Data editing apparatus and method

• US 7,054,508 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.), United States Department Of Health And Human Services (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanamoto, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Samir
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, BRIAN Q
• Application Number:
  US09/916,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20020019833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,765 Days
• Field of Search: 382/309, 382/305, 345/619, 345/625, 345/626, 345/627, 345/628, 345/629, 345/634, 345/635, 345/638, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 382/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

An apparatus which automatically generates a digital album by using binary data with meta data. One of previously-provided scenarios and an image data group to be used in an album are selected. Next, keywords described in the meta data of the image data group are compared with keywords of respective templates linked to the selected scenario, and based on the result of comparison, the image data are assigned to the templates. Then, the assigned image data are inserted into image data frames in the templates, thereby a digital album is generated. The album is saved as a SVG file or JPEG image file.

Claims

1. A data editing method for performing editing on binary data by using plural templates having keywords, comprising:

an assignment step of assigning each of plural binary data to one of said plural templates based on said keywords; and

a construction step of, upon reproduction of said plural binary data by using said plural templates, constructing reproduction data so as to reproduce said plural binary data in accordance with the result of assignment at said assignment step,

wherein each of said plural templates has a limitation number for assignment of binary data,

and wherein at said assignment step, if binary data more than the limitation number of one template are assigned to said template, remaining binary data are assigned to a predetermined template, and if binary data more than the limitation number of the predetermined template are assigned to the predetermined template, the predetermined template is newly generated, and the remaining binary data are assigned to the generated predetermined template.

2. The data editing method according to claim 1, wherein at said assignment step, each of said plural binary data is assigned to one of said plural templates, based on comparison between the keywords of said plural templates and keywords of said plural binary data.

3. The data editing method according to claim 2, wherein the keyword of said binary data is described in meta data added to each binary data.

4. The data editing method according to claim 1, wherein said binary data is image data, and wherein at said assignment step, each of said plural binary data is assigned to one of said plural templates, based on comparison between image feature amounts of the keywords of said plural templates and image feature amounts of keywords of said plural binary data.

5. The data editing method according to claim 1, further comprising a designation step of designating one of plural themes to which different combinations of plural different templates are linked, wherein at said assignment step, processing is performed by using plural templates linked to the theme designated at said designation step.

6. The data editing method according to claim 1, further comprising a designation step of designating a desired binary data group, wherein at said assignment step, processing is performed on respective binary data of the binary data group designated at said designation step.

7. The data editing method according to claim 1, wherein each of said plural templates has plural keywords with priorities, and wherein at said assignment step, binary data corresponding to a high priority keyword is assigned to each template.

8. The data editing method according to claim 1, further comprising a deletion step of deleting a template to which binary data has not been assigned at said assignment step from said plural templates.

9. The data editing method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a designation step of designating a template upon reproduction of the reproduction data constructed at said construction step; and

a reproduction step of reproducing the binary data assigned to the templates at said assignment step by reproducing data on the template designated at said designation step from said reproduction data.

10. The data editing method according to claim 1, wherein said binary data is moving image data, and wherein at said construction step, the reproduction data is constructed by describing a display description for reproducing moving images assigned to the templates at said assignment step in the templates.

11. The data editing method according to claim 10, wherein at said construction step, if plural moving image data are display-described in one template, predetermined processing is performed on a joint between the respective moving image data.

12. The data editing method according to claim 10, wherein at said construction step, if plural moving image data are display-described, display descriptions are made so as to reproduce the respective moving image data in time-sequential order by date of generation.

13. The data editing method according to claim 10, wherein plural themes and plural templates are stored in storage means, wherein plural templates to be used are registered in each of said plural themes, and wherein said method further comprises a selection step of selecting a desired one of said plural themes, further wherein processings at said assignment step and said construction step are performed on plural templates registered in the theme selected at said selection step.

14. The data editing method according to claim 13, wherein at said construction step, display descriptions are made for the plural templates registered in the theme selected at said selection step, and arranges the result of these descriptions as one file.

15. The data editing method according to claim 13, wherein said theme further registers a description for displaying a title.

