JP5565130B2 - Reduced image generation apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a reduced image generation apparatus and a program.

  A technique for easily comparing similar image data and key image data in an image recording apparatus is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the technique of this patent document 1, in an image recording apparatus having a storage medium for storing a plurality of search target image data, similar image data similar to key image data is searched and extracted from the plurality of search target image data. The extracted similar image data and key image data are displayed in a manner that can be visually distinguished.

  There is also known a technique for displaying the same or similar display contents so that they can be distinguished as much as possible (for example, see Patent Document 2). In the technique of Patent Document 2, if there is a job name having a common character string of a predetermined number of characters (for example, 4 characters) for a plurality of acquired job names, it is determined as common designation information, and there is common designation information. If the determination is made, processing is performed to add the attribute information of each print data to the job name set as the common designation information.

JP 2005-352780 A JP 2008-110524 A

  An object of the present invention is to make it easy to distinguish reduced images when similar reduced images are generated.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a generating means for generating a plurality of reduced images respectively corresponding to a specific portion of the plurality of documents based on a particular portion of the plurality of documents, said generated by the generating means Adding means for adding an image to a plurality of reduced images; and determining means for determining whether the plurality of reduced images generated by the generating means include two or more reduced images similar to each other; When the determination unit determines that two or more reduced images that are similar to each other are included, the generation unit replaces the two or more reduced images with two or more documents that are the basis of the two or more reduced images. the regenerate 2 or more new reduced image corresponding respectively to the different other parts of the specific portion of said adding means, with respect to the two or more new reduced image regenerated by the generating means A reduced image generation apparatus characterized by adding an additional image for specifying the other portion.
The invention according to claim 2 generates a plurality of reduced images respectively corresponding to the plurality of documents based on the plurality of documents, and adds an image to the plurality of reduced images generated by the generation unit. Adding means, determining means for determining whether or not the plurality of reduced images generated by the generating means include two or more similar reduced images, and portions of the two or more reduced images that are not similar to each other Extracting means for extracting an image, and when the determining means determines that two or more reduced images similar to each other are included, the generating means replaces the two or more reduced images with the extracting means. for two or more new reduced image of regenerate, said adding device, the two or more that are regenerated by the generating means of a new reduced image including the partial images extracted by, A reduced image generation apparatus characterized by the two or more new reduced image adding additional image indicating that it contains the partial image.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer having a function of generating a plurality of reduced images respectively corresponding to specific parts of the plurality of documents based on the specific parts of the plurality of documents; A function for adding an image to a reduced image and a function for determining whether or not two or more reduced images similar to each other are included in the plurality of generated reduced images are realized. When it is determined that two or more reduced images that are similar to each other are included, the specific portion of the two or more documents that are the basis of the two or more reduced images instead of the two or more reduced images Two or more new reduced images respectively corresponding to other parts different from the above are regenerated, and the addition function specifies the other parts for the two or more new reduced images that have been regenerated. Additional images to be Is a program characterized by the addition.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a function of generating a plurality of reduced images respectively corresponding to a plurality of documents based on a plurality of documents, and a function of adding images to the generated plurality of reduced images. And a function for determining whether or not two or more similar reduced images are included in the plurality of generated reduced images, and a function for extracting dissimilar partial images of the two or more reduced images. In the generation function, when the determination function determines that two or more reduced images similar to each other are included, the extracted function replaces the two or more reduced images. In the function of regenerating and adding two or more new reduced images including a partial image, the two or more new reduced images are added to the partial image with respect to the two or more new reduced images regenerated. Is a program which is characterized by adding an additional image indicating that it contains a.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to specify a part of a document used for easily distinguishing similar reduced images.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it can be clarified that the partial image is used in order to easily distinguish the reduced images similar to each other.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to specify the portion of the document used for easily distinguishing the reduced images similar to each other.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it can be clarified that the partial images are used to easily distinguish the reduced images similar to each other.

