JP4829694B2 - Image selection apparatus and method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image selection device and method, and relates to a program.

  Digital cameras and digital videos have become widespread, and digital contents are stored and managed at home. Unlike analog contents such as silver halide photographs and VHS videos, digital contents can be displayed as a list on a computer screen or the like.

  Some OSs such as Windows (registered trademark) XP of Microsoft (registered trademark) are equipped with a function for managing digital contents as a standard.

  In these digital content management functions, a list of image data stored in a storage medium such as a hard disk or stored in a memory of a connected camera or the like is displayed on the display screen of the display. The user designates an image to be duplicated or printed from among them.

  Usually, in this case, a frame-shaped cursor or mark is visibly added to the selected image and displayed, and it is possible to determine whether or not it is a selected image on the screen. Then, the selected image can be copied to another folder or the like, or transferred to a printing apparatus, and a user's desired image can be copied or printed.

  However, with the recent increase in capacity of storage media, the number of stored digital contents has increased, the number of thumbnail images to be displayed in a list has increased, and all images cannot be displayed within one screen. . For this reason, in order to view all the thumbnail images of the stored digital contents in a list display, a complicated procedure is required.

  Also, when canceling a selected image and reselecting another image (re-selecting an image), it is necessary to perform an operation such as scrolling to display the selected image on the list display and confirm it. There is a complicated operation.

  In order to solve this problem, the following techniques have been proposed. A plurality of images are displayed in the list image display area on the display screen, and the user designates a desired image as a print target image from the images in the list image display area. The image designated as the print target image is displayed in the selected image display area on the display screen. When scrolling of the display content is instructed, the display content of the list image display area is scrolled, and the display content of the selected image display area is maintained as it is (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

According to this technology, when a desired content is selected from a number of thumbnail images that do not fit on one screen and the selection of the selected content is canceled when the screen is scrolled, the thumbnail image list display is scrolled. It becomes possible to cancel without doing.
JP 2000-113204 A

  In the conventional image selection technique described above, since the selected image is displayed in the second display area, it is difficult to select the image while comparing it with other images displayed in the first display area. Further, when an image better than the already selected image is found, it is difficult to perform an operation of deselecting the already selected image and selecting a new image.

An object of the present invention, when selecting a desired image from the images in the automatic scroll image selection area, Ki de be compared with other images, also displayed in the image selection area desired image selection apparatus and method capable of performing cancellation of selection of images from the selected image are, as well as a program.

In order to achieve the above object, the image selection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein display control means for displaying a plurality of images in an image selection area displayed on a display screen, and designation of an image displayed in the image selection area are specified. And a scroll means for automatically scrolling the display of the image selection area in response to a scroll instruction, and the display control means includes an image for automatically scrolling the image selection area by the scroll means. When designated by the designation means, the designated image is displayed stationary at the designated position in the image selection area , and the scroll means displays an image other than the designated image. It is characterized by automatically scrolling within an image selection area excluding an area where the image is stationary .

In order to achieve the above object, the image selection method according to claim 4 includes a display control step of displaying a plurality of images in an image selection area displayed on a display screen, and designating an image displayed in the image selection area. a designation step of, in response to an instruction of the scroll, a scrolling step of automatically scrolling the display of the image selection area, the display control step, the image automatically scrolls the image selection area by the scrolling process is the When designated by the designation step, the designated image is displayed statically at a designated position in the image selection area, and in the scroll step, an image other than the designated image is displayed . It is characterized by automatically scrolling within an image selection area excluding an area where the image is stationary .

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to claim 5 is a program for causing a computer to execute an image selection method, wherein the image selection method includes a plurality of images in an image selection area displayed on a display screen. A display control step for displaying the image, a designation step for designating the image displayed in the image selection region, and a scroll step for automatically scrolling the display in the image selection region in response to a scroll instruction. The control step, when an image that automatically scrolls in the image selection region by the scroll step is designated by the designation step, displays the designated image at a designated position in the image selection region, In the scrolling step, an image other than the designated image is displayed in an image selection area excluding an area where the designated image is stationary. Characterized Rukoto is dynamic scrolling.

According to the present invention displays a plurality of images in the image selection area on the display screen, specifies the image displayed in the image selection area as a target output. In response to the display scroll instruction, the display of the image selection area is automatically scrolled, and the specified image is displayed at a specified position on the image selection area on the display screen. When the desired image is selected from the images that are being automatically scrolled in the image selection area by displaying the image designated in this manner at a designated position on the image selection area on the display screen. , Ki de be compared with another image, also, it is possible to cancel the selection of the desired image from the selected image displayed in the image selection area.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an image selection system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  1, the image selection system includes an information processing apparatus 10 such as a personal computer, an image reading apparatus 20 such as an image scanner, a digital camera 30, a digital video camcorder 40, and a printing apparatus 50 such as a printer. Each apparatus is directly connected to the information processing apparatus 10 by communication means such as USB.

