JP2003125185A - Image data reading method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To read out photographic image data recorded on a recording medium in a digital media store reception machine installed at a convenience store or the like, bitmap data other than the original photographic image data Such image data is not recognized as photographic image data and is not read. SOLUTION: An image data reading unit 3 controls a CD-ROM.
Search the root directory of the recording medium 11, such as R,
From the folder name existing in the root directory, the recording format of the image data for photograph (for example, DCF format or Pictur
e format, etc.), and from a file having a predetermined extension (eg, “jpg”) stored in that location only from a predetermined location (directory hierarchy) in accordance with the recording format, a photo image Read data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic image data reading method and apparatus for reading photographic image data recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-R. In this specification, the term "image data for photographs" means bitmap data,
It means JPEG data, TIFF data, etc., which can be exposed on a photographic paper by a digital photographic processor using the data and developed as a photograph.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, when a DPE store is requested to develop an image taken on a photographic film, a service is performed in which the film is scanned to read photographic image data and recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-R. ing. In general, this service is provided by a scanner and a recording device attached to the automatic photo processor. The scanner, recording device, recording medium and the like are provided by the same company as the automatic photo processing device.

[0003] On the other hand, a digital media store reception machine installed at a store of a convenience store, etc.
There is a service in which a print order is placed using image data for photographs recorded on a recording medium such as a D-R and the developed print is received at the convenience store later.

[0004]

On the recording medium, in addition to the image data for photographs, application software such as an electronic album for reproducing the images by an image reproducing device such as a personal computer using the image data for photographs is provided. Some are attached (simultaneous recording). Each application software is unique to each company. Further, each application software individually includes readable image data such as a bitmap data (hereinafter, abbreviated as “bitmap data”) such as a template. Furthermore, the storage format of the scanned image data differs for each company,
The name and location of the folder that stores the image data are also different. Further, the image data also includes thumbnail image data that is used for index display and is not suitable for printing.

When the image data reading device such as the above-mentioned digital media shop front accepting device reads out the photographic image data from the recording medium having a different recording format for each company, the extension of each file stored in the recording medium is searched. However, the data in the bitmap data format was presumed to be the image data for photographs and read.

However, since the bitmap data includes a template, thumbnail image data, etc. in addition to the image data for photographs, the image data read out by the image data reading device, and the image data of the application software is displayed in the image data listed on the monitor screen. Templates were also mixed. In addition, when ordering prints, it is necessary to specify and delete data that does not need to be printed, such as a template, and there is also a problem that the print ordering work becomes troublesome.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example, and is considered to be photographic image data among printable data recorded on various recording media having different recording formats. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image data reading method and apparatus capable of selecting and reading only files to be read.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an image data reading method according to the present invention discriminates a recording format of photographic image data recorded on a recording medium and sets in advance according to the recording format. It is characterized in that the image data for photographs stored therein is read out only from the specified location.

In the above arrangement, when the image data for photographs are stored in a plurality of layers of folders, it is preferable to determine the recording format based on whether or not a predetermined folder name is included in a predetermined layer.

When the photographic image data is recorded in a plurality of recording formats, it is preferable to read the photographic image data only from a location corresponding to only one preset recording format.

On the other hand, the image data reading apparatus of the present invention comprises a recording format discriminating means for discriminating the recording format of the photographic image data recorded on the recording medium, and a preset location according to the discriminated recording format. Image data reading means for reading out the image data for photographs stored therein.

In the above-mentioned structure, the recording format discriminating means records the recording format based on whether or not a predetermined folder name is included in a predetermined hierarchy when the photo image data is stored in a plurality of hierarchical folders. Is preferably determined.

When it is determined by the recording format discrimination means that the photographic image data is recorded in a plurality of recording formats, the image data reading means is limited to one of the preset recording formats. It is preferable to search the corresponding place and read the image data for photograph only from the searched place.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of an image data reading method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As an example of the image data reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, the external structure of a digital media storefront reception device is shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, (a) is a front view,
(B) is a side view.

