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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to image processing apparatuses and, more
particularly, to an image processing apparatus with improved retrieval and
operation control properties.
Digital still cameras are capable of recording, as files, image data, voice
data, control data, etc. on such recording media as IC memory cards,
magnetic media (hard disks or floppy disks), opto-magnetic media, etc.
In digital still cameras, or like image processing apparatuses, an image
can be obtained in the form of image data for use in computer processing
or image data transfer. Thus, expansion of the use of such apparatus is
expected. In such image processing apparatus, image data is recorded as
frame data, that is, as data for one frame and is stored in IC cards or
like recording media. This means that for retrieval of the recorded image
it is necessary to read out and reproduce individual image data
successively. In general, however, the quantity of the image data to be
handled is large and, particularly, in the case of floppy disks or the
like, where the data read speed is low, considerable time is required for
reading and reproducing the data. Meanwhile, it is well known in the art
to use data compression for data quantity reduction. For image
reproduction, however, the read-out individual image data pieces have to
be subjected to a decompression process which dictates a long time for the
reproducing process thereby making it difficult to obtain high speed
retrieval.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an image processing
apparatus capable of high speed retrieval of data while improving
operation control.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
image processing apparatus comprising subordinate image producing means
for producing subordinate image data by extracting a portion of
photographically obtained or externally supplied main image data of a
predetermined image area, and means for storing the main image data and
the subordinate image data in the same file. Thus, the retrieval operation
can be greatly improved.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
image processing apparatus comprising first subordinate image producing
means for producing first subordinate image data by extracting a portion
of photographically obtained or externally supplied main image data of a
predetermined image area, a second subordinate image producing means for
producing second subordinate image data by extracting a portion of the
first subordinate image data generated by the first subordinate image
producing means, and means for storing the main image data and the first
and second subordinate image data in the same file. Thus, the subordinate
image can be produced from subordinate image data, increasing the freedom
degree of the subordinate image production, and it is possible to extract
only the necessary data.
Here, the subordinate image producing means includes area selecting means
for selecting a particular area data of the main image as the part of
image data, thus unnecessary data can be deleted to improve retrieval
properties. The area selection means includes at least either size
changing means for changing the size of the particular area and area
position changing means for changing the position of the particular area.
Further production of the subordinate image from the subordinate image
data permits more flexible area selection as well as increasing the
freedom degree of the subordinate image generation and permitting
extraction of only necessary data. The subordinate image producing means
includes image contracting means for contracting the image data and making
the contracted image data to be the part of image data, thereby making it
possible to have knowledge of the whole image with smaller data size, thus
providing for retrieval property improvements. The subordinate image
producing means includes image compressing means for compressing the image
data and making the compressed image data to be the part of image data,
thus smaller data sizes can be obtained with substantially the same
quality, thus providing for retrieval property improvements. The first
subordinate image producing means includes first area selecting means for
making a particular area data of the main image to be the part of image
data, or first image contracting means for making contracted image data
obtained through contraction of the main image to be the part of image
data, and the second subordinate image producing means includes at least
one means selected from second area selecting means for making a
particular area data of the first subordinate image to be the part of
image data, second image contracting means for making contracted image
data obtained through contraction of the first subordinate image to be the
part of image data, and image compressing means for making compressed
image data obtained through contraction of data of the first subordinate
image to be the part of image data. Thus, necessary data can be produced
in reduced size, thus providing for retrieval property improvements.
The image compressing means includes means for producing AC and DC
orthogonal coefficients through orthogonal transform of image data, and
producing the subordinate image data based on the sole DC orthogonal
coefficients. Compared to mere image contraction, the image quality can be
improved, the hardware can be simplified, and the retrieval property can
be improved.