  The information processing apparatus 10 has standard components (for example, a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, an external storage device, a network interface, a display, a keyboard, a mouse, etc.) mounted on the general-purpose information processing apparatus. Yes. Further, the coordinate input device of the information processing apparatus 10 may be a coordinate input device such as a digitizer or a touch panel attached to the display device.

  The image selection apparatus of the present invention is constituted by the information processing apparatus 10. The digital content captured by the information processing apparatus 10 is provided from the image reading apparatus 20, the digital camera 30, and the digital video camcorder 40 and stored in the information processing apparatus 10. As a digital content providing method, there are a method by transfer via a communication means such as USB or wireless LAN, and a method via a storage medium such as an SD memory card.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an image selection system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  2, the image selection system includes an information processing apparatus 10 such as a personal computer, an image reading apparatus 20 such as an image scanner, a digital camera 30, a digital video camcorder 40, and a printing apparatus 50 such as a printer.

  The image selection system also includes a portable information terminal device 70 such as a wireless LAN access point 60 and a tablet PC. Each device is connected to the information processing device 10 via the network 1.

  The portable information terminal device 70 is connected to the network 1 via the wireless LAN access point 60 and is connected to the information processing device 10 via the network 1. The portable information terminal device 70 can display a list of reduced images of digital contents stored in the information processing device 10. Further, digital content may be provided from the portable information terminal device 70 to the information processing device 10. Furthermore, the portable information terminal device 70 itself can collect digital content and display a list of reduced images of the digital content on its display device. In this case, the image selection device of the present invention is configured by the portable information terminal device 70.

  In the above configuration, the digital content is copied or moved to the image selection device. However, it is also possible to transfer only the reduced images of the digital content to the image selection device and display the list of reduced images while leaving the digital content itself in the image reading device 20, the digital camera 30, and the digital video camcorder 40.

  In this case, digital contents are selected by displaying a list of reduced images, and printing, reproduction, and the like after selection are performed on the digital contents in the image reading device 20, the digital camera 30, and the digital video camcorder 40.

Hereinafter, an image selection method by the image selection apparatus of the present invention will be described.
Example 1
Example 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display device of the image selection device in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  In FIG. 3, the display screen 100 of the image selection device has an image selection area 110 for selecting an image from a list of reduced images in an image file.

  In the image selection area 110, automatic scrolling is performed from right to left. The automatic scrolling speed can be increased by clicking (selection instruction) on the speed-up button 130 and can be decreased by clicking (selection instruction) on the speed-down button 131. In addition, the automatic scrolling can be stopped by clicking (selecting instruction) the stop button 132.

  In the reduced image scroll area 120 of the display screen 100, a list of reduced images of digital contents registered in the image selection apparatus is displayed. The reduced image displayed in the scroll area 120 of the reduced image is not limited to all the registered images, and the reduced image that cannot be displayed can be left and right by clicking (selecting instructions) the scroll buttons 135 and 136. It can be scrolled and displayed.

  The reduced image display area 140 of the display screen 100 is shown by surrounding a reduced image of the digital content displayed in the image selection area 110 in the scroll area 120 of the reduced image with a frame. The reduced image area displayed in the reduced image scroll area 120 can be changed by moving the frame of the reduced image display area 140 left and right using the coordinate input device.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of automatic scrolling of the image selection area in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the state (b) is obtained by automatically scrolling left from the state (a).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where the reduced image 150 is clicked (selected) when the image selection area in FIG. 3 is in the state of FIG. 4B.

  In FIG. 5, the frame of the reduced image 150 selected in (a) becomes a thick line, which indicates that it has been selected. (B) shows a state where the screen is further scrolled to the left from the state (a), and the reduced image list is scrolled to the left, but the selected image 150 shows a state where it remains on the spot.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality of reduced images are selected in the image selection area in FIG.

  6A shows a state where the reduced images 160 and 170 are clicked (selected) in addition to the reduced image 150 when the image selection area 110 is in the state shown in FIG. 5B. (B) shows a state in which the selected reduced images 150, 160, and 170 remain in place while scrolling further to the left from the state of (a).

  The reduced image 180 that exists between the selected image 160 and the selected image 170 in FIG. 6A is moved between the selected image 150 and the selected image 160 in FIG. 6B.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a selection cancellation state of the selected image in FIG.

  7A shows a state of cancellation selection when the selection is canceled by clicking (selection instruction) the selection image 160 in FIG. 6B again. When canceling is selected, the frame of the selected image 160 is surrounded by a thick dotted line, and then the selection is canceled.