As shown in FIG. 1, a digital media storefront accepting machine 1 includes an image display unit 2 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a CD-R, MO, Zip, a memory card, a compact flash (registered trademark), etc. Reproduction drives 3A, 3B, 3 for various image data recording media 11
Image data reading unit 3 composed of C, 3D ...
(See FIG. 2) and an input operation unit 4 including a mouse and operation keys for moving a cursor displayed on the monitor screen of the image display unit 2 and performing various input operations.
And a printing unit 5 including a printing device for issuing receipts and exchange certificates to customers.
Since the digital media storefront accepting machine 1 is not directly provided with the print function or the image data recording function, the image data reading section 3 does not necessarily have the function of writing the image data into the recording medium. May be.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a block configuration of the digital media storefront reception machine 1. As shown in FIG. 2, a RO for storing a CPU for controlling the entire apparatus and a control program is provided inside the digital media store reception machine 1.
M, an overall control unit 6 including a RAM for temporarily storing processed data, and an input / output interface connected to the network line 10 for transferring image data to another device such as a photo processing device For temporarily storing the image data read from the recording medium by the image data reading unit 3 and the output unit 7 configured by
A large-capacity storage unit 8 such as a hard disk is provided. The network line 10 is connected to, for example, a photographic processing device 20 installed in a photo lab or the like, and an image data recording device 21 for recording image data on another recording medium 22.

The input operation section 4 is a whole input section 4a for collectively inputting a predetermined instruction to all thumbnail images displayed on the monitor screen of the image display section 2 as a list.
And an individual input unit 4b for individually inputting a predetermined instruction to each thumbnail image.

Further, the image data reading section 3 searches the directory of the recording medium 11 for each file name and extension recorded in the recording medium 11, the folder name in which each file is stored, and the number of folder layers. A search function for searching, etc., a recording format discrimination function for discriminating the recording format of the image data recorded on the recording medium 11 from the folder name included in the root directory, and preset according to the discriminated recording format. It has an image data reading function of reading image data only from a file included in a specific layer and having a predetermined extension.

Generally, when a customer takes a picture with a digital camera or the like and records it on a memory card or the like, or when image data is edited using a personal computer or the like, a CD is used.
When recorded on -R or MO, these recording media do not include bitmap data (image data) other than photographic image data that can be exposed and developed as a photograph.

On the other hand, as described in the description of the conventional example, a recording medium such as a CD-R which scans a photographic film to read and record image data also contains bitmap data such as a template.

Therefore, the digital media store reception machine 1
Therefore, when reading the image data for photographs from the recording medium 11 brought in by the customer, if all the bitmap data included in the recording medium 11 is estimated to be the image data for photographs and is read, the following inconvenience occurs. .

That is, as described above, the digital media store reception device 1 is provided with the entire input section 4a, and all the thumbnail images listed on the monitor screen of the image display section 2 are collectively displayed. Then, a predetermined instruction, for example, printing all the images one by one, can be input. However, if a template image is included in these thumbnail images and the customer operates the overall input unit 4a without noticing that, the template image is processed as a photograph, and the customer is informed. You will be forced to waste money. In order to prevent such waste, if the function of the overall input unit 4a is canceled, whether or not to print one by one for all thumbnail images displayed on the monitor screen of the image display unit 2 is displayed. In addition, it is necessary to instruct the number of prints and the like, which is very troublesome when the number of image data is large.

Therefore, the image data reading section 3 in the present embodiment first searches the root directory of the recording medium 11 and records the image data for photographs recorded on the recording medium from the folder name included in the root directory. The company or the like that provides the system in which the image data is recorded in the format or the recording medium is determined. When the recording format of the image data for photographs or the company providing the system is specified, the layer in which the image data for photographs is recorded is specified. Therefore, a file having a predetermined extension included in the layer is used for a photograph. Read image data.

As is well known, there are only a few companies worldwide, including the applicant, that provide image data recording systems including photo processing devices. Even if each company adopts its own recording format, the type is limited. Therefore, the recording method of each company and the layer in which the image data for photographs are stored are checked, and a predetermined extension indicating that it is bitmap data among the data files in a predetermined layer according to the recording method is provided. If the data is read from the file, the read data is almost certainly image data for photographs.

