METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING LAYOUT AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20100169767A1
• Filed: 09/16/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ishiguro, Taisuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/253
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3873 defined only by a limited number of coordinate points or parameters, e.g. corners, centre; for trimming

Abstract

A plurality of other contents are placed in one content placement region so that a priority content to which a priority attribute is set is displayed larger than the other contents to which the priority attribute is not set.

Claims

1. A method for executing a layout process using a template having a plurality of content placement regions and contents to be placed in the content placement regions, the method comprising;

a setting step of setting at least one content to a priority attribute indicating that the content is larger in size than the other contents;

a first selecting step of selecting one content placement region in which the plurality of other contents to which the priority attribute is not set are to be placed from the plurality of content placement regions;

a first placing step of placing the plurality of other contents in the one content placement region selected in the first selecting step, without changing the aspect ratios of the plurality of other contents, in the placement direction set for the content placement region;

a second selecting step of selecting a priority-content placement region different from the content placement region selected in the first selecting step so that the priority content to which the priority attribute is set is larger in size than the other contents; and

a second placing step of placing the priority content in the one content placement region selected in the first selecting step without changing the aspect ratio thereof.

2. The method for executing the layout process according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

a determining step of determining whether a content having an aspect ratio that satisfies extraction conditions is present in the plurality of contents; and

a notifying step of providing, if it is determined in the determining step that a content having an aspect ratio that satisfies the extraction conditions is present, a notification that the priority content is not displayed larger than the other contents.

3. The method for executing the layout process according to claim 1, wherein

when the priority attribute is set on a plurality of contents in the setting step, in the second selecting step, content placement regions in which the plurality of priority contents are to be placed are selected so that the plurality of contents have the same size and are displayed larger than the other contents.

4. The method for executing the layout process according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display control step of displaying a layout result in which the priority content and the other contents are placed in the content placement regions in the first and second placing steps.

5. A layout processing apparatus that executes a layout process using a template having a plurality of content placement regions and contents to be placed in the content placement regions, the apparatus comprising;

a setting unit configured to set at least one content to a priority attribute indicating that the content is larger in size than the other contents;

a first selection unit configured to select one content placement region in which the plurality of other contents to which the priority attribute is not set are to be placed from the plurality of content placement regions;

a first placing unit configured to place the plurality of other contents in the one content placement region selected in the first selecting step, without changing the aspect ratios of the plurality of other contents, in the placement direction set for the content placement region;

a second selection unit configured to select a priority-content placement region different from the content placement region selected in the first selecting step so that the priority content to which the priority attribute is set is larger in size than the other contents; and

a second placing unit configured to place the priority content in the one content placement region selected in the first selecting step without changing the aspect ratio thereof.

6. The layout processing apparatus according to claim 5, the apparatus further comprising:

a determining unit configured to determine whether a content having an aspect ratio that satisfies extraction conditions is present in the plurality of contents; and

a notifying unit configured to provide, if it is determined by the determining unit that a content having an aspect ratio that satisfies the extraction conditions is present, a notification that the priority content is not displayed larger than the other contents.

7. The layout processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

when the priority attribute is set on a plurality of contents by the setting unit, the second selection unit selects content placement regions in which the plurality of priority contents are to be placed so that the plurality of contents have the same size and are displayed larger than the other contents.

8. The layout processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a display control unit configured to display a layout result in which the priority content and the other contents are placed in the content placement regions by the first and second placing units.

9. A storage medium that stores a program for executing a layout process using a template having a plurality of content placement regions and contents to be placed in the content placement regions,

wherein the program comprising program codes for;

a setting step of setting at least one content a priority attribute indicating that the content is larger in size than the other contents;

a first selecting step of selecting one content placement region in which the plurality of other contents to which the priority attribute is not set are to be placed from the plurality of content placement regions;

a first placing step of placing the plurality of other contents in the one content placement region selected in the first selecting step, without changing the aspect ratios of the plurality of other contents, in the placement direction set for the content placement region;

a second selecting step of selecting a priority-content placement region different from the content placement region selected in the first selecting step so that the priority content to which the priority attribute is set is larger in size than the other contents; and

a second placing step of placing the priority content in the one content placement region selected in the first selecting step without changing the aspect ratio thereof.

10. The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the program further comprises program codes for:

a determining step of determining whether a content having an aspect ratio that satisfies extraction conditions is present in the plurality of contents; and

a notifying step of providing, if it is determined in the determining step that a content having an aspect ratio that satisfies the extraction conditions is present, a notification that the priority content is not displayed larger than the other contents.

11. storage medium according to claim 9, wherein when the priority attribute is set on a plurality of contents in the setting step, in the second selecting step, content placement regions in which the plurality of priority contents are to be placed are selected so that the plurality of contents have the same size and are displayed larger than the other contents.

12. The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the program further comprises a program code for a display control step of displaying a layout result in which the priority content and the other contents are placed in the content placement regions in the first and second placing steps.