  7B shows a state in which the selected state of the selected image 160 is released, and the selected image 160 is captured as one reduced image in the list display in a form inserted after the reduced image 180. FIG. In FIG. 6A, the reduced image 160 is located on the left side of the reduced image 180, but in FIG. 7B, the reduced image 160 is located on the right side of the reduced image 180.

  As described above, when the desired image is selected from the images that are being automatically scrolled in the image selection area 110, the image selection apparatus according to the present embodiment displays the selected image in the image selection area 110. Comparison with other images can be performed. In addition, the selection of a desired image from the selection images displayed in the image selection area 110 can be canceled.

  In this embodiment, when a reduced image is selected, the frame of the selected reduced image is surrounded by a thick line, but it may be expressed that it is selected by other means. Further, when canceling the selected state of the selected reduced image, the frame of the selected image is surrounded by a thick dotted line, but it may be expressed that it is selected by other means.

In this embodiment, the direction of automatic scrolling is from right to left. However, an automatic scrolling method may be selected by an instruction from a coordinate input device or the like.
(Example 2)
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display device of the image selection device in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  In FIG. 8, the display screen 200 of the image selection apparatus has an image selection area 210 for selecting an image from a list of reduced images in an image file.

  In the image selection area 210, automatic scrolling is performed from top to bottom. The automatic scrolling speed can be increased by clicking (selection instruction) the speed-up button 230, and can be decreased by clicking (selection instruction) the speed-down button 231. In addition, the automatic scrolling can be stopped by clicking (selecting instruction) the stop button 232.

  A list of reduced images of digital contents registered in the image selection device is displayed in the reduced image scroll area 220 of the display screen 200. The reduced images displayed in the reduced image scroll area 220 are not all of the registered images, and reduced images that cannot be displayed are scrolled up and down by clicking (selecting instructions) the scroll buttons 235 and 236. Can be displayed.

  The reduced image display area 240 is shown by surrounding a reduced image of the digital content displayed in the image selection area 210 in the reduced image scroll area 220 with a frame. The reduced image area displayed in the reduced image scroll area 220 can be changed by moving the frame of the reduced image display area 240 up and down using a coordinate input device. The selected image display area 250 is an area for displaying a list of images selected in the image selection area 210.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state of automatic scrolling of the image selection area in FIG.

  In FIG. 9, the state (b) is obtained by automatically scrolling down from the state (a). FIG. 9B shows a state in which the reduced screen of the image selection area 210 enters under the selected image display area 250 by automatic scrolling.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the reduced image 260 is clicked (selected) when the image selection area in FIG. 8 is in the state of FIG. 9B.

  In FIG. 10, the frame of the reduced image 260 selected in (a) becomes a thick line, which indicates that it has been selected. (B) has shown the state scrolled down further from the state of (a). The reduced image list in the image selection area 210 scrolls down and the selected image 260 also scrolls together. However, unlike the reduced image list in the reduced image selection area 210 that enters under the selected image display area 250, the selection The image 260 scrolls on the selected image display area 250.

  10C shows a state in which the selected image 260 scrolls into the selected image display area 250 and becomes a selected image under management in the selected image display area 250 as the selected image 265. FIG. In (d), the reduced image list in the image selection area 210 is automatically scrolled and enters under the selected image display area 250, but the selected image 265 remains on the selected image display area 250 and shows a state. .

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state when a plurality of reduced images are selected in the image selection area in FIG.

  11A shows a state where the reduced image 280 is clicked (selected) when the image selection area 210 is in the state shown in FIG. 10D. Reduced images 265 and 275 are already selected in the selected image display area 250. FIG. 6B shows a state where the selected image 280 is added to the selected image display area 250 as the selected image 285 by automatic scrolling from the state of FIG.

  When the number of selected images increases and cannot enter the selected image display area 250, each selected image is reduced and displayed so that all the selected images of the selected images 265, 275, and 285 in FIG. 11B can be displayed.

  In FIG. 11, (c) is a diagram showing a thick frame so that the same image as the reduced image displayed in the selected image display area 250 in the reduced image scroll area 220 can be seen. Reduced images of the selected images 265, 275, and 285 are displayed with a thick frame in a portion surrounded by a dotted circle 300.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state of selection cancellation of the selected image in FIG.

  12A shows a state in which the selected image 265 is added to the selected image display area 250 in FIG. 11B. Here, in order to cancel the selection of the selected image 265, FIG. Click the selected image 265 again (selection instruction).

  When the selection image 265 is clicked (selection instruction) in FIG. 12A, the selection of the selection image 265 is canceled as shown in FIG. 12B and deleted from the display in the selection image display area 250. By canceling the selection of the selection image 265, the display of the selection image display 250 can be afforded, and each selection image that has been reduced and displayed is enlarged and displayed to the original size.

