAM of FIG. 3; FIG. 8 is an illustrative view showing one example of a screen display example 2 showing a state where an image is displayed on the first monitor in the first grouping setting. FIG. 9 is an illustrative view showing one example of an image data management table after setting of the first grouping of FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing one example of a screen display example 3 schematically showing a state in which an image is displayed on the first monitor in the additional processing after the first grouping processing, although it is not actually displayed. FIG. 11 is an illustrative view showing one example of a screen display example 4 showing a state where an image is displayed on the first monitor after the addition processing of FIG. 10; FIG. 12 is an illustrative view showing one example of an image data management table after the addition processing of FIG. 10; FIG. 13 is an illustrative view showing one example of a screen display example 5 in which an image (group) is displayed on the first monitor before execution of the second grouping setting. FIG. 14 is an illustrative view showing one example of an image data management table before executing the second grouping setting. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a screen display example 6 in which an image (group) is displayed on the first monitor after the second grouping setting is performed. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the screen display example 7 in which the image (group) is displayed on the first monitor after the second grouping setting is performed. FIG. 17 is an illustrative view showing one example of an image data management table after execution of the second grouping setting. FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the first grouping process in the FIG. 1 embodiment. FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the first grouping setting process in the first grouping process. FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the first grouping release process in the first grouping process. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the addition processing after the first grouping processing. FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the second grouping process in the FIG. 1 embodiment. FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the second grouping setting process in the second grouping process. FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the second grouping release process in the second grouping process.

First Embodiment
Referring to FIG. 1, an image data processing system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed at a photo studio and includes a control device 12 as an example. The control device 12 is, by way of example, a general purpose computer including a first monitor 14 functioning as a staff side monitor, a keyboard 16 and a mouse 18. However, in the embodiment, a so-called tablet computer is used because of the ease of operation. In the case of a tablet computer, the first monitor 14 is configured as a touch screen display. The first monitor 14 is a liquid crystal display, an EL display, or the like.

  Since the first monitor 14 is a staff monitor, the display screen is not directed to the customer side. The grouping process of this embodiment to be described later is executed on the first monitor 14.

  A second monitor 20 functioning as a customer-side monitor is connected to the control device 12 by a communication cable 22 such as RS232C (product name). The display screen of the second monitor 20 is directed to the customer side. The second monitor 20 is a liquid crystal display, an EL display, or the like.

  The connection means of the control device 12 and the second monitor 20 may be a wired connection means such as the communication cable 22 described above, or a wireless connection means such as a wireless LAN using Wi-Fi or short distance wireless communication. May be there.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the control device 12. The control device 12 includes a CPU 24 that performs overall control. The CPU 26 constitutes a computer, and is connected to an input device 28 including a keyboard 16 and a mouse 18, a storage device 30, an image database 32, and the like through a bus 26.

  The image database 32 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), and is a storage device for storing all image data of the photo studio. The CPU 24 can access the image database 32 through the bus 26 and a LAN (not shown).

  The storage device 30 is built in the control device 12 and neither of them is shown in the figure, for example, a RAM used as a work area and buffer area of the CPU 24, an HDD for installing an operating system (OS) and application programs, etc. including.

  When actual image data processing such as grouping processing is performed, image data necessary for processing, such as image data of a corresponding customer, is stored in the RAM of the storage device 30 from the image database 32 described above, An image data management table (described later) is created to manage an image to be displayed on the first monitor 14. .

  The display control circuit 34 displays an image on the first monitor 14 in accordance with, for example, image data (image data management table) read from the storage device 30 under the control of the CPU 24. For example, the CPU 24 reads image data from the storage device 30, and the image data is supplied to the display control circuit 34. The display control circuit 34 generates display data on a VRAM (not shown) in accordance with the image data and supplies the display data to the first monitor 14. Thus, in the control device 12, an image is displayed on the first monitor 14.

  The display control circuit 36 receives image data from the control device 12 through the communication cable 22 described above, and displays an image on the second monitor 20 according to the image data. For example, CPU 24 reads image data from storage device 30, and the image data is applied to display control circuit 36. The display control circuit 36 generates display data on a VRAM (not shown) in accordance with image data (image data management table), applies it to the second monitor 20, and the image is displayed on the second monitor 20.

  However, the image data is image data of a photographic image (still image) in the embodiment, but may be image data of a moving image.

  The first monitor 14 is a display provided with a touch panel function on a display screen. The touch panel control circuit 36 applies a necessary voltage or the like to the touch panel, detects a touch operation (touch input) within the touch effective range of the touch panel, and sends to the CPU 24 touch coordinate data indicating the position of the touch input. Output.

