Apparatus for determining image processing parameter, method of the same, and computer program product for realizing the method

• US 6,229,625 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Company Limited (SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakatsuka, Kimihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): ROGERS, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US09/107,854
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/463, 358/455, 358/521, 358/456, 358/451, 358/518, 358/448, 358/452, 358/401, 358/501, 382/275, 382/298, 382/299, 382/237
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/60 Colour correction or control H04N1/54 takes precedence

Abstract

The technique of the present invention enables even an unskilled operator in the field of image processing to give a high-quality image. An image processing parameter inferring unit 106 specifies an image processing parameter P based on image characteristic information d1 representing characteristics of an image of an original, a subject keyword d2, and a finishing keyword d3. When the operator instructs a change of the specified image processing parameter P in a dialog box, a parameter correction value inferring unit 108 infers a correction value of the image processing parameter P based on fine adjustment data d4 representing a quantity of fine adjustment corresponding to the instructed change and the keywords d1 and d2. The quantity of fine adjustment and the inferred correction value may depend upon the type of a subject on the original. The structure of the present invention estimates the correction value, which is varied with a variation in quantity of fine adjustment, based on the subject keyword d2 and the finishing keyword d3. This accordingly enables adjustment of the correction value according to the subject of the image.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining an image processing parameter used in an image conversion device which converts image data of an original into image recording data, said apparatus comprising:

an image information generating unit which analyzes the image data of said original and thereby generates specific information representing a characteristic of an image of said original, said specific information affecting a level of the image processing parameter;

a first input unit which receives a keyword representing a condition to be referred to in the process of recording the image of said original;

an inferring unit which infers the image processing parameter on the basis of the information and the received keyword;

a second input unit which receives adjustment data used to correct the image processing parameter;

a correction value inferring unit which infers a correction value of the image processing parameter based on the keyword and the adjustment data; and

a correction unit which corrects the image processing parameter inferred by said inferring unit on the basis of the correction value to obtain a corrected image processing parameter as the image processing parameter to be used in said image conversion device.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said apparatus further comprising:

a first setting unit which sets the image processing parameter inferred by said inferring unit into said image conversion device;

a first display control unit which displays an image responsive to the image recording data output from said image conversion device on a display device according to the image processing parameter set by said first setting unit;

a second setting unit which sets the corrected image processing parameter corrected by said correction unit into said image conversion device; and

a second display control unit which displays the image recording data output from said image conversion device on said display device according to the corrected image processing parameter set by said second setting unit.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, said apparatus further comprising:

an instruction input unit which receives an external operation instruction; and

a switching control unit which selects and activates one of said first display control unit and said second display control unit in response to the operation instruction.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said apparatus further comprising:

a correction value averaging unit which, when the adjustment data is input into the second input unit plural times, calculates an average of a plurality of the corrected values obtained by said correction value inferring unit and supplies the averaged correction value to said correction unit.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said inferring unit infers the image processing parameter according to a fuzzy logic.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the keyword input into said first input unit includes a first keyword indicative of a type of an object of said original picture and a second keyword indicative of a finishing state of the image recording data.

7. A method of determining an image processing parameter used in an image conversion device which converts image data of an original into image recording data, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) analyzing the image data of said original and thereby generating specific information representing a characteristic of an image of said original, said specific information affecting a level of the image processing parameter;

(b) receiving a keyword that represents a condition to be referred to in the process of recording the image of said original;

(c) inferring the image processing parameter on the basis of the information and the received keyword;

(d) receiving data which represents adjustment data used to correct the image processing parameter;

(e) inferring a correction value of the image processing parameter based on the keyword and the adjustment data; and

(f) correcting the image processing parameter inferred by said step (c) on the basis of the correction value to obtain a corrected image processing parameter as the image processing parameter to be used in said image conversion device.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, said method further comprising the steps of:

(g) setting the image processing parameter inferred in said step (c) into said image conversion device; and

(h) displaying an image responsive to the image recording data output from said image conversion device on a display device according to the image processing parameter set in said step (g).

(i) setting the corrected image processing parameter corrected in said step (f) into said image conversion device; and

(j) displaying the image recording data output from said image conversion device on said display device according to the image processing parameter set in said step (i).

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, said method further comprising the steps of:

(k) receiving an external operation instruction; and

(l) selecting and activating one of the display of said step (h) and the display of said step (j) in response to the operation.

10. A method in accordance with claim 7, said method further comprising the step of:

(m) when the adjustment data is input into the second input unit plural times, calculating an average of a plurality of the corrected values obtained in said step (e) and supplying the averaged correction value to be corrected in said step (f).

11. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said step (c) infers the image processing parameter according to a fuzzy logic.

12. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the keyword received in said step (b) includes a first keyword indicative of a type of an object of said original picture and a second keyword indicative of a finishing state of the image recording data.