It is the figure which showed the structural example of the image processing apparatus with which embodiment of this invention is applied. It is the figure which showed an example of the thumbnail image used by description of schematic operation | movement of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating schematic operation | movement of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating schematic operation | movement of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating schematic operation | movement of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating schematic operation | movement of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating schematic operation | movement of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating schematic operation | movement of 1st Embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed the function structural example of the list display control apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the operation example of the list display control apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is the figure which showed an example of the thumbnail image management table memorize | stored in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating schematic operation | movement of 2nd Embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed the function structural example of the list display control apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the operation example of the list display control apparatus in 2nd Embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[Image processing device]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image processing apparatus 10.
As illustrated, the image processing apparatus 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 13, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 14, and an operation panel 15. An image reading unit 16, an image forming unit 17, and a communication interface controller (hereinafter referred to as “communication I / F controller”) 18.

The CPU 11 implements each function described later by loading various programs stored in the ROM 13 and the like into the RAM 12 and executing them.
The RAM 12 is a memory used as a working memory for the CPU 11.
The ROM 13 is a memory that stores various programs executed by the CPU 11.
The HDD 14 is, for example, a magnetic disk device that stores image data read by the image reading unit 16 and image data used for image formation in the image forming unit 17.
The operation panel 15 is, for example, a touch panel that displays various types of information and receives operation inputs from a user.

  The image reading unit 16 reads an image recorded on a recording medium such as paper. Here, the image reading unit 16 is, for example, a scanner, and a CCD method in which reflected light with respect to light irradiated on the document from the light source is reduced by a lens and received by a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices), or an LED light source is sequentially irradiated on the document. It is preferable to use a CIS system that receives reflected light with respect to the received light with a CIS (Contact Image Sensor).

The image forming unit 17 forms an image on a recording medium. Here, the image forming unit 17 is, for example, a printer, and forms an image by transferring the toner attached to the photosensitive member to a recording medium to form an image, or ejecting ink onto the recording medium. An ink jet type may be used.
The communication I / F controller 18 transmits / receives various information to / from other devices via the network.

By the way, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory may be attached to such an image processing apparatus 10, and one of the document files stored in the USB memory may be selected for printing or the like.
In this case, as a method of displaying a list of information for selecting a document file on the operation panel 15 of the image processing apparatus 10, a method of displaying a document file name, a method of displaying a thumbnail image as an example of a reduced image, a document There are a method of displaying an icon indicating a file type, a method of displaying document information (properties), and the like.

Among these methods, the method for displaying thumbnail images has a large amount of information to be displayed. Therefore, although there is an advantage that it is easy to intuitively select a document file required by the user, there are the following problems. .
That is, since the thumbnail image of the first page of the document file is usually displayed, the thumbnail images of a plurality of document files attached with a cover of a predetermined format such as an in-house document are almost the same. It is a problem that sometimes it is not possible to reach the document file.

  Therefore, this embodiment proposes a method for allowing a user to quickly and easily reach a target document when the user selects a document file on a relatively small operation panel 15.

In the present specification, the “document file” does not mean only the data of the “document” including the text. For example, image data such as pictures, photos, figures, etc. (regardless of raster data or vector data), data recorded by database management software or spreadsheet software, and other printable electronic data filed This is a “document file”.
The “version” of the document file is information for identifying each revision of the document file, and is a version of the document file.

[First Embodiment]
First, the schematic operation in the first embodiment will be described.
Here, let us consider a case in which thumbnail images of six document files are displayed on the operation panel 15 when thumbnail images of six document files can be displayed on the operation panel 15.
FIG. 2 shows an example of thumbnail images of six document files.

When thumbnail images of these document files are displayed on the operation panel 15, normally, the thumbnail images of the first page of the document file are displayed in a list as described above.
FIG. 3 shows a display example on the operation panel 15 at this time.
In this display example, since the same or similar document file exists on the first page, the same or similar thumbnail images are displayed. Therefore, it is difficult to determine which thumbnail image should be selected when the user instructs printing.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, grouping is performed by first comparing a plurality of created thumbnail images and grouping similar images together.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing grouping at this time.
Here, a group is represented by a solid line surrounding several thumbnail images. That is, since “doc1-1.ppt”, “doc1-2.ppt”, and “doc2.ppt” are similar to each other, these document files are grouped into a group G11. Since “doc1-1.pdf” and “doc1-2.pdf” are similar to each other, these document files are grouped into a group G12. On the other hand, since “doc2.pdf” has no other similarity, it is group G13 in one document file.