  However, as a touch panel, although an electrostatic capacitance system is used in the embodiment, other arbitrary systems such as an electromagnetic induction system, a resistance film system, an infrared system, etc. can be used.

  FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing one example of a memory map of a RAM (not shown) included in the storage device 30 of the control device 12 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the RAM of the controller 12 includes a program storage area 40 and a data storage area 42. The program storage area 40 stores, in this embodiment, a first grouping processing program 40a and a second grouping processing program 40b, in addition to programs necessary for the CPU 24 such as an OS.

  As an example, the first group pin processing program 40a is read from the image database 32 on the first monitor 14 and the picture image data of the corresponding customer stored as the image data list 42c or the image data management table 42d in the RAM. Is a program for grouping (grouping) the types of costumes, scenes, etc.

  The second grouping processing program 40b is one of the features of this embodiment, and is a program for further grouping the groups once grouped according to the first grouping processing program 40a.

  By grouping what was once grouped, it is possible to group the picture images of similar situations. For example, when grouping by type, such as Japanese-style photo, Western-style photo, character photo, brother photo, and family photo, when selecting 1 photo from Japanese photo, 1 photo from brother photo, and 1 photo from family photo By grouping the three groups again (second grouping), it is possible to efficiently introduce a photographic image to the customer.

  In the data storage area 42, touch coordinates acquired by the touch panel control circuit 38 (shown in FIG. 2) from the touch screen on the first monitor 14 are temporarily stored as touch coordinate data 42a. The GUI display data 42 b is display data for displaying a GUI 44 (described later) as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

  The data storage area 42 further stores an image data list 42c. As described above, the image data of the photograph of the customer, which needs to be selected by the customer later, is read out from the image database 32 by the control device 12 and stored as an image data list 42c.

  For example, referring to FIG. 4, the image data list 42c has a plurality of folders 42F1, 42F2,. Each of the folders 42F1, 42F2,... Corresponds to each camera in the embodiment, that is, in the image data list 42c, photographed image data for each camera is listed for each folder.

  Although common to the respective folders, the image data list 42c includes fields of file name, date, size, file type and image. The image column stores image data of an actual picture. For example, taking folder 42F1 as an example, images A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 and A7 are stored. File names for specifying such images A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, and A7 are set in the file name column. The size column stores the data size of the images A1-A7 and it can be seen that in this example each image is all 1 Mbyte. In the field of the file type, the data format of the images A1 to A7 is set. In this embodiment, it can be seen that the images A1-A7 are all image data compressed in the JPEG format.

  In this image data list 42c, all the image data are arranged in chronological order. For example, in the folders 42F1 and 42F2, the folder 42F1 includes an older (earlier) image in chronological order. Also, in the same folder, the images are new (after) images in chronological order from the top.

Returning to FIG. 3, an image data management table 42d is stored in the data storage area 42 of the RAM. In the image data management table 42, group IDs assigned by the first grouping process and the second grouping process are set for each of all the file names acquired from the image data list 42c. In the initial state, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, all group IDs are set as “0”. The CPU 24 displays a plurality of images to be grouped on the list display area 50 (described later) of the first monitor 14 based on the image data management table 42d. That is, although the image data is stored in the image data list 42c, it is not stored in the image data management table 42d. However, since the image data list 42c and the image data management table 42d are linked by the file name (linked), the CPU 24 reads the image data of the image data list 42c from the image data management table 42d, and displays the image. It can be displayed on the first monitor 14 or the second monitor 20.
,
Although not shown, other necessary flags, timers, and the like are appropriately set in the data storage area 42.

  An example of the GUI 44 displayed on the first monitor 14 in accordance with the GUI display data 42b of the data storage area 42 is shown in FIG. In the GUI 44 of FIG. 5, a first grouping button 46a for instructing or selecting to execute the first grouping process, a second grouping button 46b for instructing or selecting to execute the second grouping process, and a customer And an image presentation button 48 for instructing or selecting presentation of an image.

  When the first grouping button 46a is touched, the CPU 24 of the control device 12 executes a first grouping process (described later) according to the first grouping processing program 40a (FIG. 3), and when the second grouping button 46b is touched, The CPU 24 of the control device 12 executes a second grouping process (described later) according to the second grouping process program 40b (FIG. 3).

  When the image presentation button 48 is touched, a photographic image is presented to the customer according to the image data after the execution of the first and / or second grouping processing using the second monitor 20 (FIG. 1, FIG. 2). In this case, since image data of one group can be reproduced continuously, it is possible to efficiently have a customer browse a picture (image). Then, the customer appropriately selects one of the presented photographic images as necessary, and prints the selected photographic image at a photo studio or the like, or stores the data of the photographic image in a storage medium, thereby making the customer provide.