13. A computer program product for determining an image processing parameter set in an image conversion device which converts image data of an original into image recording data, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

a first program code unit which causes a computer to analyze the image data of said original and thereby generates specific information representing a characteristic of an image of said original, said specific information affecting a level of the image processing parameter;

a second program code unit which causes the computer to receive a keyword representing a condition to be referred to in the process of recording the image of said original;

a third program code unit which causes the computer to infer the image processing parameter on the basis of the information and the received keyword;

a fourth program code unit which causes the computer to receive adjustment data used to correct the level of the image processing parameter;

a fifth program code unit which causes the computer to infer a correction value of the image processing parameter based on the keyword received by the second program code unit and the adjustment data received by the fourth program code unit; and

a sixth program code unit which causes the computer to correct the image processing parameter inferred by said third program code unit on the basis of the correction value to obtain a corrected image processing parameter as the image processing parameter to be used in said image conversion device,

wherein each of said program code units is recorded on said computer readable medium.

14. An apparatus for determining an image processing parameter used in an image conversion device which converts image data of an original into image recording data, said apparatus comprising:

an image information generating unit which analyzes the image data of said original and thereby generates specific information representing a characteristic of an image of said original, said specific information affecting a level of the image processing parameter;

a first input unit which receives a keyword representing a condition to be referred to in the process of recording the image of said original;

an inferring unit which infers the image processing parameter on the basis of the information and the input keyword;

a second input unit which receives data representing a magnitude of a parameter adjuster that adjust the level of the image processing parameter;

a correction value inferring unit which infers a correction value of the image processing parameter on the basis of the magnitude of said parameter adjuster and the input keyword;

a correction unit which corrects the image processing parameter inferred by said inferring unit on the basis of the correction value to obtain a corrected image processing parameter as the image processing parameter to be used in said image conversion device; and

a correction value averaging unit which, when the data representing the magnitude of the parameter adjuster is input into the second input unit plural times, calculates an average of a plurality of the corrected values obtained by said correction value inferring unit and supplies the averaged correction value to said correction unit.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 14, said apparatus further comprising:

a first setting unit which sets the image processing parameter inferred by said inferring unit into said image conversion device;

a first display control unit which displays an image responsive to the image recording data output from said image conversion device on a display device according to the image processing parameter set by said first setting unit;

a second setting unit which sets the corrected image processing parameter corrected by said correction unit into said image conversion device; and

a second display control unit which displays the image recording data output from said image conversion device on said display device according to the corrected image processing parameter set by said second setting unit.

16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 15, said apparatus further comprising:

an instruction input unit which receives an external operation instruction; and

a switching control unit which selects and activates one of said first display control unit and said second display control unit in response to the operation instruction.

17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said inferring unit infers the image processing parameter according to a fuzzy logic.

18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein the keyword input into said first input unit includes a first keyword indicative of a type of an object of said original picture and a second keyword indicative of a finishing state of the image recording data.

19. A method of determining an image processing parameter used in an image conversion device which converts image data of an original into image recording data, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) analyzing the image data of said original and thereby generating specific information representing a characteristic of an image of said original, said specific information affecting a level of the image processing parameter;

(b) receiving a keyword that represents a condition to be referred to in the process of recording the image of said original;

(c) inferring the image processing parameter on the basis of the information and the received keyword;

(d) receiving data which represents a magnitude of a parameter adjuster that adjust the level of the image processing parameter;

(e) inferring a correction value of the image processing parameter on the basis of the magnitude of said parameter adjuster and the input keyword;

(f) correcting the image processing parameter inferred by said step (c) on the basis of the correction value to obtain a corrected image processing parameter as the image processing parameter to be used in said image conversion device; and

(g) when the data representing the magnitude of the parameter adjuster is input into the second input unit plural times, calculating an average of a plurality of the corrected values obtained in said step (e) and supplying the averaged correction value to be corrected in said step (f).

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, said method further comprising the steps of:

(h) setting the image processing parameter inferred in said step (c) into said image conversion device; and

(i) displaying an image responsive to the image recording data output from said image conversion device on a display device according to the image processing parameter set in said step (h);

(j) setting the corrected image processing parameter corrected in said step (f) into said image conversion device; and

(k) displaying the image recording data output from said image conversion device on said display device according to the corrected image processing parameter set in said step (j).

21. A method in accordance with claim 20, said method further comprising the steps of:

(l) receiving an external operation instruction; and

(m) selecting and activating one of the display of said step (i) and the display of said step (k) in response to the operation.

22. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein said step (c) infers the image processing parameter according to a fuzzy logic.

23. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the keyword received in said step (b) includes a first keyword indicative of a type of an object of said original picture and a second keyword indicative of a finishing state of the image recording data.