Next, for a group including a plurality of document files, processing is performed so that the thumbnail images of those document files are not similar.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing thumbnail images after such processing.
As shown in the figure, for the three document files included in the group G11, a thumbnail image of the second page of each document file is created. An icon 31 indicating the second page is assigned to each thumbnail image.
In addition, for the two document files included in the group G12, a thumbnail image of the second page of each document file is created. An icon 31 indicating the second page is assigned to each thumbnail image.
On the other hand, since the group G13 includes only one document file, the thumbnail images are not switched.

In this state, the thumbnail images are compared again, and similar items are grouped together.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing grouping at this time.
Again, groups are represented by solid lines surrounding some thumbnail images. That is, since “doc1-1.ppt” and “doc1-2.ppt” are similar to each other, these document files are grouped into a group G21. On the other hand, since “doc2.ppt”, “doc1-1.pdf”, “doc1-2.pdf”, and “doc2.pdf” are not similar to each other, the groups G22, G23, G24, and G25 are each in one document file. However, the illustration is omitted.

Thus, in FIG. 6, there are still thumbnail images similar to each other, and a group including a plurality of document files remains. Therefore, as described above, for a group including a plurality of document files, the process of switching to the thumbnail image of the next page is performed again.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing thumbnail images after such processing.
As shown in the figure, for the two document files included in the group G21, a thumbnail image of the third page of each document file is created. An icon 32 indicating the third page is assigned to each thumbnail image.
On the other hand, since the groups G22, G23, G24, and G25 include only one document file, the thumbnail images are not switched.

In this state, the thumbnail images are compared again, and since there is no similar thumbnail image, the thumbnail image at that time is displayed on the operation panel 15.
FIG. 8 shows a display example on the operation panel 15 at this time.

  In the state shown in FIG. 7, there may be cases where similar thumbnail images exist and the next page does not exist in all the document files corresponding to these thumbnail images. In such a case, the thumbnail image of the next page is not created. Further, there may be a case where similar thumbnail images exist and the next page exists in a part of the document file corresponding to these thumbnail images. In such a case, the thumbnail image of the next page is created only for the document file in which the next page exists. Further, if there is no next page in the document files included in all groups, the processing is ended there and the thumbnail image at that time is displayed on the operation panel 15.

Hereinafter, the list display control device 20 of the image processing device 10 that realizes such a schematic operation will be described. In the present embodiment, in the image processing apparatus 10, the CPU 11 reads the program stored in the ROM 13 into the RAM 12 and executes it, thereby realizing the list display control apparatus 20 as an example of the reduced image generation apparatus.
First, the functional configuration of the list display control device 20 in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the list display control device 20 of the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the list display control device 20 includes a thumbnail image generation unit 23, a thumbnail image storage unit 24, a display control unit 25, a group classification unit 26, and an icon addition unit 27. Among these, the thumbnail image storage unit 24 is realized by, for example, the HDD 14. The thumbnail image generation unit 23, the display control unit 25, the group classification unit 26, and the icon addition unit 27 are realized when the CPU 11 reads a program from the ROM 13 into the RAM 12 and executes it.

The thumbnail image generation unit 23 reads a plurality of document files from, for example, a USB memory, and generates a plurality of thumbnail images by performing image processing on each designated page of the plurality of document files. In the present embodiment, a thumbnail image generation unit 23 is provided as an example of a generation unit that generates a reduced image.
The thumbnail image storage unit 24 stores a plurality of thumbnail images generated by the thumbnail image generation unit 23. A thumbnail image management table for managing a plurality of thumbnail images is also stored.
The display control unit 25 controls the plurality of thumbnail images stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 24 to be displayed on the operation panel 15.