  Here, the first grouping process and the second grouping process will be schematically described with reference to screen display examples shown in FIG.

  The screen display example 1 shown in FIG. 6 shows an initial state before executing the first grouping process after operating the first grouping button 46a of FIG. 6, and in this initial state, the list display area of the first monitor 14 is displayed. An image represented by all the image data included in the image data list 42c specifically shown in FIG. 4 is displayed at 50, for example. In the screen display example 1 shown in FIG. 6, each image is displayed according to the above-described image data list 42c, and therefore, each image is arranged in chronological order. For example, in FIG. 6, the image with the file name A1 is the oldest, and the image with the file name B2 is the newest.

  The images displayed in the list display area 50 in the grouping process are thumbnail images based on the image data stored in the image column of the image data list 42c.

  Further, although the images to be grouped are still images such as photographic images in the embodiment, they may be moving images, and thumbnail images are also displayed in the case of moving images.

  In order to display all the images in the list display area 50, a scroll bar 52 is set at the right end of the list display area so that all the images can be viewed by scrolling the screen up and down. On the right side of the list display area 50, a first grouping setting button 54, a first grouping release button 56, and an add to first group button 58 are displayed in an operable manner. Then, an end button 60 is displayed below the right side.

  In FIG. 6, for example, the images represented by all the image data A1-A7 and B1, B2 included in the image data list 42c of FIG. 4 are displayed in the list display area 50, and file names A1- A7 and B1, B2 are displayed.

  In the initial state of FIG. 6, in the image data management table 42d of the data storage area 42, as shown in FIG. 7, the first group ID and the file names A1-A7 and B1, B2 for all the images are stored. The second group IDs are set as “0”, respectively. That is, it is shown that no image has been grouped yet.

  When the first grouping setting button 54 is touched in the state shown in FIG. 6, a screen display example 2 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the first monitor 14. In the first grouping setting, for example, an image to be grouped is specified or selected by specifying the first image and the last image. In the screen display example 2 shown in FIG. 8, the display unit 62 displays that three images indicated by the file names A1, A2 and A3 are selected from the images displayed in the list display area 50. . That is, the display unit 62 encloses the file names “A1”, “A2”, and “A3” of the images selected for the first grouping in a rectangular frame, and these images are defined as being in the same group. Indicates that.

  After the first grouping setting as shown in FIG. 8 is performed, as shown in FIG. 9, the image data management table 42d of the data storage area 42 displays “1” for the file names A1, A2 and A3. Is assigned a first group ID. However, since the second grouping process has not been performed yet, “0” is set to the second group ID for all the images (file names). That is, in the image data management table 42d, it is indicated by the first group ID "1" that the three images having the file names A1, A2 and A3 are grouped.

  FIG. 10 is a screen display example 3 when the image of the file name B1 is added to the group indicated by “1” in the first group ID as an example by touching the add button 58. In the screen display example 3 of FIG. 10, in the list display area 50, an image to be added, in this example, an image having the file name B1 is specified, and any one image belonging to a group to which it is added It schematically shows that the image of the file A2 is selected. However, in the screen display example 3 of FIG. 10, addition of the image B1 to the first group grouped by the first grouping setting is schematically shown using an arrow, but in the actual screen display, this is shown. Since no such arrow is displayed, this screen display example 3 is the same as the screen display example 2 (FIG. 8). That is, the screen display example 3 is not actually displayed.

  After designation of an image to be added and selection of a group to be added, as shown in screen display example 4 of FIG. 11, an image of file name B1 is added to the group formed with file names A1 to A3. Ru. That is, the file name A1-A3 and the file name B1 are enclosed by the group display unit 62. At this time, the image of the file B1 is placed at the end of the image of the file name A1-A3 grouped previously. This is because the image with the file name B1 is the image after the time series with respect to the image with the file name A1-A3.

  As described above, in the addition process of this embodiment, an additional image is always automatically added to the end of the group regardless of which image data is selected in time series to the group grouped in the first grouping setting. Are arranged. Therefore, it can be easily distinguished that it is a photograph (image) added (photographed) later.

  Such addition processing to the groups grouped in the first grouping setting is useful in the following cases. For example, an image of file name A1-A3 is, for example, an image of a "Kimono" picture taken with camera A, and an image of file name B1 is an image of a "kimono" picture, for example taken with camera B When the image of the file name A1-A3 is added to the first group, the images of the "dressed" picture can be combined into one group. Therefore, it is convenient if the customer can view the image data of the regrouped group, and can view the images of the "kimono" picture at a time.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the image data table 42d after the image of the file B1 is added to the file name group A1-A3, as shown in FIG. 12, the file names A1-A3 and B1 are "1". The first group ID is assigned.