16. The data editing method according to claim 10, further comprising a determination step of, if the moving image data is assigned to plural templates, determining only one template in which said moving image data is display-described.

17. The data editing method according to claim 16, wherein at said determination step, a template, having another moving image data with a date of generation closest to that of the moving image data display-described in the plural templates, is determined as said only one template.

18. The data editing method according to claim 10, wherein said template is described in a data description language.

19. The data editing method according to claim 10, wherein said moving image data has meta data linked to said moving image data, and wherein at said assignment step, assignment of moving image data is performed by searching for the meta data using said keyword.

20. The data editing method according to claim 19, wherein said meta data is described in a data description language.

21. The data editing method according to claim 10, wherein the moving image data are divided into a plurality of partial data and said meta data is added to each partial data, and wherein at said assignment step, assignment to template is performed by said partial data.

22. The data editing method according to claim 10, wherein said assignment step has:

a conversion step of converting a keyword into an image feature amount;

an acquisition step of acquiring an image feature amount from moving image data; and

a search step of searching for a moving image corresponding to said keyword based on the image feature amount obtained at said conversion step and the image feature amount acquired at said acquisition step, and wherein the moving image found at said search step is assigned to the template.

23. The data editing method according to claim 22, wherein said acquisition means acquires said image feature amount based on locations of colors in an image extracted from the moving image data.

24. The data editing method according to claim 22, wherein said acquisition means acquires said image feature amount based on an outline of an object existing in an image extracted from the moving image data.

25. The data editing method according to claim 10, wherein at said construction step, a title display is described in correspondence with said template.

26. A data editing apparatus for performing editing on binary data, comprising:

storage means for storing plural templates having keywords;

assignment means for assigning each of plural binary data to one of said plural templates based on said keywords; and

construction means for, upon reproduction of said plural binary data by using said plural templates, constructing reproduction data so as to reproduce said plural binary data in accordance with the result of assignment by said assignment means,

wherein each of said plural templates has a limitation number for assignment of binary data,

and wherein if binary data more than the limitation number of one template are assigned to said template, remaining binary data are assigned to a predetermined template, and if binary data more than the limitation number of the predetermined template are assigned to the predetermined template, the predetermined template is newly generated, and the remaining binary data are assigned to the generated predetermined template.

27. The data editing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said assignment means assigns each of said plural binary data to one of said plural templates, based on comparison between the keywords of said plural templates and keywords of said plural binary data.

28. The data editing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the keyword of said binary data is described in meta data added to each binary data.

29. The data editing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said binary data is image data, and wherein said assignment means assigns each of said plural binary data to one of said plural templates, based on comparison between image feature amounts of the keywords of said plural templates and image feature amounts of keywords of said plural binary data.

30. The data editing apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising designation means for designating one of plural themes to which different combinations of plural different templates are linked, wherein said assignment means performs processing by using plural templates linked to the theme designated by said designation means.

31. The data editing apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising designation means designating a desired binary data group, wherein said assignment means performs processing on respective binary data of the binary data group designated by said designation means.

32. The data editing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein each of said plural templates has plural keywords with priorities, and wherein said assignment means assigns binary data corresponding to a high priority keyword to each template.

33. The data editing apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising deletion means for deleting a template to which binary data has not been assigned by said assignment means from said plural templates.

34. The data editing apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

designation means for designating a template upon reproduction of the reproduction data constructed by said construction means; and

reproduction means for reproducing the binary data assigned to the templates by said assignment means by reproducing data on the template designated by said designation means from said reproduction data.

35. The data editing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said binary data is moving image data, and wherein said construction means constructs the reproduction data by describing a display description for reproducing moving images assigned to the templates by said assignment means in the templates.

36. The data editing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein if plural moving image data are display-described in one template, said construction means performs predetermined processing on a joint between the respective moving image data.

37. The data editing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein if plural moving image data are display-described, said construction means makes display descriptions so as to reproduce the respective moving image data in time-sequential order by date of generation.