The group classification unit 26 determines whether or not the plurality of thumbnail images stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 24 are similar to each other, and classifies the plurality of thumbnail images into a plurality of groups including thumbnail images similar to each other. Here, the determination of whether or not the plurality of thumbnail images are similar to each other may be performed by a known method. For example, a method of calculating a mean square over all pixels of the difference between corresponding pixels of two thumbnail images and determining that the two thumbnail images are similar if the mean square is smaller than a threshold value can be considered. Further, classification into a plurality of groups including thumbnail images similar to each other may be performed using a known clustering method. In the present embodiment, the group classification unit 26 is provided as an example of a determination unit that determines whether or not similar reduced images are included.
The icon adding unit 27 adds an icon indicating the page number of the document file corresponding to the thumbnail image to the specified thumbnail image among the plurality of thumbnail images stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 24. In this embodiment, an icon is used as an example of an additional image, and an icon adding unit 27 is provided as an example of an adding unit that adds an additional image.

Next, the operation of the list display control device 20 in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the list display control device 20 of the present embodiment. In the description of this operation example, unlike the description of the above schematic operation, only a group including a plurality of thumbnail images is referred to as a “group”, and a group including only one thumbnail image is not referred to as a “group”. To do.

In the list display control device 20, first, the thumbnail image generation unit 23 generates a thumbnail image of the first page of each of a plurality of document files stored in, for example, a USB memory, and stores the thumbnail image in the thumbnail image storage unit 24 (step). 201).
Next, the group classification unit 26 groups the plurality of thumbnail images stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 24 according to the degree of similarity between them (step 202).
Then, the group classification unit 26 determines whether or not a group (a group including a plurality of thumbnail images) has been formed (step 203).

As a result, if it is determined that a group has been created, the group classification unit 26 determines whether there is no next page in the document file corresponding to the thumbnail image in all of these groups (step 204). . At this time, the presence / absence of the next page is determined by referring to information (last page flag described later) in the thumbnail image management table.
If it is determined that there is no such state, the group classification unit 26 passes control to the thumbnail image generation unit 23. Then, the thumbnail image generation unit 23 pays attention to one of the groups obtained in step 202, and the plurality of thumbnail images on the next page of the plurality of document files corresponding to the plurality of thumbnail images included in the group. Is stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 24 instead of the thumbnail image of the previous page (step 205). At this time, if there is a document file having no next page among a plurality of document files corresponding to a plurality of thumbnail images included in the group, a thumbnail image of the next page is not generated for the document file. Good.

When a plurality of thumbnail images of the next page are generated, the icon adding unit 27 displays an icon indicating the page number of the document file corresponding to the thumbnail image for each of the generated thumbnail images. It is added (step 206). This is because if it is not clearly indicated that the page has been switched, the displayed reduced image may be misunderstood as the reduced image of the first page.
Thereafter, the icon addition unit 27 returns control to the group classification unit 26, and determines whether the group classification unit 26 has processed the last group (step 207). If the last group has not been processed, the process returns to step 205, and the same processing is performed focusing on the next group. If the last group has been processed, the process returns to step 202, where grouping and thumbnail image generation processing for the next page are performed again.

  If it is determined in step 203 that a group could not be formed, the group classification unit 26 passes control to the display control unit 25, and the display control unit 25 stores a plurality of images stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 24 at that time. Control is performed to display a list of thumbnail images on the operation panel 15 (step 209).

If it is determined in step 204 that there is no next page in the document file corresponding to the thumbnail image in all the groups, the group classification unit 26 passes control to the thumbnail image generation unit 23. Then, the thumbnail image generation unit 23 adds document information indicating the attribute of the document file to each of the plurality of thumbnail images included in those groups (step 208).
In this case, a document file name can be considered as the document information. That is, if the thumbnail image remains similar even after switching to the last page, the document file name may be added to the thumbnail image.
As the document information, information on the version of the document file can be considered. When it is determined that a plurality of thumbnail images similar to each other have been generated due to a difference in versions of a plurality of document files, information regarding the versions may be added to the thumbnail images. For example, it is conceivable to add information indicating the latest version to the thumbnail image of the document file of the latest version. Alternatively, information indicating the version may be added to each document file. Here, there are various methods for determining whether the versions of a plurality of document files are different. For example, when a part of the document file name is common and a part having a different document file name includes a numeric string, there is a method of determining that the plurality of document files have different versions.
These document information may be added by icons. Further, instead of adding the document information to the thumbnail image, the thumbnail image may be replaced with the document information.
Thereafter, the display control unit 25 controls the operation panel 15 to display a list of a plurality of thumbnail images currently stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 24 (step 209).