  Next, the second grouping process will be schematically described with reference to FIG. The second grouping process is started, for example, when the second grouping button 56 b is touched in the GUI 44 of FIG. 5. The second grouping process is also basically the same as the first grouping process described above.

  In the screen display example 5 of FIG. 13, the groups grouped by the first grouping process, seven groups 1 to 7 in this example, are displayed in a list display area 50. In the second grouping process screen, a second group name display area 66 is provided on the upper right of the scroll bar 52, in which the second group names A, B, ... are automatically incremented and displayed. . Below that, a second grouping setting button 66 and a second grouping release button 68 are provided so as to be operable. An end button 60 is displayed at the lowermost position.

  In FIG. 13, FIG. 15, and FIG. 16, the grouped state by the first grouping processing is displayed by overlapping the images, and the “number of overlapped images”, that is, the number of images included in one group is displayed for convenience. Although the groups are drawn as the same number, it is pointed out in advance that the number of images differs depending on the individual groups.

  In the initial state of the second grouping process as shown in FIG. 13, as shown in FIG. 14, the image data management table 42d is assigned a first group ID corresponding to each file name. However, since the first group ID of FIG. 14 matches the state of FIG. 13, the diagram after the addition process is performed on the group ID shown in FIG. 9 when the first grouping process described above is completed. Note that it is also different from the group ID shown in 12.

  In the image data management table 42d of FIG. 14, the first group ID "1" is assigned to the file names A1-A3 and B1, and the first group ID "2" is assigned to the file names A4 and A5. The first group ID "3" is assigned to A7, and the first group ID "7" is assigned to the file name B2.

  When the second grouping setting button 66 shown in FIG. 13 is touched, the screen display example 6 of FIG. 15 is displayed on the first monitor 14. In the screen display example 6 of FIG. 15, the second group ID “A” is set in the second group name display area 64. Then, an image group to be regrouped (second grouping), and in the screen display example 6 shown in FIG. 15, first groups 1, 2 and 7 are specified. In FIG. 15, in order to clarify that the group grouped according to the first grouping process is selected for the second grouping, a frame 70 surrounding the file name and the image is displayed.

  When the second grouping process for the second group name A is completed, as shown in FIG. 17, the file names A1-A3, A4, and A5 belonging to the first group names 1, 2, and 7 are displayed in the image data management table 42d. , And B2 are assigned a second group ID "A".

  Thus, by regrouping by the second grouping setting process, the time required for the image selection by the customer can be reduced as much as possible.

  In the album photo creation system at a photo studio etc., in order to have the customer select an image, a large number of image data are classified into each group in advance, and the customer needs to photograph for each group of images. (Image) Select while checking. However, in this method, it takes time to read an image when switching between groups and groups, and it takes a long time to select an image by a customer.

  On the other hand, according to this embodiment, by superposing groupings, necessary groups among the image groups grouped first are grouped again into one group, and among the groups grouped secondly, The image can be confirmed by the above, and the waiting time which has conventionally occurred when switching the group can be eliminated, and smooth image selection can be expected.

  That is, in the image data processing system that handles a large amount of image (photograph) data, the images can be easily confirmed and selected (organized) by grouping the images in two steps while viewing the list display.

  The first grouping process and the second grouping process have been outlined above. Next, the operation of the first grouping process will be described using the flowcharts of FIGS.

  When the first grouping button 46a of the GUI 44 shown in FIG. 5 is operated, the first grouping process shown in FIG. 18 is started. The first grouping process is executed in accordance with the first grouping process program 40a shown in FIG.

  In the first step S1, the CPU 24 (FIG. 2) accesses the RAM shown in FIG. 3, and from the image data list 42c (FIG. 4) formed in the data storage area 42 thereof, the file name of necessary image data get. That is, the file name is acquired from the folder in which the image data exists in the image data list 42c.

  In step S3, an image data management table 42d shown in FIG. 7, for example, is created in accordance with the acquired file name. However, in this step S3, as shown in FIG. 7, “0” is set to all the first group ID and the second group ID for all file names, as shown in FIG.

  In the next step S5, the CPU 24 displays an initial screen for the first grouping process, for example, the screen display example 1 shown in FIG. 6 as the first monitor 14 according to the image data management table 42d (FIG. 7) created in step S3. Display on top.

  Then, in the next step S7, it is determined whether the end button 60 (FIG. 6) is touched. If "YES", the process ends.