The image compressing means executes the compression with setting a
constant data quantity after the compression. Thus, the subordinate image
data quantity may be constant, thus permitting ready address management
and providing retrieval property improvement. The image compressing means
executes the compression with setting a constant compression factor. Thus,
it becomes possible to provide a constant image quality and the image
record can be obtained without any trouble by taking any picture, while
providing for retrieval property improvements.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
image processing apparatus comprising means for producing data of main
image data of photographically obtained or externally supplied image of a
predetermined area and subordinate image data constituted by part of image
data of the main image and recording the subordinate-image data after the
main image data recorded in the same file. When recording the main and
subordinate image data in the same file, writing the main image data first
is convenient in case of adding the subordinate image or erasing only the
subordinate image. Besides, since the main image is in the forefront, it
can be reproduced when the reproduction is made by using general software
for personal computers.
The subordinate image producing means includes data format means for
converting produced subordinate image data into format data conforming to
the format of a relevant computer, making it possible to handle data more
simply and at higher speeds in personal computers, as well as providing
for retrieval property improvements.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image processing apparatus means for producing subordinate
image by extracting part of the main image data of a photographically
obtained or externally supplied image of a predetermined area, and means
for writing produced subordinate image data in a data recording section of
a main image file having a file header and writing a write start address
of the subordinate image in the file header. Since the relational file is
common to both main and subordinate images, both the images can be handled
together at the time of movement, copying, deleting, etc., and it is
possible to obtain conventional frame No. management.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided
an image processing apparatus comprising means for producing a subordinate
image by extracting part of the main image data of photographically
obtained or externally supplied image of a predetermined area, and means
for writing produced subordinate image data in an image file having a file
header by interpreting tuple data recorded in the file header, producing
an option tuple for each subordinate image, and writing parameters or data
or the parameters and the data of the subordinate data in the produced
option tuple. When recording the main and subordinate image data in the
same file, writing the main image first is convenient in case of adding a
subordinate image or erasing only the subordinate image, as well as
permitting reproduction of the main image in general personal computer
software or the like because the main image is in the forefront. Besides,
by deleting the file header, only the main image remains, which is
convenient for extracting the main image.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image processing apparatus comprising means for producing
subordinate image by extracting part of the main image data of
photographically obtained or externally supplied image of a predetermined
area, means for converting data of the main image data into data of format
conforming to an image data format for a personal computer, and means for
writing produced subordinate image data in an image header section or a
data section for each converted main image data by interpreting data
recorded in the image header section and writing data of the subordinate
image in the image header section or the data section. The configuration
of a single image header for one image can be made use of, in the case
where there are a plurality of main image records in the same file, for
prescribing subordinate images for each of these main images.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image processing apparatus comprising subordinate image
producing means for producing subordinate image constituted by part of the
main image data of each of a plurality of pieces of main image constituted
by photographically obtained or externally supplied image of a
predetermined area, and means for recording data of the main image and a
plurality of subordinate image data in respective separate image files,
thus with a single record of image in a file, image management is possible
with file image.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image processing apparatus comprising subordinate image
producing means for producing a subordinate image constituted by part of
the main image data of each of a plurality of pieces of main image
constituted by photographically obtained or externally supplied image of a
predetermined area, and means for recording data of the main image and
data of a plurality of pieces of subordinate image in respective separate
image files and recording relational data about the main and subordinate
image data in a relational data file as a specific data file. Since the
relational data is provided collectively, it can be simply managed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
image processing apparatus comprising subordinate image producing means
for producing a subordinate image constituted by part of the main image
data of each of a plurality of pieces of a main image constituted by a
photographically obtained or externally supplied image of a predetermined
area, and means for recording data of the main image and data of a
plurality of pieces of produced subordinate image in respective separate
image files and recording relational data between the main image data and
the subordinate image data in file headers of image files with the main
image data recorded thereon. Since retrieval can be made in a relational
fashion, such as from the main image to the subordinate image and also
from the subordinate image to the main image, it can be made at high speed