  As described above, when a desired image is selected from the images being automatically scrolled in the image selection area 210, the selected image is displayed in the selected image display area 250 adjacent to the image selection area 210. If the number of images in the selected image display area 210 increases to the extent that it cannot be displayed, all the selected images can be displayed by reducing the images in the selected image display area 210.

  Further, the selection of a desired image can be canceled from the selection images displayed in the selection image display area 210, and the reduced display can be canceled when the number of images to be displayed becomes appropriate. .

  In this embodiment, when a reduced image is selected, the frame of the selected reduced image is surrounded by a thick line, but it may be expressed that it is selected by other means.

  In this embodiment, the direction of automatic scrolling is from right to left. However, an automatic scrolling method may be selected by an instruction from a coordinate input device or the like.

  FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of the image selection apparatus of the present invention.

  The image selection apparatus includes a display screen 12 (the display screen 100 in FIG. 3 and the display screen 200 in FIG. 8), an output unit 13, a designation unit 14, and a storage unit 15 centered on the CPU 11.

  Here, the CPU 11 has the functions of first to fifth display control means, designation means, scroll means, reading means, and release means described in the claims.

  The object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing a program code stored in a storage medium by a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of a system or apparatus. In that case, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the embodiment is supplied to the system or apparatus.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, and a magneto-optical disk. Further, a CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like may be used. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  In addition, a case where an OS (operating system) or the like running on a computer performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is included. In this case, the program code read by the computer is executed by the OS or the like, based on an instruction of the program code.

  Furthermore, a case where a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is included. In this case, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, and then executed based on the instruction of the program code. .

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the image selection system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the image selection system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display device of the image selection device in FIGS. 1 and 2 (No. 1). It is a figure which shows the state of the automatic scroll of the image selection area | region in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a reduced image is clicked when the image selection area in FIG. 3 is in the state of FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which selected the some reduced image in the image selection area | region in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state of selection cancellation of the selection image in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display device of the image selection device in FIGS. 1 and 2 (No. 2). It is a figure which shows the state of the automatic scroll of the image selection area | region in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which a reduced image is clicked when the image selection area in FIG. 8 is in the state of FIG. It is a figure which shows a state when a some reduced image is selected in the image selection area | region in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state of selection cancellation of the selection image in FIG. It is a functional block diagram of the image selection device of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network 10 Information processing apparatus 11 CPU (Each functional means component)
12 display screen 13 output means 14 designation means 15 storage means 20 image reading device 30 digital camera 40 digital video camcorder 50 printing device 60 wireless LAN access point 70 portable information terminal device 100 display screen 110 image selection area 120 reduced image scroll area 130 132 Automatic scroll control buttons 135 to 136 Reduced image scroll area control button 140 Reduced image display area 150 to 170 Selected reduced image 180 Unselected reduced image 200 Display screen 210 Image selection area 220 Reduced image scroll area 230 to 232 Automatic scroll control button 240 Reduced image display area 250 Selected image display area 260 to 285 Selected reduced image

Claims (5)

Display control means for displaying a plurality of images in an image selection area displayed on the display screen;
Designation means for designating an image displayed in the image selection area;
Scroll means for automatically scrolling the display of the image selection area in response to a scroll instruction;
The display control means stops the designated image at a designated position in the image selection area when an image to be automatically scrolled in the image selection area by the scroll means is designated by the designation means. An image selection apparatus that displays and automatically scrolls an image other than the designated image within an image selection area excluding an area where the designated image is stationary . Storage means for storing a plurality of images;
The image selecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reading unit that reads an image for display by the display control unit from the storage unit.   In response to an instruction to cancel the selection of the image designated by the designation means, the display control means further includes a release means for releasing the display of the image designated by the designation means in the image selection area. The image selection device according to claim 1, wherein: A display control step of displaying a plurality of images in an image selection area displayed on the display screen;
A designation step for designating an image displayed in the image selection area;
A scroll step of automatically scrolling the display of the image selection area in response to a scroll instruction,
In the display control step, when an image to be automatically scrolled in the image selection region by the scrolling step is designated by the designation step, the designated image is stopped at a designated position in the image selection region . An image selection method comprising: displaying and automatically scrolling an image other than the designated image in an image selection area excluding an area where the designated image is stationary in the scrolling step . A program for causing a computer to execute an image selection method,
The image selection method is:
A display control step of displaying a plurality of images in an image selection area displayed on the display screen;
A designation step for designating an image displayed in the image selection area;
A scrolling step for automatically scrolling the display in the image selection area in response to a scrolling instruction,
In the display control step, when an image to be automatically scrolled in the image selection region by the scrolling step is designated by the designation step, the designated image is statically displayed at a designated position in the image selection region. In the program, the scrolling step automatically scrolls an image other than the designated image in an image selection area excluding an area where the designated image is stationary .