Here, the thumbnail image management table stored together with the thumbnail images in the thumbnail image storage unit 24 will be described.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the thumbnail image management table.
As shown in the drawing, the thumbnail image management table associates a document file name, a current page, a final page flag, a thumbnail image name, and a group ID.

The document file name is the name of the document file corresponding to the thumbnail image. Here, it is assumed that all the document files exist in the same folder, and the document file can be specified only by the document file name.
The current page is the page number of the page of the document file corresponding to the thumbnail image.
The last page flag is a flag indicating that the current page is the last page of the document file. For example, “OFF” is set if the current page is not the last page of the document file, and “ON” is set if the current page is the last page of the document file.
The thumbnail image name is the name of the thumbnail image. Here, all thumbnail images exist in the same folder, and the thumbnail images can be specified only by the thumbnail image name.
The group ID is identification information for identifying a group including a thumbnail image.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the transition of the contents of the thumbnail image management table when the thumbnail images are switched as shown in FIGS.
(A) shows a thumbnail image management table when a thumbnail image is generated in step 201. In step 201, since the thumbnail image of the first page of the document file is generated, all the current pages are “1”. When creating a thumbnail image in step 201, “doc1-1.ppt”, “doc1-2.ppt”, “doc2.ppt”, “doc1-1.pdf”, “doc1-2.pdf” It can be seen that the first page is not the last page and that the first page of “doc2.pdf” is the last page. Therefore, the last page flag corresponding to the first five document files is “OFF”, and the last page flag corresponding to the last one document file is “ON”. The group ID is not written when the thumbnail image is generated in step 201, and is written when the thumbnail image is classified into a group in step 202.

  (B) shows a thumbnail image management table when the thumbnail image of the document file of the group G11 is generated in the first step 205 and the thumbnail image of the document file of the group G12 is generated in the second step 205. ing. Since the thumbnail images of the second page of the G11 and G12 document files are generated in the first and second steps 205, the current page corresponding to these document files is “2”. Further, when the thumbnail images are created in the first and second steps 205, it can be seen that the second page of these document files is not the last page, so the last page flag corresponding to these document files is “OFF”. Remains. The group ID is not rewritten when the thumbnail image is generated in the first and second steps 205, but is rewritten when the thumbnail image is classified into a group in the subsequent step 202.

This is the end of the description of the first embodiment.
In the present embodiment, assuming that the thumbnail image is switched to the thumbnail image of the next page, the document information is used in step 208 when the thumbnail image remains similar even after switching to the final page. This is not the case.
For example, when the grouping in the first step 202 includes a thumbnail image that is equal to or greater than the threshold value in one group, the document information for the group is saved without taking time and effort to the user based on software judgment. You may switch to the method used. Alternatively, when a thumbnail image of a threshold value or more is included in one group, the method may be switched to a method using document information for the group by a user operation.
Further, a method may be adopted in which it is easy to distinguish the thumbnail image using the document information without assuming that the thumbnail image is switched to the thumbnail image of the next page. In the case of this method, it may be assumed that a thumbnail image of the first page of the document file is generated. That is, this method can also be applied to files that do not have the concept of pages, such as image files and video files.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, thumbnail images are switched in units of pages, but a page is merely an example of a document file portion. For example, a configuration in which thumbnail images are switched for each scene of a moving image file is also conceivable.

[Second Embodiment]
First, the schematic operation in the second embodiment will be described.
Again, let us consider a case where thumbnail images are created, resulting in similar thumbnail images.
FIG. 12A shows an example of thumbnail images similar to each other.
In the present embodiment, when similar thumbnail images are created in this way, feature images that are not similar to each other are extracted, and a list of images that are enlarged portions of the feature images are displayed as thumbnail images.
FIG. 12B shows a display example when feature parts that are not similar to each other are used as thumbnail images. In this display example, an icon 33 that clearly indicates that the feature image is enlarged is displayed on each thumbnail image.