without the need of reading any excess files.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided
an image processing apparatus comprising subordinate image producing means
for producing a subordinate image constituted by part of the main image
data of each of a plurality of pieces of main image constituted by a
photographically obtained or externally supplied image of a predetermined
area, and means for recording data of the main image and data of a
plurality of pieces of produced subordinate image in respective separate
image files and recording the data of the plurality of subordinate images
based on the main image data together with file names or file names and
extenders for discriminating these image pieces from one another. Thus,
only the main or subordinate image can be reproduced more simply. Besides,
discrimination of the main and subordinate images may be made from their
names. These names also permit the relation of the images to be
determined. Thus, it is possible to obtain management of images without
reproduction thereof.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image processing apparatus comprising subordinate image
producing means for producing a subordinate image constituted by part of
the main image data of each of a plurality of pieces of main image
constituted by a photographically obtained or externally supplied image of
a predetermined area, and means for recording data of the main image and
data of a plurality of pieces of produced subordinate image in respective
separate image files and recording at least the subordinate image data
among the main and subordinate image data in directories capable of being
discriminated from one another. The main or subordinate image can thus be
reproduced conveniently. Particularly, the reproduction of solely the
subordinate image is effective at the time of the index reproduction.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
image processing apparatus comprising subordinate image producing means
for producing subordinate image constituted by part of the main image data
of each of a plurality of pieces of main image constituted by a
photographically obtained or externally supplied image of a predetermined
area, and means for recording data of the main image and data of a
plurality of pieces of produced subordinate image in respective separate
image files and collectively recording at least the subordinate image data
among the main and subordinate image data in a single image file. This is
effective for collecting image erasing.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image processing apparatus capable of obtaining a plurality of
main images each constituted by a predetermined area image continuously at
a predetermined interval, comprising subordinate image producing means for
producing a subordinate image constituted by part of the main image data
of a particular one of the plurality of continuously obtained main images.
Since the continuous image pick-up produces a series of similar images,
volume saving can be attained by producing a subordinate image with
respect to typical records of the image.
Here, the particular main image is the first or last one of the plurality
of main images. Thus subordinate image production may be made only once,
thus permitting higher speed continuous image pickup. Besides, since the
relational data is provided collectively, it is possible to obtain simple
management and conventional frame No. management. The particular main
image is selected according to the length of the predetermined interval,
the shorter or the longer the predetermined interval being, the greater or
the less the number of main images being. When the speed of the continuous
image pick-up is slow, time is redundant, and it is possible to reduce the
subordinate image generation interval and produce the subordinate image by
appropriately utilizing idle time.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
image processing apparatus comprising means for producing a main image
constituted by a photographically obtained or externally supplied image of
a predetermined area and subordinate image constituted by part of the
image data of the main image, existence information of the corresponding
subordinate image being displayed when the main image is reobtained or
displayed. If it is possible to display information about whether there is
a subordinate image when reproducing the main image, the convenience of
use can be improved.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided
an image processing apparatus comprising means for producing a main image
constituted by a photographically obtained or externally supplied image of
a predetermined area and subordinate area constituted by part of the image
data of the main image, the means producing a plurality of pieces of
corresponding subordinate image when the main image is reproduced and
displayed. Thus, it is possible to produce the subordinate image while
watching the reproduced image. Thus, higher freedom degree of the
subordinate image production can be obtained.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image processing apparatus comprising storage means for
storing data of the main image constituted by a photographically obtained
or externally supplied image of a predetermined area and data of a
subordinate image constituted by part of the image data of the main image,
and means for erasing the only particular subordinate image data stored in
the storage means. Since only the subordinate image can be erased, it is
possible to erase an unnecessary subordinate image or produce the
subordinate image afresh.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided
an image processing apparatus comprising storage means for storing data of
the main image constituted by a photographically obtained or externally
supplied image of a predetermined area and data of a subordinate image
constituted by part of the image data of the main image, and means for
collectively erasing the data of a plurality of subordinate images stored
in the storage means. Thus, it becomes possible to erase the subordinate
image collectively, thus providing for improved convenience of use.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
image processing apparatus comprising storage means for storing data of
the main image constituted by a photographically obtained or externally