  If "NO" in the step S7, it is determined in the subsequent step S9 whether or not the first grouping setting button 54 is touched. If "YES", in step S11, a first grouping setting process described later is executed.

  If "NO" is determined in step S9, it is determined in the subsequent step S13 whether or not the first grouping release button 56 is touched. If "YES", in step S15, a first grouping release process described later is executed.

  If "NO" in the step S13, it is determined in the following step S17 whether the addition button 58 is touched. If "YES", in step S19, an addition process to the first group described later is executed.

  Details of the first grouping setting process of step S11 are shown in FIG. In the first step S21 of FIG. 19, the operator selects the image data (start image data) of the first image to be grouped as the same group in the first grouping process, and the CPU 24 receives the selection by the operator. That is, the touch coordinates touched by the operator at that time are received from the touch panel control circuit 38 (FIG. 2), and by determining which image of the screen display example 1 (FIG. 6) the touch coordinates position is designated, At that time, the start image data selected by the operator is specified. In step S23, the last image data (end image data) to be grouped as a first group is selected, and the CPU 24 receives the selection by the operator. That is, the end image data is specified based on the touch coordinates at that time. In the case of screen display example 2 in FIG. 8, an image indicated by file name A1 is selected as start image data, and an image indicated by file name A3 is selected as end image data.

  Then, in the next step S25, the CPU 24 adds the first group ID indicating the first group to the image data management table 42d created in step S3 (FIG. 18). For example, when A1 is specified as the start image as shown in FIG. 8 and A3 is specified as the end image, in step S25, as shown in FIG. 9, for the file names A1, A2 and A3, the first group The ID "1" is set.

  Then, in the final step S27, a screen display example 2 (FIG. 8) according to the rewritten image data management table 42d (FIG. 9) is displayed on the first monitor 14, and the process returns to FIG.

  Details of the first grouping release process of step S15 are shown in FIG. In the first step S31 of the first grouping release process, the operator selects image data to be released from the grouping among the image data grouped in the first grouping setting process, and the CPU 24 receives the selection. That is, by receiving from the touch panel control circuit 38 (FIG. 2) the touch coordinates touched by the operator at that time and judging which image of the screen display example 2 (FIG. 8) indicates the touch coordinate position. At that time, the image data selected by the operator for which grouping release is desired is specified.

  In response, in step S33, the CPU 24 cancels the first group ID corresponding to the file name of the image selected in step S31 from the image data management table 42d updated in step S25 (set it to "0").

  Then, in step S35, the contents after the release of the first grouping are displayed on the first monitor 14. For example, assuming that A3 is selected or designated as the image to be degrouped in screen display example 2 of FIG. 8, after the first grouping cancellation displayed in step S35, display unit 62 displays the file names A1 and A2 The file name A3 is removed from the display unit 62 only. Although not shown, the state is an example of screen display after releasing the first grouping. Thereafter, the process returns to FIG.

  Details of an addition process for adding an image to a group grouped by the first grouping setting in step S19 are shown in FIG. For example, in the screen display example 2 after the first grouping setting process shown in FIG. 8, when the addition button 58 is touched, the first step S41 is executed.

  In this step S41, first, the screen display example 2 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. However, here, in order to clearly understand the addition process, reference is made to screen display example 3 showing data in FIG.

  Then, in this step S41, image data to be added to one of the groups grouped in the first grouping setting process is selected or designated in the screen display example 2, and the CPU 24 receives the selection or designation. That is, by receiving from the touch panel control circuit 38 (FIG. 2) the touch coordinates touched by the operator at that time and judging which image of the screen display example 2 (FIG. 8) the touch coordinate position indicates At that time, the additional image data selected by the operator is specified. In FIG. 10, the selection of the image with the file name B1 is accepted.

  In the next step S43, the group of the addition destination to which the selected image data is added is designated, and the CPU 24 receives the designation of the group. Specifically, one of the image data belonging to the addition destination group is selected, and the CPU 24 determines which image of the screen display example 2 the touch coordinates touched by the operator at that time indicate Thus, the image data in the group to which the operator selects at that time to be added is specified. In screen display example 3 of FIG. 10, image data of file name A2 belonging to the first group is selected or designated.

  In step S45, the image data management table 42d is rewritten in response to the designation of the image data to be added in step S41 and the designation of the addition destination group in step S43. In the image data management table 42d shown in FIG. 9, the file names belonging to the first group are A1-A3 and the last line is the line of the file name A3. Thereafter, the line of the image B1 to be added (the second line from the bottom of FIG. 9) is added. As a result, the image data management table 42d is updated as shown in FIG. That is, the added image B1 is arranged after the last image A3 of the first group, and the first group ID of the line of the file name B1 is set to "1".