Hereinafter, the list display control device 20 of the image processing device 10 that realizes such a schematic operation will be described. In the present embodiment, in the image processing apparatus 10, the CPU 11 reads the program stored in the ROM 13 into the RAM 12 and executes it, thereby realizing the list display control apparatus 20 as an example of the reduced image generation apparatus.
First, the functional configuration of the list display control device 20 in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the list display control device 20 according to the present embodiment.
As illustrated, the list display control device 20 includes a thumbnail image generation unit 23, a thumbnail image storage unit 24, a display control unit 25, a group classification unit 26, an icon addition unit 27, and a feature image extraction unit 28. Is included. Among these, the thumbnail image storage unit 24 is realized by, for example, the HDD 14. The thumbnail image generation unit 23, the display control unit 25, the group classification unit 26, the icon addition unit 27, and the feature image extraction unit 28 are realized by the CPU 11 reading a program from the ROM 13 into the RAM 12 and executing it.

The thumbnail image generation unit 23 reads a plurality of document files from, for example, a USB memory, and generates a plurality of thumbnail images by performing image processing on each designated page of the plurality of document files. In the present embodiment, a thumbnail image obtained by enlarging the image of the feature portion extracted by the feature image extraction unit 28 described later is also generated. In the present embodiment, a thumbnail image generation unit 23 is provided as an example of a generation unit that generates a reduced image.
Since the thumbnail image storage unit 24, the display control unit 25, and the group classification unit 26 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.
The feature image extraction unit 28 extracts images of feature parts that are not similar to each other (hereinafter referred to as “feature images”) from the plurality of thumbnail images classified into the same group by the group classification unit 26. In the present embodiment, a feature image is used as an example of a partial image, and a feature image extraction unit 28 is provided as an example of an extraction unit that extracts a partial image.
The icon adding unit 27 adds an icon indicating that the thumbnail image is an enlargement of the feature image to the specified thumbnail image among the plurality of thumbnail images stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 24. . In this embodiment, an icon is used as an example of an additional image, and an icon adding unit 27 is provided as an example of an adding unit that adds an additional image.

Next, the operation of the list display control device 20 in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the list display control device 20 of the present embodiment. In the description of the operation example, only a group including a plurality of thumbnail images is referred to as a “group”, and a group including only one thumbnail image is not referred to as a “group”.

In the list display control device 20, first, the thumbnail image generation unit 23 generates a thumbnail image of the first page of each of a plurality of document files stored in, for example, a USB memory, and stores the thumbnail image in the thumbnail image storage unit 24 (step). 221).
Next, the group classification unit 26 groups the plurality of thumbnail images stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 24 according to the degree of similarity between them (step 222).
Then, the group classification unit 26 determines whether or not a group (a group including a plurality of thumbnail images) has been formed (step 223).

As a result, if it is determined that a group has been created, the group classification unit 26 passes control to the feature image extraction unit 28, and the feature image extraction unit 28 is in a state in which there is no feature image in all of these groups. It is determined whether or not (step 224).
If it is determined that the state is not in such a state, the feature image extraction unit 28 pays attention to one of the groups obtained in step 222, and features of a plurality of thumbnail images included in the group. A plurality of thumbnail images obtained by enlarging the images are generated and stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 24 instead of the thumbnail images of the entire page (step 225).

Then, when a plurality of thumbnail images obtained by enlarging the feature image are generated, the icon adding unit 27 indicates that the thumbnail image is an enlargement of the feature image for each of the generated thumbnail images. Is added (step 226). This is because unless the feature image is enlarged, it may be misunderstood that the displayed reduced image is a reduced image of the entire page.
Thereafter, the icon addition unit 27 returns control to the group classification unit 26, and determines whether the group classification unit 26 has processed the last group (step 227). If the last group has not been processed, the process returns to step 225, and the same processing is performed focusing on the next group. If the last group has been processed, the processing is terminated as it is.

  If it is determined in step 223 that the group cannot be formed, the group classification unit 26 passes control to the display control unit 25, and the display control unit 25 stores a plurality of images stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 24 at that time. Control is performed to display a list of thumbnail images on the operation panel 15 (step 229).

If it is determined in step 224 that there is no feature image in all of the groups, the group classification unit 26 passes control to the thumbnail image generation unit 23. Then, the thumbnail image generation unit 23 adds document information indicating the attribute of the document file to each of the plurality of thumbnail images included in those groups (step 228). The document information is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and a description thereof is omitted here.
Thereafter, the display control unit 25 controls the operation panel 15 to display a list of a plurality of thumbnail images stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 24 at that time (step 229).