supplied image of a predetermined area and data of a subordinate image
constituted by part of the image data of the main image, and means for
collectively erasing the main image stored in the storage means and the
subordinate image corresponding to the main image. Where the main and
subordinate images are in separate files, erasing the main image
automatically causes erasing of the subordinate image, thus providing for
improved convenience of use.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image processing apparatus comprising subordinate image
producing means for producing a subordinate image constituted by part of
the main image data constituted by a photographically obtained or
externally supplied image of a predetermined area, and transmitting means
for transmitting the produced subordinate image data. The subordinate
image is smaller in data size than the main image, which is convenient
when transmitting data.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
image processing apparatus comprising subordinate image producing means
for producing a subordinate image constituted by part of the main image
data constituted by a photographically obtained or externally supplied
image of a predetermined area, and transmitting means for transmitting the
produced subordinate image data, main image data corresponding to the
transmitted subordinate image being transmitted With reception and
according to a response signal received from the receiving side which
received the subordinate image data. By first transmitting the smaller
size subordinate image and then transmitting the main image according to
the desire of the receiving side, only the necessary image may be
transmitted, which is a desired economy.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided
an image processing apparatus comprising subordinate image producing means
for producing a subordinate image constituted by part of the main image
data constituted by a photographically obtained or externally supplied
image of a predetermined area, and transmitting means for transmitting the
produced subordinate image data, the subordinate image being produced and
transmitted according to a subordinate image producing mode designated by
a production mode designating signal received from the receiving side
which received the subordinate image data. Since the receiving side may
not always require all main image data, only necessary data may be
transmitted, that is, only the subordinate image may be transmitted, which
is produced according to the desire of the receiving side.
According to still a further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image processing apparatus comprising subordinate image
producing means for producing a subordinate image constituted by part of
the image data of each of a plurality of main images constituted by a
photographically obtained or externally supplied image of a predetermined
area, data of the produced main or subordinate image being written in the
same image file, write start address for each data being expressed as 2 (n
being an integer). The independence of the image data itself is increased,
thus increasing the versatility of individual data. Besides, convenience
is provided for the extraction, erasing, etc. of solely the image data.
Further the first address retrieval property is improved.
According to the individual aspects of the invention as noted above,
corresponding ones of various functions to be described later are
obtainable. That is, a part of the image data of the main image is
extracted to produce subordinate image data, and the subordinate image
data thus produced and the main image data are recorded in such a relation
that they can be discriminated. Further, the recorded subordinate image is
read out, reproduced or erased either solely or in relation to the main
image. Furthermore, the produced subordinate image data is transmitted,
and the main image data corresponding to the transmitted subordinate image
is transmitted according to a response signal from the receiving side.
Other objects and features will be clarified from the following description
with reference to attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram representing implementation of the image
processing apparatus, according to the invention, as a digital still
camera;
FIG. 2 shows three different examples of the recording status;
FIG. 3 shows an example of entry in the file header;
FIG. 4 shows an example of the recording format in the file header;
FIG. 5 shows an example of recording an image header (JPEG header) in the
case of recording the main image data after compression thereof in JPEG
standard format as the image data format system for personal computers;
FIG. 6 shows an example of recording the subordinate image data in separate
files from that of the main image data and recording relational data about
the image data in the relational file;
FIG. 7 shows an example of recording the subordinate image data in a
separate file from that of the main image data and recording relational
data about the subordinate image data files in the file header of main
image data file;
FIG. 8 shows an example, in which the main and subordinate image data are
recorded in separate files for discriminating and relating of data on the
basis of file names;
FIG. 9 shows a directory structure example, in which the main and
subordinate image data are recorded in separate files while relating
together the individual files with the directory;
FIG. 10 shows an example in which the main and subordinate image data are
recorded in separate files;
FIG. 11 shows an example of designating the image data recording start
address in units of clusters;
FIG. 12 shows the operation sequence of an embodiment of the digital still
camera, according to the present invention;
FIG. 13 shows a flow chart illustrating an image data recording sequence in
the case of recording the subordinate image data after the recording of
the main image data;
FIG. 14 shows a flow chart illustrating the sequence of the subordinate
image production process in step S25 of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 shows the routine of the non-compressed data conversion process;
FIG. 16 shows the subordinate image recording process in step S26 of FIG.