  Finally, in step S47, the screen display example 4 shown in FIG. 11, for example, is displayed on the first monitor 14 in accordance with the image data management table 42d (FIG. 12) thus rewritten in step S45. In FIG. 11, the display unit 62 is formed so as to include the added file name B1 in addition to the file names A1-A3 previously grouped into the first group. Therefore, the operator can confirm that the image of the file name B1 has been added to the first group. Thereafter, the process returns to FIG.

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the second grouping process. The second grouping process is executed in accordance with the second grouping process program 40b shown in FIG.

  In the first step S51, the CPU 24 (FIG. 2) accesses the RAM shown in FIG. 3, and the first grouping process is finished according to the image data management table 42d (FIG. 14) formed in the data storage area 42 thereof. A screen display, for example, a screen display example 5 shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the first monitor 14. However, in the image data management table 42d at this time, since the first grouping process is completed, the first group ID according to the result of the first grouping process is attached to each file name, but the second grouping is performed. Since the process has not been executed yet, all second group IDs are set to "0" for all file names.

  In the next step S53, it is determined whether the end button 60 (FIG. 13) is touched. If "YES", the process ends.

  If "NO" in the step S53, it is determined in the subsequent step S55 whether or not the second grouping setting button 66 (FIG. 13) is touched. If "YES", in step S57, a second grouping setting process described later is executed.

  If "NO" is determined in the step S55, it is determined in the subsequent step S59 whether or not the second grouping release button 68 (FIG. 13) is touched. If "YES", in step S61, a second grouping release process described later is executed.

  The details of the second grouping setting process of step S57 are shown in FIG. In the first step S71 of FIG. 23, the operator sets a plurality of groups to be regrouped (second grouping) out of the groups grouped through the first grouping setting process (including the canceling process and the adding process). , Designated or selected in the screen display example 5 (FIG. 13), and the CPU 24 (FIG. 2) receives the designation or selection. That is, the touch coordinates touched by the operator at that time are received from the touch panel control circuit 38 (FIG. 2), and by determining which image (group) of the screen display example 5 indicates the touch coordinate position, Identify the multiple groups you want to regroup, selected by the operator.

  In the screen display example 6 of FIG. 15, it is schematically depicted that the operator has selected a plurality of groups for the second grouping. In FIG. 15, the rectangular frame 70 displays the selection by surrounding the group selected for the second grouping. In this example, it can be seen that the first group, the second group, and the seventh group grouped by the first grouping process are selected.

  However, instead of the rectangular frame 70, the group selected for the second grouping may be clearly indicated by another method such as highlighting the selected group.

  Then, the operator can confirm the group designated by himself / herself by looking at the screen display example 6 as shown in FIG. If you made a wrong selection, you can cancel the wrong selection by double-touching the image of the incorrectly selected group. That is, when the CPU 24 receives a double touch signal from the touch panel control circuit 38 in a state where the screen display example 6 is displayed on the first monitor 14 for the second grouping setting, the group indicated by the touch coordinates at that time It can be known that there is a cancellation of the selection of the image. Then, the selection may be redone in the manner described above.

  Then, in step S73, the image data management table 42d shown in FIG. 14 is updated to the image data management table 42d shown in FIG. 17 so as to assign a second group ID to each image of the group selected in step S71. . In the image data management table 42d of FIG. 17, a second group ID such as "A" is set corresponding to the file name of the image of each group selected for the second grouping in step S71.

  In step S73, the screen display example 7 of FIG. 16 is displayed on the first monitor 14 based on the image data management table 42d of FIG. 17 for confirmation. In the list display area 50, the first group ID indicated by 1, 2 and 7 is surrounded by the rectangular frame 72, and the state in which the second grouping setting is completed is displayed.

  Thereafter, the CPU 24 increments the second group name and causes the second group name display area 64 (FIG. 16) to display the second group name of "B" for the next second grouping setting process. Thereafter, the process returns to FIG.

  The details of the second grouping release process of step S61 are shown in FIG. In the first step S81 of FIG. 23, the operator selects one of the groups regrouped through the second grouping setting process that is desired to release the regrouping (second grouping), as shown in FIG. And the CPU 24 (FIG. 2) accepts the specification or selection. That is, the operator receives the touch coordinates touched at that time from touch panel control circuit 38 (FIG. 2), and determines the touch coordinate position, for example, which image of screen display example 7 is designated at that time. The group selected by the person who wants to cancel the second grouping is specified.