Various standards have been proposed as a standard for storing photographic image data on a recording medium, and a typical one of them is shown in FIG. In FIG.
(A) is based on the DCF standard adopted by the applicant and Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., and (b) is based on the Picture standard adopted by Eastman Kodak Company, Canon Inc., etc. . In the figure,
"\" Represents a directory or folder.

In the former case, "100" is further added under the "DCIM" folder in the root directory (first level).
There is a second-level folder such as a “NORIT” folder, and further, an image data file with an extension “jpg”, a “low-res” folder, and the like are stored in a third level below the folder. Each folder in the second layer is provided for identifying a film number or the like in consideration of recording photographic image data read from a plurality of photographic films on one recording medium. Also, "low-r
Files with the extension “jpg” also exist in the fourth layer under the “es” folder, but these are files with a small number of pixel data for thumbnail images and are not suitable for printing.

In this case, "DCI" is added to the root directory.
When you find the "M" folder, the third folder, which is two levels below
Image data may be read from a file with an extension "jpg" indicating that the data is bitmap data, among the files stored in the hierarchy. The extension “jpg” represents JPEG-compressed image data.

In the latter case, the image data file with the extension "jpg" and the "small" folder are directly stored in the second layer under the "Pictures" folder in the root directory (first layer). . The file with the extension “jpg” in the third hierarchy under the “Small” folder is a file with a small number of pixel data for thumbnail images. In this case, when the "Pictures" folder is found in the root directory, the image is extracted from the files with the extension "jpg" indicating that it is bitmap data, among the files stored in the second layer immediately below it. Just read the data.

Note that application software such as an electronic album is, for example, "DCIM" in the root directory.
The bitmap data included in the application software is not misidentified as photo image data and is not read because it is stored in a folder or a folder with a name other than the “Pictures” folder.

Further, depending on the company, there are cases where both the image data according to the DCF standard and the image data according to the Picture standard are recorded on the same recording medium. In that case, in the root directory "DCIM" folder and "P
Although both of the "images" folders are found, it is not necessary to read two pieces of image data having substantially the same content. Therefore, when image data in two or more recording formats are recorded on the same recording medium, a priority order is set for each recording format and “DCIM” corresponding to only one recording format (for example, DCF standard). Image data may be read from the folder.

Next, a flow chart of the image data reading process in this embodiment is shown in FIG. First, when the recording medium 11 is loaded into one of the reproduction drives 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, ... Of the image data reading unit 3, the image data reading unit 3 determines that the reproduction drive is a CD drive. Or not (step # 1). This is because the recording medium on which the bitmap data other than the image data may be currently stored is a CD.
-Because it is only R. Therefore, when the recording medium is other than the CD-R, all the bitmap data recorded on the recording medium may be read. If bitmap data other than image data may be stored in other recording media other than the CD-R in the future,
This step may be omitted.

When the reproduction drive of the recording medium is the CD-R (YES in step # 1), the image data reading section 3 searches the root directory of the recording medium 11,
Whether or not the "DCIM" folder exists, that is, DC
It is determined whether the format is F (step # 3). In the case of the DCF format, the image data is read from all the files with the extension “jpg” stored in the layer two levels below the “DCIM” folder (step # 5).

On the other hand, "DCIM" is added to the root directory.
When the folder does not exist, that is, when it is not in the DCF format, the image data reading unit 3 searches the root directory of the recording medium 11 and determines whether the “Pictures” folder exists, that is, whether it is in the Picture format ( Step # 7). In the case of the Picture format, the image data is read from all the files with the extension “jpg” stored in the layer immediately below the “Pictures” folder (step # 9).

In addition, "DCI" is added to the root directory.
If neither the “M” folder nor the “Pictures” folder exists, that is, neither the DCF format nor the Picture format (NO in step # 7), it is highly likely that the customer himself / herself is a recording medium in which the image data is edited, and it is not the image data Since it is unlikely that the bitmap data of the image data is stored, the image data reading unit 3
Are searched for, and the bitmap data, that is, all the image data are read (step # 11). In addition, in the root directory "DCIM" folder and "P
If both the "pictures" folder exists, the DCF format is prioritized in step # 3, and the picture image data in the picture format is not read. Further, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and Pi instead of the DCF format is used.
The flowchart may be configured to give priority to the cture format.