13;
FIG. 17 shows the writing of data in the file header, as is also described
in connection with FIG.
FIG. 18 shows a flow chart illustrating the routine of the writing process
of the subordinate image data, as shown in FIG. 5, in a JPEG header;
FIG. 19 shows a flow chart illustrating the sequence of subordinate image
recording for relating image data based on the relational file shown in
FIG. 6;
FIG. 20 shows a flow chart illustrating the sequence of subordinate image
recording for relating the data with the file header shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 21 shows a flow chart representing the sequence of subordinate image
recording for relating data by file names as shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 22 shows a flow chart representing the sequence of subordinate image
recording for relating the data by directories as shown in FIG. 9;
FIG. 23 shows a flow chart representing the sequence of recording the
subordinate image data, in which a collective data file for the
subordinate image, as shown in FIG. 10, is utilized;
FIG. 24 shows the operation of continuous image generation with a digital
still camera;
FIG. 25 shows a flow chart illustrating a sequence example of the
subordinate image producing condition judgment in step S136 in FIG. 24 at
the time of the continuous image pick-up;
FIG. 26 shows a flow chart illustrating the sequence of automatically
selecting and producing the main image necessary for producing the
subordinate image from a plurality of main images in conformity to the
speed of continuous image pick-up;
FIG. 27 shows an example of the commonly called image-in-image (picture-in
picture) display, in which the subordinate image is displayed on the
monitor screen on which the main image is displayed;
FIG. 28 shows a character display example with frame No. and the number of
the subordinate images on part (i.e., right upper portion) of the main
image display on the monitor;
FIGS. 29 and 30 show examples of setting a selection area which is to be
extracted as the subordinate image from the main image displayed on the
monitor, together with area size;
FIGS. 31 shows an example in which part of the main image is made to be the
subordinate image, an image obtained by contracting and further
compressing the main image is used as the subordinate image;
FIG. 32 shows a flow chart illustrating an image reproduction sequence;
FIG. 33 shows a flow chart of the sequence of reproducing subordinate
image;
FIG. 34 shows a subordinate data erasing sequence;
FIG. 35 shows a flow chart illustrating the sequence in an example of
executing collective erasing when the subordinate image is written in a
separate file;
FIG. 36 shows a flow chart illustrating the procedure of transmitting the
subordinate and main image data;
FIG. 37 shows a flow chart of an embodiment in which the subordinate image
is automatically produced and transmitted in real time in response to a
request from the receiving side; and
FIG. 38 shows a detail of the sequence of FIG. 37.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference
to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing implementation of the image processing
apparatus, according to the invention, as a digital still camera.
An object to be photographed is inputted through an optical system (lens 1)
to imaging circuit 2 having CCDs or the like imaging elements as
photoelectric converting means to produce an electric signal. The electric
signal thus obtained is subjected by clamping circuit 3 to a predetermined
clamping process and then converted by A/D converter 4 into digital data
to be written in frame memory 11. The writing and reading of the data in
and out of frame memory 11 are controlled by memory controller 10 the
under control of system controller 16. The image data read out from frame
memory 11 is coupled to digital processor 5 for digital processing along
with character data supplied from character generator 9. The output data
from digital processor 5 is converted in D/A converter 6 into an analog
image signal. The analog image signal is amplified by amplifier 7 and then
supplied to external terminal EXT and electronic viewfinder 8.