Then, in step S83, for example, in the image data management table 42d shown in FIG. 14, for each image of the group selected in step S81, when it is the same as the second grouping name in which the second group ID is set, Delete group ID. In practice, "0" is written as the second group ID. Thereafter, the process returns to FIG.
Second Embodiment
In FIG. 19 showing the first grouping setting process of the first embodiment, the start image data and the end image data are respectively designated in order to select the image data to be subjected to the first grouping setting. In this method, although it is possible to operate efficiently when selecting continuous image data, there is a possibility that the operation may be complicated when selecting image data to be set as the first grouping at random.

  Therefore, as a second embodiment, for example, in the screen display example 1 as shown in FIG. 6, the image data to be set by the first grouping is selected or specified by touch operation, for example, while the “selection confirmation button” on the first monitor 14 It is conceivable to set (not shown) and to allow selection or cancellation arbitrarily until the selection confirmation button is touched. In this case, the CPU 24 may execute step S25 of FIG. 19 on the image data whose selection has been determined.

However, as a method of canceling the selection, as described in step S71 of the second group setting, any method such as double-touching the image selected once can be considered. In addition, this cancellation method may be effective as a method for canceling the designation when the start image and the end image are incorrectly designated in FIG.
Third Embodiment
For example, in the screen display example 1 (screen display example 4) after the first grouping setting (addition) shown in FIG. 8 (FIG. 11), the rectangle of the group display unit 62 in order to clarify the distinction from other groups. The frame may be a rectangular frame of a different color for each group (first group ID), or the background color in the rectangular frame may be different for each group.

Based on the same idea, the color of the rectangular frame 72 or the background color of the rectangular frame 72 may be changed for each second group ID also in the screen display example 7 of FIG. 16 showing the second grouping setting, for example.
Fourth Embodiment
In the above-described embodiment, when adding image data after setting the first grouping, in FIG. 21, after selecting or specifying the image data to be added, selecting or specifying any image data belonging to the addition destination group Processed to add the image data to be added to the addition destination group.

Instead of such a method, a so-called "drag and drop" method may be used. In this case, as indicated by an arrow in screen display example 3 of FIG. 10, for example, while touching the image data B1 to be added, the image data B1 is moved and dropped in the area shown as the first group by the display unit 62. Then, the CPU 24 detects such drag and drop, and executes step S45 of FIG.
<Others>
In the above-described embodiment, the first monitor 14 is the touch screen display, and it has been described that the first monitor 14 operates according to the touch operation of the operator. However, the first monitor 14 may not be a touch screen display. In that case, the operator may operate using the input device 28 (FIG. 2) such as the keyboard 16 and the mouse 18 as shown in FIG.

  Although the image database 32 has been described as an HDD in FIG. 2, for example, volatile memory such as DDR SDRAM (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), flash ROM, EEPROM (registered trademark), etc. Of non-volatile memory.

  Furthermore, in the above description, the first grouping processing program 40a and the second grouping processing program 40b are described as being set in the RAM in the storage device 30, but such grouping processing programs are conventionally known. It can be recorded on a computer readable recording medium. To provide a recording medium on which a program code (an executable program, an intermediate code program, a source program, etc.) for executing processing based on a grouping processing program is portablely provided by recording the grouping processing program on the recording medium. Can.

  Note that the recording medium may be a program medium such as a memory, for example, a ROM, for the control device (computer) 12 to execute processing, or the computer 12 is inserted into a program reading device provided as an external storage device. It may be a program medium that can be read.

  Although the grouping processing program has been described as being stored in the RAM in the storage device 30, the CPU 24 may directly access and execute a recording medium.

  Here, the program medium is a recording medium configured to be separable from the main body, and a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a flexible disk, a magnetic disk such as a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an MD (Mini Disc), Disc code of optical disc such as DVD, IC card (including memory card), card type such as optical card, or fixed program code including semiconductor memory such as mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM (registered trademark), flash ROM, etc. It may be a medium that carries

  In addition, if the control device 12 has a system configuration connectable to a communication network including the Internet, the recording medium may be a medium that carries program code in a fluid manner so as to download the program code from the communication network. Good. When the program is downloaded from the communication network as described above, the download program is stored in advance in the main device or installed from another recording medium. The display program may also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave, in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  Furthermore, in each step of the flow chart shown in the above-described embodiment, the order of processing can be changed as appropriate as long as the same result is obtained.