38. The data editing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein plural themes and plural templates are stored in storage means, wherein plural templates to be used are registered in each of said plural themes, and wherein said apparatus further comprises selection means for selecting a desired one of said plural themes, further wherein said assignment means and said construction means perform processing on plural templates registered in the theme selected by said selection means.

39. The data editing apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said construction means makes display descriptions for the plural templates registered in the theme selected by said selection means, and arranges the result of these descriptions as one file.

40. The data editing apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said theme further registers a description for displaying a title.

41. The data editing apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising determination means for, if the moving image data is assigned to plural templates, determining only one template in which said moving image data is display-described.

42. The data editing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said determination means determines a template, having another moving image data with a date of generation closest to that of the moving image data display-described in the plural templates, as said only one template.

43. The data editing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said template is described in a data description language.

44. The data editing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said moving image data has meta data linked to said moving image data, and wherein said assignment means performs assignment of moving image data by searching for the meta data using said keyword.

45. The data editing apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said meta data is described in a data description language.

46. The data editing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the moving image data are divided into a plurality of partial data and said meta data is added to each partial data, and wherein said assignment means performs assignment to template by said partial data.

47. The data editing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said assignment means has:

conversion means for converting a keyword into an image feature amount;

acquisition means for acquiring an image feature amount from moving image data; and

search means for searching for a moving image corresponding to said keyword based on the image feature amount obtained by said conversion means and the image feature amount acquired by said acquisition means, and wherein the moving image found by said search means is assigned to the template.

48. The data editing apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said acquisition means acquires said image feature amount based on locations of colors in an image extracted from the moving image data.

49. The data editing apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said acquisition means acquires said image feature amount based on an outline of an object existing in an image extracted from the moving image data.

50. The data editing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said construction means describes a title display in correspondence with said template.

51. A control program stored on a computer readable medium for executing data editing processing by a computer for performing editing on binary data by using plural templates having keywords, said control program comprising:

assignment process code for assigning each of plural binary data to one of said plural templates based on said keywords; and

construction process code for, upon reproduction of said plural binary data by using said plural templates, constructing reproduction data so as to reproduce said plural binary data in accordance with the result of assignment at said assignment process,

wherein each of said plural templates has a limitation number for assignment of binary data,

and wherein if binary data more than the limitation number of one template are assigned to said template, remaining binary data are assigned to a predetermined template, and if binary data more than the limitation number of the predetermined template are assigned to the predetermined template, the predetermined template is newly generated, and the remaining binary data are assigned to the generated predetermined template.

52. An image processing method comprising:

a designation step of designating image data and a template; and

an output control step of outputting the image data designated in the designation step together with the template designated in the designation step,

wherein the template has a limitation number for assignment of image data, and if it is determined that image data more than the limitation number of the template in the designation step are assigned to said template, remaining image data are assigned to a predetermined template, and if image data more than the limitation number of the predetermined template are assigned to the predetermined template, the predetermined template is newly generated, and the remaining image data are assigned to the generated predetermined template.

53. An image processing apparatus comprising:

designation means for designating image data and a template; and

output control means for outputting the image data designated by the designation means together with the template designated by the designation means,

wherein the template has a limitation number for assignment of image data, and if it is determined that image data more than the limitation number of the template by the designation means are assigned to said template, remaining image data are assigned to a predetermined template, and if image data more than the limitation number of the predetermined template are assigned to the predetermined template, the predetermined template is newly generated, and the remaining image data are assigned to the generated predetermined template.

54. A control program stored on a computer readable medium for executing image processing by a computer, said control program comprising:

designation process code for designating image data and a template; and

output control process code for outputting the image data designated by the designation process code together with the template designated by the designation process code,

wherein the template has a limitation number for assignment of image data, and if it is determined that image data more than the limitation number of the template by the designation process code are assigned to said template, remaining image data are assigned to a predetermined template, and if image data more than the limitation number of the predetermined template are assigned to the predetermined template, the predetermined template is newly generated, and the remaining image data are assigned to the generated predetermined template.