  Note that the thumbnail image management table stored together with the thumbnail images in the present embodiment is substantially the same as that described in the first embodiment. However, in the present embodiment, since it is not necessary to manage the page of the document file, the page number and final page flag items are not necessary.

This is the end of the description of the second embodiment.
Unlike the first embodiment, this embodiment employs a method that makes it easy to distinguish thumbnail images using feature images without assuming that thumbnail images are switched to thumbnail images on the next page. did. Therefore, this method can also be applied to files that do not have the concept of pages, such as image files and moving image files.

  By the way, in the first and second embodiments, when thumbnail images similar to each other are generated, the thumbnail image of the next page of the document file, the feature image of the thumbnail image, and the thumbnail image indicating the document information of the document file are displayed. The thumbnail images are made not to be similar by regenerating one of them, but this is not a limitation. A configuration in which when thumbnail images similar to each other are generated, the thumbnail images are made not similar by regenerating new thumbnail images that are not similar to each other corresponding to the document file that is the source of these thumbnail images. Any configuration may be adopted as long as it is. In this case, an icon that is an example of the additional image may indicate the type of the new thumbnail image.

  The program for realizing the present embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image processing apparatus, 20 ... List display control apparatus, 23 ... Thumbnail image generation part, 24 ... Thumbnail image storage part, 25 ... Display control part, 26 ... Group classification part, 27 ... Icon addition part, 28 ... Feature image extraction Part

Claims (4)

Generating means for generating a plurality of reduced images respectively corresponding to specific parts of the plurality of documents based on specific parts of the plurality of documents;
Adding means for adding an image to the plurality of reduced images generated by the generating means;
Determining means for determining whether the plurality of reduced images generated by the generating means include two or more reduced images similar to each other;
When the determination unit determines that two or more reduced images that are similar to each other are included, the generation unit replaces the two or more reduced images with two or more originals of the two or more reduced images. Regenerate two or more new reduced images, each corresponding to another part of the document that is different from the specific part ,
The reduced image generating apparatus characterized in that the adding means adds an additional image for specifying the other part to the two or more new reduced images regenerated by the generating means. Generating means for generating a plurality of reduced images respectively corresponding to the plurality of documents based on the plurality of documents;
Adding means for adding an image to the plurality of reduced images generated by the generating means;
Determining means for determining whether the plurality of reduced images generated by the generating means include two or more reduced images similar to each other;
Extracting means for extracting non-similar partial images of the two or more reduced images,
The generation unit includes the partial image extracted by the extraction unit instead of the two or more reduced images when the determination unit determines that two or more similar reduced images are included. Regenerate the new reduced image above ,
The adding unit adds an additional image indicating that the two or more new reduced images include the partial image to the two or more new reduced images regenerated by the generating unit. A reduced image generating apparatus. On the computer,
A function of generating a plurality of reduced images respectively corresponding to specific parts of the plurality of documents based on specific parts of the plurality of documents;
A function of adding an image to the plurality of reduced images generated;
A function for determining whether or not the plurality of generated reduced images include two or more similar reduced images;
Realized
In the function to be generated, when it is determined by the determination function that two or more reduced images similar to each other are included, the two or more reduced images that are the basis of the two or more reduced images are used instead of the two or more reduced images. Regenerate two or more new reduced images respectively corresponding to other parts different from the specific part of the document,
In the adding function, a program for adding an additional image for specifying the other part to the two or more new reduced images regenerated. On the computer,
A function of generating a plurality of reduced images respectively corresponding to the plurality of documents based on the plurality of documents;
A function of adding an image to the plurality of reduced images generated;
A function of determining whether the plurality of generated reduced images include two or more reduced images similar to each other;
A function of extracting dissimilar partial images of the two or more reduced images;
Realized
In the generating function, when it is determined by the determining function that two or more reduced images similar to each other are included, the partial image extracted by the extracting function instead of the two or more reduced images Regenerate two or more new reduced images containing
In the adding function, an additional image indicating that the two or more new reduced images include the partial image is added to the two or more new reduced images regenerated. .

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