10 ... image data processing system 12 ... control device 14 ... first monitor 20 ... second monitor 24 ... CPU
30 storage unit 32 image database 38 touch panel control circuit 40 program storage area 40a first grouping processing program 40b second grouping processing program 42 data storage area 42c image data list 42d image data management table 44 GUI
50 List display area

Claims (8)

An image data processing system for processing image data using image data stored in an image database, comprising:
monitor,
A storage device for reading image data from the image database and storing the image data for displaying the image on a monitor;
A table creation unit that creates an image data management table including a plurality of image data based on the image data stored in the storage device;
Image list display means for displaying a list of a plurality of images on the monitor based on the image data management table;
Grouped image specifying means for specifying the plurality of images for grouping selected by the operator upon receipt of the selection operation of the operator on the plurality of images displayed in the list;
A first grouping setting unit configured to update the image data management table so that a plurality of images selected by the operator can be identified as one group;
Group list display means for displaying a list of images of a plurality of groups on the monitor based on the image data management table updated by the first grouping setting means;
Group identification means for identifying the plurality of groups selected by the operator upon receipt of the operator's selection operation for the plurality of groups displayed in the list, and the plurality of groups selected by the operator can be identified as one group An image data processing system comprising a second grouping setting unit for updating the image data management table as described above. A release image specifying means for receiving a selection operation of the operator on the images of the arbitrary groups displayed in the list and specifying a release image for releasing the grouping selected by the operator; and the release image selected by the operator The image data processing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a first grouping release unit that updates the image data management table so as to release from a group.   The image data processing system according to claim 1, further comprising an addition unit that adds another image data to the listed arbitrary group.   The monitor further includes second grouping setting result display means for displaying the second grouping processing result regrouped by the second grouping setting means on the monitor based on the image data management table updated by the second grouping setting means. The image data processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. In the second grouping setting result displayed on the monitor, a group specifying unit that receives an operator's selection operation for an arbitrary group and specifies the group selected by the operator; and the group selected by the operator again The image data processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising second grouping release means for releasing from a grouped group. An image data processing apparatus for processing image data using image data stored in an image database, comprising:
monitor,
A storage device for reading image data from the image database and storing the image data for displaying the image on a monitor;
A table creation unit that creates an image data management table including a plurality of image data based on the image data stored in the storage device;
Image list display means for displaying a list of a plurality of images on the monitor based on the image data management table;
Grouped image specifying means for specifying the plurality of images for grouping selected by the operator upon receipt of the selection operation of the operator on the plurality of images displayed in the list;
A first grouping setting unit configured to update the image data management table so that a plurality of images selected by the operator can be identified as one group;
Group list display means for displaying a list of images of a plurality of groups on the monitor based on the image data management table updated by the first grouping setting means;
Group identification means for identifying the plurality of groups selected by the operator upon receipt of the operator's selection operation for the plurality of groups displayed in the list, and the plurality of groups selected by the operator can be identified as one group An image data processing apparatus comprising a second grouping setting unit configured to update the image data management table as described above. A computer of an image data processing apparatus comprising a monitor and a storage device for reading out image data from an image database and storing the image data for displaying the image on the monitor;
A table creation unit that creates an image data management table including a plurality of image data based on the image data stored in the storage device;
Image list display means for displaying a list of a plurality of images on the monitor based on the image data management table;
Grouped image specifying means for specifying the plurality of images for grouping selected by the operator upon receipt of the selection operation of the operator on the plurality of images displayed in the list;
A first grouping setting unit configured to update the image data management table so that a plurality of images selected by the operator can be identified as one group;
Group list display means for displaying a list of images of a plurality of groups on the monitor based on the image data management table updated by the first grouping setting means;
Group identification means for identifying the plurality of groups selected by the operator upon receipt of the operator's selection operation for the plurality of groups displayed in the list, and the plurality of groups selected by the operator can be identified as one group An image data processing program that functions as a second grouping setting unit that updates the image data management table as described above. An image data processing apparatus comprising a monitor and a storage device for reading out image data from an image database and storing image data for displaying the image on the monitor;
Creating an image data management table including a plurality of image data based on the image data stored in the storage device;
An image list display step of displaying a list of a plurality of images on the monitor based on the image data management table;
A grouping image specifying step of specifying a plurality of images for grouping selected by the operator upon receiving a selection operation of the operator on the plurality of images displayed in the list;
A first grouping setting step of updating the image data management table so that a plurality of images selected by the operator can be identified as one group;
A group list display step of displaying a list of images of a plurality of groups on the monitor based on the image data management table updated in the first grouping setting step;
The group identification step of identifying the plurality of groups selected by the operator upon receipt of the operator's selection operation for the plurality of groups displayed in the list, and the plurality of groups selected by the operator can be identified as one group A second grouping setting step of updating the image data management table as described above.

Images