By determining the recording format of the image data recorded on the recording medium 11 as described above, it is extremely unlikely that the bitmap data other than the photographic image data is mistakenly recognized as the photographic image data and read. Therefore, the customer is the image display unit 2 of the digital media store front desk 1.
The entire input unit 4 of the input operation unit 4 without checking all the thumbnail images displayed on the monitor screen of
By operating a, the number of prints, print size, and the like can be instructed at once. As a result, it is possible to reduce the labor and time required for ordering prints.

In the above embodiment, a digital media storefront accepting device was illustrated as an image data reading device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a personal computer owned by a customer and a recording medium reading device such as a CD drive. May be In that case, the image data for photographs may be transmitted to a photo lab or a DPE dealer through a network line, and the prints may be received by mail or at a designated convenience store.

Further, as an output device for printing photographic image data, in addition to a photographic processing device for exposing and developing a photosensitive material such as photographic paper, an ink jet printer for forming an image with ink or toner on plain paper, a thermal transfer printer It may be a color laser printer or the like.

[0039]

As described above, according to the image data reading method of the present invention, the recording format of the photographic image data recorded on the recording medium is determined and preset according to the recording format. Bitmap data (image data) other than the image data for photos is read because the image data for photos stored there is read only from the specified location.
It is very unlikely that the data will be mistakenly read as image data for photographs and read out. Therefore, when ordering the same number and the same size of photographic image data recorded on the recording medium at a digital media store front desk or the like, unnecessary images can be printed even if batch designation is made. Is extremely low, and there is almost no chance that the customer will be wasted money.

Further, according to the image data reading apparatus of the present invention, the recording format discriminating means for discriminating the recording format of the photographic image data recorded on the recording medium, and the recording format discriminating means are preset according to the discriminated recording format. Since the image data reading means for reading out the image data for photographs stored therein is provided only from the place where the image data is read out, bitmap data other than the image data for photographs is read as image data for photographs like the image data reading method described above. The possibility that the data will be mistakenly read and read will be very low, and the same effect will be obtained.

Further, when the photo image data is stored in a folder of a plurality of layers, a predetermined layer (for example, the first layer) is stored.
By discriminating the recording format based on whether or not a predetermined folder name is included in (hierarchy), it is possible to shorten the time required for searching and reading the image data for photographs.

Further, when the photographic image data is recorded in a plurality of recording formats, the photographic image data is read out only from a location corresponding to any one of the preset recording formats. Moreover, it is possible to prevent waste of reading two or more pieces of photographic image data having the same content.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a digital media storefront accepting device which is an example of an image data reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view and (b) is a side view.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block configuration of the digital media storefront accepting device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a directory in a recording medium in which various files including image data files are recorded.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image data reading method and apparatus according to the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Digital media store front desk 2: Image display section 3: Image data reading section 4: Input operation section 4a: Whole input section 4b: Individual input section 5: Printing section 6: Overall control unit 7: Output section 8: storage unit 10: Network line 11: Image data recording medium 20: Photo processing device 21: Image data recording device 22: Recording medium

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method of determining the recording format of photographic image data recorded on a recording medium, and reading out the photographic image data stored therein only from a preset location according to the recording format. Characteristic image data reading method. 2. When the image data for photographs is stored in a folder of a plurality of layers, the recording format is determined based on whether or not a predetermined folder name is included in a predetermined layer. Item 1. The image data reading method according to item 1. 3. When the photographic image data is recorded in a plurality of recording formats, the photographic image data is read only from a location corresponding to only one preset recording format. The image data reading method according to claim 1. 4. A recording format discriminating means for discriminating a recording format of image data for photographs recorded on a recording medium, and a photograph stored therein only from a preset location according to the discriminated recording format. An image data reading device comprising an image data reading means for reading image data for use. 5. The recording format discrimination means discriminates the recording format based on whether or not a predetermined folder name is included in a predetermined layer when the image data for photographs is stored in a folder of a plurality of layers. The image data reading device according to claim 4, wherein 6. When the recording format determining means determines that the photographic image data is recorded in a plurality of recording formats, the photographic image data reading means is preset in any one of the recording formats. 6. The image data reading device according to claim 4, wherein the image data for a photograph is read only from the searched place.