In data recording, image data read out from frame memory 11 is subjected to
orthogonal transform in DCT/IDCT (discrete cosine transform/inverse
discrete cosine transform) circuit 12. The orthogonal coefficient data is
coded in coder/decoder 13 and subjected to a compression process in a
compression system conforming to the JPEG system, etc. The compressed
image data is recorded in IC memory card 15 which is used as a storage
means. IC memory card 15 may be detachably provided to the apparatus body,
or it may be equipped therein.
The image data read out from IC memory card 15 is subjected to a
decompression process in the coder/decoder 13 and the DCT/IDCT circuit 12
before being written in frame memory 11. The image data read out from
frame memory 11 is supplied through digital processor 5, D/A converter 6
and amplifier 7 to external terminal EXT and electronic viewfinder 8.
The system controller 16 receives and outputs data through data bus B1 to
control the entire camera operation. As an example, it controls the
display on display unit 17 comprising LCDs or the like and also controls
the camera operation according to operation data from operation unit 18.
Further, it controls character generator 9 for desired character data
output control, and also controls external communication via data bus B2
and data input/output unit 19. An auxiliary memory 14 is a working memory
for various data processes.
Using the structure shown in FIG. 1, according to the embodiments of the
present invention, the subordinate image (e.g., thinned image, contracted
image, etc.) is produced by extracting part of the image data of one image
frame (hereinafter referred to as the main image), the extracted image
being stored in a memory, transmitted to a different image processing
apparatus or otherwise being processed. The recording of the extracted or
subordinate image in the memory is made through the operation of system
controller 16, and there are various recording statuses which will be
described hereinafter.
In the digital still camera, in which image data, voice data, control data,
etc. are recorded as files on a recording medium, such as a memory card, a
magnetic medium (a hard disk or a floppy disk), an opto-magnetic medium,
etc., data may also be recorded in the form of a file on the recording
medium. From the viewpoint of data versatility, it is desirable to use a
personal computer or the like for memory management in the standard DOS
(disk operating system) form. Also, there have been investigations to
record the control data for such purposes as the controlling operation and
relating the individual files to one another as control files or
relational files (hereinafter referred to as relational files) on the
recording medium.
A first recording status is such that the main and subordinate image data
are recorded in the image file at the time of the recording in the file
form.
FIG. 2 shows three different examples of the recording status. Such
recording into the image file permits frame No. management as in the prior
art and handling of the main and subordinate images alike for moving,
copying, deleting, etc.
In FIG. 2(A), when recording a single image data frame, a file header and
main and subordinate image data are recorded successively in the mentioned
order in an image file. Thus, it is possible to readily erase the sole
subordinate image. In addition, when producing a plurality of subordinate
images, it is possible to readily add data. Further, the main image can be
readily reproduced. In FIG. 2(B), a file header and subordinate and main
image data are recorded successively in the mentioned order. It is thus
possible to realize quick retrieval in a subordinate image reproduction
mode. In FIG. 2(C), there is shown a recording status for a plurality of
subordinate images. In this case, after a file header, the main image data
is written from a main data start address, then subordinate image data 1
is written from a subordinate image data 1 start address, and subordinate
image data 2 is written from a subordinate data 2 start address.
FIG. 3 shows an example of entry in the file header. As shown, a
standardized format tuple and a date-of-recording tuple are first entered.
Then, subordinate image data 1 parameter is given in option tuple 1, and
then subordinate image data 2 parameter is given in option tuple 2. The
image data, main and subordinate image data are then recorded
continuously. The parameters of the subordinate image data may be the
subordinate image data start address or the subordinate image data type
(such as compressed or non-compressed information, pixel size, etc.).
Further, it may be the contraction factor 1/2n with respect to the main
image. When a contracted subordinate image is produced, it is simpler and
requires less data to record the contraction factor alone than to record
the pixel size as the parameters. Further, the date of production of the
subordinate image data is provided. Thus, in addition to the effects
described above, the sole main image can be readily extracted.
FIG. 4 shows an example of the recording format in the file header. In this
case, after a format tuple and a date-of-recording tuple, parameters of
the recorded subordinate image data are recorded in option tuple 1, the
body of the subordinate image data is recorded in option tuple 2, and the
body of the subordinate image data 2 is recorded in option tuple 3. The
body of the main image data is recorded in other areas than the file
header of the image file. The subordinate image data parameters may be the
presence or absence of data, their quantity, type of the subordinate image
data (such as compressed or non-compressed information, pixel size,
contraction factor, etc.).
FIG. 5 shows an example of recording an image header (JPEG header) in the
case of recording the main image data after compression thereof in the
JPEG standard image data format for personal computers.
As shown, after a file header, data of SOI (Start of Image), etc. is
recorded in a JPEG header, then the body of the subordinate image data in
an XPP (Application Marker) and the body of main image data in a SOS
marker up to an EOI (End of Image) marker are recorded. With this
arrangement, the same advantages as in the case of the example shown in
FIG. 2 can be obtained. Image data formats available for personal
computers include TIFF, PICT, BMP, etc. as well as JPEG, and the present
invention is applicable to those systems as well.
FIG. 6 shows an example of recording the subordinate image data in separate
files from that of the main image data and recording relational data about
the image data in a relational file. With recording in separate files, a
single frame of image is made to be a single file, and thus it is possible
to permit image management with file management. By using the relational
file, the relational data is managed collectively, thereby facilitating
data management.
As shown in (A) in FIG. 6, a main image file which is constituted by a file
header and the body of main image data is prepared as FILE 1. As shown in
(B), subordinate image 1 file constituted by a file header and the body of
subordinate image data 1 is prepared as FILE 2. As shown in (C),
subordinate image 2 file constituted by a file header and the body of
subordinate image 2 file is prepared as FILE 3. Further, the relational
file is prepared as shown in (D). In the relational file shown in (D),
"MAIN 5" indicates that the main image data in the fifth frame is recorded
in FILE 1 in (A). Also, "SUB5" indicates that the subordinate image data
in the fifth frame is recorded in FILES 2 and 3 shown in (B) and (C).
FIG. 7 shows an example of recording subordinate image data in separate
files from that of the main image data and recording relational data about
the subordinate image data files in the file header of the main image data
file (as shown in (A)). The file header includes option tuple 1, in which
a format tuple, a date-of-recording tuple and subordinate image file name
1 are recorded, and option tuple 2 in which subordinate image file name 2
is recorded. Shown in (B) of FIG. 7 is the file in which the body of the
subordinate image data 1 is recorded, and shown in (C) of FIG. 7 is the
file in which the body of the subordinate image data 2 is recorded.
According to this arrangement the subordinate image may be known by
reading the main image. Further, by recording the relational data about
the file headers of the subordinate image data and the main image data
file, the relation with the main image can be known from the subordinate
image without reading any excess files.
FIG. 8 shows an example, in which the main and subordinate image data are
recorded in separate files for discriminating and relating the image data
on the basis of file names. In this example, extenders are used to
discriminate the main and subordinate image data files. Thus, the
operation of reproducing solely the main or subordinate image may be
readily executed. Further, since the file can be discriminated from the
file name without reproducing the file image, image management based on
file operation is possible to a certain extent.
Shown on the left side of FIG. 8 is an example of the main image data file
with extender "J6I". In the extender "J6I", "J" represents JPEG as the
compression system, "6" 68-pin, and "I" image.
Shown in the right side of FIG. 8 is an example of the subordinate image
data file with extender "T6N" (N being a natural number). In the extender
"T6N", "T" represents subordinate image data called "Thumbnail", "6"
68-pin, and "N" subordinate image data frame No.
FIG. 9 shows a directory structure example, in which the main and
subordinate image data are recorded in separate files while relating
together the individual files through the directory. By using this
directory, not only it | | |
